Methods and apparatus are disclosed for triggering an exothermic reaction under a high hydrogen loading rate. It is generally understood that a high hydrogen loading ratio is an important factor. The present application teaches that a high hydrogen loading rate, that is, achieving a high hydrogen loading ratio in a short period of time, is another important factor in determining whether excess heat can be observed in an exothermic reaction. The present application discloses methods and apparatus for achieving a high hydrogen loading rate in order to trigger an exothermic reaction.

A hydride heat engine produces electricity from a heat source, such as a solar heater. A plurality of metal hydride reservoirs are heated by the heating device and a working fluid comprises hydrogen is incrementally move from one metal hydride reservoir to a success metal hydride reservoir. The working fluid is passed, at a high pressure, from the last of the plurality of metal hydride reservoirs to an electro-chemical-expander. The electro-chemical-expander has an anode, a cathode, and an ionomer therebetween. The hydrogen is passed from the anode at high pressure to the cathode at lower pressure and electricity is generated. The solar heater may be a solar water heater and the hot water may heat the metal hydride reservoirs to move the hydrogen. The working fluid may move in a closed loop.

Disclosed are systems and methods that utilize a solid hydrogen storage material, e.g., a metal hydride as a fuel source for operating a vehicle. Disclosed systems utilize the pressure of a hydrogen storage tank as a controlling factor for release of hydrogen from a solid hydrogen storage material. Disclosed systems are particularly beneficial for use with unmanned aerial vehicles.

A hydrogen storage device is described. The hydrogen storage device comprises a heater/cooler module (6) and a pressure containment vessel (1) defining an interior volume and having within it: a thermally conducting network (4) having a face in thermal contact with the heater/cooler module (6), the shape of the thermally conducting network (4) being a fractal geometry in two or three dimensions; optionally a metal foam in thermal contact with the thermally conducting network (4); and a hydrogen storage material (5) in thermal contact with the thermally conducting network (4).

The invention discloses nano magnesium hydride and an in-situ preparation method thereof, including disposing and stirring magnesium chloride and lithium hydride in an organic solvent under a protection of an inert atmosphere, so as to obtain an organic suspension of a mixture; performing an ultrasonic treatment to the organic suspension, so as to promote a chemical reaction of the mixture. After the reaction is completed, the suspension is filtered; the solid reaction product is washed, centrifuged and dried to remove residual organic matter, so as to obtain nano-magnesium hydride.

Provided is a boiler configured to perform heating by a heat generation section provided with heat generation bodies in a container and capable of properly charging a circulation path including, as part thereof, the inside of the container with required gas.

A boiler includes: heat generation bodies; a container configured such that the heat generation bodies are provided inside and configured chargeable with gas with higher specific heat than that of air; and a circulation path including, as part thereof, the inside of the container, the circulation path being a path in which gas circulates. When the charging process of charging the circulation path with the gas is performed, a circulation amount and a gas concentration in the circulation path are monitored.

In some variations, a hydrogen-storage material formulation comprises: a solid hydrogen-storage material containing at least one metal and hydrogen that is bonded with the metal; and a liquid electrolyte that is ionically conductive for at least one ion derived from the hydrogen-storage material. The liquid electrolyte may be from 5 wt % to about 20 wt % of the hydrogen-storage material formulation, for example. Many materials are possible for both the hydrogen-storage material as well as the liquid electrolyte. The hydrogen-storage material has a higher hydrogen evolution rate in the presence of the liquid electrolyte compared to a hydrogen-storage material without the liquid electrolyte. This is experimentally demonstrated with a destabilized metal hydride, MgH.sub.2/Si system, incorporating a LiI—KI—CsI ternary eutectic salt as the liquid electrolyte. Inclusion of the liquid electrolyte gives a ten-fold increase in H.sub.2 evolution rate at 250° C., reaching 3.5 wt % hydrogen released in only 7 hours.

A system for storing solid state hydrogen includes: a solid state hydrogen storage pellet including a magnetic material and storing solid state hydrogen therein; an inner container surrounding the solid state hydrogen storage pellet; and a coil surrounding the inner container, wherein when current is supplied to the coil, the current reacts with the magnetic material included in the solid state hydrogen storage pellet to form an induction magnetic field, thereby heating the solid state hydrogen storage pellet.

A process comprising passing methane through a reaction zone comprising a molten salt/metal bed under reaction conditions to produce a gas stream comprising hydrogen and a solid carbon product wherein the reaction zone comprises a hydrogen acceptor.

This disclosure relates to novel metal hydrides, processes for their preparation, and their use in hydrogen storage applications.