Researchers enhance hydrogen absorption in metallic hydrides utilizing semi-cylindrical coil warmth exchanger

Researchers from the College of Know-how Sydney (UTS) and Queensland College of Know-how (QUT) have developed a brand new technique to enhance hydrogen absorption in metallic hydrides. An open-access paper on their method is printed in Scientific Studies.

Metallic hydrides (MH) are often called one of the appropriate materials teams for hydrogen power storage due to their massive hydrogen storage capability, low working stress, and excessive security. Nevertheless, their sluggish hydrogen absorption kinetics considerably decreases storage efficiency. Quicker warmth removing from MH storage can play a vital position to boost its hydrogen absorption fee, leading to higher storage efficiency.

On this regard, the current research goals to enhance warmth switch efficiency to positively influence the hydrogen absorption fee of MH storage programs. A novel semi-cylindrical coil is first designed and optimized for hydrogen storage and embedded as an inside warmth exchanger with air as the warmth switch fluid (HTF).

… Outcomes from this research display that MH storage efficiency is considerably improved by utilizing a semi-cylindrical coil warmth exchanger (SCHE). The hydrogen absorption period reduces by 59% in comparison with a standard helical coil warmth exchanger. The bottom coil pitch from SCHE results in a 61% discount of the absorption time. When it comes to working parameters for the MH storage with SCHE, all chosen parameters present a significant enchancment within the hydrogen absorption course of, particularly the inlet temperature of the HTF.

—Larpruenrudee et al.

An issue with metallic hydride for hydrogen power storage has been its low thermal conductivity, which ends up in sluggish charging and discharging instances. First writer Puchanee Larpruenrudee, a PhD candidate within the UTS Faculty of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, stated sooner warmth removing leads to sooner charging instances.

A number of inside warmth exchangers have been designed to be used with metallic hydride hydrogen storage. These embody straight tubes, helical coil or spiral tubes, U-shape tubes, and fins. Utilizing a helical coil considerably improves warmth and mass switch contained in the storage. That is because of the secondary circulation and having extra floor space for warmth removing from the metallic hydride powder to the cooling fluid. Our research additional developed a helical coil to extend warmth switch efficiency.

—Puchanee Larpruenrudee

The researchers developed a semi-cylindrical coil as an inside warmth exchanger, which considerably improved warmth switch efficiency. The hydrogen charging time was decreased by 59% when utilizing the brand new semi-cylindrical coil in comparison with a standard helical coil warmth exchanger.

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Traits of chosen geometries for metallic hydride reactors. (a) With helical tube warmth exchanger, and (b) with semi-cylindrical tube warmth exchanger. Larpruenrudee et al.


They’re now engaged on the numerical simulation of the hydrogen desorption course of, and persevering with to enhance absorption instances. The semi-cylindrical coil warmth exchanger can be additional developed for this goal.

The researchers goal to develop a brand new design for hydrogen power storage, which is able to mix different varieties of warmth exchangers. They hope to additionally work with trade companions to research actual tank efficiency primarily based on the brand new warmth exchanger.

Sources

  • Larpruenrudee, P., Bennett, N.S., Gu, Y. et al. (2022) “Design optimization of a magnesium-based metallic hydride hydrogen power storage system.” Sci Rep 12, 13436 doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-17120-3

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