A portable hydrogen production and compression device

Abstract

This invention provides a portable hydrogen production and compression device, which consists of three core components: a reaction tank, a manual compressor, and a compressed gas cylinder. These three components are connected in series via gas pipes or quick-connect structures. The connection sequence is as follows: the exhaust port at the top of the reaction tank connects to the compression inlet of the manual compressor; the compression outlet of the manual compressor connects to the gas cylinder inlet. The entire process can be manually operated to control hydrogen production and provide unidirectional hydrogen delivery and pressurization. The three main structures of this portable hydrogen production and compression device adopt a modular design, offering excellent portability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of hydrogen energy production and storage technology, specifically to a portable hydrogen production and compression device. Background Technology

[0002] Existing hydrogen production facilities are mostly large-scale, stationary water electrolysis, natural gas reforming, or industrial by-product hydrogen purification systems. These facilities are bulky, heavy, and overly reliant on external power sources or high-pressure gas sources, making them unsuitable for real-time hydrogen needs such as single-person carrying, vehicle-mounted operation, or emergency rescue. While chemical hydrogen production methods, such as the metal-water reaction method, offer advantages like rapid start-up, readily available raw materials, and room-temperature operation, current solutions generally lack compact synchronous compression mechanisms, limiting the generated hydrogen to low-pressure storage or direct use. Connecting an external electric compressor sacrifices portability and introduces additional power requirements. Therefore, the industry urgently needs a small, portable hydrogen production device solution. Utility Model Content

[0003] This invention provides a portable hydrogen production and compression device that produces hydrogen in real time through a reaction vessel, and then compresses the produced hydrogen into a compressed gas cylinder through a manual compressor. The reaction in the reaction vessel and the compression of the hydrogen are both controlled by the manual compressor. The three main structures adopt a split design, which has good portability.

[0004] Accordingly, this utility model provides a portable hydrogen production and compression device, including a reaction vessel, a manual compressor, and a compressed gas cylinder;

[0005] The reaction vessel includes a tank body with a reaction cavity inside. The tank body is provided with a liquid inlet on the side and an exhaust port on the top. A reaction cylinder is built into the reaction cavity. The reaction cylinder has a reaction hole. The top of the reaction cylinder is integrally connected to the tank body. The exhaust port communicates with the reaction cylinder. The interior of the reaction cylinder is used to load hydrogen production solid reactants.

[0006] The manual compressor includes a body, a piston, and a handle. The body has a compression cavity, and the piston is disposed in the compression cavity and slides in cooperation with the body. One end of the handle is connected to the piston, and the other end extends out of the body. The body is provided with a compression inlet and a compression outlet communicating with the compression cavity, and a compression check valve is provided at the compression inlet.

[0007] The compressed gas cylinder includes a cylinder body, the cylinder body has a compressed gas chamber located inside, the cylinder body is provided with a gas cylinder inlet and a gas cylinder outlet communicating with the compressed gas chamber, a gas cylinder one-way valve is provided at the gas cylinder inlet, and a flow control valve is provided at the gas cylinder outlet.

[0008] The exhaust port is connected to the compression inlet, and the compression outlet is connected to the gas cylinder inlet.

[0009] In an optional embodiment, the reaction vessel further includes a protective sleeve, which is detachably mounted on the vessel body;

[0010] When the protective sleeve is installed on the tank body, the protective sleeve closes the liquid inlet.

[0011] In an optional embodiment, the tank body includes a structural body and a cover, wherein the cover and the reaction cylinder are an integral structure;

[0012] The cover is detachably mounted on the main body.

[0013] In an optional embodiment, the reaction hole is located at the bottom of the reaction cylinder, and a gap is left between the outer side of the reaction cylinder and the inner sidewall of the tank.

[0014] In an optional embodiment, the reaction vessel further includes a gravity hammer, which is fixed below the vessel body.

[0015] An optional implementation may also include a filter canister containing filter consumables;

[0016] The filter canister is connected between the exhaust port and the compression inlet.

[0017] In an optional implementation, the filter canister and the exhaust port are connected via a duct.

