Hydrogen storage system

Claim 2

In a storage system for storing hydrogen gas, a storage cell comprising: a membrane structure generally cylindrical in shape and defining a cylindrical cavity adapted to accepting a volume of hydridable material therein, and comprising: screen means and means for coating said screen means so that said membrane structure is permeable to hydrogen gas and impermeable to a hydridable material said coating means being a ceramic material formed by firing an aqueous binder solution comprising a powder containing aluminum, aluminum phosphate, a soluble chromium compound, and an organic amine compound; and means for plugging said cylindrical membrane structure opposingly disposed and fixedly attached at each end of said cylindrical membrane structure so that said cylindrical cavity is completely enclosed.

Claim 3

In a storage system for storing hydrogen gas, a storage cell comprising: at least two substantially planar membrane structures, each of said membrane structures comprising: screen means and means for coating said screen means so that each of said membrane structures is permeable to hydrogen gas and impermeable to a hydridable material; and gasket means for separating said at least two membrane means and for sealing at least three interior surfaces of each of said membrane structures thereby disposing said membrane structures along opposing parallel planes and defining a cavity therebetween, said cavity being enclosed on at least three sides by said gasket means and being exposed on the remaining side for accepting a volume of a hydridable material therein.

Claim 4

In a storage system for storing hydrogen gas, a storage cell comprising: at least two substantially planar membrane structures, each of said membrane structures comprising: screen means and means for coating said screen means so that each of said membrane structures is permeable to hydrogen gas and impermeable to a hydridable material; and gasket means for separating said at least two membrane means and for sealing at least three interior surfaces of each of said membrane structures thereby disposing said membrane structures along opposing parallel planes and defining a cavity therebetween, said cavity being enclosed on at least three sides by said gasket means and being exposed on the remaining side for accepting a volume of a hydridable material therein.

Claim 5

In a storage system for storing hydrogen, a storage cell comprising; a membrane structure, said membrane structure being formed in a general U-shape about a central axis and comprising: screen means; and means for coating said screen means so that said structure is permeable to hydrogen gas and impermeable to a hydridable material; and gasket means sealed to at least a portion of the interior surfaces of said U-shaped membrane structure and enclosing a cavity defined by said gasket means and said U-shaped membrane structure, said cavity for accepting a volume of a hydriable material therein.

Claim 6

In a storage system for storing hydrogen, a storage cell comprising; a membrane structure, said membrane structure being formed in a general U-shape about a central axis and comprising: screen means; and means for coating said screen means so that said structure is permeable to hydrogen gas and impermeable to a hydridable material; and gasket means sealed to at least a portion of the interior surfaces of said U-shaped membrane structure and enclosing a cavity defined by said gasket means and said U-shaped membrane structure, said cavity for accepting a volume of a hydriable material therein.

Claim 7

A storage system for hydrogen gas, comprising: a plurality of storage cells; and means for enclosing said plurality of storage cells so that hydrogen gas can be charged thereinto and discharged therefrom, wherein each storage cell comprises: a generally cylindrical membrane structure comprising screen means and means for coating said screen means so that it is permeable to hydrogen gas and impermeable to a hydridable material said coating means being a ceramic material formed by firing an aqueous binder solution comprising a powder containing aluminum, aluminum phosphate, a soluble chromium compound, and an organic amine compound; and means for plugging said cylindrical membrane structure opposingly disposed and fixedly attached at each end of said cylindrical membrane structure so that a cavity defined by said cylindrical structure is completely enclosed.

Claim 8

A storage system for hydrogen gas, comprising: a plurality of storage cells; and means for enclosing said plurality of storage cells so that hydrogen gas can be charged thereinto and discharged therefrom, wherein each storage cell comprises: a generally cylindrical membrane structure comprising screen means and means for coating said screen means so that it is permeable to hydrogen gas and impermeable to a hydridable material said coating means being a ceramic material formed by firing an aqueous binder solution comprising a powder containing aluminum, aluminum phosphate, a soluble chromium compound, and an organic amine compound; and means for plugging said cylindrical membrane structure opposingly disposed and fixedly attached at each end of said cylindrical membrane structure so that a cavity defined by said cylindrical structure is completely enclosed.

Claim 9

A storage system for storing hydrogen gas, comprising: a plurality of storage cells; means for enclosing said plurality of storage cells so that hydrogen gas can be charged thereinto and discharged therefrom, wherein each storage cell comprises: at least two substantially planar membrane structures, each of said membrane structures comprising screen means and means for coating said screen means so that each of said membrane structures is permeable to hydrogen gas and impermeable to a hydridable material; and gasket means for separating said at least two membrane structures, and being sealed to a portion of at least three interior surfaces of each of said membrane structures thereby disposing said membrane structures along opposing parallel planes defining a cavity therebetween, said cavity being enclosed on at least three sides by said gasket means and being exposed on the remaining side for accepting a volume of hydridable material therein.

Claim 10

A storage system for storing hydrogen gas, comprising: a plurality of storage cells; means for enclosing said plurality of storage cells so that hydrogen gas can be charged thereinto and discharged therefrom, wherein each storage cell comprises: at least two substantially planar membrane structures, each of said membrane structures comprising screen means and means for coating said screen means so that each of said membrane structures is permeable to hydrogen gas and impermeable to a hydridable material; and gasket means for separating said at least two membrane structures, and being sealed to a portion of at least three interior surfaces of each of said membrane structures thereby disposing said membrane structures along opposing parallel planes defining a cavity therebetween, said cavity being enclosed on at least three sides by said gasket means and being exposed on the remaining side for accepting a volume of hydridable material therein.

