Elemental Hydrogen Patents (Class 423/648.1)
  • Patent number: 8114173
    Abstract: A hydrogen generator and a method of operating the hydrogen generator. The hydrogen generator includes: a cylindrical reformer catalyst; and a cylindrical shift catalyst disposed inside of the reformer catalyst; a separation wall provided between the reformer catalyst and the shift catalyst; a cylinder that is disposed inside of the reformer catalyst, and comprises, on an outer surface thereof, a plurality of first nozzles to direct a plurality of flames to the reformer catalyst and a plurality of second nozzles to direct a plurality of flames to the shift catalyst; and a combustion fuel supply valve that selectively guides a combustion fuel to the first nozzles and or the second nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Woo Lee, Tae-sang Park
  • Publication number: 20120034154
    Abstract: Utilization of process and equipment for oxidation of metal sulfides, preferably two step metal sulfide oxidation reactions, and more preferably with looping back of second step oxide to the first step as an oxidizing agent, to generate sulfur dioxide and a useful metal or metal oxide, and react the sulfur dioxide with halogen (iodine or bromine) and water to produce sulfuric and halogen acid under moderate process conditions and equipment requirements and then dissociating the halogen acids (HI or HBr) to halogen and hydrogen as an overall environmentally and cost efficient and otherwise acceptable safe process for producing hydrogen and other useful products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: Orchard Material Technology LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence F. McHugh, Leonid Shekhter
  • Publication number: 20120027669
    Abstract: A method of storing hydrogen is provided, wherein the method comprises forming a first ionic liquid by inducing a borohydride into a second ionic liquid comprising cations and an anion comprising borate, in particular metaborate, and forming the second ionic liquid by releasing the hydrogen out of the first ionic liquid by using water and/or a catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: VTU HOLDING GMBH
    Inventor: Roland Kalb
  • Patent number: 8105974
    Abstract: A process of forming a hydrogen storage material, including the steps of: providing a first material of the formula M(BH4)X, where M is an alkali metal or an alkali earth metal, providing a second material selected from M(AlH4)x, a mixture of M(AlH4)x and MClx, a mixture of MClx and Al, a mixture of MClx and AlH3, a mixture of MHx and Al, Al, and AlH3. The first and second materials are combined at an elevated temperature and at an elevated hydrogen pressure for a time period forming a third material having a lower hydrogen release temperature than the first material and a higher hydrogen gravimetric density than the second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy, Savannah River
    Inventors: Rana F. Mohtadi, Kenji Nakamura, Ming Au, Ragaiy Zidan
  • Publication number: 20120020873
    Abstract: Method of producing hydrogen from methanol comprising providing a feed mixture of methanol and water at high pressure, delivering the feed mixture to a reactor chamber (5) equipped with an internal heat exchanger, wherein said feed mixture is heated by heat exchange with an outgoing reformed mixture from the reactor chamber, and wherein said outgoing reformed mixture is simultaneously cooled by said feed mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: AQUARDEN TECHNOLOGIES APS
    Inventor: Zhuoyan Cai
  • Publication number: 20120020862
    Abstract: Getter alloys particularly suitable for hydrogen sorption are described. The getter alloys include a first element consisting of yttrium or a yttrium equivalent mixture, the first element forming at least 30% by atoms of the alloy. A method for removing hydrogen from devices which are sensitive to the presence thereof and hydrogen-sensitive devices which contain the described getter alloys are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Alberto Coda, Alessandro Gallitognotta, Andrea Conte, Costanza Dragoni, Alessio Corazza
  • Patent number: 8100991
    Abstract: A compact biomass gasification apparatus is capable of gasifying a wide variety of biomass materials, without regard to their size and/or the water content of those materials, and also capable of substantially removing the tar component generated in a gasification process. A biomass gasification apparatus primarily includes an externally heated rotary kiln-type thermal cracking unit (2) indirectly heating and thermally cracking a biomass material to generate a tar-containing pyrolysis gas and char from the biomass material, and a gasification unit (3) receiving the tar-containing pyrolysis gas and char from the thermal cracking unit (2) and thermally cracking the tar component in the pyrolysis gas and gasifying the char by an oxidation gas being introduced therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Chugai Ro Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Sasauchi, Miki Taniguchi, Takumi Kato
