Performance analysis of a new tank configuration applied to the natural gas storage systems by adsorption

This work presents a numerical study of a new tank configuration applied to natural gas storage systems by adsorption. The traditional tanks employed in natural gas storage by adsorption reveal serious limitations for use in fast charge systems because of their inefficiency in the dissipation of adsorption heat. In order to eliminate the detrimental effects of adsorption heat, and to make viable the fast charge of gas in automotive tanks, a vessel made up of several tubes, compacted with activated carbon, was proposed. In the charge process, the gas circulates through the tank and all non-adsorbed gasses pass through an external heat exchanger installed close to the gas source of the refueling station. The numerical results obtained in the present work showed that the charge time of the new system can vary from 50 to 200 s, depending on the applied mass flow rate. These time periods are considered satisfactory for fast charge conditions. Another advantage of this new system is that there will be no need to include the accessories employed in traditional tanks, such as: fins, perforated tube in the tank center and a cooling external jacket, which would increase the complexity of the vessel design. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.