JPH05302699A - Storage container for metal hydride - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase the hydrogen desorption efficiency by dividing a housing that stores multiple containers housing hydrogen storage alloy into two fluid rooms and providing a straightening vane for fluid flowing inside of the housing. CONSTITUTION:A container 1 forms a double structure together with a filter 6, metal hydride 5 is filled between the container 1 and the filter 6, and an inner porosity of the filter 6 is communicated with a port 2c to secure the flow space for hydrogen. The fluid introduced from the inlet port 2a of a housing 2 flows into a fluid room 3a, and flows into a fluid room 3b after passing through a straightening vane 4. The fluid passes through the hole of a manifold 7 thereafter and is led to the outside of the housing 2 via an outlet port 2b. The straightening vane 4 functions to diffuse the fluid flowing into the fluid room 3a to the fluid room 3b uniformly. In this way, hydrogen desorbed from metal hydride can be performed efficiently.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Object of the Invention]

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hydrogen storage device, and more particularly to a storage container for storing metal hydride (hydrogen storage alloy) which stores hydrogen.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a gas cylinder type for storing vaporized hydrogen or a tank type for storing liquid hydrogen is used. In recent years, a method using metal hydride (hydrogen storage alloy) is being used as a method for storing hydrogen. Since the principle of metal hydride itself is well known, its detailed description is omitted. Briefly, metal hydride means that hydrogen is adsorbed on a metal hydride that has an adsorptivity to store hydrogen, and conversely, the metal hydride is heated to release the adsorbed hydrogen.

As an example of such a metal hydride device, a paper entitled "Application of hydride to hydrogen vehicle" was reported by Daimler Benz at the 7th IEA research meeting held in May 1987. ing.
In this paper, it is shown that a metal hydride device is mounted on a vehicle, and the application of the metal hydride device to a practical vehicle is reported.

[0005]

In the metal hydride device described in the above-mentioned prior art, hot water is supplied into the device in order to release hydrogen from the metal hydride, but the hot water is evenly distributed in the metal hydride device. There was a possibility that the hydrogen stored in the metal hydride device could not be released efficiently without circulation. For this reason, there is a fear that the adsorbed hydrogen cannot be completely released from the metal hydride.

The present invention has the above-mentioned problems of the prior art,
That is, it was made in order to solve the problem that hydrogen stored in metal hydride can be efficiently released.

[0007]

[Constitution of the invention]

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The technical measures taken to solve the above technical problems are as follows: a plurality of containers in which metal hydrides (hydrogen storage alloys) are stored; And a housing in which a fluid inflow / outflow port is formed, and a fluid which is fixed inside the housing facing the fluid inflow port and divides the housing into first and second fluid chambers to flow through the housing. That is, a rectifying plate that functions to rectify is provided.

[0009]

By taking the above technical means, it has become possible to make the flow of the fluid flowing in the housing containing the metal hydride uniform.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a metal hydride container according to the present invention as seen obliquely. Reference numeral 1 denotes a container in which metal hydride is stored, and in FIG. 1, 12 containers are accommodated in a housing 2. Two
Reference numeral a denotes a fluid inlet provided on one side surface of the housing 2, and an outlet 2b provided on the other side surface. The heated fluid is guided into the housing 2 by the inflow port 2a. In this case, the medium introduced into the inflow port 2a is a fluid and is not limited as long as it is a medium capable of absorbing the amount of heat enough to release hydrogen from the metal hydride.

A fluid chamber 3 is defined inside the housing 2. A rectifying plate 4 described later is fixed to the inflow port 2a side in the housing 2. The current plate 4 is arranged so as to be parallel to the side surface of the housing 2.
The flow chamber 4 divides the fluid chamber of the housing 2 into a first fluid chamber 3a and a second flow chamber 3b. In addition, 2c provided on the upper surface of the housing 2 is a port that also serves to supply hydrogen to the metal hydride connected to the manifold 7 connected to each container 1 and to release hydrogen from the metal hydride.

The embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2 which is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. The container 1 is filled with metal hydride alloy powder 5 that adsorbs hydrogen. The container 1 has a double tube structure together with the filter 6, and the metal hydride 5 is filled between the container 1 and the filter 6. The inner cavity of the filter 6 communicates with the port 2c, which secures a hydrogen flow space.

The flow of fluid introduced into the housing 2 follows the arrow shown in FIG. First, the fluid introduced from the inflow port 2a flows into the first fluid chamber 3a, passes through the current plate 4, and then flows into the second fluid chamber 3b. Then, the fluid passes through the hole of the manifold 7 and is guided to the outside of the housing 2 through the outflow port 2b. The current plate 4 fixed inside the housing 2 allows the fluid flowing into the first fluid chamber 3a to flow into the second fluid chamber 3a.
It functions to uniformly diffuse in b. Moreover, the current plate 3
The distance from the side surface of the housing 2 is determined as an optimum position according to the diameter of the inflow port 2a and the flow velocity of the fluid.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are plan views of the current plate 4. FIG. 3 shows an inflow port 2 provided in the housing 2.
FIG. 3 shows an implementation shape of the rectifying plate 4 when a is provided at a position indicated by I in the drawing (about the center). On the other hand,
In FIG. 4, the inflow port 2a provided in the housing 2 is indicated by I in the figure.
9 shows an implementation shape of the rectifying plate 4 when it is provided at the position (upper part) shown in FIG. As is clear from any of the implementation shapes, the opening 4 near the portion where the inflow port 2a faces
a is set to a relatively small opening diameter. On the other hand, the opening diameter is set larger as the inlet 2a moves away from the facing portion. It should be noted that no opening is formed in the straightening vane 4 in the portion facing the inflow port 2a. According to the above-described embodiment, by making the opening diameter small in the portion where the flow velocity is relatively fast and making the opening diameter large in the portion where the flow velocity is relatively slow, the fluid can be uniformly diffused into the first fluid chamber 3a, and the fluid around the container 1 can be surrounded. It functions to equalize the temperature of flowing fluid. Although the shape of the opening is circular in this embodiment, the shape of the opening is not limited to the circular shape, and a square shape, a triangular shape, or the like can be appropriately selected and used. Further, even if various kinds of opening shapes are combined to form the openings in the current plate, it does not depart from the gist of the present invention.

[0016]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION By taking the technical means of the present invention, when a fluid is acted on a container filled with metal hydride to release hydrogen, the fluid can be uniformly acted on the container. Therefore, the release of hydrogen from the metal hydride can be efficiently promoted. Further, even if the specifications such as the flow rate are changed, it can be dealt with only by changing the rectifying plate, which greatly contributes to the cost reduction of the apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a metal hydride container according to the present invention as seen obliquely.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a current plate according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a current plate according to another embodiment different from FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Container 1 inflow port 2a outflow port 2b housing 2 first fluid chamber 3a second fluid chamber 3b straightening plate 4

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of containers in which metal hydrides (hydrogen storage alloys) are stored, a housing in which the containers are liquid-tightly housed to form a fluid inflow / outflow port, and a fluid inflow port facing each other. Fixed inside the housing,
A container for metal hydride, comprising a rectifying plate that divides the housing into first and second fluid chambers and rectifies the fluid flowing in the housing. 2. The plurality of openings for communicating the first and second fluid chambers are formed in the straightening plate, and the openings are enlarged as the openings are separated from a position facing a fluid inlet formed in the housing. The container for metal hydride according to claim 1.