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US4039023A
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Method and apparatus for heat transfer, using metal hydrides
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1976-02-25
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Granted: 1977-08-02
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Expires: 1996-02-25
Abstract
Abstract Heat transfer and thus temperature control of an environment is achieved by a method and apparatus which comprises withdrawing hydrogen from a first hydride reaction system in a two phase equilibrium at a certain temperature and pressure thereby causing a decomposition of a portion of the hydride, adding heat to the reaction system to compensate for the loss of heat caused by the endothermic hydride decomposition reaction, transferring the withdrawn hydrogen to a second hydride reaction system in a two phase equilibrium at a higher temperature and pressure thereby causing a formation of hydride and release of heat, and removing the heat created by the exothermic hydride formation reaction.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew W. McClaine
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:37
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D20/00; F28D20/003; F01; F01K; F01K25/00; F25; F25B; F25B17/00; F25B17/12; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/14; Y02E70/00; Y02E70/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of transfering heat which comprises: a. establishing a two phase equilibrium at a certain pressure and temperature for a first metal-hydrogen system; b. establishing a two phase equilibrium at a pressure and temperature higher than said first equilibrium pressure and temperature for a second metal-hydrogen system having the same metal as said first metal-hydrogen system; c. removing hydrogen from said first metal-hydrogen system thereby causing a portion of said hydride to decompose and the heat content of said system to decrease; d. adding an amount of heat equal to the amount of lost heat to said first system, thereby returning said system to equilibrium; e. introducing said hydrogen into said second metal-hydrogen system thereby causing the formation of a hydride and the generation of heat; f. removing said heat from said second metal-hydrogen system, thereby returning said system to equilibrium;
Claim 2
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of transfering heat which comprises: a. establishing a two phase equilibrium at a certain pressure and temperature for a first metal-hydrogen system; b. establishing a two phase equilibrium at a pressure and temperature higher than said first equilibrium pressure and temperature for a second metal-hydrogen system having the same metal as said first metal-hydrogen system; c. removing hydrogen from said first metal-hydrogen system thereby causing a portion of said hydride to decompose and the heat content of said system to decrease; d. adding an amount of heat equal to the amount of lost heat to said first system, thereby returning said system to equilibrium; e. introducing said hydrogen into said second metal-hydrogen system thereby causing the formation of a hydride and the generation of heat; f. removing said heat from said second metal-hydrogen system, thereby returning said system to equilibrium;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1 which further comprises the steps of: g. repeating steps c-f until said two-phase equilibrium can no longer be established; h. establishing said equilibrium temperature and pressure of said second system at said first system; i. establishing said equilibrium temperature and pressure of said first system at said second system; and j. repeating steps g-j.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said metal provides a metal-hydrogen system with a Δ T/Δ P ratio of at least 2.0, with an M-number of at least 650 k cal/kg, and a specific heat of at most 0.20 k cal/kg ° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said metal provides a metal-hydrogen system with a Δ T/Δ P ratio of at least 3.0 with an M-number of at least 1050 k cal/kg, and a specific heat of at most 0.15 k cal/kg° C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said metal provides a metal-hydrogen system with a Δ T/Δ P ratio of at least 3.7, with an M-number of at least 1650 k cal/kg, and a specific heat of at most 0.10 k cal/kg° C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said metal is selected from the class consisting of iron-titanium, lanthanum penta-nickel, mischmetal penta-nickel, and mischmetal lanthanum penta-nickel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said metal is selected from the class consisting of magnesium-nickel and magnesium-copper.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said metal is selected from the class consisting of vanadium, niobuim, palladium, magnesium vanadium-niobium alloy, and praseodymium penta-cobalt alloy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said metal is iron-titanium.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
74 words
An apparatus for transfering heat which comprises: two containers, each of which comprises a core located inside each container; a mixture of a metal, the hydride of said metal, and hydrogen contained in each core; an inlet in each container; an outlet in each container; and an opening in each core whereby hydrogen passes; a gas compressing means; a means connecting said gas compressing means with said opening in each core of each container.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
74 words
An apparatus for transfering heat which comprises: two containers, each of which comprises a core located inside each container; a mixture of a metal, the hydride of said metal, and hydrogen contained in each core; an inlet in each container; an outlet in each container; and an opening in each core whereby hydrogen passes; a gas compressing means; a means connecting said gas compressing means with said opening in each core of each container.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said core comprises a plurality of tubes and a means for connecting said tubes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said metal provides a metal-hydrogen system with a Δ T/Δ P ratio of at least 2.0, with an M-number of at least 650 k cal/kg° C., a specific heat of at most 0.20 k cal/kg° C., a maximum pressure of 60 absolute atmosphere, and a maximum reaction time of 20 minutes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said metal provides a metal-hydrogen system with a Δ T/Δ P ratio of at least 3.0, with an M-number of at least 1050 k cal/kg, a specific heat of at most 0.15 k cal/kg° C., a maximum pressure of 50 absolute atmospheres, and a maximum reaction time of 6 minutes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said metal provides a metal-hydrogen system with a Δ T/Δ P ratio of at least 3.7, with an M-number of at least 1650 k cal/kg, a specific heat of at most 0.10 k cal/kg° C., a maximum pressure of 40 absolute atmospheres, and a maximum reaction time of 5 minutes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3989102A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-01 | 1981-01-31 | 1981-08-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-01 | 1985-01-31 | 1985-08-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-01 | 1989-01-31 | 1989-08-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |