Cartridge for controlled production of hydrogen

• US 8,741,004 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2010
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited (Lb-shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Energy Limited (Lb-shell Plc)
• Inventors: Peterson, Andrew Philip, Rodriguez, Adam Naegeli, JONEMANN, Matthieu, Parisi-Amon, Gabriel, Braithwaite, Daniel, Ryu, WonHyoung, Helland, Courtney Aline, Yamamoto, Kei E.
• Primary Examiner(s): MERKLING, MATTHEW J
• Application Number:
  US12/803,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20110200495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 48/61, 481/97.R, 423/657
• US Class Current: 48/61
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/02 Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/065 from a hydride
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis

Abstract

A reaction hydrogen production control mechanism is provided that includes, a solid sodium borohydride mixture, a liquid fuel reactant, at least one liquid delivery medium (LDM), a movable boundary interface (MBI) and a reaction zone, where the MBI is disposed to provide a constant contact between a reacting surface of the solid fuel mixture and the primary LDM to form the reaction zone. A reaction in the reaction zone includes a hydrolysis reaction. The MBI moves according to a spring, gas pressure, or an elastic membrane. Product paths are disposed to transfer reactants from the system. The product paths can include a channel on a surface of the solid fuel mixture, a channel disposed through the solid fuel mixture, a channel disposed about the solid fuel mixture, a contained region disposed about the solid fuel mixture, or a conduit abutting the solid fuel mixture.

Claims

1. A reaction control mechanism comprising:

a. a solid fuel mixture;

b. a liquid fuel reactant;

c. a primary liquid delivery medium (LDM) fluidly connected to and configured to deliver the liquid fuel reactant to the solid fuel mixture;

d. a movable boundary interface (MBI) coupled to a primary liquid delivery medium distal the solid fuel mixture that biases the primary liquid delivery medium against the solid fuel mixture;

e. a reaction zone defined between the solid fuel mixture and the primary liquid delivery mechanism; and

f. a second liquid delivery medium located in a reaction product path exiting the reaction zone.

2. The reaction control mechanism of claim 1, wherein said reaction zone comprises a reaction product path, wherein said reaction product path is disposed to remove reaction products from said reaction zone.

3. The reaction control mechanism of claim 2, wherein said reaction product path is selected from the group consisting of at least one channel defined in a surface of said solid fuel mixture, at least one channel disposed through said solid fuel mixture, at least one helix channel disposed about said solid fuel mixture, and at least one conduit abutting said solid fuel mixture.

4. The reaction control mechanism of claim 2, wherein said reaction product path comprises guides disposed in said reaction product path, wherein said guides are disposed to provide said liquid fuel reactant to said reaction zone, wherein the secondary LDM is disposed to provide said liquid fuel reactant independently from said primary LDM.

5. The reaction control mechanism of claim 1, wherein the solid fuel mixture and the liquid fuel regent react through a hydrolysis reaction.

6. The reaction control mechanism of claim 1, wherein said solid fuel mixture comprises at least solid sodium borohydride (SBH).

7. The reaction control mechanism of claim 1, wherein said MBI moves according to a physical moving element providing a force by an elastic membrane.

8. The reaction control mechanism of claim 7, wherein said elastic membrane envelopes said solid fuel mixture.

9. The reaction control mechanism of claim 1, wherein said primary LDM is a stationary LDM.

10. The reaction control mechanism of claim 1, wherein said primary LDM receives a compression force from said MBI.

11. The reaction control mechanism of claim 1, wherein said primary LDM provides liquid to a reaction product path disposed between a surface of said solid fuel mixture and said MBI, wherein said reaction product path fluidly connects the reaction zone to an exterior of the reaction control mechanism.

12. The reaction control mechanism of claim 11, wherein said reaction product path is selected from the group consisting of at least one channel disposed on a surface of said solid fuel mixture, at least one channel disposed through said solid fuel mixture, at least one helix channel disposed about said solid fuel mixture, a contained region disposed about said solid fuel mixture, and at least one conduit abutting said solid fuel mixture.

13. The reaction control mechanism of claim 11, wherein said MBI is an elastic membrane disposed to envelope said solid fuel mixture, wherein when said reactants are present in said reaction product path said elastic membrane is disposed to apply a pressure on said reactants to propagate said reactant along said reaction product path.

14. The reaction control mechanism of claim 11, wherein said elastic membrane pressure applied to said reactant is a variable pressure.

15. The reaction control mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a pump fluidly connected to the primary LDM.

16. The reaction control mechanism of claim 1, wherein a reaction product exiting said reaction zone comprises a combination of a partially reacted said liquid fuel reactant and said solid fuel mixture.

17. A reaction control mechanism comprising:

a. a solid fuel mixture;

b. a liquid fuel reactant contained within a reservoir;

c. a primary liquid delivery medium (LDM) fluidly connecting the reservoir to the solid fuel mixture;

d. a movable boundary interface (MBI) that biases a primary liquid delivery medium against the solid fuel mixture;

e. a reaction zone defined between the solid fuel mixture and the primary liquid delivery mechanism; and

f. a secondary LDM fluidly connecting the reservoir to a reaction product path to control an overall reaction stoichiometry, the secondary LDM located in a reaction product path exiting the reaction zone.

18. The reaction control mechanism of claim 17, wherein said reaction stoichiometry comprises a ratio of produced hydrogen to liquid fuel flow.

19. A reaction control mechanism comprising:

a solid reagent;

a liquid reagent that reacts with the solid reagent to produce reaction products;

a liquid distribution mechanism fluidly connecting the liquid reagent to the solid reagent;

a moveable boundary interface coupled to the liquid distribution mechanism distal the solid reagent that biases the liquid distribution mechanism against the solid reagent;

a reaction product path, defined in the solid reagent, that fluidly connects a reaction zone defined between the solid reagent and the liquid distribution mechanism with area external the reaction control mechanism; and

a second liquid distribution mechanism fluidly connecting the liquid reagent to the reaction product path.