Licensing opportunity
The Centre for Gas Hydrate Research in the Institute of Petroleum Engineering at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland, has developed a patented method for storing gases such as hydrogen and methane in compressed form, within crystalline solid hydrates at low pressures and ambient temperature conditions.
Gas hydrates are a group of ice-like crystalline compounds, which form through a combination of water and suitably sized guest molecules, typically under low temperature and elevated pressure conditions.
Within the hydrate lattice, water molecules form a network of hydrogen-bonded cage-like | Heriot-structures, enclosing the guest molecules, which generally comprise of low-molecular diameter gases.
The Heriot-Watt researchers have developed a specific hydrate which is stable at low pressures and ambient temperature conditions.
This will allow gases to be stored at moderate to ambient temperature and pressure conditions compared to current high-pressure/cryogenic gaseous/liquid hydrogen storage methods, resulting in improved safety and potentially reduced gas storage costs.
The system is also low-cost compared to alternative storage methods such as expensive metal hydrides.
Applications include the storage and transportation of gases such as hydrogen and methane, and hydrogen storage for fuel cells, for example, for use in the automotive industry.
A patent application has been filed.
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