Metamaterial Reinforced Reactor Design with Internal Heat Transfer Channels for Enhanced Metal Hydride as Hydrogen Storage Solution

Effective operation of metal hydride (MH) hydrogen storage systems hinges on reactor configuration, which is crucial for large-capacity and stationary applications. However, when utilised for mobility usage, MH gravimetric density limits the range of efficient scenarios. One way to overcome this limitation is by designing a reactor that can also be suitable as a frame, pursuing to create a system where the MH weight becomes negligible. Employing a metamaterial of lattice octet design with inner channels for heat transfer fluid flow creates a design that is capable of withstanding load while maintaining MH hydrogen storing performance. This study focuses on developing a lightweight, compact, and efficient MH reactor capable of accommodating substantial hydrogen inventory. Numerical analysis evaluates three reactor configurations to visualise the impact of various design elements during storing operation. Compared to baseline reactors, the lattice octet design demonstrates significantly improved performance, with a 28 % reduction in hydrogen storage time and 48 % more storage capacity.