초록 ▼

An embodiment of the present invention is a portable hydrogen generation system for operating a vehicle powered by either the hydrogen internal combustion engine or a fuel cell using active metals such as sodium potassium, magnesium, aluminum or iron in the form of an emulsion, and a method thereof.

An embodiment of the present invention is a portable hydrogen generation system for operating a vehicle powered by either the hydrogen internal combustion engine or a fuel cell using active metals such as sodium potassium, magnesium, aluminum or iron in the form of an emulsion, and a method thereof. The emulsion comprises a metal powder pre-mixed with oil. In the case of sodium, potassium and magnesium, the metal is reacting with water at or near room temperature. However, in the case of aluminum and iron, the metal is reacting with alkali hydroxide solutions. The system is controlled and managed by a microprocessor in order to generate hydrogen on demand at or near room temperature with a very high efficiency.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for generating portable hydrogen fuel on-demand for a hydrogen powered internal combustion engine comprising:a. reacting water or alkali hydroxide solution with a metal in a reaction tank, the metal being in the form of a metal-oil emulsion;b. storing the metal-oil emulsion in a set of c

1. A method for generating portable hydrogen fuel on-demand for a hydrogen powered internal combustion engine comprising:a. reacting water or alkali hydroxide solution with a metal in a reaction tank, the metal being in the form of a metal-oil emulsion;b. storing the metal-oil emulsion in a set of cartridges connected to and around the reaction tank, each cartridge having a solenoid delivering valve to deliver a flow of emulsion into the reaction tank;c. supplying compressed air to the system through a compressor to control pressure in the set of cartridges;d. drying the compressed air through a desiccator;e. collecting an oil and aqueous waste into a waste separating tank from the reacting step, whereby aqueous waste is collected in an aqueous waste tank and oil waste is collected in a waste oil tank; andf. controlling the system with a microprocessor, which controls timely opening and closing of the delivering valves in each of the cartridges in a sequence and continuously tracks metal-oil emulsion content and supply;wherein oily waste is continuously separated from the aqueous waste and bled into the waste oil tank from the reacting step, and pure hydrogen is generated at or near room temperature. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the metal-oil emulsion consists of a metallic powder comprising:finely divided sodium, potassium, magnesium or zinc, when reacted with water oraluminum powder or iron powder, when reacted with alkali hydroxide solution andwherein the size of the metallic powder ranges from about 25 to about 500 microns. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the emulsion comprises between 25% to 75% of metal by weight. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a metallic powder in the said metal emulsions is prepared just before the making of the metal-oil emulsion to minimize possible contamination by air and water vapor. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the oil in the metal-oil emulsion is a high boiling point hydrocarbon oil (above 300 degrees F.) or a vegetable oil. 6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising stirring within the reaction tank with a stirrer to promote a rapid and complete reaction between the metal and water or between the metal and alkali hydroxide solution. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the emulsion has a consistency comparable to that of a paste. 8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:supplying a smooth and steady flow of the metal emulsion into the reaction tank,regulating the flow by the pressure difference between a cartridge in use and the reaction tank,controlling the pressure in the cartridge by a pressure controller attached to a compressed air reservoir supplied by a compressor;wherein when the engine is stopping, the pressure of hydrogen in the reaction tank builds up to equal that of the metal emulsion cartridge, resulting in no flow of metal emulsion;wherein when the engine is running from idle to acceleration, the hydrogen pressure in the reaction tank progressively reduces, and the rate of flow of metal emulsion is proportionally increased. 9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sending information to a liquid crystal display. 10. The method according to claim 1, further comprisingcollecting information of pressures in the system and levels of metal-oil emulsion remaining in cartridges through a set of pressure and level sensors, andmanaging such information by a software program,wherein the microprocessor facilitates collecting and managing the information. 11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising heating the reaction tank with an electric heater in the case where the metal used is aluminum or iron wherein the temperature of the reaction tank is controlled by the microprocessor to maintain an optimal setting between room temperature and 250 degrees C. 12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising removing excess heat generated by the reaction tank by a variable speed blower to keep the temperature of the reaction tank constant, and the speed of the blower is controlled by the microprocessor. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein removing excess heat from the reaction tank is further facilitated by installing cooling fins to the reaction tank. 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the system is installed on board an automobile or motor vehicle having a hydrogen powered internal combustion engine. 15. A portable hydrogen-on-demand-generating system for a hydrogen powered internal combustion engine comprising:a. a reaction tank for reacting water or alkali hydroxide solution with a metal, the metal being in the form of a metal-oil emulsion;b. a set of cartridges connected to and around the reaction tank for storing the metal-oil emulsion, each cartridge having a solenoid delivering valve to deliver a flow of emulsion into the reaction tank;c. a compressor to control pressure in the set of cartridges and for supplying compressed air to the system;d. a desiccator to dry the compressed air before entering the cartridges;e. a waste separating tank for collecting an oil and aqueous waste resulting from the reacting step, further having an aqueous waste tank for collecting aqueous waste and a waste oil tank for collecting oil waste; andf. a microprocessor for controlling and managing the system, the microprocessor controls timely opening and closing of the delivering valves in each of the cartridges in a sequence and continuously tracks metal-oil emulsion content and supply;wherein oily waste is continuously separated from the aqueous waste and bled into the waste oil tank from the reacting step, and pure hydrogen is generated at or near room temperature. 16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the metal-oil emulsion consists of a metallic powder comprisingfinely divided sodium, potassium, magnesium or zinc, when reacted with water oraluminum powder or iron powder, when reacted with alkali hydroxide solution andwherein the size of the metallic powder ranges from about 25 to about 500 microns and wherein the emulsion comprises between 25% to 75% of metal by weight. 17. The system according to claim 15, wherein a metallic powder in the said metal emulsions is prepared just before the making of the metal-oil emulsion to minimize possible contamination by air and water vapor. 18. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a stirrer for stirring within the reaction tank to promote a rapid and complete reaction between the metal and water or between the metal and alkali hydroxide solution. 19. The system according to claim 15, further comprisinga pressure controller attached to a compressed air reservoir supplied by a compressor to control the pressure in a cartridge in use wherein a smooth and steady supply of the metal emulsion flow enters the reactor tank, regulated by the pressure difference between a cartridge in use and the reaction tank,wherein when the engine is stopping, the pressure of hydrogen in the reactor tank builds up to equal that of the metal emulsion cartridge, resulting in no flow of metal emulsion;wherein when the engine is running from idle to acceleration, the hydrogen pressure in the reactor tank progressively reduces, and the rate of flow of metal emulsion is proportionally increased. 20. The system according to claim 15, further comprisinga set of pressure and level sensors for providing pressure and metal-oil emulsion level information to the microprocessora set of pressure and level sensors for providing pressure and metal-oil emulsion level information to the microprocessor;a software program to manage such information; anda liquid crystal display for providing such information to an end-user. 21. The system according to claim 15, further comprising an electric heater for heating the reaction tank in the case where the metal used is aluminum or iron wherein the temperature of the reaction tank is controlled by the microprocessor to maintain an o ptimal setting between room temperature and 250 degrees C. 22. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a variable speed blower for removing excess heat generated by the reaction tank, to keep the temperature of the reaction tank constant, and wherein the speed of the blower is controlled by the microprocessor. 23. The system according to claim 22, further comprising cooling fins attached to the reaction tank for facilitating removal of excess heat from the reaction tank.