Abstract:
An apparatus for storage of compressed hydrogen gas is provided. The apparatus includes a sealed housing having an outlet pipe coupled to the housing and equipped with a controllable discharge valve. The sealed housing defines a chamber that includes a cartridge comprising a plurality of cylindrical voids containing said compressed hydrogen gas. The apparatus also includes a hydrogen liberating tool configured for controllable liberating the hydrogen gas from the cartridge into a volume of the chamber that is not occupied by the cartridge. The apparatus is controlled by a control system operatively coupled to the controllable discharge valve and the hydrogen liberating tool, and configured for controlling operation thereof. According to another aspect of the invention, there are provided a system and method for filling the cartridge. The filling includes vacuumizing a chamber into which the cartridge is placed; preparing the cartridge in order to let the hydrogen gas diffuse into the cylindrical voids; and controlled hydrogen gas compressing in the chamber over a predetermined compression time interval until the pressure in the chamber reaches a predetermined pressure value.