Abstract: A sensor fiber for the detection of changes of temperature, bending, and/or torsion includes a multicore optical waveguide with a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) structure. One embodiment contains at least two FBG cores and a surrounding cladding. The sensor fiber is characterized by one or more distinction and orientation means which produce a marker zone to assign and label each individual FBG core.

Abstract: A sensor fiber for the detection of changes of temperature, bending, and/or torsion includes a multicore optical waveguide with a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) structure. One embodiment contains at least two FBG cores and a surrounding cladding. The sensor fiber is characterized by one or more distinction and orientation means which produce a marker zone to assign and label each individual FBG core.

Abstract: A chemisorptive metal alloy includes from about 30% to about 70% by weight of Ti and/or Zr and from about 30% to about 70% by weight of Cu. Optionally, the alloy may also contain from 0% to about 5% by weight of Fe; from 0% to about 10% by weight of Ni; from 0% to about 5% of V; and from 0% to about 5% of Cr.A method of purifying a reactive gas and removing foreign impurities therefrom includes conducting the impurities containing reactive gas, such as chlorine, hydrogen chloride, silane and dichlorosilane, through a bed of the above described pulverized metal alloy and removing the impurities from the gas by chemisorption on the alloy.

Abstract: A process for the purification of contaminated hydrogen gas which involves, first, subjecting the hydrogen gas to a preliminary purification with a hydride-forming material which has a low hydrogen storage capacity to remove substantially all of the contaminants, followed by a primary purification of the hydrogen gas with a hydride-forming material which has a high hydrogen storage capacity, thereby extending the useful life of the hydride-forming material which has the high hydrogen storage capacity.

Abstract: A method of producing a vacuum in a volume of a hollow body which has at least one outlet opening for the gaseous atmosphere present therein, the method includes the following steps: introducing at least about 3 g/dm.sup.3 of evacuation volume of a metal hydride into the hollow body so as to take up less than about 5% of the volume 3. The metal hydride comprises a hydride forming alloy of the formulaTi(V.sub.1-a-b Fe.sub.a Al.sub.b).sub.xy Mn.sub.z,wherein1<x.ltoreq.20<y.ltoreq.0.2x+y.ltoreq.20<a.ltoreq.0.40<b.ltoreq.0.2a+b.ltoreq.0.5(1-a-b) x.gtoreq.10<z.ltoreq.2-x-y.The metal hydride is heated to a temperature so that a substantial amount of the gaseous hydrogen is released from the hydride, the heating step is performed so that heating of the hollow body will not exceed a temperature of about 500.degree. C.

Abstract: A process is provided for optimizing the storage capacity, based on weight, of a hydrogen storage device containing a hydride-forming alloy. A corresponding hydrogen storage device is also provided wherein the storage device is designed to operate under a pressure of 100 to 300 bars, and the weight of hydride-forming alloy contained within the device is about 0.8 to 2 kg of hydride-forming alloy per liter of internal volume. As an added benefit attendant this process and device, the hydrogen gas stored in the device is purified thereby.

Abstract: The use of an alloy of the formulaTi(V.sub.l-a-b Fe.sub.a Al.sub.b).sub.x Cr.sub.y Mn.sub.zwherex=greater than 1. to 2y=0 to 0.2x+y=at most 2a=0 to 0.4b=0 to 0.2a+b=at most 0.5(l-a-b).x=at least 1Z=0 to (2-x-y)as a getter material. The alloy is distinguished by a low activation temperature, favorable mechanical properties and inexpensiveness.

