Methods and devices for hydrogen generation from solid hydrides
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for hydrogen generation by the acid catalyzed hydrolysis of a solid fuel, comprising:
- a solid fuel storage region;
a reaction chamber adapted to contain at least one acidic reagent capable of generating hydrogen upon contact with the solid fuel in the presence of water;
a means for contacting the solid fuel with the acidic reagent in the reaction chamber to produce hydrogen gas and a product;
a hydrogen outlet line in communication with the reaction chamber; and
a hydrogen separator adapted to prevent solids and liquids in the reaction chamber from entering the hydrogen outlet line.
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Abstract
Hydrogen generators and power module systems that use solid chemical hydrides and acidic reagents for hydrogen storage and generation on demand are disclosed. The generators incorporate mechanisms for controlling the contact between solid chemical hydride and acidic reagents to control the rate of hydrogen generation and characteristics of the reaction products, including bulk density. The preferred systems of the present invention combine functions of fuel reagent storage, reaction chamber, and gas-liquid separation into a minimum number of components to reduce the balance of plant of hydrogen generation systems.
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Citations
96 Claims
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1. An apparatus for hydrogen generation by the acid catalyzed hydrolysis of a solid fuel, comprising:
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a solid fuel storage region;
a reaction chamber adapted to contain at least one acidic reagent capable of generating hydrogen upon contact with the solid fuel in the presence of water;
a means for contacting the solid fuel with the acidic reagent in the reaction chamber to produce hydrogen gas and a product;
a hydrogen outlet line in communication with the reaction chamber; and
a hydrogen separator adapted to prevent solids and liquids in the reaction chamber from entering the hydrogen outlet line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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9. The apparatus of 6 further comprising a conduit configured to transport water generated as a product in the power module from the power module to the reaction chamber.
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22. An apparatus for hydrogen generation, comprising:
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a storage region adapted to contain an acidic reagent;
a reaction chamber adapted to contain a solid fuel capable of generating hydrogen upon contact with the acidic reagent in the presence of water;
a means for contacting the acidic reagent with the solid fuel in the reaction chamber to produce hydrogen gas and a product;
a hydrogen outlet line in communication with the reaction chamber; and
a hydrogen separator adapted to prevent solids and liquids in the reaction chamber from entering the hydrogen outlet line. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method of generating hydrogen gas by a hydrolysis reaction, comprising:
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providing a solid fuel, wherein the solid fuel is capable of generating hydrogen and a product when contacted with an acidic reagent in the presence of water;
providing an acidic reagent; and
contacting the acidic reagent and the solid fuel in a reaction chamber, wherein such contact generates hydrogen gas and a product having a bulk density of at least about 0.7 g/cc. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. A method of operating a hydrogen device, comprising:
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providing a hydrogen device having a hydrogen gas inlet;
providing a hydrogen generator having a reaction chamber and a hydrogen gas outlet in communication with the inlet of the hydrogen device;
providing a solid fuel capable of generating hydrogen and a product when brought into contact with an acidic reagent and water;
providing an acidic reagent;
contacting the acidic reagent and the solid fuel in the reaction chamber, wherein such contact generates hydrogen gas and a product having a bulk density of at least about 0.7 g/cc; and
separating the hydrogen gas from the product and conveying the gas to the inlet of the hydrogen device through the hydrogen gas outlet. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96)
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Specification