Development of hydrogen solid storage tank : numerical investigation of solid-state process and design considerations

Abstract

This work presents a numerical investigation of solid hydrogen storage in metal hydride tanks using COMSOL Multiphysics software. The study focuses on evaluating the influence of varying the metal hydride mass and the cooling volume (heat transfer fluid – HTF) on the thermal behavior and performance of the system during the hydrogen absorption process. The chosen material, LaNi5, is modeled as a porous medium with its specific thermophysical properties. The governing equations of heat and mass transfer are solved to analyze temperature distribution, absorption rates, and storage capacity under different configurations. The results highlight the importance of optimizing tank geometry and cooling efficiency to enhance hydrogen storage performance depending on the intended application.