Modeling and Simulation of Hydrogen Storage Device for Fuel Cell Plant

The article reviews a brief literature on the modeling of hydrogen storage device for fuel cell. Different dimensional approaches in modeling hydrogen absorption/desorption in a metal hydride reactor for use in fuel cell are summarized. Mathematical modeling equations involved are also stated. The effect of various operating parameters such as temperature, concentration, viscosity, thermal conductivity and time on the gas is also verified. The importance of various simulation software with reference to their major functions is also identified. The review concludes on the opportunities and challenges with the use of hydrogen as an alternative renewable energy. Nomenclature C p Specific heat (JKg-1 K-1) E Activation energy (J mol-1) h Conductance between hydride bed and around fluid (Wm-2 K-1) h o Conductance between outlet face of the reactor and exterior medium (Wm-2 K-1) H Reactor height (m) Hgs Heat coefficient exchange between between solid and gas (Wm-2 K-1) H/M Hydrogen and metal atomic ratio k Permeability (m 2) m Hydrogen mass absorbed or desorbed (Kgm-3 s-1) M Molecular weight (kg mol-1) P Pressure (Pa) R g Universal gas constant (Jmol-1 K-1) R Reactor radius (m) T Temperature (K) t Time (s) V Gas velocity (ms-1) o H  Reaction heat of formation (JKg-1)  Porosity  Thermal conductivity (Wm-1 K-1)  Dynamic viscosity (Kgm-1 s-1)  Density (Kgm-3)  Average volume (m 3) a Absorption d Desorption e Effective eq Equilibrium f Cooling or heating fluid g Gas ge Gas effective se Solid effective s Solid ss saturated 0 Initial g Gaseous phase s Solid phase-Average volume