Comprehensive Design and Structural Verification of a Tubular Steel Metal–Hydride Storage Vessel for Hydrogen Separation and Storage

Abstract

Abstract

Hydrogen storage and separation remain major technical challenges limiting the broader implementation of hydrogen-based energy systems. Metal–hydride alloys offer a promising solution because they enable reversible hydrogen storage within their crystal structure and can selectively absorb hydrogen from multicomponent gas mixtures. However, the practical application of metal–hydride systems requires storage vessels that combine sufficient mechanical strength with effective heat removal, as hydrogen absorption is accompanied by significant heat generation that can reduce the reaction rate and usable storage capacity. This study addresses hydrogen storage within the crystal structure of metal alloys and introduces the potential of metal–hydride (MH) alloys for hydrogen separation from gas mixtures. It subsequently presents the structural design and strength assessment of a low-pressure, double-walled, tubular steel MH storage vessel intended for hydrogen storage in a MnTiVFeZr-based alloy. Structural simulations were performed in ANSYS 2025 R2 Static Structural at three operating pressures: 3, 5, and 7 MPa. For all three simulated pressure conditions, the gravimetric hydrogen storage capacity of the alloy was 0.992 ± 0.016 wt.%. Following the selection of the most suitable design with an operating pressure of 3 MPa, an analytical calculation was performed to verify the results obtained from the numerical analysis. The storage vessel was subsequently manufactured and subjected to experimental strength validation using the test procedures specified in the STN EN 13322-2 standard. The design of the low-pressure tubular steel MH storage vessel also incorporates an efficient thermal management system based on a combination of active and passive cooling modules. The passive cooling module takes the form of an internal heat-transfer enhancement element, which is inserted into the primary storage vessel together with the MH alloy. The active cooling module uses a coolant flowing around the outer wall of the primary vessel. The optimal design of the aluminium passive cooling module was selected from four variants based on a steady-state temperature-field analysis conducted in ANSYS CFX. The selected module was subsequently manufactured and integrated into the proposed storage vessel. The vessel equipped with the passive cooling element was then subjected to experimental temperature measurements during hydrogen absorption by the MH alloy. The experimentally obtained data were compared with the numerical simulation results to evaluate the temperature fields within the vessel and the heat dissipation from the core of the MH storage system during hydrogen absorption. The main contribution of this work is the development of a mechanically validated and thermally managed tubular metal–hydride vessel that integrates structural design, numerical optimisation, manufacturing, and full-scale experimental testing within a single methodology. The proposed approach provides a practical basis for the further development and scaling of low-pressure metal–hydride systems for hydrogen storage, purification, and separation applications.