Hydrolysis reactor for hydrogen production
In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for hydrolysis of a chemical hydride is provided. The method includes adding a chemical hydride to a reaction chamber and exposing the chemical hydride in the reaction chamber to a temperature of at least about 100° C. in the presence of water and in the absence of an acid or a heterogeneous catalyst, wherein the chemical hydride undergoes hydrolysis to form hydrogen gas and a byproduct material.
1. A method for hydrolysis of a chemical hydride comprising:
adding a chemical hydride to a first reaction chamber;
exposing the chemical hydride in the first reaction chamber to a temperature of at least about 100° C. in the presence of water such that the relative humidity in the reaction chamber is at least about 20% in the absence of an acid or a heterogeneous catalyst, wherein a portion of the chemical hydride undergoes hydrolysis to form hydrogen gas and a byproduct material while the remaining portion of chemical hydride remains unreacted, and further wherein a portion of the water forms steam as a result of heat generated by the hydrolysis;
feeding the hydrogen gas and steam to a condensing radiator wherein condensate water formed from the steam is returned to the first reaction chamber from the condensing radiator; and
transferring the remaining unreacted portion of the chemical hydride and the byproduct material to a second reaction chamber wherein the unreacted portion of the chemical hydride undergoes hydrolysis to form hydrogen gas.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical hydride comprises NaBH 4 , LiAlH 4 , NaAlH 4 , LiBH 4 , or combinations thereof.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical hydride comprises NaBH 4 .
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical hydride comprises LiAlH 4 .
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical hydride comprises NaAlH 4 .
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical hydride comprises LiBH 4 .
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical hydride is exposed to a temperature of at least about 110° C.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical hydride is exposed to a temperature of not greater than about 150° C.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical hydride is exposed to a temperature of not greater than about 130° C.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical hydride is exposed to a relative humidity of at least about 30%.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical hydride is exposed to a relative humidity of at least about 40%.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical hydride is exposed to a relative humidity of at least about 50%.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising collecting the hydrogen gas.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing the byproduct material from the reaction chamber.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein water from the first reaction chamber is transferred to the second reaction chamber.