By Direct Decomposition Of Binary Compound; E.g., Chemical Storage, Etc. Patents (Class 423/658.2)
  • Publication number: 20100055031
    Abstract: The compositions and methods disclosed herein relate to ice nanorods having an elongate shape and a diameter in a range from 1 nm to 1000 nm. The ice nanorods include hydrogen hydrates that releasably store hydrogen. The hydrogen hydrates can be formed from ice and hydrogen under suitable conditions of high pressure and/or low temperatures. The ice nanorods allow the rapid formation of hydrogen hydrates and/or release of hydrogen due to the shape of the ice nanorods. The elongate shape and small diameter of the ice nanorods results in a high surface area of ice that allows rapid diffusion of a hydrogen gas into and out of the ice, thereby allowing rapid formation of hydrogen hydrates and release of hydrogen during use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventor: Dong June Ahn
  • Patent number: 7670588
    Abstract: Hydrogen is stored by adsorbing the hydrogen to a carbon nanomaterial that includes carbon nanospheres. The carbon nanospheres are multi-walled, hollow carbon nanostructures with a maximum diameter in a range from about 10 nm to about 200 nm. The nanospheres have an irregular outer surface and an aspect ratio of less than 3:1. The carbon nanospheres can store hydrogen in quantities of at least 1.0% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Headwaters Technology Innovation, LLC
    Inventors: Bing Zhou, Cheng Zhang
  • Patent number: 7666388
    Abstract: There is disclosed a multi-metal-nitrogen compound for use in hydrogen storage materials. The compound comprising two dissimilar metal atoms and a nitrogen atom. The multi-metal-nitrogen compound being capable of absorbing hydrogen at an absorption temperature and pressure, and of desorbing 60% or more by weight of said absorbed hydrogen at a desorption temperature and pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: National University of Singapore
    Inventors: Ping Chen, Zhitao Xiong
  • Publication number: 20100040916
    Abstract: Methods and systems for producing hydrogen from a biomass are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method includes decomposing a biomass to produce an aqueous effluent including nitrogen species, generating ammonia from the nitrogen species, combusting the ammonia in the presence of catalysts to decompose the ammonia to hydrogen and nitrogen, and combusting a portion of the hydrogen and the nitrogen to provide heat for combusting the ammonia. In some embodiments, the system includes a bioreactor for decomposing a biomass to produce an aqueous effluent including nitrogen species, a mechanism for generating ammonia gas from the nitrogen species, a catalytic reforming reactor for converting the ammonia gas to hydrogen gas and nitrogen gas, a combustor for combusting a portion of the hydrogen gas and the nitrogen gas to provide heat for converting the ammonia gas, and a separator for isolating the hydrogen gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Marco J. Castaldi, Kartik Chandran
  • Publication number: 20100034732
    Abstract: A method of producing hydrogen is provided that includes exposing a hydrogen-extracting (H-x) material to water, where the H-x material includes a crystal structure having interstitial space available for the insertion of protons and the water can be liquid water or vapor water. A spontaneous electrochemical reaction occurs, whereby water chemically decomposes in contact with the H-x material, the resulting hydrogen is stored in the H-x material and the resulting oxygen is emitted as a gas. This reaction proceeds until it is limited by a hydrogen loading capacity of the H-x material and/or the electrochemical potential of the H-x material relative to the water. The H-x material is heated to recover the stored hydrogen in a temperature range of 20 to 1000 degrees Celsius. This process is reversible, as it can be repeated many times. No electricity or consumable chemicals are required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Robert A. Huggins, Yi Cui, Riccardo Ruffo, Fabio La Mantia
  • Publication number: 20100034733
    Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst for the decomposition of formic acid including a dinuclear metal complex represented by a formula (1) below, a tautomer or stereoisomer thereof, or any of their salts, where M1 and M2 are transition metals and may be the same or different; Ar is a ligand having aromaticity and may be unsubstituted or substituted by one or more substituents; R1 to R27 are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or the like, or R15 and R16 may together form a —CH?CH—, where Hs in the —CH?CH— may be each independently replaced by an alkyl group or the like, and R23 and R24 may together form a —CH?CH—, where Hs in the —CH?CH— may be each independently replaced by an alkyl group or the like; L is an arbitrary ligand or is absent; and m is a positive integer, 0, or a negative integer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: OSAKA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shunichi Fukuzumi, Tomoyoshi Suenobu, Seiji Ogo
  • Publication number: 20100021377
    Abstract: Processes for synthesizing, recharging, reprocessing and chemical doping of hydrogen storage materials utilizing supercritical fluids. The processes include dissolution or suspension of the material in a supercritical fluid mixed with hydrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventor: Sean McGrady
  • Publication number: 20100015040
