US20070036711A1 - Hydrogen generator - Google Patents

Hydrogen generator Download PDF

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Publication number
US20070036711A1
US20070036711A1 US11/202,598 US20259805A US2007036711A1 US 20070036711 A1 US20070036711 A1 US 20070036711A1 US 20259805 A US20259805 A US 20259805A US 2007036711 A1 US2007036711 A1 US 2007036711A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
hydrogen gas
separator
reactant
reaction chamber
gas generator
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US11/202,598
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English (en)
Inventor
Tobin Fisher
Jesse Thomas
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ardica Technologies Inc
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Ardica Technologies Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ardica Technologies Inc filed Critical Ardica Technologies Inc
Priority to US11/202,598 priority Critical patent/US20070036711A1/en
Assigned to ARDICA TECHNOLOGIES INC. reassignment ARDICA TECHNOLOGIES INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FISHER, TOBIN JOSEPH, THOMAS, JESSE
Priority to EP06813380A priority patent/EP1922285A4/en
Priority to PCT/US2006/031377 priority patent/WO2007021934A2/en
Priority to JP2008526228A priority patent/JP2009504555A/ja
Publication of US20070036711A1 publication Critical patent/US20070036711A1/en
Priority to US12/501,675 priority patent/US8100993B2/en
Priority to US13/356,582 priority patent/US20120121996A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • 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
    • 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

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to hydrogen generation and in particular, to a hydrogen generator that generates gaseous hydrogen by mixing at least two reactants.
  • Fuel cells like batteries, efficiently convert chemical energy into electricity, but have additional advantages, such as higher energy density and the capability for instant refuelling.
  • Fuel cells are typically fuelled by hydrogen gas, but there are technological challenges in storing and delivering hydrogen gas to the fuel cells in a cost effective and efficient manner.
  • One particular challenge is to provide a fuel supply that is inexpensive, safe, light and compact enough to be readily portable yet store enough hydrogen to provide a useful amount of fuel to the fuel cell.
  • metal hydride canisters to store hydrogen at relatively low pressures
  • pressure tanks to store compressed hydrogen at elevated pressures.
  • Both approaches have drawbacks; for example, metal hydride storage is relatively safe but has a low energy density to weight ratio, and compressed hydrogen storage can have a high energy density to weight ratio but requires high strength and expensive containment solutions.
  • a hydrogen gas generator that generates hydrogen gas by mixing at least two reactants.
  • the generator can be a fuel cartridge especially useful for supplying hydrogen gas to a fuel cell system.
  • the generator has a reaction chamber for receiving a solid reactant.
  • the chamber has a reaction product separator impermeable to the solid reactant and a biasing means for biasing reactant products against the separator.
  • the generator also has a liquid reactant dispenser for storing a liquid reactant and is fluidly coupled to the reaction chamber, such that dispensed liquid reactant reacts with the solid reactant in the reaction chamber to produce hydrogen gas and a waste product that are substantially permeable through the separator.
  • the generator also has a product collector coupled to the reaction chamber for collecting hydrogen gas and waste product that have passed through the separator.
  • the generator can further comprise a hydrogen gas separator located in the product collector and which is permeable to hydrogen gas and impermeable to the waste product.
  • This separator for example, can be a gas separation membrane.
  • the biasing means can be a spring and the solid reactant can be sodium borohydride powder.
  • the sodium borohydride powder can be compacted into a pill form, and the spring can apply pressure on the pill against the separator.
  • the separator can be a screen having a mesh size that is smaller than the sodium borohydride grain size.
  • the liquid reactant can be an acidic solution, such as a citric acid solution.
  • the solution can have a pH of less than 2.
  • An outer shell can be provided that encloses the reaction chamber, liquid reactant dispenser and product collector; at least part of the shell is sufficiently transparent to view the amount of solid reactant remaining in the generator, thereby acting as a fuel gauge for the generator.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of a hydrogen generating fuel cartridge having a fuel cell connector sub-assembly.
