Segmented hydride battery including an improved hydrogen storage means

Abstract

An apparatus for and method of storing hydrogen gas within an enclosed metal hydride container that is isolated from an apparatus which uses hydrogen gas, including a constricted opening having a valve to selectively open or close the hydrogen gas communication between the hydrogen storage container and the apparatus using the hydrogen. The hydrogen storage material within the hydrogen storage container comprises mixture of metal hydride particles with interspersed water adsorbing particles, such as silica gel dessicant. Optionally included within the hydrogen gas communication between the storage and use may be a filter for filtering out oxygen and water vapor molecules from the hydrogen stream passing into the metal hydride particles, and may comprise a coating on each of the hydrogen absorbing metal hydride particles disposed within the hydrogen storage chamber. The enclosed metal hydride chamber may be disposed either within the containment of the battery cells another apparatus using the hydrogen gas or alternatively, the chamber may be external of the apparatus. A preferred corrosion resistant metal hydride may be used comprising Lanthanum Nickel Aluminum (LaNi.sub.4.7 Al.sub.0.3) or La.sub.0.8 Nd.sub.0.2 Ni.sub.3.5 Co.sub.1.3 Al.sub.0.2.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.