# US 10,118,822 B2 · Hydrogen production system and methods of using same

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- Number: US 10,118,822 B2
- Document ID: US10118822B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/763,090
- Filed: 2014-01-24
- Published: 2015-12-17
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-24
- Assignees: Clean Wave Energy Corp
- Applicants: Clean Wave Energy Corp
- Inventors: Gavin Macrae
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118822B2

## CPC

- C01B 3/08: by reaction of inorganic compounds with metals
- B01J 19/24: Stationary reactors without moving elements inside (B01J19/08, B01J19/26 take precedence; with stationary particles B01J8/02)
- C01F 7/428: by oxidation in an aqueous solution
- F01K 3/188: {using heat from a specified chemical reaction}
- F01K 7/16: the engines being only of turbine type (the engines using steam of critical or overcritical pressure F01K7/32; the engines being of extraction or non-condensing type F01K7/34)
- F02M 21/02: for gaseous fuels
- F02M 25/12: the apparatus having means for generating such gases (using rays and simultaneously generating ozone F02M27/06)
- B01J 2219/00051: Controlling the temperature
- B01J 2219/24: Stationary reactors without moving elements inside
- Y02E 60/36: Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
- Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies
- Y02T 10/30: Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
- C01F: COMPOUNDS OF THE METALS BERYLLIUM, MAGNESIUM, ALUMINIUM, CALCIUM, STRONTIUM, BARIUM, RADIUM, THORIUM, OR OF THE RARE-EARTH METALS (metal hydrides {monoborane, diborane or addition complexes thereof} C01B6/00; salts of oxyacids of halogens C01B11/00; peroxides, salts of peroxyacids C01B15/00; sulfides or polysulfides of magnesium, calcium, strontium, or barium C01B17/42; thiosulfates, dithionites, polythionates C01B17/64; compounds containing selenium or tellurium C01B19/00; binary compounds of nitrogen with metals C01B21/06; azides C01B21/08; {compounds other than ammonia or cyanogen containing nitrogen and non-metals and optionally metals C01B21/082; amides or imides of silicon C01B21/087}; metal {imides or} amides C01B21/092, {C01B21/0923}; nitrites C01B21/50; {compounds of noble gases C01B23/0005}; phosphides C01B25/08; salts of oxyacids of phosphorus C01B25/16; carbides C01B32/90; compounds containing silicon C01B33/00; compounds containing boron C01B35/00; compounds having molecular sieve properties but not having base-exchange properties C01B37/00; compounds having molecular sieve and base-exchange properties, e.g. crystalline zeolites, C01B39/00; cyanides C01C3/08; salts of cyanic acid C01C3/14; salts of cyanamide C01C3/16; thiocyanates C01C3/20; {double sulfates of magnesium with sodium or potassium C01D5/12; with other alkali metals C01D15/00, C01D17/00})
- F01K: STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES (gas-turbine or jet-propulsion plants F02; nuclear power plants, engine arrangements therein G21D)
- F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