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for separation and recycling of pure sulfur dioxide from a gaseous mixture in the IS cycle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for separation and recycling of pure sulfur dioxide from a gaseous mixture in the IS cycle using an ionic liquid under a specific condition. When compared with the conventional amine-based absorbent, the use of the ionic liquid enables continuous absorption and stripping of SO2 even at high temperature, and enables a reversible absorption of SO2 without loss, decomposition or degradation of a solvent due to good chemical stability, thereby enabling separation and recycling of pure SO2 from a gaseous mixture in the IS cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Chang Soo Kim, Gyeong Taek Gong, Kye Sang Yoo, Byung Gwon Lee, Kwang Deog Jung, Hong Gon Kim, Byoung Sung Ahn, Oh Shim Joo
  • Patent number: 7648540
    Abstract: A system for production, storage and dispensation of hydrogen gas from encapsulated metal hydride, the system employing sealed cylinders filled with water and rotatable containers stored with encapsulated metal hydride shells, slider base members with passages and slider paths disposed at the bottom end of the cylinders to receive the encapsulated metal hydride shells from the containers, baffles disposed both inside and outside periphery of the rotatable containers to rotate the containers that regulate and direct the flow of the encapsulated metal hydride shells on to the slider paths, movable hydraulic ramming members with disintegration sites and pistons disposed at the bottom end of the slider paths, to receive the encapsulated metal hydride shells and disintegrate the encapsulated metal hydride shells and disperse the broken shells into the cylinders filled with water, and a control panel disposed to regulate the flow rate and pressure of the generated hydrogen gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Vellore Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Natarajan Ramakrishna
  • Patent number: 7648567
    Abstract: A hydrogen accumulation and storage material and a method of forming thereof are provided. The material comprises a plurality of various-sized and at least partially permeable to hydrogen microspheres bound together to form a rigid structure in which a diameter of the microspheres is reduced from a center of the structure towards edges of the structure. An outer surface of the rigid structure can be enveloped by a sealing layer, thereby closing interspherical spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignees: C. EN. Limited, Aleman, Cordero, Galindo and Lee Trust (BVI) Limited
    Inventor: Alexander Chabak
  • Patent number: 7641889
    Abstract: An apparatus and method apply water to a hydrogen-containing composition, such as a hydride, in the presence of a catalyst that promotes hydrolysis to generate hydrogen in a controlled manner. The amount of catalyst used can be carefully tailored so that the reaction rate is limited by the amount of catalyst present (passive control) or it can be sufficiently large so that the reaction is controlled by the rate of water addition (active control).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Lynntech Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Carlos Salinas, Alan Cisar, Eric Clarke, Oliver J. Murphy, Brad Fiebig
  • Publication number: 20090304574
    Abstract: Configurations and methods are contemplated in which an automobile filing station receives liquid ammonia and in which hydrogen is produced by catalytic cracking. The so produced hydrogen is then compressed and fed to a filling dock. Preferably, contemplated stations will include a polishing unit in which undissociated ammonia is removed and fed back to the ammonia storage tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: FLUOR TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ravi Ravikumar
  • Patent number: 7625547
    Abstract: A hydrogen storage material. The hydrogen storage material is a combination of LiBH4 with MHx. In one embodiment, x is 0 to 3. In one embodiment, greater than about 50% of M comprises Ti, V, Cr, Sc, Fe, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Wolverton
  • Patent number: 7611685
    Abstract: The inventive method for hydrogen sulphide and/or mercaptans decomposition consists in passing hydrogen sulphide and/or mercaptan-containing gas at a temperature less than 200° C. through a hard material layer (catalyst) which decomposes said hydrogen sulphide or mercaptans in such a way that hydrogen or hydrocarbons are released and sulphur-containing compounds are formed on a material surface. Said hard material is placed in a liquid medium layer. Said invention makes it possible to use a hard material (catalyst) without a periodical regeneration thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Institu Kataliza Imeni G. K. Boreskova Sibirskogo Otdeleniya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk
    Inventors: Anatolii Nikolaevich Startsev, Anastasia Viktorovna Pashigreva, Olga Valeryevna Voroshina, Ivan Ivanovich Zakharov, Valentin Nikolaevich Parmon
  • Patent number: 7608233
