Self-regulating hydrogen generator
AssigneeBall Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
InventorsEugene Long, Jeffrey A. Schmidt, Frank Lynch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydrogen generating apparatus that includes a reactant with a vapor phase at greater than atmospheric pressure. The apparatus includes a tank for housing the reactant, such as ammonia. Ammonia communicates with a reactor having a solid reactant, such as lithium aluminum tetrahydride. A check valve is located between the tank and the reactor and is used to control the flow of ammonia to the reactor. Heat generated by the reaction is useful in raising the temperature of the reactant in the tank. The reactor can also include a gas flow enhancing material that facilitates gas flow through the reactor. A filter and getters are employed downstream of the reactor to remove unwanted solids and impurities from the hydrogen gas stream.
Claims22
An apparatus for generating hydrogen, comprising:
- ammonia in which a majority thereof, by at least one of weight and volume is different from water;
- a solid reactant;
- a tank that contains said ammonia, with said ammonia being associated with a first pressure in said tank;
- a reactor that contains said solid reactant used in generating hydrogen gas;
- and
- a control device disposed between said tank and said reactor that controls movement of said ammonia from said tank to said reactor, wherein said control device allows said ammonia to pass therethrough depending on said first pressure of said ammonia in said tank and also depending on a second pressure in said reactor and wherein substantially only said control device controls passage of said ammonia between said tank and said reactor such that said control device is free of connection to any controller and pressure sensor used to control said control device.
An apparatus for generating hydrogen, comprising:
- ammonia in which a majority thereof, by at least one of weight and volume, is different from water;
- a solid reactant;
- a tank that houses said ammonia that includes at least a liquid phase and a vapor phase, wherein a first pressure is developed in said tank using said ammonia;
- a reactor that houses at least said solid reactant for use in generating hydrogen gas, wherein a second pressure is developed in said reactor using hydrogen gas;
- and
- a flow control member disposed between said tank and said reactor for controlling flow of said ammonia from said tank to said reactor using a difference between said first pressure and said second pressure;
- wherein said flow control member allows said ammonia to pass from said tank to said reactor independently of any external controller and any pressure sensor and in which said solid reactant is substantially continuously at ambient temperature in said reactor during the time said ammonia is not present in said reactor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.