  • Patent number: 8100993
    Abstract: A hydrogen gas generator generates hydrogen gas by mixing two reactants. The generator has a reaction chamber for receiving a solid reactant. The chamber has a reaction product separator impermeable to the solid reactant and a biasing means for biasing reactant products against the separator. The generator also has a liquid reactant dispenser for storing a liquid reactant and is fluidly coupled to the reaction chamber, such that dispensed liquid reactant reacts with the solid reactant in the reaction chamber to produce hydrogen gas and a waste product that are substantially permeable through the separator. The generator also has a product collector coupled to the reaction chamber for collecting hydrogen gas and waste product that have passed through the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Ardica Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tobin Joseph Fisher, Jesse Thomas
  • Publication number: 20120014864
    Abstract: An autothermal reformer (103) includes a long section of unified foil or honeycomb catalyst bed (120) and a much shorter mixing and spreading section (102) of monolithic, open cell foam which mixes and spreads the components of mixture to be reformed. A fuel/steam mixture (A) passes through a heat exchange tube (44), and air (B) passes through a heat exchange tube (46), both tubes being heated by the exothermic catalytic reaction. The air, fuel and steam are mixed in a plurality of tubes (40) passing through a manifold (32), and thence into the monolithic, open cell foam mixing and spreading section (102). The shorter section may or may not be catalycized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Roger R. Lesieur, Antonio M. Vincitore
  • Patent number: 8097234
    Abstract: A capsule having a hydrogen gas permeable shell with solid-state hydride material, such as hydrogen rich LiAlH4, Li3AlH6, and/or AlH3 encapsulated therein. The hydrogen gas permeable shell has pores that are between about 1 nm to about 150 ?m in diameter to allow hydrogen gas to be extracted from the capsule. After passing the capsule through a hydrogen extraction zone, the capsule containing the spent solid-state hydride material is removed and is sent to recycling, wherein the capsule is opened to remove the spent solid-state hydride material, and the spent solid-state hydride material is rehydrogenated and repacked in a hydrogen gas permeable shell. The shell of the spent solid-state hydride material can be recycled and reused to make new shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: John J. Vajo, Tina T. Salguero
  • Publication number: 20120006055
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for separating at least part of a gaseous product from a feed stream which comprises contaminants. The process comprises: 1) providing the feed stream; 2) cooling the feed stream to a temperature at which a slurry stream is formed which comprises solid contaminant, liquid phase contaminant and the gaseous product; 3) introducing the slurry stream as obtained in step 2) via a plurality of tangentially directed inlet means into an upper part of a separation device, thereby creating a swirl of the slurry stream which allows at least part of the gaseous product to flow upwardly and solid contaminant and liquid phase contaminant to flow downwardly; 4) removing at least part of the gaseous product from the upper part of the device; and 5) removing a stream comprising liquid phase contaminant from a lower part of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: Helmar Van Santen, Cornelius Johannes Schellekens, Peter Veenstra
  • Patent number: 8092769
    Abstract: A process and apparatus are described for converting a feed that is substantially comprised of halogenated materials, and especially byproduct and waste chlorinated hydrocarbons as are produced from a variety of chemical manufacturing processes, to one or more higher value products via a partial oxidation reforming reaction step. These products can be in the form of a useful or salable acid product and/or a product synthesis gas comprised of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, or the reaction product including the same hydrogen halide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen components can be employed as a feed in the synthesis of a different useful or salable product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Wade Jewell, John P. Henley, Edward E. Timm, Tarver Gayle Snedecor, Jr., Leopoldo Salinas, III, Charles William Lipp, James Everett Clark
  • Patent number: 8093175
