A High-Efficiency Power Cycle in Which Hydrogen Is Compressed by Absorption in Metal Hydrides
J. R. POWELL 1,
F. J. SALZANO 1,
WEN-SHI YU 1, and
J. S. MILAU 1
1 Department of Applied Science, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973
A high-efficiency power cycle is proposed in which molecular hydrogen gas is used as a working fluid in a regenerative closed Brayton cycle. The hydrogen gas is compressed by an absorption-desorption cycle on metal hydride (FeTiHx) beds. Low-temperature solar or geothermal heat (temperature about 100°C) is used for the compression process, and high-temperature fossil fuel or nuclear heat (temperature about 700°C) supplies the expansion work in the turbine. Typically, about 90 percent of the high-temperature heat input is converted to electricity, while about 3 kilowatts of low-temperature heat is required per kilowatt of electrical output.
Submitted on April 11, 1975
Revised on May 10, 1976