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for directly preparing an alkaline earth metal borohydride, i.e. Ca(BH4)2, from the alkaline earth metal hydride and the alkaline earth metal boride. The borohydride thus prepared is doped with a small portion of a metal chloride catalyst compound, such as RuCl3, TiCl3, or a mixture of TiCl3 and palladium metal. The process provides for mechanically mixing the dry reagents under an inert atmosphere followed by charging the mixed materials with high pressure hydrogen at about 70 MPa while heating the mixture to about 400° C. The method is relatively simple and inexpensive and provides reversible hydride compounds which are free of the usual contamination introduced by prior art wet chemical methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Ewa Carin Ellinor Rönnebro, Eric H. Majzoub
  • Patent number: 7608239
    Abstract: A process for the reversible storage of hydrogen, comprising bringing into contact a material that consists of magnesium elements and nitrogen elements with gaseous hydrogen leading to the formation of an amide or corresponding hydrides, comprises the use of a balanced system corresponding to the formula: Mg3N2Mg(NH2)2+2MgHn where n is the number of hydrogen atoms corresponding to the stoichiometry of the hydride or hydrides formed. The material can also comprise, in a minor proportion, at least one transition metal of groups 3 to 12 of the periodic table that is selected from among Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pd.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Pascal Raybaud, François Ropital
  • Patent number: 7601329
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a hydrogen storage composition having a hydrogenated state and a dehydrogenated state. In the hydrogenated state, such composition comprises a hydride and a hydroxide. In a dehydrogenated state, the composition comprises an oxide. The present invention also provides methods of and compositions for regenerating a species of a hydroxide and a hydride material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: John J Vajo, Florian O Mertens, Scott W Jorgensen
  • Publication number: 20090246121
    Abstract: A hydrogen producing system and a hydrogen producing method by which hydrogen can be efficiently produced using abundant seawater as the raw material. A hydrogen producing method has a system (10) for producing hydrogen from seawater, and the hydrogen producing system (10) has an activation device (12) and a pipe line device (14). The activation device (12) has a closed space (S) for introducing the seawater (W) and a vapor ejection means (18) for ejecting high-temperature high-pressure vapor (T) into the closed space (S), and the activation device (12) activates under high temperature and high pressure the seawater (W) in the closed space (S). The pipe line device (14) is a device for receiving and leading the high-temperature high-pressure seawater activated by the activation device (12) and includes one or more seawater leading tubes (403-408) having any one of triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal and octagonal cross sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Tomonao Miyashiro, Kousaku Mabuchi, Masaharu Takao
  • Patent number: 7594939
    Abstract: The invention provides a solid phase hydrogen-generating system utilizing a solid chemical hydride fuel selected from the group consisting of sodium borohydride, lithium borohydride, magnesium hydride and calcium hydride, wherein the fuel is encapsulated in a plurality of removable capsules, the capsules being pumpable and having a major axis of up to 40 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Hyogen, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan Goldstein, Menachem Givon
  • Patent number: 7591864
    Abstract: Organic pigments are capable of catalyzing the decomposition reaction of hydrogen-rich, stabilized, borohydride solutions to generate hydrogen gas on-board an operable hydrogen-consuming device such as a motor vehicle or other combustion engine. The organic pigments are used in hydrogen generating systems and in methods for controlling the generation of hydrogen gas from metal hydride solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Clovis Alan Linkous, Darlene Kay Slattery, Danielle Delong Nangle
  • Publication number: 20090226357
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for preparing metallic nanoparticles with an anisotropic nature by using two different reducing agents, preferably with different reducing powers, on a source of a metal selected from columns 8, 9 or 10 of the periodic table of the elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Denis Uzio, Catherine Verdon, Cecile Thomazeau, Bogdan Harbuzaru, Gilles Berhault
  • Patent number: 7585338
    Abstract: Hydrogen is generated in a reactor, of a hydrogen generating apparatus, in which a catalyst is installed and the catalyst and a borohydride fuel are reacted. The hydrogen generating apparatus comprises a rotating disk to which the catalyst is fixed, a motor for rotating the rotating disk, and a fuel injector for flowing out the borohydride fuel against the catalyst. A compound generated from the borohydride is prevented from adhering to the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Inventor: Atuhiro Yoshizaki
  • Patent number: 7578455
    Abstract: A particulate material is ground more efficiently using a mixture of at least two different sizes of yttrium-stabilized zirconia balls. The method facilitates preparation of photocatalysts with high activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jin D. Kim, Wei Li, Se H. Oh
  • Publication number: 20090208407
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing hydrogen. According to the invention, monosilane or polysilane is converted to hydrogen at an elevated temperature with steam or oxygen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: REV Renewable Energy Ventures, Inc.
