SBIR/STTR Award attributes
Ardica has identified aluminum hydride (Alane) as the best candidate for solid hydrogen storage. Alane provides greater amounts of hydrogen stored compared to compressed hydrogen gas, including twice the hydrogen capacity on a per volume basis. During Phase I, Ardica demonstrated Alane’s use on a small scale, and has provided specifications for a full-sized hydrogen storage system to provide hydrogen for an all-terrain vehicle. During this Phase II project, Ardica will scale the Alane hydrogen storage system up to the size required for an ATV, and compare it to compressed hydrogen. First, Ardica will create a partial-scale hydrogen storage system. This will include the partial-scale Alane cartridges, as well as the reaction chamber and support system necessary to run the cartridges. The cartridges will be instrumented and tested to verify and extend the findings from Phase I. Utilizing this information, Ardica will build a full-sized cartridge simulator. Ardica will use this to evaluate the operation of the full-size cartridge. Finally, Ardica will construct a full-size cartridge and demonstrate its use.
