Slurry Flow Reactor for Compact Hydrogen Rate Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrogen production methods using solid metals face challenges in constrained volume applications due to bulkiness and limited control over reaction rates, particularly in embedded power systems where space is limited.
Innovation Solution
A flow reactor system utilizing a slurry of water reactive particles, such as aluminum, dispersed in a carrier fluid, which reacts with water to produce hydrogen gas continuously, allowing for efficient separation and utilization of hydrogen through permeable membranes or gravity-induced separation, enabling controlled hydrogen production and flexible system design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If solid metals are used as bulk fuel source, then hydrogen production capability is achieved, but volume constraint and system compactness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the fuel from solid metal to liquid slurry form. This parameter change allows the fuel to be stored in a compact reservoir and pumped through the reactor, significantly reducing the volume required for a given amount of fuel while maintaining hydrogen production capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic principles by using a liquid slurry that can be pumped and flowed through the reactor system. This allows for controlled delivery of fuel to the reaction zone, enabling compact system design with reservoirs and flow control mechanisms that occupy minimal space compared to solid fuel storage.
2Quantity of substance
If solid metals are used as bulk fuel source, then hydrogen production is achieved, but control over reaction rate deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic control capabilities by using a pumpable slurry system. The reaction rate can be controlled by adjusting the flow rate of the slurry through the reactor, allowing operators to modulate hydrogen production according to demand. This dynamic control is not feasible with static solid metal fuel sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables periodic or variable action by controlling the slurry flow in pulses or at variable rates. This allows the system to produce hydrogen on-demand rather than continuously, providing operational flexibility for applications with varying power requirements.
3Productivity
If continuous hydrogen production is achieved, then productivity is improved, but separation of hydrogen from by-products becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous membrane in the reactor design that allows continuous separation of hydrogen gas from the liquid slurry and by-products. The porous structure permits selective passage of hydrogen while retaining heavier components, enabling continuous operation without complex separation equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a carrier fluid as an intermediary medium that facilitates the reaction while enabling easy separation. The carrier fluid allows the metal particles to be delivered continuously to the reaction zone and then separated from the produced hydrogen, simplifying the overall separation process compared to direct solid-liquid reactions.
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 flow reactor system provides a compact, efficient means of hydrogen production with controlled reaction rates and high packing density, suitable for constrained applications like autonomous vehicles, by continuously producing hydrogen and separating it from by-products, facilitating its use as a fuel source.
Implementation Method 1
Oxidation-reduction reactions involving metals can produce hydrogen on-demand
Implementation Method 2
a porous conduit in fluid communication with the first reservoir and the second reservoir. The water from the first reservoir and the slurry from the second reservoir flow through the porous conduit, and the porous conduit is substantially permeable to gas and is substantially impermeable to the water and the slurry
Data Source
AI summary
Flow through reactors and related methods for use with slurries including water reactive particles are generally described.