• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    The invention relates to a fuel cartridge (200) and comprises a reactor compartment. (204) housing a reactive material in which an aqueous solution having a pH in the range 12,5 to 14 can be introduced to react with the reactive material to generate hydrogen gas. There is an inlet to said reactor compartment (204) for said aqueous solution and an outlet (216) for hydrogen gas. A porous and hydrophilic film (220) is provided in the reactor compartment at said inlet and having an extension over at least a part of the inner space of the reactor compartment. The film is adapted to convey said aqueous solution by capillary force to distribute the solution over the inside of said reactor chamber.The film is suitably provided against an inner wall of the reactor compartment and covers at least 50% of the inner wall, preferably the entire inner wall.(Fig. 1)
    公开号:SE1650014A1
    申请号:SE1650014
    申请日:2016-01-05
    公开日:2017-07-06
    发明作者:Glantz Michael；Westerholm Björn
    申请人:Myfc Ab；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    DISTRIBUTION OF REACTANT SOLUTION IN A FUEL CARTRIDGE The present invention relates to fuel cell technology and in particular to adistribution structure for a reactant solution in a fuel cartridge for providinghydrogen as fuel for fuel cells, and a fuel cartridge.
    Background Fuel cells have attracted more interest over the last few years for many applications,both in automotive technology but also in small scale for the production ofelectricity. One application is for providing charging of electronic equipment, suchas mobile phones, laptop computers etcetera.
    In the last few years chemical hydride systems have been developed and been inuse for a number of products.
    In adsorption hydrogen storage for fueling a fuel cell, molecular hydrogen isassociated with the chemical fuel by either physisorption or chemisorption.Chemical hydrides, such as lithium hydride (LiH), lithium aluminum hydride(LiAIH4), lithium borohydride (LiBH4), sodium hydride (NaH), sodium borohydride(NaBH4), and the like, are used to store hydrogen gas non-reversibly. Chemicalhydrides produce large amounts of hydrogen gas upon reaction with water asshown below: NaBH4 + QHQO -» NQBOQ + 4H2 To reliably control the reaction of chemical hydrides with water to release hydrogengas from a fuel storage device, a catalyst must be employed along with control ofthe water's pH. Additionally, the chemical hydride is often embodied in a slurry ofinert stabilizing liquid to protect the hydride from early release of its hydrogen gas.
    In chemical reaction methods for producing hydrogen for a fuel cell, often hydrogenstorage and hydrogen release are catalyzed by a modest change in temperature orpressure of the chemical fuel. One example of this chemical system, which iscatalyzed by temperature, is hydrogen generation from ammonia-borane by thefollowing reaction: NH3BH3 -> NHQBHQ + H2 -> NHBH + H2 The first reaction releases 6.1 wt.% hydrogen and occurs at approximately 120 °C,while the second reaction releases another 6.5 wt.% hydrogen and occurs atapproximately 160 °C. These chemical reaction methods do not use water as aninitiator to produce hydrogen gas, do not require a tight control of the system pH,and often do not require a separate catalyst material. However, these chemicalreaction methods are plagued with system control issues often due to the commonoccurrence of thermal runaway. See, for example, U.S. Patent 7,682,41 1 , for asystem designed to thermally initialize hydrogen generation from ammonia- boraneand to protect from thermal runaway. See, for example, U.S. Patents 7,316,788 and7,578,992, for chemical reaction methods that employ a catalyst and a solvent tochange the thermal hydrogen release conditions.
    Another more recent reaction system is using NaSi, as disclosed in i.a. in WO2015/143212.
    In a copending application the present inventors disclose a novel reactant systemfor use in a fuel cartridge for the production of hydrogen for fuel cell applications.The novel system comprises water, a water soluble first reactant and a second solidreactant in the form of aluminium powder. When contacted with an aqueoussolution of the first reactant the aluminium will react and produce hydrogen gas.
    In connection with the implementation of this reactant system in a fuel cartridgethere is a need for efficient and even distribution of reactant solution over thealuminium powder.
    Summary of the Invention The present inventors have therefore devised a novel means for controlled anduniform distribution of a reactant solution over the aluminium powder inside areactor compartment.
    This novel means is provided as a distribution feature of a fuel cartridge, and anovel fuel cartridge comprising this distribution feature is defined in claim 1.
    Thus, a fuel cartridge comprises a reactor compartment housing a reactive materialin which an aqueous solution having a pH in the range 12,5 - 14 can be introducedto react with the reactive material to generate hydrogen gas. There is an inlet to saidreactor compartment for said aqueous solution and an outlet for hydrogen gas. Aporous and hydrophilic film is provided in the reactor compartment at said inletand having an extension over at least a part of the inner space of the reactorcompartment. The film is adapted to convey said aqueous solution by capillary forceto distribute the solution over the inside of said reactor chamber.
    The film is suitably provided against an inner wall of the reactor compartment andcovers at least 50% of the inner wall, preferably the entire inner wall.
    Furthermore, there is suitably provided means adapted to mix the components ofthe reactant system with each other.
