Improved reactor design for a metal hydride refrigeration system in hydrogen powertrains

Kurzfassung

By means of metal hydrides the so far unused potential energy of compressed hydrogen in a hydrogen powertrain can be utilised for air condition of the cabin. The main problem in the latest development is the low power to mass ratio of the reactor component. That is why in this work a new reactor design is proposed, which shows mayor improvements in the key factors for high power to mass ration. Special focus is set on the outer heat transfer to a heat transfer fluid. By numerical simulation optimal design and operations points could be identified for the new reactor design.