  • FIG. 2 is a partially disassembled view of a fuel cell system having a planar fuel cell stack, a control module, and a connector and pump sub-assembly for coupling to the fuel cartridge sub-assembly and pumping fluid inside the fuel cartridge.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of fluid flow inside the fuel cartridge.
  • FIG. 4 is a partially transparent side view of the fuel cartridge.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic, partially transparent view of the connector and pump sub-assembly and the fuel cartridge connector sub-assembly.
  • FIG. 6 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the fuel cartridge connector sub-assembly.
  • a portable fuel cartridge 10 generates hydrogen gas for use as fuel by a fuel cell.
  • a portable fuel cell system 12 comprises fuel cells 14 which generate electricity by electrochemically reacting hydrogen gas and oxygen in ambient air.
  • the by-products of the electrochemical reaction also include water and heat.
  • the generated electricity can be used to power portable electrical devices, and to provide heat.
  • the portable fuel cartridge 10 has a connector sub-assembly 15 for physically and fluidly coupling the fuel cell cartridge 10 to the fuel cell system 12 . Once coupled, hydrogen gas generated by the fuel cartridge 10 can be delivered into the fuel cell system 12 for use by the fuel cells 14 .
  • One particular use contemplated for the fuel cartridge 10 and fuel cell system 12 is to provide heat and electrical power to personal apparel, such as a jacket.
  • the fuel cell system 12 shown in FIG. 2 is particularly suited for such use.
  • Each fuel cell 14 is arranged in a planar array and electrically connected in series to form a stack.
  • the fuel cells 14 are embedded in a spaced manner within a flexible foam and fabric laminate frame 16 .
  • Flexible fuel conduits 18 and electrical conductors 20 interconnect each fuel cell 14 .
  • the fuel outlet of one fuel cell 14 is fluidly coupled to the fuel inlet of the adjacent downstream fuel cell 14 by the fuel conduits 18 .
  • the fuel cell stack has a dead-ended fuel flow design, in which the last fuel cell 14 is coupled to a purge valve, which can be periodically opened to discharge contaminants and water in the fuel cell stack.
  • the first fuel cell 14 is fluidly coupled to a pumping and connector sub-assembly 22 , which is provided with means for fluidly and physically coupling to the connector sub-assembly 15 of the fuel cartridge 10 .
  • a control system 23 for controlling the operation of the fuel cell system is electrically communicative with the pumping and connector sub-assembly 22 to control operation of the pump, the purge valve, a voltage sensor and pressure sensor (not shown) coupled to electrical conductors 20 , and, a user interface controls and display (not shown).
  • the fuel cells 14 are planar, passive air breathing proton exchange membrane (PEM) type fuel cells.
  • Each fuel cell comprises a conventional platinum catalyst-coated electrode and NafionTM membrane electrode assembly (MEA), sandwiched by cathode and anode assemblies (not shown).
  • the cathode assembly comprises a conductive mesh in adjacent contact to the cathode side of the MEA, and a conductive plate with multiple openings therethrough in adjacent contact with the conductive mesh; the multiple openings are exposed to air and provide access to oxygen used in the electrochemical reaction.
  • the anode assembly comprises a conductive anode plate with serpentine flow channels in adjacent contact with the anode side of the MEA, and a hydrogen gas manifold plate and having hydrogen inlet and outlet and manifolds that fluidly couple to inlet and outlet ends of the anode plate fuel flow channels.
  • the inlet and outlet manifolds fluidly couple to respective inlet and outlet fuel conduits 18 .
  • the MEA also features adhesive around its periphery, and with the adhesive layer, bonds the fuel cell components together.
  • the fuel cell stack 12 in this embodiment is configured to provide about 10 watts of power; however it is within the scope of the invention to scale up or down the power output by changing the number of fuel cells, or substituting fuel cells of different performance ratings.
  • planar PEM fuel cells 14 are well known in the art and are not described in any further detail here. While the fuel cell system 12 is particularly suited for PEM fuel cells, other fuel cell types that are fuelled by hydrogen gas can be substituted, such as solid oxide fuel cells, phosphoric acid fuel cells and alkaline fuel cells. Also, other known PEM fuel cell designs can be readily substituted.
