Hydrogen Generator With Movable Barrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrogen generation methods often require predetermined volumes and have limited scalability, restricting the production spectrum and usability range of hydrogen generators, especially in remote or vehicle-based applications.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogen generator design featuring a housing with a primary reaction volume and a collection volume, utilizing a barrier that is adaptable in position and permeable to hydrogen but impermeable to water steam, allowing for a scalable and efficient separation of hydrogen, using a mixture of silicone oil and water as reaction components to facilitate chemical reactions and optimize hydrogen production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a predetermined volume reactor is used for hydrogen generation, then the reaction mixture can be contained and reacted, but the production spectrum is limited and scalability is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The reactor volume is segmented into a reaction volume and a collection volume by a movable barrier. The barrier can be positioned at different locations to divide the total volume in various ratios, allowing the system to adapt to different hydrogen production requirements while using the same reactor hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier is made movable rather than fixed, enabling dynamic adjustment of the reaction-to-collection volume ratio. This dynamic configuration allows the system to optimize for different production rates and hydrogen collection needs, significantly expanding the usability range from minimal to maximal production modes.
2Quantity of substance
If the collection volume is increased to capture more hydrogen, then hydrogen storage capacity improves, but the reaction volume decreases limiting production
Solution Approach 1:
The movable barrier enables dynamic reallocation of volume between reaction and collection spaces. When high storage is needed, the barrier moves to increase collection volume; when high production is needed, the barrier moves to increase reaction volume, allowing optimal configuration for each operational phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the volume parameter dynamically by moving the barrier to different positions. This parameter adjustment allows the same physical reactor to provide different effective volumes for reaction and collection, resolving the trade-off between production rate and storage capacity.
3Productivity
If the reaction volume is increased to produce more hydrogen, then production capacity improves, but the collection volume decreases limiting hydrogen capture
Solution Approach 1:
The movable barrier allows the system to first operate with a large reaction volume for high production capacity, then move the barrier to expand the collection volume for hydrogen capture. This sequential dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between production and storage.
4Device complexity
If a fixed barrier is used to separate reaction and collection volumes, then the structure is simple, but the usability range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier is designed to be movable rather than fixed, adding only minimal complexity to the structure while dramatically expanding the usability range. The movable barrier allows the same reactor to operate in multiple production modes, from minimal to maximal production, without requiring multiple different reactor units.
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 design enhances the usability range of hydrogen generators by allowing for adaptable production volumes, efficient hydrogen separation, and reduced water steam interference, enabling larger hydrogen production capacities while minimizing storage needs and encrustation issues.
Implementation Method 1
a barrier (24) is provided between the reaction volume (16) and the collection volume (18), which barrier is adaptable in its position to provide different ratio of reaction volume to collection volume. The barrier is permeable to gaseous hydrogen, and the barrier provides at least a barrier function to water steam.
Implementation Method 2
The first and the second part of the reaction mixture are configured for reacting in a chemical reaction to generate hydrogen.
Implementation Method 3
The second liquid comprises water and a catalyst substance
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to the generation of hydrogen. In order to provide a hydrogen generator with an increased an improved bandwidth of use, i.e. a hydrogen generator with an increased usability range, a hydrogen generator (10) for providing hydrogen from a suspension is described, comprising at least one housing (12) enclosing a generator volume (14) comprising a primary reaction volume (16) for providing a reaction mixture and a collection volume (18) for capturing hydrogen emitting from the reaction volume, a first plurality of first inlets (20) for injecting a first liquid with a first part of a reaction mixture into the reaction volume; wherein the first liquid is a suspension comprising silicone oil, a second plurality of second inlets (22) for injecting a second liquid with a second part of the reaction mixture into the reaction volume, wherein the second liquid comprises water, and wherein the first and the second part of the reaction mixture are configured for reacting in a chemical reaction to generate hydrogen, and a barrier (24) between the reaction volume and the collection volume. The barrier is adaptable in its position to provide different ratio of reaction volume to collection volume. The barrier is permeable to gaseous hydrogen, and the barrier provides at least a barrier function to water steam.