Hydrogen generator

Abstract

A gas generator in which the gas is produced by a reaction between a solid metal and a liquid reactant. The generator is operated to produce hydrogen intended as an energy source particularly for operating internal combustion engines. A solid reactant is reacted with a liquid reactant under conditions in which both reactants are moving and continuously maintained under operating conditions. The solid is in the form of metal balls which are conveyed through a reaction chamber on inclined perforate channels. The liquid reactant is sprayed over the moving balls. Waste solid reaction products are removed by the rolling action of the balls on the perforate channels and the washing action of the sprayed liquid reactant. In the production of hydrogen, aluminum metal balls are used and the liquid reactant is a solution of sodium hydroxide. Because the reaction is exothermic, excess heat is removed by cooling the liquid reactant.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.