Metal Borohydride Hydrogen Storage Mixture
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high production and transportation costs, low specific weight, and energy loss associated with hydrogen gas make its widespread use challenging, and existing methods for hydrogen storage and transport are inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A mixture comprising metal borohydride and metal hydroxide dissolved in ultrapure water is used to produce hydrogen, with controlled pH and catalysts or acids to manage reaction rates, allowing for stable and efficient hydrogen production and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If hydrogen is stored as compressed gas, then transport range is improved, but hydrogen loss increases due to leakage and energy loss from compression
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of hydrogen from compressed gas to liquid form, and further to chemically bound hydrogen in liquid organic compounds. This parameter change eliminates compression requirements and prevents leakage losses while maintaining transport range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite chemical structures where hydrogen is bound to organic molecules (forming liquid hydrogen carriers). This composite approach allows hydrogen to be stored in a stable liquid form that can be transported without special compression equipment while preventing leakage.
2Productivity
If hydrogen is liquefied for transport, then transport efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases for cooling and maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of maintaining hydrogen in liquid form through extreme cooling, the patent changes the storage parameter to chemical bonding at ambient temperatures. Hydrogen is incorporated into organic molecules that remain liquid under normal conditions, eliminating the need for continuous cooling energy input.
3Quantity of substance
If hydrogen is stored in compressed form, then storage density is improved, but storage stability deteriorates due to evaporation and leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates composite chemical compounds where hydrogen is covalently bonded to organic molecules. This composite structure maintains high hydrogen content while providing chemical stability, preventing both evaporation and leakage that plague compressed and liquid hydrogen storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs liquid organic hydrogen carriers that can be easily replaced and do not require long-term maintenance. These carriers are stable during transport but can be readily exchanged at destination, avoiding the stability issues of compressed hydrogen systems.
4Ease of manufacture
If steam reforming is used for hydrogen production, then production cost is reduced, but CO2 emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses biomass as a renewable carbon source that undergoes controlled oxidation to produce hydrogen. This process leverages the natural carbon cycle where biomass absorbs CO2 during growth, making the overall process carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative compared to fossil fuel-based steam reforming.
5Object-generated harmful factors
If electrolysis is used for hydrogen production, then CO2 footprint is reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs biomass gasification and chemical reactions that produce hydrogen through controlled oxidation processes. These reactions occur spontaneously or with minimal energy input compared to electrolysis, while maintaining low CO2 emissions because the carbon comes from renewable biomass sources.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method provides a stable, high-energy-density hydrogen fuel that can be stored at low temperatures without cooling, reducing transportation costs and energy loss, and meets the requirements of the US Department of Energy and StorHy consortium for hydrogen storage systems.
Implementation Method 1
a method for obtaining a mixture for producing H2, the mixture comprising a metal borohydride, Me(BH4)n, a metal hydroxide, Me(OH)n, and H2O
Implementation Method 2
dissolving the metal borohydride and the metal hydroxide in UPW to obtain the mixture for producing H2
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for obtaining a mixture for producing H2, the mixture comprising a metal borohydride, Me(BH4)n, a metal hydroxide, Me(OH)n, and H2O, in which Me is a metal and n is the valance of the metal ion. The H2O is provided in ultrapure water, UPW, the UPW having an electrical conductance below 1 μS/cm. The method comprises dissolving the metal borohydride and the metal hydroxide in UPW to obtain the mixture for producing H2 comprising an amount of borohydride, BH4, groups of the metal borohydride in the range of 45 to 55%mol of the mixture, an amount of hydroxide, OH, groups of the metal hydroxide in the range of 2 to 5%mol of the mixture, and at least substantially UPW for the remainder of the mixture.