A
hydrogen generating
system and a method of in situ
hydrogen generation controlled
on demand capable of reacting an aluminum-free
metal reagent selected from alkali metals, alkaline earth metals,
alkali metal alloys and blends consisting of alkali metals,
alkaline earth metal alloys and blends consisting of alkaline earth metals and
metal alloys consisting of at least one
alkali metal and at least one
alkaline earth metal, with water to obtain
hydrogen and a residual
reaction product comprising
metal hydroxide selected from alkali hydroxides and alkaline earth
hydroxide; and separating hydrogen from the residual
reaction product; liquefying the metal
reagent by heating to obtain
liquid metal reagent under vacuum conditions; injecting the
liquid metal reagent into a reactor (3) by metal reagent injecting means (7,8) and simultaneously injecting, by water injection
system (13, 14, 15), a stoichiometric amount of water with respect to the amount of the
liquid metal reagent being injected into the reactor (3) such that a controlled metal reagent / water ratio is maintained in the reactor (3); transferring hydrogen and the residual
reaction product from the reactor (3) to separation means (4, 18); separating hydrogen from the residual reaction product; transferring separated hydrogen to hydrogen receiving means (5) and transferring the residual reaction product to
metal hydroxide receiving means (6), keeping the metal reagent injecting means (7,8) water injection
system (13, 14, 15), the reactor (3), the separating means (4, 18) and the hydrogen receiving means (5) free of
oxygen by selectively providing a vacuum in the system.