What is the advantage of storing hydrogen in liquid form?
Hydrogen is considered a promising and clean energy source for the future, as its combustion or energy conversion in a fuel cell produces only water. However, its extremely low density makes it difficult to use it effectively in many mobile applications, as it would require a disproportionately large storage facility. To achieve higher storage densities in its pure form, hydrogen is either highly compressed (up to 700 bar – equivalent to the pressure at a diving depth of 7000 m) or cryogenically liquefied (at −253 °C – close to the temperature of a walk in the shade of outer space). Higher storage densities can be achieved in liquid form, but this requires a great deal of energy for liquefaction and complex storage technology. The low density is clearly evident when compared to water: while a liter of liquid water weighs 1 kg, a liter of liquid hydrogen weighs only 70 g.
The ILK Dresden has been conducting research on and with hydrogen for years in order to make this clean energy source more attractive for widespread use in industry. The focus is on:
- Storage methods with increased density
- Development of small, highly efficient hydrogen liquefaction plants
- Investigations into material compatibility (“hydrogen embrittlement”)
- Application-oriented development of storage subsystems, e.g. for aviation
Find out more about the hydrogen and methane test facility at ILK Dresden.