    In a further aspect a method of distributing reactant solution in a reactorcompartment of a fuel cartridge is also provided, and is defined in claim 6.
    Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 shows schematically the principle of the novel distribution means in a fuelcartridge; and Fig. 2 shows schematically an alternative embodiment.
    Detailed Description It is well-known that aluminium dissolves in e.g. aqueous sodium hydroxide withthe evolution of hydrogen gas, H2, and the formation of aluminates of the type[Al(OH)4]-, and the overall reaction can be written as follows: 2Al(s) + 2NaOH(aq) + 6H2O -> 2Na+(aq) + 2[Al(OH)4]- + 3H2(g) The bottom line is that when exposed to aqueous solutions under proper conditionsthe aluminium dissolves and hydrogen gas evolves.
    In the mentioned copending application the present inventors optimized thereaction system by selecting proper forms of aluminium and proper composition ofthe aqueous solution.
    In particular it is important to be able to control the hydrogen evolution, both interms of rate of evolution but also the spatial distribution, in order to fit theapplication in which the reactant system is to be used. It has been discovered thatif the aluminium is provided as a powder having a specified particle sizedistribution and surface properties it is possible to obtain a very efficient reactantsystem.
    The pH of the aqueous solution should be in the range pH 12,5 to 14.
    The reactant system thus comprises the above mentioned aluminum powder, waterand a water soluble compound which results in an alkaline solution, in particular ametal hydroxide such as LiOH, NaOH, KOH, Ca(OH)2 or Mg(OH)2 would be usable,NaOH being the preferred one.
    The Al powder, the water and the water soluble compound are provided in separatecompartments in a fuel cartridge, and the method comprises passing water fromone compartment to a mixing compartment wherein the water soluble compound ispresent whereby the water soluble compound dissolves to provide an aqueoussolution. The aqueous solution is passed to the reactor, wherein the Al powder ispresent, such that a reaction takes place and hydrogen evolves, and passing thehydrogen through an outlet to a fuel cell device.
    Suitably mechanical means are used for feeding the solution through suitablechannels. The mechanical means can be pump means, hydraulic/pneumaticsystems or the like.
    A fuel cartridge in which the novel distribution feature is to be implementedcomprises a reactor a reactor compartment 206 housing a reactive material(preferably Al powder) and in which an aqueous solution having a pH in the range12,5 to 14 can be introduced to react with the reactive material (Al powder) togenerate hydrogen gas. There is also provided an inlet 214 to said reactorcompartment 206 for said aqueous solution, and an outlet 216 for hydrogen gas.The gas H2 is then passed to a fuel cell device FCD via a connection 217 As already mentioned above it is important that the aqueous alkaline solution beuniformly distributed in a controlled manner (temporally as well as spatially) inorder to achieve the most efficient hydrogen production.
    The novel distribution feature therefore comprises a porous and hydrophilicmember 220 provided in the reactor compartment 206 at said inlet 214 and havingan extension over at least a part of, preferably over the entire inner space of thereactor compartment 206. The porous and hydrophilic member 220 is adapted toconvey said aqueous solution by capillary force within the member 220 to distributethe solution over the inside of said reactor chamber. Suitably the porous member220 is a film of polyethylene (PE). Such f1lms are available from Nitto under thetradename SUNMAP®.
    Fig. 1 is a schematic view of the “lid” part of an embodiment of a fuel cartridge 200.In addition to a reactor compartment 206 the fuel cartridge comprises a watercompartment 202 having outlet channel 203, and a miXing compartment 204having inlet 205.
    When the cartridge is to be used it will in one embodiment cooperatively engagewith a fuel cell device via an interface (not explicitly shown) that provides a watercontrol mechanism for transporting water from the water compartment 202 viachannel 203, through a channel system 219 (dashed line) in the interface, via inlet205 to the miXing compartment 204.
    In other embodiments the water control mechanism is integrated in the cartridgewhich thus forms a self-contained unit, described later.
    In the mixing compartment 204 the water will dissolve the water soluble compoundhoused therein, and the solution thus provided is passed through to the reactorcompartment 206 via inlet 214.
    In the reactor compartment there is provided a porous and hydrophilic member220, which in the shown embodiment covers practically the entire inner wall of thelid of the reactor 206. Suitably the member is a film of the material mentionedabove. In a preferred embodiment a tab of said film material covers the inlet 214 toact as a filter to prevent unwanted undissolved particles of the water solublecompound to enter the reactor.
    Of course it is possible that the film could cover the bottom inner wall of the reactorinstead of the inner lid wall. It is merely a matter of design considerations thatwould render one or the other preferable.
    A further aspect of the reactant solution distribution inside the reactorcompartment is to ascertain a rapid distribution within the reactive powder. It hasbeen discovered that if small beads of e.g. glass is distributed in the powder a muchmore efficient spreading occurs, thereby enhancing performance.
    These glass beads are preferably spherical and suitably 2,5 - 2,8 mm in diameter.Suitable beads that have been used in prototypes are obtainable from Preciosa, andare designed and intended for decorative use, e.g. for necklaces.
