CN101855758A - Apparatus, system, and method for processing hydrogen gas - Google Patents

Apparatus, system, and method for processing hydrogen gas Download PDF

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Publication number
CN101855758A
CN101855758A CN200880108664A CN200880108664A CN101855758A CN 101855758 A CN101855758 A CN 101855758A CN 200880108664 A CN200880108664 A CN 200880108664A CN 200880108664 A CN200880108664 A CN 200880108664A CN 101855758 A CN101855758 A CN 101855758A
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Prior art keywords
hydrogen stream
hydrogen
water
condenser
stream
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CN200880108664A
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Chinese (zh)
Inventor
约翰·巴顿
肯·皮尔森
克里斯·布莱顿
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Trulite Inc
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Trulite Inc
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Priority claimed from US12/179,578 external-priority patent/US20090025293A1/en
Application filed by Trulite Inc filed Critical Trulite Inc
Publication of CN101855758A publication Critical patent/CN101855758A/en
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04082—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
    • H01M8/04201—Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
    • H01M8/04208—Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J7/00—Apparatus for generating gases
    • B01J7/02—Apparatus for generating gases by wet methods
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen
    • C01B3/02—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen
    • C01B3/06—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of inorganic compounds containing electro-positively bound hydrogen, e.g. water, acids, bases, ammonia, with inorganic reducing agents
    • C01B3/065—Production of hydrogen or of gaseous mixtures containing a substantial proportion of hydrogen by reaction of inorganic compounds containing electro-positively bound hydrogen, e.g. water, acids, bases, ammonia, with inorganic reducing agents from a hydride
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen
    • C01B3/50—Separation of hydrogen or hydrogen containing gases from gaseous mixtures, e.g. purification
    • C01B3/52—Separation of hydrogen or hydrogen containing gases from gaseous mixtures, e.g. purification by contacting with liquids; Regeneration of used liquids
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen
    • C01B3/50—Separation of hydrogen or hydrogen containing gases from gaseous mixtures, e.g. purification
    • C01B3/56—Separation of hydrogen or hydrogen containing gases from gaseous mixtures, e.g. purification by contacting with solids; Regeneration of used solids
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04082—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
    • H01M8/04089—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants
    • H01M8/04119—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration of gaseous reactants with simultaneous supply or evacuation of electrolyte; Humidifying or dehumidifying
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/04—Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
    • H01M8/04082—Arrangements for control of reactant parameters, e.g. pressure or concentration
    • H01M8/04201—Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/06—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
    • H01M8/0606—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants
    • H01M8/065—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues with means for production of gaseous reactants by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/06—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
    • H01M8/0662—Treatment of gaseous reactants or gaseous residues, e.g. cleaning
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M8/00—Fuel cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M8/06—Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues
    • H01M8/0662—Treatment of gaseous reactants or gaseous residues, e.g. cleaning
    • H01M8/0687—Reactant purification by the use of membranes or filters
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/04—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/0415—Purification by absorption in liquids
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/04—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/0465—Composition of the impurity
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/04—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/0465—Composition of the impurity
    • C01B2203/048—Composition of the impurity the impurity being an organic compound
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/04—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/0465—Composition of the impurity
    • C01B2203/0485—Composition of the impurity the impurity being a sulfur compound
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/04—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/0465—Composition of the impurity
    • C01B2203/0495—Composition of the impurity the impurity being water
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
    • C01B2203/06—Integration with other chemical processes
    • C01B2203/066—Integration with other chemical processes with fuel cells
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/36—Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/50—Fuel cells

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for processing a hydrogen gas stream comprising a housing, a condensing media, a mechanical filtration element, a coalescer element, and an outlet port. The housing comprises a heat- and pressure resistant material and has an internal chamber configured to receive a hydrogen gas stream. A condenser may cool the hydrogen gas stream to promote water condensation. The condensing media removes entrained liquid water from the hydrogen gas stream. The mechanical filtration element receives the hydrogen gas stream as the hydrogen gas stream exits the condensing media. The mechanical filtration element collects particulate matter from the hydrogen gas stream. The coalescer element receives the hydrogen gas stream as the hydrogen gas stream exits the mechanical filtration element. The coalesce element removes substantially all of the liquid water formed in the hydrogen gas stream.

Description

Handle device, the system and method for hydrogen
The cross reference of related application
It is that on July 25th, 2007, application people are called the U.S. Patent application NO.60/951 of " cleaning is by device, the system and method for the hydrogen of chemical hydride preparation " for JOHN PATTON etc., name that the application requires the applying date, 907 priority is introduced into as a reference here.The application will incorporate the following reference of applying for into: the U.S. interim series application NO.60/627,257, the applying date is on November 12nd, 2004, NO.60/632,460, the applying date is on December 2nd, 2004, NO.60/655,373, the applying date is on February 23rd, 2005, NO.60/683,024, the applying date is on May 20th, 2005, NO.60/688,456, the applying date is on June 8th, 2005, NO.60/820,574, the applying date is on July 27th, 2006, NO.60/951,903, the applying date is on July 25th, 2007, NO.60/951,925, the applying date is on July 25th, 2007, NO.61/059,743, the applying date is on June 6th, 2008; And U.S. series application NO.10/459,991, the applying date is on June 11st, 2003, NO.11/270,947, the applying date is on November 12nd, 2005, NO.11/740,349, the applying date is on April 26th, 2007, NO.11/828,265, the applying date is on July 25th, 2007, NO.11/829,019, the applying date is on July 26th, 2007 and NO.11/829,035, the applying date is on July 26th, 2007, above-mentioned every application this in full mode incorporate into and quote.
Technical field
The present invention relates to generating, be specifically related to generate electricity from chemical hydride.
Background technology
Along with the increase of consumption of fossil fuels, the aggravation of pollution, and worldwide fossil fuel are in short supply, the alternative energy ever more important that becomes.Hydrogen is the sufficient alternative energy, but hydrogen exists rather than individualism with the form that combines with other element usually.Additional element has increased quality and may hinder hydrogen and use as the energy.Yet pure hydrogen is a kind of perfect energy sources.Pure hydrogen comprises free hydrogen atom, or only comprises the molecule of hydrogen atom.It is too high usually to use conventional method to prepare pure hydrogen cost.
A kind of method that produces pure hydrogen is by producing the chemical reaction of hydrogen molecule.At water (H 2O) and the chemical reaction that takes place between the chemical hydride produce pure hydrogen.Chemical hydride is the molecule that comprises hydrogen and one or more alkali metal or alkaline-earth metal.The example of chemical hydride comprises lithium hydride (LiH), Lithium Aluminium Hydride (LiAlH 4), tetrahydro boron lithium (LiBH 4), sodium hydride (NaH), tetrahydrochysene aluminium sodium (NaAlH 4), tetrahydro boron sodium (NaBH 4) etc.Shown in reaction equation 1, when chemical hydride and water reaction, produce a large amount of pure hydrogen.
NaBH 4+2H 2O→NaBO 2+4H 2 (1)
Recently, owing to the development of small-sized proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell of light weight, people have increased the interest of preparation hydrogen.Utilizing a kind of byproduct of PEM fuel cell power generation is water, its can be used or reuse with from the pure hydrogen of chemical hydrogenation deposits yields with as the fuel of PEM fuel cell.Compare other energy storing device, the combination of PEM fuel cell and chemical hydride hydrogen generator can provide bigger advantage aspect proportion and the volume energy density.
Unfortunately, prior art has run into insurmountable problem from aspect water/pure hydrogen of chemistry of hydrides reaction generation.Chemical reaction between water and chemical hydride has produced the hydrogen stream that comprises impurity such as salt, acid, organic compound etc.Before hydrogen stream was introduced fuel cell, hydrogen stream was processed to remove excessive heat, steam and pollutant.The industrial problem that faces is how under space and all restricted situation of weight, particularly produces system for portable hydrogen, how the purified hydrogen air-flow.Filter method commonly used need increase additional space and weight, so that can balance out the high specific gravity that chemical hydride provides and the advantage of volume energy density.
Therefore, need provide a kind of improved device, system and method that can overcome prior art problems and shortcoming.This device, system and method should be handled hydrogen stream fully so that suitable hydrogen stream to be provided in fuel cell.Especially, this device, system and method should be removed the specific pollutants that is produced by hydrolysis in hydrogen stream.
Summary of the invention
From above-mentioned discussion, should be understood that to provide a kind of device, system and method that produces hydrogen stream.More preferably, such device, system and method should cooled hydrogen streams, condense and collect steam and filtering contaminants.
The present invention develops according to the development level of prior art, and particularly the problem and the demand that still can't solve fully according to existing available filtering technique in the prior art developed.Therefore, the invention provides a kind of device, system and method for handling hydrogen and can overcoming the above-mentioned many or whole shortcomings of prior art of being used for.
The present invention includes the device that is used to handle from the hydrogen stream of chemical hydrogenation deposits yields, this device comprises shell, cooling medium, coalescer element and outlet.Shell comprises heat-resisting pressure-resistant material and has setting to receive the inner room of hydrogen stream.It is indoor in cooling medium is arranged on.Cooling medium has the condensation channel that a plurality of sizes are fit to, and is carried at water vapour in the hydrogen stream to remove the steam that carries from hydrogen stream with reception.When cooling off, hydrogen stream forms aqueous water.
Indoor in coalescer element is arranged on, receive hydrogen stream when discharging cooling medium with convenient hydrogen stream.Along with the hydrogen stream cooling, coalescer element is removed the aqueous water that forms in the hydrogen stream.The outlet setting is communicated with the inner room fluid in the enclosure.The outlet setting is to receive hydrogen stream and hydrogen stream is transported to housing exterior when hydrogen stream leaves coalescer element.
In a certain embodiment, device also comprises condenser.Condenser can comprise the passage that is limited by at least one wall, and it absorbs the heat from hydrogen stream.In one embodiment, this passage is transported to hydrogen stream the inner room of cooling medium upstream.
Condenser can comprise the corrosion-resistant material of thermal conductivity greater than about 5W/mK.Condenser can also comprise the refrigerating module that heat is transmitted to surrounding environment from condenser.This refrigerating module can comprise liquid circulating apparatus, and it makes and form the contacted cooling fluid of material (gas or the liquid) circulation of at least one wall.In one embodiment, this device also comprises the mechanical filter element.This mechanical filter element can be arranged on interior indoor with reception hydrogen stream when hydrogen stream leaves cooling medium, and hydrogen stream is transported to coalescer element.This mechanical filter element can have the suitable filtration channel of a plurality of sizes to collect the particular matter greater than selected diameter from hydrogen stream.
In certain embodiments, this device is included in hydrogen stream and enters the prefilter that cooling medium receives hydrogen stream before.Prefilter can have a plurality of filtration channels, and this passage comprises the material of collecting pollutant from hydrogen stream.
In certain embodiments, the one or more chemical hydride fuel boxes that are arranged in cooling medium, mechanical filter element, prefilter and the coalescer element.This device is included in hydrogen stream and enters the prefilter that cooling medium receives hydrogen stream before.Prefilter can have a plurality of filtration channels, and this passage comprises from hydrogen stream one or more the material of collecting in solid pollutant and the gas pollutant.Prefilter can comprise one or more materials.Every kind of material can be selected to remove one or more specific pollutants from hydrogen stream according to its ability.This device can be set up so that the temperature of hydrogen stream of leaving outlet in the working temperature threshold range of the fuel cell that consumes hydrogen stream, and relative humidity is less than or equal to 100%.
Device can comprise organic filter, its receive from the hydrogen stream of coalescer element and from hydrogen stream, catch the organic vapor pollutant and inorganic vapor contamination in one or more.Device can also comprise the hydrogen selective membrane that receives hydrogen stream from the upstream of outlet.
In one embodiment, the present invention is the device that is used to handle from the hydrogen stream of chemical hydrogenation deposits yields, and this device comprises shell, inlet, condenser, cooling medium, mechanical filter element, coalescer and outlet.Shell can comprise heat-resisting pressure-resistant material.Shell can comprise condensation chamber and coalescent chamber.Shell can be configured to receive hydrogen stream.
Inlet can be provided with in the enclosure and be communicated with the condenser fluid.Inlet can be provided with so that hydrogen stream is transported to condenser.Condenser can comprise the passage that is limited from the wall of hydrogen stream absorption heat by at least one.This passage is transported to hydrogen stream the shunt valve that is arranged between condenser and the cooling medium.
