초록

Various apparatus and methods for exchanging heat from a solid to a liquid. Some embodiments pertain to removing heat from a pressure vessel in which a gas absorption reaction is occurring. Yet other embodiments pertain to pressure vessels in which hydrogen is being absorbed into a metal hydride.

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1. An apparatus for exchanging heat between a medium and a substance, comprising: a pressure vessel having a first port for receiving a heat exchanging medium and a second port for returning the medium and a flowpath therebetween, said pressure vessel defining an interior;a plurality of heat exchang

1. An apparatus for exchanging heat between a medium and a substance, comprising: a pressure vessel having a first port for receiving a heat exchanging medium and a second port for returning the medium and a flowpath therebetween, said pressure vessel defining an interior;a plurality of heat exchanging modules within the interior, each said module being in fluid communication with the flowpath, each said module including:a hub, said hub having a central portion with first and second passages each extending through the central portion, each said passage having a tapered inner wall, said hub having a plurality of fins extending outwardly from the central portion, the substance being in thermal communication with the exterior of said fins;a pair of sleeves each having a tapered exterior, each said sleeve being received in a different one of said passages;wherein the flowpath extends through said sleeves. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 each said sleeve being adapted and configured to deform during insertion of the sleeve into a passage and to fit tightly to the interior of the respective passage. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 each said passage being adapted and configured to deform during insertion of a sleeve into the passage and to fit tightly to the exterior of the respective sleeve. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said module further comprises a pair of fasteners, each said fastener coupled to one of said hub or said sleeve and abutting against the other of said hub or said sleeve, each said fastener applying a force on said sleeve relative to said hub that tightens the tapered inner wall against the tapered exterior. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises a tube extending from the first port through a second plurality of sleeves, and the flowpath is through the tube. 6. The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises a containment vessel placed within the interior for minimizing the movement of the substance within the pressure vessel, wherein said heat exchanging modules are located within said containment vessel. 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pressure vessel is pressurized with gas such that a pressure differential of more than about 100 bar is placed across the walls of said pressure vessel. 8. An apparatus for holding a compressed gas, comprising: a pressure vessel having a first port for receiving a heat exchanging medium and a second port for returning the medium and a flowpath therebetween, said pressure vessel defining an interior, said pressure vessel including a third port for the flow of the gas into or out of the interior;a plurality of modules within the interior, each said module being in fluid communication with the flowpath, each said module including:a hub, said hub having a plurality of heat exchanging fins extending outwardly from a central portion, said hub including a first passage in fluid communication with the first port and a second passage in fluid communication with the second port; anda gas absorbing solid substance formed into a shape that substantially surrounds said fins. 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the substance absorbs the gas when said module is cooled and the substance desorbs the gas when said module is heated. 10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the substance and the absorbed gas are a metal hydride. 11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the shape substantially conforms to said fins. 12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each said module further comprises a containment vessel surrounding the substance for minimizing the movement of the substance within the pressure vessel. 13. An apparatus for exchanging heat with a coolant, comprising: a heat exchanging body including an outermost wall, at least one hub having an outer surface and an inner surface, and a plurality of fins extending from the hub to the outermost wall, the outer surface of said hub and said plurality of fins being arranged in a pattern capable of being extruded, the inner surface of said hub being tapered at an angle;a sleeve having an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface being tapered with about the same angle as the angle of said hub; anda generally cylindrical tube received within the inner surface of said sleeve, said tube providing a flow path for the coolant. 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said body is a first body and which further comprises: a second heat exchanging body including an outermost wall, at least one hub having an outer surface and an inner surface, and a plurality of fins extending from the hub to the outermost wall, the outer surface of said hub and said plurality of fins being arranged in a pattern capable of being extruded, the inner surface of said hub being tapered at an angle; andwherein said sleeve has two ends and the outer surface is tapered in two directions, the outer surface being a maximum at a location intermediate of the two ends, the outer surface tapering from the intermediate location in directions toward each end. 15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said body is a first body and which further comprises: a second heat exchanging body including an outermost wall, at least one hub having an outer surface and an inner surface, and a plurality of fins extending from the hub to the outermost wall, the outer surface of said hub and said plurality of fins being arranged in a pattern capable of being extruded, the inner surface of said hub being tapered at an angle; anda compressibly deformable plate;wherein said first body and said second body are arranged in series on said sleeve, and said plate is located between said first body and said second body. 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said plate is elastically compressed between said first body and said second body. 17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said plate is an assembly of first and second rings in sliding engagement, and further comprising at least one spring biasing said first ring apart from said second ring. 18. The apparatus of claim 13 which further comprises a compressibly deformable plate coupled to said sleeve at one end of said sleeve and between the one end and a face of said heat exchanging body. 19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the one end of said sleeve includes a ridge and the coupling of said sleeve to said plate is by abutment of said plate against the ridge. 20. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said heat exchanging body has a length, and the length of said sleeve is about the same as the length of said body. 21. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the cross-sectional shape of the inner surface of said hub is complementary to the cross-sectional shape of the outer surface of said sleeve. 22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the inner surface of said hub is conical and the outer surface of said sleeve is conical. 23. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said plurality of fins define a plurality of generally triangular pockets therebetween.