U.S. Air Force Contracts Mainstream Engineering to Develop Safe, Nanostructured Hydrogen Storage Vessels with High Storage Densities

ROCKLEDGE, FL – September 16th, 2011 – Mainstream Engineering Corporation, a 25-year Brevard County research and manufacturing company, has been awarded a demonstration contract from the U.S. Air Force to fabricate safe high-density compact state-of-the-art hydrogen storage vessels for use with fuel cells or to replace conventional batteries.

The way in which high-density hydrogen is safely stored, transported, and delivered has caused a bottleneck in the shift from hydrocarbon-based energy infrastructure to hydrogen-based energy. Researchers at Mainstream have developed an innovative new solution.

Traditional chemical hydrogen storage through hydrogen-rich molecules is one the safest ways of containment because the hydrogen-containing compound has lower volatility. However, this form of hydrogen storage results in heavy and expensive storage vessels.

Although physical storage of pure hydrogen gas is more straightforward, this method of storage is dangerous because of the volatility and the storage pressures that are required for high densities.

Leveraging their prior research, engineers at Mainstream have developed a solution that potentially will result in a low-cost high-energy storage density. This effort seeks to demonstrate storage densities that surpass the DOE 2015 targets for hydrogen storage by 98% on a mass basis and 65% on a volume basis. This technology will impact renewable energy storage and distribution, and pave the way to safe, portable hydrogen storage for automotive and personal electronic power. “This effort continues to create local jobs while seeking to improve the nation’s energy efficiency, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and reduce emissions,” stated Dr. Robert P. Scaringe, Mainstream’s President, and Founder. “Energy is the Space Race for the new millennium,” stated Scaringe.

“These programs create local jobs, improve the nation’s energy efficiency and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, all while reducing emissions and preserving the environment,” continued Scaringe.
Mainstream Engineering has a history of leading-edge research and development that has resulted in advanced, lean-manufacturing, cost-competitive products, which are all made in the USA.

About Mainstream Engineering Corporation
Mainstream Engineering Corporation is a solutions-oriented research, development, and manufacturing small business founded in 1986. Their primary mission is to transition advanced thermal control, energy storage, and energy conversion technology into high-quality, cost-effective, environmentally safe, green commercial products. Military products include lightweight diesel/JP8-fueled electric generators, environmental control units, and refrigerators/freezers for shipping containers. Commercial products include the QwikProduct™ line for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) technicians, details of which can be found at www.qwik.com. Areas of expertise include thermal control, energy conversion, turbomachinery, chemical technology, biomass conversion, and materials science.

For More Information
Brandon Scheckel Director of Business Development, Mainstream Engineering
321-305-5343
bscheckel@10.0.0.66