Claim 11

A storage system for hydrogen gas, comprising: a plurality of storage cells; means for enclosing said plurality of storage cells so that hydrogen gas can be charged thereinto and discharged therefrom, wherein each storage cell comprises: a generally U-shaped membrane structure comprising screen means and means for coating said screen means so that it is permeable to hydrogen gas and impermeable to a hydridable material; and gasket means sealed to at least a portion of the interior surfaces of said U-shaped membrane structure and enclosing a cavity defined by said gasket means and said U-shaped membrane structure, the cavity accepting a volume of a hydriable material therein.

Claim 12

A storage system for hydrogen gas, comprising: a plurality of storage cells; means for enclosing said plurality of storage cells so that hydrogen gas can be charged thereinto and discharged therefrom, wherein each storage cell comprises: a generally U-shaped membrane structure comprising screen means and means for coating said screen means so that it is permeable to hydrogen gas and impermeable to a hydridable material; and gasket means sealed to at least a portion of the interior surfaces of said U-shaped membrane structure and enclosing a cavity defined by said gasket means and said U-shaped membrane structure, the cavity accepting a volume of a hydriable material therein.

Claim 13

In a storage system as recited in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein each storage cell further comprises an electrical connection means for conducting an electrical current to said membrane structure so that hydrogen gas releasably stored as a hydride in the hydridable material is liberated and permeated through said membrane structure.

Claim 14

In a storage system as recited in claims 4, 5 or 6, wherein the enclosing means comprises a first means for charging the cells with hydrogen gas and a second means for discharging hydrogen gas from the cells.

Claim 15

In a storage system as recited by claim 7 wherein the screen means of said membrane structure is a #18 mesh screen produced from wire of an electrical-resistance metal alloy.

Claim 16

In a storage system as recited by claim 7 wherein the screen means of said membrane structure is a #30 mesh screen produced from wire of an electrical-resistance metal alloy.

Claim 17

In a storage system as recited in claims 2 or 3, wherein the coating means is a ceramic material formed by firing an aqueous binder solution.

Claim 18

In a storage system as recited in claim 11, wherein the aqueous binder solution comprises a powder containing aluminum; aluminum phosphate; a soluble chromium compound; and an organic amine compound.

Claim 19

In a storage system as recited in claim 9, wherein the wire mesh screen is constructed from about 0.005-0.016 inch diameter circular wire.

Claim 20

In a storage system as recited in claims 2, 3, 5 or 6, wherein the gasket means comprises an asbestos gasket.

Claim 21

In a storage system as recited in claim 1, wherein said plugging means comprises a plurality of metal plugs.

Claim 22

In a storage system as recited in claim 1, wherein said plugging means comprises a plurality of ceramic material plugs.

Claim 23

In a storage system as recited in claim 1, wherein said plug means comprises a plurality of ceramic coated metal screen composite material plugs.

Claim 24

In a storage system as recited in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical membrane structure is corrugated.

Claim 25

In a storage system as recited in claim 1, wherein said plugging means includes at least one plug having an opening for adding and removing the hydridable material enclosed within the cylindrical cavity.

Claim 26

In a storage system as recited in claim 19, wherein the opening is defined by a threaded female member fixedly attached to said plug and a removably threaded male member communicable with said female member.

Claim 27

In a storage system as recited in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the hydridable material is LaNi 5 or Fe/Ti alloy.

Claim 28

In a storage system as recited in claim 7, wherein the coating means is a ceramic material formed by firing an aqueous binder solution.

Claim 29

In a storage system as recited in claim 22, wherein the aqueous binder solution comprises a powder containing aluminum, aluminum phosphate, a soluble chromium compound, and an organic amine compound.

Claim 32

A method as recited in claim 24, wherein the hydridable material is LaNi 5 or Fe/Ti alloy.

Claim 33

A method as recited in claim 24 wherein the ceramic material comprises a binder solution comprising a powder containing aluminum; aluminum phosphate; a soluble chromium compound; and an organic amine compound.

Claim 34

A membrane that permits hydrogen gas to permeate therethrough but does not permit submicron particles of a hydridable material to permeate therethrough comprising: screen means; and means for coating said screen means so that the membrane is permeable to hydrogen gas and impermeable to submicron powders of hydridable material wherein the coating means is a ceramic material formed by firing an aqueous binder solution at 1000° F., the binder solution comprising a powder containing aluminum, aluminum phosphate, a soluble chromium compound, and an organic amine compound.

Claim 35

A membrane that permits hydrogen gas to permeate therethrough but does not permit submicron particles of a hydridable material to permeate therethrough comprising: screen means; and means for coating said screen means so that the membrane is permeable to hydrogen gas and impermeable to submicron powders of hydridable material wherein the coating means is a ceramic material formed by firing an aqueous binder solution at 1000° F., the binder solution comprising a powder containing aluminum, aluminum phosphate, a soluble chromium compound, and an organic amine compound.

Claim 36

A membrane as recited in claim 27 wherein the screen means is a #18 mesh screen produced from wire of an electrical-resistance metal alloy.

Claim 37

A membrane as recited in claim 27 wherein the screen means is a #30 mesh screen produced from wire of an electrical-resistance metal alloy.

Claim 40

A method as recited in claim 30 wherein step (b) is practiced at about 1000° F.

Claim 41

A method as recited in claim 30 wherein the screen is a #18 mesh screen.

Claim 42

A method as recited in claim 30 wherein the screen is a #30 mesh screen.

Claim 43

A method as recited in claim 30 wherein the aqueous binder solution comprises aluminum phosphate; a soluble chromium compound; and a ceramic amine compound.

Claim 44

A method as recited in claim 30 wherein the aqueous binder solution comprises an alumina powder having a crystal structure corresponding to that of corundum; a soluble chromium compound; and an organic amine compound.