Hydride and Peroxide Reactors for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Power
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional batteries used in non-air breathing applications, such as unmanned undersea vehicles and satellites, have low energy density and are costly, while existing systems for solid oxide fuel cells require heavy and complex containment for compressed or cryogenic hydrogen and oxygen.
Innovation Solution
A system that produces hydrogen and oxygen using a hydride reactor and peroxide reactor, where metal hydrides react with water to produce hydrogen and metal oxides, and hydrogen peroxide decomposes to produce oxygen and high-temperature water, which are then used in a solid oxide fuel cell to generate electricity, eliminating the need for external air and reducing system weight and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional batteries are used for non-air breathing applications, then the system is simple and reliable, but the energy density is low and cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the power generation system by using metal hydrides (such as lithium hydride, calcium hydride, or magnesium hydride) that react with water to produce hydrogen, which then reacts with oxygen in a fuel cell to generate electricity. This chemical parameter change enables higher energy density compared to conventional batteries while maintaining system reliability through the simplicity of the chemical reaction-based power generation process
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses water from the surrounding environment (in non-air breathing applications) to react with the metal hydride, eliminating the need to carry separate water supplies. The fuel cell continuously generates electricity as long as metal hydride and water are available, providing self-sustaining power generation without external air or additional constituents
2Productivity
If compressed or cryogenic hydrogen and oxygen are used to feed solid oxide fuel cell, then power generation efficiency is improved, but containment weight and system complexity increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts hydrogen from metal hydride compounds through chemical reaction with water, and obtains oxygen from the surrounding environment (in non-air breathing applications). This eliminates the need to store and transport compressed or cryogenic hydrogen and oxygen, dramatically reducing containment weight and system complexity while maintaining fuel cell efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces water as an intermediary substance that reacts with metal hydride to produce hydrogen in situ. This intermediary approach allows the system to generate hydrogen on-demand without storing it in compressed or cryogenic form, reducing the weight and complexity of hydrogen containment while ensuring continuous supply to the fuel cell
3Duration of action of moving object
If compressed or cryogenic hydrogen and oxygen systems are implemented, then fuel supply for solid oxide fuel cell is ensured, but device complexity and system weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent stores metal hydride compounds (such as lithium hydride, calcium hydride, or magnesium hydride) in advance, which can react with water to produce hydrogen over extended periods. This preliminary storage of hydrogen-source material ensures continuous fuel supply for the fuel cell without requiring complex compressed or cryogenic storage systems, reducing device complexity while maintaining long-duration operation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously generates hydrogen by reacting stored metal hydride with water from the environment, providing self-sustaining fuel supply without external intervention or complex storage infrastructure. The fuel cell operates continuously as long as metal hydride and water are available, ensuring prolonged operation with simple system architecture
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 system achieves higher energy density and efficiency compared to conventional batteries and compressed hydrogen/oxygen systems, with the ability to generate power for extended periods without external constituents, suitable for non-air breathing applications.
Implementation Method 1
reacting a metal hydride with water in a hydride reactor to produce heat, a metal oxide, and hydrogen
Implementation Method 2
decomposing hydrogen peroxide in a peroxide reactor to produce high temperature water and oxygen
Implementation Method 3
converting the hydrogen and the oxygen in at least one solid oxide fuel cell to produce water and electricity
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems of providing a source of hydrogen and oxygen with high volumetric energy density, as well as a power systems useful in non-air breathing engines such as those in, for example, submersible vehicles, is disclosed. A hydride reactor may be utilized in forming hydrogen from a metal hydride and a peroxide reactor may be utilized in forming oxygen from hydrogen peroxide. The high temperature hydrogen and oxygen may be converted to water using a solid oxide fuel cell, which serves as a power source. The power generation system may have an increased energy density in comparison to conventional batteries. Heat produced by exothermic reactions in the hydride reactor and the peroxide reactor may be transferred and utilized in other aspects of the power generation system. High temperature water produced during by the peroxide reactor may be used to fuel the hydride reactor.