    Inventors: Julius Pretterebner, Norbert Auner
  • Publication number: 20090185972
    Abstract: A hydrogen storage system for storing hydrogen gas at elevated pressures and cryogenic temperatures is disclosed. The hydrogen gas is fed to a storage container which contains a physisorption type material and a volatile liquid container for liquid nitrogen. Cryogenic conditions are maintained within the storage container during the periods of storage and the periods where the hydrogen gas is removed from the storage system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Ron Lee, Frank R. Fitch, Satish S. Tamhankar
  • Patent number: 7560091
    Abstract: Mineral particles consisting essentially of metallic magnesium particles subjected to special processing are accommodated directly in a microporous cartridge made of a sintered polypropylene material, and the cartridge is closed. The cartridge is put in a closed raw water container, whereby a large amount of hydrogen gas is generated in a short period of time and released from the whole surface of the cartridge in the form of microbubbles so as to be dissolved in raw water in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Hidemitu Hayashi
    Inventors: Hidemitu Hayashi, Kiyoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 7553464
    Abstract: A substantially pure phase LaTaO4 photocatalyst is prepared by grinding precursors with mixture of at least two different sizes of high-density yttrium-stabilized zirconia balls to a very fine particle size and calcining the ground precursors. The LaTaO4 photocatalyst prepared by this method is useful in photolysis of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jin D. Kim, Wei Li, Se H. Oh
  • Publication number: 20090142258
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a process for cyclic dehydrogenation and rehydrogenation of hydrogen storage materials is provided. The process includes liberating hydrogen from a hydrogen storage material comprising hydrogen atoms chemically bonded to one or more elements to form a dehydrogenated material and contacting the dehydrogenated material with a solvent in the presence of hydrogen gas such that the solvent forms a reversible complex with rehydrogenated product of the dehydrogenated material wherein the dehydrogenated material is rehydrogenated to form a solid material containing hydrogen atoms chemically bonded to one or more elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: James A. Ritter, Armin D. Ebner, Jun Wang, Tao Wang, Charles E. Holland
  • Patent number: 7537748
    Abstract: A hydrogen storage matter contains at least a nano-structured and organized lithium imide compound precursor complex. In the hydrogen stroge matter, the lithium imide compound precursor complex has been nano-structured and organized by mixing fine powder lithium amide with fine powder lithium hydride at a predetermined ratio to prepare a mixture as a starting material, and then processing the mixture by a predetermined complex formation processing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignees: National University Corporation, Hiroshima University, Taiheiyo Cement Corporation
    Inventors: Hironobu Fujii, Takayuki Ichikawa, Haiyan Leng, Shigehito Isobe, Nobuko Hanada, Toyoyuki Kubokawa, Kazuhiko Tokoyoda, Keisuke Okamoto, Shinkichi Tanabe, Shigeru Matsuura, Kenji Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7537623
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing a gas rich in hydrogen by thermal pyrolysis of hydrocarbons which consists in carrying out, in a reactor (R) a catalyst-free thermal cracking to pyrolyze a fuel selected so as to produce either a gas rich in hydrogen and free of carbon monoxide, or a gas rich in hydrogen and containing carbon monoxide and in using said gas effluents during pyrolysis and inert with respect to the cell as fuel at the burner (B) to heat the reactor so as to bring it to a reaction temperature, and which consists, subsequently, in burning the powder carbon produced in the reactor (R) during the pyrolysis reaction either to produce carbon monoxide or to produce carbon dioxide. The invention is useful in particular for supplying hydrogen to fuel cells and for producing synthesis gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Compagnie Europeenne des Technologies de l'Hydrogene
    Inventors: Claude Etievant, Dominique De Lapparent, Fanny Gaillard, Karine Pointet
  • Patent number: 7521036
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a hydrogen storage composition having a hydrogenated state and a dehydrogenated state. In the hydrogenated state, such composition comprises a hydride and a hydroxide. In a dehydrogenated state, the composition comprises an oxide. The present invention also provides methods of producing hydrogen, including for mobile fuel cell device applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: John J Vajo, Florian O Mertens, Scott W Jorgensen
