Patent Description:
<CIT> describes, in accordance with its abstract, a method that generates hydrogen to power a hydrogen consuming device. Hydrogen is stored on-board a vehicle in dry lithium and/or sodium borohydride particles. Upon demand from the hydrogen consuming device, such as a fuel cell, a portion of the borohydride is conveyed to an axial flow reactor. Water is then injected into the reactor in controlled amounts to hydrolyze the borohydride particles thus, producing hydrogen gas and solid-phase by-products. The reactor includes parallel, closely spanned, counter rotating augers to mix and convey the borohydride particles and solid by-products through the reactor. A separate grinding mechanism can be used to further crush and grind large by-product particles to increase packing efficiencies in a by-products storage vessel, where reaction products will later be stored. Hydrogen gas produced in the reaction is delivered to either a hydrogen buffer container for temporary storage or to the hydrogen consuming device.

<NPL> disclose the production of hydrogen by thermal decomposition of ammonia borane in flow through (auger) reactors.

The invention to which this European patent relates is defined in the appended claims.

A hydride flow reactor is disclosed. The reactor includes a tank configured to receive a hydride fuel. The reactor also includes a tubular member coupled to the tank and configured to receive the hydride fuel from the tank. The reactor also includes a transporter positioned at least partially within the tubular member and configured to transport the hydride fuel through the tubular member. The reactor also includes a heater positioned at least partially around the tubular member and the transporter. The heater is configured to heat the hydride fuel in the tubular member to convert the hydride fuel into hydrogen gas and a reacted byproduct.

A vehicle is also disclosed. The vehicle includes a hydride flow reactor. The reactor includes a tank configured to receive a metastable hydride fuel. The metastable hydride fuel includes a solid powder. The metastable hydride fuel includes lithium aluminum hydride, aluminum hydride, or a combination thereof. The metastable hydride fuel has a hydrogen material density that is from about <NUM>/m<NUM> to about <NUM>/m<NUM>. The reactor also includes a tubular member configured to receive the metastable hydride fuel from the tank. The reactor also includes an auger positioned within the tubular member. The reactor also includes a motor configured to rotate the auger, which moves the metastable hydride fuel through the tubular member. The reactor also includes a heater positioned at least partially around the tubular member and the auger. The heater is configured to heat the metastable hydride fuel in the tubular member to a temperature from about <NUM> to about <NUM> to convert the metastable hydride fuel into hydrogen gas and a reacted byproduct. The reactor also includes an outlet configured to discharge the hydrogen gas. The outlet includes a filter that is configured to prevent particles entrained in the hydrogen gas from being discharged through the outlet. The vehicle uses the hydrogen gas as a fuel. The reactor also includes a container configured to collect the reacted byproduct.

A method is also disclosed. The method includes introducing a hydride fuel into a tank. The method also includes transferring the hydride fuel from the tank into a tubular member. The method also includes moving the hydride fuel within the tubular member using an auger positioned within the tubular member. The method also includes heating a reaction zone within the tubular member using a heater to convert the hydride fuel into hydrogen gas and a reacted byproduct. The heater is positioned outside of the tubular member. The method also includes discharging the hydrogen gas through an outlet. The method also includes collecting the reacted byproduct in a container.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate aspects of the present teachings and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present teachings.

It should be noted that some details of the figures have been simplified and are drawn to facilitate understanding rather than to maintain strict structural accuracy, detail, and scale.

Reference will now be made in detail to the present teachings, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used throughout to designate identical elements. In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part thereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific examples of practicing the present teachings. The following description is, therefore, merely exemplary.

<FIG> illustrates a schematic view of a solid hydride flow reactor <NUM>, according to an implementation. The reactor <NUM> is configured to perform a continuous and/or variable conversion of a hydride fuel <NUM> into a hydrogen gas. More particularly, the reactor <NUM> may be configured to produce a clean hydrogen gas, on demand, without high-pressure storage tanks, as described below.

