NOVELTY - A hydrogen gas cooled hydrogen storage unit comprises a storage unit casing, containing hydrogen storage alloy rods; hydrogen flow channel region between the rods and providing pathways between rods for high speed hydrogen gas flow; and a porous encapsulant surrounding the alloy rods to prevent the hydrogen storage alloy from being entrained into the gas flow.    USE - The instant storage unit is used for hydrogen-based economy. It is also useful as hydrogen supply for, e.g. automobiles. It can be used as a source of hydrogen for internal combustion engine (ICE) or fuel cell (FC) vehicles.    ADVANTAGE - The unit provides good heating and cooling. It also provides for high packing density of storage materials. It also allows for efficient thermal transfer of heat energy from a central source of heat through the rods during discharge of the stored hydrogen. It also provides for encapsulation of the storage materials to prevent entrainment into the high speed cooling hydrogen flow.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A hydrogen gas cooled hydrogen storage unit comprises (i) storage unit casing (7); (ii) hydrogen storage alloy rods (3) disposed within the storage unit casing; (iii) hydrogen flow channel region (5) provided within the casing, between the hydrogen storage alloy rods, the flow channel region providing pathways between the hydrogen storage alloy rods to allow for high speed hydrogen gas flow, a portion of the hydrogen being stored within the storage material and releasing heat of hydride formation and the remainder of hydrogen flowing through the hydrogen flow channels at a mass flow rate sufficient to remove the heat of hydride formation; and (iv) a porous encapsulant surrounding the hydrogen storage alloy rods to prevent the hydrogen storage alloy from being entrained into the high speed hydrogen gas flow.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure is a cross sectional view of a schematic depiction of the hydrogen storage unit.    Hydrogen storage rods (3)    Hydrogen flow channel region (5)    Casing (7)