Borohydride fuel compositions and methods

a technology of borohydride and fuel composition, applied in the direction of waste based fuel, fuel, chemistry apparatus and processes, etc., can solve the problems of complex use, degraded fuel solution, hydrogen evolution

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-09-07
MILLENNIUM CELL
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a solid fuel composition, comprising about 20 to about 99.7% by weight of a borohydride salt of formula M(BH4)n, wherein M is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal cations, alkaline earth metal cations, aluminum cation, zinc cation, and ammonium cation, and n corresponds to the charge of the selected M ca

Problems solved by technology

Although hydrogen gas is the fuel of choice for fuel cells, its use is complicated by difficulties in storing the gas.
However, hydrogen can evolve as the temperature increases, and the fuel solution has been shown to degrade on extended storage.
This is problematic in certain applications, such as in standby power generators where the fuel is stored for a period of time without hydrogen generation or consumption.
The effect of temperature on fuel stability also complicates shipment of fuel as a liquid solution.
Fur

Method used

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Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

example 1

[0036] A fuel tablet containing 87 wt-% sodium borohydride and 13 wt-% sodium hydroxide was prepared by mixing 15.2 grams of NaBH4 and 2.28 grams of NaOH using a mortar and pestle. The powder mixture was placed in a housing and compressed in a hydraulic press using 10,000 lbs of force to produce a puck of 2 inches in diameter. The degree of compaction and the height of the puck were controlled by the amount of force used in compression. When dissolved in water, the tablet produced fuel solutions with sodium borohydride and sodium hydroxide in a 6.7 to 1 ratio by weight, as illustrated in Table 4 below.

TABLE 4FuelWt-% In Fuel SolutionWater, gSolution, gNaBH4NaOH35.525030.44.5658.527620385.5210015.22.28182.522007.61.14

example 2

[0037] Solid hydrated sodium borohydride fuel mixtures were created by combining water, anhydrous NaBH4 powder, and anhydrous NaOH in the proportions shown in Table 5 below; (for reference, sodium borohydride hydrate, NaBH4.2H2O, is a solid containing 51.2 wt-% sodium borohydride and 48.8 wt-% water):

TABLE 5Compositionwt-% NaBH4wt-% NaOHwt-% H2O1550.144.92600.139.93700.129.94800.119.95900.19.9

(a) Pure solid sodium borohydride dehydrate

[0038] These solids became progressively more opaque and more “monolithic” as the proportion of sodium borohydride increased. That is, the fuel mixture of Composition 1 had better powder flow characteristics and could be shaken out of its container more easily than the fuel mixture of Composition 5. The higher concentrations become progressively more water deficient.

[0039] The samples as prepared above were dissolved in sufficient water to obtain fuel solutions of approximately 20 wt-% NaBH4 (for example, 100 g of sodium borohydride dihydrate disso...

example 3

[0040] Fuel compositions of the present invention were tested according to established test methods for substances which, on contact with water, emit flammable gases. A fuel mixture was prepared by combining 320 g of granular sodium borohydride and 48 g of granular sodium hydroxide in a flask and shaking the flask to mix. The fuel composition was tested according to the following procedures:

[0041] (1) A quantity of the fuel mixture measuring approximately 2 mm in diameter was placed in a trough of distilled water at 20° C. Gas evolution was noted, but no spontaneous ignition of the gas occurred.

[0042] (2) A quantity of the fuel mixture measuring approximately 2 mm diameter was placed on the center of a filter paper which was floated flat on the surface of distilled water at 20° C. in a 100 mm diameter evaporating dish. Gas evolution was noted, but no spontaneous ignition of the gas occurred.

[0043] (3) A pile approximately 20 mm high and 30 mm diameter with a hollow in the top was...

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PUM

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Abstract

Solid self-stabilized borohydride fuel compositions, fuel cartridges, related methods of preparation and hydrogen generation are provided. The fuel compositions comprise mixtures of at least one borohydride salt with a cation selected from the group consisting of alkali metal cations, alkaline earth metal cations, aluminum cation, zinc cation, and ammonium cation, preferably sodium borohydride, and at least one hydroxide salt with a cation selected from the group consisting of alkali metal cations, alkaline earth metal cations, aluminum cation, zinc cation, and ammonium cation, preferably sodium hydroxide.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to borohydride fuel compositions, which are particularly useful in the generation of hydrogen, and to related methods of fuel manufacture and hydrogen generation. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Although hydrogen gas is the fuel of choice for fuel cells, its use is complicated by difficulties in storing the gas. Various hydrogen carriers, including hydrocarbons, metal hydrides, and chemical hydrides are being considered as hydrogen storage and supply systems. In each case, specific systems need to be developed to release the hydrogen from its carrier, either by reformation as in the case of hydrocarbons, by desorption from metal hydrides, or by catalyzed hydrolysis from metal hydrides and water. [0003] One of the more promising systems for hydrogen storage and generation utilizes borohydride salts as the storage media. Addition of water to borohydride salts produces hydrogen according to the reaction shown in Equation (1...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): C10L5/00
CPCC01B3/065C10L5/36C10L5/361C10L5/363C10L5/40Y02E50/30Y02E60/362Y02E60/36
Inventor BERRY, GRANTBRADY, JASON C.EASON, IANFENNIMORE, KEITH A.HESSE, THOMAS G.MCNAMARA, KEVIN W.MOHRING, RICHARD M.WU, YING
Owner MILLENNIUM CELL
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