Experimental investigation and mathematical modeling of a hydrogen storage metal hydride reactor-phase change material system

Researchers are investigating the integration of metal hydride reactors (MHR) with phase change materials (PCMs) to enhance hydrogen storage and thermal energy management. This approach, first proposed in 2013, combines two technologies for improved thermal management and energy efficiency. Despite numerous numerical studies, experimental investigations on MHR-PCM integration remain limited. This study experimentally evaluates an MHR filled with TiMn2-type hydride and coconut oil PCM, achieving a maximum hydrogen storage efficiency of 40% at specific ab/desorption pressures of 16/0.05 bar. Adding 1 wt% of additives like graphite, Al2O3 2 O 3 and MgO, significantly reduces absorption time and boosts hydrogen storage capacity by 11%. Additionally, two-dimensional numerical modeling was developed, validating experimental results with less than +/- 8% error, thus demonstrating the effectiveness of MHR-PCM systems in hydrogen storage applications.