Method and apparatus for supplying hydrogen and portable cassette for supplying hydrogen
| Title: | Method and apparatus for supplying hydrogen and portable cassette for supplying hydrogen |
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| Patent Number: | 6,869,585 |
| Publication Date: | March 22, 2005 |
| Appl. No: | 10/110395 |
| Application Filed: | June 13, 2001 |
| Abstract: | Provided is a method of and an apparatus for decomposing hydrogen. The method includes the steps of introducing hydrocarbons into a reaction vessel in a closed-loop system, at least partially decomposing the hydrocarbons into hydrogen by heating the hydrocarbons in the reaction vessel in the presence of a catalyst, introducing the hydrogen into a cassette with metal oxide contained therein, reducing the metal oxide in the cassette to metal or metal oxide having a lower valence by at least partially reacting the metal oxide with the hydrogen to form water, and returning unreacted hydrogen to the reaction vessel. Also provided is a method for producing hydrogen for an apparatus in need thereof. |
| Inventors: | Otsuka, Kiyoshi (Toda, JP); Nakamura, Kiyozumi (Misato, JP); Iizuka, Kazuyuki (Misato, JP) |
| Assignees: | Kiyoshi Otsuka (Saitama-ken, JP), Uchiya Thermostat Co., Ltd. (Saitama-ken, JP) |
| Claim: | 1. A method for decomposing hydrocarbons, comprising the steps of: introducing hydrocarbons into a reaction vessel in a closed-loop system; at least partially decomposing the hydrocarbons into hydrogen by heating the hydrocarbons in the reaction vessel in the presence of a catalyst; introducing the hydrogen into a cassette with metal oxide contained therein; reducing the metal oxide in the cassette to metal or metal oxide having a lower valence by at least partially reacting the metal oxide with the hydrogen to form water; and returning unreacted hydrogen to the reaction vessel. |
| Claim: | 2. A method for producing hydrogen, comprising the steps of: producing a cassette containing metal or metal oxide having a lower valence according to the method of claim 1 ; removing the cassette containing metal or metal oxide having a lower valence from the system; introducing water into the cassette; and reacting the metal or metal oxide having a lower valence with the water so as to decompose the water and produce hydrogen. |
| Claim: | 3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the water generated in the reducing step is brought into a non-reaction condition. |
| Claim: | 4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the catalyst comprises nickel, cobalt, or iron disposed on a carrier, wherein the carrier is selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina and magnesia. |
| Claim: | 5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide is an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of iron, indium, tin, magnesium and cerium. |
| Claim: | 6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the metal oxide is disposed on a carrier selected from the group consisting of alumina, zinc oxide, magnesia, active carbon, silica and titania. |
| Claim: | 7. A device for supplying hydrogen to an apparatus in need thereof, comprising the cassette containing metal or metal oxide having a lower valence produced according to the method of claim 1 , the cassette further comprising an inlet port and an outlet port; wherein the inlet port is adapted to receive water for producing hydrogen by decomposition of the metal or metal oxide having a lower valence, and the outlet port is adapted to supply hydrogen to an apparatus in need thereof. |
| Claim: | 8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein substantially no water is added to the reaction vessel. |
| Claim: | 9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein substantially no carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide is produced in the step of reacting the metal or metal oxide having a lower valence with the water. |
| Claim: | 10. An apparatus for decomposing hydrocarbons, comprising: a reaction vessel having a catalyst contained therein for at least partially decomposing hydrocarbons into hydrogen when heated; and a reduction device with a cassette having metal oxide contained therein for receiving hydrogen from the reaction vessel and thereby producing water and reducing the metal oxide to metal or metal oxide having a lower valence; wherein the reaction vessel and reduction device are in communication with each other in a closed condition such that gas exhausted from the reduction device is returned to the reaction vessel. |
| Claim: | 11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising a trap device disposed in a return passage between the reduction device and the reaction vessel, the trap device trapping water formed in the reduction device. |
| Claim: | 12. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the metal oxide is an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of iron, indium, tin, magnesium and cerium. |
| Claim: | 13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the metal oxide is disposed on a carrier selected from the group consisting of alumina, zinc oxide, magnesia, active carbon, silica and titania. |
| Claim: | 14. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the reaction vessel contains no added water. |
| Claim: | 15. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the reduction device produces substantially no carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide. |
| Claim: | 16. A device for providing hydrogen to an apparatus in need thereof, comprising: a reaction vessel having a catalyst contained therein for at least partially decomposing hydrocarbons into hydrogen when heated; and a cassette having an inlet port and an outlet port and having metal oxide contained therein; wherein the inlet port is adapted to either receive hydrogen gas from the reaction vessel for reducing the metal oxide to metal or metal oxide having a lower valence, or is adapted to receive water for producing hydrogen by decomposition of the metal or metal oxide having a lower valence, and wherein the outlet port is adapted to either return exhaust gas to the reaction vessel, or is adapted to supply hydrogen to an apparatus in need thereof. |
| Claim: | 17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the inlet port of the cassette is adapted to receive hydrogen gas from the reaction vessel for reducing the metal oxide to metal or metal oxide having a lower valence and wherein the outlet port is adapted to return exhaust gas to the reaction vessel, the device further comprising a trap device disposed in a return passage between the cassette and the reaction vessel. |
| Claim: | 18. The device according to claim 16 , wherein the reaction vessel contains no added water. |
| Claim: | 19. The device according to claim 16 , wherein the cassette produces substantially no carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide. |
| Current U.S. Class: | 423/651 |
| Patent References Cited: | 3962411 June 1976 Setzer et al. 4126668 November 1978 Erickson 4547356 October 1985 Papineau 4877550 October 1989 Goetsch et al. 5914093 June 1999 Nakamura 58-36901 March 1983 07-144901 June 1995 07-267601 October 1995 08-165101 June 1996 09-234372 September 1997 WO 9322044 November 1993 |
| Other References: | T. Kodama, et al., “High-Temperature Conversion of CH4 to C2-hydrocarbons and H2 Using a Redox System of Metal Oxide”, Energy & Fuels, 1997, pp. 1257-1263, vol. 11, No. 6. cited by other |
| Assistant Examiner: | Medina, Maribel |
| Primary Examiner: | Silverman, Stanley S. |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.C. |
| Accession Number: | edspgr.06869585 |
| Database: | USPTO Patent Grants |
| Language: | English |
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