Laboratory of Metal-hydride-based Power Engineering Technologies

Scientific results:

1. Using the results of theoretical and experimental studies, calculations of a two-stage metal hydride hydrogen compressor were carried out. According to the results, the optimal working material of the first stage of the compressor was selected that allowed to increase (compared to the previously developed prototypes) compression productivity by 10% and significantly improve the stability of operation when changing parameters.
2. Based on a detailed analysis of literature sources, the history of R&D on fundamentals of materials science of metal hydrides and their gas-phase applications, the current state and further prospects of work in this field aimed at improving and widespread implementation of hydrogen and metal hydride technologies are shown.
3. A method has been developed for the compression of low-pressure hydrogen using composites based on substituted AB₅-type hydride-forming intermetallics with the additive of a nickel-graphene catalyst. Based on the results of the study, prototypes of metal hydride hydrogen storage and compression units have been developed which allow to absorb more than 1 Nm³ of hydrogen at a pressure about 1 atm (absolute) at a temperature of 10-20 °C and then to compress hydrogen to a pressure of 2-5 atm when heated to 90-150°C.
4. Based on the analysis of the results of research of the hydrolysis of magnesium hydride and nanocomposites based on it in aqueous solutions of organic acids, a prototype of a high-pressure hydrogen generator has been developed and tested.
5. Based on experimental study of samples of an AB₂-type high-entropy alloy (A=Ti,Zr; B=Mn,V,Ni,Cr,Fe), the influence of alloy’s preparation conditions on its component and phase composition, morphology and hydrogen sorption properties was revealed. It has been shown that the alloys prepared by induction melting exhibit worsening of their hydrogen absorption characteristics, primarily due to contamination of the final product by the crucible material. Based on the results obtained, ways to overcome this disadvantage are proposed when upscaling the process of preparing hydrogen storage alloys containing titanium and zirconium.
6. A computer model of heat and mass transfer in metal hydride reactors has been developed. For the first time, the model takes into account the real change in the density of a metal hydride material during hydrogen absorption. The use of the developed model will improve the accuracy of calculation of metal hydride reactors during their design.

Implementation of research results:

The results of development of the metal hydride material and hydrogen storage and compression unit were implemented at the Institute of Solid State Physics RAS for the compression of low–pressure hydrogen produced by a solid oxide electrolyzer

Organizational and infrastructural changes:

3 students – employees of the Laboratory of Metal Hydride Energy Technologies – entered the postgraduate courses at FRC PCP MC RAS (1 – in 2022, 2 – in 2023); in 2024 it is planned to enrol 2 more employees of the Laboratory in the postgraduate courses.

It was decided by the Scientific Council of the Physics of FRC PCP MC RAS to instruct two employees of the Metal Hydride Energy Technologies to organize research groups as laboratories.

Education and personnel occupational retraining:

1. Within the framework of the XVII Russian Conference "Physico-chemical Problems of renewable Energy" (St. Petersburg, November 21-23, 2022), a Youth school "Hydrogen and Metal hydride Energy Technologies" was held. 10 members of the scientific team were trained in the school.
2. New educational programs on hydrogen and metal hydride energy technologies have been developed and approved in three educational organizations: postgraduate study at Federal Research Center of Problems of Chemical Physics and Medicinal Chemistry RAS, Faculty of Fundamental Physical and Chemical Engineering of Lomonosov Moscow State University and Vyatka State University.
3. Within the framework of the IX All-Russian School-Conference of Young Scientists "Organic and Hybrid Nanomaterials" (Ivanovo, June 20-23, 2023), the II Youth School "Hydrogen and Metal Hydride Energy Technologies" was held with the involvement of members of the scientific team of the laboratory and other organizations (including representatives of South Africa and Croatia) as lecturers. According to the results of the training at the Youth School, 25 students, postgraduates and young scientists who actively participated in it (including 12 young employees of the Laboratory of Metal Hydride Energy Technologies) were awarded by the corresponding certificates.
4. 1 PhD thesis has been defended by the laboratory staff members.
5. As part of the implementation of the roadmap for the development of the high-tech direction "Hydrogen energy" for the period up to 2030 (sub-direction No. 1 "Development of hydrogen energy and decarbonization of industry and transport based on natural gas"), approved by the minutes of the meeting of the interdepartmental working group on the development of hydrogen energy in the Russian Federation dated December 28, 2022.  No. 3, in the period from November 10 to December 15, 2023, the training courses and Hydrogen Championship of Young Specialists and Students were held. Two PhD students of the laboratory took part in the Championship and received Certificates of advanced training and Diplomas of the winners of the project competition, as well as an invitation to continue their research in the field of hydrogen energy.
6. The head and members of the scientific team regularly gave lectures and seminars on the subject of the scientific research. In particular, weekly lectures were given for students of the HSE, Moscow State University and MIPT on the subject of scientific research. In addition, the leading scientist and his deputy delivered a course of lectures on the subject of scientific research for students of professional retraining courses for employees of KAMAZ PJSC

Cooperation:

1. GIREDMET JSC
2. Yu.A. Osipyan Institute of Solid State Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences
3. National Research University “Moscow Power Engineering Institute” (MPEI)
4. University of the Western Cape (South Africa)
5. MIREA – Russian Technological University
6. Institute for Energy Technology (Norway)
7. Guangdong Research Institute of Rare Metal (China)
8. Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati (India)