HYCSOS: a chemical heat pump and energy system based on metal hydrides

Technical Report · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:7321498

Gruen, D M; Sheft, I; Lamich, G; Mendelsohn, M

The HYCSOS chemical heat pump and energy conversion system based on metal hydrides are described. The HYCSOS thermal energy storage and recovery modes; the chemical heat pump heating and cooling modes as well as the energy conversion mode are discussed in detail with the aid of heat transfer fluid and hydrogen flow diagrams. The thermodynamic efficiencies of the two metal hydride system are calculated for the heat pump and conversion modes. Design and construction features of a demonstration test facility which utilizes four stainless steel tanks holding 10 lbs. each of either LaNi/sub 5/ or CaNi/sub 5/ are given. The operation, instrumentation and control of the system is detailed with the aid of photographs, drawings and a system layout diagram. Initial operation of the system has shown that 33 moles of hydrogen can be transferred from CaNi/sub 5/ at approximately 100/sup 0/C to LaNi/sub 5/ at approximately 40/sup 0/C and recovered from LaNi/sub 5/ at approximately 8/sup 0/C to reform CaNi/sub 5/H/sub 4/ at 40/sup 0/C with cycle times approaching 2 minutes for 50 percent hydrogen transfer. The relevant data pertaining to these experiments are given in graphs and tables. The next phase of operations will be done on the fully insulated system to establish a firmer data base, obtain power balances and determine optimum operating parameters. In order to achieve these goals in a reasonable time frame, a data display and handling system is required. A materials development program is being carried out concurrently with HYCSOS operations. Significant progress is being made in the development of new, more cost effective alloy systems displaying superior properties for heat pump action.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 7321498
• Report Number(s): ANL-77-39
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250600 -- Energy Storage-- Thermal
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320100* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Buildings
AIR CONDITIONING
BUILDINGS
DESIGN
EQUIPMENT
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT PUMPS
HEATING
HOUSES
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SPACE HEATING
THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE EQUIPMENT