Abstract
In order to improve the hydrogen storage capacity and the activation properties of the hydrogen storage alloys, the rare-earth metal alloy series, MmN $i_{4.5}$M $n_{0.5}$Z $r_{x}$(x=0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1), are prepared by adding excess Zr in MmN $i_{4.5}$M $n_{0.5}$ alloy. The various parts in hydrogen storage vessel consisted of copper pipes reached the setting temperature within 4~5 minutes after heat addition, which indicated that storage vessel had a good heat conductivity required in application. The performance test on storage vessel filled with rare-earth metal alloys of 1000 gr was also conducted after hydrogen charging for 10 min at $18^{\circ}C$ under 10 atm. It showed that the average capacity of discharged hydrogen volume was found to be for $MmNi_{4.5}$ $Mn_{0.5}$ and $MmNi_{4.5}$ $Mn_{x}$ 0.5/$Zr_{samples}$ indicated that the released amount of hydrogen for this $AB_{5}$ type alloys was more than 92 % of theoretic value, and also it was found that the optimum discharging temperature for obtaining an appropriate pressure of 3 atm was determined to be $V^{\circ}C$ for $MmNi_{4.5}$ $Mn_{0.5}$$Zr_{x}$(x=0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1) hydrogen storage alloys. The released amount of these hydrogen storage samples was 125 $\ell$ , 122.4 $\ell$ and 108.15 $\ell$/kg for $MmNi_{4.5}$ $Mn_{0.5}$ $Zr_{0.025}$ $MmNi_{4.5}$M $n_{0.5}$Z $r_{0.05}$, and MmN $i_{4.5}$ Mn_0.5$Zr_{0}$, at $70^{\circ}C$ respectively. Amount of the 2nd phases increase with increase on Zr contents in $MmNi_{4.5}$$Mn_{0.5}$ $Zr_{ 0.1}$/ alloy. This phenomenon indicates that$ ZrNi_3$ in $MmNi_{4.5}$ $Mn_{0.5}$ $Zr_{x}$ / phase, which shows the maximum storage capacity and the strong resistance to intrinsic degradation, is considered as a proper alloy for hydrogen storage. As the Zr contents increase, the activation time and the plateau pressure decreases and sloping of the plateau pressure increases.creases.eases.s.