INVESTIGADORES
BARUJ Alberto Leonardo
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Neutron radiography study of a LaNi5-based hydrogen storage device
Autor/es:
G. O. MEYER; A. BARUJ; E.M. BORZONE; R. CÁRDENAS SZIGETY; J. SOMOZA; S. RIVAS; F. A. SÁNCHEZ; J. MARÍN
Lugar:
Florianópolis
Reunión:
Congreso; XI Encontro da SBPMat 2012; 2012
Institución organizadora:
Sociedade Brasileira de Pesquisa em Materiais
Resumen:
Devices based on the
use of hydride forming materials (HFM) represent a safe and efficient option
for hydrogen storage and transport. However, it is usually necessary to modify
some of the hydride properties in order to make them suitable for specific
applications. For example, even the simplest design of a hydride containing
device for mobile applications must take into account the poor thermal
conductivity of these alloys in order to optimize heat exchange and achieve an
adequate hydrogen flow on discharge. Although simulation of HFM behaviour
during the operation of these devices reduces costs and design time, it is not always
reliable because hydride formation or decomposition is a first order transition
with an important heat of reaction, the equilibrium pressure depends on
temperature and degree of reaction, and some hysteresis is always present. Therefore,
the design of experiments to validate simulation hypothesis are always
welcomed, mainly if they are non destructive ones. Neutron radiography (NR) is
a recently developed non-destructive technique that permits the direct
observation of hydrogen localization.In this work we
present images of a hydrogen storage prototype based on the use of a hydride
forming material (LaNi5) obtained in the newly assembled NR line at
the experimental nuclear reactor RA-6 located in Bariloche. The technique
allows correlating optical contrast variations in the images with the different
neutron interaction levels of the components of the device. Neutron interaction
is strong with hydrogen, while being weak with most standard structural metals,
thus allowing the preferential analysis of hydrides inside containers. Figure 1
shows an example of the images obtained on the hydrogen storage prototype. NR images during in-situ operation of the
device provide a valuable information that can be used to correlate the
relevant control parameters, like hydrogen flow, outlet pressure and hydride
temperature, with the observed hydrogen spatial distribution inside the
container. This information can be used to validate device operation
simulations and models and to achieve advanced design and testing capabilities.