Water vapor transport power generator

• US 7,001,681 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2001
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Wood, Roland A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crepeau, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US09/941,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20030044656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,638 Days
• Field of Search: 48/61, 423/657, 423/658, 429/26, 429/19, 429/17
• US Class Current: 429/421
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/065 from a hydride
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/10 by reaction of water vapour with metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04067 Heat exchange or temperature measuring elements, thermal insulation, e.g. heat pipes, heat pumps, fins
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04097 with recycling of the reactants H01M8/04119, H01M8/04104 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04156 with product water removal
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04291 Arrangements for managing water in solid electrolyte fuel cell systems H01M8/04119 takes precedence
• 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

An improved system for generating electrical power using a fuel cell. More particularly, a system for generating hydrogen gas by reacting water vapor with a substantially non-fluid substance and transporting the generated hydrogen gas to the fuel cell which generates electrical power. Reacting water vapor with the non-fluid hydrogen generating substance rather than liquid water prevents caking of the non-fluid substance and deposition of byproducts onto the non-fluid substance that interfere with continued generation of hydrogen gas.

Claims

1. A process for generating hydrogen gas for fueling a fuel cell comprising:

a) directing water vapor from a water vapor generator to a hydrogen generator, said hydrogen generator being at least partially filled with a substantially non-fluid substance which reacts with water vapor to generate hydrogen gas; and

b) directing hydrogen gas and any residual water vapor from the hydrogen generator to a fuel cell;

which water vapor generator comprises a single chamber, wherein the size of the chamber determines the quantity of water available to the hydrogen gas generator; and

wherein the passage of said water vapor and said hydrogen gas from the water vapor generator to the fuel cell is controlled by at least one valve; and

wherein the power generator has a temperature of from about −

20°

C. to about 50°

C. during operation.

2. The process of claim 1 further comprising:

c) directing any residual water vapor and any residual hydrogen gas from the fuel cell back to the water vapor generator.

3. The process of claim 1 further comprising directing water vapor and any present hydrogen gas from the water vapor generator to the hydrogen generator via at least one conduit, and directing hydrogen gas and any residual water vapor from the hydrogen gas generator to the fuel cell via at least one conduit.

4. The process of claim 1 further comprising directing water vapor and any present hydrogen gas from the water vapor generator to the hydrogen generator via at least one conduit, and directing hydrogen gas and any residual water vapor from the hydrogen gas generator to the fuel cell via at least one conduit;

and directing any residual water vapor and any residual hydrogen gas from the fuel cell to the water vapor generator via at least one return line.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the water vapor generator comprises a chamber at least partially filled with water vapor.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein said substantially non-fluid substance comprises a material selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, calcium hydride, lithium hydride, lithium aluminum hydride, sodium borohydride and combinations thereof.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein said substantially non-fluid substance comprises sodium borohydride.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein said substantially non-fluid substance is in powder, pellet or granule form.

9. The process of claim 1 further comprising pumping said water vapor and any present hydrogen from said water vapor generator to said hydrogen gas generator.

10. The process of claim 1 further comprising heating said hid cell with a heater.

11. The process of claim 1 comprising directing water vapor from the water vapor generator to the hydrogen gas generator by pressure from a tensile membrane within the water vapor generator.

12. The process of claim 1 further comprising causing an initial flow of water vapor from the water vapor generator to the hydrogen gas generator via at least one device attached to at least one of said water vapor generator, said hydrogen generator or said fuel cell.

13. In an improved process for generating electrical energy wherein water and hydrogen gas are directed from a water containing chamber to a fuel cell;

and water and any residual hydrogen gas arc directed from the fuel cell back to the water containing chamber; and

water and hydrogen gas are directed through a hydrogen gas generator, which hydrogen gas generator is connected to each of the fuel cell and water containing chamber and which hydrogen gas generator is at least partially filled with a substance which reacts with water to generate hydrogen gas, wherein the improvement comprises contacting water in the form of water vapor with a substantially non-fluid substance which reacts with water vapor to generate hydrogen gas;

which water vapor generator comprises a single chamber, wherein the size of the chamber determines the quantity of water available to the hydrogen gas generator and wherein the passage of said water vapor and said hydrogen gas from the water vapor generator to the fuel cell is controlled by at least one valve or at least one pump; and

wherein the power generator has a temperature of from about −

20°

C. to about 50°

C. during operation.

14. A process for generating hydrogen gas for fueling a fuel cell comprising:

a) directing water vapor from a water vapor generator to a hydrogen generator, said hydrogen generator being at least partially filled with a substantially non-fluid substance which reacts with water vapor to generate hydrogen gas; and

b) directing hydrogen gas and any residual water vapor from the hydrogen generator to a fuel cell;

which water vapor generator comprises a single chamber, wherein the size of the chamber determines the quantity of water available to the hydrogen gas generator; and

where in the passage of said water vapor and said hydrogen gas from the water vapor generator to the fuel cell is controlled by at least one pump; and

wherein the power generator has a temperature of from about −

20°

C. to about 50°

C. during operation.