KR-20260066567-A - Hydrogen generating system using alkali metal catalyst and Hydrogen generating method using the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hydrogen production system using an alkali metal catalyst and a hydrogen production method using the same, comprising: a reactor in which an alkali metal catalyst and water are supplied and an aluminum lump is introduced and accommodated inside, wherein the alkali metal catalyst and water react with the aluminum lump to generate hydrogen gas, alumina, sodium hydroxide, and steam; a filter line connecting the upper and lower parts of the reactor to circulate a solution containing sodium hydroxide to extract alumina from the solution; and a condensation separation line connected to the upper part of the reactor to which a mixture of hydrogen gas and steam generated in the reactor is supplied, wherein the steam is condensed to separate the hydrogen gas.

Inventors

• 임종섭

Assignees

• 임종섭

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20241104

Claims (7)

1. A reactor supplied with an alkali metal catalyst and water, in which an aluminum lump is introduced and accommodated inside, wherein the alkali metal catalyst and water react with the aluminum lump to generate hydrogen gas, alumina, sodium hydroxide, and water vapor; A filter line for extracting alumina from a solution by connecting the upper and lower parts of the reactor and circulating a solution containing sodium hydroxide; and A hydrogen production system using an alkali metal catalyst, comprising: a condensation separation line connected to the upper part of the reactor, to which a mixture of hydrogen gas and steam generated in the reactor is supplied, and to which the steam is condensed to separate the hydrogen gas.
2. In Article 1, The above filter line is, Solution circulation piping connecting the upper and lower parts of the above reactor; An alumina filter provided in the solution circulation piping and extracting alumina from the solution; and A hydrogen production system using an alkali metal catalyst, comprising a circulation pump provided in the above solution circulation piping to circulate the solution from the lower part to the upper part of the reactor.
3. In Article 1, The above condensation separation line is, A hydrogen steam exhaust pipe connected to the upper part of the above reactor; A condenser connected to the above hydrogen steam exhaust pipe and connected to the cold air line; and A hydrogen production system using an alkali metal catalyst, comprising a water trap provided at the bottom of the condenser.
4. In Paragraph 3, It further includes a hydrogen gas storage line provided at the top of the condenser, and The above hydrogen gas storage line is, A hydrogen gas exhaust pipe connected to the upper part of the above condenser; A blower provided in the above hydrogen gas exhaust pipe; and A hydrogen production system using an alkali metal catalyst, comprising a hydrogen gas storage tank connected to the above-mentioned hydrogen gas exhaust pipe.
5. A hydrogen production method using a hydrogen production system utilizing an alkali metal catalyst according to claim 1, (a) a step in which an alkali metal catalyst and water are supplied to the reactor, and an aluminum lump is introduced and accommodated inside, wherein the alkali metal catalyst and water react with the aluminum lump to generate hydrogen gas, alumina, sodium hydroxide, and water vapor; (b) a step of extracting alumina from the solution by circulating a sodium hydroxide solution through the filter line connecting the upper and lower parts of the reactor; and (c) a step of supplying a mixture of hydrogen gas and steam generated in the reactor to a condensation separation line connected to the upper part of the reactor, and separating the hydrogen gas by condensing the steam; a method for producing hydrogen.
6. In Article 5, The above step (a) comprises chemical reaction equation 1: 2Al (s) + 6Na (s) + H₂O → Al₂O₃ (s) + 6NaOH + 9H₂ ; Hydrogen production method.
7. In Article 6, A method for producing hydrogen, wherein the chemical reaction equation 1 of step (a) above comprises the following chemical reactions (1) to (5): (1) 6Na (s) + H₂O → 6NaOH + 3H₂ (external reaction), (2) 2Al (s) + 6mol ( NaOH) (l) → 2Al₃⁺ + 6OH⁻ + 6Na (s) + 3H₂ , (3) 6Na (s) + H₂O → 6Na⁺ + 6OH⁻ + 3H₂ , (4) 2Al₃⁺ + 6OH⁻ + 6Na⁺ → Al₂O₃(s) + 3H₂ + 6Na ( s ) , (5) 6Na (s) + H₂O → 6Na⁺ + 6OH⁻ ;

