Fuel processor and hydrogen purification device thereof

A hydrogen purification device including a container, a first opening structure and a second opening structure is provided. The container has at least a filter material inside. The first opening structure is disposed in the container, wherein hydrogen-rich gas mixture flows into the container via the first opening structure so that purified hydrogen gas is generated by conducting a reaction between the hydrogen-rich gas mixture and the filter material. Besides, a second opening structure is disposed in the container, wherein the purified hydrogen gas flows away from the container via the second opening structure. A fuel processor having the hydrogen purification device is also provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a fuel processor and a hydrogen purification device thereof, and more particularly to a fuel processor and a hydrogen purification device thereof applied to a portable power system of hydrogen energy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, mobile electronic products, such as, tablet computers, cameras, and smart phones, are increasingly developed. It is observed that almost everyone has one or many. However, high power consumption of mobile electronic products is very troublesome. It is desirable to develop a cell having advantage of cheap price, long-time power supply, small volume, light weight and is suitable for various mobile electronic products.

Generally, fuel cells are cheap and of long-time power supply. However, consuming hydrogen gas, the fuel cells usually must offer enough space for hydrogen supply. Thus, the volume of fuel cells is too large to apply to various mobile electronic products. Hence, there is a strong need for solving problems of hydrogen supply for a small portable power system of hydrogen energy.

US Patent Publication No. 20030192251 discloses a fuel processing system including a fuel processor, wherein the fuel processor includes a hydrogen-producing region and a separation region. US Patent Publication No. 20080044696 discloses a hydrogen generation cartridge for supplying hydrogen gas to a fuel cell system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect, the invention provides a hydrogen purification device applied to a portable power system of hydrogen energy. The hydrogen purification device includes a container, a first opening structure and a second opening structure. The container has at least a filter material inside. The first opening structure is disposed in the container, wherein hydrogen-rich gas mixture flows into the container via the first opening structure so that purified hydrogen gas is generated by conducting a reaction between the hydrogen-rich gas mixture and the filter material. Besides, a second opening structure is disposed in the container, wherein the purified hydrogen gas flows away from the container via the second opening structure.

In one embodiment, the filter material including an organic material and an inorganic material is disposed between the first opening structure and the second opening structure.

In one embodiment, the organic material is disposed on inner peripheries of the container and wraps the inorganic material.

In one embodiment, the filter material further includes a solid acid salt, wherein the organic material and the inorganic material are disposed between the solid acid salt and the second opening structure.

In one embodiment, the filter material further includes a liquid acid, wherein the organic material and the inorganic material are disposed between the liquid acid and the second opening structure.

In one embodiment, the organic material includes one selected from a group consisting of an ion exchange resin, cellulose, dextran gel, agarose gel, and humus, or a combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the ion exchange resin includes one selected from a high polymer resin group consisting of a styrene series, an acrylic acid series, an acetate series, an epoxy series, a vinyl pyridine series, a urea formaldehyde series, and a vinyl chloride series, or a combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the ion exchange resin includes one selected from a group consisting of a strong acid type, a weak acid type, a strong base type, a weak base type, a chelating type, an amphoteric type, and a redox type, or a combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the inorganic material includes one selected from a group consisting of acid salts, alumina, activated carbon, zeolites, molecular sieves, and montmorillonite, or a combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the filter material further includes a water absorbent material disposed between the first opening structure and the second opening structure.

In accordance with another aspect, the invention provides a fuel processor applied to a portable power system of hydrogen energy having a fuel cell. The fuel processor includes a hydrogen generation device and a hydrogen purification device. The hydrogen generation device has a solid hydrogen fuel and water disposed therein and is used to produce hydrogen-rich gas mixture by conducting a reaction between the solid hydrogen fuel and water. The hydrogen purification device includes a container, a first opening structure and a second opening structure. The container has at least a filter material inside. The first opening structure is disposed in the container, wherein the hydrogen-rich gas mixture flows into the container via the first opening structure so that purified hydrogen gas is generated by conducting a reaction between the hydrogen-rich gas mixture and the filter material. Besides, the second opening structure is disposed in the container, wherein the purified hydrogen gas flows away from the container via the second opening structure into the fuel cell.

In one embodiment, the solid hydrogen fuel includes one selected from a group consisting of borohydride, metal borohydride, nitrogen hydride, metal hydride, boron-nitrogen hydride, metal nitrogen hydride, metal boron-nitrogen hydride, metal carbon-nitrogen hydride, hydrocarbon, boron hydrocarbon, nitrogen hydrocarbon, metal hydrocarbon, metal boron hydrocarbon, boron-nitrogen hydrocarbon, and metal boron-nitrogen hydrocarbon, or a combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the solid hydrogen fuel includes one selected from a group consisting of ammonia borane (H3BNH3), diammoniate of diborane (H2B(NH3)2BH4), poly-(aminoborane), borazine (B3N3H6), Morpholineborane (MPB), borane tetrahydrofuran complex, and diborane, or a combination thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference toFIG. 1, a portable power system of hydrogen energy in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is schematically illustrated. The portable power system of hydrogen energy100includes a control panel10, a fuel processor20and a fuel cell30. The fuel processor20has a hydrogen generation device21used to produce hydrogen gas serving as an energy source of a fuel cell30for generating electricity. The fuel cell30may convert chemical energy of the hydrogen gas into electrical energy. The hydrogen gas may be generated by conducting a chemical reaction between a hydrogen fuel and water. And a solid hydrogen fuel has advantage of high density of hydrogen storage resulting in the goal of cheap price, convenience, small volume, light weight and stable rate of hydrogen supply. Thus, a solid hydrogen fuel213is disposed inside the hydrogen generation device21. In the hydrogen generation device21, water in a bag212is pushed by a pump211to flow towards and contact the solid hydrogen fuel213for producing hydrogen gas. Besides, the pump rate of the pump211may be determined by the control panel10detecting amount of electricity generated by the fuel cell30.

The solid hydrogen fuel213may include one selected from a group consisting of borohydride, metal borohydride, nitrogen hydride, metal hydride, boron-nitrogen hydride, metal nitrogen hydride, metal boron-nitrogen hydride, metal carbon-nitrogen hydride, hydrocarbon, boron hydrocarbon, nitrogen hydrocarbon, metal hydrocarbon, metal boron hydrocarbon, boron-nitrogen hydrocarbon, and metal boron-nitrogen hydrocarbon, or a random combination thereof. The solid hydrogen fuel213may also include one selected from a group consisting of ammonia borane (H3BNH3), diammoniate of diborane (H2B(NH3)2BH4), poly-(aminoborane), borazine (B3N3H6), Morpholineborane (MPB), borane tetrahydrofuran complex, and diborane, or a combination thereof. For example, the following chemical reaction equation shows that sodium borohydride (NaBH4), as the solid hydrogen fuel213, reacts with water to produce hydrogen gas:
NaBH4+2H2O→4H2+NaBO2

In order to increasing the reaction rate of the solid hydrogen fuel and water, a catalyst (not shown) may be mixed with the solid hydrogen fuel213in the hydrogen generation device21. The catalyst may include solid acid or solid salt having ruthenium, cobalt, nickel, copper or iron.

Hydrogen-rich gas mixture21amay be produced while the chemical reaction of solid hydrogen fuel213and water is conducted. That is, the hydrogen-rich gas mixture21aincludes not only hydrogen gas but also strong alkaline aerosol, ammonia and steam resulting from reaction heat. The performance of the fuel cell30would be impaired or even destroyed while the hydrogen-rich gas mixture21aflows into the fuel cells30. Thus, it is important to purify the hydrogen-rich gas mixture21a.

A hydrogen purification device22in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is provided. Please refer toFIG. 1andFIG. 2.FIG. 2schematically illustrates a hydrogen purification device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. A hydrogen purification device22may be disposed in the fuel processor20shown inFIG. 1. A hydrogen purification device22includes a container220, a first opening structure23and a second opening structure24. The first opening structure23and a second opening structure24are disposed in the container220. It is to be noted that at least a filter material is placed inside the container220and between the first opening structure23and a second opening structure24. In the embodiment of the invention, the hydrogen purification device22has the two opening structures23and24only. The hydrogen-rich gas mixture21aflows into the container220via the first opening structure23, and then the hydrogen-rich gas mixture21awould pass through the filter material and flow toward the second opening structure24. Between the two opening structures23and24, the filter material may react with the hydrogen-rich gas mixture21ato remove non-hydrogen substances, such as, alkaline aerosol/gas, ammonia or water/steam, to generate purified hydrogen gas22awhich includes at least substantially pure hydrogen gas. The goal of separating hydrogen gas from non-hydrogen substances may be achieved thereby. Then, the purified hydrogen gas22aflows from the container220into the fuel cell30via the second opening structure24.

In one embodiment of the invention, the filter material used by the hydrogen purification device22may contain an organic material or inorganic material or a combination thereof. The organic material may include one selected from a group consisting of an ion exchange resin, cellulose, dextran gel, agarose gel, and humus, or a random combination thereof. The inorganic material may include one selected from a group consisting of acid salts, alumina, activated carbon, zeolites, molecular sieves, and montmorillonite, or a random combination thereof. Moreover, the ion exchange resin may include one selected from a high polymer resin group consisting of a styrene series, an acrylic acid series, an acetate series, an epoxy series, a vinyl pyridine series, a urea formaldehyde series, and a vinyl chloride series, or a random combination thereof. The ion exchange resin may also include one selected from a group consisting of a strong acid type, a weak acid type, a strong base type, a weak base type, a chelating type, an amphoteric type, and a redox type, or a random combination thereof.

Furthermore, the filter material may further include a solid acid salt. The solid acid salt may include one selected from an organic acid group consisting of citric acid, malic acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, and lactic acid, or a random combination thereof. The filter material may further include a liquid acid which may be selected from an inorganic acid group consisting of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and nitric acid, or a random combination thereof.

In one embodiment of the invention, acid cation exchange resins having function group H+are capable of neutralizing alkaline aerosol. The function group H+of acid cation exchange resins may be also replaced by heavy metal ions and then the resins may adsorb ammonia. In one embodiment of the invention, base anion exchange resins may react with alkaline aerosol and ammonia by conducting an ion-exchange reaction and a neutralization reaction respectively. Alkaline aerosol and ammonia may be also adsorbed by the porosity of activated carbons. In one embodiment of the invention, the solid acid salt or the liquid acid may remove alkaline aerosol in a neutralization reaction. In addition, the catalyst may not only increase the rate of the reaction between the solid hydrogen fuel and water, but also remove alkaline aerosol and ammonia.

With reference to sheet 1, detecting results for purifying the hydrogen-rich gas mixture by using one or more than two kinds of the filter materials. Experimental processes in accordance with one embodiment of the invention as follows: water flows toward the solid hydrogen fuel at a fixed pump rate of the pump211; the hydrogen-rich gas mixture21ais produced by conducting the reaction between the solid hydrogen fuel and water, and then flows through one or more than two kinds of the filter materials so as to generate the purified hydrogen gas22a; and then collecting the purified hydrogen gas22aover time while the purified hydrogen gas flow rate reaches an optimum value, e.g. 300 standard cubic centimeter per minute (sccm); and then a detector is used to measure ammonia concentration in the purified hydrogen gas22a; and then the purified hydrogen gas22ais cool-condensed into a liquid; detecting the pH value of the cool-condensed liquid. Besides, ammonia concentration and pH value of the hydrogen-rich gas mixture21aare also detected as a control group.

According to sheet 1, without any filter material (control group), the hydrogen-rich gas mixture21acontains ammonia at concentration of 2 ppm and pH value of the cool-condensed liquid is more than 10, showing that the hydrogen-rich gas mixture21acontains strong alkaline aerosol. After the hydrogen-rich gas mixture21areacts with the filter material(s) listed in the sheet 1 respectively, no ammonia (the concentration thereof below about 0.1 ppm) in the purified hydrogen gas22ais detected by the detector and the pH values are dropped at 20 minutes and 45 minutes after the start of the reaction. A conclusion can be drawn from the embodiment of the invention that the filter materials of the hydrogen purification device are capable of separating the hydrogen gas from alkaline aerosol and ammonia.