Cooling medium is arranged in the condensation chamber.Cooling medium can have the condensation channel that a plurality of sizes are fit to, and the aqueous water that carries in its reception hydrogen stream is to remove entrained aqueous water from hydrogen stream.Along with the hydrogen stream cooling, aqueous water forms.The mechanical filter element can be arranged between condensation chamber and the coalescent chamber.When hydrogen stream left cooling medium, the mechanical filter element can receive hydrogen stream.The mechanical filter element can have the filtration channel that a plurality of sizes are fit to, to collect the particular matter greater than selected diameter from hydrogen stream.
Coalescer element can be arranged on the coalescent indoor hydrogen stream that receives when leaving the mechanical filter element at hydrogen stream.When hydrogen stream cooled off, coalescer element can be removed all aqueous waters that form in the hydrogen stream basically.Outlet can be arranged in the shell and be communicated with coalescent chamber fluid.Outlet can be provided with reception hydrogen stream when hydrogen stream leaves coalescer element, and hydrogen stream is transported to housing exterior.
This device can be provided with so that the temperature of hydrogen stream of leaving outlet in the working temperature threshold range of the fuel cell that consumes hydrogen stream, and relative humidity is less than or equal to 100%.Condenser can also comprise the refrigerating module that heat is transmitted to surrounding environment from condenser.This refrigerating module can comprise liquid circulating apparatus, and it makes and at least one wall fluid in contact circulation.
In one embodiment, the present invention is the method that is used to handle from the hydrogen stream of chemical hydrogenation deposits yields, comprises cooled hydrogen stream, receives aqueous water, collects particular matter, removes all basically aqueous waters, and carries hydrogen stream.This method is at first cooled off the hydrogen stream from the chemical hydrogenation deposits yields in condenser.Condenser can comprise the passage that is limited from the wall of hydrogen stream absorption heat by at least one.This passage can be transported to single shell to hydrogen stream.Shell can have setting to receive the inner room of hydrogen stream.
This method receives the aqueous water in the hydrogen stream then in a plurality of condensation channels of cooling medium.Cooling medium can be arranged on the interior indoor of shell.Along with the hydrogen stream cooling, aqueous water forms.In a plurality of filtration channels of mechanical filter element, from hydrogen stream, collect particular matter greater than selected diameter.It is indoor in the mechanical filter element can be provided with when hydrogen stream leaves cooling medium, to receive hydrogen stream.In coalescer element, all aqueous waters have been removed from hydrogen stream basically.It is indoor in coalescer element can be arranged on when hydrogen stream is discharged the mechanical filter element, to receive hydrogen stream.Along with the hydrogen stream cooling, aqueous water forms in hydrogen stream.Last step can be to carry hydrogen stream from shell.The passable temperature of hydrogen stream is in the working temperature threshold range of the fuel cell that consumes hydrogen stream, and relative humidity is less than or equal to 100%.
In certain embodiments, method of the present invention also is included in hydrogen stream and enters before the condenser, pre-filtering hydrogen stream in prefilter.Prefilter can have a plurality of filtration channels, and this passage comprises the material of collecting solid pollutant and/or gas pollutant from hydrogen stream.Prefilter can have a plurality of filtration channels, and this passage comprises the material of collecting solid pollutant and/or gas pollutant from hydrogen stream.In certain embodiments, this device is set and has pollutant less than 0.5% so that leave the hydrogen stream of shell.This method also comprises the water that collection recovers from hydrogen stream, and the water of collecting is transported to chemical hydride water supply cistern.
In one embodiment, the present invention is a system from the chemical hydride generating, and this system comprises detachable fuel box, condenser, coalescer, fuel battery, energy storage, one or more water pump and controller.The detachable fuel box can be provided with to form hydrogen stream by water and chemical hydride reaction.Condenser can receive hydrogen stream.Condenser can have the aqueous water of condensation channel to carry in the reception hydrogen stream that a plurality of sizes are fit to, to remove entrained aqueous water from hydrogen stream.Along with the hydrogen stream cooling, aqueous water forms.Coalescer receives the hydrogen stream from condenser.Coalescer can have the coalescer element that receives hydrogen stream when hydrogen stream leaves condenser.When hydrogen stream cooled off, coalescer element can be removed the whole aqueous waters that form basically in hydrogen stream.
Fuel battery can be provided with to receive hydrogen stream and to use air and the hydrogen stream generating.The power storage device can be connected with fuel battery.The power storage device can be provided with storage and electric energy is provided.One or more water pumps can be set water be injected into fuel cassette from water system with variable bit rate.Controller can be set with according to being connected to the power demand of the electric loading of system, manage in these one or more water pumps the water charge velocity of each.In certain embodiments, fuel cassette is alternative, and comprises the prefilter that is used for collecting from the hydrogen that produces solid and fluid contamination thing.Condenser can comprise the passage that is limited by at least one wall.With before cooling medium contacts, wall can absorb heat from hydrogen stream at hydrogen stream.
In the whole specification to addressing of feature, advantage or similar language throughout do not hint all feature and advantage that the present invention can realize all should or any single embodiment Already in of the present invention in.But, being to be understood that the implication of the language that relates to these feature and advantage is, concrete feature, advantage and the characteristic of Miao Shuing is included among at least one embodiment of the present invention in conjunction with the embodiments.Therefore, the feature and advantage in whole specification and the description of similar language, can, but not necessarily refer to identical embodiment.
And described feature of the present invention, advantage and characteristic can make up in any suitable mode in one or more embodiments.Those of ordinary skill in the related art are appreciated that the present invention can implement under the one or more situation in concrete feature that does not have specific embodiment or the advantage.In other example, can have extra feature and advantage in certain embodiments, but these feature and advantage are not all to exist in all embodiments.
Hereinafter, the features and advantages of the present invention will be from following explanation and appending claims and clearer and more definite, or knows by implementing hereinafter illustrated the present invention.
Description of drawings
Advantage for a more clear understanding of the present invention will be described the present invention of above-mentioned concise and to the point description in further detail with reference to the specific embodiment of accompanying drawings.Be to be understood that these description of drawings only are exemplary embodiments of the present invention, therefore can not be interpreted as it is to limit the scope of the invention,, will describe and explain the present invention in detail by additional characteristic by using accompanying drawing, wherein:
Fig. 1 shows according to of the present invention and is used for from the schematic block diagrams of an embodiment of the system that chemical hydride generates electricity;
Fig. 2 shows the schematic diagram according to an embodiment of hydrogen fuel cartridge of the present invention;
Fig. 3 A shows the schematic diagram according to another embodiment of hydrogen fuel cartridge of the present invention;
Fig. 3 B shows the schematic diagram according to an embodiment of water permeable material of the present invention;
Fig. 4 A shows the schematic diagram according to an embodiment of hydrogen cleaning systems of the present invention;
Fig. 4 B shows the schematic diagram according to an embodiment of hydrogen cleaning systems of the present invention;
Fig. 5 shows the schematic diagram according to an embodiment of prefilter of the present invention;
Fig. 6 shows the schematic diagram according to an embodiment of condenser of the present invention;
Fig. 7 shows the schematic diagram according to an embodiment of coalescer of the present invention;
Fig. 8 shows the schematic diagram according to an embodiment of hydrogen generation of the present invention and cleaning systems;
Fig. 9 shows the indicative flowchart that is used to clean an embodiment of the method by chemical hydrogenation deposits yields hydrogen according to of the present invention;
Figure 10 shows the schematic diagram according to an embodiment of the device that is used to handle hydrogen stream of the present invention;
Figure 11 shows the schematic diagram according to an embodiment of the condenser that comprises passage of the present invention.
Embodiment
Many functional units described in this specification are used as the module mark, the independence that they are implemented with lay special stress on." embodiment ", " embodiment " or the similar term that reach described in the whole specification mean that specific feature, structure or characteristics together describing with embodiment comprise at least one embodiment of the present invention.Therefore, the phrase " embodiment ", " embodiment " and the similar term that run through specification are passable, but not necessary, all regard same embodiment as.
And feature, structure or the characteristics of the present invention's record can merge in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.In following record, will provide a large amount of details, the example of for example Machine Design, electrical connection, hardware circuit, manufacturing technology etc. provides the complete understanding of the embodiment of the invention.Yet various equivalent modifications will appreciate that and lacking one or more details or can implement the present invention under the situation of other method of use, element, material etc.In other embodiments, not concrete expression of known structure, material or operation or record are to avoid making the present invention hard to understand.
Fig. 1 has put down in writing an embodiment of the system 100 that is generated electricity by chemical hydride according to the present invention.System 100 comprises that hydrogen produces system 101, mixes hydrogen fuel cell system 102, electronic control system 103 and shell 104.
In one embodiment, hydrogen produces system 101 and comprises one or more box shells 105, one or more hydrogen fuel cartridge 106, one or more location structures 108, seepy material 110, one or more water injection lines or manage 111, one or more refrigerating modules 112, one or more hydrogen outlets 114, hydrogen treatment system 116, temperature sensor 118, box transducer 120, radio frequency identification (RFID) label 122, RFID transducer 124, water pump 126, cistern 128, level sensor 129, check-valves 130, mentioned hydrogen pressure sensor 132, one or more mechanical valve 133, transfer valve 136, water condenser 138, air compression control valve 140.Usually, hydrogen generation system 101 waters, chemical hydride and activating agent prepare hydrogen.
In one embodiment, box shell 105 comprises the durable material of the high temperature in the process that can tolerate preparation hydrogen.In another embodiment, box shell 105 also comprises light material, minimizes to increase its portability with the total weight of maintenance system 100.In one embodiment, box shell 105 is light-weight metal or metal alloys of for example aluminium or analog.In another embodiment, box shell 105 comprises glass fiber material, plastic polymer material, ceramic material or other durable material.In one embodiment, box shell 105 also comprises the structure that is used to hold, locate and pin hydrogen fuel cartridge 106.
In one embodiment, hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 is locked in box shell 105.Hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 will go through with reference to figure 2.Usually, hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 is used to hold chemical hydride and activating agent, receiving water, to hold the chemical hydride that produces hydrogen and the chemical reaction between the water, and release hydrogen.In one embodiment, hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 is columniform.Columniform shape makes it can tolerate the internal pressure that produces in the preparation hydrogen process.Hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 can comprise and is used to tolerate the heat that chemical reaction produces and the material of pressure.Above-mentioned material can also comprise selected light material so that hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 minimize weight, for example: as light-weight metal or metal alloy, plastic polymer or other durable material of aluminium.Among another embodiment, hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 comprises stamp aluminum cylindrical box.
In another embodiment, hydrogen produces system 101 and comprises location structure 107, shoulder, slide block, alignment pin or analog, is used to cooperate the corresponding location structure 108 on the hydrogen fuel cartridge 106.In another embodiment, box shell 105 can comprise location structure 107, and slide block, alignment pin or analog are used to cooperate the corresponding location structure 108 on the hydrogen fuel cartridge 106.
In one embodiment, the top of hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 has one or more location structures 108.In one embodiment, one or more location structures 108 are used for meshing with one or more location structures 107 of box shell 105.The location structure 107 of box shell 105 can be shoulder, slide block, pin, screw, screw, key or analog.Advantageously, location structure 108 makes new hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 to install quickly and safely.In one embodiment, hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 is vertical orientated with respect to shell 104.So, the user can remove used hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 fast, and new hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 is installed.In another embodiment, hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 is parallel-oriented with respect to shell 104.Location structure 108 guarantees the inlet marshalling good airproof performance of hydrogen fuel cartridge 106.
In one embodiment, chemical hydride and activating agent are stored in the seepy material 110 in the hydrogen fuel cell box 106.Seepy material 110 describes in detail with reference to figure 3A and 3B.Usually, seepy material 110 comprises the material that is used for evenly dividing water distribution and does not hold a large amount of water.In another embodiment, seepy material 110 further is provided with one or more zones or sack, and each zone or sack are used to hold and be evenly distributed the chemical hydride and the activating agent of scheduled volume.Seepy material 110 is reeled as shown in Figure 1, or by multilaminate coiled, fold, pile up or other shape.In one embodiment, hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 comprises a plurality of seepy materials 110, and each is reeled as Fig. 1, and distributes around the center longitudinal axis of hydrogen fuel cell box 106, and the coiling seepy material 110 at center is the axle center with the longitudinal axis of hydrogen fuel cartridge 106.
