Status of the project “Development of a hydrogen cartridge for UAVs and mobile robotic systems”
12/01/2018
The team of “HeatLab” develops portable power systems based on fuel cells with a chemical source of hydrogen based on magnesium hydride. The hydrogen source is characterized by a gravimetric density of hydrogen storage comparable to cylinders with a working pressure of 300 bar, lack of overpressure, explosion safety and ease of refueling.
In 2017, a pilot plant for the synthesis of hydrogen fuel - magnesium hydride MgH2 (figure 1) and a prototype of a hydrogen cartridge (a chemical source of hydrogen) were developed and manufactured. Based on the integration of a hydrogen cartridge and a fuel cell, portable power systems with an energy capacity of 500 W*h/kg are being developed for wearable and Autonomous power sources, unmanned aerial vehicles and robotic systems.
The purity of the synthesized hydrogen fuel-magnesium hydride MgH2: at least 90 %, the gravimetric capacity for hydrogen is 7.0-7.5 %.
The bulk density of hydride powder is 0.5 g/cm3, the density of compressed sample is 1.3 g/cm3. Volume capacity of hydrogen 35-97.
Several variants of laboratory prototype cartridges were developed and manufactured (figures 2-4)
On laboratory prototypes of cartridges, the main hypotheses taken as the basis for the development of a controlled chemical source of hydrogen were tested and worked out. The gravimetric capacity of the reaction is not less than 8%, i.e. the yield of hydrogen by mass from the mixture of initial reagents (water and hydride) is not less than 8 %. The pressure inside the cartridge does not exceed 1.0 bar.
Laboratory prototypes are equipped with:
- control system implemented on the Arduino platform
- the initial heating system of the cartridge from an external power source
- a system for measuring the main parameters of the cartridge: the temperature inside and on the surface of the cartridge, the gas pressure inside, the flow rate of hydrogen in ml/min and the total amount of released hydrogen.
In the near future, the goal is to complete the development of a prototype of a portable power source with a fuel cell and a user-friendly system with disposable hydrogen cartridges. Negotiations are underway with potential consumers of portable power systems to conduct joint tests of the prototype.
Suggestions for using the developed products:
1. Hydrogen fuel, MgH2, chemical purity 90-95%, dark gray powder. Supply in powder, briquettes pressed briquettes, pellett. Application as a source of hydrogen, a hydrogen carrier for gas transportation, a chemical reagent, a component of pyrotechnic devices, explosives, a component of rocket fuel, fuel for hydrogen cartridges, a working substance of reversible thermolysis sources of hydrogen.
2. Cartridge, a chemical source of hydrogen with supplies of consumables-hydrogen fuel. Application:
- a source of hydrogen for mobile systems with a fuel cell where a high energy/mass ratio is required: UAVs, unmanned robotic systems of air, land and sea based.
- as a backup / base power source for electronics: army wearable power supplies, power supplies in communication, control, tracking, relay, etc.,
- power sources for automatic security, relay, and surveillance installations.
- chemical refueling of high- pressure cylinders up to 350 bars.
- hydrogen source for special applications (instead of compressed hydrogen cylinders): analytical and technological directions.
3. Magnesium hydride MgH2, CAS Number 7693-27-8, chemical purity 95-98%, supply of magnesium hydride for companies engaged in the fields of metallurgy, pharmaceuticals, cosmetology.