US4818638A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for hydrogen thermal-electrochemical conversion
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
•
Filing: 1987-06-09
•
Granted: 1989-04-04
•
Expires: 2007-06-09
Abstract
Abstract A system for converting heat energy into electricity includes a conversion cell comprising a pair of spaced-apart electrodes having an electrolyte therebetween. The electrolyte is selected to pass negatively-charged hydrogen ions and to inhibit the passage of atomic hydrogen and positive hydrogen ions. Inducing a flow of hydrogen through the cell, a current may be generated between the electrodes as electrons are gained by the hydrogen as it enters the cell and lost by the hydrogen as it leaves the cell. In the preferred embodiment, hydrogen flow is induced by reacting the hydrogen leaving the cell with lithium or sodium to form the metal hydride. The metal hydride is then thermally decomposed to release the hydrogen and the molten metal to be recycled to the cell. In this way, the thermal energy used to decompose the metal hydride is converted into electrical energy by passing the hydrogen through the conversion cell.
Inventors
- 👤 Prodyot Roy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:09
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/18; H01M8/182; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A thermoelectric conversion cell comprising: a pair of spaced-apart solid electrodes having an electrolyte therebetween chosen to selectively pass ionized hydrogen atoms; means for supplying hydrogen gas to a first of said electrodes; means for supplying a reactant which reacts with hydrogen gas to a second of said electrodes so that a chemical potential created across the electrodes, whereby the flow of hydrogen across the electrodes induces a current flow between the electrodes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
A thermoelectric conversion cell comprising: a pair of spaced-apart solid electrodes having an electrolyte therebetween chosen to selectively pass ionized hydrogen atoms; means for supplying hydrogen gas to a first of said electrodes; means for supplying a reactant which reacts with hydrogen gas to a second of said electrodes so that a chemical potential created across the electrodes, whereby the flow of hydrogen across the electrodes induces a current flow between the electrodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cell as in claim 1, wherein the electrodes are composed of a solid metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, palladium, vanadium, zirconium, and niobium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cell as in claim 1, wherein the electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of a mixture of lithium hydride and lithium chloride, and a mixture of calcium hydride and calcium chloride.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A cell as in claim 1, wherein the reactant is a molten metal which reacts with hydrogen to form a metal hydride.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A cell as in claim 4, wherein the means for supplying hydrogen gas comprises a means for thermally decomposing the metal hydride formed by reaction of hydrogen and the molten metal, which means for thermally decomposing also supplies the molten metal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
113 words
A thermoelectric conversion system comprising: a cell including a pair of spaced-apart solid electrodes having an electrolyte therebetween chosen to selectively pass ionized hydrogen atoms; an external circuit connecting the electrodes; means for thermally decomposing a metal hydride into hydrogen gas and molten metal; means for directing the hydrogen gas to a first of said electrodes; means for cooling the molten metal; and means for directing the cooled molten metal to a second of said electrodes so that the metal reacts with hydrogen which has passed through the cell to reform the metal hydride, whereby hydrogen passing through the cell causes an electric current to pass through an external circuit connecting the electrodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
113 words
A thermoelectric conversion system comprising: a cell including a pair of spaced-apart solid electrodes having an electrolyte therebetween chosen to selectively pass ionized hydrogen atoms; an external circuit connecting the electrodes; means for thermally decomposing a metal hydride into hydrogen gas and molten metal; means for directing the hydrogen gas to a first of said electrodes; means for cooling the molten metal; and means for directing the cooled molten metal to a second of said electrodes so that the metal reacts with hydrogen which has passed through the cell to reform the metal hydride, whereby hydrogen passing through the cell causes an electric current to pass through an external circuit connecting the electrodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as in claim 6, wherein the electrodes are composed of a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, palladium, vanadium, zirconium, and niobium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as in claim 6, wherein the electrolyte selectively passes negatively charged hydrogen ions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as in claim 8, wherein the electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of a mixture of lithium hydride and lithium chloride, and a mixture of calcium hydride and calcium chloride.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as in claim 6, wherein the means for thermally decomposing includes a vessel heated by a nuclear reactor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as in claim 6, further comprising means for recycling the reformed metal hydride to the means for thermally decomposing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3031518A
Cited
US3014084A
Cited
US3245836A
Cited
US3368921A
Cited
US3119723A
Cited
US3192070A
Cited
US3357860A
Cited
US3338749A
Cited
US3511715A
Cited
US3458356A
Cited
US3817791A
Cited
US4049877A
Cited
US4443522A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-04-03 | 1992-10-03 | 1993-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-04-03 | 1996-10-03 | 1997-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-04-03 | 2000-10-03 | 2001-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |