Process for producing hydrogen from water
AssigneeAmerican Gas Association
InventorsJon B. Pangborn, John C. Sharer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for the production of hydrogen and oxygen from water comprising the steps of forming ferric chloride from ferriferrous oxide by reaction with a chloride ion yielding substance, reducing the ferric chloride produced with a reducing agent to produce ferrous chloride, and then oxidizing the ferrous compound with water so as to produce hydrogen. Suitable reducing agents include cuprous chloride, chromous chloride and platinum. Several reactant regenerative closed cycle systems are disclosed utilizing the process of this invention for the production of hydrogen with high energy efficiences.
Claims15
In a reactant regenerative closed cycle process for the production of hydrogen from water the steps comprising:
- providing solid ferriferrous oxide and a gaseous chloride ion yielding substance to a reaction zone to produce ferric chloride;
- reducing the ferric chloride in gaseous dimer phase with a solid reducing agent selected from the group consisting of cuprous chloride, chromous chloride and platinum to produce ferrous chloride;
- and
- then oxidizing the solid or molten ferrous compound with steam so as to produce hydrogen and ferriferrous oxide for recycle.
A process for production of hydrogen from water in a five zone reactant regenerative closed cycle comprising the steps;
- providing steam and ferrous chloride to a first reaction zone to produce ferriferrous oxide, hydrogen chloride and hydrogen gas;
- removing the hydrogen produced and reacting the ferriferrous oxide and hydrogen chloride in a second reaction zone to produce ferric chloride, ferrous chloride and water;
- passing the ferrous chloride and water formed to the first reaction zone and reducing the ferric chloride formed in the third reaction zone with cuprous chloride to produce ferrous chloride and cupric chloride;
- thermally reducing the cupric chloride in a fourth reaction zone to produce cuprous chloride and chlorine and passing the ferrous chloride via the fourth reaction zone to the first reaction zone;
- passing the cuprous chloride produced to the third reaction zone and passing the chlorine to a fifth reaction zone, providing steam to the fifth reaction zone to produce oxygen gas and hydrogen chloride, and
- passing the hydrogen chloride produced to the second reaction zone and removing the oxygen produced.
A process for production of hydrogen from water in a five zone reactant regenerative closed cycle comprising the steps:
- providing steam and ferrous chloride to a first reaction zone to produce ferriferrous oxide, hydrogen chloride and hydrogen gas;
- removing the hydrogen produced, passing the hydrogen chloride produced to a fifth reaction zone and passing the ferriferrous oxide produced to a second reaction zone, reacting the ferriferrous oxide and chlorine in the second reaction zone to produce ferric chloride and oxygen;
- passing the oxygen formed to the fifth reaction zone and reducing the ferric chloride formed in a third reaction zone with cuprous chloride to produce ferrous chloride and cupric chloride;
- thermally reducing the cupric chloride in a fourth reaction zone to produce cuprous chloride and chlorine and passing the ferrous chloride via the fourth reaction zone to the first reaction zone;
- passing the cuprous chloride produced to the third reaction zone and passing the chlorine to a fifth reaction zone, providing steam to the fifth reaction zone to produce oxygen gas and hydrogen chloride;
- and
- passing the hydrogen chloride produced to the second reaction zone and removing the oxygen produced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.