Standard SOLID-H™ Containers

Pressure Regulator

CONTACT US to place an order.

If you want to see a pressure-composition isotherm and a pressure-temperature van't Hoff plot for each alloy, click the link for the alloy of interest: Alloy A or Alloys L, M, H . Alloy A contains iron and titanium. Alloys L, M and H contain rare earth metals and nickel.

ORDERING SOLID-H™

The prefix of the part number indicates the container material. BL indicates a stainless steel container, except the BL-18, which is carbon steel. CL indicates an aluminum industrial gas cylinder. Standard quick connects and relief valves are made of brass.

The part number specifies the hydrogen capacity in ��standard�� liters (1 atmosphere absolute pressure at 0 �� ). CL-370A means 370 standard liters of hydrogen capacity from Alloy A, the standard alloy for this container.

The alloy choice is added to the part number, for example BL-30M or CL-370A. CONTACT US to place an order.

INTRODUCTION TO METAL HYDRIDES

SOLID-H™ hydrogen storage containers are filled with metal powders that absorb and release hydrogen (metal hydrides). You may already be using metal hydrides in your laptop computer (nickel-metal hydride batteries).

The most popular SOLID-H™ containers supply a few atmospheres of hydrogen gas pressure at room temperature. This is the safest method known for storing flammable hydrogen gas. If your hydrogen system develops a leak, SOLID-H™ immediately releases a small fraction of its stored hydrogen. The remainder will be released over a period of hours. If you want to know more about metal hydride chemistry, please click Chemistry .

Typical uses for SOLID-H™ include hydrogen supplies for gas chromatographs and fuel storage for hydrogen engines or fuel cells. A typical SOLID-H™ container is shown below.

Metal hydrides are the most compact way to store hydrogen (more dense than liquid hydrogen). The internal volume of the CL-370A is less than 0.7 liters. 370 liters of hydrogen capacity is more than 500 times the size of the container!

Standard SOLID-H™ BL-series containers hold 18, 20, 30, 120, 220 or 740 standard liters of hydrogen gas. These are on the shelf or available on short delivery schedules.

SOLID-H™ CL-series containers, including CL-370 and CL-910, based on aluminum industrial gas cylinders. These two containers hold 370 and 910 liters of hydrogen respectively. The aluminum cylinders used to make the CL-series are rated for very high pressures. This makes them heavier than equivalent thin walled stainless steel BL-series containers of comparable capacity.

If you need a different capacity or special pressure-temperature specifications, just email your specifications. HCI has built custom metal hydride systems since 1978 with up to 300,000 liters of hydrogen capacity.

USING SOLID-H™

A SOLID-H™ container is coupled to your system by a fitting that you specify when you order. This is usually a quick connect for convenience of installation and removal. Unless you specify a different fitting we will install a Swagelok QM series female quick connect on the container. We also supply a mating male quick connect that adapts to 1/8 th inch tubing.

The hydrogen pressure when charging or discharging a SOLID-H™ container is something you select when you order. Four standard pressure ranges are offered; Alloy A(see Alloy A), Alloys L,M and H(see Alloys L,M,H).

Alloy A is an iron-titanium alloy that may be shipped void of hydrogen as non-hazardous material. Alloys L, M and H are rare earth-nickel alloys. After activation (activation means "charged for the 1st time") they must be shipped void of hydrogen as a flammable solid. The expense of hazardous shipping may be avoided if you order unactivated SOLID-H™ containers. HCI will send activation instructions.

Recharge your SOLID-H™ container by connecting it to a source of clean dry hydrogen gas at the pressure specified in your SOLID-H™ manual. The container will get warm to the touch. When it is cool again, recharging is complete.

Reduce the pressure to the value indicated for your alloy in the SOLID-H™ TM manual before disconnecting it from your hydrogen source. Failure to do so may lead to venting through the pressure relief in hot environments (pressure increases rapidly with temperature).