Reading threads here and else where I am seeing numerous discussions on storing the gas. I thought I
should share an old thought that might apply. Some time back reading on limelights used in England I read with interest how one of the storage systems worked for the mixture of hydrogen and CO that some of the
lights ran on. You had an open topped tank tank full of
water. Off to the side you had a large flat over flow area. The tank was filled with water. In the middle coming up just above the water was a gas inlet outlet line. Now over this they turned a huge banded one ended
wood tank lined with a thin layer of copper sheeting soldiered to air tight so it was open end down. On top of the water inside the tank they put a layer of heavy oil. As you added gas to the system to the upside down tank over the gas pipe it floated higher. When you needed gas it dropped back down into the water. The oil floating on the water kept gases from dissolving into the water minimizing loss. The advantage of this system was it stored gas at a relatively constant low pressure with widely changing volumes and was technically simple to build. Since the gas was made by decomposing coal in a sealed burner the system itself produced
enough pressure to raise the floating tank so no compressor was needed. Icing was a problem in winter so the waste heat from the burner was used to keep that tank just above freezing.
It would be really easy to implement with modern materials. 2 sizes of stock tanks that one upside down fit in the other and a little pipe Instead of just oil floating on the water inside to keep the gas from dissolving into the water float a layer of foam or plastic but use the oil still to seal the areas around the outside edges.
Country oriented nerd with primary interests in alternate energy in particular solar. Dabble in gardening, trees, cob, soil building and a host of others.
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