Optimal design of an activated carbon for an adsorbed natural gas storage system

The Dubinin-Astakhov equation was used to determine the influence of the microporous characteristics of activated carbon on the performances of both charge and discharge of an ANG system. From the dynamic performance criterion as a function of total microporous volume (W-o), average micropore width (L-o), and micropore size dispersion (n), it is possible to identify the optimal activated carbon for methane storage under dynamic conditions by way of the heat and mass transfer limitations. This study shows that the activated carbon must be conductive (with an average micropore width of 1.5 mm) for the charge step only, permeable and sufficiently conductive for the discharge process (with an average micropore width of 2.5 nm). The well-known Maxsorb activated carbon shows the better performance. This theoretical investigation has been validated by experimental results. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.