Solid hydrogen source compounds and method for generating hydrogen

• US 20090057609A1
• Filed: 07/09/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Herakles
• Original Assignee: Snpe Materiaux Energetiques (Government of France)
• Inventors: Renouard, Joel, Perut, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 7,964,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 252/188.250
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/066 with fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/065 from a hydride
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 43/00 Compositions characterised by explosive or thermic constituents not provided for in groups C06B25/00 - C06B41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/06 by reaction of two or more solids
• 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

The present invention relates to solid compounds which generate hydrogen by combustion, and to a method for generating hydrogen based on the combustion of said compounds. Said compounds have a composition which includes at least one inorganic borohydride, selected from alkali borohydrides, alkaline-earth borohydrides and mixtures thereof, and at least one inorganic oxidant. Characteristically, said composition comprises sulfur. Said method is advantageously implemented for supplying hydrogen to a fuel cell.

Claims

1. A solid compound, suitable for generating hydrogen by combustion, whereof the composition includes at least one inorganic borohydride, selected from alkali borohydrides, alkaline-earth borohydrides and mixtures thereof, and at least one inorganic oxidant, wherein said composition comprises sulfur.

2. The compound according to claim 1, whereof the composition includes:

at least one inorganic borohydride, selected from alkali borohydrides, alkaline-earth borohydrides and mixtures thereof,

at least one inorganic oxidant, and

sulfur.

3. The compound according to claim 1, whereof the composition comprises sulfur as the sole inorganic oxidant.

4. The compound according to claim 1, whereof the composition includes 5 to 60% by weight, advantageously 20 to 45% by weight, of sulfur.

5. The compound according to claim 1, wherein said at least one inorganic borohydride and said at least one inorganic oxidant, comprising sulfur, and even consisting of said sulfur, accounts for at least 96% by weight of the weight of said compound.

6. The compound according to claim 1, whereof the composition includes:

40% to 80%, advantageously 55 to 75%, by weight of said at least one inorganic borohydride; and

20 to 60%, advantageously 25 to 45%, by weight of said at least one inorganic oxidant.

7. The compound according to claim 1, wherein said at least one inorganic borohydride is selected from sodium, lithium or magnesium borohydride.

8. The compound according to claim 1, wherein said at least one inorganic oxidant, in addition to sulfur, is selected from ammonium salts, advantageously ammonium perchlorate, dinitramines, advantageously ammonium dinitramine, and nitrates, advantageously strontium nitrate.

9. The compound according to claim 1, wherein it is in the form of a granule, a pellet or a block.

10. A method for generating hydrogen by combustion of at least one solid compound, wherein said at least one solid compound is a solid compound according to claim 1.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein it is implemented for supplying hydrogen to a fuel cell having a proton exchange membrane.

12. A method for generating hydrogen by combustion of at least one solid compound, wherein said at least one solid compound is a solid compound according to claim 2.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein it is implemented for supplying hydrogen to a fuel cell having a proton exchange membrane.

14. A method for generating hydrogen by combustion of at least one solid compound, wherein said at least one solid compound is a solid compound according to claim 3.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein it is implemented for supplying hydrogen to a fuel cell having a proton exchange membrane.