A Metal Hydride Mobile Air Conditioning System

This paper describes the development of an electrical compressor-driven air conditioning system for automotive applications. The system uses the thermal properties of reversible metal hydride alloys, which are retained within advanced-design hydride heat exchangers. Calculations on system performance predict high energy efficiency in a package of competitive size and cost. A proof-of-principle prototype has been constructed and bench tested. Measurements from initial tests confirm the excellent performance potential of this system. A study about on-board integration concludes that the system can be installed on a car and can provide all HVAC traditional functions.