Hydrogen mobile power plant that extracts hydrogen fuel from water
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
H01M-008/04
H01M-008/06
B60L-011/18
출원번호
UP-0691226
(2007-03-26)
등록번호
US-7803489
(2010-10-21)
발명자
/ 주소
McCanney, Neil R.
출원인 / 주소
Advanced Hydrogen Power Systems, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Hespos, Gerald E.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
13
초록▼
The apparatus contains a means to create superheated steam at a temperature of preferably 800° C. The superheated steam is delivered to a catalytic decomposition converter that contains ceramic membranes that function to decompose water H2O into its constituent elements of diatomic hydrogen and
The apparatus contains a means to create superheated steam at a temperature of preferably 800° C. The superheated steam is delivered to a catalytic decomposition converter that contains ceramic membranes that function to decompose water H2O into its constituent elements of diatomic hydrogen and oxygen. In one embodiment, a cascade of catalytic cells, one set for hydrogen and one set for oxygen are arranged in a unique “Cascade and Recirculate” configuration that greatly improves the throughput of the catalytic process. Only enough hydrogen is produced and delivered to the fuel cell according to the real time demand. There is no hydrogen storage on board. An electrically heated boiler initializes the process, and thereafter the heat from the exothermic reaction of a high-temperature fuel cell, and a small hydrocarbon burner sustains the operational superheated steam temperature. By using the by-product heat of a high temperature fuel cell in conjunction with the efficient combustion of a small amount of conventional hydrocarbon fuel, a unique thermodynamic hybrid system is created. The electrical energy generated by the fuel cell is used to maintain the charged state of a traction battery. A plurality of pumps, valves, regulators and sensors under microprocessor control manage the processes.
대표청구항▼
Having thus described the invention, what is claimed for Letters Patent follows: 1. A system for producing electrical ene*rgy in a fuel cell comprising: a boiler containing water and having a means to create a superheated steam from the water; a means for delivering the superheated steam through an
Having thus described the invention, what is claimed for Letters Patent follows: 1. A system for producing electrical ene*rgy in a fuel cell comprising: a boiler containing water and having a means to create a superheated steam from the water; a means for delivering the superheated steam through an output modulation valve to at least one hydrogen catalytic decomposition converter, the converter containing at least one ceramic membrane; the ceramic membrane providing a means for decomposing the steam and generating diatomic hydrogen gas; a means for delivering the hydrogen gas and a supply of oxygen gas to a fuel cell; the fuel cell generating electrical power, heat and steam; a means for returning the heat and steam to the boiler; a means for maintaining boiler temperature and pressure at a predetermined level; and a controller for maintaining operation of the system. 2. The system for producing electrical energy according to claim 1, wherein the fuel cell also regenerates water which is fed to the boiler by a water feedback mechanism. 3. The system for producing electrical energy according to claim 1, wherein the supply of oxygen gas is derived from atmosphere. 4. The system for producing electrical energy according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the superheated steam commingled with unreacted oxygen molecules from the hydrogen catalytic converter is delivered to at least one oxygen catalytic decomposition converter, the converter containing at least one ceramic membrane; the ceramic membrane providing a means for decomposing the steam and generating the supply of oxygen gas; and a means for delivering the supply of oxygen gas to the fuel cell. 5. The system for producing electrical energy according to claim 1, wherein a combustion heater fueled by a combustible fuel is the means for creating the superheated steam from the water in the boiler. 6. The system for producing electrical energy according to claim 5, wherein the combustion heater fueled by a combustible fuel maintains the boiler temperature at a predetermined temperature and pressure. 7. The system for producing electrical energy according to claim 5, wherein the combustible fuel is selected from the group consisting of gasoline and diesel fuel. 8. The system for producing electrical energy according to claim 1, wherein a charge control circuit is connected to an electrical output from the fuel cell and a battery is connected to the charge control circuit. 9. The system for producing electrical energy according to claim 8, wherein the battery provides electric power to an electric heater adding heat to the boiler. 10. A method for generating electrical energy in a fuel cell, the steps comprising: providing a means for boiling water in a boiler to produce superheated steam; providing a means for delivering the superheated steam to at least one ceramic membrane mounted within a hydrogen catalytic converter to produce a hydrogen gas; providing a means for delivering a portion of the superheated steam to at least one oxygen catalytic converter to produce an oxygen gas; providing a means for feeding the hydrogen gas and oxygen gas into the fuel cell, generating electrical power, heat and water; and providing a means for directing the heat generated by the fuel cell to the boiler. 