Patent ID: 8951312
Filing Date: 2015-02-10
Classification: B01J,C01B,C25C,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method for generation of hydrogen (H2) gas safely, on-demand, at the time and point of use in small or large quantities using the environmentally clean, exothermic chemical reaction between water (H2O) in a liquid state and sodium (Na) metal in a solid state to generate said hydrogen (H2) gas and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) byproduct, comprising the steps of: storing said water (H2O) in a liquid state in a first cylinder with an overpressure of inert nitrogen (N2) gas above said water (H2O) in a liquid state stored in said first cylinder; and storing said sodium (Na) metal in a solid state in a second cylinder; and coupling the output port of said first cylinder to the inlet of a first mechanical gas pressure regulator, wherein the outlet of said first mechanical gas pressure regulator is coupled to the input port of said second cylinder storing said sodium (Na) metal in a solid state, for sensing and controlling the pressure of said hydrogen (H2) gas generated above said sodium (Na) metal in a solid state by transferring said water (H2O) in a liquid state from said first cylinder into said second cylinder storing said sodium (Na) metal in a solid state when said pressure of said hydrogen (H2) gas above said sodium (Na) metal in a solid state stored in said second cylinder drops below the set point pressure of said first mechanical gas pressure regulator; and coupling the output port of said second cylinder to the inlet of a second mechanical gas pressure regulator, wherein the outlet of said second mechanical gas pressure regulator is coupled to the electricity generating fuel cell or other downstream application requiring said hydrogen (H2) gas, for controlling the pressure at which said hydrogen (H2) gas is delivered to said electricity generating fuel cell or said other downstream application; and injecting said water (H2O) in a liquid state from said first cylinder into said second cylinder using said first mechanical gas pressure regulator, until all of said sodium (Na) metal in a solid state stored in said second cylinder has reacted with said water (H2O) in a liquid state from said first cylinder to generate said hydrogen (H2) gas and said sodium hydroxide (NaOH) byproduct in said second cylinder; and recovering said sodium hydroxide (NaOH) byproduct in said second cylinder after all of said sodium (Na) metal in a solid state stored in said second cylinder has reacted with said water (H2O) in a liquid state from said first cylinder to generate said hydrogen (H2) gas, for reprocessing said sodium hydroxide (NaOH) byproduct using electrolysis to recover said sodium (Na) metal in a solid state for reuse in said generation of said hydrogen (H2) gas.