Integration of a PEM fuel cell with a metal hydride tank for stationary applications

•Integrated power system with a commercial fuel cell and a hydrogen storage system.•Tanks were designed for the integration with the PEM FC.•During desorption tests, almost all the hydrogen stored in the tank could be desorbed.•The integrated power system can work for 6 h providing an average power of 0.76 kW.

An integrated power system of a PEM fuel cell and hydride tanks designed for stationary applications is described. The work was focused on different aspects related to the development of the metal hydride tank and to its integration with the fuel cell, using water as thermal fluid. A commercially available LaNi4.8Al0.2 intermetallic compound was chosen as hydrogen storage material, having sorption characteristics adequate to the working conditions of the system (i.e. 60 °C and 1 atm). Tanks were constituted by stainless steel, together with copper fins for improving heat exchanges between the thermal fluid and the tank. The performances of the integrated system were tested in different working conditions, in order to evaluate its reliability and efficiency. The system can operate for about 6 h, at an average power of 0.76 kW and delivering a total energy of 4.8 kW h, consuming about 3120 Nl of H2.