Modeling and design for metal hydride-based hydrogen storage systems in underwater PEMFC applications

Utilizing metal hydride materials presents a promising avenue for establishing a highly concentrated hydrogen medium suitable for onboard vehicle applications, including underwater contexts. This paper introduces a design solution devised to estimate the characteristics of a metal hydride-based hydrogen storage system tailored for underwater vehicle deployment. The solution facilitates sensitivity analysis across various parameters by offering system mass and volume estimations. The findings highlight the significance of thermodynamic properties and operational conditions in determining the suitability of metal hydrides for compact and efficient hydrogen storage. The study underscores the importance of refueling time, L/D ratio, cooling fluid temperature and velocity, and hydrogen storage capacity in influencing system mass, volume, and thermal management. The model provides insights into the design and optimization of metal hydride-based hydrogen storage systems, offering a comprehensive approach to enhancing performance and reliability for underwater applications.