A heat generating device includes a container, a heat generating element, and a heater. A hydrogen-based gas contributing to heat generation is introduced into the container. The heat generating element is provided inside the container. The heater is configured to heat the heat generating element. The heat generating element includes a base made of a hydrogen storage metal, a hydrogen storage alloy, or a proton conductor, and a multilayer film provided on a surface of the base. The multilayer film having a stacking configuration of: a first layer that is made of a hydrogen storage metal or a hydrogen storage alloy, and a second layer that is made of a hydrogen storage metal, a hydrogen storage alloy, or ceramics different from that of the first layer. The first layer and the second layer have a layer shape with a thickness of less than 1000 nm.

A control system as disclosed in the present disclosure relates to the field of metal hydride air conditioning systems in vehicles. The control system improves cooling capacity and the coefficient of performance of the metal hydride air conditioner. The control system comprises a plurality of sensors, a memory, a time counter, a controller, and at least one actuator. The controller takes into account the pre-set half cycle time as well as the temperature of the exhaust gases at the outlet of a HT or LT reactor for changing fluid flow, i.e. from hot/cold fluid to the fluid at ambient temperature or vice versa, entering the reactors of the metal hydride air conditioner.

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).

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).

A self-cleaning metal hydride heat recovery system comprising a thermally insulated housing partitioned into at least two thermally insulated chambers, each chamber enclosing a metal hydride reactor assembly containing a regenerating, high-temperature metal hydride alloy, an ambient air inlet adapted to receive an ambient air stream into the housing to be fed to at least one of the two thermally insulated chambers, a fluid recirculation circuit configured to recirculate an exhaust stream as received from an exhaust source, the fluid recirculation circuit comprises a mixer adapted to mix a portion of a recirculation stream and the exhaust stream to provide a resultant stream, fluid stream switching means coupled to the mixer and adapted to switch flow of the resultant stream and the ambient air stream in a cyclic manner, flow regulating means provided downstream of the metal hydride reactor assemblies, and an exhaust outlet.

A self-cleaning metal hydride heat recovery system comprising a thermally insulated housing partitioned into at least two thermally insulated chambers, each chamber enclosing a metal hydride reactor assembly containing a regenerating, high-temperature metal hydride alloy, an ambient air inlet adapted to receive an ambient air stream into the housing to be fed to at least one of the two thermally insulated chambers, a fluid recirculation circuit configured to recirculate an exhaust stream as received from an exhaust source, the fluid recirculation circuit comprises a mixer adapted to mix a portion of a recirculation stream and the exhaust stream to provide a resultant stream, fluid stream switching means coupled to the mixer and adapted to switch flow of the resultant stream and the ambient air stream in a cyclic manner, flow regulating means provided downstream of the metal hydride reactor assemblies, and an exhaust outlet.

An air changeover system for a metal hydride heat pump is disclosed. The system includes metal hydride reactor modules aligned and separated by a partition; a shell containing the reactor modules, the shell is compartmentalized to define separate insulated chambers for each of the reactor modules; and a bearing assembly supporting the modules at a location about the partition, wherein the bearing assembly rotates said modules about an axis during the absorption and the desorption mode. The system reduces thermal inertia and pressure drop in the heat transfer medium while flowing through the heat pump, to enhance the performance and conserve energy.

An air changeover system for a metal hydride heat pump is disclosed. The system includes metal hydride reactor modules aligned and separated by a partition; a shell containing the reactor modules, the shell is compartmentalized to define separate insulated chambers for each of the reactor modules; and a bearing assembly supporting the modules at a location about the partition, wherein the bearing assembly rotates said modules about an axis during the absorption and the desorption mode. The system reduces thermal inertia and pressure drop in the heat transfer medium while flowing through the heat pump, to enhance the performance and conserve energy.

An electrochemical heat transfer device utilizes an electrochemical hydrogen compressor to pump hydrogen into and out of a reservoir having a metal hydride forming alloy therein. The absorption of hydrogen by the metal hydride forming alloy is exothermic, produces heat, and the desorption of the hydrogen from the metal hydride forming alloy is endothermic and draws heat in. An electrochemical hydrogen compressor may be configured between to reservoirs and pump hydrogen back and forth to form a heat transfer device. A heat exchange device may be coupled with the reservoir or may comprise the outer surface of the reservoir to transfer heat to an object or to the surroundings. A closed loop may be configured having two reservoirs and one or two electrochemical hydrogen compressors to pump the hydrogen in a loop around the system.

An electrochemical heat transfer device utilizes an electrochemical hydrogen compressor to pump hydrogen into and out of a reservoir having a metal hydride forming alloy therein. The absorption of hydrogen by the metal hydride forming alloy is exothermic, produces heat, and the desorption of the hydrogen from the metal hydride forming alloy is endothermic and draws heat in. An electrochemical hydrogen compressor may be configured between to reservoirs and pump hydrogen back and forth to form a heat transfer device. A heat exchange device may be coupled with the reservoir or may comprise the outer surface of the reservoir to transfer heat to an object or to the surroundings. A closed loop may be configured having two reservoirs and one or two electrochemical hydrogen compressors to pump the hydrogen in a loop around the system.