    In Fig. 2 a schematic illustration of a self-contained fuel cartridge 200' is shown. Ithas essentially the same overall constitution as the embodiment in Fig. 1, but herethe Water control mechanism, symbolized With a pump 224 provided in the channelsystem 219, is integrated in the cartridge 200”. The pump can be energized by asuitable electrical connection BAT in the device FCD (schematically shown Withdashed lines) to Which the cartridge is coupled in use.
    All other components remain the same as in the embodiment of Fig. 1.
    权利要求:
    Claims (8)
    [1] 1. Fuel cartridge (200) comprising a reactor compartment (204) housing a reactivematerial and in which an aqueous solution having a pH in the range XX - YY can beintroduced to react with the reactive material to generate hydrogen gas, characterized byan inlet (214) to said reactor compartment (204) for said aqueous solution;an outlet (216) for hydrogen gas; and a porous and hydrophilic film (220) provided in the reactor compartment (204)at said inlet (214) and having an extension over at least a part of the inner space ofthe reactor compartment (204), the film adapted to convey said aqueous solution bycapillary force to distribute the solution over the inside of said reactor chamber.
    [2] 2. Fuel cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the film is provided against an innerwall of the reactor compartment (204) and covers at least 50% of the inner wall,preferably the entire inner wall.
    [3] 3. Fuel cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the reactor compartment is filledwith close-packed beads, suitably of glass, where the reactive material occupies thespace between said beads.
    [4] 4. Fuel cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a filter (222) is provided at saidoutlet.
    [5] 5. Fuel cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the reactive material is aluminum,preferably in powder form.
    [6] 6. A method of distributing a reactant solution in a reactor compartment of a fuelcartridge, the reactor compartment comprising a solid first reactant, comprising thesteps of: providing an aqueous solution by dissolving a second reactant in water saidsecond reactant capable of reacting with the first reactant to provide hydrogen gas; passing said solution into the reactor compartment via a hydrophilic andporous member that has an extension over at least a major part of the reactorcompartment and in contact with said solid first reactant.
    [7] 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the solid first reactant is aluminiumpowder, and the second reactant is hydroxide compound, preferably NaOH.
    [8] 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the solution is made in a mixingchamber.
    类似技术:
    公开号 | 公开日 | 专利标题
    Jeong et al.2005|A study on hydrogen generation from NaBH4 solution using the high-performance Co-B catalyst
    US8586004B2|2013-11-19|Optimizing hydrogen generating efficiency in fuel cell cartridges
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    JP2009242232A|2009-10-22|Hydrogen storage material and related system
    CA2620962A1|2006-12-21|Hydrogen generating fuel cell cartridges
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    Ding et al.2018|Preparation and catalytic activity of wheat straw cellulose based hydrogel-nanometal composites for hydrogen generation from NaBH4 hydrolysis
    JP2006160545A|2006-06-22|Hydrogen producing device and fuel cell system
    SE1650014A1|2017-07-06|Distribution of reactant solution in a fuel cartridge
    US20190039889A1|2019-02-07|Fuel cartridge
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    US20150180062A1|2015-06-25|Fuel cartridge
    Ferreira et al.2010|On-demand hydrogen generation by hydrolysis of sodium borohydride in batch reactors: effect of the buffer pressure
    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    JP2019503976A|2019-02-14|
    EP3400194A1|2018-11-14|
    WO2017119840A1|2017-07-13|
    CN108698819A|2018-10-23|
    SE540499C2|2018-09-25|
    CA3009940A1|2017-07-13|
    US20190062158A1|2019-02-28|
    BR112018013656A2|2019-01-22|
    KR20180112781A|2018-10-12|
    引用文献:
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    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    SE1650014A|SE540499C2|2016-01-05|2016-01-05|Distribution of reactant solution in a fuel cartridge|SE1650014A| SE540499C2|2016-01-05|2016-01-05|Distribution of reactant solution in a fuel cartridge|
    KR1020187022441A| KR20180112781A|2016-01-05|2016-12-20|Distribution of reagent solution in fuel cartridge|
    US16/068,330| US20190062158A1|2016-01-05|2016-12-20|Distribution of reactant solution in a fuel cartridge|
    CA3009940A| CA3009940A1|2016-01-05|2016-12-20|Distribution of reactant solution in a fuel cartridge|
    CN201680078008.7A| CN108698819A|2016-01-05|2016-12-20|Distribution of the reactant solution in fuel cassette|
    JP2018554307A| JP2019503976A|2016-01-05|2016-12-20|Reagent solution distribution in fuel cartridges.|
    BR112018013656A| BR112018013656A2|2016-01-05|2016-12-20|dispensing reagent solution into a fuel cartridge|
    PCT/SE2016/051293| WO2017119840A1|2016-01-05|2016-12-20|Distribution of reactant solution in a fuel cartridge|
    EP16834212.9A| EP3400194A1|2016-01-05|2016-12-20|Distribution of reactant solution in a fuel cartridge|
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