Stability control of a hydrogen generating system and method

• US 10,435,804 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2018
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marine Power Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Marine Power Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Carey, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Brian W
• Application Number:
  US16/038,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20180320279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00006 Large-scale industrial plants
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00144 Sunlight; Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/8926 Copper and noble metals
• 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: 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 20/133 Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for efficient on-demand production of H₂ and O₂ from water and heat using environmentally safe metals are disclosed. In one aspect, the apparatus for hydrogen generation through water-decomposition reaction includes a main reactor, an oxidizer reactor, and a computer-control system. The computer system is configured to control each of the components of the hydrogen gas production system for stable hydrogen-gas production.

Claims

1. A method of optimizing a hydrogen producing system comprising:

a) maintaining an optimized condition for generating hydrogen gas during application of a pre-determined voltage to one or more electrodes in a basic solution in a first reactor containing an aluminum complex, a silver complex and a copper complex;

b) circulating the solution from the first reactor to a second reactor; and

c) recirculating the solution from the second reactor to the first reactor forming a continuous catalytic hydrogen generating system, wherein the optimized condition comprises maintaining a pH of the basic solution in the first reactor not exceeding 9.7.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the optimized condition comprises recirculating the solution from the second reactor to the first reactor after the pH of the solution drops below 7 from the basic solution.

2. A method of optimizing a hydrogen producing system comprising:

a) maintaining an optimized condition for generating hydrogen gas during application of a pre-determined voltage to one or more electrodes in a basic solution in a first reactor containing an aluminum complex, a silver complex and a copper complex;

b) circulating the solution from the first reactor to a second reactor; and

c) recirculating the solution from the second reactor to the first reactor forming a continuous catalytic hydrogen generating system, wherein the optimized condition comprises keeping an approximately equal molar of a silver complex and a copper complex.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the optimized condition comprises keeping a color of the solution in the first reactor in blood red.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the optimized condition comprises preventing a color of the solution turning into brown.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the optimized condition comprises preventing a precipitation of silver crystalline.

7. A method of optimizing a hydrogen producing system comprising:

a) maintaining an optimized condition for generating hydrogen gas during application of a pre-determined voltage to one or more electrodes in a basic solution in a first reactor containing an aluminum complex, a silver complex and a copper complex;

b) circulating the solution from the first reactor to a second reactor; and

c) recirculating the solution from the second reactor to the first reactor forming a continuous catalytic hydrogen generating system, wherein the optimized condition comprises increasing a light intensity of an illumination, at the second reactor.