11. The method for generating electrical energy according to claim 10, wherein the fuel cell generates water and providing a means for feeding the water from the fuel cell to the boiler. 12. The method for generating electrical energy according to claim 10, wherein a means for burning a hydrocarbon fuel is provided to maintain a predetermined temperature and pressure in the boiler. 13. The method for generating electrical energy according to claim 11, wherein a predetermined temperature in the boiler is about 800° C. 14. The method for generating electrical energy according to claim 10, wherein a battery is charged through a charge control circuit connected to the battery and an electrical output from the fuel cell. 15. The method for generating electrical energy according to claim 14, wherein an electric heater electrically connected to the battery provides heat to the boiler. 16. A system installed in an electrically powered vehicle for producing electrical energy, the system comprising: a boiler containing water and capable of producing superheated steam; a means for delivering the steam to at least one ceramic membrane for converting the steam from the boiler into hydrogen gas; a means for delivering the hydrogen gas to a fuel cell; the fuel cell having a means for receiving the hydrogen gas and oxygen gas to generate electrical power, heat and water; a water feedback mechanism having a means for capturing unreacted steam and returning the unreacted steam to the boiler; a thermal feedback system having a means for capturing the heat generated by the fuel cell and delivering the heat to the boiler; a controller having a means for maintaining operation of the system; an electrical power storage device for storing the electrical power; a motor operatively coupled to a drive system for the electrically powered vehicle; and a motor controller accepting power from the storage device and providing power to operate the motor. 17. The system installed in an electrically powered vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the water generated by the fuel cell is fed back to the boiler by a water feedback mechanism. 18. The system installed in an electrically powered vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the electrical power storage device is a battery. 19. The system installed in an electrically powered vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the oxygen gas received by the fuel cell is produced by an oxygen catalytic converter receiving the superheated steam commingled with unreacted oxygen molecules from the ceramic membrane converting the superheated steam into hydrogen gas. 20. The system installed in an electrically powered vehicle according to claim 16, wherein a hydrocarbon heater has a means for heating the boiler for maintaining a predetermined temperature for the boiler. 21. A method for decomposing water into its constituent elements of diatomic hydrogen and oxygen comprising; providing a source of superheated steam to a catalytic cell containing a first ambipolar cermet membrane having a means to decompose the water to diatomic hydrogen; providing a source of superheated steam to a catalytic cell containing a second ambipolar cermet membrane having a means to decompose the steam to diatomic oxygen; arranging the catalytic cells in a cascade and recirculate configuration so that the catalytic cells for the generation of hydrogen and oxygen are disposed in series; and providing a pump to circulate the superheated steam through the hydrogen and catalytic cells in turn. 22. A method for determining the amount of steam, water or mixture of steam and water required in a boiler producing superheated steam, the method comprising; providing an output modulation valve for distributing steam to the input of a hydrogen catalytic converter cell; monitoring pressure input to the catalytic converter cell by a pressure sensor; providing a controller having a means for metering an initial mass of water to the boiler; measuring a pressure reservoir in the boiler with a pressure sensor; measuring a temperature in the boiler by a temperature sensor; and providing means in the controller for solving for the mass quantity in the system in moles so that water can be added to the boiler or returned to a water storage tank as needed to maintain a set mass quantity. 23. A method for the decomposition of water into hydrogen and oxygen comprising: providing a boiler containing water; providing a source of heat for the boiler from a hydrocarbon fuel; providing a plurality of ceramic membranes for receiving superheated steam from the boiler; providing a means for delivering the hydrogen and oxygen from an output of the ceramic membranes to a fuel cell; and providing a means for delivering heat produced by the fuel cell to the boiler.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (13)
Werth John, Catalytic method of generating hydrogen.
Lee, Tae H.; Wang, Shuangyan; Dorris, Stephen E.; Balachandran, Uthamalingam, Hydrogen production by high-temperature water splitting using electron-conducting membranes.
Uthamalingam Balachandran ; Stephen E. Dorris ; Arun C. Bose ; Gary J. Stiegel ; Tae-Hyun Lee, Method of generating hydrogen by catalytic decomposition of water.
Keskula, Donald H.; Clingerman, Bruce J.; Burch, Steven D.; Yu, Paul T., System and method for controlling steam in a fuel system with a fuel processor.
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