Hydrogen generation by hydrolysis of hydrides for undersea vehicle fuel cell energy systems
First Claim
1. A hydrogen generator for generation of hydrogen gas by a substantially stoichiometric hydrolysis reaction between water and a hydride, said generator comprising:
- a vessel having a chamber therein for containing a hydride, said vessel having a sealable closure on at least one end;
heat transfer apparatus disposed about a surface of said vessel for controlling the temperature of a hydrolysis reaction within said chamber;
a stirring apparatus disposed within said vessel for stirring the hydride within said chamber;
water input ports, in communication with a water source, said water input ports disposed at spaced intervals within said chamber for introducing water into said chamber for reaction with the hydride, whereby the hydride reacts with the water in a vicinity of the water ports to generate hydrogen gas; and
an output port for removing hydrogen gas from the vessel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hydrogen generator for hydrolyzing hydrides substantially at stoichiometry to provide hydrogen on demand to a fuel cell is disclosed. The generator comprises a sealable, pressurizable, thermally insulated vessel into which a hydride in granular form is loaded. Water, most of which may be a byproduct from the fuel cell, is controllably introduced into the vessel for reaction with the hydride to generate hydrogen. The rate of introduction of the water is determined by the demand for hydrogen at the fuel cell. Heat transfer apparatus is disposed about the vessel to control the temperature of the reaction. A stirring mechanism is disposed in the vessel to prevent clumping of the hydride, to distribute the water to unreacted hydride, and to disperse the heat of the reaction throughout the hydride mass and thence to the heat transfer apparatus. An outlet from the vessel is provided for transfer of the generated hydrogen to the fuel cell. The system is particularly suitable for use in closed systems such as undersea vehicles.
306 Citations
69 Claims
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1. A hydrogen generator for generation of hydrogen gas by a substantially stoichiometric hydrolysis reaction between water and a hydride, said generator comprising:
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a vessel having a chamber therein for containing a hydride, said vessel having a sealable closure on at least one end; heat transfer apparatus disposed about a surface of said vessel for controlling the temperature of a hydrolysis reaction within said chamber; a stirring apparatus disposed within said vessel for stirring the hydride within said chamber; water input ports, in communication with a water source, said water input ports disposed at spaced intervals within said chamber for introducing water into said chamber for reaction with the hydride, whereby the hydride reacts with the water in a vicinity of the water ports to generate hydrogen gas; and an output port for removing hydrogen gas from the vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 68)
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33. A hydrogen generator for generation of hydrogen gas by a substantially stoichiometric hydrolysis reaction between water and hydride for use with a fuel cell, said generator comprising:
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a vessel having a chamber therein, said vessel having a sealable closure on at least one end; a hydride in a granular form disposed within said chamber; heat transfer apparatus disposed about a surface of said vessel for controlling the temperature of a hydrolysis reaction within said chamber; a stirring apparatus disposed within said vessel for stirring said hydride within said chamber; water input ports disposed at spaced intervals within said chamber for introducing water into said chamber for reaction with said hydride, whereby said hydride reacts with the water in a vicinity of the water ports to generate hydrogen gas; a water source in fluid communication with said water ports for supplying water to said water ports; an output port for removing hydrogen gas from said vessel; and a controller in communication with said heat transfer apparatus, said stirring apparatus, and said water source for introducing water at a controlled rate into said chamber for reaction with said hydride within a predetermined temperature range, whereby the rate of the hydrolysis reaction is controlled by the rate of introduction of the water into said chamber. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. An energy system for an undersea vehicle comprising:
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a fuel cell for generating electrical power and water from hydrogen gas and oxygen gas; a connection from a source of oxygen gas to the fuel cell; a hydrogen generator operatively coupled to said fuel cell for generation of hydrogen gas by a substantially stoichiometric hydrolysis reaction between water and a hydride, said generator comprising; a vessel having a chamber therein, said vessel having a sealable closure on at least one end; a hydride in a granular form disposed within said chamber; a stirring apparatus disposed within said vessel for stirring said hydride within said chamber; water input ports disposed at spaced intervals within said chamber for introducing water into said chamber for reaction with said hydride in a vicinity of said water ports; an output port in communication with said fuel cell for removing hydrogen gas from said vessel and directing said hydrogen gas to said fuel cell along a hydrogen gas flow path; and a controller in communication with said fuel cell and said hydrogen generator for controllably introducing the water into said chamber through said water ports for reaction substantially at stoichiometry with said hydride. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69)
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Specification