US 2026/0166514 A1Published application

Gaseously-parallel, fluidically-serial metal hydride reactor architecture

AssigneeJtec Energy, Inc.

InventorsJulian Leland BELL, Christopher SMITH, Stephen ZACK

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Abstract

A method of operating a metal hydride reactor system includes connecting thermal fluid channels of a first subset of reactors together in series and the gas ports to a first chamber, connecting thermal fluid channels of a second subset of reactors together in series and the gas ports to a second chamber. With each reactor at a different starting hydrogen concentration and substantially equal starting pressure, a first thermal fluid flows through the connected thermal fluid channels of the first subset to cause hydrogen desorption. A similar process occurs with the second subset and a second thermal fluid to cause hydrogen absorption. The method further includes heating a first exchange reactor separate from the first and second subsets to raise a temperature of its metal hydride bed, and cooling a second exchange reactor separate from the first and second subsets to reduce a temperature of its metal hydride bed.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method of operating a metal hydride reactor system, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of metal hydride reactors, each of the reactors having a metal hydride bed in fluid communication with a gas port, a thermal fluid channel in thermal communication with the metal hydride bed, a thermal fluid inlet, and a thermal fluid outlet;
connecting the thermal fluid channels of a first subset of the reactors to each other in series between a first thermal fluid source and a first return line and connecting the gas ports of the first subset of the reactors to a common first chamber operating at a first pressure;
connecting the thermal fluid channels of a second subset of the reactors to each other in series between a second thermal fluid source and a second return line and connecting the gas ports of the second subset of the reactors to a common second chamber operating at a second pressure lower than the first pressure;
with each of the first subset of the reactors having its respective metal hydride bed at a different starting hydrogen concentration and at substantially equal starting pressures, flowing a first thermal fluid from the first thermal fluid source through the connected thermal fluid channels of the first subset of the reactors to cause desorption of hydrogen stored in the metal hydride beds of the first subset of the reactors to the first chamber, the first thermal fluid having a first starting temperature;
with each of the second subset of the reactors having its respective metal hydride bed at a different starting hydrogen concentration and at substantially equal starting pressures, flowing a second thermal fluid from a second thermal fluid source through the connected thermal fluid channels of the second subset of the reactors to cause absorption of hydrogen from the second chamber into the metal hydride beds of the second subset of the reactors, the second thermal fluid having a second starting temperature that is lower than the first starting temperature;
heating a first exchange reactor separate from the first and second subsets of the reactors to raise a temperature of its metal hydride bed;
and
cooling a second exchange reactor separate from the first and second subsets of the reactors to reduce a temperature of its metal hydride bed.

5 more elements

A metal hydride reactor system comprising:

a first chamber operating at a first pressure;
a second chamber operating at a second pressure lower than the first pressure;
a first thermal fluid source providing a first thermal fluid having a first starting temperature;
a first return line for the first thermal fluid;
a second thermal fluid source providing a second thermal fluid having a second starting temperature that is lower than the first starting temperature;
a second return line for the second thermal fluid;
a plurality of metal hydride reactors, each of the reactors having a metal hydride bed in fluid communication with a gas port, a thermal fluid channel in thermal communication with the metal hydride bed, a thermal fluid inlet, and a thermal fluid outlet;
and
a plurality of valves configured to selectively enable:
connection of the thermal fluid channels of a first subset of the reactors to each other in series between the first thermal fluid source and the first return line and connection of the gas ports of the first subset of the reactors to the first chamber, each of the first subset of the reactors having its respective metal hydride bed at a different starting hydrogen concentration and at substantially equal starting pressures,
connection of the thermal fluid channels of a second subset of the reactors to each other in series between the second thermal fluid source and the second return line and connection of the gas ports of the second subset of the reactors to the second chamber, each of the second subset of the reactors having its respective metal hydride bed at a different starting hydrogen concentration and at substantially equal starting pressures,
isolation of a first exchange reactor from the first and second subsets of the reactors and the first and second chambers, and
isolation of a second exchange reactor from the first and second subsets of the reactors and the first and second chambers.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 19/411,841Filed 8 Dec 2025
Priority: 13 Dec 2024
Published: 18 Jun 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B01J 19/0046
Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus: sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of…
B01J 31/121
Containing organo-metallic compounds or metal hydrides: metal hydrides
B01J 2219/00306
Features relating to reactor vessels: reactor vessels in a multiple arrangement
B01J 2219/00337
Closures attached to the reactor vessels: valves