Project Title:

Investigation of Metal Hydrides for Integration of Spacecraft Hydrogen Resources

09.09-0546
Investigation of Metal Hydrides for Integration of Spacecraft Hydrogen Resources
Hydrogen Consultants Inc.
P.O. Box 10454
Denver
CO
80210
Egan
Gregory J.
NAS8-37262
Amount:   
MSFC
NAS8-35270

Abstract:

   Metal hydride reversible hydrogen absorbers can manipulate hydrogen andheat in unique ways that may be useful in the Space Station Program.  Preliminary
designs of hydride devices, which would interface with Space Station-related hydrogen
and thermal systems have been made.  Realistic estimates of mass, power requirements,
volume and performance were derived for each potential application.  Two applications
offer significant advantages over any known alternative:  Hydrides can serve in heat
pumps or refrigerators with virtually no consumption of electric power.  Hydrides
are also the lightest alternative for hydrogen storage when holding times are too
long for cryogenics.  Additional work will carry both applications forward to demonstration
hardware.  The limits of hydride refrigeration will be probed by studying desorption
dynamics in the low temperature region.  Based on these results, the lowest temperature
refrigerator deemed feasible will be designed, constructed and tested.  The long-term
hydrogen storage study has two parallel objectives:  (1) investigate advanced lightweight
hydride materials and (2) construct a proof-of-concept demonstration tank, based
on state-of-the-art hydride materials.