In one embodiment, water enters hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 by one or more water injection pipes 111.In one embodiment, water injection pipe 111 can be connected with the box shell 105 with O type ring or similar sealing, and box shell 105 can link to each other with water pump 126 by one or more water pipes.Water injection pipe 111 is used in seepy material 110 disperse water, makes water and chemical hydride react release hydrogen.Chemical hydride can be inorganic compound or organic compound.In one embodiment, box 106 is vertical orientated, and water injection pipe 111 is used for from the bottom of box 106 water being filled into box 106.In another embodiment, box 106 horizontal alignments, water injection pipe 111 are used for the water of the box 106 of average dispersion level.In one embodiment, hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 can comprise a plurality of water injection pipes 111.In another embodiment, hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 comprises one or more switching valves, and this switching valve allows water optionally to inject by one or more water injection pipes rather than other water injection pipe.
In one embodiment, refrigerating module 112 is connected with box shell 105.Refrigerating module 112 is used for the heat that the chemical reaction between disperse water and the chemical hydride produces.In one embodiment, refrigerating module 112 comprises the flow circuit device.The flow circuit device can provide the small-power fan of quick air-flow.The refrigerating module 112 dissimilar fluid that can circulate, fluid can be liquid state or gaseous state.Those skilled in the art will know that fluid can be the mixture or the analog of gas, water, water and ethylene glycol.In another embodiment, the temperature of the fuel cassette 106 that can measure according to temperature sensor 118 of electronic control system 103 air-flow of adjusting refrigerating module 112 reduces the parasitic power loss.
In another embodiment, refrigerating module 112 comprises one or more air blasts, and it is not influenced by the counter-pressure in the box shell 105.Refrigerating module 112 keeps the air pressure high than axial fan.Use one or more structures, pipeline, manifold or thermal resistance to control and and guide fuel cassette 106 ambient airs to flow to.In another embodiment, refrigerating module 112 can comprise water pump, is used for water around the pumping box 106 and is beneficial to heat transfer between box and the water.Water pump can be by pipeline, flexible pipe or the passage pumps water in shell 105 or the box 106.Also can use and contain the heat sink of metal, graphite or other Heat Conduction Material.
In one embodiment, one or more hydrogen outlets 114 are integrated with the location structure 108 on the hydrogen fuel cartridge 106.In another embodiment, one or more in hydrogen outlet 114 and the box shell 105 go out the opening connector fluid connection.Hydrogen in the box shell 105 goes out opening connector can comprise sealing or O type ring.
In one embodiment, the hydrogen that exists in the hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 passes hydrogen generation system 116.In one embodiment, hydrogen generation system 116 combines with hydrogen fuel cartridge 106.So, when hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 was replaced, hydrogen produced system 116 and also is replaced.In one embodiment, hydrogen produces the position that system 116 is arranged on close hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 tops, between hydrogen outlet 114 and seepy material 108.In another embodiment, hydrogen produces system 116 and is arranged on the outside of hydrogen fuel cartridge 106, and is positioned at its downstream part.Hydrogen produces system 116 can remove the impurity that produces in hydrocarbon for example or other organic compound, water vapour, salt dissolving or solid-state or other preparation hydrogen process.Hydrogen produces system 116 can comprise one or more independent filter, condenser, coalescers that contain the material that is suitable for filtering impurity in the hydrogen.Hydrogen produces system 116 can also comprise that particulate filter is used for removing the particle of hydrogen greater than preliminary dimension.In one embodiment, preliminary dimension is about 5 microns.
Hydrogen produces system 116 can remove pollutant, condensed water and cooled hydrogen stream.For the pollutant that hydrogen produces in system's 116 selected special filter elements hydrogen stream known to depending on or expection is selected.Those skilled in the art know the pollutant that different filtered version is applicable to that filtration is specific.Two or more filtration types combines and makes that the filtration to some combination of pollutant is more effective.
In one embodiment, temperature sensor 118 is used to monitor the temperature of hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 and box shell 105.Temperature sensor 118 can be connected, be arranged on wherein with box shell 105 and/or box 106, or otherwise reads its temperature.The temperature that temperature sensor 118 reads can be controlled electronic control system 103 and activate or remove refrigerating module 112 or regulate other system variable to meet predetermined safe and availability standard.
In one embodiment, whether one or more box transducer 120 decision hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 exist.In another embodiment, box transducer 120 can also determine whether hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 correctly locatees so that operation.Box transducer 120 can be one or more transducers that can determine manual switch, light sensor, magnetic sensor or other form that when fuel cassette 106 exists.Preferably, box transducer 120 is light sensors.Light sensor 120 is easy to the location and proofreaies and correct in manufacture process, and accurate measurement can be provided, and can wear and tear in time unlike mechanical switch.Box transducer 120 can comprise the box transducer that is positioned at hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 and box shell 105 or a plurality of diverse locations on every side.
In one embodiment, system 100 is configured to stop hydrogen to produce, and is in correct system mode unless one or more system sensor is determined system 100.One or more system sensors can be from comprising temperature sensor 118,164, box transducer 120, mentioned hydrogen pressure sensor 132,144, and select in the group of other system mode transducer.In one embodiment, system 100 stops hydrogen to produce until the existence that detects box 106.In one embodiment, electronic control system 103 produces based on the input control hydrogen of one or more system sensors.
In one embodiment, hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 comprises RFID label 122 or other recognition device.RFID label 122 or other recognition device can be embedded into, install or be connected to hydrogen fuel cartridge 106, make it to be read by the RFID transducer 124 that is connected with box shell 105.In another embodiment, RFID label 122 comprises unique box identification code.By discerning each box 106 uniquely, system 100 can comprise when box 106 fuel shortages and box 106 necessary replacings and reporting to the police, even remove the system 100 that puts back to again then before box 106 exhausts from system 100 for the user provides usage statistics.
In one embodiment, system 100 stores the use information of relevant with each hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 one or more hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 corresponding to unique box identification code.For example, electronic control system 103 can store use information.Use information comprises the amount that remains in fuel in the box 106, can be expelled to the amount acquisition of the water of box 106 by monitoring, or obtains by the amount of monitoring hydrogen of discharge from box 106.Because the amount of the reactant in the box 106 is known, the amount of at every turn injecting the reactant of water use also is known, can calculate to measure by simple chemical reaction consume how many reactants, also surplus how many hydrogen reactants.In one embodiment, electronic control system 103 is according to adjusting one or more system control parameters with special fuel box 106 corresponding use information.
In one embodiment, via one or more water injection pipes 111 water is injected hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 by water pump 126.In one embodiment, water pump 126 is configured to draw water with discrete pulse according to the electronic pulse frequency of being determined by the preparation of hydrogen or required pressure and power load.Drawing water with adjustable pulse frequency is that the water yield of supply provides point-device control.In one embodiment, use one or more mathematics or statistics curve to determine pulse frequency.In another embodiment, use hydrogen-pressure curve and electrical power requirements curve to determine pulse frequency, each curve has independent slope and value.In one embodiment, along the time quantum between the value indicating impulse at the some place of curvilinear motion.This value size can be on the occasion of or negative value, on the occasion of the slower pulse frequency of expression, negative value is represented pulse frequency faster.When using many curves, the value of a bit locating each curve on corresponding to the curve of system mode can add together to determine pulse frequency.
Water pump 126 is the pumps that can draw water from fuel cassette 106 by one or more water injection pipes 111.In one embodiment, water pump 126 is peristaltic pumps.It is useful using peristaltic pump, because peristaltic pump can not pollute the liquid of its extraction, manufactures cheaply, and water constant, discontinuous quantity is extracted in each pulse.Advantageously, regardless of the back pressure of the water in water ascending pipe 111, peristaltic pump provides constant, the discontinuous water yield.
In one embodiment, the amounts of hydrogen that can make that keeps in the amount of generation hydrogen and the fuel cassette 106 can be determined by the quantity of pump 126 generation pulses.Electronic control system 103 can be determined remaining hydrogen potential in the fuel cassette 106 according to the amount of chemical hydride in the box 106, the size of water pump 126 each pulse pumpings, the number of times of water pump 126 pumping.Hydrogen demand that can fuel cell 146 and limit the number of pulses of water pump 126.In one embodiment, water pump 126 number of pulses at about 75 μ L between the 100 μ L.In addition, peristaltic pump 126 allows control system 103 the pumping direction to be reversed so that water reclaims the generation that slows down hydrogen thus from box 106.The levels of precision of control makes the hydrogen that produces be in close proximity to the demand of fuel cell 102.
Water pump 126 extracts the water that is stored in the cistern 128.In another embodiment, the user can manually add water for cistern 128.
In one embodiment, the water level of level sensor 129 monitoring cisterns 128.Level sensor 129 can be a ultrasonic sensor, transducer, magnetic sensor, pneumatic sensor, conductive sensor, capacitance sensor, some liquid level sensor, laser sensor, optical pickocff or other level sensor float.In another embodiment, level sensor 129 is included in the window in the cistern 128, allows user's sensed water level visibly.
In one embodiment, the hydrogen of generation passes check-valves 130.Check-valves 130 makes and still prevents that hydrogen from turning back in the box 106 by hydrogen delivery cassette 106.When box 106 had been removed, check-valves 130 can also prevent hydrogen discharge system 100.This check-valves has been preserved hydrogen, for the user provides safety inspection, and allows an amount of hydrogen to be kept in the system 100 in order to follow-up use.Check-valves 130 is communicated with hydrogen gateway 114 line fluid.In one embodiment, second check-valves is integrated in the lid of box shell 105.Check-valves 130 can be the Duckbill type valve or the diaphragm type valve of silicones, and these valves for example are by Lima, and U.S.'s plastics of OH (United States Plastics) provide.
In one embodiment, the Hydrogen Vapor Pressure transducer 132 in check-valves 130 downstreams is measured the air pressure of hydrogen.In another embodiment, Hydrogen Vapor Pressure transducer 132 is measured the Hydrogen Vapor Pressure in hydrogen adjuster 142 up-stream systems.Hydrogen Vapor Pressure transducer 132 can and/or detect hydrogen as security purpose and produce speed.In one embodiment, electronic control system 103 can use the force value of Hydrogen Vapor Pressure transducer 132 measurements to use aforesaid pressure curve to determine the extraction pulse frequency of water pump 126.Usually, electronic control system 103 can increase pulse frequency because of the low-pressure measured value, can reduce pulse frequency for the high pressure measured value.The more curve that also can be considered, as power demand discharge curve or other curve to determine the optimum pulse frequency.Working pressure transducer 132 monitoring pressures can also make system 100 before pressure reaches dangerous degree, regulate pressure.If pressure surpasses the predetermined safe value, electronic control system 103 can be discharged hydrogen via hydrogen vent valve 166, so that safe pressure is got back to by system.
In one embodiment, mechanical valve 133 is positioned at the upstream of hydrogen pressure regulator 142.In one embodiment, mechanical valve 133 is to be provided with when pressure during greater than predetermined pressure, the mechanical valve of automatic release of gas pressure.In one embodiment, the predetermined pressure relevant with mechanical valve 133 is higher than the predetermined safety value relevant with Hydrogen Vapor Pressure transducer as mentioned above 132.In one embodiment, the predetermined pressure relevant with mechanical valve 133 is approximately 24 pounds/square inch (psig), the predetermined safety value relevant with Hydrogen Vapor Pressure transducer 132 depends on the demand of system design, for example 100psig between about 25 to 30psig or higher.
In one embodiment, under the situation that hydrogen pressure regulator 142 lost efficacy, one or more other system unit settings are with release hydrogen pressure.Another system unit can comprise O shape ring, hose fitting or joint, water pump 126 or other mechanical component or connector.Multistage pressure is released to the user more safety is provided, and has guaranteed that system 100 remains under the safe pressure, does not have the dangerous of blast or system 100 and user are not had other infringement.Low-pressure system is not only than higher pressure system safety, and has lower material cost and manufacturing cost usually.
In one embodiment, cistern 128 has water condenser 138.Water condenser 138 removes from the air that enters cistern 128 and other gas and anhydrates.In one embodiment, water in condenser frit or other material on condense.In another embodiment, air and other gas pass condenser 138, by pressure-control valve 140 discharge systems.
In one embodiment, hydrogen flows into from hydrogen treatment system 116 and mixes hydrogen fuel cell system 102.In one embodiment, mix hydrogen fuel cell system 102 and have hydrogen pressure regulator 142, Hydrogen Vapor Pressure transducer 144, hydrogen fuel cell group assembly 146, one or more air cleaner 150, one or more air pump 152, air humidifier 156, module group 158, hydrogen humidifier 160, one or more cooling fan 162, temperature sensor 164, hydrogen vent valve 166 and one or more energy storage device 168.
