PURPOSE: To improve the heat exchange efficiency of the titled device by a method wherein a doughnut type heat pipe itself which is used for the transfer of heat is used as a vessel for the metal hydride at the same time.
CONSTITUTION: The heat accumulating device comprises a plurality of vessels 21aW21c for the metal hydride 6, a plurality of heat insulating members 23aW 23c fitted about the vessels, respectively, so as to support the latters, a heat exchanger 24, a hydrogen gas distributor 28 and a hydrogen gas storage tank 29. In this case, each of the vessels 21aW21c is formed of the doughnut type heat pipe whose open ends are closed with covering plates 4a and 4b. Further, the metal hydride 6 is packed into the central hollow section 5 of the heat pipe and a hydrogen inlet and outlet pipe 8 provided with a changeover valve 7 is attached to the covering plate 4a. Thus, the heat pipe itself serves as a heat transfer means and the vessel 21 for the metal hydride so that the reaction heat of the metal hydride 6 is rarely lost as sensible heat to the vessel 21 and the heat exchange efficiency of the device is improved since the sectional area of contact between the heat pipe and the metal hydride 6 is increased.
HONDA NAOJIROU
YONEZU IKUROU