A slightly acid condition is beneficial for the fuel cell performance. Referring to the sheet 1, the filter materials including strong acid cation exchange resins and citrate acid result in the pH ranging from 6.2 to 6.3 as one of preferred embodiment of the invention. In detail, as shown inFIG. 2, the filter material, such as, the organic material221(e.g. strong acid cation exchange resin) is disposed or attached on inner peripheries of the container220and wraps the inorganic material222(e.g. activated carbon). The solid acid salt (e.g. citric acid) or the liquid acid223is disposed on a side of the organic material221and the inorganic material222, and the side of the organic material221and the inorganic material222is adjacent to the first opening structure23. An another organic material224may be placed between the first opening structure23and the solid acid salt223to enhance adsorption efficiency. Additionally, having a lot of hydrophilic groups may absorb steam/water and swelling by absorbing water after contacting with water, materials, such as activated carbon, molecular sieves, ion exchange resin and water absorbent polymers (hydro-absorbent macromolecules), are capable of absorbing steam/water resulting from reaction-heat in the fuel processor20.

In one embodiment of the invention, the filter material may further include water absorbent materials225and226disposed adjacent to the first opening structure23and the second opening structure24respectively for absorbing steam in the fuel processor20resulting from the reaction heat. The water absorbent materials225and226may include cotton fibers mixed with one selected from a water absorbent polymer group consisting of polyacrylate, polyvinyl alcohol, vinyl acetate copolymers, polyurethane, polyethylene oxide, starch graft copolymers, rubber blends, and ion exchange resin, or a random combination thereof. The water absorbent materials225and226may also include cotton fibers mixed with one selected from an inorganic water absorbent group consisting of crystalline aluminum silicate, calcium chloride, calcium oxide, anhydrous cobalt chloride, anhydrous copper sulfate, silica gel, clay, alumina, activated carbon, zeolites, and molecular sieves, or a random combination thereof. As a result, in the embodiment of the invention, after the hydrogen-rich gas mixture21aflowing into the container220of the hydrogen purification device22via the first opening structure23would sequentially react with the water absorbent material225, the organic material224, the solid acid salt223, the combination of the strong acid cation exchange resin221and the inorganic material222, and the water absorbent material226to generate the purified hydrogen gas22a. Finally, the purified hydrogen gas22aflows out of the container220via the second opening structure24into the fuel cell30. Consequently, the purity of hydrogen gas may be enhanced effectively by the hydrogen purification device22in the embodiment.

The container220of the hydrogen purification device22may be a pipe and made of hard materials or flexible materials, such as, silica gel. An area of the filter material contacted with the hydrogen-rich gas mixture21amay be greatly increasing within a limited space so as to noticeably enhance the purity of hydrogen gas while the container220made of flexible materials has a curled shape.

In one embodiment of the invention, the device for hydrogen generation device21or the hydrogen purification device22may be a replaceable cartridge in the fuel processor20. It is convenient for replacing a new hydrogen generation device21or a new hydrogen purification device22in the fuel processor20as the solid hydrogen fuel or water is completely exhausted or the filter materials are completely saturated. Besides, the fuel processor20may be a replaceable cartridge in the portable power system of hydrogen energy100. With reference toFIG. 3, a fuel processor in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is schematically illustrated in a cross-section view. Inside the fuel processor20, the hydrogen-rich gas mixture21aproduced by reacting the solid hydrogen fuel213with water flows upwards to the first opening structure23of the hydrogen purification device22. The fuel processor20may have only one another opening namely the second opening structure24. Thus, the purified hydrogen gas22aautomatically flows out of the fuel processor20via the second opening structure24into the fuel cell30.

In summary, the hydrogen purification device or the fuel processor thereof in the invention may effectively remove ammonia and alkaline aerosol which are harmful to health and has advantage of concise installation, smaller volume, lighter weight, lower cost, easier fabrication, longer serves life and higher practicability for the portable power system of hydrogen energy. Utilizing solid hydrogen fuel increases the service life of the fuel processor20, and the design of replaceable cartridge is easy for users to change the cartridge, increasing practicability for the portable power system of hydrogen energy.

Moreover, these claims may refer to use “first”, “second”, etc. following with noun or element. Such terms should be understood as a nomenclature and should not be construed as giving the limitation on the number of the elements modified by such nomenclature unless specific number has been given.