In one embodiment, hydrogen adjuster 142 is regulated the hydrogen flowing quantity that enters hydrogen fuel cell group assembly 146 from hydrogen treatment system 116.Hydrogen adjuster 142 cooperates check-valves 130 with hydrogen gas storage between check-valves 130 and hydrogen adjuster 142, even in the use intermittently of system 100.Hydrogen adjuster 142 is discharged into the hydrogen of controlled amount in the fuel battery assembly 146, keeps predetermined air pressure in fuel cell 146.In one embodiment, the preset air pressure in the fuel cell 146 is about 7psi.
In one embodiment, the hydrogen gas pressure in the system 100 in Hydrogen Vapor Pressure transducer 144 measurement hydrogen adjuster 142 downstreams (being fuel cell system 102 inside).Hydrogen Vapor Pressure transducer 144 can use as the hydrogen of security purpose and/or monitoring fuel cell 146.If pressure surpasses predetermined safety value, hydrogen can be discharged from system via hydrogen vent valve 166, so that pressure is got back to lsafety level.In one embodiment, if pressure is lower than aforesaid intended fuel battery air pressure, hydrogen adjuster 142 is discharged into more hydrogen in the fuel battery 146.
As known in the art, hydrogen fuel cell group assembly 146 is from the stream generating of hydrogen and air.Usually, each fuel cell 158 in hydrogen fuel cell group assembly 146 has proton exchange membrane (PEM), anode, negative electrode and catalyst.The microbedding of catalyst (micro-layer) is coated on carbon paper, cloth or other gas diffusion layers usually, and is provided on two faces all contiguous with PEM.The anode of fuel cell 158, negative electricity binding post are positioned at the side of catalyst and PEM, and the negative electrode of fuel cell, positive electric wiring terminal are positioned at opposite side.Hydrogen extracts by the raceway groove in the anode, and the oxygen that exists with the surrounding air form extracts by the groove in the negative electrode usually.Catalyst has promoted to cause hydrogen to split into two H +The reaction of ion and two electronics.Electronics is transmitted to external circuit by anode, and turns back to negative electrode from external circuit.Catalyst has also promoted to cause airborne oxygen molecule to be divided into the reaction of two oxonium ions, and wherein each oxonium ion has a negative electrical charge.Negative electrical charge is H +Ion passes PEM and wins over, wherein two H +An ionic bond and an oxonium ion and two electronics have formed hydrone.
In one embodiment, one or more air cleaners 150 are set to filter the air that uses for fuel battery assembly 146.In one embodiment, one or more air pumps 152 are drawn into air in the system 100 via air cleaner 150.Air pump 152 can be the air pump of membrane pump or other type, and its Hydrogen Vapor Pressure coupling that can keep air pressure and fuel cell is so that fuel battery 146 has maximum power density.In one embodiment, air pump 152 is provided with the signal according to electronic control system 103 increases or reduces air stream.Electronic control system 103 can be according to fixed electric loading launch start signal in the system 100.Change air stream according to electric loading and reduced the parasitic power loss, and improved systematic function being lower than on the peaked power level.In one embodiment, one or more air pumps 152 have multiple air pumpability, and it is arranged to make the air capacity optimization that flows to fuel battery 146.For example, at the low-power requirements state, can start air pump 152 than low capacity, during the mid power claimed condition, can start more jumbo air pump 152, during the high power requirements state, can start less simultaneously and air pump 152 larger capacity.
In one embodiment, air humidifier 156 makes and enters the with the humid air of fuel battery 146.The humidity that increases air can make each fuel cell 158 keep moistening.The PEM of partial dehydration reduces the power density of fuel battery 146.Moisture has reduced H +Ion has passed the resistance of PEM, has increased power density.In one embodiment, before discharge fuel battery 146, the humid air of discharging fuel battery 146 flows through a side of film in the air humidifier 156, and when dry air entered fuel battery 146, dry air flow through the another side of film.Water passes the side of film to drying selectively from moistening side, thereby makes air become moist before air enters fuel battery 158.
In one embodiment, hydrogen humidifier 160 is provided with so that to enter the hydrogen of fuel battery 146 moistening, and is moistening so that PEM keeps.If fuel battery 146 is moved with very high power density or under very high temperature, and existing water deficient is to keep the PEM humidity in the hydrogen, and this is very useful.Hydrogen humidifier 160 can dispose in the mode similar to air humidifier 156, flow into fuel battery 146 on the side of the film of hydrogen in hydrogen humidifier 160, and humid air goes out fuel battery 146 from the upper reaches, side, opposite of film, and film makes water pass so that hydrogen is moistening selectively.Moist hydrogen gas is the anode sides of moistening PEM, and from the humid air of air humidifier 156 cathode side with moistening PEM.
In one embodiment, one or more cooling fans 162 prevent that fuel battery 158 is overheated.The running and the speed of electronic control system 103 control cooling fans 162.Air supply make cooling system 162 separate the dehydration that has reduced PEM, because can remain on than much lower flow under the situation of needs cooling from the fuel battery air supply system.Have the cooling of separation and the fuel cell system of air supply system and be called as the sealing cathod system.In one embodiment, cooling fan 162 provides the low-power fan of high gas flow.In another embodiment, adjustment that can fuel cell stack 158 from the air-flow of cooling fan 162 to reduce parasitic power loss.In another embodiment, one or more cooling fans 162 comprise one or more settings to keep the air blast of the higher air pressure of ratio axle fan.Can use one or more structures, guide, pipeline, baffle plate, manifold or thermal resistance to control and guide air stream, or around fuel battery 146 neutralizations, keep predetermined air pressure.
In one embodiment, temperature sensor 164 is measured the temperature of fuel battery 162.As mentioned above, in one embodiment, the temperature actuated cooling fan 162 that can measure according to temperature sensor 164 at least in part.In another embodiment, if temperature sensor 164 measures the temperature that is higher than predetermined unsafe temperature value, electronic control system 103 is provided with shutdown system 100 and notifies the user.
In one embodiment, hydrogen vent valve 166 is connected with fuel battery 146.Hydrogen vent valve 166 is discharged hydrogen from fuel battery 146.Measured as aforesaid Hydrogen Vapor Pressure transducer 132,144, when pressure reaches dangerous level, hydrogen vent valve 166 can be used for discharging hydrogen, or routinely by removing extra water or impurity preventing the corrosion of catalyst, thereby keep fuel battery 158 in good condition.When pressure reaches dangerous level, or the electrical power that produces when fuel battery 146 is when being lower than intended level, and electronic control system 103 can give the hydrogen vent valve 166 emission clean signals.In one embodiment, the humid air of discharging the hydrogen of fuel battery 158 and having discharged fuel battery 158 via hydrogen vent valve 166 is sent to cistern 128, and passes water condenser 138 and react formed water to recycle in fuel battery 146.
In one embodiment, one or more electrical energy storage devices 168 are electrically connected to fuel battery 146.In one embodiment, when electrical energy storage device does not use or after load disconnects, electrical energy storage device 168 can be by fuel battery 146 charging and trickle charges, to exhaust the excess hydrogen that is produced by system 100 in the down periods.System 100 the startup stage, electrical energy storage device 168 provides instantaneous power for load.This load that shows the system of being connected to 100 will have instantaneous power, and before receiving power unnecessary wait hydrogen be produced system 101 and begin to produce hydrogen or wait for that fuel battery 146 begins to produce electric power.
In one embodiment, electrical energy storage device 168 is provided with heating fuel battery pack 146 under cold environment so that fuel battery 146 starts fast.Electrical energy storage device 168 can use heater coil or other heating of metal silk, or uses other electrical heating method heating fuel battery pack 146.In one embodiment, electrical energy storage device 168 is connected in parallel with fuel battery 146, and be used to even up the load on the fuel battery 146,, and do not need often to change its output according to load so that fuel battery 146 can work under the most effective power level.When load produces the electrical power peak value, electrical energy storage device 168 will replenish the power that is produced by fuel battery 146.Select the group that electrical energy storage device 168 can constitute from other device by battery (as lead-acid battery, lithium ion (Li-ion) battery, nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery or the battery miscellaneous of sealing), capacitor, super capacitor and energy storage of electrical energy.In one embodiment, for fear of the degree of depth circulation of electrical energy storage device 168, and the life-span of increase electrical energy storage device 168, select to have used electrical energy storage device 168 with power capacity bigger than 146 capacity that must replenish of fuel battery.
In one embodiment, electronic control system 103 connects electrical power, and the signal communication of transducer, valve and other element of control and system 100.In one embodiment, electronic control system 103 comprises that one or more voltage and current transducers 170, direct current (DC) are to DC converter 172, circuit breaker 174, ground fault circuit cutout (GFCI) device 176, electronic switch 178, DC socket 180, AC phase inverter 181, AC socket 182, killer switch 184, GFCI switch 186, display 188, keyboard 190, control system 192, Computer Communications Interface 194 and control bus 196.
In one embodiment, voltage and current transducer 170 is provided with the voltage and current between the two poles of the earth of measuring electrical energy storage device 168.Electronic control system 103 uses electrical energy storage device 168 each voltage and current of extremely going up to determine the charging level of electrical energy storage device 168.According to the measured value of voltage and current transducer 170, whether electronic control system 103 decisions are electrical energy storage device 168 chargings, perhaps use electrical energy storage device 168 to replenish or replacement fuel battery 146.Electronic control system 103 also provides the power rating of battery for the user.
In one embodiment, DC-DC converter 172 is provided with the variable voltage of fuel battery 146 circuit is converted to the voltage of substantial constant.In one embodiment, the voltage of substantial constant is normal voltage, as 9 volts, 12 volts, 14 volts etc.In one embodiment, can use voltage regulator to replace DC-DC converter 172.Usually, use DC-DC converter 172 than using voltage regulator can cause lower power loss.DC-DC converter 172 can provide electric energy for the electric parts of system 100 with for the electric loading that is connected to system 100.
In one embodiment, circuit breaker 174 is according to the overload of circuit and interrupt circuit.If electric loading need be than the more electric current of the electric current that system 100 can provide, the overload in the circuit may take place.In one embodiment, the rated value of circuit breaker 174 produces capacity by the electrical power of system 100 and determines.In one embodiment, circuit breaker 174 is the specified circuit breakers of standard, and it is according to the current level of electronic control system 103 and specified.In one embodiment, behind circuit breaker 174 interrupt circuits, killer switch 184 is provided with the circuit breaker 174 that resets.
In one embodiment, GFCI device 176 is according to the electrical short of circuit and interrupt circuit.GFCI device 176 can be than circuit breaker 174 interrupt circuit quickly.GFCI device 176 is provided with the magnitude of current and the difference of leaving the magnitude of current of circuit that enters circuit with detection, with expression short circuit or leakage of current.In one embodiment, GFCI device 176 can detect the same little current mismatch with 4 or 5 milliamperes, and can make a response under a thirtieth second to current mismatch.In one embodiment, behind GFCI device 176 interrupt circuits, GFCI switch 186 is provided with the GFCI device 176 that resets.
In one embodiment, under the situation that does not disconnect remaining circuit, electronic switch 178 disconnects load from electrical power.In one embodiment, electronic switch 178 after the power-down phase of user's start-up system, disconnecting consumers.In off position, system 100 can start electronic switch 178, disconnecting consumers, electrical energy storage device 168 chargings are thought in the continuation generating, and uses excessive hydrogen.
In one embodiment, DC outlet 180 provides socket or plug interface to think that the DC device provides DC power supply.In one embodiment, DC power has the dc voltage of standard.In one embodiment, the standard dc voltage is about 9 to 15 volts.In another embodiment, DC outlet 180 is " cigar lighter " plug of type, be similar to the DC socket in many automobiles.
In one embodiment, AC phase inverter 181 converts the DC power supply to AC power supplies from DC to DC phase inverter 176.In one embodiment, AC phase inverter 181 becomes to have the AC power supplies of standard A C voltage to the DC current conversion.Standard A C voltage can be selected according to the zone or the expectation use of system 100.In one embodiment, standard A C voltage is 110 to 120 volts.In another embodiment, standard A C voltage is 220 to 240 volts.In one embodiment, AC phase inverter 181 becomes to have the AC power supplies of standard frequency, for example 50Hz or 60Hz to the DC power source conversion.Standard frequency also can perhaps be selected by predetermined use, for example 16.7Hz or 400Hz according to the zone.
In one embodiment, AC output 182 is provided for providing output or the connector interface of AC power supplies to the AC device from AC phase inverter 181.In one embodiment, according to the geographic area, the AC output of standard is arranged in AC output 182.
In one embodiment, display 188 is arranged to the exchange of information with the user.Display 188 can be that LCD (LCD), light-emitting diode (LED) display, cathode ray tube (CRT) display or other can transmit to user's display.In one embodiment, display 188 is provided with so that rub-out signal is conveyed to the user.In another embodiment, display 188 is set so that the electric weight of power storage device 168 storages is conveyed to the user.In another embodiment, display 188 is set so that the user mode of hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 is conveyed to the user.
