Hydrogen thermal electrochemical converter

A electrochemical conversion system comprising:

• a cell including a pair of spaced-apart solid electrodes having an electrolyte therebetween chosen to selectively pass ionized hydrogen atoms;
• an external circuit connecting the electrodes;
• means for thermally decomposing and separating a metal hydride into hydrogen gas and molten metal mixture of lithium and sodium;
• means for directing the hydrogen gas to a first of said electrodes;
• means for cooling the molten metal mixture;
• and
• means for directing the cooled molten metal mixture to a second of said electrodes so that the metal mixture reacts with hydrogen which has passed through the cell to reform the metal hydride, whereby hydrogen passing through the cell causes an electric current to pass through an external circuit connecting the electrodes.

A method for producing electricity, said method comprising:

• thermally decomposing and separating a metal hydride at a first temperature to produce hydrogen gas and a molten metal mixture of lithium and sodium;
• directing the hydrogen gas to a first electrode of a cell including a pair of spaced-apart solid electrodes having an electrolyte therebetween chosen to selectively pass ionized hydrogen atoms;
• cooling said molten metal mixture to a second temperature;
• and
• directing the cooled molten metal mixture to a location adjacent the second electrode so that the metal reacts with hydrogen which has passed through the cell to reform the metal hydride, whereby hydrogen passing through the cell causes an electric current to pass through an external circuit connecting the electrodes.