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composition capable of trapping hydrogen comprising: (a) at least one mineral compound of formula (I) below: MX(OH)??(I) in which: M represents a divalent transition element; O represents an oxygen atom; X represents an atom chosen from S, Se, Te, Po; and H represents a hydrogen atom; and (b) at least one nitrate salt of formula (II) below: ZNO3??(II) in which Z is a monovalent cation. Use of these compositions either in pulverulent form for trapping gaseous hydrogen by direct interaction, or in the form of an adjuvant in a containment material for, for example, trapping hydrogen released by radiolysis in radioactive waste packages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventor: Chantal Riglet-Martial
  • Publication number: 20120003146
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and compositions for facilitating hydrogen storage, typically using naturally-occurring nanostructured biomaterials such as diatoms or diatomaceous material in their natural or modified forms to facilitate the hydrogen storage. For example, when the nanostructured biomaterials are in contact with a metal hydride such as a complex or a simple metal hydride, the resulting composition functions a catalytic composition that can reversibly desorb and resorb hydrogen gas in an efficient manner. Examples of modification include, but are not limited to, modification of the nanostructured silica with any number of metals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: MICROBES UNLIMITED, LLC
    Inventor: Carl B. Fliermans
  • Patent number: 8088187
    Abstract: A method of utilizing hydrogen in synthesis gas production by forming synthesis gas from one or more carbonaceous materials, the synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide; separating a hydrogen-rich product and a hydrogen-lean product from the synthesis gas to yield an adjusted synthesis gas product; and activating a hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst with at least a portion of the hydrogen-lean product. A system for carrying out the method is also provided, the system including at least one hydrogen extraction unit and an activation reactor operable to activate hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst, wherein the activation reactor comprises an inlet fluidly connected with the at least one hydrogen extraction unit whereby at least a portion of a hydrogen-lean gas stream, at least a portion of a hydrogen-rich gas stream, or at least a portion of both may be introduced into the activation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Rentech, Inc.
    Inventors: Sergio Mohedas, Mark Ibsen
  • Patent number: 8088356
    Abstract: Disclosed are a novel hydrogen storage material with enhanced hydrogen storage capacity prepared by doping an organic framework material with light metal cations, and a method of using the same for hydrogen storage. The present inventive material has at least one phenyl group at each face of a triangular building unit, which is doped with metal cations such as alkali metal cations, alkali-earth metal cations, etc., so that the material exhibits greatly improved capacity of hydrogen absorption and desorption at room temperature and can provide hydrogen storage materials practically adapted for fuel batteries useable even at room temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jeung Ku Kang, Yoon Jeong Choi, Jung Woo Lee, Jung Hoon Choi
  • Patent number: 8083996
    Abstract: Provided are a thermal siphon reactor and a hydrogen generator including the same. The hydrogen generator including the thermal siphon reactor includes: a housing; a reaction source container disposed in the housing; a reactor tube connected to the reaction source container in which a catalytic reaction of a reaction source provided from the reaction source container occurs; a catalyst layer which is porous, facilitates gas generation by being contacted with the reaction source, and is disposed in the reactor tube; and a product container which is connected to the reactor tube and collects a reaction product generated in the reactor tube, wherein in the reactor tube, a convection channel through which the reaction product is discharged passes through the reactor tube in the lengthwise direction of the reactor tube. The thermal siphon reactor and the hydrogen generator including the same have a self-operating ability, operate at low costs, and have small installment volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myong Hoon Lim, Tae Hee Park, Jae Hoi Gu, Yongho Yu
  • Patent number: 8083816
