Hydro-quebec

Mcgill University

Other

Meeir Technologie Inc.

Hydro-quabac

Robert Schulz

Sabin Boily

John O Strom-Olsen

Leszek Zaluski

Jacques Huot

Alicja Zaluska

Guy Lalande

Daniel Guay

Sylvio Savoie

Andre Van Neste

Michel Trudeau

Guoxian Liang

Marie-Chantal Denis

Jean-Yves Huot

Salim Bouaricha

André Van Neste

Alain Joly

Andr&eacute; Van Neste

Rene Dubuc

Jean-Pol D&ouml;delet

Marco Blouin

Guoxiang Liang

Shize Jin

Reynald Rioux

Jean-Pol Dodelet

Germain Larocque

Michel Vienneau

Raynald Labrecque

Houshang Alamdari

Jin Shize

The technology relates to a method of producing synthesis gas comprising carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H), wherein the synthesis gas is produced by a reduction reaction of a first flow comprising a carbon source and an excess of hydrogen in contact with an Oxy-flame. The hydrogen comes from a reducing stream, a first portion of which ends up in the first flow, and a second part of which is used to generate the Oxy-flame by combustion of the hydrogen in the presence of a second flow comprising oxygen (O), the second flow coming from an oxidizing stream. The first flow and the second flow are at a distance from each other such that the Oxy-flame supports the reaction between the carbon source and the hydrogen. A reactor, which can have different configurations, is also proposed for implementing the method.

Method and reactor for producing synthesis gas from a carbon and hydrogen source in the presence of an oxy flame

The invention concerns a nanocrystalline alloy of the formula:FeAlMTwherein: The invention also concerns the use of this alloy in a nanocrystalline form or not for the fabrication of electrodes which in particular, can be used for the synthesis of sodium chlorate.

Nanocrystalline alloys of the FE3AL(RU) type and use thereof optionally in nanocrystalline form for making electrodes for sodium chlorate synthesis

The invention relates to a composite material of formula: (C&#x2014;N&#x2014;B-MR)(Al-MR)(R)in which C&#x2014;N&#x2014;B-MR is one or more carbides, nitrides or borides of one or more refractory metals of group IV, V or VI of the Periodic Table and/or one or more aluminium carbides, nitrides or borides chosen from AlC, AlN, AlBand AlB; Al-MR is one or more aluminides of one or more of the above refractory metals, it being understood that: if MR=Nb, Ta, Hf, Zr, Ti or V, then Al-MR=AlMR; if MR=W or Cr, then Al-MR=AlMR; if MR=Mo, then Al-MR=AlMoor AlMo(&#x2245;AlMo), and R is a residual component other than carbon, comprising one or more phases chosen from AlC, AlN, AlB, AlBand MRtAlu(C&#x2014;N&#x2014;B)v in which t, u and v are numbers greater than or equal to zero, and x, y and z are the volume fractions of the respective components with x&#x3e;y; x+y&#x3e;0.5; x+y+z+1 and 0.01&#x3c;y&#x3c;0.5. The invention is also aimed at the use of this composite material as a coating in a component that can be welled by liquid aluminium and can be used in electrolysis cells.

Composite materials for wettable cathodes and use thereof for aluminum production

The invention concerns a method for preparing a nanocomposite based on magnesium and another element or compound known to absorb hydrogen and hardly miscible when ground with magnesium or its hydride, such as vanadium, titanium or niobium. The method is characterised in that it consists in submitting magnesium or a compound based on magnesium known to absorb hydrogen to hydrogenation to obtain the corresponding hydride in powder form. Said resulting powder hydride is then mixed with the other element or compound or a hydride of said other element or compound and the resulting mixture is subjected to intense mechanical grinding until the corresponding nanocomposite is obtained in the form of a hydride. Finally, if necessary, the resulting nanocomposite is subjected to hydrogen desorption. The invention also concerns the resulting nanocomposite based on Mg, which has the advantage of being inexpensive and highly efficient for storing hydrogen owing to its microstructure (that is owing to the nature of its interfaces and the spatial distribution of its constituents) which is extremely fine and provides an excellent synergistic effect between Mg and the other element or compound.

Nanocomposites with activated interfaces prepared by mechanical grinding of magnesium hydrides and use for storing hydrogen

The invention concerns a piece based on one or several metal hydrides capable of reversibly absorbing hydrogen. Said piece is in the form of a thin and dense band, having a thickness preferably not more than 1 mm and porosity preferably less than 20%. The piece is obtained by rolling a powder of selected hydride(s), with or without additional component(s), such as binders or heat-transfer elements. Said piece can easily be produced on an industrial scale. By its very nature, it is particularly adapted for use as a base element in a tank for storing and transporting hydrogen. It can also be used in a Ni-MH typre battery for storing and transporting energy.

Metal hydride bands and use thereof for storing hydrogen

Disclosed is a method for rapidly carrying out a hydrogenation of a material capable of absorbing hydrogen. It was discovered that when a powder of a material capable of absorbing hydrogen is ground under a hydrogen pressure, not at room temperature but at a higher temperature (about 300&deg; C. in the case of magnesium) and in the presence of a hydrogenation activator such as graphite and optionally a catalyst, it is possible to transform completely the powder of this material into a hydride. Such a transformation is achieved in a period of time less than 1 hour whereas the known methods call for periods of time as much as 10 times longer. This is an unexpected result which gives rise to a considerable reduction in the cost of manufacture of an hydride, particularly MgH .

Method of rapidly carrying out a hydrogenation of a hydrogen storage material

The invention concerns novel varistors based on zinc oxide and a method for making same, which consists in using as base products nanocrystalline powders obtained by high-intensity mechanical grinding and in subjecting the mixture resulting from said nanocrystalline powders a consolidating treatment such as sintering, in suitably selected temperature and time conditions so as to retain the smallest possible grain size of ZnO. The resulting varistors have a very fine homogeneous microstructure and an average grain size characteristically not more than 3 mu m, i.e. five times smaller than standard materials. Said novel varistors have a larger number of grain boundaries per length unit and therefore a much higher breakdown voltage. Said voltage is characteristically higher than 10 kV/cm and can reach 17 kV/cm which is almost one order of magnitude above the breakdown voltage of standard varistors. The non-linearity coefficient of the current-voltage curve is also improved, and is greater than 20 and can reach values as high as 60. Moreover, the leakage currents below the breakdown voltage of said varistors, are much weaker.

Varistors based on nanocrystalline powders produced by mechanical grinding

The invention concerns an apparatus for the titration and circulation of gases to determine metal hydride storing properties, with improved response time, greater dynamic range in terms of the usable amount of powder and the maximum pressure accessible and increased sensitivity. The invention also concerns a circulating apparatus considerably reducing the time for analysing and determining the properties of absorbent and adsorbent materials during a large number of adsorption-desorption cycles. Both sets of apparatus are provided with a reference tube inside their oven, near the sample-holder. Said sample-holder tube and reference tube are connected on either side of the differential pressure sensor, thereby considerably enhancing the overall performance of the titration system.

Apparatus for titration and circulation of gases and circulation of an absorbent or adsorbent substance

An improved method is disclosed for producing gaseous hydrogen by subjecting a metal or a metal hydride to a chemical reaction. In this method, the metal or metal hydride subjected to the chemical reaction is nanocrystalline. Indeed, it has been found that when, instead of using conventional metal hydrides (Mg-based or others), use is made of a metal or metal hydride that is or has been subjected to intensive mechanical deformations, such as a metastable nanocrystalline metal hydride, then the chemical reaction, especially hydrolysis, will take place much more readily, at a much higher rate and, most of the time, up to completion.

Method for producing gaseous hydrogen by chemical reaction of metals or metal hydrides subjected to intense mechanical deformations

A power of an alloy of Ni and Mg, La, Be or Li, consisting of crystallites having a grain size lower than 100 nm and a crystalline structure allowing hydrogen absorption. This powder which is preferably obtained by mechanical grinding, may consist of cristallites of Mg,Ni, LaNi,or of Ni-based alloys of Be or Li having a grain size lower than 100 nm. The powder may also consist of cristallites of formula Mg,Ni,, x ranging from &minus;0.3 to &plus;0.3, which have a grain size lower than 100 nm, and preferably lower than 30 nm. This crystalline powder is particularly useful for storing and transporting hydrogen. Indeed, it has been discovered that such Ni-based nanocrystalline powder requires no or only one single activation treatment at low temperature to absorb hydrogen. It has also been discovered that the kinetic of absorption and diffusion of hydrogen within the powder is much faster. This can be explained by the presence of a large number of grain boundaries.