The hydride fuel <NUM> is a powdered solid. In other words, the hydride fuel <NUM> is not a liquid or a slurry. The hydride fuel <NUM> is or includes lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH<NUM>), aluminum hydride (AlH<NUM>), or a combination thereof, which may be thermally decomposed within the reactor <NUM> to generate/release a hydrogen gas. The hydride fuel <NUM> may have a high gravimetric and/or volumetric density. For example, the hydride fuel <NUM> may have a gravimetric and/or volumetric density from about <NUM>/m<NUM> (on a material basis) to about <NUM>/m<NUM>, about <NUM>/m<NUM> to about <NUM>/m<NUM>, or about <NUM>/m<NUM> to about <NUM>/m<NUM>. In another implementation, the hydride fuel <NUM> may have a gravimetric and/or volumetric density from about <NUM>/m<NUM> to about <NUM>/m<NUM>, about <NUM>/m<NUM> to about <NUM>/m<NUM>, or about <NUM>/m<NUM> to about <NUM>/m<NUM>. For example, LiAlH<NUM> may have a hydrogen material density of about <NUM>/m<NUM>, and AlH<NUM> may have a hydrogen material density of about <NUM>/m<NUM>. These ranges are based on the known hydrogen material density from reference material(s).

The reactor <NUM> may include a tank (also referred to as a reservoir or hopper) <NUM> that is configured to receive and/or store the hydride fuel <NUM> therein. The tank <NUM> may be made from a polymer (e.g., polycarbonate), which is durable, air-tight, and optically-transparent. An upper portion of the tank <NUM> may include top seal <NUM>, which may serve as a loading area when adding the hydride fuel <NUM> into the tank <NUM> in an inert atmosphere (e.g., a glove box). The top seal <NUM> may include a top flange and cap with a compression clamp. The top cap may be coupled to the flange, and may also include a pressure release valve <NUM>, which may be configured to actuate into an open position to release pressure when the pressure reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold (e.g., <NUM> PSI).

A lower portion of the tank <NUM> may include a bottom seal <NUM>, which may include a flange and cap with a compression clamp. The tank <NUM> may also include a filter <NUM> that is configured to separate/remove particles (e.g., powder) from a gas flowing therethrough. This may prevent particles from clogging the pressure release valve <NUM>. A substantially conical gravity feed adapter <NUM> may be coupled to and/or positioned below the tank <NUM>. Although the hydride fuel <NUM> is shown as being transferred from the hopper <NUM> via a gravity feed, in other implementations, the hydride fuel <NUM> may also or instead be transferred from the tank <NUM> using a linear actuator (e.g., a pneumatic or hydraulic piston or plunger, an electrically-powered screw, etc.), or a vibratory-type delivery system (e.g., a vibratory feeder and/or vibratory hopper).

The reactor <NUM> may also include a tubular member <NUM> that is configured to receive the hydride fuel <NUM> from the tank <NUM>. The tubular member <NUM> may include an inlet tee joint <NUM> and an outlet tee joint <NUM>. For example, the hydride fuel <NUM> may flow from the tank <NUM>, through the feed adapter <NUM> (e.g., due to gravity), through the inlet tee joint <NUM>, and into the tubular member <NUM>. In one implementation, the reactor <NUM> (e.g., the tank <NUM> and the tubular member <NUM>) may be hermetically sealed to exclude ambient air, as the hydride reactants and/or byproducts may be air-sensitive and/or moisture-sensitive.

The reactor <NUM> may also include a motor <NUM>. The motor <NUM> may be or include a variable speed motor. A chain <NUM> may be coupled to the motor <NUM> and configured to translate rotational motion from the motor <NUM>. A rotary feedthrough <NUM> may be coupled to the chain <NUM>. A rigid shaft coupler <NUM> may be coupled to the rotary feed through <NUM>.

The reactor <NUM> may also include a transporter <NUM> that is positioned at least partially within the tubular member <NUM>. As shown, the transporter <NUM> may extend at least partially through the inlet tee joint <NUM> and/or the outlet tee joint <NUM>. The transporter <NUM> may be coupled to the shaft coupler <NUM>. The motor <NUM>, the chain <NUM>, the rotary feedthrough <NUM>, the shaft coupler <NUM>, or a combination thereof may be configured to cause the transporter <NUM> to move (e.g., rotate) to transport the hydride fuel <NUM> through the tubular member <NUM> (e.g., to the right as shown in <FIG>). In one example, the transporter <NUM> may be or include a powder feed auger.

The transporter <NUM> may have a lubricant (e.g., molybdenum disulfide: MoS<NUM>) applied thereto. The lubricant may include a binder material, such as mineral oil or a similar paraffin-based material. After the lubricant is applied, the transporter <NUM> and/or lubricant may be heated to bake out and remove the binder material from the lubricant. The transporter <NUM> may have a graphite paint applied thereto, which may aid in measuring the temperature of the transporter <NUM>.