  • Publication number: 20090068090
    Abstract: A method of separating gaseous components. An equilibrium-limited, gas phase reaction is conducted in a centrifugal separation device and at least a portion of a first product of the reaction is separated from a reaction mixture comprising at least one reactant and at least one product in the centrifugal separation device. In another embodiment, the equilibrium-limited, gas phase reaction is conducted in a reactor and a reaction mixture is transferred from the reactor to the centrifugal separation device for separation of at least a portion of the first product. A gas centrifuge comprising at least one rotor and a catalyst is disclosed, as is a gas cyclone comprising the catalyst. The catalyst is formulated to increase a rate of the equilibrium-limited, gas phase reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: BATTELLE ENERGY ALLIANCE, LLC
    Inventor: ROBERT S. CHERRY
  • Patent number: 7501008
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas storage and dispensing system, which comprising a carrier material for a target gas and multiple microtubular elements in contact with such carrier material. Each microtubular element comprises a tubular wall that defines a bore side and a shell side that are sealed from each other, preferably by one or more potting members. The carrier material is either at the bore sides or at the shell sides of the microtubular elements, and it can be either a solid sorbent material for the target gas, or a liquid carrier therefor. Such gas storage and dispensing system is particular useful for hydrogen storage, when the carrier material can be a hydrogen-sorbent that contains hydrogen gas, or liquefied hydrogen, or an organic hydrogen solution, or a metal hydride solution capable of generating hydrogen gas. Such microtubular elements can further be designed as microfibrous fuel cells, while each microfibrous fuel cell comprises a carrier material at its bore side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Microcell Corporation
    Inventors: Ray R. Eshraghi, Michael W. Riley, Jung-Chou Lin
  • Publication number: 20090060832
    Abstract: Hydrogen is stored by adsorbing the hydrogen to a carbon nanomaterial that includes carbon nanospheres. The carbon nanospheres are multi-walled, hollow carbon nanostructures with a maximum diameter in a range from about 10 nm to about 200 nm. The nanospheres have an irregular outer surface and an aspect ratio of less than 3:1. The carbon nanospheres can store hydrogen in quantities of at least 1.0% by weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: HEADWATERS TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION, LLC
    Inventors: Bing Zhou, Cheng Zhang
  • Publication number: 20090060833
    Abstract: In a reaction of water or other reactable liquids with solid borohydride fuels, the liquid reactant and/or additives are converted to a gel form (14). The solid metal hydride and catalyst are formed into a single solid member (26). The single metal hydride/catalyst member is inserted into the gel (14) to initiate the reaction to produce hydrogen and is withdrawn from the gel to stop or slow the reaction. A self-regulating gas generator (10, 40) using such a fuel-production formulation automatically controls the reaction rate thereof to control the internal pressure of the gas generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Societe BIC
    Inventors: Andrew J. Curello, Alain Rosenzweig
  • Publication number: 20090035627
    Abstract: The invention provides semi-clathrate hydrate compositions formed from water, a semi-clathrate hydrate forming compound and a gas. The semi-clathrate hydrate forming compounds can be ammonium salts, sulphonium salts, phosphonium salts or amines. The semi-clathrate hydrate compositions can be used to store gases including hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide. Methods of manufacture of the compositions and their uses in energy storage and generation, and for the separation of gases are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Bahman Tohidi, Jinhai Yang, Anthony Chapoy, Ross Anderson, Mosayyeb Arjmandi
  • Patent number: 7473381
    Abstract: A method of producing hydrogen comprises reacting a hydrogenated compound and water. The hydrogenated compound is in contact with, or may be mixed with an oily substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Commissariat A l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Jean Yves Laurent, Frédéric Gaillard, Nathalie Giacometti, Bruno Valon
