Numerical comparison of heat-fin- and metal-foam-based hydrogen storage beds during hydrogen charging process

We numerically studied the effects of additional components for internal heat transfer enhancement—that is, heat fins and metal foams—on the hydrogen charging performance. First, we applied a three-dimensional transient hydrogen absorption model developed in our previous works to two different experimental MHBs: one with heat fins and the other with metal foam. The simulation results were then compared with the experimental data measured during the hydrogen charging processes. The model predictions were found to be in good agreement with the experimental data in terms of the bed temperature evolution and hydrogen charging time. In addition, a parametric study was conducted on various MHBs with heat fins or metal foams that were designed to contain the same amount of ZrCo powder for the sake of comparison. The detailed analysis of the hydrogen absorption behavior with different MHB designs clearly demonstrated that superior MHB design should exhibit a higher effective conductivity in the metal powder region and lower overall thermal mass; these two advanced features can be achieved by using a metal foam with optimum porosity.