Hydrogenics Corporation

Ali Rusta-Sallehy

David Frank

Michael Vale

Nathaniel Ian Joos

Xuesong Chen

Robert Rady-Pentek

Antonio G Mazza

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a balance-of-plant system and apparatus suited for regulating the operation of an electrolyzer cell stack. Specifically, in some embodiments, a balance-of-plant system and apparatus is operable to regulate the respective pressures of at least two reaction products relative to one another. Various examples are provided to demonstrate how the respective pressures of two reaction products can be regulated in relation to one another in a pressure following configuration, thereby regulating the pressure differential across an electrolyte layer according to aspects of different embodiments of the invention. Some of the examples provided also include design simplifications and alternatives that may reduce production costs of electrochemical cells configured according to aspects of different embodiments of the invention.

Electrolyzer cell stack system

As an electrochemical cell stack gets older the internal resistances within the stack rise overtime as the materials that the stack is made of degrade. Consequently, an old and 'worn' electrochemical cell stack draws less current at the same stack voltage and operating temperature as a new stack. When the current draw falls the electrochemical reaction rates also fall, as less energy is available to drive the electrochemical reactions. However, if the operating temperature of an older stack is controllable raised the current draw by an electrolyzer cell stack also rises, which in turn causes the reaction rates to rise again. Accordingly, in some embodiments, a balance-of-plant system is operable to regulate the current draw of an electrolyzer cell stack by first manipulating the operating temperature of the same electrolyzer cell stack.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method suited for controlling the operation of an electrolyzer cell module. Specifically, some embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method that incorporates a call to an alarm recovery sequence into a safety system suited for use with an electrolyzer cell module, which is able to suspend the normal operations and initiate an alarm recovery sequence upon detecting that a corresponding alarm threshold has been violated. The safety system and method is then able to restart the normal operations if it is determined that the alarm recovery sequence was successful, meaning that the process and operating parameters that violated the particular alarm threshold have been brought back to within a safe operating range.

System and method for alarm recovery for an electrolyzer cell module

A chemical hydride hydrogen generation system and an energy system incorporating the same are provided. The hydrogen generation system comprises: a storage tank for storing a chemical hydride solution; a reactor containing a catalyst; a pump for supplying the chemical hydride solution from the said storage means to the reactor so that the chemical hydride solution reacts to generate hydrogen in the presence of the catalyst; and a second supply line for continuously supplying the solvent of the solution to the chemical hydride solution during the reaction. The energy system comprises the hydrogen generation system, a fuel cell for generating electricity and water from hydrogen and an oxidant, and a separator for recovering the water generated in the fuel cell and supplying the water to the chemical hydride solution during the reaction.

Chemical hydride hydrogen generation system and an energy system incorporating the same

A system and reactor stack for generating hydrogen from a hydride solution in presence of a catalyst. The reactor stack includes a number of reactor plates and separator plates alternate with one another, to define reaction chambers alternating with coolant chambers. Each reactor plate has a first face defining a solution flow field and an opposing second face defining a coolant flow field. Each solution flow field comprises a common reaction chamber and a plurality of channels opening into the common reaction chamber. The catalyst is provided in the common reaction chamber. Each reaction chamber is configured to receive the hydride solution and to bring at least a portion of the hydride solution in contact with the catalyst. Each reaction chamber is in fluid communication with an adjacent reaction chamber and each coolant chamber is in fluid communication with an adjacent coolant chamber.

Chemical hydride hydrogen reactor and generation system

A system and method for removing a by-product from a chemical hydride solution is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: (a) withdrawing the chemical hydride solution at a first temperature from the reactor; (b) cooling the chemical hydride solution to a second temperature below the first temperature, wherein a precipitate is formed from a portion of the by-product; (c) removing the precipitate from the chemical hydride solution; (d) heating the chemical hydride solution to a third temperature above the second temperature, to dissolve the remaining precipitate; and (e) delivering the chemical hydride solution back to the reactor. The system is a circuit which includes: (a) a hydrogen reactor; (b) a pump for withdrawing the chemical hydride solution from the reactor and returning the chemical hydride solution to the reactor; (c) a cooling element for cooling the chemical hydride solution to a second temperature below the first temperature; (d) a separator for removing the precipitate from the chemical hydride solution; and (e) a heater for heating the chemical hydride solution to a third temperature.

Method and apparatus for by-product removal in a hydrogen generation system

An apparatus for generating hydrogen inside of a fuel cell is provided. The fuel cell comprises an anode having at least one inlet and optionally one outlet and, a cathode having at least one inlet and optionally one outlet. An electrolyte is disposed between the anode and the cathode, and a catalyst is provided in a chamber for catalyzing a reaction of a solution comprising a solvent and an at least one chemical hydride dissolved therein to generate hydrogen inside of the fuel cell. A method for generating hydrogen inside of a fuel cell is also disclosed.

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Richmond Hill, Canada

Ali Rusta-Sallehy