Patent ID: 6936081

Claim:
A reactor vessel, for generating hydrogen train a hydride solution in presence of a catalyst, the reactor vessel comprising: a plurally of reaction chambers end a plurality of coolant changes alternating with one another, each reaction chamber being configured to receive the hydride solution and to bring at least a portion of the hydride solution in contact with the catalyst, each coolant chamber being configured to receive a coolant flow; and a plurality of reactor plates, each having a first face and a second face in opposing relation with the first face, wherein the first face defines a solution flow field and a portion of one reaction chamber, end the second face defines a coolant flow field and a portion of one coolant chamber; wherein each reactor plate includes a solution inlet and a solution outlet located opposite to one another and in communication with the solution flow field, and a coolant inlet end a coolant outlet located opposite to one another and in communication with the coolant flow field and wherein the solution inlet, the solution outlet, the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet all extend through the reactor plates, for forming distribution ducts from a plurally of similar reactor plates stacked together; wherein a plurality of separator plates alternate with the reactor plates, to define the plurally of reaction chambers alternating with the plurality of coolant chambers, each reaction chamber being in fluid communication with an adjacent one of the plurality of reaction chambers and each coolant chamber being in fluid communication with an adjacent coolant chamber, such separator plate including openings providing inlets and outlets for the coolant and the hydride solution aligned with the coolant and solution inlets and outlets of the reactor plates whereby the distribution ducts are farmed extending through the reactor plates and the separator plates to distribute both the hydride solution and the coolant to the reaction and coolant chambers and to collect the hydride solution and the coolant from the reaction and the coolant chambers; wherein each solution flow field comprises a common reaction chamber, and a plurality of channels opening into the common reaction chamber, wherein the catalyst is provided in the reaction chamber, and wherein a rim is provided around and partially defining the reaction chamber; and wherein gasket grooves are provided between the reactor and separator plates, with one casket groove being provided in the rim around each reaction chamber, and gaskets are provided in the casket grooves between adjacent pairs of reactor and separator plates.