  • the shape of fuel cell system 12 can be changed; this feature is particularly advantageous for use in apparel, as the fuel cell system 10 can conform to the shape of the wearer.
  • the fuel system 12 is installed along the upper spine region of the jacket, so that the fuel cells 14 in the stack can conform to the shape of the wearer's back.
  • the fuel cell system 12 it is within the scope of the invention for the fuel cell system 12 to assume different configurations, e.g. a conventional vertically arranged stack. In such alternative configurations, the fuel cells in the stack would not necessarily be flexibly interconnected, and installation of such fuel cell stacks in apparel would be modified to prevent discomfort to the user.
  • five fuel cells 14 are shown in this embodiment, it is within the scope of the invention to scale up or down the number of fuel cells and the corresponding power output depending on the particular application and power need.
  • Two layers of soft flexible foam are used to sandwich the gas, current, and voltage sensing interconnects within the fuel cell system. These parts hold the system interconnects in place and provide strain relief against mechanical forces (bending, stretching, etc.) put on the system. Additionally, they provide a lightweight covering for the interconnecting elements (wire, tubes, voltage sensing wires) that hides these parts from the user and creates a soft, body friendly packaging.
  • a wicking type fabric is laminated over the outside of the system covering a plane including the cathodes of the fuel cells 14 .
  • This material is designed to rapidly evaporate any moisture in contact with it. Placing this material in contact with the cathode enables a rapid evaporation of any moisture that collects on the cathode of the fuel cell 14 , reducing the risk of flooding in the cells 14 . Covering the entire system 12 with this fabric maximizes the surface area for evaporation. Additionally, this fabric serves as a flexible strain-relieving interconnect between the multiple fuel cells 14 in the system 12 . Lastly, this fabric creates a surface texture for the fuel cell system 12 that feels soft and pleasant when used close to the skin, making the product more comfortable for near-body applications.
  • the fuel cartridge 10 is constructed from lightweight and inexpensive materials to enable the fuel cartridge 10 to be easily portable and disposable after a single use.
  • the fuel cartridge 10 stores a liquid reactant, namely, a 28 wt. % citric acid solution, in an outer bag 25 and a solid reactant, namely, a compacted and fused sodium borohydride (NaBH 4 ) powder, in a tubular reaction chamber 26 .
  • the reaction chamber 26 Teflon tubing, 0.60′′ ID, 0.030′′ wall, McMaster
  • an inner bag 27 that is fluidly sealed from the solution bag 25 .
  • the NaBH 4 powder is compacted into a cylindrical pill 28 , and a spring 29 inside the reaction chamber 26 biases the pill 28 against an outlet having a separator screen 30 at one end of the reaction chamber 26 .
  • a 0.5′′ diameter pill was formed by pressing approximately 12 grams of Sodium Borohydride powder under 7 tons of force to form a pill 3.2 inches in length.
  • the reaction chamber 26 should be constructed of a material that can both withstand the heat of the reaction, which can lead to temperatures in excess of 170° F. and will allow the pill 28 to slide under the force of the spring without binding. Teflon or polyethelyne both meet these requirements suitably.
  • the separator screen 30 has a mesh size that is smaller than the powder's grain size, thus preventing the pill 28 from exiting through the outlet, but allowing liquid, gas and particulates smaller than the screen openings to flow there-through.
  • Plastic mesh with a screen pitch of 0.080′′ and strand size of 0.005′′ is used in the current embodiment.
  • acid solution can be pumped from the outer bag 25 through a pumping chamber 52 inside the connector sub-assembly 15 and into the reaction chamber 26 near the separator screen 30 .
  • acid solution and NaBH 4 mix, hydrogen gas and a waste slurry is formed; the pressure of the spring 29 forces the gas and slurry through the separator screen 30 and into a product collection portion of the inner bag 27 (“product collector” 31 ).
