Tetrahydroborate Production Using Hydrogen Plasma Grinding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing tetrahydroborate require high energy input due to the need for maintaining a high-temperature and high-pressure atmosphere, and they are costly due to the consumption of reducing metals like magnesium or aluminum, with low productivity as they require extended processing times.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the exposure of a borate to a hydrogen plasma while grinding it, using a device with a ball mill container, a plasma generator for dielectric-barrier discharge, and a gas supplying unit to generate and control the hydrogen plasma, thereby reducing energy consumption and processing time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional hydrogenation methods are used with high temperature and high pressure, then tetrahydroborate can be produced, but energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the hydrogenation process by using plasma state hydrogen instead of gaseous hydrogen, and conducting the reaction at atmospheric pressure instead of high pressure. This parameter change allows the reaction to proceed at lower temperatures and pressures, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining production reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional thermal-mechanical hydrogenation system with a plasma-based chemical system. Instead of using high temperature and pressure to drive the hydrogenation reaction, the invention uses plasma to activate hydrogen molecules, enabling the reaction to occur under milder conditions with lower energy input
2Productivity
If conventional hydrogenation methods are used, then tetrahydroborate can be produced, but processing time is long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the reaction parameters by using plasma-activated hydrogen at atmospheric pressure, which significantly accelerates the hydrogenation reaction rate. This allows the reaction to complete in much shorter time compared to conventional high-pressure hydrogenation methods, thereby improving productivity and reducing processing time
Solution Approach 2:
The plasma generation in the reaction system operates in a periodic manner, creating pulses of highly reactive hydrogen species that continuously drive the hydrogenation reaction forward. This periodic plasma action maintains high reaction rates throughout the process, reducing overall processing time while improving productivity
3Ease of manufacture
If reducing metals like magnesium or aluminum are used, then hydrogenation can be achieved, but production cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for reducing metals like magnesium or aluminum from the hydrogenation process. By using plasma-activated hydrogen directly, the invention removes the intermediate step requiring metallic reducing agents, thereby reducing material consumption and production cost while maintaining manufacturing ease
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces plasma as an intermediary that facilitates the hydrogenation reaction without being consumed. Instead of using reducing metals that are consumed in the reaction, the plasma acts as a catalyst-like intermediary that activates hydrogen molecules and enables the reaction to proceed without consuming additional materials, thus reducing material consumption and cost
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 method significantly reduces energy consumption and processing time, eliminates the need for expensive reducing metals, and enhances productivity, making it more suitable for industrial applications.
Implementation Method 1
a plasma generator including a dielectric member constituting at least a portion of an inner wall surface of the processing chamber, at least a pair of electrodes coupled to the dielectric member and to which the voltage from the power source is applied, and an insulating body insulating at least the pair of electrodes from each other, in which the drive causes the ball mill container to rotate, thereby grinding the borate, the gas supplying unit makes an atmosphere of the source gas in the processing chamber, and the plasma generator generates a hydrogen plasma on a surface of the dielectric member by virtue of dielectric-barrier discharge based on the voltage applied from the power source in the processing chamber within the atmosphere of the source gas
Implementation Method 2
a ball mill container including therein a processing chamber for grinding media and a borate to be contained; a drive causing the ball mill container to rotate
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing a tetrahydroborate includes a hydrogenating step (step S14) of exposing a borate to a hydrogen plasma while grinding the borate.