Dynamic model and experimental results of a thermally driven metal hydride cooling system

This paper presents a dynamic model and experimental results of a metal hydride cooling system based on a coupled pair of reactors: a hot reaction bed (alloy LmNi4.91Sn0.15) and a cold reaction bed (Ti0.99Zr0.01V0.43Fe0.09Cr0.05Mn1.5). The driving power is waste heat removed at high temperature (130 °C). Metal hydride reactors can have interesting applications in thermal storage systems, refrigeration and heat pumps. The experimental setup is described, as well as the governing equations of the model. Correlations are used for the relationship between the equilibrium pressure, hydrogen concentration and temperature. An innovative approach is used for the modelling of hysteresis. The simulation results are compared and validated with experimental measurements during dynamic refrigeration cycles.