  • the slurry comprises solids suspended in liquid, and in particular, is a mixture of sodium metaborate, water, and a salt of an acid, and has a benign acidity of around pH 7.
  • the particular size of the slurry solids should be smaller than the mesh size of the separator screen 30 so that the slurry solids can pass there-through.
  • a hydrogen gas separation membrane 32 At the downstream end of the product collector 31 is a hydrogen gas separation membrane 32 , which is permeable to hydrogen gas but impermeable to liquid and solid. Hydrogen gas is separated from the slurry and delivered to fuel cell system 10 via an outlet port 40 in the connector sub-assembly 15 .
  • FIG. 4 illustrates the construction of the fuel cartridge 10 in greater detail.
  • the inner bag 27 is located inside the outer solution bag 25 , such that the acid solution resides in the volume in between the solution bag 25 and inner bag 27 .
  • 6 mil urethane (Stevens Urethane, East Hampton, Massachusetts, U.S.) was heat welded to form the inner and outer bags 25 , 27 .
  • a solution feed conduit 33 fluidly couples this volume to the pumping chamber 52 , and also extends from the pumping chamber 52 through the inner bag at opening 34 and to a nozzle 35 in the reaction chamber 26 near the separator screen 30 .
  • the nozzle 35 is an elongated tube (stainless steel hypodermic tubing with the distal end crimped and sealed and an orifice perpendicular to the central axis of the tube and facing the central axis of the pill 28 , McMaster) that spans the diameter of the reaction chamber 26 . Solution is discharged through the hole and contacts the pill 28 . The distance between the nozzle and the separator screen 30 allows for mixing of the reactants prior to leaving the reaction chamber 26 . Several alternatives known in the art exist for ensuring proper mixing of the reactants and products in order to maximize the yield of the reaction and the energy density of the cartridge 10 .
  • the cartridge 10 can use a single nozzle or a plurality of nozzles (not shown) to help ensure more even mixing of the reactants.
  • These nozzles could be a circular or linear array with orifices designed to mist, spray, or provide droplets to the pill 28 .
  • a distance and preferably tortuous path between the nozzle and the screen 30 allows for thorough mixing of the reactants prior to leaving the reaction chamber 26 .
  • the nozzle 35 is 0.4′′ from the separator mesh, although the optimum distance will vary with the nozzle design, flow rates, etc.
  • An additional feature that has been found to be advantageous in the reaction area design is to construct the nozzle 35 such that the reacting pill can form around the nozzle 35 as it is reacted by the solution from the nozzle 35 .
  • reaction area is limited to the end of the pill is that the heat of reaction can be contained in a relatively small space, maximizing the temperature of the reaction area. This higher temperature has favourable effects on the reaction efficiency, kinetics, and the ability to restart the system 12 with reaction products collected and hardened about the separator screen 30 .
  • product hydrogen gas and waste slurry are discharged through the separator screen 30 and into the product collector 31 , which has a serpentine flow path formed by two generally straight welds 36 which join the inner bag surfaces together.
  • the welds form a central pocket in which the cylindrical reaction chamber 26 is located.
  • the product collector 31 is partially filed with a liquid absorbing material 37 for absorbing water and other liquid in the slurry. This material minimizes the contact of the slurry with the gas collection membrane, as the slurry tends to form an impermeable coating on the membrane after prolonged exposure.
  • higher performance materials exist the highly absorbent material found in tampons was found to perform suitably for this application.
  • Unabsorbed slurry and hydrogen gas continue along the product collector 31 to the gas separation membrane 32 .
  • Hydrogen gas flows through the separation membrane 32 (Versapore 3000 (Pall, Ann Arbor, MI) and into a hydrogen delivery tube 38 , which is coupled to the separation membrane 32 and extends through the inner bag at opening 39 and couples to the discharge port 40 in the connector,sub-assembly 15 .
  • the flow path of the solution, waste slurry and hydrogen gas are illustrated by arrows in this figure.
  • the reaction rate is slow.
