A
metal hydride compressor (1) for compressing
hydrogen gas from a state of lower pressure to a state of higher pressure comprises a first
pressure vessel (2), said first
pressure vessel (2) containing a first
metal alloy capable of absorbing
hydrogen gas at a first pressure (p1) in an absorption mode of the first
pressure vessel (2) to form a first
metal hydride. The first metal
hydride is capable of desorbing
hydrogen gas at a second pressure (p2), higher than the first pressure (p1), in a
desorption mode of the first pressure vessel (2) to release hydrogen gas. The metal hydride compressor (1) further comprises a
piping system (3) comprising a first inlet line (4) connected to an inlet (5) of the first pressure vessel (2) for receiving hydrogen gas into the first pressure vessel (20), and a first outlet line (6) connected to an outlet (7) of the first pressure vessel (2) for discharging hydrogen gas from the first pressure vessel (2). The
piping system (3) further comprises a first cooling loop (8) that is adapted to cool the first
metal alloy in the first pressure vessel (2) when hydrogen gas is absorbed at the first pressure (p1) by the first
metal alloy to form a first metal hydride. The first cooling loop (8) comprises a first
heat exchanger (9). The
piping system (3) further comprises a first heating loop (10) that is adapted to heat the first metal hydride in the first pressure vessel (2) when hydrogen gas is desorbed from the first metal hydride at the second pressure (p2), the first heating loop (10) comprising a second
heat exchanger (11). The first cooling loop (8) and the first heating loop (10) each comprise a blower (12) to circulate hydrogen gas through the first cooling loop (8) and the first heating loop (10). The first cooling loop (8) is fluidically connectable to the outlet (7) and to the inlet (5) of the first pressure vessel (2) during the absorption mode such that hydrogen gas being discharged from the outlet (7) of the first pressure vessel (2) via the first outlet line (6) of the first pressure vessel (2) is cooled via the first
heat exchanger (9) and is then supplied to the inlet (5) of the first pressure vessel (2) via the first inlet line (4) to cool the first
metal alloy as the first metal hydride is formed. The first heating loop (10) is fluidically connectable to the outlet (7) and to the inlet (5) of the first pressure vessel (2) during the
desorption mode such that hydrogen gas being discharged from the outlet (7) of the first pressure vessel (2) via the first outlet line (6) is heated via the second heat exchanger (11) and is then supplied to the inlet (5) of the first pressure vessel (2) to heat the first metal hydride as hydrogen gas is desorbed. The piping system (3) further comprises a plurality of first switching valves (13) adapted to either connect the first cooling loop (8) or the first heating loop (10) to the outlet (7) and the inlet (5) of the first pressure vessel (2). The piping system (3) further comprises a supply line (16) adapted to fluidically connect a hydrogen source with the first inlet line(4), wherein the supply line (16) comprises a
check valve (17) adapted to prevent a
backflow of the hydrogen gas towards the hydrogen source and adapted to let through hydrogen gas towards the inlet (5) of the first pressure vessel (2) at a pressure of at most the first pressure (p1). The piping system (3) further comprises a first
discharge line (18) fluidically connected to the first outlet line (6) and comprising a first overflow valve (19) adapted to
discharge hydrogen gas having a pressure of at least the second pressure (p2).