(456a) Temperature Distribution In Activated Carbon Bed During Adsorption of Nitrogen (model gas for hydrogen); Experiment & Mathematical Model

Temperature
distribution in activated carbon bed during adsorption of nitrogen (model gas
for hydrogen); experiment & mathematical model

Agnieszka Truszkowska¹,
Christopher Loeb¹, Richard Chahine², Bruce Hardy³
and

Goran N. Jovanovic¹

¹Oregon State University,
Department of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering,
 Corvallis, OR 97330, USA
²Hydrogen Research Institute at University du Quebec a Trois-Rivières, PO BOX 500, Trois- Rivières, QC, Canada,  G9A 5H7 

³Savannah River
National Laboratory

Process
Modeling and Computational Chemistry Group 
 Building 999-2W, Rm. 122 
Aiken, SC 29808, USA 



Emails: truszkoa@onid.orst.edu, loebc@onid.orst.edu, goran.jovanovic@oregonstate.edu, bruce.hardy@srnl.doe.gov, richard.chahine@uqtr.ca

Providing
high volumetric and mass storage density of hydrogen gas is a major challenge
in the progress towards hydrogen-fueled automobiles.  Of the various storage media,
liquid chemical systems, and metal hydrides, activated carbon adsorbents have
substantial advantages in cost, weight, ease of handling and safety.

In this paper
we present experimental data (temperature and pressure) obtained during adsorption
of nitrogen (model gas for hydrogen) in an activated carbon bed.  We also
present the results of a numerical simulation of the same process.

Experimental
apparatus used in this study consists of a cylindrical activated carbon bed (2
in diameter x 1.5 in high) placed into a sealed high-pressure cylindrical
vessel. The carbon bed, consisting of densely packed activated carbon material
and binding agent, is instrumented with six thermocouples placed at suitable
locations throughout the bed. In addition, a thermocouple, and three pressure
transducers are placed into the high-pressure vessel outside the bed. Dynamic change of temperature and
pressure during the charging process are recorded, corresponding to compression
and adsorption phenomena.  The charging process starts at 1.0 bar and ends at
50.0 bar pressure.  A parametric study of filling time is performed for time intervals
between 10 and 30 seconds, to observe its effect on the charging process.

The mathematical
model is developed for the carbon bed ? pressure vessel system, which enables
numerical simulation of the charging process. Initially, numerical simulations
are used to analyze experimental data and to explore characteristic parameters
of the carbon bed.  The same numerical tool will be used in the future to
design carbon bed with optimal characteristics imposed by requirements for
hydrogen storage media in motor vehicles.