PNNL

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has developed the Framework model to simulate fuel cell-based light-duty vehicle operation for various hydrogen storage systems. This transient model simulates the performance of the storage system, fuel cell, and vehicle for comparison to DOE’s Technical Targets using four drive cycles. Metal hydride hydrogen storage models have been developed for the Framework model. Despite the utility of this model, it requires that material researchers input system design specifications that cannot be estimated easily. To address this challenge, a design tool has been developed that allows researchers to directly enter physical and thermodynamic metal hydride properties into a simple sizing module. The design tool then is used to estimate the system parameters required to run the storage system model. Additionally, this design tool can be used as a standalone MS Excel model to estimate the storage system mass and volume outside of Framework and compare it to the DOE Technical Targets. These models will be explained and exercised with existing hydrogen storage materials.