Aqueous hydrogen generation process
US5830426A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 7, 1995 |
| Grant date | Nov 3, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 7, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T90/40
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The new iron material and catalyst admixture of this invention features a method for operating an electrical automotive vehicle. The method of the invention utilizes a hydrogen-air fuel cell to power an electrical automotive vehicle having electrical drive motors. Hydrogen to fuel the fuel cell is supplied onboard by a reactor bed of iron that is made to react with H.sub.2 O in the presence of an alkali hydroxide catalyst at temperatures not exceeding approximately 250.degree. C. The preferred alkali hydroxide is the hydroxide of potassium in a range of concentrations between 50 to 60 percent by weight, with the preferred concentration being about 53%. The hydrogen for fueling the fuel cell is generated onboard the automobile, in situ, by using a storage compartment containing iron materials. The hydrogen is generated by passing heated H.sub.2 O over the iron, which then becomes iron oxide. The vehicle's operator obtains a fresh charge of the new iron materials from an iron fuel station for placement in a compartment of the vehicle. The iron materials of this invention may comprise in situ freshly-ground particulates as an added enhancement for the reactivity between the iron and w…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.