System for hydrogen generation -> Monitor Keywords
Fresh Patents
Monitor Patents Patent Organizer File a Provisional Patent Browse Inventors Browse Industry Browse Agents Browse Locations
site info Site News  |  monitor Monitor Keywords  |  monitor archive Monitor Archive  |  organizer Organizer  |  account info Account Info  |  
07/02/09 - USPTO Class 422 |  30 views | #20090169446 | Prev - Next | About this Page  422 rss/xml feed  monitor keywords

System for hydrogen generation

USPTO Application #: 20090169446
Title: System for hydrogen generation
Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition and method for storage and controlled release of hydrogen. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of borohydride based solutions as a hydrogen storage source and a catalyst system to release hydrogen therefrom. (end of abstract)



Agent: Dickstein Shapiro LLP - Washington, DC, US
Inventors: Steven C. Amendola, Michael Binder, Stefanie L. Sharp-Goldman, Michael T. Kelly, Phillip J. Petillo
USPTO Applicaton #: 20090169446 - Class: 422234 (USPTO)

System for hydrogen generation description/claims


The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20090169446, System for hydrogen generation.

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
  monitor keywords CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 09/999,226, filed October 26, 2001 entitled System for Hydrogen Generation which, in turn, is a divisional application Ser. No. 09/479,362, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,534,033, filed on Jan. 7, 2000, entitled System for Hydrogen Generation.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for generating hydrogen gas. In particular, the present invention relates to a hydrogen generation system including a stabilized metal hydride solution and a catalyst system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hydrogen is a “clean fuel” because it can be reacted with oxygen in hydrogen-consuming devices, such as a fuel cell or combustion engine, to produce energy and water. Virtually no other reaction byproducts are produced in the exhaust. As a result, the use of hydrogen as a fuel effectively solves many environmental problems associated with the use of petroleum based fuels. Safe and efficient storage of hydrogen gas is, therefore, essential for many applications that can use hydrogen. In particular, minimizing volume and weight of the hydrogen storage systems are important factors in mobile applications.

Several methods of storing hydrogen currently exist but are either inadequate or impractical for wide-spread consumer applications. For example, hydrogen can be stored in liquid form at very low temperatures. Cryogenic storage, however, only provides a volume density of 70 grams of hydrogen per liter, which is clearly insufficient for consumer applications. In addition, the energy consumed in liquefying hydrogen gas is about 60% of the energy available from the resulting hydrogen. Finally, liquid hydrogen is not safe or practical for most consumer applications.

An alternative is to store hydrogen under high pressure in cylinders. However, a 100 pound steel cylinder can only store about one pound of hydrogen at about 2200 psi, which translates into 1% by weight of hydrogen storage. More expensive composite cylinders with special compressors can store hydrogen at higher pressures of about 4,500 psi to achieve a more favorable storage ratio of about 4% by weight. Although even higher pressures are possible, safety factors and the high amount of energy consumed in achieving such high pressures have compelled a search for alternative hydrogen storage technologies that are both safe and efficient.

Other methods of hydrogen storage include the use of chemical compounds that either (i) chemically react with water or other species to generate hydrogen or (ii) reversibly adsorb and then release the hydrogen. However, these methods and compounds suffer from many deficiencies, which make them unsuitable for use in consumer applications. These deficiencies include, high cost, poor safety, poor hydrogen storage capacities, decreased reversibility, poor hydrogen generation capacities, poor control of hydrogen generation, and high system complexities.

In view of the above, there is a need for safer, more effective methods of storing and recovering hydrogen. In addition, there is a need to meet the above requirements while minimizing overall system volume and weight. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide safer and more efficient methods for storing and generating hydrogen. These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description and examples that follow

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a supported hydrogen generation catalyst having molecules of a hydrogen generation catalyst bound to, entrapped within, and/or coated onto a substrate. Also provided is a process for making these catalysts, which includes: (A) contacting a substrate with a solution having a transition metal ion; and (B) contacting the resulting substrate of (A) with a reducing agent.

In another embodiment, the present invention also provides a process for producing a supported hydrogen generation catalyst by electrochemical plating. This process includes: placing a conductive substrate in a solution having a transition metal ion; and applying a voltage to the substrate to thereby electrochemically plate a transition metal coating onto the substrate. Preferably, a varying voltage is applied to obtain a transition metal black coating.

In still another embodiment, the present invention provides a process for producing a supported hydrogen generation catalyst by chemical vapor deposition. This process includes: evaporating a transition metal complex comprising a transition metal ion and a chemical vapor deposition complexing compound; recondensing the transition metal complex onto a substrate; and applying a reducing agent to the transition metal complex that is deposited on the substrate.

The present invention also provides a hydrogen generation system, which includes a stabilized metal hydride solution and a hydrogen generation catalyst system. The stabilized metal hydride solution has a metal hydride, a stabilizing agent, and water. The hydrogen generation catalyst system includes a hydrogen generation catalyst. Preferably, the catalyst system further includes a containment system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated from a reading of the detailed description when considered with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a graph of hydrogen generation rates versus concentration of sodium borohydride utilizing a supported catalyst according to the present invention;



Continue reading about System for hydrogen generation...
Full patent description for System for hydrogen generation

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims

Click on the above for other options relating to this System for hydrogen generation patent application.
###
monitor keywords

How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents
1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored.
3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords.  
Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like System for hydrogen generation or other areas of interest.
###


Previous Patent Application:
Devices and methods for honeycomb continuous flow reactors
Next Patent Application:
Methods and compositions for the removal of impurities and water from the bayer process
Industry Class:
Chemical apparatus and process disinfecting, deodorizing, preserving, or sterilizing

###

FreshPatents.com Support
Thank you for viewing the System for hydrogen generation patent info.
IP-related news and info


Results in 3.43276 seconds


Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories:
Medical: Surgery Surgery(2) Surgery(3) Drug Drug(2) Prosthesis Dentistry   paws
filepatents (1K)

* Protect your Inventions
* US Patent Office filing
patentexpress PATENT INFO