Metal hydride hydrogen compressors for energy storage systems: layout features and results of long-term tests

Abstract This work summarises the results of development and long-term testing of two prototype models of industrial-scale metal-hydride thermal sorption hydrogen compressors, TSC1-3.5/150 (up to 11 Nm3 h−1; water cooling/steam heating) and TSC2-3.5/150 (up to 15 Nm3 h−1; heating and cooling by circulating oil). Both compressors have a two-stage layout utilising LaNi5 for the stage 1 and La0.5Ce0.5Ni5 for stage 2, thus providing hydrogen compression from 0.35 to 15 MPa at a cooling temperature of about 20 °C and a heating temperature between 150 °C and 160 °C. The compressors were operating for one year each and exhibited a satisfactory performance. The results of this work can be used in various medium-to-large scale hydrogen compression applications, including renewable energy systems.