LLNL joins Quantum to accelerate hydrogen storage development

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has announced a joint venture with Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies to develop new hydrogen storage manufacturing techniques.

With $5.6 million funding from the US Department of Energy (DoE), LLNL scientific researchers will work to develop a new "high-speed composite processing technique".

The money was awarded to LLNL as part of the DoE's National Hydrogen Storage Project, aimed at developing storage techniques capable of meeting the targets required for the "ultimate commercialisation of hydrogen vehicles across all platforms".

Hydrogen storage vessels are usually made using a "wet-winding" process; however, LLNL claim this process increases the cost of the pressure vessels as it "requires continuous operation of a dedicated, expensive machine".

Researchers at the facility say they have developed a "dry-winding" method which reduces vessel[-]winding time by two hours and 45 minutes.

"This technique can be applied to any kind of pressure vessel, including those used in the aircraft industry," said Andrew Weisberg, a composite materials engineer at LLNL.

LLNL is part of the DoE's National Nuclear Security Administration and is a leading applied science laboratory.

https://publicaffairs.llnl.gov/news/news_releases/2008/NR-08-03-08.html
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