[0018] In an optional implementation, the exhaust port and the compression inlet are connected via a quick-connect interface, or the exhaust port and the compression inlet are connected via an air pipe.

[0019] In an optional implementation, the compression outlet and the gas cylinder inlet are connected via a quick-connect interface, or the compression outlet and the gas cylinder inlet are connected via a gas pipe.

[0020] In an optional implementation, the compression check valve is a plate-type check valve.

[0021] This invention provides a portable hydrogen production and compression device. It produces hydrogen in real time through a reaction vessel, and then compresses the produced hydrogen into a compressed gas cylinder using a manual compressor. Both the reaction process in the reaction vessel and the hydrogen compression are controlled by the manual compressor. The three main structures are designed in a split configuration, offering excellent portability. The reaction vessel, through its special structural design and by utilizing the pressure changes during hydrogen production, allows for effective control of the reaction's progress and cessation via the manual compressor. Furthermore, the reaction vessel can be submerged in water, relying on the surrounding water for heat dissipation, effectively addressing the high exothermic issue during hydrogen production. The gravity hammer ensures the reaction vessel maintains stability in most environments, guaranteeing efficient hydrogen production and effective control of the reaction. The addition of a filter improves the quality of the hydrogen supply, thus adapting to a wider range of applications. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of a portable hydrogen production and compression device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of a portable hydrogen production and compression device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] This utility model embodiment provides a portable hydrogen production and compression device, which consists of three core components: a reaction tank, a manual compressor, and a compressed gas cylinder 22, connected in series via a gas pipe or quick-connect structure. The basic connection sequence is as follows: the exhaust port 8 at the top of the reaction tank is connected to the compression inlet 12 of the manual compressor; the compression outlet 18 of the manual compressor is connected to the gas cylinder inlet of the compressed gas cylinder 22. The entire flow path, driven manually, can complete the hydrogen production control and the unidirectional delivery and pressurization functions of hydrogen. The structure of each component will be further described below.

[0026] Specifically, the reaction vessel includes a vessel body, on which a liquid inlet 4 is located on the side and an exhaust port 8 is located on the top. The vessel body has a reaction cavity, in which a reaction cylinder 6 is built. The bottom of the reaction cylinder 6 has a reaction hole 5. The top of the reaction cylinder 6 is integrally connected to the vessel body. The exhaust port 8 communicates with the reaction cylinder 6. The interior of the reaction cylinder 6 is used to load hydrogen production solid reactants 7.

[0027] In this embodiment of the utility model, the tank includes a structure 3 and a cover 9, the cover 9 and the reaction cylinder 6 are an integral structure; the cover 9 is detachably installed on the top surface of the structure 3.

[0028] Specifically, the reaction vessel has a slender cylindrical shape for easy portability. The vessel consists of two parts: a lower structural body 3 and a top cover 9. The cover 9 and the reaction cylinder 6 are integrally molded parts. The reaction cylinder 6 hangs downwards from the lower surface of the cover 9, extending into the inner cavity of the structural body 3. A gap is left between the outer side of the reaction cylinder 6 and the inner wall of the vessel, forming an annular isolation space. The cover 9 is detachably connected to the top of the structural body 3 via fine threads, and a fluororubber sealing ring at the root of the threads can prevent hydrogen gas from escaping. Several evenly distributed reaction holes 5 are opened on the bottom of the reaction cylinder 6. The hole diameter is slightly smaller than the particle size of the solid reactants, allowing liquid to enter while blocking solids. It should be noted that, to replenish solid raw materials, the bottom of the reaction cylinder 6 can be designed as a detachable cover structure. The reaction holes 5 can be located on the cover, and solid reactants can be replenished by removing the cover. The reaction chamber 6 is filled with a uniform mixture of aluminum particles and sodium hydroxide particles. Both types of particles are sealed in water-permeable and air-permeable non-woven fabric bags to prevent powder migration with the airflow. A liquid inlet 4 is located on the lower side wall of the tank to allow external liquid reactants to enter the reaction cavity. An exhaust vent 8 is located at the center of the top of the tank. Multiple liquid inlets 4 are present, some of which are positioned higher than the reaction vent 5. This serves two purposes: firstly, to exhaust gas, and secondly, to ensure that the isolated space is filled with a certain amount of liquid reactants, thus aiding in heat dissipation from the reaction chamber 6. A gravity hammer 2 at the bottom of the tank, machined from tungsten alloy, weighs approximately twice the empty weight of the tank. This helps maintain the equipment's verticality in uneven outdoor environments and ensures the tank's posture when submerged in liquid reactants, preventing tipping. The lower part of the tank is also equipped with a detachable elastic protective sleeve 1. The protective sleeve 1 can be molded from food-grade silicone. The protective sleeve 1 is press-fitted with the outer wall of the tank. After installation, it fits at least part of the liquid inlet 4 to prevent accidental contact or foreign object intrusion during transportation.

