Thermo-fluid Dynamics Modelling of Hydrogen Absorption and Desorption in a LaNi4.8Al0.2 Hydride Bed
D. Baldissin[1] and D. Lombardo[1][1]Compumat S.r.l., Torino, Italy
A two-dimensional mathematical model for the absorption and desorption of H2 in LaNi4.8Al0.2 was developed and experimentally validated. The model is composed of an energy balance, a mass balance and a momentum balance. These differential equations are numerically solved by means of the finite element method using the software COMSOL Multiphysics®. From a comparison between theoretical results and experimental data was found that an essential aspect of hydrogen storage in metal hydrides is related to the thermal characteristics of the reactor used, especially the properties of heat exchange: the overall heat transfer coefficient h and effective thermal conductivity keff.
