Hydrogen gas storing device

Abstract

A plurality of MH tank modules ( 13 ) each include a cylindrical porous member ( 14 ). The porous member ( 14 ) is formed as a hydrogen flow path ( 15 ) through which hydrogen can flow and has straight grooves formed on the outer circumferential surface. A plurality of fins ( 17 ) are attached to the porous member ( 14 ). A first edge and a second edge of each fin ( 17 ) are fitted in different grooves. The fins ( 17 ) define a plurality of accommodation chambers ( 19 ) for accommodating MH powder P. The MH tank modules ( 13 ) are accommodated in the housing while being arranged adjacent to each other to form a predetermined shape. Heat medium pipes ( 22 a, 22 b ) are arranged in the housing ( 12 ) so as to contact the fins ( 17 ) and correspond to the accommodation chambers ( 19 ). Heat medium flows through the heat medium pipes ( 22 a, 2 b ). Therefore, it is possible to provide a hydrogen gas storing device that easily increases the number of places to be installed in and facilitates the installment.

1 . A hydrogen gas storing device comprising:
 a plurality of tank modules each having a cylindrical member and a plurality of fins, the cylindrical member having a cylindrical wall, through which hydrogen can flow, and a plurality of grooves formed on the outer circumferential surface, the fins being attached to the grooves of the cylindrical member, wherein one edge and another edge of each fin are attached to the grooves of the cylindrical member so that a plurality of accommodation chambers for accommodating hydrogen absorbing metal are defined;   a housing accommodating the tank modules such that the tank modules are adjacent to each other and form a predetermined shape; and   a plurality of flow paths through which heat medium flows, wherein each flow path is arranged in the housing so as to be correspond to one or more of the accommodation chambers while contacting one or more of the fins.   
     
     
         2 . The hydrogen gas storing device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the flow paths is located between two or more of the tank modules. 
     
     
         3 . The hydrogen gas storing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow paths extend in a direction parallel with the axial direction of the cylindrical members. 
     
     
         4 . The hydrogen gas storing device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the flow paths is arranged to contact two or more of the fins. 
     
     
         5 . The hydrogen gas storing device according to  claim 1 , wherein a cross section of each tank module taken along a direction perpendicular to the center axis of the cylindrical member is shaped as a polygon, and wherein at least one of the flow paths is located at a position that corresponds to corners of two or more tank modules. 
     
     
         6 . The hydrogen gas storing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow paths include a flow path through which heat medium flows in a direction from a first end toward a second end of the tank modules, and a flow path through which heat medium flows in a direction from the second end toward the first end of the tank modules. 
     
     
         7 . The hydrogen gas storing device according to  claim 1 , wherein each fin is bent to include a pair of partition portions that extend toward the corresponding cylindrical member and an outer wall portion that is continuous to the partition portions, one edge and another edge of the fin being attached to different grooves so as to one of the accommodation chambers, and
 wherein, in a state where the fins are attached to the cylindrical members, the outer wall portions function as outer walls of the tank modules.   
     
     
         8 . The hydrogen gas storing device according to  claim 1 , wherein each fin has in its part a curved portion projecting into the corresponding accommodation chamber.