The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 24, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 07, 1995
John Werth, Princeton, NJ (US);
H Power Corporation, Belleville, NJ (US);
Abstract
The catalyzed method of this invention features a method for operating an electrical automotive vehicle. The method of the invention utilizes a hydrogen-air fuel cell to power an electrical automotive vehicle having electrical drive motors. Hydrogen to fuel the fuel cell is supplied onboard by a bed of iron that is made to react with H.sub.2 O in the presence of an alkaline catalyst at temperatures not exceeding approximately 250.degree. C. The preferred alkali hydroxide is the hydroxide of potassium in a range of concentrations between 50 to 60 percent by weight, with the preferred concentration being about 53%. The hydrogen for fueling the fuel cell is generated onboard the automobile, in situ, by using a storage compartment containing iron materials. The hydrogen is generated by passing heated water over freshly ground iron, which then becomes iron oxide. The vehicle's operator obtains a fresh charge of the new iron materials from an iron fuel station for placement in a compartment of the vehicle. The iron materials of this invention may comprise in situ freshly-ground particulates. The particles range in diameter size from approximately 25 to 1,200 .mu.m, with an average-sized distribution having at least twenty per cent (20%) of the particles less than 300 .mu.m in diameter. It is preferable that at least 50% are less than 300 .mu.m in diameter. The average particle density ranges approximately from about 1 to 7.8 g/cc, with a non-compressed packed particle density ranging from about 1.5 to 3.5 g/cc. The particles have a surface area greater than approximately 0.001 meters.sup.2 /g.