CLOSED-LOOP THERMALLY MANAGED INTEGRATED HYDROGEN ENERGY SYSTEM FOR METAL HYDRIDE TANK FILLING AND EMPTYING PROCESSES.

Abstract

The invention relates to an integrated hydrogen energy system that carries out the filling and emptying processes of a metal hydride tank under closed-loop thermal management. The system comprises a photovoltaic-thermal panel (1), a PEM electrolyzer (2), a PEM fuel cell (3), a metal hydride tank (4) containing an internal helical coil (14), a thermal storage tank (5), a reversible heat pump (6), an electrical load (7), a data acquisition and control system (8), and a battery pack (9). The helical coil (14) of the metal hydride tank is selectably connected to the thermal storage tank (5), the thermal output of the photovoltaic-thermal panel, the fuel cell waste heat exchanger, and the reversible heat pump (6) via a closed-loop heat transfer fluid line containing directional valves and a variable speed circulation pump (12).Data acquisition and control system (8); directs the absorption heat to the thermal tank during filling or operates the reversible heat pump in cooling mode; directs the heat taken from the thermal sources to the metal hydride tank during discharge or operates the reversible heat pump in heating mode, according to the data of tank temperature, tank pressure, hydrogen flow rate, thermal tank level, thermal source temperatures and electrical power balance.