Gas storage unit and associated structure and system

A storage unit for storing gas by absorption or adsorption comprising:

• a container including a gas storage element;
• a compressible element disposed within the container and maintained in contact with the gas storage element, the compressible element adapted to deform under an action of forces exerted by the gas storage element during volume variations of the gas storage element during phases for storing and discharging gas, so as to limit forces applied on the container by said compressible element by compressing in a direction corresponding to a direction of said action of forces;
• an alternation of layers including a layer of the gas storage element and at least one layer of the compressible element;
• wherein each layer of the gas storage element forms a rigid wafer or disc,
• wherein the compressible element includes a porous matrix of expanded natural graphite.

A method for filling a gas storage unit including a container including at least one gas storage element and at least one compressible element which includes a metal plate, wherein the method includes the following steps:

• placing in said container the at least one gas storage element, essentially without any gas,
• placing into said container, adjacent to the at least one gas storage element, the at least one compressible element, wherein the at least one compressible element is adapted to deform under an action of forces exerted by the at least one gas storage element during volume variations of the at least one gas storage element during phases for storing and discharging gas, so as to limit forces applied on the container by said at least one compressible element compressing in a direction corresponding to a direction of said action of forces,
• closing the container and applying to the container a source of pressurized gas, in order to store the gas by adsorption in each of the at least one gas storage elements, the at least one compressible element being adapted so as to deform under the action of forces exerted thereon because of volume variations of the at least one gas storage element during storing of the gas, so as to limit forces applied on the container;
• forming an alternation of layers including a layer of the at least one gas storage element and at least one layer of the at least one compressible element, wherein each layer of the at least one gas storage element forms a rigid wafer or disc.

A method for obtaining a structure for storing gas by absorption or adsorption, said structure including a container including a gas storage element, wherein the storage unit further includes a compressible element which includes a metal plate adapted to deform under an action of forces exerted by the storage element during volume variations of the gas storage element during phases for storing and discharging gas by said compressible element compressing in a direction corresponding to a direction of said action of forces, the method including the steps:

• depositing a gas storage element layer including a non-compressed or pre-compressed salt,
• depositing a layer of said compressible element,
• both steps of depositing being repeated so as to form a structure including an alternation of gas storage element layers and at least one intercalary compressible element layer,
• wherein the gas storage element layer and the compressible element layer are pre-assembled, both layers then being deposited in the container simultaneously;
• wherein each layer of the gas storage element forms a rigid wafer or disc.

A storage unit for storing gas by absorption or adsorption comprising:

• a container including a gas storage element;
• a compressible element disposed within the container and maintained in contact with the gas storage element, the compressible element adapted to deform under an action of forces exerted by the gas storage element during volume variations of the gas storage element during phases for storing and discharging gas so as to limit forces applied on the container by said compressible element by compressing in a direction corresponding to a direction of said action of forces;
• air alternation of layers including a layer of the gas storage element and at least one layer of the compressible element;
• wherein each layer of the gas storage element forms a rigid wafer or disc,
• wherein a height of a whole of the layers of the gas storage element is between 25% and 75% of a height of a whole of the at least one layer of the compressible element.

A storage unit for storing gas by absorption or adsorption comprising:

• a container including a gas storage element;
• a compressible element disposed within the container and maintained in contact with the gas storage element, the compressible element adapted to deform under an action of forces exerted by the gas storage element during volume variations of the gas storage element during phases for storing and discharging gas, so as to limit forces applied on the container by said compressible element by compressing in a direction corresponding to a direction of said action of forces;
• an alternation of layers including a layer of the gas storage element and at least one layer of the compressible element;
• wherein each layer of the gas storage element forms a rigid wafer or disc,
• wherein a volume of an assembly of gas storage elements is between 25% and 75% of a volume of an assembly of compressible elements.

A storage unit for storing gas by absorption or adsorption comprising:

• a container including a gas storage element;
• a compressible element disposed within the container and maintained in contact with the gas storage element, the compressible element adapted to deform under an action of forces exerted by the gas storage element during volume variations of the gas storage element during phases for storing and discharging gas, so as to limit forces applied on the container by said compressible element by compressing in a direction corresponding to a direction of said action of forces;
• an alternation of layers including a layer of the gas storage element and at least one layer of the compressible element;
• wherein each layer of the gas storage element forms a rigid wafer or disc,
• wherein for each layer of the gas storage element and the at least one layer of the compressible element, a gas storage element volume is between 25% and 75% of a compressible element volume.