  • Publication number: 20080289951
    Abstract: A method for the production of hydrogen via thermochemical water splitting includes the steps of providing an ammonium sulfite compound, dissolving the ammonium sulfite in water, and oxidizing the aqueous ammonium sulfite solution, wherein hydrogen is produced as a water reduction product associated with the oxidation. If purified air is used instead for the oxidation of aqueous ammonium sulfite solution, the method produces oxygen from the purified air. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the oxidation is a photooxidation. Light for the photoxidation can be provide by a direct light source, such as solar energy, or indirectly from conversion of electrical energy to light, such as using a UV or visible light lamp. Electrical energy can be provided by a variety of sources, including low cost sources comprising wind driven, water driven (hydroelectric), or nuclear power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Cunping Huang, Ali Tabatabaie-Raissi, Nazim Muradov
  • Patent number: 7455829
    Abstract: A hydrogen generator having a hydrogen generating reaction between a chemical hydride and vapor from a liquid having a freezing point below 0° C. The liquid is selected from alcohols such as ethanol and methanol used pure or diluted with distilled water, and distilled water that has had a non-reactive salt such as calcium chloride or magnesium chloride dissolved therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Eickhoff, R. Andrew Wood
  • Patent number: 7455828
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for obtaining a hydrogen product and a sulfur product from a feed gas comprised of hydrogen sulfide. In the process, a first separating step separates the feed gas to obtain a first purified hydrogen sulfide fraction comprised of at least about 90 percent hydrogen sulfide by volume. A dissociating step dissociates hydrogen sulfide present in the first purified hydrogen sulfide fraction to convert it into a dissociated first purified hydrogen sulfide fraction comprised of elemental hydrogen and sulfur. A second separating step separates the dissociated first purified hydrogen sulfide fraction to obtain a hydrogen rich fraction comprised of elemental hydrogen. The sulfur product may also be obtained from the dissociated first purified hydrogen sulfide fraction. Finally, the hydrogen product is obtained from the hydrogen rich fraction. The apparatus is provided for performing the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: H2S Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard R. Selinger, Brian R. Thicke
  • Publication number: 20080286196
    Abstract: A reversible hydrogen storage composition having an empirical formula of: Li(x+z)NxMgyBzHw where 0.4?x?0.8; 0.2?y?0.6; 0<z?0.4, x+y+z=1 and “w” varies from 0 to 2x+2y+4z. This composition shows greater low temperature reversible hydrogen storage compared to binary systems such as MgH2—LiNH2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Syed A. Faheem, Gregory J. Lewis, J.W. Adriaan Sachtler, John J. Low, David A. Lesch, Paul M. Dosek, Christopher M. Wolverton, Donald J. Siegel, Andrea C. Sudik, Jun Yang
  • Publication number: 20080274033
    Abstract: Methods of generating hydrogen-containing streams having a minimal concentration of gaseous reactive nitrogen-containing compounds, e.g., ammonia, are provided. Hydrogen storage material systems are also provided that generate such hydrogen-containing streams. A first composition comprising a nitride, a second composition comprising a hydride, and a third composition having a cation selected from the group consisting of: alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and mixtures thereof are combined together. The hydrogen-containing stream thus generated has a minimal concentration of gaseous reactive nitrogen-containing compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory P. Meisner, Aimee G. Bailey, Michael P. Balogh, Frederick E. Pinkerton, Martin S. Meyer
  • Patent number: 7442363
    Abstract: A hydrogen iodide manufacturing method which includes a step of producing aqueous solution of hydrogen iodide and sulfuric acid by causing iodine-containing aqueous solution and sulfur dioxide to react with each other in a pressurized condition. The pressurized condition may be of not lower than 0.1 MPa in gauge pressure. The method may further include: a separation step of adding iodine to the aqueous solution of hydrogen iodide and separating an upper phase containing sulfuric acid relatively to a large extent and a lower phase containing hydrogen iodide relatively to a large extent; and a step of producing hydrogen iodide by adding sulfur dioxide to the upper phase in a pressurized condition and extracting the produced hydrogen iodide to the lower phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ryouta Takahashi, Hideki Nakamura, Kazuo Murakami, Haruhiko Takase, Noboru Jimbo, Kazuya Yamada
