This section provides an overview for hydrogen tanks as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 21 hydrogen tank manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked hydrogen tank companies as of November, 2024: 1.Advanced Structural Technologies, Inc., 2.Quantum Fuel Systems LLC., 3.Didon.
Table of Contents
Hydrogen tanks are tanks that store hydrogen.
Hydrogen tanks are used in fuel cell vehicles powered by fuel cells. In the case of fuel cell stacks, compressed hydrogen is stored in hydrogen tanks installed in the vehicle, and hydrogen can be supplied to the fuel cell stacks.
Hydrogen tanks used in vehicles must withstand higher pressure loads than tanks for natural gas. Hydrogen tanks are made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic or other materials that have been modified to increase their pressure resistance.
Hydrogen tanks are used to store hydrogen. They are installed in fuel cell vehicles and used for hydrogen storage at hydrogen stations.
Hydrogen is very light and requires a large amount of space to store in its original state. Therefore, hydrogen is stored by compressing it at high pressure, liquefying it at low temperatures, adsorbing it onto metals, or converting it into another substance.
The most commonly used storage method is to store hydrogen at high pressure in its gaseous state, which requires high-pressure hydrogen tanks.
Hydrogen tanks used in fuel cell vehicles are a necessary component of a fuel cell vehicle. As a method of storing hydrogen in a fuel cell vehicle, low-pressure hydrogen tanks can easily be used to store hydrogen in gaseous form and supply fuel to Fuel Cell Stacks.
However, the tank volume must be large. The burden of infrastructure development for supplying hydrogen is lighter and is applicable to electric carts and other vehicles that are designed to store small amounts of hydrogen. High-pressure hydrogen tanks are also in practical use in mass-produced fuel cell vehicles,
This is a common method for hydrogen storage. Due to storage space limitations in hydrogen tanks, hydrogen can be compressed and stored to extend the driving range of the vehicle. When hydrogen is cooled to ultra-low temperatures, it can be liquefied and stored in liquefied hydrogen tanks.
Liquefaction greatly reduces the volume of hydrogen compared to gas, which strongly contributes to downsizing. However, temperature control is important because hydrogen vaporizes when the temperature rises.
The structure of hydrogen tanks varies depending on the system.
Aluminum alloys, special stainless steels, and polymer composite materials are used. Steel cannot be used for high-pressure hydrogen tanks. This is because high-pressure hydrogen enters metals such as steel, causing them to become brittle.
Hydrogen tanks cool hydrogen to -253°C and store it as a liquid in a double-layered container with a vacuum between the tanks. The vacuum prevents heat transfer to the outside and prevents the temperature of the hydrogen from rising.
However, it is not a perfect vacuum, and even vibration produces heat, causing some hydrogen to become a gas. It is important to research technologies to safely remove gaseous hydrogen gas and to reduce the amount of vaporization by approaching a vacuum.
Hydrogen storage alloys have been put to practical use for storage in nickel-metal hydride batteries. In addition, methods of converting hydrogen to another substance for storage, such as converting toluene to methylcyclohexane by reaction with hydrogen, have been studied in recent years.
There are several types of hydrogen tanks.
Hydrogen can be stored as a gas, but requires a large tank due to the low pressure. This type of tank is used to store small volumes of hydrogen.
Since vehicles have limited space for tanks, more hydrogen can be stored in higher pressure tanks with the same tank volume.
Hydrogen tanks store liquefied hydrogen at ultra-low temperatures in insulated tanks. Liquefaction reduces the volume of hydrogen to 1/800th of gas, which is advantageous for installation in vehicles.
Since the atomic diameter of hydrogen is small, it can be stored when it is absorbed between the molecules of special alloys. When hydrogen is removed from the storage alloy, heat is applied. About 80 kg of storage alloys are needed to store 1 kg of hydrogen, making weight an issue for in-vehicle use.
Hydrogen can also be stored on the surface of carbon nanotubes and molecules with very large surface area.
