Hypergolic hydrogen generation system for fuel cell power plants

Abstract

The invention provides a controlled hypergolic approach to using concentrated hydrogen peroxide in combination with certain hydrocarbons such as ethanol, methanol, methane as well as more common fuels such as gasoline, diesel, DME, JP5, JP8 and the like to generate a gas mixture primarily composed of hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Because air is not used as the oxygen source, this novel process does not allow the formation of nitrous oxide (NOx) compounds, thereby avoiding the primary source of nitrogen contamination as well. The process is executed in a constraining system on a micro scale such that the resulting hydrogen supply is self-pressurizing. This enables the incorporation of an 'on-demand' hydrogen fuel source for a variable output fuel cell power plant such as those proposed for use in automobiles, marine vessels and stationary power sources. In another embodiment of the present invention hydrogen peroxide is catalytically, or thermally reacted to provide H2O vapor and O2. When this gaseous stream is introduced to the cathode of the fuel cell, the percent concentration of oxygen is increased with no corresponding increase in the parasitic power demand made by an airmoving device. This use of H2O2 as an oxygen source may be continuous, intermittent or limited to specific instances when peak power output demands or high transient loads are placed upon the FCPS.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to the field of fuel cell power systems, in particular to methods for generating, storing and metering hydrogen required by fuel cells. Background technique [0002] Fuel cells have the potential to be economically viable devices for converting chemical energy into electricity. For example, in a polymer-electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell (also known as a proton exchange membrane fuel cell), hydrogen and oxygen are combined to generate electricity. Air is a conventional source of oxygen, and the oxidant can be any hydrogen-containing material, including hydrogen, methane, natural gas, and ethanol. In addition to pure hydrogen, fuel sources may require a local refining process to produce hydrogen in a form that the PEM membrane can receive. This refining process is done in the reformer. Energy conversion occurs in fuel cells by oxidation, which requires pressurization of oxidants and oxidizing agents. The reformer system consu...

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While the overall power output from the fuel cell will increase, the motion power provided to the ai

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