The structure and hydriding performance of La0.6Nd0.4Ni4.8Mn0.2Cux (x = 0 ～ 0.4) alloys were investigated in order to develop suitable materials for metal hydride air conditioner. The effect of Cu addition on the crystal structure,equilibrium pressure, hydrogen capacity and hysteresis as well as hydrogen absorption/desorption kinetics were systematically studied by using the measurement of P-C isotherms, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. As the amount of Cu increases, the plateau pressure increases and hydrogen absorption/desorption kinetics is improved, but the effective hydrogen storage capacity decreases. It is shown that variations in the basal plane parameter a can be used as an indication for the plateau pressure changes. With the increase of parameter a, the plateau pressure decreases. For La0.6 Nd0.4Ni4.8Mn0.2Cux(x = 0 ～ 0.4) alloys there is a relationship between the effective hydrogen storage capacities and the ratios of their unit cell parameters c and a. The effective hydrogen storage capacity decreases with increase of a/c.
With COP and dynamic characteristics in refrigeration cycle as criteria,a new metal hydride couple——LaNi 4.61 Mn 0.26 Al 0.13 /La 0.6 Y 0.4 Ni 4.8 Mn 0.2 was selected by establishing calculation procedure and metal hydride selection model.The experimental results show that the refigeration cycle of the selected couple is good in the performance.The recovered waste heat and refrigeration power from exhaust gas of several kinds of automobile are calculated by waste-heat formula,coefficient R Q and COP.Refrigeration cycle of the new couple can satisfy the air-conditioning requirement of truck and car and is not enough in passenger car,according to the respective cooling load.
