Studies on a dynamically coupled multifunctional metal hydride thermal battery

A pair of thermodynamically matched hydriding alloys is coupled to function as a thermal battery to store thermal energy and also to simultaneously produce heating/cooling effects. A simulation study is performed on coupled cylindrical reactors using COMSOL Multiphysics (R) software. This paper presents the thermal performance of dynamically coupled LaNi4.25Al0.75 -LaNi5 pair in which LaNi4.25Al0.75 is used for thermal energy storage at 150 degrees C. LaNi5 is mainly used for hydrogen storage, but also performs heating or cooling depending on the requirement. Three consecutive cycles consisting of a charging process followed by a discharging process are simulated. Overall system efficiency, specific heating and specific cooling capacities and heating and cooling coefficients of performance are estimated. This study confirms that metal hydride based thermal batteries consisting of suitable hydride pairs can be effectively used for harnessing and storing waste heat in the medium temperature levels of about 150 degrees C. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study confirms that metal hydride based thermal batteries consisting of suitable hydride pairs can be effectively used for harnessing and storing waste heat in the medium temperature levels of about 150 degrees C.