Dry Hydrogen Production Reactor Using Supercritical Fluids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for hydrogen production from biomass are inefficient and environmentally harmful, particularly when using water or vapor, and there is a need for more effective and clean technologies to utilize food waste as an energy resource.
Innovation Solution
A dry hydrogen production device and method that uses a reactor heated from 100 to 800°C without water or vapor, with a supply of alkali hydroxide and biomass, and employs carrier gases for fluidization and separation of hydrogen and carbonate products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional water-based hydrogen production methods are used, then hydrogen can be produced from biomass, but high energy consumption and harmful by-products are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the reaction medium from water-based to dry/supercritical fluid-based conditions. By operating in a dry environment with supercritical fluids (above critical temperature and pressure), the process eliminates the need for water vapor supply and condensation systems, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining high hydrogen production efficiency from biomass conversion
2Productivity
If water or vapor is supplied to the reactor, then hydrogen production reactions can proceed, but harmful by-products and environmental pollution increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dry, inert supercritical fluid environment instead of water or vapor. This inert atmosphere prevents the formation of harmful by-products associated with water-based reactions, such as tar formation and unwanted chemical reactions, while still enabling efficient hydrogen production from biomass through controlled thermal conversion processes
3Ease of manufacture
If biomass is incinerated or landfilled, then waste disposal is achieved, but environmental pollution and resource waste occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful waste biomass into a beneficial resource by using supercritical fluid processing to transform it into hydrogen fuel and valuable chemical products. Instead of simply disposing of biomass through incineration or landfilling, the process captures and utilizes the chemical energy stored in biomass, converting what would be pollution into clean energy and useful materials
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
This approach enables efficient and clean hydrogen production from dried biomass with low energy consumption and minimal harmful by-products, addressing environmental concerns associated with incineration or landfill disposal of food waste.
Implementation Method 1
a heating means configured to heat the reactor from 100 to 800° C.
Implementation Method 2
supplying carrier gas to fluidize a hydroxide and biomass mixture in the reactor
Implementation Method 3
a solid-gas separator connected to the gas phase reaction product outflow line
Data Source
AI summary
A dry hydrogen production device includes: a reactor to which water or vapor is not supplied; heating means configured to heat the reactor to 200 to 800° C.; a supply line for hydroxide of at least one of alkali and alkali earth connected to the reactor; a biomass supply line connected to the reactor; at least one carrier gas supply line connected to the reactor; a gas phase reaction product outflow line connected to the reactor, a solid-gas separator connected to the gas phase reaction product outflow line; and a gas separator connected to the solid-gas separator.