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for producing hydrogen gas by mechanical scraping of a surface of an aluminum-containing material, in the presence of an aqueous medium, the apparatus including: (a) a reaction chamber having a discharge port, and adapted to sealably contain the aqueous medium; (b) an aluminum-containing workpiece having a working surface; (c) a scraping mechanism having a brush adapted to contact the working surface, the workpiece and the scraping element disposed within the chamber, the surface and the scraping element adapted to move in a relative motion, whereby, in an operating condition, the scraping element scrapes against the working surface to effect a liberation of aluminum-containing particles from the workpiece, the chamber adapted to be substantially sealed with respect to an ambient environment, up to a superatmospheric pressure threshold, and further adapted whereby, during contacting of the aqueous medium and the particles within the chamber, the hydrogen gas is evolved and sel
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Inventors: Robert L. Hirsch, Gregory Scott Hirsch
  • Publication number: 20110308240
    Abstract: This invention relates to degradation of biomass with a peroxide in the presence of a metal catalyst. The process can result in ethanol production from cellulosic biomass, fuel gases, useful chemicals and biochemicals from decomposition products, heat and/or pressure for direct use, and electricity generation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: Applied Chemical Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Ali Zendedel Haghighi, Javad J. Sahbari
  • Publication number: 20110308971
    Abstract: The present invention provides the following new polymers which are useful for hydrogen storage: (i) a polymer comprising -[MN2]— as a repeating unit, wherein M is selected from the group consisting Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Zr, Nb, Mo, and mixtures thereof; and (ii) a polymer comprising -[M2N3]— as a repeating unit, wherein M is selected from the group consisting Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Zr, Nb, Mo, and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventor: David Michael Antonelli
  • Publication number: 20110311439
    Abstract: A method for producing hydrogen (H2) includes the steps consisting in: a) reacting a compound (C) including one or more groups Si—H with a fluoride ions source, thereby forming hydrogen and a by-product (C1); and b) recovering the obtained hydrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: UNIVERSITE DE LA MEDITERRANEE AIX-MARSEILLE II
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Brunel
  • Publication number: 20110311440
    Abstract: A process for hydrogen production at lower temperature by using Mn/ZnO, Cu/MnO, Cu/CeO2, CuCe/ZnO and/or CuMn/ZnO catalysts, wherein a partial oxidization of methanol (POM) process can be initiated at an ambient reactor temperature lower than 100° C. and then undertaken at a reaction temperature lower than 200° C., and wherein POM process not only generates hydrogen rich gas (HRG) containing 4% CO or less but also generates 1.8 moles hydrogen or more per 1 mole methanol consumed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Yuh-Jeen HUANG, Chuin-Tih YEH, Tsui-Wei WANG, Liang-Chor CHUNG
  • Patent number: 8076034
    Abstract: A high pressure hydrogen confinement apparatus according to one embodiment includes carbon nanotubes capped at one or both ends thereof with a hydrogen-permeable membrane to enable the high pressure confinement of hydrogen and release of the hydrogen therethrough. A hydrogen confinement apparatus according to another embodiment includes an array of multi-walled carbon nanotubes each having first and second ends, the second ends being capped with palladium (Pd) to enable the high pressure confinement of hydrogen and release of the hydrogen therethrough as a function of palladium temperature, wherein the array of carbon nanotubes is capable of storing hydrogen gas at a pressure of at least 1 GPa for greater than 24 hours. Additional apparatuses and methods are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: David H. Lassila, Brian P. Bonner
  • Publication number: 20110300063
    Abstract: A hydrogen storage structure includes a plurality of graphene sheets arranged to form a stack with a plurality of spacers between adjacent graphene sheets in the stack. In one embodiment, the spacers are arranged to provide a distance ranging between 5 ? and 20 ? between adjacent graphene sheets. In one embodiment, the spacers are formed as graphene spheres having a diameter that ranges from 5 ? to 15 ?. In another embodiment, the spacers are formed as graphene single-walled nanontubes having a length that ranges from 5 ? to 20 ?. In a further embodiment, the spacers are formed as graphene sheets having a thickness that ranges from 5 ? to 20 ?. In one embodiment, the plurality of graphene sheets is doped with lithium. In one embodiment, the lithium doping concentration is a ratio of one lithium atom per three carbon atoms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Charles Washington Phillips, III, Clyde L. Scandrett, John R. Lloyd, Tengfei Luo