The reactor <NUM> may also include a heater <NUM>. The heater <NUM> may be positioned at least partially around the tubular member <NUM> and/or the transporter <NUM>. The heater <NUM> may be configured to heat the hydride fuel <NUM> to a temperature from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, about <NUM> to about <NUM>, or about <NUM> to about <NUM>, at which temperature the hydride fuel <NUM> generates/releases hydrogen gas and a reacted byproduct. The reacted byproduct may be, for example, aluminum metal and lithium hydride when the hydride fuel <NUM> is LiAlH<NUM>. In another example, the reacted byproduct may be aluminum metal when the hydride fuel <NUM> is AlH<NUM>. In one example, the heater <NUM> may initially heat the reaction zone <NUM> to a temperature from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, about <NUM> to about <NUM>, or about <NUM> to about <NUM>, and the heater <NUM> may gradually increase the temperature in the reaction zone <NUM> to about <NUM> to about <NUM>, about <NUM> to about <NUM>, or about <NUM> to about <NUM> over a time period from about <NUM> minute to about <NUM> minutes, about <NUM> minute to about <NUM> minutes, or about <NUM> minute to about <NUM> minutes.

In one example, the heater <NUM> may be or include a resistive heating coil that may serve as a conductive heater. The heater <NUM> (e.g., the wire coil) may be coated with an enamel and/or resin (e.g., a PAC resin). In another example, the heater <NUM> may be or include an inductive heating coil. The heating coil may be wrapped helically around the tubular member <NUM> and/or the transporter <NUM>. The reactor <NUM> may also include an induction heater circuit <NUM> and a DC power supply <NUM> (e.g., when the heater <NUM> is an inductive heating coil). Induction heating may improve the response time of on-demand hydrogen gas generation when compared to conventional heat conduction techniques. The heater <NUM> may be configured to heat the hydride fuel <NUM> within the tubular member <NUM>. This may be referred to herein as a reaction zone <NUM> because the heat causes the hydride fuel <NUM> to react and convert into a hydrogen gas and a reacted byproduct.

In one implementation, the heater <NUM> may be at least partially surrounded by an insulation <NUM>. The insulation <NUM> may direct the heat from the heater <NUM> inwards toward the reaction zone <NUM>. The insulation <NUM> may also or instead reduce the amount of heat lost to the surrounding environment, thereby increasing the efficiency of the reactor <NUM>. The insulation <NUM> may be or include a synthetic porous material (e.g., aerogel), a polyimide film (e.g., poly (<NUM>,<NUM>'-oxydiphenylene-pyromellitimide), or a combination thereof.

One or more temperature sensors (e.g., thermocouples) <NUM> may be configured to measure the temperature in the reaction zone <NUM>. The temperature sensor(s) <NUM> may be positioned inside the tubular member <NUM> or outside the tubular member <NUM>. When located outside of the tubular member <NUM>, the temperature sensor(s) <NUM> may be positioned at least partially between coil windings of the heater <NUM>. When located outside of the tubular member <NUM>, the measurements from the temperature sensor(s) <NUM> may be used to estimate the temperature in the reaction zone <NUM>.

The outlet tee joint <NUM> may be or include a phase separator that is configured to separate two phases from one another. For example, the phase separator may be configured to separate the hydrogen gas from the reacted byproduct.

The reactor <NUM> may also include a gas outlet <NUM> through which the hydrogen gas may flow. The gas outlet <NUM> may be coupled to or integral with an upper portion of the outlet tee joint <NUM>. The gas outlet <NUM> may include a filter <NUM> that is configured to separate/remove particles from the hydrogen gas as the hydrogen gas flows through the gas outlet <NUM>. The gas outlet <NUM> may also include a pressure release valve <NUM>, which may be configured to actuate into an open position to release pressure when the pressure reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold (e.g., <NUM> PSI). In one implementation, the gas outlet <NUM> may include a flow meter <NUM> that is configured to measure the rate at which the hydrogen gas flows through the gas outlet <NUM>.

The reactor <NUM> may also include one or more pressure sensors (one is shown: <NUM>) that is/are configured to measure the pressure within the reactor <NUM>. As shown, the pressure sensor <NUM> is coupled to and/or proximate to the gas outlet <NUM>. In another implementation, the pressure sensor <NUM> (or another pressure sensor) may be coupled to and/or proximate to the tank <NUM>. The pressure release valve(s) <NUM>, <NUM> may be actuated in response to the pressure measurements from the pressure sensor(s) <NUM>.

