Experimental study on temperature variation of metal hydride reactor incorporating helically coiled heat exchanger during absorption

•An experimental set-up for metal hydride reactor with helical coiled tube was built.•Increasing hydrogen pressure makes time variations of bed temperature more unevenly.•Low fluid outlet temperature limits heating utilization at low fluid inlet temperature.•The recommended fluid velocity (1–3 m/s) inside heat exchanger tube is not suitable.•The hydrogen absorption process can be controlled by changing hydrogen flow rate.