Measurement and Simulation of Transient Phenomena in Metal Hydride Bed

The article analyses the measurement with increased absorption kinetics of hydrogen into the La0.85Ce0.15Ni5 alloy. Within a time interval of 180 s an amount of 0.142 kg (1.58 m3) of hydrogen was absorbed into 56 kg of alloy. The process of absorption was accompanied by an increased temperature of the bed. Therefore it was simultaneously cooled by a cooler using Peltier elements. The numerical calculation of non-stationary heat transfer within the bed was performed with a known amount of heat generated in the bed, known temperatures and flow rates. Simulation results allow us to determine temperature time paths at key points of the bed and give insight on the transient phenomena which occurs in the extreme load of the metal hydride (MH) bed. This allows establishing safe limits for the absorption of hydrogen into a particular alloy.