  • the acid is provided to speed up the reaction rate; in this sense, the acid acts like a catalyst, although the acid is consumed in the reaction.
  • 28 wt. % citric acid solution is reacted with NaBH 4 powder to generate hydrogen
  • any acid solution with a suitable pH can be substituted.
  • the acid solution has a pH of 6 or less; more preferably, the acid solution has a range of 2 or less.
  • the 28 wt. % citric acid solution has a pH of about 2. This concentration was found to provide a desirable balance of low pH, fast rate of reaction, and minimal wastage of acid. That is, substantially all of the acid in the solution was consumed in the reaction. When selecting alternative acids, such a balance is also desirable.
  • the fuel cartridge 10 It is expected that other known reactions between reactants that produce hydrogen gas can be used in the fuel cartridge 10 , provided that one of the reactants can be stored in compacted solid form, an another of the reactants can be separately stored in liquid form.
  • the fuel cartridge 14 design is particularly effective for facilitating such reactions, as a portion of the solid is continuously exposed to the liquid reactant, since the biasing force provided by the spring 29 forces the gaseous, liquid and small particulate products of the reaction through the separator screen 30 . This prevents the products of the reaction from coating the solid reactant, and from mixing with the liquid reactant. Care should be taken in selecting the solid powder grain size and separator screen size so that the solid reactant is not pushed through the separator screen 30 .
  • the reaction chamber 26 can be a single-ended flexible sheath that is stretches when filled with the solid reactant, and applies pressure on the solid reactant towards the sheath's opening.
  • Other equivalent biasing means can be readily substituted.
  • the biasing spring 29 applies pressure against the pill 28 such that a portion of the pill 28 is always pressed against the separator screen 30 .
  • the spring 29 will expand; a clear window 41 is provided in the surface of the fuel cartridge 10 such that the amount of pill material is visible. This window 41 serves as a fuel gauge to display the amount of reactant left in the fuel cartridge 10 .
  • the cartridge connector sub-assembly 15 protrudes from the fuel cartridge outer shell and can be connected to the pump and connector sub-assembly 22 of the fuel cell system 14 .
  • the pump and connector sub-assembly 22 has a recess 43 adapted to receive the protruding connector sub-assembly 15 .
  • a pair of magnets 44 are provided in the base of the connector sub-assembly 15 , and are attracted to metal plates in the recess 43 .
  • the magnets 44 provide a means for securing the fuel cartridge 10 to the fuel cell system 12 ; however, other securing means as known in the art can be substituted within the scope of the invention.
  • the pump and connector sub-assembly 22 is provided with a hydrogen intake port 46 that mates with the hydrogen discharge port 40 when the fuel cartridge 10 is connected to the fuel cell system 12 .
  • a pump plunger 48 extends from the recess 43 of the pump and connector sub-assembly 22 ; a boss 49 protrudes from sub-assembly 22 around pump plunger 48 , protecting the plunger 48 from damage when the connector sub-assembly 15 is not in place.
  • a diaphragm port 50 is provided in the connector sub-assembly 15 that receives the pump plunger 48 when the fuel cartridge 10 and fuel cell system 12 are connected. The diaphragm port 50 extends into a bottom end of a pumping chamber 52 .
  • a flexible diaphragm 54 is mounted inside the pumping chamber 52 and fluidly seals the pumping chamber volume from the diaphragm port 50 ; this confines the flow of acid solution from the inlet 56 into the pumping chamber 52 and out of the outlet 58 .
  • a biasing spring 60 is located in the second chamber portion and applies a biasing force against the diaphragm 54 to bias the diaphragm 54 in an unflexed position.
  • the acid solution inlet and outlet 56 , 58 are fluidly coupled to the solution feed conduit 33 .
  • the connector sub-assembly 22 has an outer shell comprising two molded plastic portions: an outer shell portion 62 contains a portion of the pumping chamber 52 , the diaphragm port 50 , hydrogen discharge port 40 , and magnets 44 .
