Method of and device for optimizing a hydrogen generating system

• US 10,092,892 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2015
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marine Power Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Marine Power Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Carey, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Brian W
• Application Number:
  US14/931,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20160051961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/087 employing electric or magnetic energy
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00006 Large-scale industrial plants
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00144 Sunlight; Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0801 Controlling the process
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0803 employing electric or magnetic energy
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/8926 Copper and noble metals
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/342 of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields, e.g. for magnetic separation
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 7/02 by wet methods
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/0203 from inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/04 by decomposition of inorganic compounds, e.g. ammonia C01B3/0005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/068 the hydrogen being generated from the water as a result of a cyclus of reactions, not covered by groups C01B3/063 or C01B3/105
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/02 Hydrogen or oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/02 Process control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/08 Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/584 Recycling of catalysts

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for optimizing a hydrogen producing system is provided. The method of optimizing the hydrogen producing system comprises producing hydrogen gas using a hydrogen producing formulation and removing a chemical substance that reduces the hydrogen gas producing efficiency. Further, the hydrogen producing system comprises a hydrogen producing catalyst, a hydrogen generating voltage applied to the hydrogen producing catalyst to generate hydrogen gas, and a catalyst regenerating device to regenerate the hydrogen producing catalyst to a chemical state capable of generating the hydrogen gas when a hydrogen generating voltage is applied.

Claims

1. A hydrogen producing system comprising:

a. a hydrogen producing catalyst containing Al(OH)x, copper, and silver in a first reactor, wherein x is 1, 2, 3, or 4;

b. a voltage generating source configured to apply a hydrogen generating voltage between 0.4V and 0.9V to the hydrogen producing catalyst in the first reactor to generate hydrogen gas; and

c. a catalyst regenerating device in a second reactor having a light source configured to generate light for photolysis, a heat source configured to generate heat for thermolysis, or both to regenerate the hydrogen producing catalyst to a chemical state generating the hydrogen gas when the hydrogen generating voltage is applied.

2. The hydrogen producing system of claim 1, further comprising applying a catalyst preparing voltage to aluminum metal, copper metal, or a combination thereof.

3. The hydrogen producing system of claim 2, wherein the catalyst preparing voltage is higher than 1.1V.

4. The hydrogen producing system of claim 1, wherein the catalyst regenerating device comprises copper, silver, or both in a chemical state capable of coordinating with OH⁻

.

5. The hydrogen producing system of claim 1, further comprising a computer automatic controlling system.

6. The hydrogen producing system of claim 5, wherein the computer automatic controlling system optimizes a hydrogen producing rate automatically.