Sustainable Storage and Transition from CNG to Hydrogen

As the world becomes more environmentally conscious, a sustainable transition from Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to a hydrogen economy is desirable. Hydrogen is a clean and abundant fuel that has the potential to replace fossil fuels and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. This paper analyses the status of the hydrogen economy and the policies and incentives that government is implementing to promote its adoption, storage, dispensing and usage. The feasibility of a transition from CNG to a hydrogen economy through HCNG and the challenges that need to be overcome are explored. The paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of CNG, HCNG and hydrogen and compares the fuels in terms of energy efficiency, infrastructure requirements and environmental impact. Efforts have been made to develop Hydrogen storage cylinder (Type IV) to store hydrogen gas at high pressures, typically around 350 to 700 bar (5,000 to 10,000 psi), to ensure a sufficient range for the vehicle and ensure no risk against Hydrogen Embrittlement. The traditional approach to testing Type IV cylinders at pressures of 700 bar (and sometimes 1400 bar for a Factor of Safety 2) and under various environmental conditions is both expensive and time-consuming due to the lack of adequate facilities in India. To address this challenge, a novel test methodology leveraging the principles of Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) has been developed. This approach employs digital twin technology to simulate and analyse the performance of Type IV cylinders under conditions such as impact, extreme temperatures, and varying humidity levels. Burst pressure testing, a critical aspect of cylinder validation, is also incorporated into the simulation framework. The results of this study demonstrate a strong correlation between the simulated burst pressure and the outcomes of actual burst pressure tests. The test was carried out upto 700 bar successfully.