Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.

Krishna Sapru

Stanford R Ovshinsky

Srinivasan Venkatesan

Subramanian Ramachandran

Zhaosheng Tan

Ned T Stetson

Lu Ming

Benjamin Reichman

Kuochih C Hong

Gao Liang

Krishnaswamy Rangaswamy

Arie Reger

Michael A Fetcenko

Boyko Aladjov

Benjamin S Chao

Annette J Krisko

David Beglau

Krystyna Dec

Philip Sievers

Eugene Kurlonko

Edmund L Yee

Naum Pinsky

Mohamed Bazzi

Heidi Van Kirk

A portable heating pack utilizing a supercorroding metallic alloy that produces heat and gaseous hydrogen upon contacting a corroding liquid. The portable heating pack provides for the consumption and/or storage of the gaseous hydrogen rather than venting the gaseous hydrogen from the portable heating pack.

Portable heating pack

A scooter powered by a hydrogen powered internal combustion engine fueled by a throttled stream of air into which a controlled amount of hydrogen is injected. A hydrogen fuel control system is used to control the amount of hydrogen injected into the throttled air stream using multiple parameters. The amount of hydrogen present in the hydrogen storage unit is monitored using an on-board hydrogen fuel measurement system utilizing a microcontroller and multiple sensors.

Hydrogen powered scooter

The present invention utilizes the hydrogen storage capabilities of hydrogen storage material to dehumidify and cool air flowing into an enclosed area, such as a residential home. The invention provides an apparatus and method that incorporates a hydrogen storage module having a low pressure, the heat retriever module, and a hydrogen storage module having a high pressure, the cooling module, wherein the modules are connected by a pipe or tube that guides the flow of hydrogen gas back and forth between the modules. The heat retriever module is heated to increase the temperature of the heat retriever module and hydrogen gas is desorbed from the hydrogen storage material contained therein, then a valve in the tube or pipe is opened and the hydrogen gas flows to the cooling module. The valve is closed, after the hydrogen gas is absorbed by the hydrogen storage material of the cooling module. The absorption of hydrogen gas causes an increase in temperature of the cooling module. At this point, both modules are cooled, preferably by module fans. The valve is opened and the hydrogen gas escapes back to the heat retriever module. The endothermic hydrogen desorption of the hydrogen gas from the hydrogen storage material of the cooling module reduces the temperature. During this cooling period of the cooling module, passing air is dehumidified and moisture is collected on thermally conductive material, such as aluminum fins on the cooling module, contacting the air.

Metal hydride based air cooling method and apparatus

A reversible hydrogen storage alloy capable of absorbing approximately 4 weight percent hydrogen and desorbing up to 2.8 weight percent hydrogen at temperatures up to 100&deg; C. The hydrogen storage alloy is generally composed of titanium, vanadium, chromium, and manganese. Additional elements such as zirconium, yttrium, iron, nickel, zinc, molybdenum, and tantalum may also be included in the alloy.

High capacity transition metal based hydrogen storage materials for the reversible storage of hydrogen

A nonreversible metal hydride for use as a hydrogen fuel. The nonreversible metal hydride is formed from an intermetallic compound having the formula Ca Li . The Ca Li is formed by melting amounts of elemental lithium and calcium together by induction heating in an argon atmosphere. The Ca Li is cooled and crushed into a powder. The alloy powder is subsequently hydrogenated at ambient temperatures or lower. Resulting is a metal hydride having exceptional reactivity to water during hydrolysis due to its nano-crystalline structure. Dehydrogenation of the metal hydride does not regularly occur due to the absorbed hydrogen being chemically bonded to the lithium and calcium. The Ca Li hydride may be used in a variety of applications as a hydrogen fuel and the Ca Li alloy may be used as a desiccant for removing moisture from hydrogen or hydrogen containing streams.

High capacity calcium lithium based hydrogen storage material and method of making the same

A method for combining a first metal with a second metal where the melting point of the second metal is higher than the melting point of the first metal. The first and second metals are melted in separate crucibles. The second molten metal is introduced onto or into the first molten metal. Also described is a two-zone furnace for carrying out the method.

Method for combining metals with different melting points

A method and apparatus for forming polycrystalline particles by gas phase condensation employing arc plasma evaporation. The disclosed method and apparatus may be employed to form polycrystalline particles from high-melting temperature, low evaporation pressure materials such as transition metals. Arc discharge is sustained by the evaporated species, therefore, there is no need for a plasma sustaining gas. Evaporation may be sustained from either the cathode or anode. A reaction gas may be provided to form products with the evaporated species.

