Hydrogen storage and release apparatus

A hydrogen storage and release apparatus comprising:

• a heat exchanger main body through which heat gas and coolant passes for performing heat exchange;
• a heat exchanging portion provided in said exchanger main body, having a plurality of hydrogen storage alloy containers arranged substantially in parallel with each other, each hydrogen storage alloy container containing a hydrogen storage alloy therein for storing and releasing hydrogen;
• and
• a hydrogen-travelling passage connected to said hydrogen storage alloy containers and communicating to outside of said heat exchanger main body so that hydrogen can move;
• wherein, said plurality of hydrogen storage alloy containers are provided in said heat exchanging portion in such a manner that the heat exchanging efficiency on the heat gas discharge side of said heat exchanging portion is higher than that on the heat gas introduction side of said heat exchanging portion,
• wherein each hydrogen storage alloy container is constituted by a pipe containing a hydrogen storage alloy and an aeration material therein,
• said pipe bodies being arranged substantially in parallel so that gaps are formed among said pipe bodies, said heat exchanging portion being configured so that said heat gas passes through said gaps along a direction crossing a longitudinal direction of said pipe bodies,
• wherein diameters of the pipe bodies at the heat gas discharge side are equal to diameters of the pipe bodies at the heat gas introduction side,
• wherein the heat exchanging efficiency of said heat exchanging portion is made higher at the heat gas discharge side by providing fins on an outer surface of said hydrogen storage alloy containers contained in a discharge section of said exchanging portion.