System and process for generating hydrogen gas

A method of generating gaseous hydrogen in a gaseous hydrogen production system comprising an enclosure formed by a side wall, a front end wall, and a rear end wall, said enclosure containing one or more unit charges of at least one material suitable for generating gaseous hydrogen when heated, the method comprising initiating each unit charge in succession and wherein each unit charge comprises a cylindrical body including a closed rear end wall and a front end wall having an opening, at least one block of material suitable for generating gaseous hydrogen when heated being present inside the cylindrical body, each block presenting an annular shape defining a central channel leading to the opening in the front end wall of the cylindrical body and at least one initiator present in the vicinity of the rear end wall of the cylindrical body;

• the opening in the front end wall of the cylindrical body facing the front end wall of the enclosure so that the hot gas coming from said at least one block of material suitable for generating gaseous hydrogen when heated is directed directly against the inside surface of the front end wall of the enclosure,
• wherein the gaseous hydrogen production system further comprises
• a collector volume defined between the one or more unit charges and the front end wall of the enclosure to collect gaseous hydrogen generated by each of the one or more unit charges, the collector volume permitting heat exchange with the front end wall of the enclosure to dissipate heat conveyed by the hot gas leaving the one or more unit charges, and
• one or more channels at an inner periphery of the enclosure to direct all gaseous hydrogen generated by each unit charge from the collector volume toward the rear end wall of the enclosure.