Method and apparatus for forming polycrystalline particles

A mechanically alloyed hydrogen storage material having 75-95 atomic percent Mg, 5-15 atomic percent Ni, 0.5-6 atomic percent Mo, and at least one additional element selected from the group consisting of Al, C, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cu, Dy, Fe, La, Mn, Nd, Si, Ti, V, and Zr, preferably between 1-15 atomic %. The mechanically alloyed hydrogen storage preferably contains from 3-15 atomic % C and at least one other element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ca, Ce, Cu, Dy, Fe, La, Mn, and Nd. The hydrogen storage materials are created by mechanical alloying in a milling apparatus under an inert atmosphere, such as argon, or a mixed atmosphere, such as argon and hydrogen. The speed and length of the milling are varied.

Magnesium mechanical alloys for thermal hydrogen storage

A self-heating metal-hydride hydrogen storage system comprising: a primary metal-hydride storage container housing a metal-hydride hydrogen storage material, the primary storage container having a hydrogen outlet port; a hydrogen combustor housed within the primary metal-hydride storage container and surrounded by the high-temperature storage material, the combustor having a hydrogen inlet port gaseously connected to the hydrogen outlet port of the primary storage container; and means for supplying hydrogen gaseously connected to the hydrogen inlet port of the combustor.

Self-heating metal-hydride hydrogen storage system

Mechanically alloyed hydrogen storage materials having a major atomic percentage of magnesium and a minor atomic percentage of at least two elements selected from the group consisting of nickel, molybdenum, iron and titanium. Preferably the mechanical alloy comprises a multi-phase material, including at least one amorphous phase. Also, the at least two elements are preferably either nickel (from about 5 to 15 at. %) and molybdenum (from about 0.5 to 5 at. %) or iron (from about 5 to 15 at. %) and titanium (from about 5 to 15 at. %). The hydrogen storage materials are created by mechanical alloying in a milling apparatus under an inert atmosphere, such as argon, or a mixed atmosphere, such as argon and hydrogen. The speed and length of the milling are varied.

A modular metal hydride hydrogen storage system which can provide a robust and reliable source of hydrogen that can quickly and easily be modified for a variety of applications and environments. The hydrogen storage system comprises at least one storage module. Each storage module comprises a container having at least one open end, a metal hydride hydrogen storage means, means for introducing gaseous hydrogen into and withdrawing gaseous hydrogen from the container, and means for connecting storage modules together end-to-end to form a plurality of storage modules.

Robust metal hydride hydrogen storage system with metal hydride support

A modular metal hydride hydrogen storage system which can provide a robust and reliable source of hydrogen that can quickly and easily be modified for a variety of applications and environments. The hydrogen storage system comprises at least one storage module. Each storage module comprises a container for storing metal hydride and gaseous hydrogen, and an adapter for connecting storage modules together end-to-end to form a connected sequence of storage modules.

Robust metal hydride hydrogen storage system

A microwave plasma enhanced PVD/CVD apparatus and method. The apparatus includes an evacuable deposition chamber having a plasma region and a deposition region adjacent one another. The apparatus also includes a source of microwave energy, and a microwave waveguide to transfer microwave energy from the source thereof to the plasma region. Additionally, the apparatus includes a plate, crucible or boat for holding solid or liquid starting materials within said plasma region, and a system of flow controllers and gas transport tubing for introducing gaseous materials into the plasma region, the interaction of the microwave energy with the gaseous materials forms a plasma within the plasma region. The plasma provides thermal energy for the evaporation of the solid or liquid starting materials and causes the reaction of any reactive gases or vapors present in the plasma region. A substrate holder is positioned within the deposition region for holding a substrate upon which the deposited material is collected and a system of pumps, valves and exhaust tubing is attached to the deposition chamber for evacuating the deposition chamber and venting undeposited waste gases and vapors. The method involves the steps of providing an evacuable deposition chamber having a plasma region and a deposition region adjacent one another; positioning a substrate within the deposition region; providing solid or liquid starting materials within the plasma region; evacuating the deposition chamber; providing a source of microwave energy; transferring microwave energy from the source thereof to the plasma region; introducing gaseous materials into the plasma region; interacting the microwave energy with the gaseous materials to form a plasma within the plasma region, the plasma providing thermal energy for the evaporation of the solid or liquid starting materials and causing the reaction of any reactive gases or vapors present in the plasma region; depositing the evaporated and reacted species upon the substrate to form a thin film of deposited material; and venting undeposited waste gases and vapors from the deposition chamber.

Apparatus for microwave plasma enhanced physical/chemical vapor

Disclosed is a class of multicomponent, high capacity hydrogen storage materials suitable for use in a heat pump comprising titanium, vanadium, manganese and iron. The hydrogen storage materials are disordered, multiphase, polycrystalline materials which are predominately vanadium and comprise at least a major crystalline phase substantially surrounded by an intergranular phase, with one or more inclusion phases. The materials are characterized by a Bragg x-ray diffraction pattern with a major peak occurring 43 degrees 2 theta. Also disclosed are processes for making the class of materials and a heat pump system utilizing at least one such material.

Growing community of inventors

Troy, MI, United States of America

Krishna Sapru