Billings Energy Corporation

Billings Energy Research Corporation

Donald B MacKay

Roger E Billings

Harold M Simons

Dale L Henriksen

Brian C Nielson

Paul P Hindmarsh

A hydride storage and heat exchanger system includes a container having a generally circular cross-section for holding a hydride material, apparatus for introducing hydrogen gas into and receiving hydrogen gas from the container, and apparatus for conveying a heat exchange medium into contact with the container to enable exchange of heat between the hydride material and the medium. The conveying apparatus is adapted to apply the heat exchange medium to the container in such a manner that any material disposed at a certain radial distance and cross-section in the container will be substantially the same distance from the heat exchange medium as any other hydride material disposed at that same radial distance and cross-section in the container. The container may be generally cylindrical or frusto-conical in shape and the conveying apparatus may be either a housing surrounding the container, a conduit extending through the container, or both.

Hydride storage and heat exchanger system and method

A hydride fuel system is disclosed for use with a motor vehicle or other apparatus having a combustion unit and a mixing device for mixing hydrogen gas with air for introduction into the combustion unit. The system includes a hydride storage tank having a housing and a plurality of containers disposed in the housing for holding hydride material. The containers are spaced apart to enable the flow thereabout of fluid introduced into the housing of the hydride storage tank. Either exhaust gases or combustion unit cooling fluid is delivered into the hydride storage tank housing to heat the hydride material in the containers and cause the material to release hydrogen gas which is then conveyed to the mixing device. The pressure of the hydrogen gas in the containers is monitored and the amount of exhaust gases or cooling fluid delivered to the hydride storage tank is controlled accordingly. Thus, if the pressure exceeds some predetermined level, then the delivery of exhaust gases or cooling fluid to the hydride tank is inhibited. Apparatus is also provided for introducing a hydride coolant into the hydride storage tank to circulate about the containers and thereby cool the hydride material. Hydrogen gas is introduced into the containers during the cooling operation and the hydride material is thereby caused to absorb hydrogen gas for future release and delivery to the engine.

Hydride fuel system

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Spanish Fork, UT, United States of America

Donald B MacKay