Abstract: A pressure-tight vessel for the storage of hydrogen in a metal matrix body and in which a matrix body is arranged in a tube preferably made of aluminum, the outside diameter of the matrix body before activation is less than the inside diameter of the vessel, and in which discs are provided filling the tube cross-section, which discs rest against the end faces of the matrix body and are displaceable axially outwards against resistance within the tube, as a result of which it becomes possible for the matrix body to expand in the axial direction. For a faster absorption and emission of hydrogen, the matrix body is preferably provided with a central extraction tube which is guided through the discs. Any deformation of the vessel as a result of changes in volume of the matrix body is avoided by this construction.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage material is described which comprises an alloy of the composition of 25 to 30.9% by weight of Ti, about 10 to about 42% by weight of V and about 27.1 to about 65.1% by weight of Mn. The proviso is that more than 2 up to at most 2.2 atoms are present per titanium atom. Up to about 40%, preferably about 10 to about 40%, of the vanadium atoms can be replaced by iron atoms and up to about 10%, preferably about 3 to about 10%, can be replaced by aluminum atoms, but not more than about 40% of the vanadium atoms in total are replaced. Moreover, in place of titanium, a mixture can be used in which up to about 20% of the titanium fraction are replaced by Ca, Y, La, misch metal, or mixtures thereof. Up to about 0.2 atom of Cr per the titanium atom, up to about 0.1 atom of Ni per titanium atom and up to about 0.05 atom of Cu per titanium atom can also be present, but not more than about 0.1 atom of Ni plus Cu, these atoms replacing the same number of vanadium atoms.

Abstract: A storage material for hydrogen comprising an alloy with the following composition:______________________________________ Ti(V.sub.1-a-b Fe.sub.a Al.sub.b).sub.x Cr.sub.y Mn.sub.2-x-y, ______________________________________ wherein: x = greater than 1, less than 2 y = 0 to approximately 0.2 x + y = not greater than 2 a = 0 to approximately 0.25 b = 0 to approximately 0.33 a + b = not greater than approximately 0.35 (1 - a - b) .multidot. x = not less than 1 ______________________________________This storage material for hydrogen can, in the cold state, absorb a maximum of 3.2% by weight of H.sub.2 and already possesses, at low temperatures, a high reaction speed for the absorption of hydrogen. During the absorption of hydrogen, the storage material exhibits self-heating to high temperatures. Thus, in addition to its use for storing hydrogen, it is also particularly suitable for use in preheating systems for hydride-type storage units of motor vehicles.

Abstract: A process for cooling a passenger compartment of a vehicle equipped with a hydrogen-consuming engine by mechanical refrigeration involves compressing a gaseous coolant, condensing the resulting compressed and heated gaseous coolant with heat removal to liquefy the coolant, and evaporating the liquefied coolant under the action of a pressure relief valve so that the cold generated during the pressure relief is used to cool the passenger compartment. This process is improved by removing additional heat from the compressed coolant by passing the coolant through a metal hydride cooler.

Abstract: A method of preheating vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines involves the utilization of the heat released when hydrogen is combined with a high-temperature hydride-forming material contained within a high-temperature reservoir. The high-temperature reservoir contains a sufficient quantity of low-temperature reservoir hydride-forming material that when hydrogen is added from a low-temperature reservoir to the high-temperature reservoir, the quantity of heat which is initially released by the low-temperature hydride-forming material is sufficient to raise the high-temperature reservoir hydride-forming material also contained in the high-temperature reservoir to the reaction temperatures required for absorption of hydrogen and the release of heat.

Abstract: A heating power plant and a process for operating the power plant with the power plant containing a thermal power installation for producing mechanical motive energy for driving an energy supply device as well as waste heat which may be utlized for heating purposes in the power plant. The thermal power installation may be shut down or operated at slight partial loads during periods of low energy needs with hydrogen being introduced into a metal hydride storage device which is capable of absorbing hydrogen. At times of higher energy need the thermal power installation is kept in operation under greater load conditions and hydrogen is removed from a metal hydride storage device which is capable of releasing such hydrogen. The release enthalpy required for releasing the hydrogen is provided by waste heat from the thermal power installation or by ambient air.

Abstract: A metal hydride storage device with a hydrogenatable storage metal powder and with an encapsulation of non-hydrogenatable material receiving the storage metal powder; the storage metal powder with a substantially uniformly distributed addition of about 2 to 10% by weight of powder-shaped non-hydrogenatable material forming a matrix powder, is contained in the encapsulation as form-rigid compressed or sintered body.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine with walls delimiting the working space or spaces of the internal combustion engine, in which a hydrogen-impervious, encapsulated metal hydride storage device is provided which is in heat-conducting contact with these walls; the interior of the encapsulation is adapted to be selectively connected to a source of hydrogen and/or to a separate further hydrogen storage device.