The rate at which the hydrogen gas is produced may depend at least partially upon the feed rate of the hydride fuel <NUM> from the tank <NUM> into the tubular member <NUM>. For example, as the feed rate varies (e.g., increases), the rate at which the hydrogen gas is produced may also vary (e.g., increase). The rate at which the hydrogen gas is produced may also or instead depend at least partially upon the rate at which the transporter <NUM> moves the hydride fuel <NUM> through the tubular member <NUM>. For example, as the rate at which the transporter <NUM> moves (e.g., rotates) varies, the rate at which the hydrogen gas is produced may also vary. The rate at which the hydrogen gas is produced may also or instead depend at least partially upon the temperature in the reaction zone <NUM>. For example, as the temperature varies (e.g., increases), the rate at which the hydrogen gas is produced may also vary (e.g., increase).

The reactor <NUM> may also include a collector <NUM> that is configured to receive/store the reacted byproduct. The collector <NUM> may be coupled to or integral with a lower portion of the outlet tee joint <NUM>.

A fuel cell <NUM> may be configured to receive and/or store the hydrogen gas produced by the reactor <NUM>. The reactor <NUM>, the hydrogen gas, and/or the fuel cell <NUM> may be configured to achieve a specific energy of up to about <NUM> Wh/kg, up to about <NUM> Wh/kg, about <NUM> Wh/kg, or about <NUM> Wh/kg. In another embodiment, the reactor <NUM>, the hydrogen gas, and/or the fuel cell <NUM> may be configured to achieve a specific energy from about <NUM> Wh/kg to about <NUM> Wh/kg, about <NUM> Wh/kg to about <NUM> Wh/kg, about <NUM> Wh/kg to about <NUM> Wh/kg, or more.

In one implementation, the reactor <NUM> may be coupled to and/or positioned within a vehicle <NUM>, and the vehicle <NUM> may use the hydrogen gas discharged from the outlet <NUM> as a fuel. The vehicle <NUM> may be or include an electric and/or hybrid-electric vehicle. For example, the vehicle <NUM> may be or include an aircraft such as an airplane, a helicopter, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a spacecraft, or the like. The vehicle <NUM> may also or instead include a car, a train, a boat, an underwater vehicle, or the like.

<FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the reaction zone <NUM> of the reactor <NUM>, according to an implementation. In this implementation, the tubular member <NUM> is made from a metal (e.g., steel), and the transporter <NUM> is made from a metal (e.g., steel). The heater <NUM> is a resistive heating coil, and the insulation <NUM> is positioned at least partially around the heater <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the reaction zone <NUM> of the reactor <NUM>, according to an implementation. In this implementation, the tubular member <NUM> is made from a metal (e.g., steel), and the transporter <NUM> is made from a polymer (e.g., polyether ether ketone). Switching the transporter <NUM> from metal to polymer may reduce friction and binding because the polymer is chemically dissimilar from the metallic tubular member <NUM>. In addition, switching the transporter <NUM> from metal to polymer may reduce the weight and/or density (e.g., 5x less) of the transporter <NUM>. The heater <NUM> is a resistive heating coil, and the insulation <NUM> is positioned at least partially around the heater <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the reaction zone <NUM> of the reactor <NUM>, according to an implementation. In this implementation, the tubular member <NUM> is made from a polymer (e.g., polyether ether ketone), and the transporter <NUM> is made from a metal (e.g., steel). Switching the tubular member <NUM> from metal to polymer may reduce friction and binding because the polymer is chemically dissimilar from the metallic transporter <NUM>. The heater <NUM> is an inductive heating coil, and the insulation <NUM> is omitted. The inductive heater <NUM> may heat the metallic transporter <NUM>, but may not directly heat the tubular member <NUM>, which is made of polymer. The heat from the metallic transporter <NUM> may be transferred to the hydride fuel <NUM>. Because this heat is occurring from inside the tubular member <NUM>, and the polymer has a relatively low thermal conductivity, heat losses may be reduced, and heating efficiency may be increased. The weight/density of the polymer is also less than that of the metal.

In an example, hydrogen dehydrogenation is performed in the reactor <NUM> where the tubular member <NUM> is made from a polymer, and the transporter <NUM> is made from metal. The process is performed in an argon-filled glove box. The tubular member <NUM> is <NUM> inches long with a <NUM> inch inner diameter and a <NUM> inch outer diameter. The transporter <NUM> is a metallic auger that is <NUM> inches long. The region around the auger is filled with <NUM> of LiAlH<NUM> hydride catalyzed with <NUM> mol % TiF<NUM>. A <NUM> turn, <NUM> inch diameter induction heating coil <NUM> is placed around the section of the polymeric tubular member <NUM> containing the auger <NUM> and the hydride. The top of the tubular member <NUM> is sealed and held in place with a plastic syringe using a metal clamp. The plastic syringe is used to avoid any additional metal being proximate to the heating coil <NUM>. The heating coil <NUM> is powered with the inductive heating circuit <NUM>, which in turn is powered by a <NUM> VDC power supply <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the reaction zone <NUM> of the reactor <NUM>, according to an implementation. In this implementation, the tubular member <NUM> is made from a polymer (e.g., polyether ether ketone), and the transporter <NUM> is made from a polymer (e.g., polyether ether ketone). The heater <NUM> is an inductive heating coil, and the insulation <NUM> is omitted. In this example, induction heating is used to directly heat the hydride fuel <NUM>. The hydride fuel <NUM> is (at least initially) non-metallic and may not be heated by induction. However, electrically conductive additives may be added to the hydride powder <NUM>. For example, the electrically conductive additive may be or include from about <NUM> wt % to about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, or about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt% carbon powder, where wt% refers to weight of total solids. In another example, the electrically conductive additive may be or include from about <NUM> wt % to about <NUM> wt%, about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt%, or about <NUM> wt% to about <NUM> wt% metallic (e.g., iron) powder, where wt% refers to weight of total solids. The additive may transfer heat to the hydride fuel <NUM> within the flowing powder bed to enable efficient heating.

<FIG> illustrates a graph <NUM> showing the flow rate and temperature of the hydride fuel <NUM> in the reaction zone <NUM> versus time, according to an implementation. The transporter (e.g., auger) <NUM> may rotate from about <NUM> revolution to about <NUM> revolutions, about <NUM> revolutions to about <NUM> revolutions, or about <NUM> revolutions to about <NUM> revolutions. The rate of rotation may be from about <NUM> RPM to about <NUM> RPM, about <NUM> RPM to about <NUM> RPM, or about <NUM> RPM to about <NUM> RPM. This may move the hydride fuel <NUM> from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, about <NUM> to about <NUM>, or about <NUM> to about <NUM> within the tubular member <NUM>, which may be the length of the reaction zone <NUM>. The reaction zone <NUM> may include from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, about <NUM> to about <NUM>, or about <NUM> to about <NUM> of the hydride fuel <NUM> therein. The residence time of the hydride fuel <NUM> in the reaction zone <NUM> may be from about <NUM> seconds to about <NUM> minutes, about <NUM> minute to about <NUM> minutes, or about <NUM> minutes to about <NUM> minutes. The reactor <NUM> may run from about <NUM> minutes to about <NUM> hours, about <NUM> hour to about <NUM> hours, or about <NUM> hours to about <NUM> hours.

In an example, given a hydrogen content of <NUM> wt% (e.g., for catalyzed LiAlH<NUM>) and <NUM>% decomposition, the hydrogen gas flow rate may be about <NUM> liter for every <NUM> rotations of the auger <NUM>. At about <NUM> RPM, this translates to a flow rate from about <NUM>/min to about <NUM>/min, about <NUM>/min to about <NUM>/min, or about <NUM>/min to about <NUM>/min. As shown, the reactor <NUM> may be started with a temperature of about <NUM>, and the flow rate immediately increases to about <NUM>/min, indicating about <NUM>% hydrogen gas recovery.

<FIG> illustrates another graph <NUM> showing the flow rate and temperature of the hydride fuel <NUM> in the reaction zone <NUM> versus time, according to an implementation. In this example, <NUM> of LiAlH<NUM> (catalyzed with <NUM> mol% TiF<NUM>) is introduced into the reactor <NUM>. The reactor <NUM> runs for about <NUM> hours with an average flow rate from about <NUM>/min to about <NUM>/min, about <NUM>/min to about <NUM>/min, or about <NUM>/min to about <NUM>/min at a rate from about <NUM> RPM to about <NUM> RPM, about <NUM> RPM to about <NUM> RPM, or about <NUM> RPM to about <NUM> RPM. The hydrogen recovery is from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%, or about <NUM>% to about <NUM>%.

