Metal hydride based vehicular exhaust cooler

a technology of metal hydride and vehicular exhaust, which is applied in indirect heat exchangers, lighting and heating apparatus, greenhouse gas reduction, etc., can solve the problems of unacceptably high rate, 10% of the environmental damage of today's freon, and consumption of engine power that would otherwise be available for propulsion
US20050274492A1Inactive Publication Date: 2005-12-15HERA USA
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Current Assignee / Owner
HERA USA
Publication Date
2005-12-15
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

A metal hydride heat pump comprising a first compartment, including a first fluid inlet and a first fluid outlet, wherein the first fluid inlet is configured for fluid communication with the first fluid outlet; a second compartment, including a second fluid inlet and a second fluid outlet, wherein the first fluid inlet is configured for fluid communication with the second fluid outlet; and a plurality of metal hydride vessels, each of the vessels being mounted to and disposed within each of the first and second compartments, and each of the vessels containing at least a hydrided form of a low temperature metal hydride material, a hydridable form of a high temperature metal hydride material, and gaseous hydrogen, wherein the hydridable form of a high temperature metal hydride material is in fluid communication with the hydrided form of a low temperature metal hydride material, such that heat can be transferred from (a) fluid flowing through the first compartment to (b) the hydrided form of a low temperature metal hydride material, so as to effect desorption of hydrogen from the hydrided form of a low temperature metal hydride material, and such that the hydridable form of a high temperature metal hydride material is configured to absorb the desorbed hydrogen and generate heat upon the absorption such that the generated heat can be transferred to fluid flowing through the second compartment; wherein each of the vessels has an external surface area, and defines an internal volume for containing at least the hydrided form of a low temperature metal hydride material, the hydridable form of a high temperature metal hydride material, and gaseous hydrogen, wherein a ratio of the external surface area to the internal volume is greater than 45 in2 per cubic inch.
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Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to the field of metal hydride-based heat pumps and, in particular, metal hydride based heat pumps used for air conditioning. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A metal hydride based heat pump has been developed for vehicular applications, and particularly for passenger compartment air conditioning using energy from the hot exhaust gas of a vehicle, such as an automobile. Although the invention is described in relation to an automobile, it is understood that the present invention can find application in any type of vehicle which produces a hot exhaust gas.

[0003] There are a number of other heating and cooling applications that might be satisfied by this metal hydride heat pump technology including:

[0004] near instant passenger compartment heating for cold winter days;

[0005] preheating the catalytic converter upon cold engine start up to reduce air pollution emissions;

[0006] cooling for electronic components and batteries; [0007...

Claims

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