Hydrogen producing fuel for power generator

• US 7,807,131 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2007
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Eickhoff, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAWRENCE JR, FRANK M
• Application Number:
  US11/934,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20090113795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 429/19, 423/648.1, 423/658.2, 423/286, 502/400, 502/414, 502/526, 420/900, 422/239
• US Class Current: 423/658.2
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 7/02 by wet methods
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/0005 Reversible uptake of hydrogen by an appropriate medium, i.e. based on physical or chemical sorption phenomena or on reversible chemical reactions, e.g. for hydrogen storage purposes purification of hydrogen C01B3/508; Reversible gettering of hydrogen; Reversible uptake of hydrogen by electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/0084 Solid storage mediums characterised by their shape, e.g. pellets, sintered shaped bodies, sheets, porous compacts, spongy metals, hollow particles, solids with cavities, layered solids
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/065 from a hydride
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/32 by reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide, air
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/323 Catalytic reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds other than hydrocarbons with gasifying agents
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0247 characterised by the form characterised by a channel configuration H01M8/0258
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/025 semicylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04216 characterised by the choice for a specific material, e.g. carbon, hydride, absorbent
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0625 in a modular combined reactor/fuel cell structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/065 by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 Hydrogen storage
• 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

A hydrogen producing fuel comprises a chemical hydride and metal hydride. In one embodiment the chemical hydride evolves hydrogen spontaneously upon exposure to water vapor, and the metal hydride reversibly absorbs/desorbs hydrogen based on temperature and pressure. The hydrogen producing substance may be formed in the shape of a pellet and may be contained within a hydrogen and water vapor permeable, liquid water impermeable membrane.

Claims

1. A hydrogen producing fissurized pellet comprising a chemical hydride and metal hydride.

2. The hydrogen producing substance of claim 1 wherein the chemical hydride evolves hydrogen spontaneously upon exposure to water vapor, and the metal hydride reversibly absorbs/desorbs hydrogen based on temperature and hydrogen pressure.

5. The hydrogen producing fuel of claim 2 wherein the metal hydride is encapsulated within a porous silica or glass network.

6. The hydrogen producing fuel of claim 2 wherein the metal hydride is coated in copper.

7. The hydrogen producing fuel of claim 1 and further comprising a heat conductor disposed proximate the metal hydride.

8. The hydrogen producing fuel of claim 1 and further comprising a water vapor permeable, liquid water impermeable material formed about the chemical hydride.

3. A hydrogen producing substance comprising a chemical hydride and metal hydride, wherein the chemical hydride evolves hydrogen spontaneously upon exposure to water vapor, and the metal hydride reversibly absorbs/desorbs hydrogen based on temperature and hydrogen pressure, and wherein the chemical hydride is formed as a pellet having a hollow cylindrical shape and the metal hydride is concentric with and disposed within the hollow portion of the chemical hydride.

4. The hydrogen producing fuel of claim 3 and further comprising a heat conductor thermally coupled with the metal hydride.

9. A hydrogen producing substance comprising a chemical hydride and metal hydride wherein the chemical hydride is formed in a pellet shape, is porous and contains paths to allow water vapor to diffuse into the chemical hydride while still maintaining its shape.

10. The hydrogen producing substance of claim 9 wherein the pellet is cylindrical in shape and has a circumference and length suitable for inclusion in a power generator having the shape of a “

AA”

, “

AAA”

, “

C”

or “

D”

battery form factor.

11. A hydrogen producing fuel comprising a solid, water reactive fuel pellet form that is non-homogenous and is fissurized to allow water vapor to seep into the fissures.

12. The fuel of claim 11 and further comprising a water vapor permeable, liquid water impermeable material formed about the fuel pellet.

13. The fuel of claim 12 wherein the pellet has a circumference and combined length adapted for inclusion in a power generator having the shape of a “

AA”

, “

AAA”

, “

C”

or “

D”

battery form factor.

14. The fuel of claim 11 and further comprising a hydrophobic material dispersed around and in the fuel pellet.

15. The fuel pellet of claim 11 and further comprising a metal hydride material within the pellet.

16. A power generator comprising:

a container;

an ion exchange membrane within the container that produces water and energy from combining hydrogen with oxygen; and

a fissurized fuel pellet within the container, the fuel pellet having both a chemical hydride and a metal hydride that produce hydrogen when exposed to water vapor.

17. The power generator of claim 16 and further comprising a water vapor permeable, liquid water impermeable material formed about the fuel pellet.

18. The power generator of claim 16 and further comprising a valve separating the ion exchange membrane and the fuel pellet.

19. The power generator of claim 17 wherein the water vapor permeable, liquid water impermeable material comprises one or more layers of material comprising at least one of a fluoropolymer, polytetrafluoroethylene, oil or rubber.

20. The power generator of claim 19 and further comprising a hydrophobic material dispersed around and in the fuel pellet.

21. The power generator of claim 20 wherein the pellet is sufficiently fissurized to allow water vapor to seep into the fissures while still maintaining its shape.

22. The power generator of claim 19 wherein the pellet is of cylindrical shape.