Patent ID: 6866836

Claim:
A method of generating hydrogen in a fuel supply system combined with a hydrogen fuelled power device, said method comprising the steps of: conveying lithium borohydride and/or sodium borohydride particles into the inlet of an axial flow reactor upon demand for hydrogen from said power device; injecting water into said axial flow reactor adjacent said inlet upon demand for hydrogen from said power device, the amount of said water being chemically balanced to the amount of said borohydride for the hydrolysis of said borohydride; hydrolyzing said borohydride particles with said water in said reactor at a temperature above approximately 90° C. to produce reaction products comprising hydrogen gas and solid by-products while mixing said borohydride particles and solid by-products in said reactor to expose unreacted borohydride particle surfaces for reaction with said water, and conveying the mixed materials through said reactor to an outlet axially removed from said inlet, said mixing and conveying along the axis of said axial flow reactor being accomplished using two rotating cooperating augers, the rate of conveying of said borohydride being controlled so as to retain a hydrogen gas volume in said reactor; removing said reaction products from said outlet of said reactor; and conveying said hydrogen gas to said hydrogen fuelled device or to a hydrogen buffer container for said device.