Hydrogen Carrier Reactor Flow Control for On-Demand Gas Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies face challenges in efficiently extracting hydrogen from liquid hydrogen carriers, particularly in achieving high volumetric and gravimetric densities required for transportation applications, while ensuring thermodynamic stability and rapid reaction kinetics.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a hydrogen gas reactor with a catalyst that generates hydrogen gas upon exposure to a liquid hydrogen carrier, including a liquid hydrogen carrier channel for flowing the carrier into the reactor and a hydrogen gas outlet for extracting the generated hydrogen. The system adjusts the volume of the liquid hydrogen carrier within the reactor based on hydrogen gas flow rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If hydrogen is stored as a volatile gas at ambient conditions, then hydrogen availability is high, but the volume occupied is impractically large (11.2 m³ per kg)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs phase transition by converting hydrogen from gaseous state to liquid state through liquefaction processes. Liquid hydrogen achieves much higher volumetric density compared to gaseous hydrogen, reducing storage volume from 11.2 m³/kg to approximately 0.03 m³/kg while maintaining the same mass of hydrogen.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes solid state hydrogen storage materials where hydrogen is embedded within solid compound structures. This nesting approach achieves high volumetric densities exceeding liquid hydrogen by more than a factor of two, as hydrogen atoms are incorporated into the crystal lattice of solid materials.
2Quantity of substance
If metal borohydrides are used as hydrogen storage medium, then high hydrogen density is achieved, but efficient hydrogen release and access to stored hydrogen presents challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting temperature and pressure conditions to control hydrogen release from metal borohydrides. By optimizing these thermodynamic parameters, the system achieves both high hydrogen storage density and efficient release rates suitable for transportation applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces liquid carriers as intermediaries that facilitate hydrogen release from metal borohydrides. The liquid carrier system enables controlled hydrogen extraction and transfer, improving accessibility to stored hydrogen while maintaining high overall storage density.
3Quantity of substance
If hydrogen storage materials are designed for high volumetric and gravimetric densities, then transportation requirements are met, but thermodynamic stability and reaction kinetics become challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by carefully controlling temperature and pressure conditions to maintain thermodynamic stability of hydrogen storage materials while enabling rapid reaction kinetics. The system operates within specific parameter ranges that balance stability and reactivity for transportation applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes composite material systems combining metal borohydrides with liquid carriers and catalysts. This composite approach achieves the required combined volumetric and gravimetric hydrogen densities while improving thermodynamic stability and reaction kinetics through synergistic interactions between components.
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 effectively extracts hydrogen from liquid hydrogen carriers, achieving high densities and rapid reaction kinetics, thus addressing the challenges of hydrogen storage and utilization for transportation purposes.
Implementation Method 1
a catalyst configured to generate the hydrogen gas after exposure to the liquid hydrogen carrier
Data Source
AI summary
A system for extracting hydrogen gas from a liquid hydrogen carrier may include a hydrogen gas reactor, a catalyst for facilitating extraction of the hydrogen gas from the liquid hydrogen carrier, and a reservoir for containing the liquid hydrogen carrier and a spend liquid hydrogen carrier. The system may be configured to regulate a flow of liquid hydrogen carrier in and out of the hydrogen gas reactor, to move a catalyst relative to a volume of the liquid hydrogen carrier, and to provide a continuous flow of the hydrogen gas, in response to a demand for the hydrogen gas.