Hydrogen storage tank
AssigneesKabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsKatsuyoshi Fujita, Hidehito Kubo, Masahiko Kimbara, Daigoro Mori
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Abstract
A tank main body accommodates a heat exchanger including a heating medium pipe. A plurality of heat exchanger fins are coupled to the heating medium pipe to divide the interior of the tank main body into a plurality of spaces. A hydrogen storage alloy is provided in the spaces. An absorption portion is provided in the spaces. The absorption portion is deformed by a force generated by expansion of the hydrogen storage alloy, thereby absorbing the force. Therefore, the heat exchanger is prevented from being deformed or damaged even if the bulk density of the hydrogen storage alloy is reduced due to expansion and pulverization of the hydrogen storage alloy.
Claims16
A hydrogen storage tank comprising:
- a tank main body;
- a hydrogen storage alloy accommodated in the tank main body, wherein the hydrogen storage alloy expands when storing hydrogen;
- and
- a heat exchanger accommodated in the tank main body, wherein the heat exchanger includes:
- a heating medium pipe, through which a heating medium flows;
- a plurality of heat exchanger fins coupled to the heating medium pipe to divide the interior of the tank main body into a plurality of spaces, the hydrogen storage alloy is provided in the spaces;
- and
- an absorption portion provided in the spaces, wherein the absorption portion is deformed by a force generated by expansion of the hydrogen storage alloy, thereby absorbing the force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.