Hydrogen generator

摘要

A hydrogen generator (1), particularly for supplying a fuel cell, is described comprising a supply (3, 29) of a fuel, i.e. a chemical hydride, which can be hydrolyzed to be reacted in a reaction chamber (14, 33) communicating with the first supply (3, 29) to produce hydrogen gas and an at least partially liquid exhaust reaction product, the reaction chamber communicating with outlet pathways (16, 17) for the hydrogen gas and for the exhaust reaction product, the latter (17) leading to a supply of an absorbent material (21) suitable for immobilizing the exhaust reaction product.

主权项

1. A hydrogen generator (1) comprising:
a cartridge (2); a first solid fuel supply (3) located within said cartridge (2), said fuel supply capable of being hydrolized; reaction chamber means (14) located within said cartridge (2) communicating with said first fuel supply for producing hydrogen gas and exhaust reaction products; a hydrogen gas pathway (16) located within said cartridge (2); a hydrogen outlet (15) having an input and an output connected at its input to said hydrogen gas pathway (16); an exhaust reaction product pathway (17) located within said cartridge (2); and absorbent material means (21) connected to said exhaust reaction product pathway (17) for absorbing, binding and immobilizing the exhaust reaction products; second fuel supply means (4) for providing a reaction agent which, when exposed to said first fuel supply, produces a chemical reaction resulting in the hydrogen gas and the exhaust reaction products and the volume of which decreases over time as the reaction occurs; volume compensation means (5) located within said cartridge (2) compressible in the axial direction of said cartridge (2) for containing said second fuel supply means (4), said volume compensation means (5) comprising an outlet; interface means (22) between said volume compensation means (5) and said absorbent material means (21) for converting the movement of said absorbent material means (21) as it expands into a compression force applied to said volume compensation means (5); a first transport line (11) comprising an input and an output connected at its input to the outlet of said volume compensation means (5); a pump (12) comprising an input and an output connected at its input to the output of said first transport line (11); a second transport line comprising an input and an output connected at its input to the output of said first transport line (11); and a distributor (13) comprising an input and an output connected at its input to the output of said second transport line and at its output to said reaction chamber means (14), wherein said volume compensation means (5) is compressed as said absorbent material means (21) expands due to absorption of the exhaust reaction products.