Metal hydride based vehicular exhaust cooler

Abstract

A metal hydride heat pump comprising a first compartment, including a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet, wherein the first fluid inlet is configured for fluid communication with the first fluid outlet; a second compartment, including a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet, wherein the first fluid inlet is configured for fluid communication with the second fluid outlet; and a plurality of metal hydride vessels, each of the vessels being mounted to and disposed within each of the first and second compartments, and each of the vessels containing at least a hydrided form of a low temperature metal hydride material, a hydridable form of a high temperature metal hydride material, and gaseous hydrogen, wherein the hydridable form of a high temperature metal hydride material is in fluid communication with the hydrided form of a low temperature metal hydride material, such that heat can be transferred from (a) fluid flowing through the first compartment to (b) the hydrided form of a low temperature metal hydride material, so as to effect desorption of hydrogen from the hydrided form of a low temperature metal hydride material, and such that the hydridable form of a high temperature metal hydride material is configured to absorb the desorbed hydrogen and generate heat upon the absorption such that the generated heat can be transferred to fluid flowing through the second compartment; wherein each of the vessels has an external surface area, and defines an internal volume for containing at least the hydrided form of a low temperature metal hydride material, the hydridable form of a high temperature metal hydride material, and gaseous hydrogen, wherein a ratio of the external surface area to the internal volume is greater than 45 inches 2 per cubic inch.

1 . A metal hydride heat pump comprising: 
 a first compartment, including a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet, wherein the first fluid inlet is configured for fluid communication with the first fluid outlet;    a second compartment, including a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet, wherein the first fluid inlet is configured for fluid communication with the second fluid outlet; and    a plurality of metal hydride vessels, each of the vessels being mounted to and disposed within each of the first and second compartments, and each of the vessels containing at least a hydrided form of a low temperature metal hydride material, a hydridable form of a high temperature metal hydride material, and gaseous hydrogen, wherein the hydridable form of a high temperature metal hydride material is in fluid communication with the hydrided form of a low temperature metal hydride material, such that heat can be transferred from (a) fluid flowing through the first compartment to (b) the hydrided form of a low temperature metal hydride material, so as to effect desorption of hydrogen from the hydrided form of a low temperature metal hydride material, and such that the hydridable form of a high temperature metal hydride material is configured to absorb the desorbed hydrogen and generate heat upon the absorption such that the generated heat can be transferred to fluid flowing through the second compartment;    wherein each of the vessels has an external surface area, and defines an internal volume for containing at least the hydrided form of a low temperature metal hydride material, the hydridable form of a high temperature metal hydride material, and gaseous hydrogen, wherein a ratio of the external surface area to the internal volume is greater than 45 inches 2  per cubic inch.    
   
   
       2 . The metal hydride heat pump as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the vessels extends between the first and second compartments, and also extends into each of the first and second compartments.  
   
   
       3 . The metal hydride heat pump as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the low temperature metal hydride material is contained in a portion of the internal volume of the vessel disposed in the first compartment, and the high temperature metal hydride material is contained in a portion of the internal volume of the vessel disposed in the second compartment.  
   
   
       4 . The metal hydride heat pump as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the internal volume of the vessel contains an amount of metal hydride material consisting essentially of (i) an amount of a hydrided and/or a hydridable form of a low temperature metal hydride material, and (ii) an amount of a hydrided and/or a hydridable form of a high temperature metal hydride material, and wherein the amount of a hydrided and/or a hydridable form of a low temperature metal hydride material is substantially disposed in a portion of the internal volume of the vessel disposed in the first compartment, and wherein the amount of a hydrided and/or a hydridable form of a high temperature metal hydride material is substantially disposed in a portion of the internal volume of the vessel disposed in the second compartment.  
   
   
       5 . The metal hydride heat pump as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the amount of a hydrided and/or a hydridable form of a low temperature metal hydride material has a first maximum hydrogen storage capacity, and wherein the amount of a hydrided and/or a hydridable form of a high temperature metal hydride material has a second maximum hydrogen storage capacity, such that the first maximum hydrogen storage capacity is 1% to 10% greater than the second maximum hydrogen storage capacity.  
   
   
       6 . The metal hydride heat pump as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the first maximum hydrogen storage capacity is 3% to 10% greater than the second maximum hydrogen storage capacity.  
   
   
       7 . The metal hydride heat pump as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the first maximum hydrogen storage capacity is 5% to 10% greater than the second maximum hydrogen storage capacity.  
   
   
       8 . The metal hydride heat pump as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the low temperature metal hydride material is Ti F Zr G Hf H Mn J V K Fe L Cr M Ni N , and wherein the high temperature metal hydride material is Hf A Zr B Ti C Ni D Mm E .  
   
   
       9 . The metal hydride heat pump as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ratio is greater than 89.  
   
   
       10 . The metal hydride heat pump as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the ratio is greater than 176.  
   
   
       11 . The metal hydride heat pump as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fluids flowing through each of the first and second compartments is gaseous.  
   
   
       12 . The metal hydride heat pump as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the vessels is in the form of an elongated tube sealed at both ends.  
   
   
       13 . The metal hydride heat pump as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the material of construction of each of the vessels is a stainless steel alloy comprising less than 3 weight percent of carbon based on the total weight of the stainless steel alloy.  
   
   
       14 . The metal hydride heat pump as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein each of the low temperature metal hydride material and the high temperature metal hydride material is disproportionation resistant.  
   
   
       15 . The metal hydride heat pump as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the high temperature metal hydride material is Ti F Zr G Hf H Mn J V K Fe L Cr M Ni N .  
   
   
       16 . A metal hydride heat pump comprising: 
 a compartment, including a first gas inlet and a first gas outlet, wherein the first gas inlet is configured for fluid communication with the first gas outlet; and    a plurality of metal hydride vessels, each of the vessels being mounted to and disposed within the compartment, and each of the vessels containing at least a metal hydride material;    wherein the material of construction of each of the vessels is a stainless steel alloy comprising less than 3 weight percent of carbon based on the total weight of the stainless steel alloy.    
   
   
       17 . A metal hydride heat pump comprising: 
 a compartment, including a first gas inlet and a first gas outlet, wherein the first gas inlet is configured for fluid communication with the first gas outlet; and    a plurality of metal hydride vessels, each of the vessels being mounted to and disposed within the compartment, and each of the vessels containing at least a metal hydride material and gaseous hydrogen;    wherein each of the vessels has an external surface area, and defines an internal volume for containing at least the metal hydride material and gaseous hydrogen, wherein a ratio of the external surface area to the internal volume is greater than 45 inches 2  per cubic inch.    
   
   
       18 . The metal hydride heat pump as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the ratio is greater than 89.  
   
   
       19 . The metal hydride heat pump as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the ratio is greater than 176.