  • Patent number: 8071045
    Abstract: A reformer includes first and second reforming units which are stacked together. A first hole is formed at the center of a first receiver member of the first reforming unit, and a plurality of holes are formed in a peripheral portion of a second receiver member of the second reforming unit. In the structure, a reforming channel having a serpentine pattern going through the first and second holes is formed. In each of the first and second receiver members, a single layer of catalyst pellets is provided. Both end surfaces of the catalyst pellets substantially contact the first and second receiver members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomio Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8071063
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the selective separation of hydrogen (“H2”) hydrocarbons in streams containing both hydrogen and hydrocarbons (e.g. methane, ethylene, ethane, propylene, propane, etc.) utilizing a zeolitic imidazolate framework (“ZIF”) material. Preferably, the stream to be separated is fed to the present process in a substantially gaseous phase. In preferred embodiments, the current invention is utilized in either a pressure swing adsorption process, a temperature swing adsorption process, or a membrane separations process to separate hydrogen from hydrocarbons present in hydrogen production streams or petrochemical/petroleum refining product streams and intermediate streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobile Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Sebastian C. Reyes, Jose G. Santiesteban, legal representative, Zheng Ni, Charanjit S. Paur, Pavel Kortunov, John Zengel, Harry W. Deckman
  • Publication number: 20110286913
    Abstract: A method and a device for generating of hydrogen are provided with which an instantaneous release of hydrogen in considerable amounts is possible. The method comprises a one or two step mixing including injecting the fuel and an activator fluid into a reaction chamber. The device is adapted to be operated with such a method. Further, a fuel suitable for the use with such a method is provided, the fuel being based on a dry metal hydride or a dry metal borohydride being dispersed in a non-aqueous dispersion medium. Moreover, a method for (re-) fuelling the hydrogen generating device at a service station and a method for supplying a service station with fuel are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: H2FUEL-SYSTEMS B.V.
    Inventor: Gerardus Wilhelmus Lugtigheid
  • Publication number: 20110280797
    Abstract: A hydrogen release material includes a complex metal hydride and an ionic liquid wherein the hydrogen release material has a lower hydrogen release temperature in comparison to the complex metal hydride alone. Also disclosed is a process of releasing hydrogen from a storage material including the steps of: providing a complex metal hydride; combining the metal hydride with an ionic liquid in a desired amount forming a mixture; and heating the mixture to a temperature releasing hydrogen wherein the temperature is lower in comparison to the complex metal hydride alone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Rana F. Mohtadi, PremKumar Sivasubramanian
  • Publication number: 20110274994
    Abstract: Combinations of catalyst and compound are described that are suitable for use in a thermally regenerative fuel cell. Such combinations offer greater than 99% selectivity and accordingly they cycle through a reversible dehydrogenation process with substantially no loss due to byproduct formation. Combinations of secondary benzylic alcohols and Pd/SiO2 catalysts offer levels of by-products that are undetectable by NMR and GC analysis. With such TRFC, thermal energy can be converted into electric energy in a moving vehicle without the requirement of storage of H2, and its safety issues. Instead, a catalytic amount of H2 is cycled through the system and used to generate electric energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Andrew J. Carrier, Boyd R. Davis, Philip G. Jessop, Keith Hao-Kiet Huynh
  • Patent number: 8052959
    Abstract: A hydrogen supply device and a method of supplying hydrogen are provided in which a hydrogen gas odorized with the odor agent is supplied by applying heat to a granular mixture of hydrogen storage glass beads and odor agent encapsulating capsules using irradiation with infrared light emitted from a light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Oshikawa
  • Publication number: 20110268651
