2D-axisymmetrical modeling and experimental study of hydrogen absorption in copper coated metal hydride

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy 2023-12, Vol.48 (97), p.38400-38411
• Main Authors: Atalmis, Gamze, Toros, Serkan, Timurkutluk, Bora, Kaplan, Yuksel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Axisymmetrical model; Copper coated powders; Hydrogen absorption kinetics; Hydrogen storage; Metal hydride reactor
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.06.091

The storage of hydrogen in metal hydride reactors is examined experimentally and numerically in this paper. In this respect, as-received LaNi5 powders are coated with different amounts of copper by using copper sulphate solution to accelerate the hydrogen charging processes. The thermal conductivity of the copper-coated storage material is found to reach up to 8 times of the uncoated powders. A two-dimensional axisymmetric model regarding complex heat and mass transfer occurring during hydrogen charging process in metal hydride reactors is numerically solved at macro level. The developed model is validated by using experimental data related to the amount of hydrogen stored and the reactor temperatures. In accordance with the experimental results, the simulation results show that more homogenous temperature distribution in the reactor can be obtained with the copper coating due to improved thermal properties. Moreover, charging time is also improved by the copper coating. However, since the reactor is loaded with coated/uncoated LaNi5 powders at the same weight of 65 g, the total amount of hydrogen stored decreases with the copper coating due to reduced amount of LaNi5. •LaNi5 powders are coated with copper to improve hydrogen storage performance.•Thermal conductivity is notably improved with copper additive.•Hydrogen charging time is significantly shortened with copper additive.•A 2D axisymmetrical model is developed to simulate the hydrogen storage.•The experimental and numerical results are in good agreement.