In one embodiment, keyboard 190 is set to receive user's input.In one embodiment, the user is the technical staff, keyboard 190 is set so that the technical staff carries out system mistake analysis or failure diagnosis easily.Input can be set start beginning or dwell period to signal system 100, with information, option or the menu of selecting to show on the display 188, think that the menu item that the user selects transmits, or to system's 100 emission communication failure, failure diagnosis or out of Memory.Keyboard 190 can comprise one or more keys, numeric keypad, button, click wheel etc.
In one embodiment, control system 192 is configured to one or more parts of control system 100.Control system 192 can be integrated circuit such as microprocessor, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA), embedded controller etc. and relevant control circuit.Control system 192 keeps communicating by letter with Hydrogen Vapor Pressure transducer 132, temperature sensor 118, RFID transducer 124, optical pickocff 120, water injection pump 126, level sensor 129, air pump 152, Hydrogen Vapor Pressure transducer 144, electric transducer 170, temperature sensor 164, display 188, keyboard 190 and/or other parts.
In one embodiment, control system 192 uses control bus 196 and parts to communicate.Control bus can be one or more line of serial or parallel connection or other the communication media that control command and data can be provided.Control system 192 can use numeral or analog communication to communicate on bus.As mentioned above, control system 192 can be monitored or optimization system efficient and security of system.In one embodiment, control system 192 can be stored one or more system status informations, performance data or statistical information in daily record, and the user can visit this daily record by using display 190 or Computer Communications Interface 194.In one embodiment, be provided with control system 192 and other circuit to prevent because the short circuit that the water in the shell 104 cause or on fire.For example, in one embodiment, control system 192 and other circuit are provided with by the top towards system 100.
In one embodiment, Computer Communications Interface 194 is set so that control system 192 is connected with computer.Computer Communications Interface 194 can comprise one or more ports, terminal, adapter, socket or plug, for example serial ports, Ethernet interface, USB (USB) port or other communication port.In one embodiment, computer can use a computer communication interface 194 with the access system daily record, and performance data, system mode to be changing default, or be that control system 192 is programmed.
In one embodiment, shell 104 is provided with to surround and protection system 100.Shell 104 comprises durable material for example metal, plastics etc.In one embodiment, shell 104 is lightweight material portability with increase system 100.In another embodiment, shell 104 has hole or window so that the water level of user monitoring storage cistern.In a further embodiment, shell 104 is provided with the parts of thinking electronic control system 103 in addition the electronic frequency protection is provided.
Fig. 2 has illustrated an embodiment of identical with the hydrogen fuel cartridge of Fig. 1 basically hydrogen fuel cartridge 200.Fuel cassette 200 can comprise tubular body or housing 202, and its diameter can be in about 1 to 5 inch scope in one embodiment, and length can be in about 4 to 12 inches scope.Shell 202 is not limited to any concrete cross sectional shape or any concrete size, but can have circular section shape.
In one embodiment, this shell 202 by have sufficient intensity, relatively light and material such as aluminium that have a good heat-transfer character forms.Yet many substitution material are apparent to one skilled in the art, comprise steel, stainless steel, copper, carbon fiber ring oxygen synthetic, glass fibre epoxy synthetic, PEEK, polysulfones derivative, polypropylene, PVC or other suitable material.In one embodiment, fuel cassette 200 also has a top end cover 204, and it makes other parts of this fuel cassette 200 and aforesaid whole hydrogen generation system 100 be provided with more easily and fixes.
In one embodiment, this top end cover 204 comprises location structure 208, one or more hydrogen port 212 and one or more water end (W.E.) mouth 216.In one embodiment, this hydrogen port 212 and this water end (W.E.) mouth 216 can also comprise one or more self-seal devices well known to those skilled in the art.This location structure 208 or other Lock Parts are set to guarantee that this top end cover 204 can only be in the lid engagement of a direction and box shell 105.In one embodiment, shell 202 is included near the openend of shell 202 basically around the flange 224 of shell 202.Flange 224 is fixed to top end cover 204 to shell 202.In addition, flange 224 is set and discharges inner hydrogen G﹠W to be increased to degree of danger according to the air pressure in the shell 202.In another embodiment, can be fixed to shell 202 to top end cover 204 with other fixing means such as screw thread, glue or other adhesive, welding etc.
In one embodiment, one or more hydrogen ports 212 and one or more water end (W.E.) mouths 216 are similar with one or more water end (W.E.) mouth 111 to above-mentioned one or more hydrogen port ones 14 basically.In one embodiment, the internal diameter of hydrogen port 212 and water end (W.E.) mouth 216 is approximately one inch ten sixths.In one embodiment, one or more fluid ascending pipes 218 extend to the inside of box shell 202 from one or more water end (W.E.) mouths 216, and this box shell is equipped with solid reactant (below will describe in more detail).In one embodiment, injection-tube 218 can extend to 202 length that reach this shell in the shell 202 at least half, can extend to half at other this injection-tube 30 of embodiment less than this shell length.In one embodiment, water injection pipe 218 has the internal diameter of about 1mm.In a further embodiment, water injection pipe 218 has from the internal diameter of about 0.5 to 5.0mm scope.
Injection-tube 218 can be become by aluminium, brass or other metal, PTFE, nylon or other high temperature polymerization system.In one embodiment, will form a series of liquid distribution hole along the length direction of water ascending pipe 218.In another embodiment, box 200 is vertical orientated, and injection-tube 218 is set to extend to the bottom of box 200 substantially, is provided with like this so that water can be filled box 200 from the bottom to top end cap 204 continuously.In such a way, can also pass through the manufacturing that injection-tube 218 is extracted out with further control hydrogen from box 200 to water, and keep the Hydrogen Vapor Pressure of safety.
Fig. 3 A has illustrated another embodiment of fuel cassette 300.As mentioned above, fuel cassette 300 embodiment is equipped with solid reactant such as anhydrous chemical hydride.In one embodiment, chemical hydride can be considered to comprise metal and hydrogen in order to producing the reducing compound of hydrogen, when it during with water or other oxidant reaction, generation hydrogen.On June 11st, 2003 application, sequence number is in 10/459,991 the U.S. Patent application, discloses a plurality of examples of chemical hydride, introduces its full content here as a reference.The example of nonrestrictive chemical hydride can comprise sodium borohydride, lithium borohydride, Li-Al hydrogen thing, lithium hydride, sodium hydride and calcium hydride.
In one embodiment, the chemical hydride reactant is sealed in water permeability material or the fabric bag.As used herein, " fabric " not only comprises textile, also comprises the paper based on the porous material that can be used for filtering.An embodiment of fabric comprises porous material, and it can keep structural intergrity from about 20 ℃ in about 200 ℃ temperature range, from about 4 to about 14 PH scope.
Suitable fabric can including, but not limited to the weaving or nonwoven nylon, staple fibre, polyester, porous filtering paper or these mixtures of material.In one embodiment, can select to be used for the material of bag 302 to have optimal thickness, density and water-retaining property.In one embodiment, box 300 is arranged in vertical stratification, and bag 302 comprises the material with minimum water-retaining property, so that the weight of the water that it kept is less than about 10 times of the weight of this material own.This material has very little or does not have the performance of wicking.In another embodiment, box 300 is arranged in horizontal structure, and the material of selecting 302 has bigger water holding capacity and some wick performances.
Bag 302 water-retaining property and wick performance impact the position of chemical reaction takes place between water and chemical hydride.Low water-retaining property and wick performance help to keep chemical reaction to carry out being equal to or less than the filling plane of water in box 300.If water-retaining property and wick performance are higher, bag 302 is by wicks and keep water, so that can on the fill water plane of box 300 chemical reaction take place.For the chemical reaction in the control box more accurately 300, can select be used for the material of bag 302 according to structure, injection-tube 304, employed chemical hydride and the activator of box 300.
Other correlative factor can comprise with respect to the water penetration of employed chemical hydride, activator and flood pattern 304, porousness, chemical reactivity and the temperature stability between about 150 ℃ and about 250 ℃.The suitable thickness that is used for bag 302 material is between about 0.002 inch and 0.01 inch.Appropriate density is less than 0.05 restraining approximately per square inch.
In the embodiment of a demonstration, bag 302 comprises Crane Nonwovens of Dalton, the product of MA
Figure GPA00001068331600221
57-30.
Figure GPA00001068331600222
57-3030 has about 0.0043 inch thickness, density with every square metre of about 57.9 grams, be that water is permeable, has pore size less than about .0025 inch, in the alkalescence of about PH13 and acid solution, has resistance to chemical corrosion at about PH4, last is stable to about 180 ℃ temperature, and in water, can keep 7.5 times of himself weight.Also can use simultaneously and be used for other material character that steady hydrogen produces such as the combination of thickness, density and water-retaining property.
In one embodiment, textile bags 302 is thinner relatively, has bigger than thickness basically area.Bag 302 can form by the method for any conventional.Fig. 3 B for example, as can be seen textile material 314 and two rectangular sheets of 316 how along the sealing of three limits (for example by sew up 310 or other encapsulating method) and be divided into .25 to 2 inch district 318 (also by sewing up) to be left open end 312 at another side.Fill particulate chemical hydride (as described below) and seal by close open end closed 312 along the 4th side seam in the one group of district 318 that forms thus.
In one embodiment, bag 302 exemplary thickness (promptly when launching and being full of the chemical hydride district, distinguishing 318 thickness) can be about 1/4 inch, and its development size can be about 5.75 inches and multiply by 20 inches.As shown in Figure 3A, to such an extent as to then bag 302 rolled into sufficiently little diameter and be inserted in the shell 300 of tubulose (for the purpose of removing, having removed top end cover 206).The thickness of bag 302 and development size can be determined according to the size of box 300 and the structure of bag 302.Then water injection pipe 304 is inserted between the overlapping layer of rolling bag 302 carefully.In one embodiment, the liner (not shown) also can be set in shell 300 inside and avoid corrosion and damage with containment vessel.This liner is movably or fixes, and can be used for prolonging the life-span of shell 300.In one embodiment, this liner is the bag that is made of plastics or other insert material known in the art, and liner is set standing and the relevant temperature of chemical reaction that produces hydrogen, and protects box 300 to avoid corroding.
Fig. 4 a has illustrated an embodiment of hydrogen treatment system 116.This hydrogen treatment system 116 comprises prefilter 402, condenser 404, coalescer element 406 and organic filter 408.Be provided with this hydrogen treatment system 11 with remove impurity such as hydrocarbon or other organic compound, water vapour, dissolving from the hydrogen that produces or solid salt or other impurity.Purified hydrogen can protect by or use other elements of hydrogen such as valve, conduit, PEM fuel cell etc.In addition, the hydrogen of purification can make element such as PEM fuel cell work more efficiently under higher flow velocity.
In one embodiment, prefilter 402 by one or more mechanical filters, organic filter, surface adsorption, chemical reaction, and other filtration means collect the pollutant that is suspended in the hydrogen stream.Prefilter 402 can comprise the supporting construction that supports prefilter 402 other elements.Some embodiment of prefilter 402 has been described in conjunction with Fig. 5.
In one embodiment, prefilter 402 integrates with hydrogen fuel cartridge 106.In such a way, when hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 was replaced, prefilter 402 also had been replaced.In one embodiment, prefilter 402 is near the top of hydrogen fuel cartridge 106, between hydrogen port one 14 and permeable material 110.In another embodiment, prefilter 402 is positioned at the outside and the downstream of hydrogen fuel cartridge 106.
In one embodiment, condenser 404 is removed the water vapour that is suspended in the hydrogen stream.Condenser 404 condenses in the water vapour in the hydrogen stream by water is converted to liquid state from gaseous state.In one embodiment, cistern 128 is removed and turned back to aqueous water from condenser 404.In some embodiment, the water of getting back to cistern 128 is used to produce other hydrogen in hydrogen fuel cartridge 106.
Condenser 404 can use any methods known in the art that the state of water vapour is become aqueous water.For example the temperature that condenser can be by reducing water vapour, reduce gas pressure and/or by providing condensing surface to work.The a certain embodiment of condenser 404 has been described with reference to figure 6.
In one embodiment, coalescer element 406 is removed the pollutant that is suspended in hydrogen stream inside.Coalescer element 406 can be isolated gas pollutant from hydrogen.In another embodiment, liquid and/or the solid pollutant of coalescer element 406 separate out suspended in hydrogen stream.