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for storing and releasing hydrogen is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a reactor, a heater having a first portion that is located in the reactor; a dehydrogenation catalyst that is affixed to the first portion of the heater; a hydrogen release conduit in communication with the reactor; a chamber containing a hydrogenated carrier; and an energy source coupled to the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Alan Charles Cooper, Robert Gregory Wolf
  • Publication number: 20110269038
    Abstract: The possibility of carbon deposition from a raw material gas is made lower than before in a pressure compensating operation carried out after stopping the stop process of a hydrogen generator and a fuel cell system including the hydrogen generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Akinori Yukimasa, Junji Morita, Akinari Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20110268652
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an integrated method for producing cellulose and at least one low-molecular-weight reusable material, in which a starting material containing lignocellulose is provided and subjected to a decomposition with a processing medium. A fraction enriched with cellulose and a fraction depleted of cellulose is then isolated from the decomposition material, the depleted fraction of cellulose being subjected to a treatment during which at least one low-molecular-weight reusable material is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2009
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Otto Machhammer, Jochem Henkelmann, Wolfgang Rohde, Mario Emmeluth, Sonja Giesa
  • Patent number: 8048401
    Abstract: A solid composition containing: (a) at least one metal hydride compound; (b) at least one borohydride compound; and (c) at least one of: (i) a transition metal halide, or (ii) a transition metal boride. A “metal hydride” is a compound containing only one metal and hydrogen, including, e.g., alkali and alkaline earth metal hydrides. A “borohydride compound” is a compound containing the borohydride anion, BH4?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Company
    Inventor: Shih-Ying Hsu
  • Patent number: 8048177
    Abstract: A method for treating drain in hydrogen production includes steps of gasifying in a gasifier (1), reforming in a reformer (2), gas-liquid separation in a gas-liquid separator (4), PSA gas separation in a PSA separator (5) and evaporation in a drain treatment unit (6). In the gasifying, a mixed material containing methanol is heated and gasified. In the reforming, reformed gas containing hydrogen is produced from the mixed material by reforming reaction of methanol. In the gas-liquid separation, a liquid component is separated from the reformed gas and discharged as drain. In the PSA gas separation, hydrogen-rich gas and offgas are extracted from the reformed gas by PSA separation using an adsorption tower. In the gasifying, the offgas is burned, and the mixed material is heated by using the combustion gas as heat source. In the evaporation, drain is evaporated using the combustion gas after heating the mixed material as heat source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sumitomo Seiko Chemicals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Sumida, Yoshinori Takata, Masanori Miyake, Yoshiaki Imoto
  • Publication number: 20110262970
    Abstract: A method for producing a fermentation product from a lignocellulose-containing material comprises pre-treating the lignocellulose-containing material; introducing a cationic polysaccharide to the pre-treated lignocellulose-containing material; exposing the pre-treated lignocellulose-containing material to an effective amount of a first hydrolyzing enzyme; and fermenting with a fermenting organism to produce a fermentation product. The cationic polysaccharide may be a cationic starch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: Novozymes North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Xin Li, Ye Chen, Jing Luo, Lindsay Jones
  • Publication number: 20110262987
    Abstract: Methods of producing useful products, such as hydrocarbons and other molecules that are useful as fuels, from carbonaceous materials, are disclosed. Such methods include obtaining a carbonaceous material, such as coal, from a deposit and treating the carbonaceous material with one or more chemicals, including acetic acid, salts of acetic acid, esters of acetic acid, hydroxides and peroxides, alone or in combination, to solubilize the material in preparation for further processing, such as bioconversion, to produce useful products, or solubilizing the carbonaceous material in a formation using the above-recited chemicals, removing the solubilized material from the formation and bioconverting it to produce useful products, or solubilizing the material using the above-recited chemicals and bioconverting at least a portion of the solubilized material in a formation followed by recovery of useful products from the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventor: Robert A. Downey