<FIG> illustrates another graph <NUM> showing the flow rate of hydrogen gas and temperature of the hydride fuel <NUM> in the reaction zone <NUM> versus time, according to an implementation. During the early stages of the run, the power required to turn the motor <NUM> is relatively low (e.g., from about <NUM> W to about <NUM> W, about <NUM> W to about <NUM> W, or about <NUM> W to about <NUM> W). After time (e.g., about <NUM> minutes), the power increases to between about <NUM> W and about <NUM> W, about <NUM> W and about <NUM> W, or about <NUM> W and about <NUM> W with relatively no change in motor speed or reaction temperature. About <NUM> of the hydride fuel <NUM> passed through the reactor <NUM>, and the remaining <NUM> is left unreacted.

In another embodiment, the flow rate of the hydride fuel <NUM> and/or the hydrogen gas through the reactor <NUM> (e.g., the tubular member <NUM>) may be from about <NUM>/min to about <NUM>/min, about <NUM>/min to about <NUM>/min, or about <NUM>/min to about <NUM>/min. As will be appreciated, larger systems may evolve more hydrogen per unit time. For automotive applications, the fuel may be depleted in about <NUM> hour to about <NUM> hours, about <NUM> hours to about <NUM> hours, or about <NUM> hours to about <NUM> hours. This may be normalized to the amount of total fuel stored in the fuel cell <NUM>. For example, the fuel cell may release from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% of the stored hydrogen per hour, from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% of the stored hydrogen per hour, or from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% of the stored hydrogen per hour.

<FIG> illustrates a graph <NUM> showing temperatures of three differently-sized heaters <NUM> versus time, according to an implementation. In <FIG>, the heating coils are helical, and the term "diameter" refers to the diameter of the helix, not the diameter of the coil itself. The heater (e.g., heating coil) <NUM> with the <NUM> inch diameter provided an optimal heating profile for dehydrogenation of the LiAlH<NUM> hydride fuel <NUM>. As shown, a temperature of about <NUM> is reached in about <NUM> minutes, and a temperature of about <NUM> is reached in about <NUM> minutes. Larger diameter heater coils (e.g., <NUM> inches and <NUM> inches) heat too slowly while smaller coils (data not shown) heat too quickly. Power measurements with and without the transporter (e.g., auger) <NUM> in the heater <NUM> indicate that the heating power to the heater <NUM> increases with decreasing coil diameter: from <NUM> W at <NUM> inches, to <NUM> W at <NUM> inches, to <NUM> W at <NUM> inches. The temperature is measured with an optical pyrometer. Heating is performed in air with the transporter <NUM>, not in the polymer tubular member <NUM>, positioned vertically in the center of the heater <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a graph <NUM> showing flow rate and integrated flow versus time, according to an implementation. In the example shown in <FIG>, the metallic transporter (e.g., auger) <NUM> is inductively heated inside the polymeric tubular member <NUM>. The flow rate begins to rise at about <NUM> minutes and about <NUM>. The flow rate peaks at about <NUM> liters/minute and then decreases to about <NUM> liters per minute at about <NUM> minutes. The integrated flow is about <NUM> liters, which corresponds to about <NUM> mole-H<NUM> or <NUM>-H<NUM>. As used herein, "integrated flow" refers to the total amount of evolved hydrogen gas. The measured weight loss of the assembled polymeric tubular member <NUM> is <NUM>. From the weight of the hydride fuel <NUM> added (<NUM>), and assuming a capacity of about <NUM> wt% for the LiAlH<NUM> + <NUM> TiF<NUM> mixture, the theoretical weight of hydrogen is about <NUM>. These values indicate that a significant dehydrogenization of the hydride (e.g., about <NUM>%) is achieved by inductively heating the transporter <NUM>.

The induction heating of the hydride fuel <NUM> in the reactor <NUM> with the metallic transporter <NUM> is performed a second time. The flow rate increases to about <NUM>/minute within less than a minute after showing signs of positive pressure outward on the flow meter <NUM>. At this point, the heater <NUM> is shut off. The flow rate starts to decrease a few seconds later, indicating a quick response time and strong correlation to the inductive heating energy going into the transporter <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a flowchart of a method <NUM> for converting the hydride fuel <NUM> into hydrogen gas, according to an implementation. An illustrative order of the method <NUM> is provided below; however, one or more steps of the method <NUM> may be performed in a different order, performed simultaneously, repeated, or omitted.

