Design and Fabrication of Hydrogen Storage Tanks from Petroleum-based Polymers Produced at Oman

Hydrogen is the best chemical fuel with a heat value per mass three times higher than that of crude oil and methane, its combustion is also harmless, producing no carbon dioxide or offensive pollutants. Despite the advantages of hydrogen, two main challenges restrict it from being the major fuel used. First is production, the optimal renewable production method of hydrogen is through water electrolysis, but the field remains underdeveloped for large scale in terms of performance and cost efficiency. The second challenge is material and method of storage. Typically, hydrogen is stored in high-pressure tanks made of metal, but recent research has shown that storage tanks made of polymer liner and carbon-fiber composites are better due to their lower cost, lighter weight and low storage energy consumption. Selection of the polymer depends majorly on the hydrogen permeability of the polymer. This project aims to develop composite hydrogen tanks with inner liners from the locally produced Petroleum-based polymers at Oman like polypropylene and polyethylene. Total addressable market of hydrogen fuel is expected to be 220 billion USD by 2028; where the market was at 150 billion USD in 2021, accordingly expected compounded annual growth rate of 5.6%. Successful completion of this project will contribute in putting Oman's economy forward with such a growing market.