Method and apparatus for generating hydrogen

• US 20040009392A1
• Filed: 04/22/2003
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phillip J. Petillo, Stephen C. Petillo
• Original Assignee: Phillip J. Petillo, Stephen C. Petillo
• Inventors: Petillo, Stephen C., Petillo, Phillip J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,691,527 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/122
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/065 from a hydride
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/065 by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances
• 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

One embodiment of the present invention is a hydrogen generator that includes: (a) an anode material; (b) a cathode material; and (c) an electrolyte; wherein the electrolyte comprises a metal hydride, at least one stabilizing agent, and a solvent; and wherein hydrogen gas is generated whenever the anode material and the cathode material are electrically connected.

Claims

1. A hydrogen generator that comprises:

an anode material;

a cathode material; and

an electrolyte;

wherein the electrolyte comprises a metal hydride, at least one stabilizing agent, and a solvent; and

wherein hydrogen gas is generated whenever the anode material and the cathode material are electrically connected.

2. The hydrogen generator of claim 1 wherein the metal hydride includes one or more of NaBH₄ (sodium borohydride), LiBH₄ (lithium borohydride), KBH₄ (potassium borohydride), NH₄BH₄ (ammonium borohydride), (CH₃)₄NH₄BH₄ (tetramethyl ammonium borohydride ((CH₃)₄NH₄BH₄), NaAlH₄, LiAlH₄, KAlH₄, NaGaH₄, LiGaH₄, KGaH₄, and quaternary borohydrides.

3. The hydrogen generator of claim 1 wherein the at least one stabilizing agent includes a corresponding hydroxide of a cation part of the metal hydride.

4. The hydrogen generator of claim 2 wherein the hydroxide includes one or more of sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, and potassium hydroxide.

5. The hydrogen generator of claim 1 wherein the solvent is water.

6. The hydrogen generator of claim 1 wherein the anode material is a metal selected from lanthanide metals and actinide metals.

7. The hydrogen generator of claim 1 wherein the anode material is a metal selected from one or more of magnesium, aluminum, zinc, beryllium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, silicon, iron, nickel, and zirconium.

8. The hydrogen generator of claim 1 wherein the metal hydride is a complex metal hydride having a general chemical formula MBH₄;

and

wherein M is an alkali metal selected from Group 1 of the periodic table;

B is an element selected from Group 13 of the periodic table; and

H is hydrogen.

12. The hydrogen generator of claim 1 wherein the electrolyte further comprises a gel.

13. The hydrogen generator of claim 1 which further includes a conduit through which hydrogen gas exits the hydrogen generator.

14. The hydrogen generator of claim 1 wherein:

the cathode material forms a container; and

the anode material is disposed in the container;

is electrically insulated from the cathode material; and

is one of a porous anode material, a metal or plastic wool-like anode material, a plastic foam coated with anode material, a mesh of anode material, an anode material cloth, an “

expanded”

anode material, a woven anode material, a honeycomb sheet of anode material, a perforated sheet of anode material, and a plastic plated with anode material.

15. The hydrogen generator of claim 14 wherein the conduit is electrically connected to the anode material.

16. The hydrogen generator of claim 15 wherein the conduit is disposed in a cap of the container, which cap is electrically insulated from the container.

17. The hydrogen generator of claim 16 wherein a hydrophobic filter is disposed in the conduit.

18. The hydrogen generator of claim 15 wherein the electrolyte comprises water and the container further comprises a source of water.

19. The hydrogen generator of claim 15 wherein an electrical connection is made between the anode material and the cathode material by an electrical connection between the conduit and the container.

20. The hydrogen container of claim 19 wherein the electrical connection between the conduit and the container further comprises a switch.

9. A hydrogen generator that comprises:

an anode material;

a cathode material; and

an electrolyte that contacts the anode material and the cathode material;

wherein the electrolyte comprises a metal hydride, at least one stabilizing agent, and a solvent; and

wherein a potential is generated between the anode material and the cathode material when they are connected.

10. The hydrogen generator of claim 9 wherein the anode material is selected from the following metals platinum, gold, graphite, silver, stainless steel, inconel, nickel, monel, aluminum bronze, tin bronze, copper, brass, tin lead, lead tin solder, carbon steel, pure aluminum, cadmium, aluminum alloys, zinc, magnesium alloys, and magnesium and the cathode material is also selected from these material but it is more cathodic than the anode material.

11. The hydrogen generator of claim 9 wherein the anode material and the cathode material are dissimilar materials.