Abstract
In order to take maximum advantage of the extremely high gravimetric and volumetric hydrogen capacities of metal hydride stores employing hydrides with working temperatures higher than 300°C like magnesium hydride and Reactive Hydride Composites (e.g. LiBH4/MgH2 with 10wt.%), these have to be properly integrated with applications, operating at a compatible temperature level. In solid oxide cells (electrolysers, fuel cells or reversible cells), temperatures of more than 600 to 1000°C are readily available. Another high temperature application is heat storage in solar power generation plants, where temperatures between 400 and 600 °C are common and up to 1000 °C are intended in the future. However, there is the challenge to efficiently transfer the heat at that temperature level to the metal hydride containing vessel for release of the hydrogen. Commonly used heat transfer oils are not suitable anymore for these high temperatures. Heat pipe based solutions have to be adapted very specifically to the size of the cell and the store and thus are difficult to scale-up, which rules them out for heat storage applications.
This poster describes a novel air-based heat transfer solution without any moving parts in the hot air circuit. It allows for a mechanically simple construction, with low maintenance and operating costs. The basic design ideas are shown in this poster