[0029] Basically, the manual compressor includes a body 13, a piston 15, and a handle 14. The body 13 has a compression cavity 16. The piston 15 is disposed in the compression cavity 16 and slides in cooperation with the body 13. One end of the handle 14 is connected to the piston 15, and the other end extends out of the body 13. The body 13 is provided with a compression inlet 12 and a compression outlet 18 communicating with the compression cavity 16. A compression check valve 17 is provided at the compression inlet 12.

[0030] Specifically, the main body 13 of the manual compressor is a thick-walled aluminum alloy round tube. The inner bore is honed to achieve the required mirror finish, ensuring the sealing of the piston 15 to the compression cavity 16. The piston 15 is injection molded from high-strength engineering plastic, with two sealing rings with self-lubricating coatings embedded in its outer edge. The handle 14 is a carbon fiber rod, hinged to the piston 15 at its base via a universal ball joint. The surface of the handle 14 is covered with anti-slip silicone, allowing for reliable grip even with wet hands or while wearing gloves. The two ends of the aluminum alloy round tube are machined to the required compression inlet 12 and compression outlet 18. A plate-type check valve is installed at the compression inlet 12. The valve plate can be made of beryllium bronze with a thickness of 0.2 mm, and the opening pressure is less than 100 Pa, ensuring smooth intake of low-pressure hydrogen. Preferably, a first quick connector 19 is welded to the outside of the compression outlet 18. The connector adopts an international standard high-pressure hydrogen pipe interface, with a insertion and removal life of more than 10,000 times. It integrates an automatic locking steel ball inside, which can withstand a large pull-out force without breaking after being inserted into place.

[0031] The compressed gas cylinder 22 includes a cylinder body with a compressed gas chamber located inside. The cylinder body is provided with a gas cylinder inlet and a gas cylinder outlet 25 communicating with the compressed gas chamber. A gas cylinder one-way valve 21 is provided at the gas cylinder inlet, and a flow control valve 23 is provided at the gas cylinder outlet.

[0032] Specifically, a one-way valve 21 is installed inside the gas cylinder inlet. The valve core adopts a floating design and can automatically close when the pressure inside the cylinder is higher than that outside, preventing hydrogen backflow due to misoperation. A miniature flow control valve 23 is installed at the gas cylinder outlet 25, which can steplessly adjust the flow rate from zero to maximum to meet the flow requirements of different downstream devices such as fuel cells, hydrogen flame ionization detectors, or small hydrogen-oxygen welding torches. A second quick connector 20 is welded to the outside of the gas cylinder inlet, which mates with the first quick connector 19. The connector also has a shut-off valve inside, and both ends automatically close after being disconnected. A third quick connector 24 is welded to the outside of the gas cylinder outlet 25 for downstream devices to use the compressed gas cylinder 22.

[0033] Basically, the exhaust port 8 is connected to the compression inlet 12, and the compression outlet 18 is connected to the gas cylinder inlet. Specifically, the compression outlet 18 and the gas cylinder inlet are connected via a quick-connect interface, or the compression outlet 18 and the gas cylinder inlet are connected via a gas pipe.

[0034] The exhaust port 8 is connected to the compression inlet 12 via a quick-connect interface, or the exhaust port 8 is connected to the compression inlet 12 via an air pipe.

