Method and apparatus for generating hydrogen from metal

1. A hydrogen generator, comprising:

a reactor chamber having a feedstock inlet and an inlet seal positioned at the feedstock inlet;

one or more drive elements positioned to draw a feedstock through the inlet seal and into the reactor chamber;

one or more distressing elements positioned in line with the drive elements, wherein the one or more distressing elements include one or more perforators to perforate the feedstock;

a steam inlet; and

a hydrogen outlet.

2. The hydrogen generator according to claim 1 , further comprising a heater extending into the reactor chamber.

3. The hydrogen generator according to claim 1 , further comprising a filter disposed inside the reactor chamber and adjacent the hydrogen outlet.

4. The hydrogen generator according to claim 3 , wherein the filter includes a spiral passageway in fluid communication with the hydrogen outlet.

5. The hydrogen generator according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more distressing elements are positioned to cause the feedstock to curl.

6. The hydrogen generator according to claim 1 , further comprising a drain connected to the reactor chamber.

7. A hydrogen generator, comprising:

a cylindrical reactor chamber having a surrounding sidewall and a feedstock inlet with an inlet seal disposed therein;

at least one pair of feed rollers positioned to draw a feedstock through the inlet seal and into the reactor chamber;

at least two pairs of distressing gears positioned in line with the feed rollers, wherein the at least two pairs of distressing gears include one or more perforators to perforate the feedstock;

a heater extending into the reactor chamber;

a steam inlet extending through the surrounding sidewall; and

a hydrogen outlet extending through the surrounding sidewall.

8. The hydrogen generator according to claim 7 , wherein the heater is electrically operated.

9. The hydrogen generator according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one pair of feed rollers is located at a bottom portion of the reactor chamber, whereby the feedstock is drawn into the bottom portion of the reactor chamber.

10. The hydrogen generator according to claim 7 , further comprising a filter connected to the hydrogen outlet.

11. The hydrogen generator according to claim 7 , further comprising a steam collection port.

12. The hydrogen generator according to claim 7 , further comprising a carbon monoxide collection port.

13. A method for generating hydrogen from metal feedstock, the method comprising:

feeding a metal feedstock material into a reaction chamber;

perforating the metal feedstock material;

exposing the metal feedstock material to high-pressure steam within the reaction chamber;

exposing the metal feedstock material to a catalytic agent within the reaction chamber; and

heating the reaction chamber.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the metal feedstock is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, steel, and magnesium.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the catalytic agent is selected from the group consisting of potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, and sulfuric acid.

16. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising collecting hydrogen from the reaction chamber.

17. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising filtering the hydrogen.

18. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising collecting carbon monoxide from the reaction chamber.

19. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising varying the rate at which the metal feedstock is exposed to high-pressure steam to control the amount of hydrogen generated.

20. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising varying the rate at which the metal feedstock is fed into the reaction chamber to control the amount of hydrogen generated.