Experimental study of metal hydride-based hydrogen storage tank at constant supply pressure

• A prototype of metal hydride hydrogen storage tank is proposed.
• The influencing parameters on the tanks performance are studied.
• Pressure step responses of the reactor are studied.

Metal hydride-based hydrogen storage tank is tested using 1 kg of AB5 alloy, namely LaNi5. The hydrogen tank is of annular cylindrical with inner and outer heat exchangers. The inner one is a finned spiral heat exchanger and the outer one is a conventional jacket. Performance (storage capacity and storage time) studies are carried out by varying the supply pressure and the cooling temperature of the hydride bed. At any given cooling temperature, hydrogen storage rate is found to increase with supply pressure. Cooling temperature is found to have a significant effect on hydrogen storage capacity at lower supply pressures.