Experimental and theoretical study of metal-hydride reactors

Hydrogen absorption in LaNi5-H-2 reactor is experimentally and theoretically investigated. Two different reactors were designed and hydrogen gas was charged at constant temperature at constant pressure. Temperature changes in the tanks during the hydrogen charge were measured at several locations and readings of the data were continued until the temperature has stabilized. In the theoretical program, a two dimensional mathematical model, which considers complex heat and mass transfer during this process is developed and numerically solved. The numerical results are compared with the measured data to validate the mathematical model. A reasonable agreement between the numerical results and experimental data is obtained.