Patent ID: 7213409

Claim:
A system for effecting temperature changes in an environment, comprising: a first container for storing a metal hydride therein at ambient temperature and a storage pressure that is greater than ambient pressure; a first heat exchanger in thermal communication with said first container; a second container for storing a metal alloy therein at ambient temperature and ambient pressure, said metal alloy being capable of absorbing hydrogen atoms at a pressure that is less than said storage pressure; a second heat exchanger in thermal communication with said second container; a conduit coupled between said first container and said second container, said conduit in communication at a first end thereof with said metal hydride and in communication at a second end thereof with said metal alloy; a valve disposed in said conduit for controlling communication between said first end and said second end thereof; a thermal insulator disposed about one of said first heat exchanger and said second heat exchanger; and means for placing a circulating fluid in thermal communication with said one of said first heat exchanger and said second heat exchanger, said means for placing adapted to be in thermal communication with an environment requiring temperature changes wherein, when said valve is opened, hydrogen atoms desorbed from said metal hydride are transported through said conduit and absorbed by said metal alloy.