In one embodiment, except that separating contaminants, the separating contaminants of coalescer element 406 coalescent more fractions.Pollutant can be coalescent to be regarded droplet capture by coalescer element 406.Coalescer element 406 can cause pollutant to drip growing up to form bigger dripping or even bigger pollutant pond.In one embodiment, when coalescer element 406 was handled hydrogen stream, coalescer element 406 caused the growth of pollutant pond.In certain embodiments, the surface, inside of coalescer element 406 is coated with hydrophilic compounds, and the outside of coalescer element 406 is coated with hydrophobic compound.Hydrophilic compounds tends to assemble aqueous water, and hydrophobic compound tends to repel aqueous water.Aqueous water will accumulate on the hydrophilic compounds in the coalescer element 406.When pressure was pushed the water droplet of assembling to outside, drop contacted with hydrophobic material subsequently.Because hydrophobic material repels water droplet, water droplet are concentrated into bigger water droplet.These bigger drops drip from coalescer.Water can be discharged to cistern 128 from the center of coalescer element 406 subsequently.
Pollutant can comprise gaseous state or aqueous water.Pollutant can also comprise the salt of introducing by hydrogen generation process.These salt can be liquid or solid-state.Salt can be suspended in the hydrogen stream.Salt can be dissolved in the water that is suspended in the hydrogen stream.The salt pollution thing can comprise any salt that produces by hydrogen production process, as slaine etc.The a certain embodiment of coalescer element 406 has been described with reference to figure 7.
In one embodiment, organic filter 408 is removed the organic pollution that is suspended in hydrogen stream inside.Organic filter 408 can comprise the filter that is used to collect any type of organic pollution known in the art.For example organic filter 408 can comprise the filter with activated carbon media.Organic filter 408 can comprise inorganic material, organic material, be used for filtering any other material of organic pollution.
Fig. 4 B has illustrated an embodiment of hydrogen treatment system 116.This hydrogen treatment system 116 comprises prefilter 402, condenser 404, coalescer element 406 and organic filter 408 and hydrogen selective membrane 410.Be provided with this hydrogen treatment system 116 with remove impurity such as hydrocarbon or other organic compound, water vapour, dissolving from the hydrogen that produces or solid salt or other impurity.Purified hydrogen can protect by or use other elements of hydrogen such as valve, conduit, PEM fuel cell etc.In addition, the hydrogen of purification can make element such as PEM fuel cell work more efficiently under higher flow velocity.Prefilter 402, condenser 404, coalescer element 406 and organic filter 408 preferably are configured to the parts with Fig. 4 A similar mark that relative section is described in a similar manner.
In one embodiment, hydrogen selective membrane 410 comprises and allows hydrogen and limit other material and film that gas passes through.In one embodiment, hydrogen selective membrane 410 is positioned at the downstream of other element of hydrogen treatment system 116.Hydrogen selective membrane 410 can comprise allow hydrogen by and limit the material that other material passes through.For example, in one embodiment, (PSA) films of sulfuration acid more than hydrogen selective membrane 410 can comprise,
Figure GPA00001068331600251
Film etc.It will be apparent to those skilled in that the passage-selective membrane by hydrogen can require lower flow velocity.In some embodiment, diameter is that two inches hydrogen selective membrane 410 is being lower than under the flow velocity of about 50cc/min, has passed through 99.99% flow of pure hydrogen.This is enough to drive fuel cells lower powered as 5 watts.
In some embodiment, two or more elements of hydrogen treatment system 116 are merged into one or more unit.For example in one embodiment, condenser 404 and coalescer element 406 can comprise individual unit.In another embodiment, the element of hydrogen treatment system 116 can be integrated with another element that is used for from the system that chemical hydride 100 generates electricity.For example, in one embodiment, one or more elements of hydrogen treatment system 116 are positioned at hydrogen fuel cartridge 106.
Fig. 5 has illustrated an embodiment according to prefilter 402 of the present invention.In one embodiment, prefilter 402 comprises shell 502, import 504, outlet 506, mechanical medium 508, organic media 510 and bearing 512.In one embodiment, prefilter 402 is removed the pollutant that is suspended in hydrogen stream inside.
In one embodiment, when hydrogen passed prefilter 402, shell 502 had limited the flow of hydrogen.Shell 502 can also comprise the one or more media that are used for removing from hydrogen stream pollutant.Can from medium known in the art, select one or more media with remove effectively in the hydrogen stream known or the expection concrete pollutant.In a certain embodiment, shell 502 can separate from hydrogen fuel cartridge 106.In another embodiment, shell 502 can be integrated with hydrogen fuel cartridge 106.In this embodiment, when each hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 changed, prefilter also changed.This has helped prevent the growth of pollutant and the obstruction of filter cell.
One or more media can the stratiform setting so that hydrogen stream passes these layers successively.Each continuous layer can be collected different pollutants or dissimilar pollutants.Can select these layers according to the performance that they collect concrete pollutant.For example, hydrogen stream can pass be coated with KOH the aluminium medium to neutralizing acid.Hydrogen stream can pass the cellulose fibre filter element with the collecting granules material subsequently.Hydrogen stream can pass the activated carbon element of removing organic gas subsequently.In this example, the hydrogen stream that leaves prefilter 402 has been removed acids, particulate matter and organic gas basically.Any one of these concrete pollutants from the hydrogen stream that chemical hydride receives can be removed.
In a certain embodiment, prefilter can be provided with to remove solid and gaseous contaminant.Prefilter can comprise and is suitable for removing the concrete filter medium that expection is present in the pollutant in the hydrogen stream.In one embodiment, the part of filter medium coated with absorb and in and sour gas such as acid halide (F 2, Cl 2, Br 2, I 2), hydrogen halides (HF, HCl, HBr, HI), nitrogen oxide (NO, NO 2, N 2O, N 2O 3, N 2O 4, N 2O 5) and their acids (HNO 2, HNO 3), oxysulfide (SO 2, SO 3) and their acids (H 2SO 3, H 2SO 4), hydrogen sulfide (H 2S), formic acid, acetate and other organic acid steam.In another embodiment, the part of filter medium such as separator are coated to absorb VOC such as aldehyde, ketone, ether, alcohol and other lighter hydrocarbons.It will be understood to those of skill in the art that and to select coating to be removed to guarantee the gaseous compound that expection is present in the hydrogen stream.And coating can be arranged on the different piece of single filter medium, or on the different layers of different filter mediums.
This shell 502 can comprise the pressure and the hot any materials that can stand hydrogen, as condensate, metal, composite material etc.For example, shell 502 can comprise nylon material.Shell 502 can have the arbitrary shape of the element that can hold filter such as cylinder, ball, cube etc.
Import 504 provides as the access road of hydrogen in the prefilter 402.Import 504 can comprise that this area is used as the arbitrary shape of inlet, as the soleno-road.In one embodiment, import 504 receptions are from the hydrogen stream of hydrogen fuel cartridge 106.In a certain embodiment, import can be formed by cut, molded or other methods known in the art.In certain embodiments, import 504 can be from a plurality of hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 in conjunction with a plurality of sources of hydrogen.
Outlet 506 passages that provide hydrogen to leave from prefilter.Outlet 506 can comprise this area arbitrary shape for export, as the soleno-road.In one embodiment, outlet 506 is positioned at inlet 504 opposites.In another embodiment, outlet 506 is positioned near the inlet 504.In a certain embodiment, outlet 506 can be formed by cut, molded or other methods known in the art.
In a certain embodiment, prefilter 402 comprises mechanical medium 508.This mechanical medium 508 can comprise allow hydrogen by and the pore of the big pollutant of this pore of capture ratio.In one embodiment, set the size of pore in the mechanical medium 508 to catch pollutant greater than 25 microns.At another embodiment, the size of setting pore is to catch size greater than 5 microns pollutant.
In another embodiment, prefilter 402 can comprise organic media 510.Organic media 510 is removed organic pollution as being suspended in the hydrocarbon in the hydrogen stream.In one embodiment, organic filter comprises activated carbon.
In one embodiment, prefilter 402 comprises a bearing 512.This bearing 512 supports this mechanical medium 508 and/or organic media 510.Bearing 512 can comprise any materials that can support the medium in the prefilter 402, as condensate, metal, synthetic etc.In one embodiment, bearing 512 comprises the stainless steel mesh.
Fig. 6 has illustrated an embodiment according to condenser 404 of the present invention.In one embodiment, condenser 404 comprises shell 602, import 604, outlet 606, mechanical medium 608 and condensed material 610.In one embodiment, condenser 404 is removed the water vapour that is suspended in hydrogen stream inside.
In one embodiment, when hydrogen passed condenser 404, this shell 602 limited flowing of hydrogen.Shell 602 can also comprise the one or more media that are used for removing from hydrogen stream water vapour.Shell 602 can comprise the pressure and the hot any materials that can stand hydrogen, as condensate, metal, composite material etc.For example, shell 602 can comprise aluminum.Shell 602 can have the arbitrary shape that can limit filter cell, as cylinder, ball, cube etc.
Import 604 provides as hydrogen and enters into passage in the condenser 404.Import 604 can comprise that this area is used as the arbitrary shape of inlet, as the soleno-road.In one embodiment, import 604 receptions are from the hydrogen stream of prefilter 402.In certain embodiments, import 604 can merge a plurality of sources of hydrogen from a plurality of filters 402.
Outlet 606 provides the path of discharging from condenser 404 for hydrogen.Outlet 606 can comprise this area arbitrary shape for export, as the soleno-road.In one embodiment, the setting of outlet 606 is relative with import 604.In another embodiment, outlet 606 is positioned near the import 604.
In a certain embodiment, condenser 404 comprises mechanical medium 608.In one embodiment, mechanical medium 608 comprises mechanical filtration element well known in the art.Mechanical medium 608 can comprise allow hydrogen by and the pore of the big pollutant of this pore of capture ratio.In one embodiment, the size of the pore in the mechanical medium is conditioned to catch the pollutant greater than 5 microns.For example, mechanical medium 608 can comprise polyester material, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) etc.
In one embodiment, when it was converted into aqueous water, condensed material 610 was caught the water vapour that is suspended in the hydrogen stream.Condensed material 610 can also be caught the aqueous water that is suspended in the hydrogen stream.
In one embodiment, condensed material 610 is heat conductors, and the temperature of condensed material 610 remains below below the temperature of hydrogen stream.In a certain embodiment, condensed material 610 arrives shell 602 to heat conduction.For example, condensed material can comprise the stainless steel mesh.
Can use air known in the art, water or other fluid cooled enclosure 602.In one embodiment, condenser 404 comprises fluid circulating device 612, circulates with the surface of cooled enclosure 602 in its surface across shell 602.When hydrogen contacts with the material 610 of cooling, be suspended in water recovery in the hydrogen stream on condensed material 610.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that this fluid circulating device 612 can comprise by using mobile fluid to realize any device of cooling.For example in one embodiment, fluid circulating device 612 can comprise air blast.In another embodiment, fluid circulating device 612 can comprise blade, pump etc.
In one embodiment, aqueous water flows and is collected in the bottom of shell 602 along condensed material 610.In one embodiment, water is removed from shell 602 by water end (W.E.) mouth 614.In a certain embodiment, water end (W.E.) mouth 614 is transported to cistern 128 to water.Those skilled in the art will know and can be attracted to cistern 128 to water by gravity, applied pressure or by other power.If gravity is the actuating force of selecting, the direction of this device should be set to water can flow to cistern 128.
Fig. 7 has illustrated an embodiment according to coalescer element 406 of the present invention.In one embodiment, coalescer element 406 comprises shell 702, import 704, outlet 706 and coalescing medium 708.In one embodiment, coalescer element 406 is removed liquid from hydrogen stream.This liquid may comprise the pollutant that is dissolved in this liquid.
In one embodiment, when hydrogen passed coalescer element 406, this shell 702 limited flowing of hydrogen.Shell 702 can also comprise the one or more media that are used for from the coalescent pollutant of hydrogen stream.Shell 702 can comprise the pressure that can stand hydrogen and any materials of heating, as condensate, metal, composite material etc.For example, shell 702 can comprise nylon material, as by UnitedFiltration of Sterling Heights, and the model 710N that MI makes.Shell 702 can have the arbitrary shape that can limit filter cell, as cylinder, ball, cube etc.
Import 704 provides as hydrogen and enters into passage in the coalescer element 406.Import 704 can comprise that this area is used as the arbitrary shape of inlet, as the soleno-road.In one embodiment, import 704 receptions are from the hydrogen stream of condenser 404.In certain embodiments, import 704 can merge a plurality of sources of hydrogen from a plurality of condensers 404.