  • An inner shell portion 66 contains the rest of the pumping chamber 52 , solution inlet 56 and outlet 58 ; the diaphragm 54 is fixed in place between the outer and central portions 62 , 64 .
  • the shell portions 62 , 66 are joined by LokTite 3105 Light Cure Adhesive. While the sub-assembly 22 is formed by joining together these shell portions by an adhesive, it is to be understood that many other methods known in the art are available for creating this sub-assembly 22 .
  • a distal end of the pump plunger 48 extends through the diaphragm port 50 , into the pumping chamber 52 and contacts the diaphragm 54 .
  • the pump plunger 48 is slidably constrained within the pumping and connector sub-assembly 22 in an axial direction and between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position.
  • the pump plunger 48 makes contact with but does not flex the diaphragm 54 , i.e. the diaphragm 54 is in its unflexed position.
  • the pump plunger 48 is in its fully extended position, the diaphragm 54 is moved by the plunger 48 into its flexed position.
  • the reciprocating movement of the pump plunger 48 causes the diaphragm 54 to oscillate, thereby creating a pumping pressure within the pumping chamber 52 . This pumping pressure is effective to pump the citric acid solution from the solution bag 25 to the reaction chamber 26 .
  • Recpriocating movement of the pump plunger 48 is achieved by contraction and extension of a shape memory alloy wire 70 connected to a plunger head 72 located at the proximal end of the pump plunger 48 .
  • the shape memory alloy wire 70 is comprised of a shape memory alloy material, such as a nickel-titanium alloy popularly known as “nitinol”.
  • the shape memory alloy material is sensitive to temperature or heat. For example, nitinol temporarily shrinks at a range of temperatures dictated by the composition of the nitinol; in this embodiment, the nintol wire 70 shrinks at about 100° C. The nitinol alloy will expand at a relative lower temperature and return to its original condition.
  • the nitinol alloy undergoes a dimensional change, such as a change in its length.
  • the nitinol wire 70 can undergo a reduction in length and return to its original length repeatedly via repeated temperature cycling above its shrinkage temperature and cooling to below its expansion temperature.
  • the shape alloy material goes through a reversible phase transition or transformation, or a reversible structural phase transition, upon a change in temperature.
  • a transition represents a change in the material from one solid phase of the material to another, for example, by a change in the crystal structure of the material or by a re-ordering of the material at a molecular level.
  • the superelastic alloy has a low temperature phase, or martensitic phase, and a high temperature phase, or austenitic phase. These phases can also be referred to in terms of a relaxed phase and a soft and malleable phase, or contracted phase.
  • the nitinol wires 70 is threaded through the plunger head 72 and attached at either end to the pumping and connector sub-assembly 22 by crimp connections 74 .
  • the nitinol wire 70 is located such that when in its relaxed phase, the plunger head 48 is in its retracted position; when the nitinol wire 70 is in its contracted phase, the plunger head 48 is in its fully extended position.
  • the crimp connections 74 are connected to electrical wire (not shown) that is electrically coupled to a rechargeable battery (not shown) located in the control unit 23 .
  • the battery in turn is electrically connected to the electrical connectors 20 such that the battery can be recharged by electricity produced by the fuel cells 14 .
  • the plunger 48 When the plunger 48 reaches its fully extended position, the plunger head makes contact with a detector switch 76 , which is electrically communicative with and sends a signal to the control unit 23 . Upon receipt of this signal, the control unit 23 stops current flow from the battery or fuel cell system, and the wire 70 is allowed to cool and fall below its expansion temperature.
  • the pulse length of the current provided to the wire 70 can be controlled by methods known in the art such that the wire is heated enough to cause it to contract.
  • the wire 70 expands to its original length, and the plunger 48 is moved back into its fully retracted position, i.e. execute an expansion stroke.
  • the frequency of the plunger strokes is dictated by the amount of hydrogen gas required; when more gas is required, more solution needs to be pumped to the reaction chamber 26 , and the frequency of the plunger strokes is increased.
