Using the copper-foam for thermal conductivity improvement of La0.9Ce0.1Ni5-alloy bed during interaction with hydrogen

Abstract

One of the main obstacles to the development of hydrogen energy is the problem of heat transfer inside metal hydride beds. Thus, the problem of increasing the metal hydride beds thermal conductivity is of great interest. This study is devoted to the investigation of the hydrogen sorption properties of an intermetallic compound placed in a matrix of foam material. Copper-foam with mass of 8 g was chosen as a matrix for 50 g of powder of activated AB5-type alloy with composition of La0.9Ce0.1Ni5. PCT-isotherms of hydrogen absorption and desorption were measured at temperatures 313, 333 and 353 K. Also, the dynamics of temperature change in the sample was studied when it was heated under vacuum conditions. The obtained data were compared with the results of previous studies conducted under the same conditions for samples of pure alloy and a mixture of alloy with copper powder. It has been concluded that the use of copper-foam to improve the thermal conductivity is promising, but it is necessary to take into account its influence on the hydrogen sorption properties of metal hydrides.