Hydrogen storage properties of TixFe + y wt.% La and its use in metal hydride hydrogen compressor

In this work, the hydrogen storage properties of TixFe + y wt.% La (x = 1.0–1.2; y = 0–5) alloys have been studied systematically. The results showed that overstoichiometry of Ti and addition of small amount of La remarkably improve the activation behavior of TiFe alloy, and the mechanism is discussed briefly. Ti1.1Fe + 5 wt.% La alloy, which has admirable activation characteristics and hydrogen storage properties, was selected as the alloy for metal hydride hydrogen compressors. With this alloy two single tube hydrogen compressor prototypes were designed and built, and the compression characteristics were tested. With oil as the cooling and heating media, the compressors can produce high-pressure (45 MPa) and ultrapure hydrogen (99.9999% pure) simultaneously from industrial grade hydrogen (99% pure) with pressure of 2.0 MPa. It may be an economical technique to refill hydrogen into high-pressure vessel for a hydrogen refueling stations.