  • the manufacturing cost of the cartridge 10 is reduced. Also, by sealing the pumping chamber 52 with the diaphragm 52 , the citric acid solution is not permitted to leave the fuel cartridge 10 ; this design minimizes the likelihood of damage or harm caused by acid leakage.
  • the only fluid that is permitted to leave the fuel cartridge 10 is hydrogen gas, via port 40 .
  • a further advantage offered by this design is the simplified control of gas generation. Since hydrogen gas is generated only when the citric acid solution is mixed with the solid NaBH 4 , the rate of pumping entirely controls the rate of hydrogen gas production.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Fuel Cell (AREA)
  • Feeding, Discharge, Calcimining, Fusing, And Gas-Generation Devices (AREA)
US11/202,598 2005-08-11 2005-08-11 Hydrogen generator Abandoned US20070036711A1 (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/202,598 US20070036711A1 (en) 2005-08-11 2005-08-11 Hydrogen generator
EP06813380A EP1922285A4 (en) 2005-08-11 2006-08-11 HYDROGEN GENERATOR
PCT/US2006/031377 WO2007021934A2 (en) 2005-08-11 2006-08-11 Hydrogen generator
JP2008526228A JP2009504555A (ja) 2005-08-11 2006-08-11 水素発生器
US12/501,675 US8100993B2 (en) 2005-08-11 2009-07-13 Hydrogen generator
US13/356,582 US20120121996A1 (en) 2005-08-11 2012-01-23 Hydrogen generator

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/202,598 US20070036711A1 (en) 2005-08-11 2005-08-11 Hydrogen generator

Related Child Applications (1)

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US12/501,675 Continuation US8100993B2 (en) 2005-08-11 2009-07-13 Hydrogen generator

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US20070036711A1 true US20070036711A1 (en) 2007-02-15

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US11/202,598 Abandoned US20070036711A1 (en) 2005-08-11 2005-08-11 Hydrogen generator
US12/501,675 Expired - Fee Related US8100993B2 (en) 2005-08-11 2009-07-13 Hydrogen generator
US13/356,582 Abandoned US20120121996A1 (en) 2005-08-11 2012-01-23 Hydrogen generator

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US12/501,675 Expired - Fee Related US8100993B2 (en) 2005-08-11 2009-07-13 Hydrogen generator
US13/356,582 Abandoned US20120121996A1 (en) 2005-08-11 2012-01-23 Hydrogen generator

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US (3) US20070036711A1 (ja)
EP (1) EP1922285A4 (ja)
JP (1) JP2009504555A (ja)
WO (1) WO2007021934A2 (ja)

Cited By (29)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070062115A1 (en) * 2005-09-16 2007-03-22 Grant Berry Hydrogen gas generation system
WO2007098109A2 (en) * 2006-02-17 2007-08-30 Intematix Corporation Hydrogen-generating solid fuel cartridge
US20080277441A1 (en) * 2007-05-11 2008-11-13 Joerg Zimmermann Strap mounted energy supply
US20080286195A1 (en) * 2007-05-14 2008-11-20 Qinglin Zhang Hydrogen generation systems and methods
US20090104481A1 (en) * 2007-10-18 2009-04-23 Mohring Richard M Methods and devices for hydrogen generation
US20090101520A1 (en) * 2007-10-18 2009-04-23 Qinglin Zhang Methods and devices for hydrogen generation
US20100173214A1 (en) * 2008-01-29 2010-07-08 Tibor Fabian Controller for fuel cell operation
US20110020215A1 (en) * 2009-07-23 2011-01-27 Ryu Wonhyoung Chemical hydride formulation and system design for controlled generation of hydrogen
US20110070151A1 (en) * 2009-07-23 2011-03-24 Daniel Braithwaite Hydrogen generator and product conditioning method
US20110200495A1 (en) * 2009-07-23 2011-08-18 Daniel Braithwaite Cartridge for controlled production of hydrogen
US20110223060A1 (en) * 2010-03-11 2011-09-15 William Reese Apparatus and method for sterilization
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