Hydrogen producing fuel for power generator

• US 8,337,806 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2010
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• 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:
  US12/796,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20100247750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 961/08, 95/90, 959/00, 951/53, 423/658.2, 423/286, 429/408, 429/512, 429/516, 502/400, 502/414, 502/439, 502/526, 427/115
• 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. The hydrogen producing substance may further be soaked in a hydrophobic material.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

soaking a solid, water reactive, porous, hydrogen producing solid fuel pellet in a hydrophobic material to prevent rapid hydrogen release in the event of exposure of the fuel pellet to liquid water;

wherein the fuel pellet is fissurized prior to soaking such that the hydrophobic material penetrates at least some of the fissures.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein fissurizing the fuel pellet comprises:

placing the fuel pellet into a fixture to prevent the fuel pellet from changing shape; and

thrusting a piston into an exposed surface of the fuel pellet to cause multiple fissures.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein sufficient force is applied to the fuel pellet via the piston to create water vapor penetrable fissures to increase the surface area of the pellet that can be exposed to water vapor.

4. The method of claim 1 and further comprising subjecting the fuel pellet to multiple cycles of heating and cooling.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein fissurizing the fuel pellet comprises using a temperature responsive solvent to create fissures.

6. The method of claim 1 and further comprising wrapping the fuel pellets with a water vapor and hydrogen permeable, water impermeable membrane prior to fissurizing the pellet.

7. The method of claim 1 and further comprising creating a bore in the fuel pellet.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the fuel pellet comprises a chemical hydride.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the fuel pellet further comprises metal hydride porous rods or segments.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the hydrophobic material comprises a petroleum based liquid.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the hydrophobic material comprises a fluoropolymer dispersion.

12. A method comprising:

forming a hydrogen producing fissurized pellet comprising a chemical hydride and metal hydride; and

soaking the pellet in a hydrophobic material to prevent rapid hydrogen release in the event of exposure of the fuel pellet to liquid water.

13. The method of claim 12 and further comprising wrapping the pellet with a water vapor permeable, liquid water impermeable material.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the pellet is porous and contains paths to allow water vapor to diffuse into the chemical hydride while still maintaining its shape.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the pellet is formed with a cylindrical 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.