“Distributed hybrid” MH–CGH2 system for hydrogen storage and its supply to LT PEMFC power modules

•Prototype hydrogen storage and supply system for LTPEMFC applications was developed.•Combination of MH and CGH2 tanks with common gas manifold was used.•Thermal coupling of fuel cell stack and MH tank was applied.•The system uses AB2-type MH; H2 equilibrium pressure ∼10bar at room temperature.•Shorter H2 charge time and stable H2 supply at a fluctuating load were observed. This paper describes the layout and presents the results of the testing of a novel prototype “distributed hybrid” hydrogen storage and supply system that has the potential to be used for Low Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (LT-PEMFC) applications. The system consists of individual Metal Hydride (MH) and Compressed Gas (CGH2) tanks with common gas manifold, and a thermal management system where heat exchanger of the liquid heated-cooled MH tank is integrated with the cooling system of the LT-PEMFC BoP. The MH tank is filled with a medium-stability AB2-type MH material (H2 equilibrium pressure of about 10bar at room temperature). This innovative solution allows for (i) an increase in hydrogen storage capacity of the whole gas storage system and the reduction of H2 charge pressure; (ii) shorter charging times in the refuelling mode and smoother peaks of H2 consumption during its supply to the fuel cell stack; (iii) the use of standard parts with simple layout and lower costs; and (iv) adding flexibility in the layout and placement of the components of the hydrogen storage and supply system.