Hydrogen generator system for a catalytic hydrogen burner

Abstract

A hydrogen generator system (1) for a hydrogen powered unit or user (3), such as for example a catalytic hydrogen burner or a fuel cell, includes an electrolyzer (2) for the electrolysis of distilled water, producing hydrogen and oxygen, provided with a demineralizer device (5) and an A / C transformer / converter unit (7) for supplying electrical power for the electrolysis process and, on the outlet side, a device for purifying the hydrogen produced, such system (1) further includes:a device (10) for recovering the heat generated by the electrolysis processand / or a device (17) for storing the hydrogen produced,such hydrogen generator system (1) is accommodated in a casing (20) which has—externally—inlet and outlet connection fittings.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of Application[0002]The present invention refers to a hydrogen generator system for a catalytic hydrogen burner according to the preamble of claim 1.[0003]2. Technological Background and State of the Art[0004]Recently developed, as an alternative to the known liquid fuel or gas heaters for producing heat, respectively for heating systems, were burners for catalytic hydrogen combustion with the ignition of the reaction at ambient temperature, without the formation of a flame, with reaction below the temperature of formation of NOx, with exhaust product solely made up of hot moist air, and with the heat transferred entirely to a heat exchanger for heating water of a heating system, for example of the radiant type, in particular for residential buildings, i.e. with surfaces for example up to about 250-300 m2. Hydrogen catalytic burners of the indicated type are disclosed, for example, by document WO 2005 / 024301 of the applicant. The supply of ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]Thus, the task on which the present invention is based is that of providing a hydrogen generator system for obtaining hydrogen catalytic burners of the indicated type capable of overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art systems and capable of providing hydrogen produced with sufficient degree of purity in a reliable and continuous manner as well as obtainable in an inexpensive manner and with an improved performance.

[0020]Obtained in a further development of the hydrogen generator according to the invention is a suitable purification of hydrogen using simple and inexpensive means.

[0021]Furthermore, a common advantage for all embodiments of the hydrogen generator according to the invention lies in the fact of providing a choice, targeted design and dimensions of the single components required for obtaining the proposed hydrogen generator, hence said circuit may be advantageously assembled in a compact manner and accommodated in an installable casing inside or outside the house.

[0022]Such casing shall thus be provided—externally—with inlet fittings and outlet fittings alone, thus further facilitating the connection of said casing, i.e. of the hydrogen generator according to the invention, during the execution of the respective connections.

[0023]Providing for a supply of electrical energy produced from renewable sources (solar, wind energy, biogas) alongside the presence of storage of hydrogen, allows obtaining an independent, continuous and inexpensive operation, wherein hydrogen may be produced substantially continuously when the renewable source is available and stored for use thereof when actually required.

Problems solved by technology

Thus, such systems reveal the following drawbacks:they are generally made up of components or devices recovered occasionally on the market, possibly modified and not designed in function of the unit in question,these systems are generally quite complex for the hydraulic and electric installation technicians, in that they require quite long assembly and installation times, errors may occur and they require a lot of space,performance thereof is improvable,often used are proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolytic cells, which actually provide higher purity of hydrogen with respect to the use of electrolytic cells provided for according to the invention, but have correspondingly higher costs and a more limited duration,heat is developed during electrolysis, hence lowering the performance of the system,an interruption of the electrical energy entails an interruption of the production of hydrogen,provided for is the sole production of hydrogen and oxygen,

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