Nanocrystalline Ni-based alloys

The invention is concerned with a process for the preparation of a supported catalyst having a nanocrystalline structure and a surface area preferably higher than 2 m,/g. The process comprises preparing by mechanical grinding a nanocrystalline material consisting of a metastable composite or alloy of at least two different elements or compounds containing at least one catalytic species and subjecting the nanocrystalline material to leaching with a leaching solution in order to eliminate totally or partially at least of one of the two elements or compounds, other than the at least one catalytic species. At least one further element or compound that is non-leachable and that acts as a support for the at least one catalytic species is added to the material during the grinding step or to the leaching solution during the leaching step.

Process for the preparation of a supported catalyst

Disclosed is a method for inducing desorption of hydrogen for a metal hydride by applying thereto sufficient energy to induce hydrogen desorption by endothermic reaction. The energy that is so-applied is non-thermal and selected from the group consisting of mechanical energy, ultrasonic energy, microwave energy, electric energy, chemical energy and radiation energy.

Method for inducing hydrogen desorption from a metal hydride

A powder of an alloy of Ni and Mg, La, Be or Li, consisting of crystallites having a grain size lower than 100 nm and a crystalline structure allowing hydrogen absorption. This powder which is preferably obtained by mechanical grinding, may consist of cristallites of Mg.sub.2 Ni, LaNi.sub.5 or of Ni-based alloys of Be or Li having a grain size lower than 100 nm. The powder may also consist of cristallites of formula Mg.sub.2-x Ni.sub.1+x, x ranging from -0.3 to +0.3, which have a grain size lower than 100 nm, and preferably lower than 30 nm. This crystalline powder is particularly useful for storing and transporting hydrogen. Indeed, it has been discovered that such Ni-based nanocrystalline powder requires no or only one single activation treatment at low temperature to absorb hydrogen. It has also been discovered that the kinetic of absorption and diffusion of hydrogen within the powder is much faster. This can be explained by the presence of a large number of grain boundaries.

Disclosed is a very light-weight, Mg and Be-based material which has the ability to reversibly store hydrogen with very good kinetics. This material is of the formula (M.sub.1-x A.sub.x) D.sub.y wherein M is Mg, Be or a combination of them; A is an element selected from the group consisting of Li, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Al, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, In, Sn, O, Si, B, C and F; D is a metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir and Pt (preferably Pd); x is a number ranging from 0 to 0.3; and y is a number ranging from 0 to 0.15. This material is in the form of a powder of particles of the formula M.sub.1-x A.sub.x as defined hereinabove, having an average size ranging from 0.1 to 100 .mu.m, each particle consisting of nanocrystalline grains having an average size of 3 to 100 nm or having a nano-layered structure with a layer spacing of 3 to 100 nm. Some of these particles have clusters of metal D attached thereto, with an average size ranging from 2 to 200 nm. Also disclosed are a process for preparing this material which has a very high hydrogen absorption capacity, and a method of use of the same for the transportation and/or storage of hydrogen and/or the storage of thermal energy.

Nanocrystalline Mg or Be-based materials and use thereof for the

Disclosed is a nanocrystalline composite useful for hydrogen storage, which provides optimum hydrogenation conditions along with high hydrogen storage capacity. This composite is the combination of at least one high temperature metal hydride such as Mg or Mg.sub.2 Ni, which has a high hydrogen storage capacity by weight but requires high temperatures for hydrogen absorption and desorption, with at least one low temperature metal hydride such as FeTi, LaNi.sub.5, Nb, Mn or Pd, which has a low hydrogen storage capacity by weight but does not require high temperatures for hydrogen absorption and desorption. The high and low temperature metal hydrides are in direct contact with each other and each in the form of a nanocrystalline powder or layer. This composite is particularly useful as a hydrogen supply source for hydrogen-fueled vehicles.

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Ste-Julie, Canada

Robert Schulz