  • Publication number: 20080226532
    Abstract: The invention provides methods, compositions, and systems for a reversible hydrogen storage material. The hydrogen storage material contains a lithium-magnesium compound, having LiMgN in a dehydrogenated state and a hydrogenated lithium magnesium product in a hydrogenated state, where the hydrogenated and dehydrogenated states are reversible. The lithium-magnesium compound is formed by reacting MgH2 and LiNH2 in a substantially inert atmosphere in amounts sufficient to obtain a hydrogen adsorption of at least 3 wt %, and in many cases up to about 8.1 wt %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventors: Zhigang Zak-Fang, Jun Lu, Hong Yong Sohn
  • Publication number: 20080199395
    Abstract: The invention relates to a reversible hydrogen storage composition comprising lithium hydride which desorbs hydrogen when heated in a hydrogen environment to a temperature of 470° C. or more to form a hydrogenated state, and absorbs hydrogen when cooled to 420° C. or less, the temperatures of absorption and desorption being independent of the pressure of the hydrogen environment. A partially processed blend of powdered lithium hydride and catalytic amounts of other elements such as Fe, B, Ni, Co or C, added as micron or sub-micron sized powders and still present in the blend as a pure phase, can provide improved hydrogen storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Simon Brian Dodd, Susan Morris
  • Patent number: 7413721
    Abstract: A method for forming ammonia is disclosed and which includes the steps of forming a plasma; providing a source of metal particles, and supplying the metal particles to the plasma to form metal nitride particles; and providing a substance, and reacting the metal nitride particles with the substance to produce ammonia, and an oxide byproduct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: Peter C. Kong, Robert J. Pink, Larry D. Zuck
  • Patent number: 7384574
    Abstract: A hydrogen storage material having improved hydrogen absorbtion and desorption kinetics is provided by adding graphite to a complex hydride such as a metal-doped alanate, i.e., NaAlH4. The incorporation of graphite into the complex hydride significantly enhances the rate of hydrogen absorbtion and desorption and lowers the desorption temperature needed to release stored hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignees: Westinghouse Savannah River Co., University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Ragaiy Zidan, James A. Ritter, Armin D. Ebner, Jun Wang, Charles E. Holland
  • Patent number: 7384619
    Abstract: Water molecules, preferably in the form of steam or water vapor, are introduced into a plasma. The plasma causes the water molecules to dissociate into their constituent molecular elements of hydrogen and oxygen. To prevent recombining of the constituent molecular elements, the hydrogen and oxygen are separated from each other. Various devices may be employed to effect this separation. Once separated, the molecular components are prevented from recombining with each other or with other elements by using standard separation techniques normally employed for separating dissimilar gaseous species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Bar-Gadda, LLC
    Inventor: Ronny Bar-Gadda
  • Publication number: 20080118430
    Abstract: Provided is a method of preparing hydrogen using an amino acid. The method of preparing hydrogen using an amino acid includes: (a) mixing a metal borohydride and a zwitterionic material; (b) adding a solvent thereto to dissolve the mixture; and (c) generating hydrogen from the solution. The provided method of preparing hydrogen using an amino acid can reduce manufacturing costs, reduce a heating value of hydrogen during hydrolysis, increase a hydrogen generation rate, and allow a hydrogen generating apparatus to be small in size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Myong Hoon Lim, Tae Hee Park, Jae Hoi Gu, Yong Ho Yu
  • Publication number: 20080112883
    Abstract: The invention relates to materials for storing and releasing bulk quantities of hydrogen and methods for preparing and using same. The materials exhibit fast release rates at low release temperatures are suitable as hydrogen sources for a variety of applications and devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas S. Autrey, Anna Gutowska, Yongsoon Shin, Liyu Li