The present invention is directed to hydrogen production systems and methods of using same. The systems support a hydrogen production reaction that comprises aluminum and a catalyst or wool and van produce hydrogen on-demand. The hydrogen and the heat produced by the systems can be used for many applications, including to power vehicles, heat homes, or power electricity-producing power plants.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hydrogen production system for producing hydrogen on-demand or for storage, wherein the hydrogen is produced from water, said system comprising:
a vessel for holding a mixture, said mixture comprising a homogeneous blend of aluminum and a wool medium,
an electrically powered heat source for exposing the mixture to heat, said electrically powered heat source disposed within the vessel,
a water source disposed within the vessel including a nozzle disposed within the vessel and positioned to eject water onto the electrically powered heat source,
an outlet for the hydrogen produced by a reaction between the water and the aluminum,
an outlet fluid line coupled to the outlet and through which the hydrogen produced by the reaction passes from the vessel,
a temperature probe disposed at least partially in the vessel in thermal proximity to the mixture, the temperature probe configured to detect a temperature of the mixture,
a flow meter in fluid communication with the outlet fluid line, the flow meter configured to measure and control a flow rate of the hydrogen produced by the reaction between the water and the aluminum through the outlet fluid line,
a pressure transducer in fluid communication with the outlet via the outlet fluid line, the pressure transducer configured to measure a pressure of the hydrogen produced by the reaction between the water and the aluminum through the outlet fluid line, and
at least one controller operatively connected to the temperature probe, the electrically powered heat source, the flow meter and the pressure transducer, the at least one controller configured to monitor the detected temperature, the measured flow rate and the measured pressure,
wherein the at least one controller is configured to adjust one or more of the temperature, the flow rate and the pressure based on at least one of the detected temperature, the measured flow rate and the measured pressure, and
wherein the homogeneous mixture of aluminum and wool medium is packed into and fills in a volume within the vessel containing the electrically powered heat source and the water source and the nozzle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein the aluminum comprises aluminum powder, aluminum granules, aluminum milled balls, aluminum shavings, one or more solid aluminum bars, or mixtures thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, where the aluminum comprises recycled aluminum.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein the wool medium is synthetic, or an alkaline earth silicate wool product, or kaowool.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1 further comprising at least one of: a collection vessel connected to the outlet and a vehicle or generator that consumes the hydrogen connected to the outlet.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, further comprising components for purifying, cooling, drying or compressing the hydrogen.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, further comprising a catalyst for producing hydrogen.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen production system produces heat energy upon producing hydrogen.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1, wherein the heat energy heats water to operate a turbine.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system according to claim 1 further comprising:
a tank for supplying the mixture to the vessel, and
a pump, in fluid communication with the tank, configured to inject the mixture from the tank into the vessel and to continue to inject the mixture from the tank into the vessel as the reaction between the water and the aluminum proceeds.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system according to claim 10, wherein the pump is further configured to inject the mixture into the vessel as pressure builds during the reaction between the water and the aluminum.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The system according to claim 10, wherein the pump is electrically powered.

### Claim 13

A method of using a hydrogen production system for producing hydrogen on-demand or for storage, wherein the hydrogen is produced from water, said system comprising a vessel for holding a mixture, said mixture comprising a homogenous blend of aluminum and a wool medium, an electrically powered heat source for exposing the mixture to heat, the electrically powered heat source disposed within the vessel, a water source disposed within the vessel, said water source including a nozzle disposed within the vessel and positioned to eject water onto the electrically powered heat source, and an outlet for the hydrogen produced by a reaction between the water and the aluminum, an outlet fluid line coupled to the outlet and through which the hydrogen produced by the reaction passes from the vessel, a temperature probe disposed at least partially in the vessel in thermal proximity to the mixture, the temperature probe configured to detect a temperature of the mixture, a flow meter in fluid communication with the outlet fluid line, the flow meter configured to measure and control a flow rate of the hydrogen produced by the reaction between the water and the aluminum through the outlet fluid line, a pressure transducer in fluid communication with the outlet via the outlet fluid line, the pressure transducer configured to measure a pressure of the hydrogen produced by the reaction between the water and the aluminum through the outlet fluid line, and at least one controller operatively connected to the temperature probe, the electrically powered heat source, the flow meter and the pressure transducer, the at least one controller configured to monitor the detected temperature, the measured flow rate and the measured pressure, wherein the at least one controller is configured to adjust one or more of the temperature, the flow rate and the pressure based on at least one of the detected temperature, the measured flow rate and the measured pressure, comprising the steps of
packing the mixture into the vessel such that the mixture fills in a volume within the vessel containing the electrically powered heat source and the water source and nozzle and can receive heat from the electrically powered heat source,
activating the electrically powered heat source until the electrically powered heat source reaches a predetermined temperature,
via the water source, introducing water to the vessel and directing the water via the nozzle onto the electrically powered heat source disposed within the vessel,
allowing the reaction to proceed until a desired amount of hydrogen is obtained,
producing an oxidized aluminum product as the hydrogen production proceeds, and
retrieving the oxidized aluminum product.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of using a hydrogen production system for producing hydrogen on-demand or for storage of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises releasing heat during the reaction, and using at least one of the produced hydrogen or released heat to: heat a building, operate a water heater, operate a turbine, operate a water desalination plant or operate an electrical generator.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of using a hydrogen production system for producing hydrogen on-demand or for storage of claim 13, wherein the hydrogen production system includes a tank for supplying the mixture to the vessel, and a pump in fluid communication with the tank configured to inject the mixture from the tank into the vessel and to continue to inject the mixture from the tank into the vessel as the reaction between the water and the aluminum proceeds, and further comprising the step of producing hydrogen at a flow rate of at least 180 LPM (Liters Per Minute).