Outlet 706 provides the path of discharging from coalescer element 406 for hydrogen.Outlet 706 can comprise this area arbitrary shape for export, as the soleno-road.In one embodiment, outlet 706 is provided with relative with import 704.In another embodiment, outlet 706 is positioned near the import 704.
In one embodiment, coalescing medium 708 passes through coalescer element 406 from the hydrogen stream separating contaminants.Coalescing medium 708 can comprise the hydrophilic layer that absorbs the water droplet in hydrogen 708 streams.For example, coalescing medium 708 can comprise the borosilicate filter cell.
Water droplet in the hydrogen stream can comprise other pollutant, as at the dissolved salts that forms from the process of chemical hydrogenation deposits yields hydrogen.When water was coalescent, water was as filter element.Extraly or alternatively, solid particle can provide source or seed to promote to form the condensation of aqueous water.Solid or liquid particles water soluble or be insoluble in water.The solubilized pollutant can be dissolved in the water droplet, and homogenous mixts is retained in the water and can not dissolved contaminants can be used as not.Undissolvable pollutant can also sink to the bottom or be discharged from water end (W.E.) mouth 710.Water can also absorb water-soluble gaseous contaminant.For example, water droplet can comprise moisture salt.Water droplet can also comprise other pollutant.
In a certain embodiment, coalescing medium 708 comprises extra play.Extra play can have littler hydrophily than other layer in the coalescing medium 708.In one embodiment, between layer, produce pressure differential water is extracted further and carry.
In one embodiment, keep water droplet by coalescing medium 708.By the water droplet that coalescing medium 708 keeps from the increase of hydrogen stream, wherein droplet coalescence forms bigger drop together.Bigger drop can be further with other droplet coalescence to form the pond.
In one embodiment, the water of coalescing medium 708 maintenances is by the bottom of gravity current to shell 702.Water can converge in the bottom of shell 702.In a certain embodiment, can remove from shell 702 by water end (W.E.) mouth 710 and anhydrate.In one embodiment, the water of removing from shell 702 is transported to cistern.In another embodiment, water end (W.E.) mouth 710 can be transported to condenser 404 to water from the shell 702 of coalescer element 406.In one embodiment, when system does not have when pressurized, water end (W.E.) mouth 710 gathers according to water in the coalescer element 406, and water is transported to condenser 404.
In one embodiment, coalescing medium 708 also provides the mechanical filter of hydrogen stream.In one embodiment, coalescing medium 708 comprises the pore that allows hydrogen to pass through to keep bigger pollutant.In one embodiment, coalescing medium 708 keeps the pollutant greater than 0.01 micron.
Fig. 8 has illustrated that hydrogen produces and an embodiment of cleaning system 800.Hydrogen produces and cleaning system 800 comprises gas delivery system 802, hydrogen fuel cartridge 106, prefilter 402, condenser 404, coalescer element 406, organic filter 408.Hydrogen produce and cleaning system 800 from chemical hydrogenation deposits yields hydrogen and by removing the pollutant that is suspended in the gas purified hydrogen.Hydrogen fuel cartridge 106, prefilter 402, condenser 404, coalescer element 406 and organic filter 408 preferably are configured to the parts with the described similar mark of Fig. 1-7 relative section in a similar manner.
In one embodiment, gas delivery system 802 is the gas delivery that produces by hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 other element to hydrogen generation and cleaning system 800.In described embodiment, prefilter 402 is integrated in the inside of hydrogen fuel cartridge 106.In another embodiment, prefilter 402 is separated from hydrogen fuel cartridge 106, and receives the hydrogen from gas delivery system 802.
Gas delivery system 802 can comprise one or more gas ports 804, and it has formed and has been used for the passage that hydrogen stream passes gas delivery system 802.In one embodiment, one or more gas ports 804 are machined into solid interior.In another embodiment, one or more gas port 804 forms with solid.In another embodiment, gas port 804 can comprise flexible pipe or pipe.For example, the gas passage system can comprise the injection-molded material, and this material comprises the molded passage that forms one or more gas ports 804.
In one embodiment, one or more gas ports 804 can comprise manifold 806, and its two or more sources of hydrogen are connected to other element of hydrogen generation and cleaning system 800.For example in described embodiment, hydrogen produces and cleaning system 800 comprises two hydrogen fuel cartridge 106 that are connected to single condenser 404 by manifold 806.
Following indicative flowchart is illustrated as logical flow chart usually.Similarly, the step of the order of description and mark shows an embodiment of described method.One or more steps or a part that other step and method can be considered to described method are of equal value on function, logic and effect.In addition, form that is adopted and symbol only are used to explain the logic step of this method, not should be understood to limit the scope of this method.Though can adopt multiple arrow type and line type in flow chart, they can not be understood that to limit the scope of correlation method.In fact, some arrows or other connector can only be used to represent the logic flow of this method.For example, arrow can be represented wait or the monitoring period of the unspecified duration between the enumerated steps of described method.In addition, the order that takes place of concrete steps can or can be not strictly corresponding to the order of shown corresponding steps.
Fig. 9 shows the flow chart that is used to clean from a plurality of steps of the method 900 of hydrogen that chemical hydride produces.In a certain embodiment, this method 900 is to use the method for system shown in Fig. 1-8 and device, will this method be described with reference to these figure.Yet this method 900 also can be to implement independently, and is not inclined to concrete restriction with reference to the described embodiment of these figure.
As shown in Figure 9, this method begins, condenser 404 coolings 902 hydrogen streams.Aqueous water in the hydrogen stream is absorbed 904.Can on the condensed material in the condenser 404 610, absorb 904.In another embodiment, cistern 128 is removed and got back to the water of absorption 904 from condenser 404.
Mechanical filtration element can be collected 906 particulate matters from hydrogen stream.Coalescer element 406 coalescent basically 908 is suspended in the whole aqueous waters in the hydrogen stream.Can on coalescing medium 708, carry out coalescent 908.Coalescing medium 708 can coalescent 908 pollutants drop, drop that this droplet coalescence is 908 one-tenth bigger and pond.Coalescent 908 water can comprise other pollutant, as are dissolved in the salt in the water.In a certain embodiment, coalescent 908 water is got back to cistern 128.Hydrogen stream can carry 910 subsequently to the position that needs to use, as fuel cell or storage device.
Figure 10 shows the device 1000 that is used to handle hydrogen stream according to the present invention.In this embodiment, shell 1002 is equipped with cooling medium 1020, mechanical filtration element 1004, coalescer element 1006 and outlet (not shown).Can before the hydrogen stream access to plant, carry out the pre-filtering of hydrogen stream.In a certain embodiment, pre-filtering is carried out in the inside of hydrogen fuel cartridge 106.Shell 1002 comprises heat-resisting pressure-resistant material.Those of ordinary skills will know that required condition of work can influence the selection as sheathing material.In a certain embodiment, shell 1002 is to be made by metal, plastics or other material.Comprise the corrosion component if estimate hydrogen stream, the material that is used for shell 1002 can be selected corrosion resistance.
In one embodiment, device 1000 comprises from hydrogen stream and absorbs heat and condense thus from the condenser 1008 of the water of hydrogen stream.Condenser 1008 can have makes hydrogen stream pass the raceway groove of condenser 1008.When hydrogen stream process raceway groove, because hydrogen stream is cooled, water condenses on the channel walls.In one embodiment, condensed water further is pushed in the device 1000 through this raceway groove by this hydrogen stream, and wherein condensed water is collected at this.Shunt valve 1024 can be transported to condensation chamber 1010 to hydrogen stream.Shunt valve 1024 can be transported to cooling medium 1020 to hydrogen stream.If hydrogen stream is estimated to comprise the corrosive agent component, the material that is used for condenser 1008 can be chosen as has corrosion resistance.In one embodiment, condenser by thermal conductivity greater than about 5W/mK material make.Condenser can be made by copper, aluminium, titanium, pottery, carbon nano-tube, carbon or graphite-impregnated plastic or other material known in the art.In one embodiment, condenser 1008 surfaces are coated with other material to increase its resistance to corrosion.
Raceway groove can have circular cross section, or cross section can be any other shape known to those skilled in the art.Channel walls defines its shape.One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the surface area that increases raceway groove will increase the performance of condenser from the hydrogen stream heat radiation.The length of raceway groove, shape and cross section are can change to provide enough designs to think that concrete application provides required cooling all.Those of ordinary skills will know that condenser 1008 can be used as heat exchanger.Condenser 1008 can be formed by one section pipe, can be molded in the solid, also can be worked in the solid etc.
Condenser 1008 can comprise that refrigerating module 1022 is to increase heat-transfer rate.In a certain embodiment, refrigerating module 1022 can comprise the fin of being made by aluminium or other heat conducting material.Refrigerating module can further comprise fluid circulating device such as cooling fan, liquid pump etc.
Even without condenser 1008, device 1000 itself also can absorb heat from hydrogen stream.1000 element has enough time of staying and heat-transfer rate is reduced to required level with the temperature with hydrogen stream if install, and can not need special condenser 1008.The cooling that one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that hydrogen stream was directly proportional with the time of staying and heat-transfer rate.Heat-transfer rate can increase by increasing the parts that have high heat conductance in the device 1000, or by setting up the fluid passage with high surface area to increase.Can be longer or increase the time of staying by reducing flow velocity by making passage.These are that those skilled in the art form the technological means that hydrogen stream with the temperature that requires is used always.In one embodiment, device 1000 is 90 ℃ 60 ℃ of being reduced to for fuel cell use of the temperature of hydrogen stream from the chemical hydride source.Device 1000 can be handled the hydrogen stream that flow velocity is about 2.5 liters of per minutes, and it can provide 250 watts fuel cell in a certain embodiment.
In one embodiment, the shell of device comprises condensation chamber 1010 and coalescent chamber 1012.These two chambers separate by mechanical filtration element 1004.Condensation chamber 1010 comprises the cooling medium 1020 of collecting water from hydrogen stream.When after hydrogen stream leaves hydrogen generation system, cooling off, formed the water in the hydrogen stream.Coalescent chamber 1012 comprises the coalescer element 1006 of further aqueous water being separated from hydrogen stream.The operation principle of coalescer element 1006 is that water droplets coalescence is bigger drop.Bigger drop can further merge and increase form liquid pond.These ponds can comprise the pollutant from gas stream.Water and pollutant can be discharged shell by pipe 1020 by discharge outlet 1014 subsequently, and by another outlet 1016 dischargers 1000.The water of collecting in condensation chamber 1010 also can be discharged shell 1002 by outlet 1018.
In a certain embodiment, discharge outlet is discharged to condensation chamber to water from coalescent chamber.In this embodiment, can have to remove and anhydrate and the single discharge outlet 1018 of pollutant from shell.Those skilled in the art will know that the internal drainage valve can influence pressure and air-flow.Discharge outlet can be set with only when the pressure differential between coalescent chamber and the condensation chamber is lower than predetermined value, water is discharged to condensation chamber.
Those of ordinary skills know condensation, filtration and coalescent be superficial phenomenon.Can select to have the material of high surface area as cooling medium and coalescer element.Cooling medium can be the material of plastics, metal, glass fibre, carbon fiber etc. for example.Coalescer element can be commercially available cylindrical box as the replaceable filter cell of " C Grade " PVDF fluorocarbon, it can obtain from the United Filtration Systems company of Sterling Heights MI..Coalescer element can comprise the borosilicate material that is coated with hydrophobicity and hydrophilic material.
In one embodiment, coalescer element 1006 coalescent water droplet from hydrogen stream.In a certain embodiment, coalescer element 1006 execution and Fig. 4 and the substantially the same function of 7 described coalescer element 406, and comprise substantially the same element.In one embodiment, the water of coalescent chamber 1012 collections is transported to condensation chamber 1014.In another embodiment, the water of collecting in the coalescent chamber 1012 is transported to discharge outlet 1014 by pipe, and removes from installing 1000 via another discharge outlet 1016.In both cases, water can be transported to cistern 128.
In one embodiment, cooling medium is arranged on condensation chamber 1010 inside.Cooling medium condenses and is suspended in the interior water vapour of hydrogen stream.Cooling medium is used for water is concentrated into drop, and this drop finally falls under their self gravitation effects.Absorb water vapour by direct contact from air-flow, it is bigger that water droplet becomes.
In one embodiment, the water of collecting from condensation chamber 1010 is transported to discharge outlet 1018.In one embodiment, discharge outlet 1018 is provided for removing the passage that anhydrates from installing 1000.Discharge outlet 1018 can comprise the unidirectional valve that allows water outflow rather than inflow device 1000.In one embodiment, discharge outlet 1018 is transported to cistern 128 to water.
