KR20220152479A - Small fuel cell including hydrogen supply cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a small fuel cell including a hydrogen supply cartridge containing: a hydrogen generator formed in a casing structure formed of stainless steel or aluminum steel and having a certain space in which generated hydrogen can be stored; a hydrogen buffer unit which is connected to the hydrogen generator through a hydrogen inlet, into which hydrogen generated from the hydrogen generator is introduced, and from which pure hydrogen, after decompression and filtering, is discharged through a hydrogen discharge unit installed on one side; a fuel cell unit generating electric energy and heat by chemically reacting hydrogen fuel supplied from the hydrogen buffer unit with oxygen supplied from the outside; and a heat supply device for supplying heat energy by recovering heat generated from the fuel cell unit and the hydrogen generator. Since a user can control the reaction, unnecessary energy production is prevented, and the cell has excellent energy efficiency.

Description

Small fuel cell including hydrogen supply cartridge {Small fuel cell including hydrogen supply cartridge}

The present invention relates to a hydrogen supply cartridge for generating and supplying hydrogen using a hydrogen compound to supply hydrogen to a small fuel cell, and more particularly, to a hydrogen supply cartridge that allows a user to control the operation of a fuel cell It is about a small fuel cell.

A fuel cell is a device that converts chemical energy of reactants such as fuel and oxidant directly into direct current electricity. Depending on the object used, it is classified into fuel cells for power generation, fuel cells for transportation, household and commercial fuel cells, and portable fuel cells. Technologies include alkaline fuel cells, polymer electrolyte fuel cells, phosphoric acid fuel cells, molten carbonate fuel cells, It includes various types of fuel cells such as solid oxide fuel cells and enzyme fuel cells.

The main compression fuel cells include fuel cells that use compressed hydrogen as fuel, alcohols such as methanol (CH3OH), metal hydrides such as sodium borohydride (NaBH4), hydrocarbons, or protons that use other fuels converted to hydrogen fuel. Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM, hereinafter “PEM”) fuel cells and PEM fuel cells or direct oxidation fuel cells that can directly consume non-hydrogen fuels, and convert hydrocarbon fuels directly into electricity at high temperatures. There are solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) that convert

However, compressed hydrogen is generally stored under high pressure and is difficult to handle. There are many methods for storing and supplying hydrogen, but among these, chemical hydrides such as borohydride are the most suitable method in many respects.

Among the chemical hydrides, NaBH ₄ , which is the most known, generates hydrogen by hydrolysis as shown in the following reaction. Since NaBH ₄ has a slow hydrolysis reaction rate, a catalyst is used to improve the rate of hydrogen generation, and NaOH is added for stability during storage of NaBH ₄ . This reaction can obtain a desired hydrogen generation rate with the help of a Co-P, Co-B, or Co-PB catalyst at a temperature of 100 ° C or less.

A batch reactor may be used, but since it is an exothermic reaction, it is difficult to control the temperature and there is a problem of recovering by-product NaBO ₂ , so a continuous flow reactor is usually used. In the continuous flow reactor, NaBH ₄ aqueous solution is supplied from a storage container to the catalyst reactor to proceed with the reaction, and the amount of hydrogen generated is controlled by the supply rate of the aqueous solution.

However, since such a fuel cell requires water as a liquid fuel and its storage volume increases, it is difficult to apply it in a portable manner. Domestic Patent No. 10-1850070, which was developed by in-kind investment by the present applicant, discloses a fuel cell-based life jacket. There was a problem that unnecessary heat could occur. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a small fuel cell including a hydrogen supply cartridge in which a user can control the operation of the fuel cell even when water is introduced.

Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1391317 discloses a reaction chamber including a pressure cycle; a first reactant excreted inside the reaction chamber, wherein a force resulting from the pressure cycle acts on a pressure sensitive member connected to an incrementally moving indexing device, the force driving the indexing device incrementally; The indexing device is connected to the second reactant, and the indexing device introduces a discrete amount of the second reactant into the reaction chamber at each increment so that a gas is hydrogen produced by the reaction between the first reactant and the second reactant. A generated fuel cell cartridge is disclosed. Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0757273 discloses a hydrogen generator that operates without an external energy source and a quick response according to external conditions, namely the load characteristics (pressure condition) of the fuel cell, and a fuel pump required for hydrogen generation. By manufacturing a fuel storage device, it can be applied to all systems using hydrogen as fuel, such as hydrogen engines and fuel cells, and in particular, a self-actively regulating hydrogen cartridge applicable to small electronic devices such as laptop computers and mobile phones is disclosed. Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1850070 provides a fuel cell-based lifesaver that utilizes electricity, heat, and water produced during fuel cell operation as a life extension means and a power source for a distress signal. The present invention is a fuel cell unit for supplying electricity; a hydrogen fuel supply device for storing and supplying hydrogen fuel required for power generation of the fuel cell unit; signal output means for transmitting a signal using the power generated by the fuel cell unit; and a heating unit for recovering and transferring heat generated in the fuel cell unit, and the hydrogen fuel supply device discloses a fuel cell-based lifesaver for generating hydrogen using a hydrogen generating composition. Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1858342 discloses that hydrogen is stably and continuously supplied to a fuel cell mounted on a submarine in order to extend the submerged period of an underwater vessel such as a submarine, and at the same time smoothly adjusts the supply amount of hydrogen, and reactants ( A hydrogen generator for an underwater fuel cell capable of stably separating and discharging sludge) is disclosed.

The present invention is a small fuel cell including a hydrogen supply cartridge capable of controlling the operation of a fuel cell by a user in order to solve the problem of a hydrogen generation-based cartridge in which unnecessary heat can occur due to the hydrogen generation mechanism performed only by the inflow of water. want to provide

A small-sized fuel cell including a hydrogen supply cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a hydrogen generator formed of a casing structure formed of a material of stainless steel or aluminum steel and having a predetermined space in which generated hydrogen can be stored; A hydrogen buffer unit connected to the hydrogen generating unit and the hydrogen inlet unit through which hydrogen generated in the hydrogen generating unit is introduced and pure hydrogen discharged through a hydrogen discharge unit installed on one side of the hydrogen generating unit after completion of decompression and filtering; a fuel cell unit generating electric energy and heat by chemically reacting hydrogen fuel supplied from the hydrogen buffer unit with oxygen supplied from the outside; It may be composed of a heat supply device that supplies heat energy by recovering heat generated from the fuel cell unit and the hydrogen generator unit.

In addition, in the inner space of the hydrogen generating unit, a hydrogen generating composition in which a hydrogen generating composition formed of a metal hydride and a hydrogen generating catalyst mixture is stored in the shape of a storage container of a certain volume formed of a hydrophobic polymer material, and a certain impact or force from the user or the outside A hydrogen generation control unit for inducing a hydrogen generation reaction by operating by damaging the hydrogen generation composition unit may be installed inside the hydrogen generation unit. The hydrogen generating composition may generate hydrogen by reacting with water introduced into the hydrogen generating unit.

The present invention is a small-sized fuel cell that generates hydrogen by a reaction between a hydrogen compound and a catalyst and water, and the hydrogen generation reaction can be controlled according to the user's intention, thereby preventing unnecessary energy production, and in the fuel cell unit and the hydrogen generator unit. It has the advantage of excellent energy efficiency by recovering the generated heat and supplying heat energy.

1 is a conceptual diagram of a small fuel cell including a hydrogen supply cartridge according to the present invention.
2 shows a conceptual diagram of a hydrogen generator and a hydrogen buffer of a small fuel cell including a hydrogen supply cartridge according to the present invention.
3 shows a conceptual diagram of a hydrogen generator of a small fuel cell including a hydrogen supply cartridge according to the present invention.
4 shows a life jacket in which a small fuel cell including a hydrogen supply cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention is installed.
5 shows a fuel cell unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
6 shows a schematic diagram of a heat supply device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a graph showing the temperature, integrated amount, and pressure of the hydrogen-generating reaction product per minute according to 10 g of the catalyst according to Experimental Example 1 of the present invention.
8 is a graph showing the temperature, integrated amount, and pressure of the hydrogen generating reaction product per minute according to 60 g of the catalyst according to Experimental Example 1 of the present invention.

A detailed description of a small-sized fuel cell including a hydrogen supply cartridge according to the present invention with accompanying drawings is as follows. 1 shows a conceptual diagram of a small fuel cell including a hydrogen supply cartridge of the present invention.

A hydrogen generating unit 100 formed of a casing structure made of stainless steel or aluminum steel and having a certain space in which generated hydrogen can be stored; The hydrogen generating unit and the hydrogen inlet unit 300 are connected as a medium, and hydrogen generated in the hydrogen generating unit is introduced into the hydrogen generating unit, and a decompression and filtering process is performed, so that pure hydrogen is discharged through the hydrogen discharge unit installed on either side. Buffer 200; a fuel cell unit 400 generating electric energy by chemically reacting with oxygen supplied from the outside through the hydrogen fuel supplied from the hydrogen buffer unit; It may be composed of a heat supply device 500 that supplies heat energy by recovering heat generated from the fuel cell unit and the hydrogen generator unit.

2 shows a conceptual diagram of a hydrogen generator and a hydrogen buffer of a small fuel cell including a hydrogen supply cartridge of the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows a conceptual diagram of a hydrogen generator of a small fuel cell including a hydrogen supply cartridge of the present invention. The hydrogen generating unit 100 of the present invention is formed of a stainless steel or aluminum material capable of preventing hydrogen generated inside from leaking to the outside, and includes a hydrogen generating composition unit 112 and hydrogen generating a chemical reaction of generating hydrogen therein. It may be formed in a casing structure in which a generation control unit 111 is installed and a certain space portion in which generated hydrogen can be stored is formed.

In an embodiment, the hydrogen generator is composed of an upper cover and a lower body, and a polymer seal is formed between the cover and the body, and the cover and the body are completely sealed using screws. A water inlet pipe 120 is installed on either side of the hydrogen generator 100 so that water can flow into and be stored in the hydrogen generator. As an example, when a small fuel cell including a hydrogen supply cartridge according to the present invention is installed inside a life preserver, outside water flows into the water inlet pipe due to water pressure while the victim is floating on the water, and inside the hydrogen generator water can enter.

In addition, inside the water inlet pipe, a series of chemical reactions occur inside the hydrogen generating unit and an open/close device may be installed to prevent by-products from flowing backward. Only when the pressure is low enough can water from the outside flow in. In this way, the external water flows in one direction toward the inside of the life preserver through the water inlet pipe, and the inflow rate can be adjusted according to the hydrogen generating composition and the rate of generation of by-products accordingly.

The hydrogen generating composition unit 112 of the present invention is a storage container frame of a certain volume formed of a hydrophobic polymer material, and a mixture of a hydrogen generating composition and a hydrogen generating catalyst is stored therein. The hydrophobic polymer may be implemented in the shape of one or more of a composite film, sheet, and injection container formed of a group containing one or more of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyethylene (PE), which are general-purpose polymers. . Accordingly, even if water is introduced into the hydrogen generating unit before the operation of the hydrogen generating control unit, the reaction represented by Chemical Formulas 1 and 2 can be prevented from occurring in the hydrogen generating composition unit.

The hydrogen generation control unit 111 is located on one side of the hydrogen generating composition unit 112 where a hydrogen compound and a catalyst are packaged and stored in a hydrophobic polymer container. The hydrogen generation control unit is installed with an indentation device 114 for hole or breakage in the hydrophobic polymer container. A spring is placed between the polymer and the impinger so that the polymer container containing the hydrogen compound and catalyst is safely maintained while no external force is applied. Hydrogen generation pulls the rope 115 connected to the hydrogen generation controller 111 for tearing the hydrophobic polymer container, and the spring 113 is compressed to tear the polymer container and mix with water.

Inside the hydrogen generating composition unit, a metal hydride represented by the general formula of MM'H4 and a hydrogen generating catalyst are mixed as a hydrogen generating composition, and a composition capable of causing a reaction of the following [Formula 1] when reacted with water is stored . Here, M is an alkali metal, ammonium, or an organic group, M' is a Group 13 element such as boron, aluminum or gallium, and H is hydrogen.

More specific examples of the metal hydride represented by the general formula of MM'H4 include NaBH4, LiBH4, KBH4, NH4BH4, (CH3)4NH4BH4, NaAlH4, LiAlH4, KAlH4, NaGaH4, LiGaH4, KGaH4, mixtures thereof, and the like.

The hydrolyzate of the metal hydride may be represented by the general formula of MM'O2, for example. Here, M is an alkali metal, ammonium, or an organic group, M' is a Group 13 element such as boron, aluminum or gallium, and H is hydrogen.

Chemical Formula 1 is a formula obtained by hydrolyzing sodium borohydride (NaBH4), a type of alkali borohydride. Sodium borohydride (NaBH4) is a stable material with a relatively high hydrogen content compared to other materials, and is a non-flammable alkaline solution that is environmentally friendly and renewable fuel, so the hydrogen produced through it is high in purity and easy to control the reaction.

[Formula 1]

NaBH ₄ + 2H ₂ O -> 4H ₂ + NaBO2(aq) + 217 KJ/mol

In Formula 1, the hydrogen generation method using sodium borohydride (NaBH 4 ) generates an exothermic reaction even at room temperature and does not require additional heat supply, so the system is simple and easy to integrate with a fuel cell.

Sodium borohydride (NaBH ₄ ) can generate hydrogen only through a catalytic reaction because aqueous sodium borohydride (NaBH ₄ ) is prepared as a strong alkaline (pH 13 or higher) solution to inhibit self-hydrolysis in the absence of a catalyst. have.

The hydrogen generating catalyst may include, for example, transition metals, transition metal borides, alloys of these materials, mixtures thereof, and the like. The transition metal catalyst is a catalyst containing a metal element of Group IB to VIIIB or a compound made from these metal elements.

Representative examples of these metals include copper group elements, zinc group elements, scandium group elements, titanium group elements, vanadium group elements, chromium group elements, manganese group elements, iron group elements, cobalt group elements, and nickel group elements. Elements or compounds of transition metals catalyze the hydrolysis of metal hydrides by water. Examples of transition metal elements or compounds include ruthenium, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, manganese, rhodium, rhenium, platinum, palladium, chromium, silver, osmium, iridium, borides thereof, alloys thereof, and mixtures thereof. etc.

The hydrogen generating catalyst used in the present invention may have various forms such as, for example, powder, aggregate, mesh, and the like. In the case of a hydrogen generating catalyst in powder form, it may have an average particle size of typically about 100 μm or less, preferably about 50 μm or less, and more preferably about 25 μm or less, in order to obtain a sufficient area.

If the content of the hydrogen generating catalyst is too small, the hydrogen generation amount may be small, and if too large, local overheating of the device may occur and economic efficiency may be deteriorated. In view of this, the content of the hydrogen generating catalyst is about 0.1 to about 2000 parts by weight, preferably about 2 to about 1500 parts by weight, more preferably about 3 to about 2000 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the metal hydride. 1000 parts by weight.

In addition, the hydrogen generating composition may further include a stabilizing agent to prevent unwanted hydrolysis of the metal hydride. A stabilizer is any component that retards or prevents the reaction of a metal hydride with water. The addition of the stabilizer typically results in a pH of the hydrogen-producing composition at room temperature (25° C.) of 7 or higher, preferably 11 or higher, more preferably 13 or higher, still more preferably 14 or higher. Accordingly, the added amount of the stabilizer can also be adjusted so that the hydrogen generating composition has such a pH value.

As a stabilizer, for example, the corresponding hydroxide of the cationic portion of a metal hydride can be used. Specific examples of such a stabilizer include sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and mixtures thereof.

As another example of the stabilizer, there is a non-hydroxide stabilizer capable of increasing the overpotential of hydrolysis of metal hydride. As the non-hydroxide-based stabilizer, for example, a compound containing lead, tin, cadmium, zinc, gallium, mercury or sulfur can be used.

Another hydrogen-generating composition may further include other compounds capable of generating hydrogen by generating the following [Formula 2] upon reaction with water in addition to the metal idride causing the above [Formula 1].

The other compound is a compound capable of releasing hydrogen and may be an organic compound. The organic compound is one or two or more selected from among cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, decalin, N-ethylcarbazole, carbosilane, and formic acid. A material may be used, but is not limited thereto. Ammonia, NaSi, and Al may be used as the other compounds, but are not limited thereto. Formula 2 shows the release of hydrogen by hydrolysis of NaSi.

[Formula 2]

2NaSi +5H2O -> Na2Si2O5 +5H2

In the hydrogen generating composition stored inside the hydrogen generating composition unit according to the present invention, a mixture of a metal hydride represented by the general formula of MM'H ₄ and a hydrogen generating catalyst is stored, and hydrogen is not generated without reaction with H ₂ O.

The hydrogen generation control unit 111 of the present invention may generate hydrogen by damaging a part of the frame of the hydrogen generation composition unit and exposing the mixture of the hydrogen generation composition and the hydrogen generation catalyst stored therein to water introduced into the hydrogen generation unit.

In the hydrogen generating control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, the broken portion 114 of the needle-shaped frame is fixed by a spring-shaped spring device 113 so as to break the hydrogen generating composition portion made of polymer material, and the spring device is fixed to the spring device. It may be composed of a trigger 115 that can move the damaged part to contact the hydrogen generating control unit by applying force. The trigger may be operated by a user's control of the broken part or by a shock wave falling into water.

Accordingly, hydrogen generated in the hydrogen generating unit may move to the hydrogen buffering unit through the hydrogen inlet 300 . The hydrogen buffering unit 200 of the present invention may be formed of stainless steel or aluminum steel having a certain volume storage container frame or internal space formed of a polymer material so that a certain amount of gas can be stored. On one side, a hydrogen inlet into which hydrogen generated and moved from the hydrogen generator is installed, and on the other side, a hydrogen discharge unit (210) for supplying hydrogen stored in the hydrogen buffer to the fuel cell unit by performing a pressure control and filtering process. ) is installed.

In addition, when the hydrogen buffering unit of the present invention is formed of a polymer material, the hydrogen buffering unit may be implemented in one or more shapes of a composite film, a sheet, and an injection container. At this time, when the hydrogen buffer unit is implemented in the form of a composite film or sheet, an edge of one or more composite films or sheets is sealed to provide a storage space therein, and an adhesive surface of a predetermined length is formed on the side surface where the composite film or sheet is in contact with each other. By doing so, when hydrogen is introduced into the hydrogen buffer, the hydrogen is dispersed inside the hydrogen buffer and helps to inflate the hydrogen buffer.

A regulator and filter are installed in the hydrogen outlet. The regulator regulates the pressure of hydrogen stored in the hydrogen buffer. Normally, 1 atm can be reduced to 0.7 atm, but it is not limited thereto, and the pressure of the gas is adjusted to a set pressure and moved to the fuel cell unit.

In addition, a filter capable of moving not only hydrogen but also hydrolysis by-products generated in the hydrogen generating unit may be installed in the hydrogen buffer unit, and a filter capable of purifying hydrogen gas by filtering hydrolysis by-products included with hydrogen may be installed.

The filter may be formed of a gas-liquid separation membrane. The gas-liquid separation membrane is a known membrane that passes gas and does not pass liquid. Therefore, only the hydrogen stored in the hydrogen buffer can be discharged and transported. The gas-liquid separation membrane may be formed of Teflon-based Gore-Tex, Celgard, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinyl difluoride, Tedra fluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer, polysulfone-based polymer, and mixtures thereof. can

The fuel cell unit 400 of the present invention generates electrical energy through a chemical reaction through the hydrogen fuel transported from the hydrogen buffer unit. In general, a fuel cell can be defined as a cell that produces direct current by directly converting chemical energy of liquid fuel, including hydrogen, into electrical energy, and continuously produces electricity by supplying liquid fuel and oxygen from the outside.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a fuel cell stack in which a plurality of cells are stacked is mounted on a fuel cell unit, and hydrogen fuel from a hydrogen buffer unit and oxygen can be supplied from the outside.

The fuel cell stack may include an electrode membrane assembly including a polymer electrolyte membrane capable of moving hydrogen cations, and an air electrode and a fuel electrode, which are catalyst layers coated on both sides of the electrolyte membrane to allow hydrogen and oxygen to react. A gas diffusion layer and a gasket may be sequentially stacked outside the air electrode and the fuel electrode, and a separator may be positioned outside the gas diffusion layer to supply the hydrogen fuel and discharge water generated by the reaction.

In this way, the principle for generating electricity in the fuel cell stack is that the hydrogen raw material supplied to the fuel electrode is decomposed into hydrogen ions and electrons by the catalysts of the electrode layers formed on both sides of the electrolyte membrane, and only hydrogen ions among them selectively pass through the electrolyte membrane, which is a cation exchange membrane. At the same time, electrons are transferred to the air cathode through the gas assurance layer and the separator, which are conductors.

In the air electrode, hydrogen ions supplied through the electrolyte membrane and electrons transferred through the separator meet oxygen in the air supplied to the air electrode and cause a reaction to generate water. Current is generated by the flow, and heat may also be generated incidentally in the water-producing reaction.

The heat supply device 500 is connected to a waste heat exchanger for recovering heat from the fuel cell unit and the waste heat exchanger, and is provided to enable heat transfer to a device to transfer heat, but is provided to accumulate and discharge heat. May contain conductors. The heat supply device may obtain and use heat from waste heat of a chemical reaction occurring in the hydrogen generating unit as well as waste heat of a chemical reaction occurring in the fuel cell unit.

<Example 1> Lifesaving equipment equipped with a small fuel cell including a hydrogen supply cartridge

4 shows a life jacket in which a small fuel cell including a hydrogen supply cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention is installed. The life jacket according to the first embodiment of the present invention is provided so that the user can wear it on the human body, but the outer surface is formed of a waterproof fabric and the life jacket body 10 having a buoyancy body having a buoyancy inside is built-in; A hydrogen generator 100 of a casing structure formed inside the body of the lifejacket and made of stainless steel or aluminum to induce and store a chemical reaction for generating hydrogen and provided with a predetermined space; A part of the hydrogen generation control unit 111 that induces the hydrogen generation chemical reaction of the hydrogen generation unit is connected to the outer surface of the life jacket body; A hydrogen buffer 200 connected through the hydrogen generator and the hydrogen inlet 300 to purify hydrogen by storing hydrogen generated from the hydrogen generator and then regulating and filtering the pressure; a fuel cell unit 400 comprising a fuel cell stack generating electrical energy by chemically reacting with the hydrogen supplied from the hydrogen buffer unit as a fuel source; It may include; a heat supply device 500 that recovers waste heat generated when a chemical reaction occurs between the fuel cell unit and the hydrogen generator unit and transfers it to the life jacket body.

The life jacket body 10 of the present invention is formed in the form of clothing that can be worn on the human body by the user, and may be configured by applying various shapes of clothing having a structure that can be worn on and removed from the human body. The outer surface of the body of the lifejacket may be formed of a waterproof fabric to ensure watertightness so as to block infiltration of water toward the inside. In addition, the buoyant body built inside may contain a foamable resin lighter than water, such as foamed styrene resin or low density polyethylene resin.

A molecular membrane through which only oxygen is permeable is formed on the neck of the life jacket body, so that oxygen can be injected into the life jacket body. Accordingly, oxygen injected into the life jacket body may be consumed to generate heat by chemically reacting with hydrogen in the fuel cell unit. Forming the neck portion of the life jacket body is to facilitate oxygen permeation into the life jacket body without contact with water as much as possible in case of distress.

As described above, the hydrogen generating unit 100 has a hydrogen generating composition unit 112 and a hydrogen generating control unit 111 in which a chemical reaction of hydrogen generation occurs, and the hydrogen generating composition unit is damaged by the operation of the hydrogen generating control unit. Hydrogen may be generated by the reaction of Chemical Formulas 1 and 2. According to the embodiment, the hydrogen generating control part is installed connected to the outside of the life jacket body in a string shape, and the other side part is connected to the pin-shaped broken part of the hydrogen generating part. The damaged part is fixed with a spring and pulls the string-shaped hydrogen generating control part extending to the outside so that hydrogen can be generated by moving the damaged part to the hydrogen generating composition part and damaging it, but not limited thereto. It can be implemented to generate hydrogen by destroying the hydrogen generating component.

In addition, a water inlet pipe may be connected to the outer side of the life jacket body so that external water can be injected into the hydrogen generator. Accordingly, the user may actively introduce water into the water inlet pipe, or may open and close the water inlet pipe so that outside water may flow through the water inlet pipe in case of distress.

The hydrogen generating composition stored in the hydrogen generating composition unit according to Example 1 of the present invention is a mixture of NaBH ₄ compound and RuC as a hydrogen generating catalyst, and hydrogen can be generated for 24 hours using 160 g of NaBH ₄ . Hydrogen compounds according to embodiments of the present invention have relatively excellent hydrogen yield and energy density compared to liquefied hydrogen.

Hydrogen generated in the hydrogen generating unit may move to the hydrogen buffer unit to be decompressed and purified, and at this time, solid by-products generated during hydrolysis may be filtered and separated, and pure hydrogen may be supplied to the fuel cell unit.

5 shows a fuel cell unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The fuel cell unit according to an embodiment of the present invention is equipped with a fuel cell stack in which a plurality of cells are stacked, hydrogen fuel and oxygen are supplied from the hydrogen buffer unit from the outside, and hydrogen purified in the hydrogen buffer unit is supplied as a raw material. can As described above, the oxygen may be oxygen supplied through the neck of the life jacket body, and at this time, a separate small fan may be installed to move external air to the fuel cell unit in order to increase supply efficiency.

The fuel cell unit according to an embodiment of the present invention is composed of a total of 12 cells, with an area of 2 cm ² per cell, a total reaction area of 24 cm ² , and a stack size of 2 cm X 10 cm X 1 cm, and two microfans are installed to increase oxygen supply efficiency. did Accordingly, the fuel cell unit according to the present embodiment could supply power of 20w or less for 24 hours. Typically, 12W of power is generated, 8W can be supplied to the heat supply device, and 4W can be supplied to the signal output means to be described later.

6 shows a schematic diagram of a heat supply device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Hydrogen generated in the hydrogen generating unit is supplied to the fuel cell unit together with oxygen supplied from the outside, and is converted back into water and heat. At this time, in the heat supply device, the heat generated by the hydrogen generator and the fuel cell unit is used to transfer heat to the wearer through heat conductive fibers installed inside the life jacket, and the wearer's body temperature can be maintained. In the embodiment of the present invention, the generated heat was controlled by utilizing a closed circuit using resistance in the device, and the heat transfer efficiency was improved by forming a planar heating element as the heat conductive fiber.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a signal output means 600 may be additionally installed. The signal output means may include a rescue transmitter that outputs any one of radio waves, light waves, infrared and ultrasonic signals with electricity generated from the fuel cell unit.

The signal output unit performs a function of outputting a signal for requesting rescue to the outside of a land rescue team or a marine rescue team in a distress situation. The signal output means may be provided on the upper end of the life jacket body in a structure connected to the fuel cell unit, and may be formed to output a signal depending on whether or not the fuel cell unit is supplied with power.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the signal output unit may additionally include an RF signal generator and an LED, and the power may be operated by receiving power from electrical energy stored in the fuel cell unit.

Experimental Example 1. Confirmation of hydrogen generation according to catalyst amount

7 is a graph showing the temperature, integrated amount, and pressure of the hydrogen-generating reaction product per minute according to 10 g of the catalyst according to Experimental Example 1 of the present invention. In the case of the production per minute in graph a), a graph of the form of forming a peak in all 10 minutes appears. It was observed that the position shifted in parallel in the y-axis direction as the catalyst amount increased. Exceptionally, in the catalyst amount of 1.0 g, the production per minute rises again over 40 to 100 minutes, forms a peak again, and then rapidly decreases.

As can be seen in graph b), in the case of integrated amount, the higher the catalyst amount, the higher the yield. Except for 1.0g, all showed a linear increase, and in the case of 1.0g, it can be seen that it rapidly increased again at the 100th level. This is consistent with the observed results for the production per minute in graph a).

The temperature can be seen in graph c). Overall, it was measured at a temperature higher than room temperature (25 ° C or higher). In particular, in the case of 1.0 g, it was observed that it rose to 60 ° C. or more.

Graph d) is a graph plotted by calculating the internal pressure in the case of configuring a 0.6L cartridge. Only when 1.0 g of the catalyst was used, it was calculated that the pressure rose to about 14 atm, and in the other cases, it was calculated that there was no pressure rise.

8 is a graph showing the temperature, integrated amount, and pressure of the hydrogen generating reaction product per minute according to 60 g of the catalyst according to Experimental Example 1 of the present invention. In graph a), it can be seen that the graph of production per minute appears in the form of a normal distribution. It is also observable that the peak of the normal distribution shifts according to the catalyst amount. The position where the peak appears is in the order of 0.4g > 0.1g > 0.2g, and when a 0.05g catalyst is used, the peak does not appear, but a section maintaining a constant amount of production exists between 150 and 450 minutes. The height of the peak increased as the catalyst amount increased. The peak was formed between 300 and 400 minutes, but it was observed that it was advanced to less than 100 minutes when a catalyst amount of 0.4 g was used.

In graph b), the integration amount tends to show a higher yield as the catalyst amount increases, but when 0.4g catalyst is used, the integration amount is maintained high until 400 minutes, and then the integration amount becomes higher when 0.2g catalyst is used. In addition, in the case of using 0.2g catalyst, as mentioned above, the production volume increased explosively after 400 minutes, but in the early part before 400 minutes, the accumulated amount was rather less than when using 0.1g catalyst.

The temperature of graph c) rose to more than 50 ° C except for 0.05 g, and it was observed that the timing of the temperature rise coincided with the timing of the increase in production per minute. It is an exothermic reaction, and it is confirmed by the effect that the reaction rate increases as the temperature rises. When the reaction starts to accelerate, the material is rapidly consumed and the reaction is quickly terminated.

As can be seen in graph d), it is a graph plotted after calculating the internal pressure in the case of configuring a 0.6L cartridge. There was no pressure rise only when 0.05 g catalyst was used. In other cases, it was calculated very high, over 20 atm.

The present invention can be installed in a product that can apply electric energy and thermal energy through a small fuel cell containing a hydrogen supply cartridge, so it has industrial applicability as it contributes to the profit creation of related industries because the applied items are diverse. .

10: life jacket body
100: hydrogen generating unit 111: hydrogen generating control unit
112: hydrogen generating component 113: spring
114: pusher 115: rope
120: water inlet pipe 200: hydrogen buffer unit
210: hydrogen outlet 300: hydrogen inlet
400: fuel cell unit 500: heat supply device
600: signal output means

Claims (4)

A hydrogen generator formed of a casing structure formed of stainless steel or aluminum steel and having a certain space in which generated hydrogen can be stored;
A hydrogen buffer unit connected to the hydrogen generating unit and the hydrogen inlet unit through which hydrogen generated in the hydrogen generating unit is introduced and pure hydrogen discharged through a hydrogen discharge unit installed on one side of the hydrogen generating unit after completion of decompression and filtering;
A hydrogen supply cartridge for a small fuel cell, characterized in that consisting of a fuel cell unit that generates electric energy and heat by chemically reacting the hydrogen fuel supplied from the hydrogen buffer unit with oxygen supplied from the outside The hydrogen supply cartridge for a small fuel cell according to claim 1, further comprising a heat supply device for supplying heat energy by recovering heat generated from the fuel cell unit and the hydrogen generator unit. The method of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen generating composition has a hydrogen generating composition in which a hydrogen generating composition composed of a metal hydride and a hydrogen generating catalyst mixture is stored in a storage container of a certain volume formed of a hydrophobic polymer material in the internal space of the hydrogen generating unit. Hydrogen supply cartridge for fuel cell [Claim 4] The method of claim 3, wherein a hydrogen generation control unit for inducing a hydrogen generation reaction by damaging the hydrogen generation composition unit by a user's predetermined external force is installed inside the hydrogen generation unit, on one side of the hydrogen generation composition unit. Hydrogen supply cartridge for battery

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