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Journals / Gazi University Journal of Science / 2026 / Volume: 39 Issue: 2

Enhancing the Hydrogen Storage Performance of LaNi5 Metal Hydrides via Cu, Cu/Ag and Ag Coatings with Improved Thermal Conductivity

İyileştirilmiş Isıl İletkenliğe Sahip Cu, Cu/Ag ve Ag Kaplamalar Yoluyla LaNi₅ Metal Hidritlerinin Hidrojen Depolama Performansının Artırılması

Yakup Daşdemirli(KARABUK UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF ENGINEERING)0000-0002-0574-0695
Ulaş Matik(KARABUK UNIVERSITY, VOCATIONAL SCHOOL)0000-0002-9660-7485
Muhammet Kayfeci(KARABUK UNIVERSITY)0000-0001-9783-7381
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-02-20
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Using heat pipes and fins significantly enhanced heat transfer within the reactor, resulting in improved overall performance.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study investigates the thermal and mass transfer behaviors of the LaNi5 alloy during hydrogen absorption after applying three different surface coatings.
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Key Findings & Data:To enhance heat transfer within the metal hydride reactor and evaluate its performance, three reactor designs were developed: a reference design, a design incorporating a central heat pipe, and an advanced design equipped with a finned heat pipe to improve heat distribution.
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Conclusion & Impact:Using heat pipes and fins significantly enhanced heat transfer within the reactor, resulting in improved overall performance.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Hydrogen storage · Metal hydride reactor · LaNi5 alloys

Abstract

This study investigates the thermal and mass transfer behaviors of the LaNi5 alloy during hydrogen absorption after applying three different surface coatings. To enhance heat transfer within the metal hydride reactor and evaluate its performance, three reactor designs were developed: a reference design, a design incorporating a central heat pipe, and an advanced design equipped with a finned heat pipe to improve heat distribution. LaNi5 powders were ground for one hour using mechanical milling and then coated under controlled conditions to produce copper-coated, Cu/Ag double-layer-coated, and silver-coated samples. The findings demonstrate that a homogeneous and stable Cu/Ag duplex coating can be successfully applied to LaNi5 powders. This offers the potential to enhance heat transfer in hydrogen storage systems by improving the thermal behavior of metal hydrides. The thermal conductivity of uncoated and coated powders was measured experimentally. Experiments confirmed that higher operating pressures resulted in improved hydrogen absorption. Not only did enhanced thermal conductivity accelerate hydrogen absorption, but it also reduced local temperature spikes, promoting a more uniform temperature distribution throughout the reactor. These values were then used in a three-dimensional model to simulate the hydrogen absorption process. This model assessed the storage capacity of hydrogen and the temperature distribution over time at various operating pressures (3, 6, 9, 10, 12, and 15 bar). Using heat pipes and fins significantly enhanced heat transfer within the reactor, resulting in improved overall performance.

Özet

Bu çalışma, üç farklı yüzey kaplaması uygulandıktan sonra hidrojen emilimi sırasında LaNi₅ alaşımının termal ve kütle transfer davranışlarını incelemektedir. Metal hidrit reaktör içindeki ısı transferini artırmak ve performansını değerlendirmek için üç reaktör konfigürasyonu geliştirilmiştir: bir referans tasarım, merkezi bir ısı borusu içeren bir tasarım ve ısı dağıtımını iyileştirmek için kanatçıklı bir ısı borusu ile donatılmış gelişmiş bir tasarım. LaNi₅ tozları mekanik öğütme kullanılarak bir saat boyunca öğütüldü ve ardından bakır kaplı, bakır/gümüş çift katmanlı kaplamalı ve gümüş kaplı numuneler üretmek için kontrollü koşullar altında kaplandı. Bulgular, homojen ve kararlı bir Cu/Ag dupleks kaplamanın LaNi₅ tozlarına başarıyla uygulanabileceğini göstermektedir. Bu, metal hidritlerin termal davranışını iyileştirerek hidrojen depolama sistemlerinde ısı transferini artırma potansiyeli sunmaktadır. Kaplanmamış ve kaplanmış tozların termal iletkenliği deneysel olarak ölçülmüştür. Deneyler, daha yüksek çalışma basınçlarının gelişmiş hidrojen emilimi ile sonuçlandığını doğrulamıştır. Geliştirilmiş termal iletkenlik, hidrojen emilimini hızlandırmakla kalmadı, aynı zamanda yerel sıcaklık artışlarını da azaltarak reaktör genelinde daha homojen bir sıcaklık dağılımı sağladı. Bu değerler daha sonra hidrojen emilim sürecini simüle etmek için üç boyutlu bir modelde kullanıldı. Bu model, hidrojenin depolama kapasitesini ve çeşitli çalışma basınçlarında (3, 6, 9, 10, 12 ve 15 bar) zaman içindeki sıcaklık dağılımını değerlendirdi. Isı boruları ve kanatçıkların kullanımı, reaktör içindeki ısı transferini önemli ölçüde artırarak genel performansı iyileştirdi.

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Cite This Article

Daşdemirli, Y., Matik, U., Kayfeci, M. (2026). Enhancing the Hydrogen Storage Performance of LaNi5 Metal Hydrides via Cu, Cu/Ag and Ag Coatings with Improved Thermal Conductivity. Gazi University Journal of Science, Volume: 39 Issue: 2. https://doi.org/10.35378/gujs.1812929

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