# US 2006/0185242 A1 · Hydrogen gas generator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2006/0185242 A1 - Document ID: US20060185242A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 10/550,723 - Filed: 2004-03-25 - Published: 2006-08-24 - Earliest claimed: 2003-03-28 - Inventors: Seung Cha; Jeong Park - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20060185242A1 ## CPC - F17C 11/005: {for hydrogen} - B01J 7/02: by wet methods - B01J 14/005: {in the presence of catalytically active bodies, e.g. porous plates} - C01B 3/06: by reaction of inorganic compounds containing electro-positively bound hydrogen with inorganic reducing agents - C01B 3/065: by reaction of inorganic compounds with hydrides - H01M 8/04208: {Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs} - H01M 8/04216: {characterised by the choice for a specific material, e.g. carbon, hydride, absorbent} - H01M 8/065: by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances - B01J 2219/00162: controlling the pressure - B01J 2219/00164: controlling the flow - B01J 2219/0027: Pressure relief - Y02E 60/32: Hydrogen storage - Y02E 60/36: Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis - Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells - F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25) - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract Disclosed is a self-regulating hydrogen gas generator for a hydrogen fuel cell. The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator includes a fuel tank, defining an inner space having a designated volume, provided with a hydrogen outlet communicating the inner space, a fuel solution, containing a hydrogen storing material, stored in the fuel tank, and a catalyst contacting the fuel solution for generating hydrogen gas, wherein the catalyst fills a catalytic reactor, provided with a closed portion for interrupting the contact between the catalyst and the fuel solution, and an opened portion contacting the fuel solution, so that the generation and interruption of hydrogen gas are actively regulated based on the increase and decrease of the pressure of the fuel tank. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A self-regulating hydrogen gas generator, for a hydrogen fuel cell, comprising: a fuel tank, defining an inner space having a designated volume, provided with a hydrogen outlet communicating the inner space; a fuel solution, containing a hydrogen storing material, stored in the fuel tank; and a catalyst contacting the fuel solution for generating hydrogen gas, wherein the catalyst fills a catalytic reactor, provided with a closed portion for interrupting the contact between the catalyst and the fuel solution to stop the generation of hydrogen gas in case that a pressure of the fuel tank increases due to the generation of hydrogen gas by the contact between the catalyst and the fuel solution, and an opened portion contacting the fuel solution for generating hydrogen gas in case that the pressure of the fuel tank decreases due to the use of the generated hydrogen gas by the fuel cell, so that the generation and interruption of hydrogen gas are actively regulated based on the increase and decrease of the pressure of the fuel tank. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 1, wherein the catalytic reactor includes elastic means having a designated compressing and restoring force for moving the catalyst toward the closed or opened portion, based on the increase and decrease of the pressure of the fuel tank due to the generation of hydrogen gas, to regulate the generation of hydrogen gas. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 2, wherein a catalyst-fixing member, provided with the catalyst connected thereto, which is movable in the catalytic reactor, is connected to one end of the elastic means. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 3, wherein fuel solution interception members, for preventing the fuel solution from being introduced into the catalytic reactor through the opened portion when the catalyst-fixing member moves toward the closed portion due to the increase of the pressure of the fuel tank, are positioned at either of inner circumferences of the catalyst-fixing member and the catalytic reactor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 3, wherein fuel solution interception members, for preventing the fuel solution from being introduced into the catalytic reactor through the opened portion when the catalyst-fixing member moves toward the closed portion due to the increase of the pressure of the fuel tank, are positioned between the catalyst-fixing member and the elastic means. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 3, wherein the fuel tank includes gas-liquid separating means for separating the generated hydrogen gas from the fuel solution in a liquid state and exhausting the separated hydrogen gas to the outside. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 6, wherein: an installation groove, into which the catalytic reactor from the outside is detachably inserted, is formed at a designated position of the fuel tank; and the installation groove includes: a through hole for allowing the catalyst of the catalytic reactor to contact the fuel solution of the fuel tank to generate hydrogen gas; elastic means positioned on the bottom of the installation groove; a through hole sealing member combined with the elastic means for sealing the through hole and pushing the catalyst-fixing member of the catalytic reactor connected thereto due to the increase of the pressure of the fuel tank to the through hole when the catalytic reactor is separated from the installation groove; and a hydrogen generation regulating hole formed through the bottom of the installation groove defining a closed space by the through hole sealing member for allowing the hydrogen gas generated in the fuel tank to enter into and leave the installation groove. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 7, wherein a gas-liquid separating film is installed in the fuel tank provided with the hydrogen generation regulating hole, and fixing means for fixing the catalytic reactor to the fuel tank is positioned at the end of the catalytic reactor and the entrance of the installation groove. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 8, wherein a catalyst exposure regulating portion for defining a sealed space is extended from the end of the catalytic reactor at the outer surface of the catalyst-fixing member, and another hydrogen generation regulating hole, which coincides with the hydrogen generation regulating hole when the catalytic reactor is inserted into the installation groove and regulates the generation of hydrogen gas by moving the catalyst-fixing member based on the increase and decrease of the pressure of the fuel tank, is formed through a designated position of the catalyst exposure regulating portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 9, wherein the gas-liquid separating means is a gas-liquid separating film having various shapes fixedly installed in the fuel tank so that a designated space between the inner hole of the outlet and the fuel solution is defined to easily exhaust the hydrogen gas through the outlet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 10, wherein an implant member provided with air holes, for preventing the movement of the gas-liquid separating film and efficiently exhausting hydrogen when the pressure in the fuel tank increases due to the generation of the hydrogen gas or the fuel tank moves, is interposed between the inner surface of the fuel tank and the gas-liquid separating film. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 11, wherein the gas-liquid separating film is a completely sealed type, which includes the catalytic reactor and the fuel solution and separates the outer surface thereof from the inner wall of the fuel tank by a designated interval. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 6, wherein the gas-liquid separating means includes a collector floating on the fuel solution filling a designated level of the fuel tank, a collection hole protruded from the collector and exposed to the upper surface of the fuel solution for introducing the hydrogen gas generated in the fuel tank to the collector therethrough, and a drain hose connecting the other side of the collector, opposite to the collection hole, and the outlet, for exhausting the hydrogen gas collected by the collector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 3) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 3, wherein the catalyst-fixing member includes: both wings, formed at both ends thereof, sliding on the inner surface of a tube; and a catalyst-fixing section interposed between the wings for fixing the catalyst. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 14, wherein a permanent magnet is attached to the catalyst-fixing section so that the catalyst made of metal is attached to the catalyst-fixing section using the permanent magnet without any separate process. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 14, wherein the catalyst-fixing section is divided into plural pieces for increasing a contact area between the catalyst and the fuel solution to generate a great amount of hydrogen gas. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 10, wherein the fuel tank includes hydrogen gas retaining means for converting hydrogen gas in a fine foam state, generated by the contact of the fuel solution and the catalyst, into large-sized hydrogen gas bubbles and allowing the obtained large-sized gas bubbles to pass through the gas-liquid separating means. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 10, wherein the catalytic reactor is provided inside the hydrogen gas retaining means provided with a plurality of holes for converting hydrogen gas in a fine foam state, generated by the contact of the fuel solution and the catalyst, into large-sized hydrogen gas bubbles and allowing the obtained large-sized gas bubbles to pass through the gas-liquid separating means. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 10, wherein at least one collision member for preventing hydrogen gas in a fine foam state, generated in the fuel tank, containing moisture, from directly contacting the gas-liquid separating film, is interposed between the fuel solution and the gas-liquid separating film. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 10, wherein the fuel tank includes a hole for exhausting the waste fuel solution or its by-products from the fuel tank therethrough and for filling the fuel tank with a new fuel solution therethrough. ### Claim 21 (depends on 10) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 10, wherein the fuel tank includes a vent hole for preventing the overpressure of the fuel tank. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 14, wherein the catalyst, which is made of Raney Ni, is attached to a net or substrate in distilled water or general water using an adhesive agent, which is solidified in the water without using a separate dry or surface oxidation process, and is then combined with the catalyst-fixing section. ### Claim 23 (depends on 2) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 2, wherein the elastic means includes a compressed coil spring. ### Claim 24 (depends on 2) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 2, wherein the elastic means includes compressible gas. ### Claim 25 (depends on 10) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 10, wherein, in case that a plurality of spaces not-filled with the fuel solution are divisionally obtained by respectively installing a plurality of the gas-liquid separating films at left, right, upper and lower portions, of the inside of the fuel tank filled with the fuel solution, a connection pipe connects the divided spaces, not-filled with the fuel solution, in the fuel tank. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The self-regulating hydrogen gas generator as set forth in claim 1, wherein a heating medium for generating heat is installed in at least one of the fuel tank, the catalytic reactor and the catalyst-fixing member.