A cryogenic refrigerator including cooling means for H.sub.2 before it is expanded in a throttle valve and flows back to one of two containers which are filled with an alloy of A and B in powder form, in which the ratio A : B can vary from 1 : 3 to 2 : 17, wherein A is Ca or one or more of the rare earths, if desired combined with Th and/or Zr and/or Hf, and wherein B is mainly Ni and/or Co, this alloy having the property of readily absorbing H.sub.2 at low temperature and readily desorbing H.sub.2 at high temperature, which gas is again directed to said throttle.
Heat is transferred from a first body to a second body and thereby provides power by carrying a thermodynamic fluid comprising a dispersion of a particulate solid in a gas around a thermodynamic cycle or cycles involving the expansion and contraction of the said thermodynamic fluid. Reverse cycles are used to provide refrigeration.
A cyclic desorption refrigerator and heat pump, respectively, having a plurality of thermodynamic units, each with a first and second chamber, the first chambers comprising the same sorbent and the second chambers comprising different sorbents, the heat of absorption released in a second chamber being used for desorption in an adjacent second chamber.
A calcium-nickel compound, CaNi.sub.5, is used to store hydrogen at sub-atmospheric pressures. Charging of the calcium-nickel compound with hydrogen can be accomplished at sub-atmospheric as well as at high pressures. Stored hydrogen can be released from a valved vessel containing calcium-nickel by applicatin of a vacuum or by heating.
First and second refrigerating circuits respectively cause first and second adsorbing bodies to alternately adsorb and release first and second coolants. In the first refrigerating circuit, when the first adsorbing body is heated, it releases the first coolant. The released first coolant is cooled, and discharged through an expansion valve so that a part of the first coolant is liquefied. The resultant latent heat of vaporization can be utilized to cool an object to be cooled. Thereafter, the first coolant is adsorbed when the first adsorbing body is cooled. In the second refrigerating circuit, when the second adsorbing body is heated, it releases the second coolant. The released second coolant is cooled by a liquefied-gas-type cooler, and discharged through an expansion valve so that a part of the second coolant is liquefied. The resultant latent heat of vaporization is utilized to cool the first adsorbing body of the first refrigerating circuit. Thereafter, the second coolant is adsorbed by the second adsorbing body. The liquefied-gas-type cooler cools the second coolant by utilizing the latent heat of vaporization of a liquefied gas. Thus, the amount of the second coolant liquefied after being discharged through the expansion valve in the second refrigerating circuit is increased.
A hydrogen compressor (10) having a hydride (26) suspended in a matrix (28). A cooling jacket (12) circumscribes the compressor (10) and a heater (22) is inserted within the compressor (10). A spring filter (30) is inserted within the compressor (10). A plurality of compressors (10A and 10B) are ganged together and are sequentially energized and deenergized by a plurality of timing means (72, 74A and 74B).