The method <NUM> may include introducing an additive to the hydride fuel <NUM>, as at <NUM>. As discussed above, the additive may be or include a carbon powder or a metallic powder. The method <NUM> may also include applying a lubricant to the transporter (e.g., the auger) <NUM>, as at <NUM>. The method <NUM> may also include increasing a temperature of the transporter <NUM> and/or the lubricant to cause a binder material in the lubricant to at least partially evaporate, as at <NUM>. This may leave behind the lubricant with little or no binder material.

The method <NUM> may include introducing the hydride fuel <NUM> into the tank <NUM>, as at <NUM>. The method <NUM> may also include transferring the hydride fuel <NUM> from the tank into the tubular member <NUM>, as at <NUM>. The method <NUM> may also include moving the hydride fuel <NUM> within the tubular member <NUM> using the transporter <NUM>, as at <NUM>. For example, the transporter <NUM> may be or include an auger that is rotated by the motor <NUM>, which moves the hydride fuel <NUM> within the tubular member <NUM>. The method <NUM> may also include heating the reaction zone <NUM> using the heater <NUM> to convert the hydride fuel <NUM> into hydrogen gas and a reacted byproduct, as at <NUM>. The method <NUM> may also include discharging the hydrogen gas through the outlet <NUM>, as at <NUM>. The method <NUM> may also include receiving/storing the hydrogen gas in the fuel cell <NUM>, as at <NUM>. The method <NUM> may also include powering the vehicle <NUM> using the hydrogen gas, as at <NUM>. The hydrogen gas may be supplied to the vehicle <NUM> directly from the outlet <NUM> or from the fuel cell <NUM>. The method <NUM> may also include collecting the reacted byproduct in the collector <NUM>, as at <NUM>.

As used herein, the terms "inner" and "outer"; "up" and "down"; "upper" and "lower"; "upward" and "downward"; "upstream" and "downstream"; "above" and "below"; "inward" and "outward"; and other like terms as used herein refer to relative positions to one another and are not intended to denote a particular direction or spatial orientation. The terms "couple," "coupled," "connect," "connection," "connected," "in connection with," and "connecting" refer to "in direct connection with" or "in connection with via one or more intermediate elements or members. " Similarly, the terms "bonded" and "bonding" refer to "directly bonded to" or "bonded to via one or more intermediate elements, members, or layers.

Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the disclosure are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements. Moreover, all ranges disclosed herein are to be understood to encompass any and all sub-ranges subsumed therein.

While the present teachings have been illustrated with respect to one or more implementations, alterations and/or modifications can be made to the illustrated examples without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In addition, while a particular feature of the present teachings may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular function. As used herein, the terms "a", "an", and "the" may refer to one or more elements or parts of elements. As used herein, the terms "first" and "second" may refer to two different elements or parts of elements. As used herein, the term "at least one of A and B" with respect to a listing of items such as, for example, A and B, means A alone, B alone, or A and B. Those skilled in the art will recognize that these and other variations are possible. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms "including," "includes," "having," "has," "with," or variants thereof are used in either the detailed description and the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term "comprising. " Further, in the discussion and claims herein, the term "about" indicates that the value listed may be somewhat altered, as long as the alteration does not result in nonconformance of the process or structure to the intended purpose described herein. Finally, "exemplary" indicates the description is used as an example, rather than implying that it is an ideal.

Claim 1:
A hydride flow reactor (<NUM>), comprising:
a tank (<NUM>) containing a powdered hydride fuel (<NUM>) comprising lithium aluminum hydride, aluminum hydride, or a combination thereof;
a tubular member (<NUM>) coupled to the tank (<NUM>) and configured to receive the hydride fuel (<NUM>) from the tank (<NUM>);
a transporter (<NUM>) positioned at least partially within the tubular member (<NUM>) and configured to transport the hydride fuel (<NUM>) through the tubular member (<NUM>) in powder form; and
a heater (<NUM>) positioned at least partially around the tubular member (<NUM>) and the transporter (<NUM>), wherein the heater (<NUM>) is configured to heat the hydride fuel (<NUM>) in the tubular member (<NUM>) to convert the hydride fuel (<NUM>) into hydrogen gas and a reacted byproduct.