PROCESS, COMPOSITION OF MATTER, AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING HYDROGEN FROM A CHEMICAL HYDRIDE

• US 20090053134A1
• Filed: 08/26/2008
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Trulife Incorporated (Trulife)
• Original Assignee: Trulife Incorporated (Trulife)
• Inventors: Ladd, Eric J., Anderson, J. Howard, Shurtleff, James Kevin, Patton, John M., Brydon, Chris A.
• Application Number:
  US12/198,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20090053134A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 423/657
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 7/02 by wet methods
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/065 from a hydride
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 11/005 for hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04208 Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04216 characterised by the choice for a specific material, e.g. carbon, hydride, absorbent
• 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

Abstract

A process, composition of matter, and apparatus for generating hydrogen are disclosed. The process includes providing an anhydrous hydride, forming a mixture of the hydride with an activating agent, and introducing a liquid reactant to the mixture to produce hydrogen. The mixture includes activating agent in the range of between about 20 to about 80 percent by dry weight.

Claims

1. A process for generating hydrogen, the process comprising:

providing an anhydrous hydride;

forming a mixture of the hydride with an activating agent, the mixture comprising activating agent in the range of between about 20 to about 80 percent by dry weight; and

introducing a liquid reactant to the mixture to produce hydrogen.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the mixture comprises activating agent in the range of between about 20 to about 50 percent by dry weight.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the mixture comprises about 40 percent by dry weight of activating agent.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the activating agent is an anhydrous salt.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the activating agent is a hydrous salt.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein the activating agent is selected from a group consisting of BeF₂, BeCl₂, BeBr₂, Bel₂, MgF₂, MgBr₂, MgCl₂, MgI₂, CaF₂, CaCl₂, CaBr₂, CaI₂, LiF, LiCl, LiBr, LiI, NaF, NaCl, NaBr, NaI, KF, KCl, KBr, KI, Li₂S, CuCl₂, and Li₂Se.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein the liquid reactant comprises water.

8. The process of claim 1, wherein the liquid reactant has a lower freezing point temperature than water.

9. The process of claim 1, wherein the liquid reactant comprises a freezing point lowering additive.

10. The process of claim 9, wherein the freezing point lowering additive comprises an alcohol.

11. The process of claim 1, wherein the hydride comprises a solid material selected from the group consisting of sodium borohydride, lithium borohydride, lithium aluminum hydride, lithium sodium hydride, calcium hydride, lithium hydride, lithium tetrahydridoaluminate, lithium tetrahydridoborate, sodium hydride, sodium tetrahydridoaluminate, and sodium tetrahydridoborate.

12. The process of claim 1, wherein the hydride comprises a powdered solid material.

13. A process for generating hydrogen, the process comprising:

providing an anhydrous powdered solid hydride; and

introducing the liquid reactant to the anhydrous hydride, the liquid reactant comprising a dissolved activating agent, the dissolved activating agent and the liquid reactant reacting with the anhydrous hydride to produce hydrogen.

14. The process of claim 13, wherein the activating agent is selected from a group consisting of Group IA salts, Group IIA salts, Group IA hydroxides, Group IIA hydroxides, Group IA oxides, Group IIA oxides, Group IA sulfides, Group IIA sulfides, Group IA selenides, and Group IIA selenides.

15. The process of claim 13, wherein the hydride comprises a material selected from the group consisting of sodium borohydride, lithium borohydride, lithium aluminum hydride, calcium hydride, lithium hydride, lithium tetrahydridoaluminate, lithium tetrahydridoborate, sodium hydride, sodium tetrahydridoaluminate, and sodium tetrahydridoborate.

16. A process for generating hydrogen, the process comprising:

providing a dry anhydrous powdered solid hydride;

providing a dry activating agent;

providing a liquid reactant; and

combining the dry anhydrous powdered solid hydride with the dry activating agent and liquid reactant, the activating agent and the liquid reactant reacting with the anhydrous hydride to produce hydrogen.

17. A composition of matter comprising an anhydrous hydride and an anhydrous salt, wherein the composition comprises anhydrous salt in the range of between about 20 to about 80 percent by dry weight.

18. The composition of claim 17, wherein the anhydrous salt is selected from the group consisting of BeF₂, BeCl₂, BeBr₂, BeI₂, MgF₂, MgBr₂, MgCl₂, MgI₂, CaF₂, CaCl₂, CaBr₂, CaI₂, LiF, LiCl, LiBr, LiI, NaF, NaCl, NaBr, NaI, KF, KCl, KBr, KI, Li₂S, CuCl₂, and Li₂Se.

19. The composition of claim 17, wherein the hydride comprises a material selected from the group consisting of sodium borohydride, lithium borohydride, lithium aluminum hydride, calcium hydride lithium hydride, lithium tetrahydridoaluminate, lithium tetrahydridoborate, sodium hydride, sodium tetrahydridoaluminate, and sodium tetrahydridoborate.

20. An apparatus to generate hydrogen, the apparatus comprising:

a liquid permeable material comprising one or more cavities, each cavity configured to contain an anhydrous hydride;

a housing comprising a heat and pressure resistant material, the housing configured to receive the liquid permeable material and a liquid reactant;

one or more liquid sources configured to inject the liquid reactant into the housing such that the liquid reactant contacts at least a portion of the liquid permeable material; and

a gas outlet port configured to release hydrogen gas produced by a reaction comprising the anhydrous hydride, an activating agent, and the liquid reactant.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the activating agent is an anhydrous salt.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the activating agent is selected from a group consisting of BeF₂, BeCl₂, BeBr₂, Bel₂, MgF₂, MgBr₂, MgCl₂, MgI₂, CaF₂, CaCl₂, CaBr₂, CaI₂, LiF, LiCl, LiBr, LiI, NaF, NaCl, NaBr, NaI, KF, KCl, KBr, KI, Li₂S, CuCl₂, and Li₂Se.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the anhydrous hydride comprises a material selected from the group consisting of sodium borohydride, lithium borohydride, lithium aluminum hydride, calcium hydride, lithium hydride, lithium tetrahydridoaluminate, lithium tetrahydridoborate, sodium hydride, sodium tetrahydridoaluminate, and sodium tetrahydridoborate.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the housing is configured to receive the activating agent dissolved in the liquid reactant.