Thermal Management in the Measurement of Metal Hydride Kinetics

Many metal hydride nanopowders are currently being investigated as a potential hydrogen storage media. The kinetic properties of hydrogen absorption in TiCrMn, a metal hydride of interest, are largely unknown. This study will use coupled thermal and kinetic modeling to analyze a combination of novel and well-established techniques which can be used to experimentally determine these parameters. Since these measurements must be taken at isothermal conditions and the metal hydride absorption reaction is highly exothermal, specific thermal considerations must be made in these models. Typical instruments available for kinetics measurements suspend the samples in a small chamber, effectively thermally isolating them from the cooling or heating system designed to control sample temperature. The design modeled herein will eliminate that convective resistance layer, thereby increasing the amount of heat that can be rapidly diffused out of the sample. Additionally, an electronically controlled active temperature control system will be modeled as a method of maintaining “quasi-isothermal” conditions in the metal hydride during measurements.