US4547356A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of generating hydrogen and using the generated hydrogen
Assignee: Unique Energy Systems Inc
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Filing: 1983-01-03
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Granted: 1985-10-15
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Expires: 2003-01-03
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is directed to a hydrogen generating system which produces hydrogen instantaneously from water ready for use upon demand. The system includes a reactor that has reaction zones wherein catalyst and elevated temperatures generate hydrogen from steam. The zones in the reactor can be in the form of tubes about a heat generating chamber, and the zones are adapted to be interconnected to each other, to atmosphere, and to the source of steam, all to maximize the generation of hydrogen by providing a reactor of optimum flexibility. The present invention also is directed to systems which include the hydrogen generating system and which utilize the generated hydrogen as a fuel or a chemical.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald I. Papineau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:47
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02G; F02G1/00; F02G1/04; F02G1/043; C; C01; C01B; C01B3/00; C01B3/02; C01B3/04; C01B3/042; C01B3/045; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/36; Y10; Y10S; Y10S123/00; Y10S123/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
In an energy system, the method of producing hydrogen comprising: placing porous material in a reaction zone of a reactor; heating said reaction zone; heating water; feeding the water at elevated temperatures through said reaction zone for interaction with the porous material resulting in the disassociation of hydrogen from the water; and diffusing the resulting hydrogen through said porous material to separate the hydrogen from the water and diassociated oxygen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
In an energy system, the method of producing hydrogen comprising: placing porous material in a reaction zone of a reactor; heating said reaction zone; heating water; feeding the water at elevated temperatures through said reaction zone for interaction with the porous material resulting in the disassociation of hydrogen from the water; and diffusing the resulting hydrogen through said porous material to separate the hydrogen from the water and diassociated oxygen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of combusting said hydrogen to aid in said heating.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of: conveying the hydrogen to an engine as the fuel for combustion therein; combusting the hydrogen in said engine; and applying heat from said combustion to said water to increase said heating of said water, the temperature thereof being sufficiently elevated to convert the water to steam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 3 wherein the engine is selected from the group consisting of the piston driven internal combustion engine, the rotary driven internal combustion engine, the gas turbine and the stirling engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 1 further comprising: reacting the generated hydrogen in a fuel cell for the generation of electricity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
131 words
In an energy system, the method of producing hydrogen comprising the steps of: placing porous material in reaction zones in a reactor; heating said reaction zones; heating water for the generation of steam; feeding said steam to the reaction zones for interaction with said porous material resulting in the disassociation of hydrogen from said steam; diffusing the resulting hydrogen through said porous material to separate the hydrogen from the steam and disassociated oxygen; subsequently passing a portion of said hydrogen through said reaction zones to regenerate said porous material; and alternating the flow of said steam and said portion of said hydrogen via transversed and radial passages in the reactor adapted to interconnect the longitudinal reaction zones to each other, thereby permitting the interleaving of said steps of feeding and passing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
131 words
In an energy system, the method of producing hydrogen comprising the steps of: placing porous material in reaction zones in a reactor; heating said reaction zones; heating water for the generation of steam; feeding said steam to the reaction zones for interaction with said porous material resulting in the disassociation of hydrogen from said steam; diffusing the resulting hydrogen through said porous material to separate the hydrogen from the steam and disassociated oxygen; subsequently passing a portion of said hydrogen through said reaction zones to regenerate said porous material; and alternating the flow of said steam and said portion of said hydrogen via transversed and radial passages in the reactor adapted to interconnect the longitudinal reaction zones to each other, thereby permitting the interleaving of said steps of feeding and passing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of producing hydrogen according to claim 6 wherein said alternating is responsive to a sensing of the concentration of said hydrogen.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of generating hydrogen according to claim 6 wherein said porous material in each zone is metallic and contains innumerable sites on its surface, which, with the elevated temperatures in each zone, effect the generation of hydrogen.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of generating hydrogen according to claim 8, wherein said porous material is formed of a cellular structure of interconnected metal filaments.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of generating hydrogen according to claim 9 wherein said porous material is selected from the group consisting of iron, copper, silver, nickel, palladium, platinum and iron-nickel and molybdenum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of generating hydrogen according to claim 6 wherein the steam in said zones and in the presence of said porous material is elevated to a temperature from 1000° F. to about 2000° F. for the generation of hydrogen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of producing hydrogen according to claim 6 further comprising the step of quenching the hydrogen, oxygen and residual steam to reduce the temperatures thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of producing hydrogen according to claim 6 wherein said zone heating step results in a heating of the zones to a temperature of about 1000° F. to about 2000° F., said method further comprising the step of quenching the hydrogen to reduce the temperature thereof.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
132 words
The method of producing hydrogen comprising the steps of: placing porous material in the reaction zones of a reactor; heating said reaction zones and said porous material; heating water to generate steam therefrom; feeding said steam into a first set of selected ones of said reaction zones to permit interacting of said steam at elevated temperatures with said porous material to produce hydrogen until said porous material becomes deactivated by oxidation; feeding a reducing agent into a second set of other ones of said reaction zones wherein said porous material has become deactivated to reactivate said porous material; transferring heat between said first and second sets of reaction zones to thereby increase the production of hydrogen; and alternating the flow of said steam and said reducing agent between sets of reaction zones.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
132 words
The method of producing hydrogen comprising the steps of: placing porous material in the reaction zones of a reactor; heating said reaction zones and said porous material; heating water to generate steam therefrom; feeding said steam into a first set of selected ones of said reaction zones to permit interacting of said steam at elevated temperatures with said porous material to produce hydrogen until said porous material becomes deactivated by oxidation; feeding a reducing agent into a second set of other ones of said reaction zones wherein said porous material has become deactivated to reactivate said porous material; transferring heat between said first and second sets of reaction zones to thereby increase the production of hydrogen; and alternating the flow of said steam and said reducing agent between sets of reaction zones.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of producing hydrogen according to claim 14 further comprising the step of diffusing the hydrogen through said porous material to separate the hydrogen from the steam.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of producing hydrogen ready for use, upon demand, according to claim 15, comprising: detecting whether the hydrogen producing zones are producing hydrogen, and controlling the flows of steam and reducing agent so that when the porous material in the hydrogen producing reaction zones becomes deactivated, reducing agent is fed thereto to reactivate the porous material, and when the porous material in the deactivated reaction zones becomes reactivated, steam is fed thereto.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of producing hydrogen according to claim 16 wherein said reducing agent is a portion of the hydrogen produced by said interacting.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of producing hydrogen from steam according to claim 17, wherein said porous material comprises a web like structure of interconnected filaments of metal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of producing hydrogen from steam according to claim 18 wherein the temperature of the steam in the reaction zones and in the presence of the porous material is elevated to the range of approximately 1000° F. to approximately 2000° F.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of producing hydrogen as recited in claim 14 further comprising the steps of: conveying the fluids of reaction from the hydrogen producing zones to a separator, and separating hydrogen from said fluids.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-10-14 | 1989-04-15 | 1989-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-10-14 | 1993-04-15 | 1993-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-10-14 | 1997-04-15 | 1997-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |