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[0001] The present invention relates to a miniature metal hydride thermal storage cartridge for the cooling of devices to subambient temperatures, the cartridge composed of two chambers containing two different metal hydrides.
[0002] In recent years, the storage of hydrogen as a potential fuel or reactant has become of increasing interest and numerous systems have been described whereby hydrogen can be stored as an interstitial hydride or stoichiometric compound of an appropriate metal, to be released as required, the storage systems being reversible.
[0003] One of these systems utilizes magnesium (Mg) which can form the hydride (MgH
[0004] While a number of other materials have also been proposed for the storage of hydrogen in the form of respective hydrides, magnesium has been found to be of interest because of its relatively low cost and light weight which allows for a theoretical capacity of 7.6% by weight of hydrogen (based upon the weight of metal) to be stored and regenerated.
[0005] The storage of hydrogen in the form of magnesium hydride is described, for example, in French Pat. No. 1,529,371 and British Pat. No. 1,171,364. The use of the Mg/MgH
[0006] For example, the magnesium should be in the form of a powder so as to obtain the maximum specific surface area for hydrogen absorption and hence the conversion of the Mg to MgH
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a miniature metal hydride thermal storage cartridge for the cooling of devices, e.g., laptop computer chips, to subambient temperatures, the cartridge composed of at least two chambers containing different metal hydrides. The chambers may be connected by a “miniature” valve to control the H
[0008] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0009]
[0010]
[0011]
[0012]
[0013] The present invention relates to a miniature metal hydride thermal storage cartridge for the cooling of laptop computer chips and other mobile electronic consumer devices (e.g., cell phones, mobile cold storage for campers) to subambient temperatures, the cartridge composed of at least two chambers containing different metal hydrides.
[0014] As shown in
[0015] The effective time of use for a particular cartridge depends on both the mass of the metal hydrides inside the cartridge, as well as the cooling requirement. For instance, a chamber of 0.25 inches in diameter and 3 inches long is capable of storing approximately 20 grams of metal hydrides and 0.4 grams of hydrogen. Therefore, the chamber is capable of storing approximately 6,000 joules of thermal energy, assuming the metal hydride has an enthalpy change of hydriding reaction of about 6 kcal/mole-H
[0016] The cartridge
[0017] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
[0018] Thus, a preferred embodiment of the present invention employs the use of two different metal hydrides to achieve subambient cooling of electronic devices, e.g., laptop computers, mobile phones and other consumer electronic equipment. The cartridge-type thermal storage device may be recharged along with batteries. The metal hydrides may be mixed with e.g., copper powder, to improve thermal conductivity. In an alternative hydride bonding design, mandrel-formed H
[0019] While this invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments thereof, it is apparent that numerous other forms and modifications of this invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art. The appended claims and this invention generally should be construed to cover all such obvious forms and modifications which are within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.