Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a hydrogen adsorption alloy, the apparatus comprising a high speed ball mill in the form of a planetary ball mill mounted to a rotatable main shaft, wherein the planetary ball mill includes a plurality of mill pots each mounted for rotation on its own axis, a planetary gear disposed on the periphery of each mill pot, a fixed sun gear meshing with the planetary gears, and an atmosphere adjusting device connected to each mill pot. A drive rotates the main shaft causing each mill pot to revolve around the main shaft which results in the planetary gears traveling around the sun gear to rotate each mill pot on its own axis, the rotation of each mill pot being in the same direction as the rotation of the main shaft.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for manufacturing a heat transfer module to improve the thermal efficiency of a hydrogen adsorption alloy. The hydrogen absorption alloy particles are coated with a metal which is different from that of the alloy, followed by the formation of a compact with the coated particles. The compact so formed has a substantially uniform specific gravity. The compact is then inserted in a pipe mode of a metal which is different from that of the alloy. The pipe has an internal diameter which is a function of the diameter of the compact and the free expansion coefficient of the compact. The method will improve the usefulness of hydrogen adsorption alloy in practical use.

Abstract: A reactor in which a compact of hydrogen adsorption alloy is incorporated, comprising a plurality of parallel-bridged thermal reaction elements, each comprising a heat transfer pipe tightly enclosing a hollow cylindrical compact of hydrogen adsorption alloy and a jacket pipe enclosing in parallel, the heat transfer pipe with a path formed therebetween. The reactor achieves a rapid heat exchanging velocity and considerable shortening of reaction time as compared with the prior art.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel heat exchanging unit with a hydrogen adsorption alloy of which thermal conductivity is kept high over a long period of use. Particularly in order to solve problems occurring at the time of forming a heat exchanging unit, by forming a compact of a hydrogen adsorption alloy and inserting a heat transfer element in the compact, such as insufficient heat transfer due to a small spacing produced between the compact and the heat transfer element, surface irregularities, decline in function due to micronization and scattering of the compact, difficulty in built-up, etc., there is disclosed a heat exchanging unit comprising a heat transfer element and a hydrogen adsorption alloy fitted to an inner periphery of the heat transfer element and solidly molded.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel heat exchanging unit with a hydrogen adsorption alloy of which thermal conductivity is kept high over a long period of use. Particularly in order to solve problems occurring at the time of forming a heat exchanging unit, by forming a compact of a hydrogen adsorption alloy and inserting a heat transfer element in the compact, such as insufficient heat transfer due to a small spacing produced between the compact and the heat transfer element, surface irregularities, decline in function due to micronization and scattering of the compact, difficulty in build-up, etc., there is disclosed a heat exchanging unit comprising a heat transfer element and a hydrogen adsorption alloy fitted to an outer periphery of the heat transfer element and solidly molded.

Abstract: This invention discloses a compact of hydrogen adsorption alloy principally composed of a metal hydride in which all surfaces of fine particles of hydrogen adsorption alloy are completely coated with a dissimilar metal by plating, without effecting reactivity and a porous material of high thermal conductivity is infiltrated with the fine particles of alloy to be formed into a compact by compression molding.By this construction, it is possible to improve decline in the thermal conductivity or dropping of the fine particles out of cells of the porous material caused by micronization as a result of repeated uses of the hydrogen adsorption alloy are avoided.

Abstract: This invention discloses a heat exchanger comprising a compact of hydrogen adsorption alloy formed by a process of coating surfaces of fine particles of hydrogen adsorption alloy composed principally of a metal hydride with a dissimilar metal by plating and either by a process of compression molding of the coated alloy or by a process of filling a heat-conductive porous material with the coated fine particles of hydrogen alloy followed by a process of compression molding thereof. By this arrangement, it becomes possible to improve such disadvantages of conventional heat exchanger using hydrogen adsorption alloy as a decline of heat conductivity caused by micronization of the hydrogen adsorption alloy as a result of repeated uses or a decline of filling rate of the alloy caused by collapse and dispersion of the fine particles of the alloy compact eventually bringing about a decline of the heat exchanging function.