초록 ▼

Method and apparatus for the use of hydrides to exhaust heat from one temperature source and deliver the thermal energy extracted for use at a higher temperature, thereby acting as a heat pump. For this purpose there are employed a pair of hydridable metal compounds having different characteristics

Method and apparatus for the use of hydrides to exhaust heat from one temperature source and deliver the thermal energy extracted for use at a higher temperature, thereby acting as a heat pump. For this purpose there are employed a pair of hydridable metal compounds having different characteristics working together in a closed pressure system employing a high temperature source to upgrade the heat supplied from a low temperature source.

대표청구항 ▼

A system for the transfer of thermal energy from a first temperature to and for use at an elevated, second temperature, comprising: a. first container means having within a hydrided first compound at a temperature below its decomposition temperature; b. second container means having within a dehydri

A system for the transfer of thermal energy from a first temperature to and for use at an elevated, second temperature, comprising: a. first container means having within a hydrided first compound at a temperature below its decomposition temperature; b. second container means having within a dehydrided second hydridable compound whose decomposition temperature is lower than the decomposition temperature of the first hydrided compound, the second compound being at a temperature below its decomposition temperature; c. means communicating the interior of said first container means with said second container means forming a pressure sealed system; d. means for heating the hydrided first compound above both of said second temperature and its decomposition temperature for a sufficient period to release its hydrogen and causing the pressure within both said container means to rise, said second compound being hydrided thereby, thermal energy being released by said second compound during hydriding at said second temperature until dehydriding is terminated in said first container means causing a decrease in pressure in said system; e. means for thereafter cooling said first container means at said second temperature and exposing said second container means to a heat soruce at said first temperaturE reducing the pressure within said system sufficiently whereby said second temperature is above the decomposition temperature of said second hydride and said first compound is below its decomposition temperature at the reduced pressure, whereby said second hydride decomposes causing release of hydrogen which is absorbed by said first compound, said first compound releasing thermal energy at about said second temperature, said system effectively transferring thermal energy from said heat source at said first temperature for use at said second temperature. The method of pumping heat from a first temperature for use at an elevated, second temperature comprising the steps of: a. heating a hydride of a first hydridable intermetallic compound to a temperature above its decomposition temperature causing its decomposition and release of hydrogen; b. exposing to said hydrogen in a pressure sealed system a second hydridable intermetallic compound having a decomposition temperature lower than that of the first compound at said second temperature which is below its decomposition temperature, thermal energy being released from said second compound at said second temperature, the pressure within said system rising during the aforesaid release of hydrogen; and c. thereafter removing the source of heat from said first compound and exposing the hydride of said second compound to a source of heat at said first temperature, thereby reducing the pressure within said system to where the temperature of the hydride of said second compound is above its decomposition temperature and the temperature of said first compound is below its decomposition temperature, thereby causing the release of hydrogen from said second compound and the hydriding of said first compound, and effectively pumping heat from the source of heat at the first temperature for use at the elevated, second temperature.