Multi Tubular Metal Hydride Reactor With an Integrated Buffer Storage

A multi tubular metal hydride reactor with integrated buffer storage arrangement comprising:

• i. Shell housing for heat transfer fluid (HTF) wherein water acts as a cooling/heating HTF;
• ii. 7 metal hydride (MH) tubes filled with LaNis metal hydride powder within the shell wherein each MH tube has embedded heat transfer unit (fin assembly) in MH powder for heat transferring from and to the central core;
• iii. 4 longitudinal fins inserted in each MH tubes which are fixed to 5 central rings to enhance the heat transfer and for uniform metal hydride filling throughout the tubes;
• The thickness of each fin plate;
• diameter, thickness and length of central rings is optimized and based on the mechanical strength consideration, uniform distribution of MH powder and heat transfer area required. For any higher capacity, the number of fins, its thickness, diameter and length and number of central rings would vary as per capacity;
• iv. 4 baffle plates for supporting the MH tube which also provide additional heat transfer surface area and create turbulence for heat transfer;
• v. Hydrogen gas (H2) inlet into the integrated buffer and acting on the circular area providing sufficient area for hydrogen inlet while minimizing the pressure loss;
• vi. Two end plates to separate the HTF and gas circuits;
• vii. MH tubes protrude the top and bottom plate;
• viii. Disc filter to separate the gas and MH powder during the desorption operation as well as to supply hydrogen to the MH tubes;
• ix. Two hemispherical covers to close the top and bottom portions of the reactor;
• x. The volume enclosed within top hemispherical cover and top end plate act as integrated buffer hydrogen storage;
• xi. Inlet and outlet for HTF across the shell to allow the flow of the HTF inside the shell area of the reactor.