Proton Flow Reactor With Slurry Electrode Hydrogen Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy storage systems, such as proton-exchange membrane fuel cells, face challenges in efficiently storing and retrieving hydrogen due to low round-trip energy efficiency, high volume, and weight, as well as the difficulty in storing gases like hydrogen, which limits their effectiveness as an alternative to traditional power sources.
Innovation Solution
A proton flow reactor system utilizing a slurry electrode with carbon particles in a liquid electrolyte, where uncharged storage particles are converted to charged particles by passing H+ or H3O+ ions, allowing for the separation and storage of charged particles outside the reactor, and subsequent generation of electricity or hydrogen gas through controlled reactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If gaseous hydrogen is stored using conventional methods (pressurized storage, liquified storage, metal hydride), then hydrogen storage capacity is achieved, but the system occupies high volume and adds significant weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous carbon particles as the storage medium, utilizing the porous structure to adsorb and store hydrogen atoms. The porous material provides high surface area for hydrogen interaction while maintaining a compact form factor, thereby achieving high hydrogen storage capacity in a reduced volume compared to conventional pressurized or liquified storage methods.
2Quantity of substance
If gaseous hydrogen is stored using conventional methods (pressurized storage, liquified storage, metal hydride), then hydrogen storage capacity is achieved, but the system adds significant weight
Solution Approach 1:
The porous carbon particles provide an lightweight alternative to metal hydrides and heavy pressurized storage systems. The carbon-based porous material achieves hydrogen storage through adsorption in its porous structure, offering high storage capacity with significantly reduced weight compared to conventional methods.
3Power
If hydrogen is stored as gas and converted back to electricity through a fuel cell, then energy is generated, but the round-trip energy efficiency is low (typically less than 50%)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters by using porous carbon particles that can directly interact with hydrogen ions in the electrolyte solution. This approach enables more efficient hydrogen storage and retrieval, improving the round-trip energy efficiency of the hydrogen-to-electricity conversion process compared to conventional gaseous storage and fuel cell systems.
4Volume of moving object
If a solid-state electrode is used to store hydrogen atoms, then storage volume and weight are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrode into discrete porous carbon particles suspended in the electrolyte solution, rather than using a monolithic solid-state electrode. This segmentation simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining the volume and weight benefits of solid-state hydrogen storage, as the particles can be easily handled and replaced.
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 high gravimetric and volumetric energy density, enabling efficient energy storage and retrieval with improved round-trip efficiency, allowing for the transport of energy-rich fuel and production of high-purity hydrogen gas.
Implementation Method 1
supply a source of H+ or H3O+ ions to a second half-cell of the electrochemical cell; apply a voltage to the electrochemical cell to: allow H+ or H3O+ ions to pass from the second half cell to the first half-cell; and convert the uncharged storage particles to charged storage particles
Implementation Method 2
In a typical PEMFC hydrogen gas is delivered to the anode side where it is separated into protons and electrons. The separated protons may travel through the PEM to the cathode side where they react with oxygen to form water, thereby generating electricity.
Implementation Method 3
A device comprising a number of connected voltaic cells, whether in series or in parallel, is commonly called a battery while an electrochemical device in which reactants are continuously delivered to the device is commonly called a fuel cell.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a proton flow reactor for use in storing and releasing energy. In use, a slurry of storage particles in a liquid electrolyte may pass through a first half cell of the proton flow reactor. When the proton flow reactor is in charge mode, protons are bonded or otherwise attracted to the storage particles to form charged storage particles charged with hydrogen, which can hen be stored and/or transported for later use. When the proton flow reactor is in discharge mode, protons are removed from the charged storage particles to fuel an electrochemical reaction, thereby generating electricity. Alternatively, the proton flow reactor in discharge mode can be configured to generate hydrogen gas directly from the in-flowing charged carbon particles.