Mobile transport platforms for producing hydrogen and structural materials, and associated systems and methods
View Patent ↗Mobile transport platforms for producing hydrogen and structural materials, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a mobile transport platform and a chemical reactor carried by the mobile transport platform. The chemical reactor is configured to dissociate a donor into first and second constituents in a non-combustion reaction. The reactor has a donor entrance port, a first constituent exit port, and a second constituent exit port. A donor supply is carried by the mobile transport platform and is coupled to the donor entrance port to deliver the donor to the reactor. A first collector is coupled to the first constituent exit port to receive the first constituent from the reactor. A second collector is coupled to the second constituent exit port to receive the second constituent.
1. A mobile chemical reactor system, comprising:
a mobile transport platform;
a chemical reactor carried by the mobile transport platform, the chemical reactor being configured to dissociate a donor into a first constituent and a second constituent in a non-combustion reaction, wherein the second constituent is disposed as a solid, the reactor having a donor entrance port, a first constituent exit port, and a second constituent exit port;
a donor supply carried by the mobile transport platform and coupled to the donor entrance port of the reactor to deliver the donor to the reactor;
a first collector coupled to the first constituent exit port to receive the first constituent from the reactor;
a second collector coupled to the second constituent exit port to receive the second constituent;
an internal combustion engine coupled to the mobile transport platform;
a first mobile transport platform drive mechanism operably coupled to the internal combustion engine and configured to move the mobile transport platform;
a first fuel line connected between the internal combustion engine and the donor supply;
a second fuel line connected between the internal combustion engine and the first collector;
a fuel cell coupled to the mobile transport platform;
a second mobile transport platform drive mechanism operably coupled to the fuel cell and configured to move the mobile transport platform;
a third fuel line connected between the fuel cell and the first constituent exit port of the chemical reactor; and
a controller configured to receive an input indicating a request for one or more of the first constituent and the second constituent and further configured to modify production of the one or more of the first constituent and the second constituent by the chemical reactor based on the request.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile transport platform includes a locomotive.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile transport platform includes a wheeled over-the-road vehicle.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile transport platform includes a floating platform.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the internal combustion engine is carried by the mobile transport platform.
6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a heat exchanger coupled between the internal combustion engine and the chemical reactor to transfer waste heat from the internal combustion engine to the reactor.
7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a regenerative braking device carried by the mobile transport platform; and
an energy exchanger coupled between the regenerative braking device and the chemical reactor to transfer energy from the regenerative braking device to the chemical reactor.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the donor supply includes a supply of methane.
9. A mobile chemical reactor system, comprising:
a railroad train including a locomotive;
at least one propulsion device carried by the locomotive, the propulsion device including an internal combustion engine coupled to a drive mechanism;
a chemical reactor carried by the railroad train, the chemical reactor being configured to dissociate a hydrogen donor into a hydrogen and solid-state carbon in a non-combustion reaction, the reactor having a donor entrance port, a hydrogen exit port, and a carbon exit port;
a donor supply carried by the railroad train and coupled to the donor entrance port of the reactor to deliver the donor to the reactor;
a product collector coupled to the carbon exit port to receive carbon from the reactor;
a hydrogen collector coupled to the hydrogen exit port to receive dissociated hydrogen;
a heat exchanger coupled between the internal combustion engine and the chemical reactor to direct waste heat from the internal combustion engine to the chemical reactor;
a first fuel line connected between the internal combustion engine and the donor;
a second fuel line connected between the internal combustion engine and the hydrogen collector; and
a controller configured to receive an input indicating a request for one or more of the hydrogen and the carbon and further configured to modify production of the one or more of the hydrogen and the carbon by the chemical reactor based on the request.
10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising regenerative brakes carried by the train and operatively coupled to the chemical reactor to provide heat to the reactor.
11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the internal combustion engine is operably coupled to the drive mechanism.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the drive mechanism is the drive mechanism of the locomotive.