Apparatus and method for transferring heat to and from a bed of metal hydrides

Patent · Tue Jan 29 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5555290

Woolley, R L

A method and apparatus are disclosed for transferring heat to or from metal hydrides contained in storage containers as hydrogen gas is being charged to or withdrawn from the storage containers, wherein the hydrogen gas being charged to or withdrawn from the storage containers functions as a convective energy carrier. A plurality of the containers are connected together in flow communication in series, so that when a pressure differential is established across the series of containers, hydrogen gas associated with the metal hydride will flow from one container to the next container in the direction of the lower pressure. A pressure differential is created across the series of containers by charging hydrogen to either the first or last container in the series, or by withdrawing hydrogen from either the first or last container in a series of containers that has been previously charged with hydrogen. Hydrogen gas flowing through the conduits connecting adjacent containers is heated or cooled in heat exchanger means associated with the conduits. The pressure differential across the series of containers can be periodically reversed by periodically alternating charging hydrogen to the first and last containers of the series during the charging of said containers, and by periodically alternating the discharge of hydrogen from the first and last containers of the series when hydrogen is being withdrawn from the series of containers.

• Assignee: Billings Energy Research Corp
• Patent Number(s): US 4185979
• OSTI ID: 5555290
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
080201* -- Hydrogen-- Chemisorption Storage
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360105 -- Metals & Alloys-- Corrosion & Erosion
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALLOYS
CALCIUM ALLOYS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM HYDRIDES
CERIUM ALLOYS
CERIUM BASE ALLOYS
CONTAINERS
CONVECTION
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUIDS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT TRANSFER
HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN STORAGE
IRON ALLOYS
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON HYDRIDES
LANTHANUM ALLOYS
LANTHANUM COMPOUNDS
LANTHANUM HYDRIDES
MANGANESE ALLOYS
MANGANESE COMPOUNDS
MANGANESE HYDRIDES
MISCH METAL
NICKEL ALLOYS
NICKEL COMPOUNDS
NICKEL HYDRIDES
PRESSURE DROP
PRESSURE DROP IRON ALLOYS
RARE EARTH ALLOYS
RARE EARTH COMPOUNDS
STORAGE
TITANIUM ALLOYS
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TITANIUM HYDRIDES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS