RU2544652C2 - Hydrogen generation method - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: power industry.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to power equipment, and can be used to generate hydrogen both in fixed units and in vehicles. The hydrogen generation method includes installation of the items out of aluminium or magnesium composite in form of a cube or parallelepiped with holes in three orthogonal directions in the grid containers, each container is located in separate tight reactor, through which water passes using water inlet holes equipped with stop valves connected with inlet water line, and water outlet holes equipped with stop valves connected with water outlet line, at that the lines are connected with a heat exchanger, and hydrogen is removed via the holes equipped with stop valves connected with hydrogen line that is connected to gas consumer.

EFFECT: invention ensures quick replacement of the solid reagent without stop of the hydrogen generation process, and safety and solid discharges absence.

4 cl, 3 dwg

Description

The invention relates to power equipment and can be used to produce hydrogen both in stationary installations and in transport. In the proposed method, the production of hydrogen is carried out by a chemical reaction between water and a composite of aluminum and alkali. The method can be used in automobiles, as well as in other mobile and stationary systems that produce gaseous fuel for powering ICE, turbines and other devices and installations for which gaseous fuel is required. The method can use solid metals, composites of metals and other solid materials, the interaction of which with water or other liquids is capable of producing combustible gases as a result of a general chemical reaction.

A known method for the production of hydrogen is a method based on the use of energy storage substances (EAS), which produce energy during chemical interaction with water [I. Varshavsky. Energy storage substances and their use. - Kiev: Naukova Dumka, 1980. - S.79-105]. In this method, EAW is poured into the gas generator reactor, water is supplied, and hydrogen is removed. The distribution of fluid in the layer of powder of the EAS provide a branched system of channels for its supply, consisting of a vertical collector, the height of which is installed in three fittings, ending with tips with cylindrical nozzles.

The disadvantages of the analogue include the following:

- inadequate interaction with water of all layers of the powder of EAS;

- high inertness, since part of the water accumulates in the reaction products, and when the unit is turned off, this part causes the reaction to continue.

The known method [patent RU No. 2258669], in which granules of a solid reagent are placed in a reactor, a liquid reagent is fed, hydrogen and heat of reaction are removed.

The solid reagent is placed in the loading hopper with a hatch sealed during generator operation, and a starting heater and a heat transfer pipe are introduced inside the loading hopper, which is included in the heat exchanger circuit to remove reaction heat at its output.

The disadvantages of this invention include the following:

- the difficulty of controlling the process of hydrogen production due to the loading of granules of solid reagent into the reaction vessel from the loading hopper;

- the complexity of the process due to the need before loading the granules of the solid reagent into the reaction vessel of their preliminary heating to the reaction temperature in the loading hopper;

- the dependence of the efficiency of the generator and its speed on the operation of the loading hopper, which is used as an important element of the thermal control system of the generator.

The known method [patent RU No. 2253606], in which the production of hydrogen is carried out by a chemical reaction between water and an aluminum composite in a reactor, inside which plates are made of an aluminum composite.

The main disadvantage is the complexity of the process of changing the reacting component.

The known method adopted for the prototype [patent RU 2407701], in which for the production of hydrogen by chemical reaction of water and a composite of aluminum and alkali, plates of a composite of aluminum and alkali are installed inside the reactor, water is passed through the reactor and hydrogen generated is removed.

The aluminum and alkali composite plates are rectangular in shape, they are mounted inside the reactor in a replaceable cartridge, vertically with the smaller side down, they are evenly distributed along the radius and fixed on both sides in the radial grooves of the plate fastener. Generated hydrogen from the reactor is discharged through an opening located in the upper part of the reactor. Water is supplied and removed through two openings located at the same level in the central part of the reactor. Complete removal of water and the removal of slag from the reactor is carried out through an opening in the lower part of the reactor.

The described method allows the production of hydrogen as a result of a chemical reaction of an aluminum composite with a NaOH content of up to 10% and water. The performance of this reactor is determined by the total surface area of the plates of the activated composite, and the operating time is determined by their thickness and weight.

The disadvantages include the need to completely stop the hydrogen production process when changing a cartridge with aluminum composite plates.

The present invention is aimed at solving the problem of creating technologies to improve the efficiency of generating gaseous fuels.

The technical result of the invention is to develop a method for generating hydrogen in a stand-alone hydrogen generator with a change in the reacting component without stopping the process of hydrogen production.

The technical result is achieved by the fact that products from a composite of aluminum (magnesium, beryllium) are made in the form of a cube (parallelepiped) with holes in three orthogonal directions, they are placed in lattice containers, which are each placed in a separate sealed reactor, through which water is passed through inlet water openings equipped with shut-off valves connected to the inlet water line, and through water outlet openings equipped with shut-off valves connected to the outlet water line, connect m gistrali with a heat exchanger, and the hydrogen is discharged through openings, provided with shut-off valves, connected to a hydrogen manifold, which is connected to the gas consuming device.

The volume of hydrogen evolution is regulated by the volume of water supply to each reactor.

To determine the degree of consumption of the resource of the material of the products, the time spent by each product in interaction with water is recorded and compared with the norm of time.

To replace the product in each individual reactor, the inlet and outlet shut-off valves of the water are closed, the water together with the slag is drained through the drain hole, the shut-off valve of hydrogen is closed, the removable cover of the reactor is opened and the product is replaced together with the grate container.

In the proposed method, hydrogen is produced as a result of a chemical reaction of a composite of aluminum (magnesium, beryllium) with a NaOH content of up to 10% and water. The performance of each of the reactors is determined by the total surface area of the holes of the cubic products of the activated composite, and the operating time is determined by their wall thickness and the mass of the cube of the product.

Differences from the prototype prove the novelty of the claimed technical solution, described in paragraphs 1-4 of the claims.

The new approach allows the replacement of aluminum composite products (magnesium, beryllium) without stopping the hydrogen production process and at the same time makes it possible to implement it due to the simplicity of actions, which confirms its compliance with the patentability condition “industrial applicability”.

The prior art does not know the distinctive essential features of the proposed method, characterized in paragraphs 1-4 of the claims, which confirms their compliance with the condition of patentability "inventive step".

The method is illustrated by drawings, where:

figure 1 presents a diagram of the water connection of individual reactors with pipelines and a heat exchanger - a section along aa in the diagram of figure 2;

figure 2 presents a diagram of the hydrogen connection of individual reactors with a gas consuming device - section along BB in the diagram of figure 1;

figure 3 presents a view and diagram of the holes of the product from a composite of aluminum (magnesium, beryllium) and alkali.

In Fig. 1, articles 1 of a composite of aluminum (magnesium, beryllium) and alkali in the form of a cube with holes are placed in containers 2 of chemically neutral material, which are placed in the reactors 3. The reactors have inlet 4 and outlet 5 openings for supplying and discharging water which are connected through shut-off valves 6 and 7 to the inlet water line 8 and the outlet water line 9. Water is pumped through the mains and the heat exchanger 10 by the pump 11.

In Fig.2, products 1 in containers 2 equipped with handles 12 are placed in water 13 (water level is shown). Hydrogen is diverted through opening 14 to a shutter valve 15 to a hydrogen line 16 connected to a gas consuming device 17. A shutter valve 18 is installed at the bottom of each reactor for draining water and slag. In the upper part of each reactor 3, a removable cover 19 is installed, which ensures the tightness of the reactor.

Figure 3 shows a product 1 of a composite of aluminum (magnesium, beryllium) and alkali in the form of a cube with holes 20 in three orthogonal directions perpendicular to the surfaces. The cubic shape is most optimal for manufacturing the product and making holes - after forming the cube, the holes can be drilled in one pass on each of the three sides of the cube - and for using the product in the reactor.

The implementation of the method

Products 1 of a composite are made of aluminum (magnesium, beryllium) and alkali in the form of a cube, holes are formed in the material of the cube in three orthogonal directions, the products are placed in containers 2 of chemically neutral material (for example, Teflon), which are placed in the reactor vessels 3, through which pass water 13. As a result of a chemical reaction, hydrogen is released, heat and slag is formed. Hydrogen is diverted through openings 14 and a shutoff valve 15 to a line 16 and then to a gas consuming device 17. Water is supplied to the reactors 3 from the inlet water line through the shutoff valves 6 and the inlet 4 by the pump 11. Heated water from the reactors 3 through the outlet 5, shutoff the valves 7 and the outlet water pipe 9 are directed to a heat exchanger 10, where the water is cooled and from where it is sent by the pump 11 to the next circulation cycle.

To regulate the amount of hydrogen generated, separate reactors are disconnected / connected from the water supply in turn. In this case, it is advisable to fill the water in the reactors to the full volume, or completely remove it. To increase the amount of hydrogen produced, it is possible to connect additional modules to the installation, consisting of a reactor 3 with holes 4, 5 and valves 6, 7 for water and hole 14, valve 15 for hydrogen.

During operation of the installation, the flow of the material of cubes 1 in different reactors occurs unevenly; therefore, it is advisable to count the time spent by each cube in each reactor in the active (covered with water) state.

The container 2 with the product 1 is replaced, as necessary, in each individual reactor 3, for which the inlet 6 and outlet 7 shutoff valves of the water of a particular reactor are closed, water 13 is drained together with slags through the drain shutter valve 18, the hydrogen shutter valve 15 is closed, and the removable shutter 15 is opened the lid 19 of the reactor and replace the product 1 together with the trellised container 2.

The proposed method allows for the rapid replacement of a solid reagent, safety and the absence of harmful emissions. The application of the modular principle allows technological scaling. The resource of a single refueling of all reactors allows for continuous operation of the fuel cell at maximum rated power during the estimated time. In standby mode, the time of guaranteed readiness of the installation that implements the proposed method for use can be quite a long calculation period.

Claims (4)

1. A method for generating hydrogen, in which an aluminum, magnesium, or beryllium and alkali composite product is placed in a sealed reactor with a removable lid, water is passed through the reactor, the generated hydrogen and heat are removed, characterized in that the products are made in the form of a cube or parallelepiped with holes in three orthogonal directions, place them in lattice containers, which are each placed in a separate sealed reactor, through which water is passed through water inlets with shutoff valves, soy displaced with the inlet water line, and through the water outlet openings provided with shut-off valves connected to the outlet water line, connect the lines to the heat exchanger, and hydrogen is discharged through openings provided with shut-off valves connected to the hydrogen line, which is connected to the gas consuming device. 2. The method according to p. 1, characterized in that the amount of hydrogen evolution is regulated by the volume of water supply to each reactor. 3. The method according to p. 1, characterized in that to determine the degree of consumption of the resource of the material of the products, the time spent by each product in interaction with water is recorded and compared with the norm of time. 4. The method according to p. 1, characterized in that to replace the product in each individual reactor, close the inlet and outlet shut-off valves of the water, drain the water together with slag through the drain hole, close the shut-off valve of hydrogen, open the removable cover of the reactor and replace the product together with trellised container.

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