Process, composition of matter, and apparatus for generating hydrogen from a chemical hydride

Abstract

A process, composition of matter, and apparatus for generating hydrogen are disclosed. The process includes providing an anhydrous hydride, forming a mixture of the hydride with an activating agent, and introducing a liquid reactant to the mixture to produce hydrogen. The mixture includes activating agent in the range of between about 20 to about 80 percent by dry weight.

1 . A process for generating hydrogen, the process comprising:
 providing an anhydrous hydride;   forming a mixture of the hydride with an activating agent, the mixture comprising activating agent in the range of between about 20 to about 80 percent by dry weight; and   introducing a liquid reactant to the mixture to produce hydrogen.   
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture comprises activating agent in the range of between about 20 to about 50 percent by dry weight. 
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture comprises about 40 percent by dry weight of activating agent. 
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the activating agent is an anhydrous salt. 
   
   
       5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the activating agent is a hydrous salt. 
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the activating agent is selected from a group consisting of BeF 2 , BeCl 2 , BeBr 2 , Bel 2 , MgF 2 , MgBr 2 , MgCl 2 , MgI 2 , CaF 2 , CaCl 2 , CaBr 2 , CaI 2 , LiF, LiCl, LiBr, LiI, NaF, NaCl, NaBr, NaI, KF, KCl, KBr, KI, Li 2 S, CuCl 2 , and Li 2 Se. 
   
   
       7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid reactant comprises water. 
   
   
       8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid reactant has a lower freezing point temperature than water. 
   
   
       9 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid reactant comprises a freezing point lowering additive. 
   
   
       10 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein the freezing point lowering additive comprises an alcohol. 
   
   
       11 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the hydride comprises a solid material selected from the group consisting of sodium borohydride, lithium borohydride, lithium aluminum hydride, lithium sodium hydride, calcium hydride, lithium hydride, lithium tetrahydridoaluminate, lithium tetrahydridoborate, sodium hydride, sodium tetrahydridoaluminate, and sodium tetrahydridoborate. 
   
   
       12 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the hydride comprises a powdered solid material. 
   
   
       13 . A process for generating hydrogen, the process comprising:
 providing an anhydrous powdered solid hydride; and   introducing the liquid reactant to the anhydrous hydride, the liquid reactant comprising a dissolved activating agent, the dissolved activating agent and the liquid reactant reacting with the anhydrous hydride to produce hydrogen.   
   
   
       14 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the activating agent is selected from a group consisting of Group IA salts, Group IIA salts, Group IA hydroxides, Group IIA hydroxides, Group IA oxides, Group IIA oxides, Group IA sulfides, Group IIA sulfides, Group IA selenides, and Group IIA selenides. 
   
   
       15 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the hydride comprises a material selected from the group consisting of sodium borohydride, lithium borohydride, lithium aluminum hydride, calcium hydride, lithium hydride, lithium tetrahydridoaluminate, lithium tetrahydridoborate, sodium hydride, sodium tetrahydridoaluminate, and sodium tetrahydridoborate. 
   
   
       16 . A process for generating hydrogen, the process comprising:
 providing a dry anhydrous powdered solid hydride;   providing a dry activating agent;   providing a liquid reactant; and   combining the dry anhydrous powdered solid hydride with the dry activating agent and liquid reactant, the activating agent and the liquid reactant reacting with the anhydrous hydride to produce hydrogen.   
   
   
       17 . A composition of matter comprising an anhydrous hydride and an anhydrous salt, wherein the composition comprises anhydrous salt in the range of between about 20 to about 80 percent by dry weight. 
   
   
       18 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the anhydrous salt is selected from the group consisting of BeF 2 , BeCl 2 , BeBr 2 , BeI 2 , MgF 2 , MgBr 2 , MgCl 2 , MgI 2 , CaF 2 , CaCl 2 , CaBr 2 , CaI 2 , LiF, LiCl, LiBr, LiI, NaF, NaCl, NaBr, NaI, KF, KCl, KBr, KI, Li 2 S, CuCl 2 , and Li 2 Se. 
   
   
       19 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the hydride comprises a material selected from the group consisting of sodium borohydride, lithium borohydride, lithium aluminum hydride, calcium hydride lithium hydride, lithium tetrahydridoaluminate, lithium tetrahydridoborate, sodium hydride, sodium tetrahydridoaluminate, and sodium tetrahydridoborate. 
   
   
       20 . An apparatus to generate hydrogen, the apparatus comprising:
 a liquid permeable material comprising one or more cavities, each cavity configured to contain an anhydrous hydride;   a housing comprising a heat and pressure resistant material, the housing configured to receive the liquid permeable material and a liquid reactant;   one or more liquid sources configured to inject the liquid reactant into the housing such that the liquid reactant contacts at least a portion of the liquid permeable material; and   a gas outlet port configured to release hydrogen gas produced by a reaction comprising the anhydrous hydride, an activating agent, and the liquid reactant.   
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the activating agent is an anhydrous salt. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the activating agent is selected from a group consisting of BeF 2 , BeCl 2 , BeBr 2 , Bel 2 , MgF 2 , MgBr 2 , MgCl 2 , MgI 2 , CaF 2 , CaCl 2 , CaBr 2 , CaI 2 , LiF, LiCl, LiBr, LiI, NaF, NaCl, NaBr, NaI, KF, KCl, KBr, KI, Li 2 S, CuCl 2 , and Li 2 Se. 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the anhydrous hydride comprises a material selected from the group consisting of sodium borohydride, lithium borohydride, lithium aluminum hydride, calcium hydride, lithium hydride, lithium tetrahydridoaluminate, lithium tetrahydridoborate, sodium hydride, sodium tetrahydridoaluminate, and sodium tetrahydridoborate. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the housing is configured to receive the activating agent dissolved in the liquid reactant.