Hydrogen generator system for a catalytic hydrogen burner

Abstract

A hydrogen generator system ( 1 ) for a hydrogen powered unit or user ( 3 ), such as for example a catalytic hydrogen burner or a fuel cell, includes an electrolyzer ( 2 ) for the electrolysis of distilled water, producing hydrogen and oxygen, provided with a demineralizer device ( 5 ) and an A/C transformer/converter unit ( 7 ) for supplying electrical power for the electrolysis process and, on the outlet side, a device for purifying the hydrogen produced, such system ( 1 ) further includes: a device ( 10 ) for recovering the heat generated by the electrolysis process and/or a device ( 17 ) for storing the hydrogen produced, such hydrogen generator system ( 1 ) is accommodated in a casing ( 20 ) which has—externally—inlet and outlet connection fittings.

1 . Hydrogen generator system for a hydrogen powered unit, such as for example a hydrogen catalytic burner or a fuel cell, comprising an electrolyser for the electrolysis of distilled water, producing hydrogen and oxygen, containing, on the inlet side, an associated demineralizer device and an associated A/C transformer/converter unit for supplying electrical power for the electrolysis process and, on the outlet side, a device for purifying the hydrogen produced with the subsequent exit of the hydrogen to be supplied to the hydrogen powered unit, as well as production of oxygen, characterised in that it also comprises:
 a device ( 10 ) for recovering the heat generated by the electrolysis process associated to the electrolyser ( 2 ),   and/or a device ( 17 ) for storing the hydrogen produced, and in that the entire system ( 1 ) for generating hydrogen is accommodated in a casing ( 20 ), which has—externally—inlet connection fittings, for the water and electrical power supply systems for feeding the electrolyser ( 2 ), and outlet fittings for the generated hydrogen and for delivery and return pipes of a heating system, for example that of a house, to be connected to said heat recovery device ( 10 ).   
     
     
         2 . Hydrogen generator system ( 1 ), according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the device ( 10 ) for recovering the electrolysis heat is formed by a heat exchanger ( 10 ), whose primary circuit ( 11 ) is arranged in the electrolyser ( 2 ) and whose secondary circuit ( 13 ) is connected to a heat user ( 16 ), for example to a household or industrial heating system. 
     
     
         3 . Hydrogen generator system ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the device ( 17 ) for storing hydrogen is a tank under pressure or contains metal hydrides and forms or comprises a hydrogen storage tank, wherein said storage of hydrogen occurs at low pressure, for example at 6 bars maximum. 
     
     
         4 . Hydrogen generator system ( 1 ), according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the hydrogen storage device ( 17 ) is a pressure storage device with or without compressor. 
     
     
         5 . Hydrogen generator system ( 1 ), according to  claim 1 , characterised in that it provides for a direct outlet of the hydrogen produced, which is associable to a hydrogen inlet/outlet of a hydrogen storage device ( 17 ) with metal hydrides, and in that it provides for—in the secondary circuit ( 13 ) of the heat exchanger ( 10 )—a diversion for supplying heat to the storage device ( 17 ). ( FIG. 2 ) 
     
     
         6 . Hydrogen generator system ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , characterised in that it provides for a double hydrogen outlet, i.e. a first outlet derived directly from the electrolyser ( 2 ) at low pressure and purified preliminarily, as well as a second hydrogen outlet coming from the hydrogen storage device ( 16 ) with metal hydrides and having a higher degree of purification, metals, and in that it provides for—in the secondary circuit ( 17 ) of the heat exchanger ( 10 )—a diversion for supplying heat to the storage device ( 17 ). ( FIG. 3 ) 
     
     
         7 . Hydrogen generator system ( 1 ), according to  claim 1 , characterised in that it comprises a centralised control device supported by a programmable software and suitable to manage—in the most rational manner possible—the control and adjustment of all controllable circuit devices and components to obtain utmost efficiency and consumption. 
     
     
         8 . Hydrogen generator system ( 1 ), according to  claim 3 , characterised in that it uses an alloy of metal hydrides which during the step of releasing hydrogen it requires a heat supply capable of operating at ambient temperature or slightly higher, wherein said amount of heat is preferably derived from the recovery of the electrolysis heat. 
     
     
         9 . Hydrogen generator system ( 1 ), according to  claim 2 , characterised in that the device ( 10 ) heat exchanger cools the electrolyser ( 2 ). 
     
     
         10 . Hydrogen generator system ( 1 ), according to  claim 1 , characterised in that it forms—with said casing ( 20 ) for accommodating the system ( 1 )—a preassembled unit ( 21 ) ready to be installed and connected directly with the inlet and outlet lines.