Device for charging and activating hydrogen storage canister

Abstract

A device for charging and activating hydrogen storage canisters made of hydrogen storage alloy includes a container for receiving and retaining the canisters. Cold and hot water tanks are respectively connected to the container for supplying cold and hot water to and through the container in order to maintain desired temperatures of the canisters. A vacuum pump is connected to the canisters for discharging residual hydrogen from the canisters in an activating process. Hot water is supplied from the hot water tank to the container to heat the canisters during the discharging process. A hydrogen supply source is connected to the connectors via a distribution and charge control unit for supplying and distributing hydrogen to each individual canister. Cold water is supplied from the cold water tank to the container for removing excessive heat of the canisters in order to maintain a proper charging rate of hydrogen. In addition, by repeating the charging and discharging processes, the hydrogen storage alloy of the canisters is activated.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.