Description

Hydrogen generating system using alkali metal catalyst and hydrogen generating method using the same The present invention relates to a hydrogen production system using an alkali metal catalyst and a hydrogen production method using the same. More specifically, it relates to a hydrogen production system using an alkali metal catalyst that produces hydrogen by decomposing water using an alkali metal as a catalyst, and a hydrogen production method using the same. Hydrogen (H) has long been considered a clean energy source that can generate energy without producing carbon dioxide ( CO2 ), and has been a subject of interest as an alternative fuel that can replace fossil fuels that affect climate change. Hydrogen can be utilized as fuel in fuel cells that generate electricity by reacting hydrogen with oxygen, internal combustion engines that use hydrogen as fuel, and hydrogen combustion boilers that directly burn hydrogen. Since no carbon dioxide is produced during these processes, it is a clean energy source that does not have an adverse effect on climate change. Although hydrogen is abundant on Earth, the amount of hydrogen existing in the atmosphere in a gaseous state is extremely small at 0.00005%, and most of it exists in a form combined with other elements, such as water ( H₂O ), organic compounds such as methane ( CH₄ ) and ethane ( C₂H₆ ) combined with carbon, and minerals such as hydrogen sulfide ( H₂S ). The method of producing hydrogen involves the process of separating it from such compounds. The most widely used method is steam reforming, which produces hydrogen by reacting natural gas, primarily composed of methane, with high-temperature steam; other methods utilized include electrolysis, which decomposes water using electrical energy, and biomass gasification, which produces hydrogen by gasifying plant waste at high temperatures. Unlike limited fossil fuels, hydrogen is highly valuable as an infinite energy source, and globally, hydrogen production is carried out at levels of 48% from natural gas reforming, 30% from byproduct gas and petrochemical industries, 18% from coal, and 4% from water electrolysis. Meanwhile, as the use of fuel cells, which generate electricity by reacting hydrogen and oxygen, increases in fields such as electric vehicles, drones, military robots, submarines, and residential power supply, technologies are being developed to produce and supply hydrogen when needed, rather than simply storing and supplying it. In other words, while devices for storing hydrogen generally require high-pressure tanks or cryogenic storage facilities that pose a risk of explosion or leakage, a method of producing hydrogen as needed from compounds that do not pose such a risk can reduce these dangers and can be considered an alternative technology capable of resolving the issues associated with hydrogen refueling stations, which are often regarded as undesirable facilities. As a technology for producing hydrogen, the aforementioned method of electrolyzing water can be considered as an environmentally friendly technology, but this method requires a lot of electrical energy, so it has low energy efficiency and has the problem of needing to periodically manage or replace the oxidation electrode. As another hydrogen production technology, a technology utilizing the chemical reaction between aluminum and water is also being developed. More specifically, this can involve using a technology where aluminum is placed in an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide to react with the sodium hydroxide and generate hydrogen gas, or using a technology where aluminum reacts directly with water to generate hydrogen gas. In order to react aluminum directly with water, the oxide film that forms when aluminum is exposed to air must be removed; when the oxide film comes into contact with a strong acid or strong base, the film disappears, allowing it to react with water. Since aluminum has larger reserves than iron, is cheaper, can be easily stored in solid form, does not deteriorate even after long-term storage, and the reaction between aluminum and water is relatively simple and does not require high temperature or high pressure environments, active technological development is underway for hydrogen production methods using aluminum. The technology disclosed in Korean Registered Patent No. 10-2690587 (published July 30, 2024) is a representative example of such technology development, and discloses a hydrogen generation device using metal fuel capable of controlling the hydrogen generation rate through the continuous supply of a catalyst solution and aluminum powder and the continuous discharge of by-products. The chemical reaction occurring in the hydrogen generation device of the aforementioned prior patent is as follows: when an alkaline solution such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is placed in aluminum, an exothermic reaction proceeds, and when the exothermic reaction is completed, aluminum and water are consumed, while s