System for generating hydrogen from a chemical hydride

• US 7,651,542 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Molly Alonso
• Original Assignee: Thulite Incorporated
• Inventors: Brydon, Chris, Patton, John, Shurtleff, Kevin, Ladd, Eric, Pearson, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): BHAT, NINA NMN
• Application Number:
  US11/829,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20080025880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 48/61, 481/20, 481/74, 422/239, 422/211, 422/234, 422/236
• US Class Current: 48/61
• 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: Y02E 60/32 Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed to generate hydrogen. A liquid permeable material with one or more cavities contains a solid anhydrous chemical hydride and an anhydrous activating agent. A housing that is heat and pressure resistant houses the liquid permeable material, and a liquid. One or more liquid sources inject the liquid into the housing such that the liquid contacts at least a portion of the liquid permeable material. A gas outlet port releases hydrogen gas produced by a reaction comprising the solid anhydrous chemical hydride, the anhydrous activating agent, and the liquid. A hydrogen output regulator controls the amount of hydrogen gas that the gas outlet port releases.

Claims

1. An apparatus to generate hydrogen, the apparatus comprising:

a liquid permeable material comprising one or more cavities, each cavity configured to at least partially enclose a solid anhydrous chemical hydride and an anhydrous activating agent, each cavity comprising liquid permeable material configured to permit passage of a liquid from one side of the liquid permeable material to the other side;

a housing comprising a heat and pressure resistant material, the housing configured to receive the liquid permeable material, and a liquid;

one or more liquid sources configured to introduce the liquid into the housing such that the liquid contacts at least a portion of the liquid permeable material; and

a gas outlet port configured to release hydrogen gas produced by a reaction comprising the solid anhydrous chemical hydride, the anhydrous activating agent, and the liquid.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hydrogen output regulator configured to control the amount of hydrogen gas that the gas outlet port releases, wherein the hydrogen output regulator comprises a check valve that allows the hydrogen gas to exit the gas outlet port, but substantially prevents the hydrogen gas from entering the gas outlet port.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the hydrogen output regulator is further configured to regulate a gas pressure of the hydrogen gas that the gas outlet port releases such that the gas pressure remains at or below a predetermined gas pressure.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more liquid sources comprise a liquid reservoir and one or more pumps, each of the one or more pumps configured to pump liquid from the liquid reservoir into the housing at a liquid injection rate.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the hydrogen output regulator comprises a controller configured to manage the liquid injection rate.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the controller determines the liquid injection rate based on one or more input signals.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a liner disposed between the housing and the liquid permeable material, the liner configured to protect the housing from corrosion and damage.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a crimp substantially circumscribing an end cap seated within a housing opening, the crimp configured to release the hydrogen gas in response to a gas pressure above a predetermined gas pressure.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises an activated charcoal filter configured to absorb impurities from hydrogen gas exiting the housing.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more housing alignment features configured to ensure that the housing is disposed in a predetermined position and alignment relative to one or more receiving alignment features of an apparatus receiver.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more housing alignment features comprise a handle.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more housing alignment features engage the gas outlet port.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid comprises water.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cavities comprise one or more tubular pouches in a side-by-side configuration.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the housing is cylindrical and wherein the one or more tubular pouches are rolled such that a longitudinal axis of the rolled one or more tubular pouches is oriented coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the housing.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the housing is configured to receive a plurality of tubular pouches having a plurality of lengths, the plurality of tubular pouches stacked and arranged in alternating courses such that a course gap between two stacked tubular patches does not line up with a course gap in an adjacent course of liquid permeable pouches.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid sources further comprise one or more liquid conduits disposed within the housing.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an O-ring substantially circumscribing the gas outlet port to produce a seal between the gas outlet port and a receiver gas port, the O-ring configured to break the seal and release the hydrogen gas in response to a gas pressure above a predetermined gas pressure.

19. An apparatus to generate hydrogen, the apparatus comprising:

a water reservoir comprising liquid water;

one or more pumps in fluid communication with the water reservoir, the pumps configured to pump the liquid water at a liquid injection rate;

a water permeable pouch comprising one or more cavities, each cavity configured to at least partially enclose a solid anhydrous chemical hydride and an anhydrous activating agent, each cavity comprising liquid permeable material configured to permit passage of a liquid from one side of the liquid permeable material to the other side, the anhydrous activating agent comprising a salt having a metal selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metals and alkali metals;

a fuel cartridge comprising a heat and pressure resistant material, the fuel cartridge configured to receive the water permeable pouch and the liquid water;

an end cap seated within an opening in the fuel cartridge, the end cap comprising one or more water injection tubes and a gas outlet port, the one or more water injection tubes in fluid communication with the one or more pumps, the one or more water injection tubes configured to introduce the liquid water into the fuel cartridge at the liquid injection rate such that the liquid water contacts at least a portion of the water permeable pouch, and the gas outlet port configured to release hydrogen gas produced by a reaction comprising the solid anhydrous chemical hydride, the anhydrous activating agent, and the liquid water;

a hydrogen output regulator configured to control the amount of hydrogen gas that the gas outlet port releases; and

one or more fuel cartridge alignment features configured to ensure that the fuel cartridge is disposed in a predetermined position and alignment relative to one or more receiving alignment features of a cartridge receiver.