Apparatus and system for promoting a substantially complete reaction of an anhydrous hydride reactant

• US 7,556,660 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2007
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Molly Alonso
• Original Assignee: Eric J. Ladd, James Kevin Shurtleff, John Madison Patton
• Inventors: Patton, John Madison, Ladd, Eric J., Shurtleff, James Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): BHAT, NINA NMN
• Application Number:
  US11/740,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20070189940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 48/61, 481/20, 481/74, 422/211, 422/239, 422/234, 422/236
• US Class Current: 48/61
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00017 Controlling the temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2208/00539 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/002 inside the reactor
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00213 Fixed parameter value
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00231 at the reactor inlet
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 7/02 by wet methods
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 8/0271 in a spiral shaped bed
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/066 with fuel cells
• 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 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

The apparatus includes a liquid permeable pouch that defines a cavity for maintaining an anhydrous hydride reactant, wherein the cavity comprises a cross-section such that a point within the cross-section is separated from a perimeter of the liquid permeable pouch by no more than double the permeation distance, and a cartridge configured to receive the liquid permeable pouch and a liquid reactant such that at least a portion of the liquid permeable pouch is submerged in the liquid reactant. The system includes a plurality of pouches formed from two rectangular sheets of liquid permeable material, and each pouch has a width selected such that each point within a cross-section is separated from the sheets by no more than double the permeation distance. The method includes joining the sheets, forming one or more seals to define a cavity, disposing anhydrous hydride within the cavity, and sealing the opening.

Claims

1. An apparatus to promote a substantially complete reaction of an anhydrous hydride reactant, the apparatus comprising:

a liquid permeable pouch that defines a cavity, the liquid permeable pouch having at least one wall formed from material configured to permit passage of a liquid from one side of the material to the other side;

a solid anhydrous hydride reactant disposed within the cavity, the solid anhydrous hydride reactant having a liquid permeation distance;

wherein the cavity comprises a cross-section such that each point within the cross-section is separated from a perimeter of the liquid permeable pouch by no more than double the permeation distance;

a cartridge configured to receive the liquid permeable pouch and a liquid reactant such that at least a portion of the liquid permeable pouch is in contact with the liquid reactant.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the permeation distance comprises a distance the liquid reactant is capable of traveling in reacted hydride.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of tubular liquid permeable pouches in a side-by-side configuration.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the cartridge is cylindrical and wherein the plurality of liquid permeable pouches is rolled, a longitudinal axis of the rolled plurality of liquid permeable pouches oriented coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the cartridge.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of liquid permeable pouches are disposed within the cartridge such that the plurality of liquid permeable pouches form one or more liquid channels directing a flow of liquid reactant around the plurality of liquid permeable pouches.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of liquid conduits radially spaced about a longitudinal axis of the cartridge, each liquid conduit positioned along side at least one tubular liquid permeable pouch.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge is configured to receive a plurality of liquid permeable pouches having different lengths, the liquid permeable pouches stacked and arranged in alternating courses such that a course gap between two stacked liquid permeable pouches does not line up with the gap in an adjacent course of liquid permeable pouches.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid permeable pouch is formed substantially of a material having a maximum wicking distance of about 0.3 inches per minute in a direction opposite a gravitational pull.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid permeable pouch is formed substantially of a material configured to maintain structural integrity through temperatures in the range of between about 5 degrees and about 200 degrees Celsius.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid permeable pouch is formed of a material configured to maintain structural integrity and contribute substantially no contaminates to the anhydrous hydride reactant during a reaction of the anhydrous hydride reactant.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid permeable pouch comprises a material formed substantially of between about 75 percent polyester and about 100 percent polyester and between about 25 percent rayon and about 0 percent rayon.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid permeable pouch comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a polymer material, a paper material, and a metal material.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid permeable pouch comprises a composite material comprising a combination of two or more of a polymer, paper, and metal.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid permeable pouch comprises a material that has a pore size below about 0.0025 inches, is chemically resistant in solutions between about pH 4 and about pH 13, and retains about 7.5 times the material'"'"'s weight in water.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid permeable pouch comprises a pair of opposing walls joined by a pair of opposing longitudinal seams, the width of one wall between opposing longitudinal seams configured to maintain a thin uniform distribution of anhydrous hydride reactant within the cavity.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the liquid permeable pouch has a width in the range of between about 0.25 inches and about 1.25 inches.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the permeation distance is selected in response to liquid reactant permeability in the anhydrous hydride reactant.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the permeation distance is between about 0.125 inches and about one inch.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a liquid conduit configured to extend from a first end of the cartridge to a location near an opposing second end of the cartridge such that the cartridge is filled with the liquid reactant from the second end towards the first end.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein a longitudinal axis of the cartridge is oriented in a vertical position.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein a longitudinal axis of the cartridge is oriented in a horizontal position.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first end, an opposing second end and an injection port located near the second end of the cartridge, such that the cartridge fills with the liquid reactant from the second end towards the first end.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a liner disposed on the interior of the cartridge, the liner configured to protect the interior of the cartridge from corrosion from the liquid reactant and anhydrous hydride reactant.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a dry, powdered activating agent, the dry, powdered activating agent mixed with the solid, anhydrous hydride reactant to form a dry powder.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge has an internal pressure of about 30 psi.

26. A system to promote a substantially complete reaction of an anhydrous hydride reactant, the system comprising:

two rectangular sheets of liquid permeable material joined at their respective perimeters, the joined sheets having one or more seams that run from a long side of the sheets to an opposite long side of the sheets to form a plurality of liquid permeable containers, each container having a cavity defined by opposite portions of the two sheets and the one or more seams;

wherein each liquid permeable container comprises a perpendicular cross-section such that a point within the cross-section is separated from the sheets of the liquid permeable container by no more than double a permeation distance;

an anhydrous hydride reactant disposed within the cavity of each liquid permeable container;

a cartridge configured to receive the liquid permeable containers and a liquid reactant such that at least a portion of the liquid permeable containers is in contact with the liquid reactant, the liquid permeable containers oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cartridge;

at least one liquid conduit extending into the cartridge;

wherein each liquid permeable container has a width between adjacent seams of about 0.75 inches; and

wherein the permeation distance is between 0.125 inches and one inch.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the plurality of liquid permeable containers is rolled from a short side of the sheets toward an opposite short side to form a spiral configuration.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein a longitudinal axis of the cartridge is oriented in a vertical position, and wherein the liquid conduit extends from a top of the cartridge to a location near a bottom of the cartridge such that the cartridge fills with liquid reactant from the bottom up towards the top.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein a longitudinal axis of the cartridge is oriented in a vertical position.

30. The system of claim 26, further comprising a plurality of liquid conduits radially spaced in a spiral orientation about a longitudinal axis of the cartridge, each liquid conduit having a unique length.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein the liquid permeable container distributes the liquid reactant by way of one of substantially woven strands and substantially of non-woven strands.