Abstract: A method for controlling the magnitude of mechanical forces exerted by a solid ammonia storage material on walls of a container: determining a mechanical-strength limit of the container in terms of a hydraulic pressure PLIMIT or force FLIMIT under which the walls of container do not undergo plastic deformation, or deformation of more than 200% of deformation at the yield point; using a correlation between a temperature TSAT for the ammonia saturation/resaturation process, and the hydraulic pressure PMAT, or FMAT generated by the storage material during saturation/resaturation, to identify a minimum temperature TSATMIN where PMAT, or FMAT is kept below the limit for the mechanical strength by carrying out the saturation/resaturation process at the temperature TSAT fulfilling the condition of TSAT?TSATMIN.

Abstract: A method for controlling the effective heat transfer from a storage unit (1). During gas release from storage material (3) in the storage unit the storage material is heated by a heater (2). During re-saturation of the storage material (3) with gas the heater is off. Controlling of the effective heat transfer from the storage unit (1) is performed, during gas release, by ceasing convection of a convection gas and, during re-saturation, by performing or enabling convection of a convection gas to cool the storage unit (1).

Abstract: A method of reducing the friction between the wall(s) of a mold and the outer wall(s) of a metal container fitting snugly in the mold and containing a metal ammine complex salt which is uniaxially compacted within the container, comprises a) treating or covering the inner wall(s) of the container with a lubricant before the metal ammine salt is filled into the container, or b) mixing a solid lubricant with the metal ammine salt to be filled into the container is, or c) treating or covering a gas-permeable enclosure made of a flexible material and wrapped around the solid metal ammine salt with a lubricant before the solid metal ammine salt wrapped into the envelope is filled into the container, or a combination of a) and b) or a) and c). A lubricated container and a lubricated enclosure each containing a metal ammine salt is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method is provided for estimating the degree of saturation (S) of a reversible solid ammonia storage material (3) in a storage unit (1). The storage unit (1) is equipped with a heater (2) to release ammonia and a connected tube (4) for ammonia flow. The initial temperature (TINIT) is measured with a sensor (9) in or around the storage unit (1) before any heating is initiated. Heating is initiated while recording the active time of heating (t) or the amount of energy (Q) released by the heater. The desorption pressure created by solid storage material in the storage unit (1) is measured via a pressure sensor (8) in fluid communication with the storage unit (1). The time (tTARGET), or the heat (QTARGET) where the pressure reaches a certain target pressure (PTARGET) is recorded. The values of the target-pressure time (tTARGET), or the target-pressure heat (QTARGET), and the initial temperature (TINIT) are used to compute an approximate degree of saturation (S).

Abstract: A method is provided for estimating the degree of saturation (S) of a reversible solid ammonia storage material (3) in a storage unit (1). The storage unit (1) is equipped with a heater (2) to release ammonia and a connected tube (4) for ammonia flow. The initial temperature (TINIT) is measured with a sensor (9) in or around the storage unit (1) before any heating is initiated. Heating is initiated while recording the active time of heating (t) or the amount of energy (Q) released by the heater. The desorption pressure created by solid storage material in the storage unit (1) is measured via a pressure sensor (8) in fluid communication with the storage unit (1). The time (tTARGET), or the heat (QTARGET) where the pressure reaches a certain target pressure (PTARGET) is recorded. The values of the target-pressure time (tTARGET), or the target-pressure heat (QTARGET), and the initial temperature (TINIT) are used to compute an approximate degree of saturation (S).

Abstract: A method of determining an average degree of saturation with ammonia (X) of a solid ammonia storage medium porous or not and capable of ad- or absorbing and desorbing ammonia reversibly in a storage container is described. A part of the volume (Vcon) of the container is occupied by gaseous ammonia of a pressure (p) and defines a free volume (Vfree)). Ammonia flows out of the container with a flow (f). n pairs ((fi, pi), (Fi, pi)) of flows (fi), or accumulated flows (Fi), and pressures (pi) are sampled at a sequence of points of time (ti), i=1 . . . n and n?2; an estimate volume value (Vfit) on the basis of the sampled pairs ((fi, pi), (Fi, pi)) is determined; and the degree of saturation with ammonia (X) is determined by applying a predetermined relationship (Rel) between a plurality of estimate volume values (Vfit) and a plurality of values of the average degree of saturation with ammonia (X) to the determined estimate volume value (Vfit).

Abstract: A method for saturating or re-saturating ammonia storage material (1) capable of reversibly absorbing and desorbing ammonia in one or more storage containers (2), wherein said material is partly or fully depleted of ammonia, with ammonia to a predetermined saturation degree comprises a. placing the storage container(s) (2) in direct or indirect contact with a thermostatting medium (4) at a temperature level TT? about 65° C.; and b. connecting the storage container(s) (2) to a source of gaseous ammonia wherein at least during a part of the method the gaseous ammonia during saturating or re-saturation of the ammonia storage material (1) is at a pressure PS? about PT, wherein PS is the ammonia pressure during saturating or re-saturating of the ammonia storage material (1) and PT is the equilibrium vapor pressure of liquid ammonia at the temperature level TT.

Abstract: A method for controlling the effective heat transfer from a storage unit (1). During gas release from storage material (3) in the storage unit the storage material is heated by a heater (2). During re-saturation of the storage material (3) with gas the heater is off. Controlling of the effective heat transfer from the storage unit (1) is performed, during gas release, by ceasing convection of a convection gas and, during re-saturation, by performing or enabling convection of a convection gas to cool the storage unit (1).

Abstract: A method of determining an average degree of saturation with ammonia (X) of a solid ammonia storage medium porous or not and capable of ad- or absorbing and desorbing ammonia reversibly in a storage container is described. A part of the volume (Vcon) of the container is occupied by gaseous ammonia of a pressure (p) and defines a free volume (Vfree)). Ammonia flows out of the container with a flow (f). n pairs ((fi, pi), (Fi, pi)) of flows (fi), or accumulated flows (Fi), and pressures (pi) are sampled at a sequence of points of time (ti), i=1 . . . n and n?2; an estimate volume value (Vfit) on the basis of the sampled pairs ((fi, pi), (Fi, pi)) is determined; and the degree of saturation with ammonia (X) is determined by applying a predetermined relationship (Rel) between a plurality of estimate volume values (Vfit) and a plurality of values of the average degree of saturation with ammonia (X) to the determined estimate volume value (Vfit).

Abstract: A method for saturating or re-saturating ammonia storage material (1) capable of reversibly absorbing and desorbing ammonia in one or more storage containers (2), wherein said material is partly or fully depleted of ammonia, with ammonia to a predetermined saturation degree comprises a. placing the storage container(s) (2) in direct or indirect contact with a thermostatting medium (4) at a temperature level TT? about 65° C.; and b. connecting the storage container(s) (2) to a source of gaseous ammonia wherein at least during a part of the method the gaseous ammonia during saturating or re-saturation of the ammonia storage material (1) is at a pressure PS? about PT, wherein PS is the ammonia pressure during saturating or re-saturating of the ammonia storage material (1) and PT is the equilibrium vapor pressure of liquid ammonia at the temperature level TT.