[0035] It should be noted that, since the reaction vessel is generally required to be fully submerged in a water environment, the exhaust port 8 and the compression inlet 12 are generally connected by a gas pipe (first gas pipe 10). In addition, in order to improve the user experience of the manual compressor, the compression outlet 18 and the gas cylinder inlet are generally connected by a quick-connect interface. When the user needs to operate the handle 14, he / she can hold the main body 13 of the manual compressor and the compressed gas cylinder 22 with one hand, which can improve the operating feel of the handle 14.

[0036] Furthermore, to remove alkaline mist and water vapor entrained in the hydrogen gas, a filter canister 11 is connected between the exhaust port 8 of the reaction vessel and the compression inlet 12 of the manual compressor. The filter canister 11 is a transparent polycarbonate cylinder with aluminum alloy end caps spun at both ends. Inside the filter canister 11, from bottom to top, coarse-pore polyethylene foam, granular anhydrous calcium chloride desiccant, and sintered stainless steel wire mesh are sequentially filled. This three-layer structure ensures both low air resistance and efficient drying. Preferably, the upper end of the filter canister 11 is connected to the exhaust port 8 of the reaction vessel via a pressure-resistant nylon tubing, and the lower end is connected to the compression inlet 12 of the manual compressor via a quick-connect structure. The quick-connect structure can adopt a push-in double-seal design, with three O-rings on the plug end and a ball-lock and unlock button on the socket end, allowing for one-handed operation. If filtration is not required on-site, the filter canister 11 can be removed, and the tubing can be directly connected to the reaction vessel and the manual compressor without affecting operation.

[0037] The hydrogen production solid reactant 7 can be a mixture of highly active aluminum powder and flake sodium hydroxide. The aluminum powder particle size is controlled to be 0.5 to 1 mm, and the sodium hydroxide particle size is controlled to be 0.3 to 0.8 mm, with a mass ratio of 1:1.2. The aluminum powder is first subjected to low-temperature passivation treatment, forming an extremely thin oxide film on the surface, which maintains its activity and reduces the risk of spontaneous combustion during storage. Low-chloride industrial-grade sodium hydroxide is selected to avoid stress corrosion of the aluminum alloy by chloride ions. After the two materials are mixed in the specified ratio in a dry nitrogen environment, they are immediately packed into non-woven bags and heat-sealed. Each bag weighs 100 grams and can produce approximately 60 liters of hydrogen. Users can add one to three bags at a time according to their needs, achieving flexible adjustment of hydrogen production.

[0038] The process of using the entire portable hydrogen production and compression equipment is as follows: First, unscrew the reaction tank cover 9, put the predetermined number of reactant bags into the reaction cylinder 6, and then tighten the cover 9; then remove the protective cover 1, and immerse the entire reaction tank into the liquid reactant. When the manual compressor is not in operation, the liquid reactant cannot enter the reaction cavity due to the gas pressure balance.

[0039] At this time, connect the gas cylinder inlet of the compressed gas cylinder 22 to the compression outlet 18 of the manual compressor; manually control the manual compressor and gradually pull up the piston 15. At this time, the compression chamber 16 is under negative pressure. Correspondingly, negative pressure is generated in the reaction chamber and liquid reactants are drawn in from the liquid inlet 4. The liquid reactants come into contact with the solid reactants and begin to produce hydrogen. The generated hydrogen is drawn into the compression chamber 16.

[0040] When the hydrogen in the compression chamber reaches a certain volume, the piston 15 is pressed down, and the hydrogen in the compression chamber 16 is forced into the compressed gas cylinder 22. Repeat the above operation as needed, and after filling, disconnect the compressed gas cylinder 22. The compressed gas cylinder 22 can be used independently.

[0041] It should be noted that this embodiment of the present invention only describes the basic structural principle of the portable hydrogen production and compression device. Further extensions can be made according to actual usage requirements. For example, the manual compressor in this embodiment uses a handle 14 to directly drive the piston 15, which results in relatively weak gas compression capacity. Depending on the requirements, the connection between the handle 14 and the piston 15 can be adjusted to a lever connection or a hydraulic transmission connection, which can effectively amplify the force applied by the human body and increase the compression pressure.