A structure that combines a hydrogen storage alloy and high-pressure hydrogen tanks is used.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Quantum Fuel Systems LLC., established in 2000 and located in Lake Forest, CA, is a manufacturer of compressed natural gas and hydrogen fuel systems. The company’s product line includes fuel storage tanks, q-rail CNG fuel systems, q-cab CNG fuel systems, and virtual pipeline CNG trailers. It also develops and integrates power train systems and embedded controls. Its real-world product applications include virtual pipeline trailer for marlin gas services, CNG fuel system modules for J.J. Taylor Companies Inc, and virtual pipeline trailer (VPLite8) for a public utility.
Didion, established in 1977 in Bellevue, Ohio, USA, specializes in the manufacture and supply of industrial equipment for various applications such as welding, code welding, millwright work, and mechanical engineering. The company’s product portfolio includes pressure vessels, autoclaves, separators, heat exchangers, cryogenic vessels, and more. The separators are used for separating mixtures in the oil, food, and wastewater treatment industries. The company also specializes in the maintenance of sterilization equipment for healthcare and laboratory application. It offers radiographic testing, pressure vessel designs, PMI testing, and heat treatment services to customers.
Hylium Industries, established in 2014 and based in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, is a manufacturer and technology provider specializing in hydrogen-related solutions. The company’s hydrogen business division develops technologies on compact hydrogen liquefaction and ultra-light hydrogen storage through its R&D programs. It also offers liquid hydrogen drone power packs and mobile hydrogen refueling stations for fuel cell vehicles. Additionally, the company develops TED (thermoelectric device) based cooling modules and liquid hydrogen mobile tanks. Leveraging its extensive expertise in research and development, it offers eco-friendly cooling solutions that harmoniously combine research, analysis, and design.
Mahytec, founded in 2008 and located in Dole, France, is a manufacturer of hydrogen tanks and renewable energy storage systems for mobile and stationary applications. The company’s product line includes compressed hydrogen, solid hydrogen, and energy storage systems. It also offers customized solutions to meet customers' specific needs, and its products find applications in hydrogen mobility, energy autonomy, and portable energy sectors. It is ISO 9001 certified and provides customers with professional expertise in the fields of materials, metal hydrides, and composites manufactured by filament winding.
Doosan Mobility Innovation, established in 2016 and headquartered in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, is a manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) devices designed for long-endurance flights. The company’s product line includes power packs, drones, hydrogen tanks, hydrogen refueling equipment, and LTE modules primarily based on fuel cell power backs. Its products find applications in industries such as infrastructure, mining, agriculture, military, and logistics. It has a KGS certification for its mobile fuel cell hydrogen tanks and global certifications such as the DoT (US) and TPED (Europe).
Cryofab, Inc., founded in Kenilworth, New Jersey, in 1971 is a manufacturer of equipment for the safe storage, transportation, and transfer of all liquid gases. The company's product portfolio includes containers and transfer lines for liquified helium, nitrogen, oxygen, krypton, & xenon. Their products are used in markets such as biotechnology, pharmaceutical, superconductivity, semiconductor, and oxygen service applications. The company also offers customer services that include support, custom research projects and customized services.
DSM, a company established in 1902 and headquartered in Heerlen, Netherlands, is a science-based company. The company is engaged in creating solutions in the fields of nutrition, health, and sustainable living. They provide a wide range of products and services, including nutritional ingredients, materials, and advanced bio-based products. The company’s offerings are utilized in various industries, such as food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, automotive, and renewable energy. The company also provides customer services, including technical support, product development assistance, and personalized solutions to meet clients’ needs.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Advanced Structural Technologies, Inc. |
12.6%
|
2 | Quantum Fuel Systems LLC. |
10.0%
|
3 | Didon |
8.9%
|
4 | BNH Gas Tanks LLP |
7.2%
|
5 | Hylium Industries, Inc. |
5.6%
|
6 | Mahytec |
5.6%
|
7 | Cryofab, Inc. |
5.4%
|
8 | Shenzhen JideTech Development Co. Ltd. |
4.5%
|
9 | Cryotherm GmbH & Co. KG |
4.4%
|
10 | DSM |
4.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the hydrogen tank page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
China | 5 | 33.3% |
United States of America | 3 | 20.0% |
Republic of Korea | 2 | 13.3% |
Japan | 2 | 13.3% |
France | 1 | 6.7% |
India | 1 | 6.7% |
Germany | 1 | 6.7% |