The following PhD thesis has been carried out in the Institute for Energy Engineering of the Polytechnic University of Valencia. Part of the PhD has been realised in Stuttgart (Germany) at the Institüt für Kernenergetik und Energiesysteme (IKE).
This PhD thesis consists in the modelling and validation of a metal hydride cooling system. The experimental prototype is located in the institute IKE.
In the first place, the hydrogen absorbing materials have been characterized in terms of the static P-C-T properties and of the intrinsic reaction kinetics. In the second place, after this first characterization phase, a completely dynamic model has been developed based on the heat and mass transfer processes which take place in the reactors.  The results have been validated with an exhaustive experimental campaign of dynamic cooling tests and the adjustment of the model is very good.
Finally, the cooling performance of the system has been improved by means of the model which has enabled the optimization of the operating conditions and of the sorption materials.