[0042] Furthermore, according to the control principle of the manual compressor, the total volume of the compression chamber of the manual compressor needs to be less than or equal to the volume inside the reaction cylinder to prevent the manual compressor from drawing the reaction liquid into the filter tank when pumping air; correspondingly, the filter tank can also be regarded as a buffer, which can remind the user of the distribution of the reaction liquid to prevent the reaction liquid from being forced into the compressed gas cylinder.

[0043] This invention provides a portable hydrogen production and compression device. It produces hydrogen in real time through a reaction vessel, and then compresses the produced hydrogen into a compressed gas cylinder 22 using a manual compressor. Both the reaction process in the reaction vessel and the hydrogen compression are controlled by the manual compressor. The three main components 13 are designed in a split configuration, offering excellent portability. The reaction vessel, through its special structural design and by utilizing the pressure changes during hydrogen generation, allows for effective control of the reaction's progress and cessation via the manual compressor. Furthermore, the reaction vessel can be submerged in water, relying on the surrounding water for heat dissipation, effectively addressing the high exothermic issue during hydrogen production. The gravity hammer 2 ensures the reaction vessel maintains stability in most environments, guaranteeing efficient hydrogen generation and effective control of the reaction. The addition of a filter tank 11 improves the quality of the hydrogen supply, thus adapting to a wider range of applications.

[0044] The above provides a detailed description of a portable hydrogen production and compression device provided by the embodiments of this utility model. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principle and implementation of this utility model. The description of the above embodiments is only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core idea of ​​this utility model. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, there will be changes in the specific implementation and application scope based on the idea of ​​this utility model. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.

Claims

1. A portable hydrogen production and compression device, characterized in that, Includes reaction vessel, manual compressor and compressed gas cylinder; The reaction vessel includes a vessel body with a reaction cavity inside. The vessel body is provided with a liquid inlet on the side and an exhaust port on the top. A reaction cylinder is built into the reaction cavity. The reaction cylinder has a reaction hole. The top of the reaction cylinder is integrally connected to the vessel body. The exhaust port communicates with the reaction cylinder. The interior of the reaction cylinder is used to load hydrogen production solid reactants. The manual compressor includes a body, a piston, and a handle. The body has a compression cavity, and the piston is disposed in the compression cavity and slides in cooperation with the body. One end of the handle is connected to the piston, and the other end extends out of the body. The body is provided with a compression inlet and a compression outlet communicating with the compression cavity, and a compression check valve is provided at the compression inlet. The compressed gas cylinder includes a cylinder body, the cylinder body has a compressed gas chamber located inside, the cylinder body is provided with a gas cylinder inlet and a gas cylinder outlet communicating with the compressed gas chamber, a gas cylinder one-way valve is provided at the gas cylinder inlet, and a flow control valve is provided at the gas cylinder outlet. The exhaust port is connected to the compression inlet, and the compression outlet is connected to the gas cylinder inlet.

2. The portable hydrogen production and compression device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The reaction vessel also includes a protective sleeve, which is detachably mounted on the vessel body; When the protective sleeve is installed on the tank body, the protective sleeve closes the liquid inlet.

3. The portable hydrogen production and compression device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The tank body includes a structural body and a cover, and the cover is an integral structure with the reaction cylinder; The cover is detachably mounted on the structure.

4. The portable hydrogen production and compression device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The reaction hole is located at the bottom of the reaction cylinder, and a gap is left between the outer side of the reaction cylinder and the inner sidewall of the tank.

5. The portable hydrogen production and compression device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The reaction vessel also includes a gravity hammer, which is fixed below the vessel body.

6. The portable hydrogen production and compression device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a filter canister containing filter consumables; The filter canister is connected between the exhaust port and the compression inlet.

7. The portable hydrogen production and compression device as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The filter canister and the exhaust port are connected by a duct.

8. The portable hydrogen production and compression device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The exhaust port and the compression inlet are connected via a quick-connect interface, or the exhaust port and the compression inlet are connected via an air pipe.

9. The portable hydrogen production and compression device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The compression outlet is connected to the gas cylinder inlet via a quick-connect interface, or the compression outlet is connected to the gas cylinder inlet via a gas pipe.

10. The portable hydrogen production and compression device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The compression check valve is a plate-type check valve.

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