Methods and systems for producing hydrogen

• US 10,259,707 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2015
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: H2 Catalyst LLC
• Original Assignee: H2 Catalyst LLC
• Inventors: Phillips, Douglas Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Orlando, Amber R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Iqbal, Syed
• Application Number:
  US14/822,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20150344303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/087 employing electric or magnetic energy
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 7/02 by wet methods
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/08 with metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/065 by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0656 by electrochemical means H01M8/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of methods and systems for hydrogen production using an electro-activated material are provided. In some exemplary embodiments, carbon can be electro-activated and used in a chemical reaction with water and a fuel, such as aluminum, to generate hydrogen. Controlling the temperature of the reaction, and the amounts of water, aluminum and electro-activated carbon can provide hydrogen on demand at a desired rate of hydrogen generation.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

placing a carbon material in a vessel;

providing water within the vessel;

providing electrical current through the water to oxidize the surface of the carbon material in the water to produce electro-activated carbon; and

separating the electro-activated carbon from the water.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adding an electrolyte in the water in the vessel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical current is provided at less than 5 amps.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the carbon material is one or more of pure carbon, solid carbon, crushed carbon, sintered carbon, carbon composites, charcoal, pressed carbon, carbon blocks, graphite, carbon granules, granulated activated carbon or coal.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

drying the electro-activated carbon after separating the electro-activated carbon.

6. A method of producing hydrogen, comprising:

combining electro-activated carbon with water and aluminum; and

providing heat to the combination of the electro-activated carbon, aluminum and water to produce hydrogen.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the combination of the electro-activated carbon, aluminum and water is heated to a temperature range between approximately 150 degrees Fahrenheit to approximately 190 degrees Fahrenheit.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

controlling the hydrogen production by heating the combination of the electro-activated carbon, aluminum and water to increase hydrogen production; and

cooling or reducing the heat provided to the combination of the electro-activated carbon, aluminum and water to reduce hydrogen production.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

controlling the hydrogen production by adding amounts of one or more of the electro-activated carbon, aluminum and water to increase the hydrogen production, and removing amounts of one or more of the electro-activated carbon, aluminum and water to decrease the hydrogen production.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the water comprises tap water, dirty water, high-calcium water, salt water, sea water, alkaline water or acidic water.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

mixing, burnishing or chopping the aluminum during hydrogen production.

12. A system for producing hydrogen, comprising:

a vessel having a combination of electro-activated carbon, fuel and water, wherein the fuel is capable of tying up an OH group in a water molecule in a chemical reaction; and

an apparatus for heating the vessel to produce a chemical reaction between the fuel and the water causing separation of the water molecule to produce hydrogen;

wherein the fuel comprises one or more of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, calcium, strontium, barium, barium oxide, aluminum, aluminum powder, aluminum granules and aluminum shavings.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

one or more mechanisms for mixing, burnishing or chopping the fuel during hydrogen production.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

one or more mechanisms to control the hydrogen production in the vessel to produce hydrogen on demand.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more mechanisms heat the combination of the electro-activated carbon, fuel and water to increase the hydrogen production, and cool or reduce the heat to the combination of the electro-activated carbon, fuel and water to decrease the hydrogen production.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more mechanisms heat the combination of the electro-activated carbon, fuel and water to a temperature range between approximately 150 degrees Fahrenheit to approximately 190 degrees Fahrenheit.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the hydrogen production is controlled by adding amounts of one or more of the electro-activated carbon, fuel and water to increase the hydrogen production, and removing amounts of one or more of the electro-activated carbon, fuel and water to decrease the hydrogen production.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the water comprises tap water, dirty water, high-calcium water, salt water, sea water, alkaline water or acidic water.