  • Publication number: 20110262346
    Abstract: The present invention provides a reactor and a process for producing spin enriched hydrogen and/or deuterium gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: HADASIT MEDICAL RESEARCH SERVICES & DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
    Inventors: Rachel KATZ-BRULL, Moshe GOMORI, Claudia M. BARZILAY, Ayelet GAMLIEL
  • Patent number: 8043576
    Abstract: A reformer module (10) comprises a hollow support member (12) having at least one passage (14) extending longitudinally therethrough. The hollow support member (14) has an external surface (20), a barrier layer (22) arranged on at least a portion of the external surface (20) of the hollow support member (12), a catalyst layer (24) arranged on the barrier layer (22) and a sealing layer (26) arranged on the catalyst layer (24) and the external surface (20) of the hollow support member (12) other than the at least a portion of the external surface of the hollow support member (12). By providing the barrier layer (22) and the catalyst layer (24) on the exterior surface (20) of the hollow support member (12), the distribution of the barrier layer (22) and/or the catalyst layer (24) may be more precisely controlled and thus a non-uniform distribution of barrier layer (22) and/or catalyst layer (24) may be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Gerard D Agnew, Robert H Cunningham, Philip D Butler, Robert D Collins
  • Patent number: 8043594
    Abstract: Methods and systems for generating sulfuric acid are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method includes combusting a sulfur-containing material with a gas including oxygen to produce a first stream of sulfur dioxide, mixing water with the first stream of sulfur dioxide to produce a mixed stream, using an energy, electrolytically converting the mixed stream of sulfur dioxide and water into sulfuric acid and hydrogen, generating a source of energy from the hydrogen, and providing the source of energy as at least a portion of the energy for electrolytically converting the first stream of sulfur dioxide and water into sulfuric acid and hydrogen. In some embodiments, the system includes a first chamber for combusting a sulfur-containing material to produce a first stream of sulfur dioxide, an electrolytic cell for converting the first stream into sulfuric acid and hydrogen, and a fuel cell for generating an energy source from the hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Klaus S. Lackner, Tim A. Rappold
  • Patent number: 8038743
    Abstract: A supercritical water reformer (SCWR) and methods for using supercritical water to convert hydrocarbons, particularly hydrocarbon fuels such as diesel fuel or gasoline, into carbonaceous gases and hydrogen. The synthesis gas stream generated by the fuel reforming reaction can then be further refined to increase hydrogen content, and the resultant hydrogen can be utilized to power fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Wootton, Sunggyu Lee, Asdrubal Garcia-Ortiz
  • Patent number: 8038980
    Abstract: According to at least one aspect of the present invention, an ammonia borane containing hydrogen storage material is provided to be present with substantially reduced formation of borazine or diborane. In at least one embodiment, the hydrogen storage material includes at least one ammonia borane (NH3BH3); and at least one amide of the formula M(NH2)x, wherein M is a cationic element or a combination of two or more cationic elements from groups 1 to 14 of the periodic table and x represents a total cationic charge to charge balance M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Jun Yang, Andrea Sudik, Donald J. Siegel, Shinichi Hirano, Andrew Robert Drews, Christopher Mark Wolverton
  • Patent number: 8034134
    Abstract: A design for a microchannel steam microreformer has been developed to provide power in conjunction with a micro fuel cell for a portable, low-power device. The design is optimized for low pumping power and rapid operation as well as thermal efficiency, overall size, and complete generation of the available hydrogen. The design includes at least one microchannel having a grooved surface with a continuous groove oriented in a spiral configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Yildiz Bayazitoglu, Jeremy Gernand
  • Publication number: 20110244344
    Abstract: An embodiment of a device for producing gaseous hydrogen comprising a reaction chamber having a solution with catalyst, a tank chamber comprising a reactant suitable for reacting with the solution with catalyst for the production of gaseous hydrogen, the tank chamber being provided with removable partition means suitable for defining a first storage chamber, for the reactant, and a second storage chamber, for the reaction by-products, the partition means being adjustable so that the volume of the first storage chamber and the volume of the second storage chamber are variable in a complementary way with respect to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Emanuele SPOTO, Cristian DALL'OGLIO, Andrea LAZZARA
