Designing, developing and applying metal hydride - phase change material hydrogen storage systems
Author(s)
Maggini, Marco
Date Issued
November 27, 2025
Type
Doctoral Thesis
Abstract
The global imperative to transition toward low-carbon energy systems has catalyzed
widespread interest in renewable energy sources. However, the intermittent and geographically
uneven nature of renewables such as wind and solar necessitates robust,
scalable, and efficient energy storage solutions. Among the array of energy carriers
being investigated, hydrogen stands out for its high energy density, low- or
potential no-emission production chain, flexibility as to its implementation with
renewable energy sources, and compatibility with a range of end-use applications,
from transportation to grid buffering. Despite these advantages, the safe, compact,
and efficient storage of hydrogen remains one of the major technological bottlenecks
hindering its widespread adoption.
Solid-state hydrogen storage using metal hydrides offers a promising pathway
due to its safety, volumetric efficiency, and potential for reversible hydrogen absorption/
desorption at moderate pressures and temperatures. Nevertheless, the practical
deployment of metal hydride-based storage systems is challenged by several coupled
physical phenomena, including sluggish reaction kinetics, significant thermal effects
during hydrogen cycling, and complex system-level behavior during operation. Addressing
these challenges requires a detailed understanding of the interplay between
materials, design, and operating conditions.
This Ph.D. thesis focuses on the numerical optimization of metal hydride hydrogen
storage systems. The work is structured around the development of advanced
multiphysics models that couple mass, energy, and hydrogen transport within porous
hydride beds. Key system-level parameters such as storage tank configuration and
cycling strategies are optimized using these simulation tools to maximize hydrogen
uptake/release efficiency and minimize energy penalties.
By integrating high-fidelity simulations with experimental insights, this research aims to provide both a predictive framework for system behavior and a set of design
guidelines for the practical deployment of metal hydride hydrogen storage systems.
Ultimately, the thesis contributes to overcoming a critical barrier in the hydrogen
value chain, supporting the broader objectives of decarbonization and energy resilience.
Additional information
Dottorato di ricerca in Engineering for Energy and Environment
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