A hydrogen production system using solar energy is examined to determine its characteristics. The testing system consists of solar cells and a solid polymer electrolyzer. The solar panels’ capacity is 2kW. An electrolyzer which had 200cm² electrodes was already tested. Now, another electrolyzer which has 50cm² electrodes is being examined. The solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of this system was approximately 10%. The test shows that variations of current in electrolysis cells gradually degrade the current efficiency of the cells.

Separation of hydrogen isotopes from inert gas mixtures is one of the most important issues for the research and development of a fuel cycle of a future fusion reactor. The method of metal particle beds was experimentally investigated for the application to the fuel cycle. Yttrium, zirconium, titanium and some zirconium alloys, e.g. ZrNi, ZrCo, ZrV₂, Zr(V_xFe_1-x)₂, Zr₃AL₂, were found to be promising materials to have high absorption ability under very low hydrogen isotope concentration. In this report our attention was focused on the prediction of hydrogen absorption rate and impurity effects. A continuous method for hydrogen isotope separation using two hydrogen absorbing alloys was also proposed.

Electrical resistivities for the metal hydride LaNi5Hx and LaCo5Hx have been in situ measured by a newly developed method which prevents the fracture of samples upon hydrogenation .For activated samples the variation in the resistivity with hydrogen pressure is correlated with the pressure -composition isotherm,and for virgin samples the intrinsic electrical resistivity of hydride was measured in first absorbtion of hydrogen.

This is the first observation of the electrical properties for unstable ternary hydrides having relatively high equilibrium pressures of hydrogen

Features of liquid hydrogen industry as a key industry to support an aircraft type of space transportation system to be operated for space tourism have been explained on the base of a prospective production model of the space vehicles and an operational concept of space tourism business.