Thermally efficient hydrogen storage system

• US 20030162059A1
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Gelsey, Jon
• Granted Patent: US 7,108,933 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/17
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/066 with fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/0005 Reversible uptake of hydrogen by an appropriate medium, i.e. based on physical or chemical sorption phenomena or on reversible chemical reactions, e.g. for hydrogen storage purposes purification of hydrogen C01B3/508; Reversible gettering of hydrogen; Reversible uptake of hydrogen by electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/065 from a hydride
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/065 by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 Hydrogen storage
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/129 Energy recovery, e.g. by cogeneration, H2recovery or pressure recovery turbines

Abstract

The present disclosure concerns methods and apparatus comprising both exothermic and endothermic hydrogen generators. In certain embodiments of the invention, such hydrogen generators may be used to provide hydrogen fuel to a fuel cell. The use of both exothermic and endothermic hydrogen generators is advantageous for providing thermally efficient hydrogen storage systems that reduce or eliminate the formation of waste heat resulting from hydrogen generation. In some embodiments of the invention, the exothermic hydrogen generator comprises a sodium borohydride hydrogen generator and the endothermic hydrogen generator comprises a metal hydride storage system. In various embodiments of the invention, the rates of exothermic and/or endothermic hydrogen generation may be controlled. Control of exothermic and/or endothermic hydrogen generation may provide endothermic or thermally neutral hydrogen production. In certain embodiments of the invention, the thermally efficient hydrogen storage system may be used to provide electrical power to a portable electronic device.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a) an exothermic hydrogen generator; and

b) an endothermic hydrogen generator, the endothermic hydrogen generator to absorb heat from the exothermic hydrogen generator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a fuel cell operably coupled to the endothermic and exothermic hydrogen generators.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a portable electronic device operably coupled to the fuel cell.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said exothermic hydrogen generator comprises at least one of a borohydride solution, solid lithium aluminum tetrahydride and a partial oxidation hydrocarbon reformer.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said exothermic hydrogen generator comprises a sodium borohydride hydrogen generator.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said endothermic hydrogen generator comprises at least one of one or more metal hydrides, one or more metal alloy hydrides, a carbon nanotube system, compressed hydrogen gas, liquid hydrogen and a steam hydrocarbon reformer.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said endothermic hydrogen generator comprises one or more metal hydrides.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control system to regulate the rate of exothermic hydrogen generation.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control system to regulate the rate of endothermic hydrogen generation.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the fuel cell is thermally neutral.

11. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the fuel cell is endothermic.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a) an exothermic hydrogen generator;

b) an endothermic hydrogen generator;

c) a fuel cell operably coupled to the endothermic and exothermic hydrogen generators; and

d) a portable electronic device operably coupled to the fuel cell.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said exothermic hydrogen generator comprises:

(i) an aqueous solution of sodium borohydride; and

(ii) a catalyst.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said endothermic hydrogen generator comprises one or more metal hydrides.

15. A method of generating hydrogen comprising:

a) generating hydrogen by an exothermic process; and

b) generating hydrogen by an endothermic process.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing hydrogen to a fuel cell.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said fuel cell is operably coupled to a portable electronic device.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said exothermic process comprises reacting an aqueous solution of sodium borohydride with a catalyst.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the catalyst comprises platinum.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said endothermic process comprises releasing hydrogen from a metal hydride.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising controlling the rate of the exothermic process.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising controlling the rate of the endothermic process.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the production of heat by the exothermic process and the absorption of heat by the endothermic process are approximately equal.