Figure 11 has illustrated an embodiment who absorbs the condenser 1008 of heat from hydrogen stream.Condenser 1008 can have the import 1102 of one or more reception hydrogen streams.Condenser raceway groove 1104 passes condenser 1008 and carries hydrogen stream, and heat is transferred to condenser 1008 from hydrogen stream.Thereby condenser raceway groove 1104 can run through the main body of condenser 1008 to be twined back and forth to form longer path increase heat transmission.At the end of condenser raceway groove 1104, hydrogen stream is by one or more outlet 1106 eductor condensers 1008.
In a certain embodiment, hydrogen stream passes organic filter 408 after passing device 1000.In other embodiments, hydrogen stream at first passes organic filter 408, then by device 1000.In other cases, organic filter 408 can omit.Those of ordinary skills are with clear, and organic filter 408 can be or can be optional, the application of depending on the quality of source hydrogen stream and wanting to carry out.
Cooling medium 1020 can comprise that the suitable condensation channel of a plurality of sizes is to receive aqueous water.The size of this passage can be between about 0.1mm and 1cm.Cooling medium 1020 can comprise the mesh material that comprises condensation channel.Those of ordinary skills will know that the size of this passage can change according to composition, temperature or other the factor of factor such as hydrogen flow rate, hydrogen stream.Those of ordinary skills will know that also the material as cooling medium 1020 can be polyester, staple fibre, stainless steel etc., and can change according to the difference of using.Material can be processed to have different surface physical properties, for example hydrophobicity, hydrophily, chemisorbed or chemical absorbing.Similarly, mechanical filtration element 1004 can comprise a plurality of filtration channels similarly.Filtration channel is adjusted its size to remove the particulate bigger than selected diameter.Removing particulate as much as possible, and minimally influences the hydrogen stream flow velocity through special selection for selected diameter.Channel size can be in 0.5 micron to 100 microns scope.In one embodiment, the diameter of selection is 5 microns.Mechanical filtration element can comprise polyester material, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) etc.Those skilled in the art will know that filtering material and channel size can be according to different variations of using.
In one embodiment, when device was handled hydrogen stream, it carried out three major functions: refrigerating gas, condensed water and filtering contaminants.Device can be cooled to about 60 ℃ temperature of fuel cell threshold value to hydrogen stream from about 90 ℃ temperature.The hydrogen stream of discharging can have and is less than or equal to 100% relative humidity.During along with gas cooled, its ability of carrying water has also reduced.Some water vapours condense into aqueous water thus.Other pollutant can condense or be dissolved in the aqueous water simultaneously.Solid pollutant can be collected on the prefilter or mechanical filtration element of device inside.In one embodiment, device is a substantial cylindrical, have the length of about 2 inches diameter and 8 inches, and per minute can be handled about 2.5 liters hydrogen.Device generally can be all removing greater than about 0.01 micron particulate matter.
Under the situation that does not break away from its spirit and inner characteristic, the present invention can be summarized in other concrete form.In all fields, described embodiment should be considered to illustrative rather than nonrestrictive.Therefore, scope of the present invention limits by claims rather than by aforementioned description.All variants that fall in claim or its equivalent scope will be considered to fall within its protection range.

Claims (24)

1. device that is used to handle from the hydrogen stream of chemical hydrogenation deposits yields comprises:
The shell that comprises heat-resisting pressure-resistant material, this shell have setting to receive the inner room of hydrogen stream;
Be arranged on the cooling medium of chamber interior in this, this cooling medium has the aqueous water of condensation channel to carry in the reception hydrogen stream that a plurality of sizes are fit to, thereby removes the aqueous water that carries from hydrogen stream, and when hydrogen stream cooled off, this aqueous water formed;
Chamber interior is used to receive the coalescer element of hydrogen stream when discharging this cooling medium when hydrogen stream in being arranged on, and this coalescer element is removed the aqueous water that forms in hydrogen stream when hydrogen stream cools off; And
Be arranged on the outlet that is communicated with the inner room fluid in the shell, this outlet is configured to receive hydrogen stream and hydrogen stream is transported to housing exterior when hydrogen stream leaves coalescer element.
2. device as claimed in claim 1 further comprises condenser, and this condenser comprises the raceway groove that is limited by at least one wall, and this wall absorbs heat from hydrogen stream, and this raceway groove is transported to hydrogen stream the inner room of cooling medium upstream.
3. device as claimed in claim 2, wherein condenser comprises the resistant material of thermal conductivity greater than about 5W/mK.
4. device as claimed in claim 2 comprises further heat is transmitted to the refrigerating module of surrounding environment from condenser that this refrigerating module comprises fluid circulating device, and this fluid circulating device makes and at least one wall fluid in contact circulation.
5. device as claimed in claim 1, further comprise the mechanical filter element, chamber interior was to receive hydrogen stream in it was arranged on when hydrogen stream is discharged cooling medium, and carry hydrogen to flow to coalescer element, this mechanical filter element has the suitable filtration channel of a plurality of sizes to collect the particulate matter greater than selected diameter from hydrogen stream.
6. device as claimed in claim 1 further is included in hydrogen stream and enters the prefilter that cooling medium receives hydrogen stream before, and this prefilter has a plurality of filtration channels, and described passage comprises the material of collecting pollutant from hydrogen stream.
7. device as claimed in claim 6, the wherein one or more inside that are positioned at the chemical hydride fuel box in cooling medium, mechanical filter element, prefilter and the coalescer element.
8. device as claimed in claim 1, further be included in hydrogen stream and enter the prefilter that cooling medium receives hydrogen stream before, this prefilter has a plurality of filtration channels, and described passage comprises from hydrogen stream collects one or more material solid pollutant and the gas pollutant.
9. device as claimed in claim 8, wherein this prefilter comprises one or more materials, every kind of material is configured to remove one or more specific pollutants especially from hydrogen stream.
10. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein this device be configured to make to discharge outlet the temperature of hydrogen stream in the working temperature threshold range of the fuel cell that consumes hydrogen stream and relative humidity be less than or equal to 100%.
11. device as claimed in claim 1 further comprises organic filter, it receives hydrogen stream and catches organic gaseous contamination thing and the inorganic gas pollutant one or more from hydrogen stream from coalescer element.
12. device as claimed in claim 1 further comprises the hydrogen-selective membrane of reception from the hydrogen stream of outlet upstream.
13. a device that is used to handle from the hydrogen stream of chemical hydrogenation deposits yields comprises:
The shell that comprises heat-resisting pressure-resistant material, this shell have condensation chamber and coalescent chamber, and this shell is provided with to receive hydrogen stream;
The import that is communicated with the condenser fluid in the enclosure is set, and this import setting flows to condenser to carry hydrogen;
This condenser comprises the raceway groove that is limited by at least one wall, and this wall absorbs heat from hydrogen stream, and this raceway groove carries hydrogen to flow to the shunt valve that is arranged between condenser and the condensation chamber;
Be arranged on the cooling medium in the condensation chamber, this cooling medium has the aqueous water of condensation channel to carry in the reception hydrogen stream that a plurality of sizes are fit to, thereby removes the aqueous water that carries from hydrogen stream, and aqueous water forms when hydrogen stream cools off;
Be arranged between condensation chamber and the coalescent chamber receiving the mechanical filter element of hydrogen stream when hydrogen stream is discharged cooling medium, this mechanical filter element has filtration channel that a plurality of sizes are fit to collect the particulate matter bigger than selected diameter from hydrogen stream;
Be arranged on coalescent indoor coalescer element with reception hydrogen stream when hydrogen stream is discharged the mechanical filter element, when hydrogen stream cooled off, this coalescer element was removed all aqueous waters that are formed in the hydrogen stream basically; And
The outlet that is communicated with coalescent chamber fluid in the enclosure is set, and when hydrogen stream was discharged coalescer element, this outlet was provided with to receive hydrogen stream and hydrogen stream is transported to housing exterior.
14. as the device of claim 13, wherein this device be configured to make to discharge outlet the temperature of hydrogen stream in the working temperature threshold range of the fuel cell that consumes hydrogen stream and relative humidity be less than or equal to 100%.
15. as the device of claim 13, wherein this condenser further comprises heat is transmitted to the refrigerating module of surrounding environment from condenser, this refrigerating module comprises fluid circulating device, and this fluid circulating device makes and at least one wall fluid in contact circulation.
16. device as claim 13, further be included in hydrogen stream and enter the prefilter that condenser receives hydrogen stream before, this prefilter has a plurality of filtration channels, and described passage comprises from hydrogen stream collects one or more material solid pollutant and the gas pollutant.
17. as the device of claim 16, wherein this prefilter comprises one or multiple material, every kind of material is configured to remove one or more specific pollutants especially from hydrogen stream.
18. a method that is used to handle from the hydrogen stream of chemical hydrogenation deposits yields comprises:
Cooled hydrogen stream in condenser, hydrogen stream is from the chemical hydrogenation deposits yields, and condenser comprises the raceway groove that is limited by at least one wall, this wall absorbs heat from hydrogen stream, this raceway groove is transported to single shell to hydrogen stream, and this shell has setting to receive the inner room of hydrogen stream
Receive the aqueous water in the hydrogen stream in being arranged in a plurality of condensation channels of indoor cooling medium, aqueous water forms when hydrogen stream cools off;
When hydrogen stream was discharged cooling medium, a plurality of filtration channels of indoor mechanical filter element were collected the particulate matter bigger than selected diameter in being arranged on from hydrogen stream;
Remove all aqueous waters basically in coalescer element from hydrogen stream, when hydrogen stream was discharged the mechanical filter element, coalescer element indoor in being arranged on received hydrogen stream, along with the hydrogen stream cooling, formed aqueous water in the hydrogen stream; And
Carry hydrogen stream from shell, the temperature of hydrogen stream is in the working temperature threshold range of the fuel cell that consumes hydrogen stream, and relative humidity is less than or equal to 100%.
19. as the method for claim 18, further be included in hydrogen stream and enter condenser pre-filtering hydrogen stream in prefilter before, this prefilter has a plurality of filtration channels, described passage comprises the material of collecting solid pollutant and gas pollutant from hydrogen stream.
20. as the method for claim 18, wherein this device setting is so that the hydrogen stream of discharge shell has the pollutant less than 0.5%.
21. as the method for claim 18, further comprise the water that collection is reclaimed from hydrogen stream, and carry water to the chemical hydride water of this collection to supply cistern.
22. the system from the chemical hydride generating, this system comprises:
Setting produces the detachable fuel box of hydrogen stream with the reaction by water and chemical hydride;
Receive the condenser of hydrogen stream, this condenser has cooling medium, this cooling medium has the condensation channel that a plurality of sizes are fit to, and the aqueous water that carries in this condensation channel reception hydrogen stream is to remove the aqueous water that carries from hydrogen stream, and aqueous water forms during this hydrogen stream cooling;
From the coalescer of condenser reception hydrogen stream, this coalescer has the coalescer element that receives hydrogen stream when the hydrogen stream eductor condenser, and when hydrogen stream cooled off, coalescer element was removed all aqueous waters that form in the hydrogen stream basically;
Setting is to receive hydrogen stream and to use air and the fuel battery of hydrogen stream generating;
The electrical energy storage device that is connected with fuel battery, this electrical energy storage device are configured to storage and electric energy are provided;
One or more water pumps of fuel cassette are injected water in setting from water system with variable speed;
Be each the management of water charge velocity in described one or more water pumps with being configured to according to the electricity needs that is connected to the electric loading of system.
23. as the system of claim 22, wherein fuel cassette is interchangeable and comprises that setting is to collect the prefilter of solid pollutant and gas pollutant from the hydrogen that produces.
24. as the system of claim 22, wherein condenser comprises the raceway groove that is limited by at least one wall, before hydrogen stream condensation by contact medium, this wall absorbs heat from hydrogen stream.
CN200880108664A 2007-07-25 2008-07-25 Apparatus, system, and method for processing hydrogen gas Pending CN101855758A (en)

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US95190707P 2007-07-25 2007-07-25
US60/951,907 2007-07-25
US12/179,578 US20090025293A1 (en) 2007-07-25 2008-07-24 Apparatus, system, and method for processing hydrogen gas
US12/179,578 2008-07-24
PCT/US2008/071162 WO2009015328A1 (en) 2007-07-25 2008-07-25 Apparatus, system, and method for processing hydrogen gas

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EP2181473A1 (en) 2010-05-05
WO2009015328A1 (en) 2009-01-29

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