Experimental hydrogen sorption study on a LaNi5-based 5 kg reactor with novel conical fins and water tubes and its numerical scale-up through a modular approach

Hydrogen sorption characteristics of 5 kg-LaNi5 reactor featuring conical fins and heat transfer tubes is experimentally studied at various water flow rates (V-s:2.5, 5, 7 LPM), inlet temperatures (T-s:30, 25, 20 degrees C), hydrogen pressures (P-s:10, 15, 20, 25 bar). Higher V-s, P-s, and lower T-s yield faster absorption through higher driving force (proportional to ln (P-s/P-eq), P-eq: equilibrium pressure). Ninety percent absorption takes similar to 12.3 and similar to 13.7 min at V-s:7 and 2.5 LPM (P-s:15 bar, T-s:30 degrees C). Faster atmospheric desorption needs higher T-s and/or V-s offering higher driving force (proportional to (1-(1/P-eq)). 90% desorption takes similar to 20.1 and similar to 21.8 min for initial bed temperatures of 60 and 30 degrees C, (V-s:5 LPM, T-s:60 degrees C). Absorption of this 'Single Reactor' and five/ten (25/50 kg) such reactors in series and parallel are studied numerically. Series configuration stores five/ten-times hydrogen than 'Single Reactor' within the same duration by doubling/tripling V-s (same P-s, T-s). Parallel configuration requires proportional water supply.