A three‐dimensional heat transfer model for thermal performance evaluation of ZrCo‐based hydride bed with embedded circular‐shaped cooling tubes

Abstract

Summary Nowadays, metal hydrides are generally deemed as one of the most potential materials that are in favor of compact hydrogen storage for industrial applications. This work was committed to evaluate the thermal performance of a circular‐shaped‐tube thin double‐layered hydrogen storage reactor using a three‐dimensional model. Finite element simulations were conducted to systematically study the influences of structural geometries, cooling patterns, and material thermophysical properties on the heat diffusion behavior under the framework of convection heat transfer. The results indicate that the proposed model effectively characterizes temperature evolutions during hydrogen absorption process. Moreover, a statistical analysis was performed to reveal the sensitivity sequence of these factors on the total thermal performance, suggesting that decreasing the hydride layer thickness, increasing the number of U‐shaped cooling tubes, accelerating the cooling fluid flow rate, and enhancing the thermal conductivity are more beneficial to the thermal performance improvement. Detailed analysis confirms the possibility of developing the present hydrogen storage tank utilizing metal hydrides for engineering practice.

Design and analysis of metal hydride reactor embedded with internal copper fins and external water cooling

“…Figure 13 shows the comparison between the present result and results obtained by Zhang et al 11 for the reactor embedded with cooling tubes and fins. The metal hydride used by Zhang et al 11 was ZrCo.…”

“…Heat transfer fluid is being circulated through annular space provided at r = r o in an axial direction, due to this the convective heat transfer takes place through the water to hydride bed, and hence convective boundary condition is applied for the common circumferential area at this boundary using Equation (11).…”

“…Besides, the study was extended for double side cooling, that is, cooling from the central tube as well as from the outer periphery, which results in high heat transfer. Zhang et al 11 have conducted a three‐dimensional heat transfer analysis of MH (ZrCo) reactor with circular cooling tubes embedded with fins. The study is being carried out to investigate the influence of fin geometry, cooling arrangement, and material properties on heat transfer behavior of the reactor.…”

A review of thermal interface material fabrication method toward enhancing heat dissipation

“…Therefore, the area will give lower thermal conductivity due to the resistance for heat flow in the void spaces 41 . Many researchers nowadays focused on the enhancement materials properties, surface contact, and materials bond formation to have good thermal performance and heat dissipation 3,42‐44 . Thermal resistance measurement usually conducted using the laser flash method, simulation studies, temperature measurement, and others 45‐47 .…”

“…41 Many researchers nowadays focused on the enhancement materials properties, surface contact, and materials bond formation to have good thermal performance and heat dissipation. 3,[42][43][44] Thermal resistance measurement usually conducted using the laser flash method, simulation studies, temperature measurement, and others. [45][46][47] Most of the conventional TIMs that are available in the market are conductive thermal greases, solder, and PCMs, while…”