Assessment of Conceptual Systems Using Hydrogen Produced from the Reaction of Aluminum Alloys with Water

Abstract

Hydrogen technologies, such as fuel cells, might improve the capability of the military. There is concern about the logistics and safety of transporting and using compressed hydrogen gas fuel, so some have proposed to react aluminum alloys with water for safe on-site hydrogen generation, as aluminum alloys are stable, safe to ship, and the water might found in the field. Our study finds that aluminum alloys as a fuel has only niche applications, because it is not energy dense at a system level. The aluminum/water reaction for hydrogen is not attractive except for a few niche applications, such as small weather balloons and small fuel cells for unmanned air vehicles or battery recharging.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 24, 2021
Accession Number
AD1126001

Entities

People

  • Andrew Mcculloch
  • Benjamin D. Gould
  • Edward G. Himes
  • Karen E Swider-Lyons

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Alcohol Fuels
  • Aluminum
  • Aluminum Alloys
  • Aluminum Oxides
  • Autonomous Systems
  • Cells
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Department Of Defense
  • Energy
  • Energy Systems
  • Fuel Cells
  • Fuels
  • Generators
  • Hydrogen Fuel Cells
  • Logistics
  • Marine Corps
  • Materials
  • Military Applications
  • Military Research
  • Procurement
  • Production
  • Reactor Control
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Vehicles
  • Water

Readers

  • Electrochemical Engineering/ Fuel Cell Technologies
  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Biotechnology