Method for storing hydrogen, and related articles and systems
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorLawrence Kool
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for storing hydrogen is described. The hydrogen is infused into hollow spheres. The spheres are made from a polymer which has a tensile strength sufficient to contain hydrogen under selected internal pressure conditions; and has a permeation coefficient which can be adjusted under variable humidity conditions. Adjustment of the humidity level after the hydrogen is infused results in the walls of the spheres becoming impermeable to hydrogen. The hydrogen stored in the spheres can then be released at a desired time by readjusting the humidity level. The released hydrogen can be directed to any type of equipment which is fueled by hydrogen or otherwise uses the gas. Related articles and systems are also described.
Claims31
A method for storing hydrogen, comprising the following steps:
- (a) infusing hydrogen into hollow spheres which have gas-permable walls, wherein the spheres comprise a polymer which
- (i) has a tensile strength sufficient to contain hydrogen under selected internal pressure conditions;
- and
- (ii) has a permeation coefficient which can be adjusted under variable humidity conditions;
- and then
- (b) adjusting the humidity level so that the walls of the spheres become substantially impermeable to hydrogen, so as to prevent the release of hydrogen from the spheres.
A method for storing and releasing hydrogen, comprising the following steps:
- (I) infusing hydrogen into hollow spheres which have gas-permable walls, wherein the spheres comprise a polyvinyl polymer or derivative thereof;
- and the infusion is carried out under humidity conditions sufficient to make the walls of the spheres permeable to the passage of hydrogen;
- (II) storing the hydrogen within the hollow spheres by lowering the humidity level, so that the walls of the spheres become substantially impermeable to hydrogen;
- and
- (III) releasing a selected amount of the hydrogen from the spheres at a selected time after step (II), by increasing the humidity surrounding the spheres, and directing the released hydrogen to at least one hydrogen-consuming system selected from the group consisting of fuel cells;
- turbine engines;
- internal combustion engines;
- chemical process operations, and combinations thereof.
A collection of hollow polymeric spheres, having an average diameter in the range of about 50 microns to about 1,000 microns, wherein the interior of the spheres comprises hydrogen gas at a pressure of at least about 3,000 psi.
An apparatus for storing and delivering hydrogen, comprising:
- (A) a hydrogen source;
- (B) means for infusing hydrogen from the source into hollow polymeric spheres;
- retaining the hydrogen within the spheres for a selected period of time;
- and then releasing the hydrogen from the spheres;
- and
- (C) means for directing the released hydrogen to a hydrogen destination.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.