Hydrogen generator

• US 4,513,065 A
• Filed: 05/16/1984
• Issued: 04/23/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Engelhard Corporation (BASF SE)
• Original Assignee: Engelhard Corporation (BASF SE)
• Inventors: Adlhart, Otto J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LeFevour, Charles F.
• Application Number:
  US06/610,740
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 429/19, 429/118, 429/119, 429/17, 429/94
• US Class Current: 429/422
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/06 Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues regenerative fuel cells H01M8/18
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a replaceable cartridge hydrogen generator of the type which relies at least partially on the process of anodic corrosion to produce hydrogen. A drum contains a plurality of the cartridges.

Claims

1. A hydrogen generator of the type which relies at least partially on the process of anodic corrosion to generate hydrogen comprising:

(a) a drum means,

(b) a plurality of cartridges in the drum means, each cartridge having a container with an aqueous electrolyte therein, an anodic material mounted in the container having a relatively high ratio of surface area to volume, a cooperating cathode mounted in the container closely spaced from the surface of the anodic material and means for removing hydrogen from the cartridge,

(c) means for feeding the hydrogen removed from the cartridges out of the generator, and

(d) means for activating the cartridges allowing electric current to flow to produce hydrogen.

2. The generator as in claim 1 wherein the cartridge container is the cathode and the containers are electrically insulated from one another.

3. The generator as in claim 1 further including a device operatively attached thereto which utilizes the hydrogen produced thereby.

4. The generator as in claim 3 wherein the further device is a fuel cell.

5. The generator as in claim 3 wherein hydrogen is generated in response to demand by the device.

6. The generator as in claim 1 wherein the cartridges are replaceable.