Flexible hydrogen delivery mechanism for storage and recovery of hydrogen

Abstract

A conduit passage for use in transfer of hydrogen gas within a hydride system, including tubular members semi-permeable to hydrogen gas, permit hydrogen gas to pass through but not oxygen or other gases. The tubular members may comprise a flexible elastic polymeric material, such as polysulfone, polypropylene or polyethylene, including a central conduit passage, for providing hydrogen gas flow, the direction of the hydrogen flow depending on whether hydrogen is being absorbed or desorbed by the metal hydride. Simultaneously, the tube material, acting as a flexible spine, essentially fixes the hydride powder and prevents it from shifting about within the container, as well as being carried away in the hydrogen flow. Sections of the tubular member material may be interspersed throughout the hydride material to provide for peripheral hydrogen dispersion and to accommodate compressive stress forces that may develop as a result of the expansion of the hydride material during hydrogen absorption.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.