Recently a new thermal energy source has been under research in hopes of creating a new battery able to operate under extreme temperature conditions. Scientists have been experimenting with metal hydrides, a high-energy material, to form the basis of the battery. Metal hydrides are a material class that contain metal that are able to be bonded with hydrogen. They are classified by their chemical bond i.e., ionic, metallic or covalent. The energy is then combined with pressurized water, and the energy storage cycle was able to be reversed at certain conditions. The battery itself uses a heat transfer liquid system and disperses the energy accordingly.
This new system demonstrates storage reversibility at a range of temperatures, proving that the thermal battery theoretically can last in varying environmental conditions. The prototype contains 900 g of materials, and the flow rate can be adjusted according to the temperature. Once the study is complete it is hoped that this new thermal battery can be a lasting future energy source for yet to be determined applications.
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