Korea develops hydrogen container for fuel-cell cars

A new type of hydrogen storage container received approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation in September and is now commercially available, the Ministry of Science and Technology said yesterday.

The new container was developed after a two-year joint effort between a local research institute and a company which specializes in producing composite high-pressurized containers.

The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials and Innocom Co. said that they succeeded in commercializing a composite high-pressurized hydrogen storage container - the world`s second following the United States.

The hydrogen storage container, normally used in portable air breathers and natural gas vehicles, has received plenty of global attention since its use has expanded to hydrogen fuel-cell cars for use as the hydrogen fuel tank.

"A composite type of container has advantages compared with the steel container in terms of weight and safety," said Dr. Park Ji-sang of KIMM who participated in the development project.

"This container, surrounded by carbon epoxy composites, will not burst, unlike a steel one. Hydrogen will leak out of the vessel before bursting."

Up to now, the technology for producing composite high-pressurized containers was exclusively used for aerospace and military-industrial purposes in the United States.

The U.S. Department of Transportation`s approval certifies the trustworthiness of the newly developed container, the Ministry of Science and Technology said.

KIMM and Innocom Co. said their composite high-pressurized containers for hydrogen fuel-cell cars will hit the local market next year.

The government envisions mass producing pollution-free hydrogen fuel-cell cars from 2010.

(siyoungh@heraldm.com)



By Hwang Si-young