  • Publication number: 20110236301
    Abstract: Disclosed are a novel hydrogen storage material with enhanced hydrogen storage capacity prepared by doping an organic framework material with light metal cations, and a method of using the same for hydrogen storage. The present inventive material has at least one phenyl group at each face of a triangular building unit, which is doped with metal cations such as alkali metal cations, alkali-earth metal cations, etc., so that the material exhibits greatly improved capacity of hydrogen absorption and desorption at room temperature and can provide hydrogen storage materials practically adapted for fuel batteries useable even at room temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Jeung Ku Kang, Yoon Jeong Choi, Jung Woo Lee, Jung Hoon Choi
  • Patent number: 8025862
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for producing synthesis gas, SG, from hydrocarbons and/or recycled compounds. In the process: a stream comprising a first feed F1 supplemented with steam undergoes steam reforming in a multi-tube reactor-exchanger R having a shell and reaction tubes containing a steam reforming catalyst within the shell; the reaction tubes are heated by convection by circulating in the shell, in overall counter-current mode, a heating fluid HF external to the tubes, which fluid comprises a first combustion gas stream of a second feed F2, then fluid HF is mixed, in 1 to 4 complementary combustion zones internal to the shell, with a third feed F3 and a gas comprising oxygen, to increase the temperature of the HF, and then the mixture obtained circulates in R to heat the reaction tubes in a complementary manner; and SG is produced from the steam reforming effluent from F1 and optionally part or all of the HF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Alexandre Rojey, Stephane Bertholin, Fabrice Giroudiere, Eric Lenglet
  • Patent number: 8026001
    Abstract: A lithium hydride activation method includes: a nitrification treatment process of reacting lithium hydride with a nitride and therefore forming a chemical compound layer stable to the nitride, on a surface of the lithium hydride; and a particle size reduction process of reducing a particle size of the lithium hydride provided with the chemical compound layer by a mechanical pulverization treatment after the nitrification treatment process is performed. A hydrogen generation method includes generating hydrogen by reacting ammonia with the lithium hydride activated by the activation method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Hiroshima University
    Inventors: Kyoichi Tange, Yoshitsugu Kojima, Takayuki Ichikawa, Chie Oomatsu, Satoshi Hino
  • Publication number: 20110229405
    Abstract: A process is described for producing hydrogen comprising producing an aqueous feed stream comprising 5% to 15% wt. ethanol by a biomass fermentation process; separating at least a portion of the water from the feed stream so that the concentration of ethanol in the resulting reformer feed stream is in the range of from 15% to 35% wt.; and contacting the reformer feed stream with a catalyst in a reformer under steam reforming conditions to produce a reformer product stream comprising hydrogen wherein substantially no oxygen is added to the reformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Chang Jie GUO, Mahesh Venkataraman Iyer
  • Publication number: 20110229400
    Abstract: A process is described for producing hydrogen comprising producing an aqueous feed stream comprising 5% to 15% wt. ethanol by a biomass fermentation process; and contacting the reformer feed stream with a hydrocarbon stream and a catalyst in a reformer under reforming conditions to produce a reformer product stream comprising hydrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Chang Jie GUO, Mahesh Venkataraman Iyer
  • Publication number: 20110229404
    Abstract: A process is described for producing hydrogen comprising producing an aqueous feed stream comprising 5% to 15% wt. ethanol by a biomass fermentation process; separating at least a portion of the water from the feed stream so that the concentration of ethanol in the resulting reformer feed stream is in the range of from 15% to 35% wt.; and contacting the reformer feed stream with a catalyst in a reformer under reforming conditions to produce a reformer product stream comprising hydrogen wherein the pressure in the reformer is in a range of from 100 psi to 600 psi.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Chang Jie GUO, Mahesh Venkataraman Iyer