Stability control of a hydrogen generating system and method

• US 9,067,186 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2012
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marine Power Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Marine Power Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Carey, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Nicholas A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Brian W
• Application Number:
  US13/366,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20120132535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 205628-639
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00006 Large-scale industrial plants
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00144 Sunlight; Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/8926 Copper and noble metals
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 7/02 by wet methods
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/0203 from inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/04 by decomposition of inorganic compounds, e.g. ammonia C01B3/0005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/02 Process control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/08 Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for efficient on-demand production of H₂ and O₂ from water and heat using environmentally safe metals are disclosed. In one aspect, the apparatus for hydrogen generation through water-decomposition reaction includes a main reactor, an oxidizer reactor, and a computer-control system. The computer system is configured to control each of the components of the hydrogen gas production system for stable hydrogen-gas production.

Claims

1. A method of maintaining a performance of an electric-catalytic-hydrolysis system comprising:

a. preparing the electric-catalytic-hydrolysis system comprising a reactor core and an oxidizer reactor, wherein a basic solution is maintained within the reactor core and contains a hydrogen generating catalyst, wherein the hydrogen generating catalyst contains an aluminum complex, a copper complex, and a silver complex;

b. optimizing hydrogen production by maintaining a pH value of the basic solution in the reactor core below 9.5; and

c. regenerating the silver complex by photolysis utilizing a light providing device within the oxidizer reactor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the optimizing hydrogen production comprises maintaining the of the basic solution in the reactor core pH value below 8.5.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the optimizing hydrogen production comprises maintaining the pH value of the basic solution in the oxidizer reactor below 11.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the optimizing hydrogen production comprises optimizing an amount of the hydrogen generating catalyst.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein optimizing the amount of the hydrogen generating catalyst comprises increasing a regeneration rate of the hydrogen generating catalyst.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the regeneration rate of the hydrogen generating catalyst comprises a rate of converting a reacted hydrogen generating catalyst back to the hydrogen generating catalyst.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein optimizing the hydrogen production comprises optimizing a regeneration rate of an Ag⁰.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein optimizing the hydrogen production comprises optimizing an amount of an Ag⁰, an Ag¹⁺, or a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein optimizing the hydrogen production comprises increasing the rate of dissociating oxygen from the silver complex within the oxidizer reactor.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein optimizing the hydrogen production comprises converting a hydroxide of a hydroxide containing compound into an oxide of a metal oxide.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein optimizing the hydrogen production comprises increasing the rate of dissociating a hydroxide from the copper complex.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein regenerating the silver complex by photolysis comprises optimizing light providing duration, a light providing intensity, or a light providing frequency, a combination thereof through the light providing device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein optimizing the hydrogen production comprises optimizing a voltage providing amount, a current providing amount, or a combination thereof through the electric energy providing device.

14. A method of maintaining a performance of an electric-catalytic-hydrolysis system comprising:

a. preparing the electric-catalytic-hydrolysis system comprising a reactor core and an oxidizer reactor, wherein a basic solution is maintained within the reactor core and contains a hydrogen generating catalyst, wherein the hydrogen generating catalyst contains an aluminum complex, a copper complex, and a silver complex;

b. optimizing hydrogen production by maintaining a pH value of the basic solution in the reactor core below 9.5; and

c. regenerating the silver complex by thermolysis utilizing a heat providing device after the reactor core.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the optimizing hydrogen production comprises maintaining the pH value of the basic solution in the reactor core below 8.5.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the optimizing hydrogen production comprises maintaining the pH value of the basic solution in the oxidizer reactor below 11.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the optimizing hydrogen production comprises optimizing an amount of the hydrogen generating catalyst.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein optimizing the amount of the hydrogen generating catalyst comprises increasing a regeneration rate of the hydrogen generating catalyst.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the regeneration rate of the hydrogen generating catalyst comprises a rate of converting a reacted hydrogen generating catalyst back to the hydrogen generating catalyst.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein optimizing the hydrogen production comprises optimizing a regeneration rate of an Ag⁰.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein optimizing the hydrogen production comprises optimizing an amount of an Ag₀, an Ag¹⁺, or a combination thereof.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein optimizing the hydrogen production comprises increasing the rate of dissociating oxygen from the silver complex within the oxidizer reactor.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein optimizing the hydrogen production comprises converting a hydroxide of a hydroxide containing compound into an oxide of a metal oxide.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein optimizing the hydrogen production comprises increasing the rate of dissociating a hydroxide from the copper complex.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein regenerating the silver complex by thermolysis comprises optimizing a heat providing duration, a heat providing amount, or a combination thereof through the heat providing device.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein optimizing the hydrogen production comprises optimizing a voltage providing amount, a current providing amount, or a combination thereof through an electric energy providing device.