Method for producing compressed hydrogen using electrochemical systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022002151-A1
Application number	US-202117367905-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 6, 2021
Priority date	Jul 6, 2020
Publication date	Jan 6, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a method of producing hydrogen in a fuel cell includes passing ammonia under pressure to an anode of the fuel cell, where the ammonia is decomposed into nitrogen gas and protons. The fuel cell comprises a cathode, the anode, and a proton-conducting electrolyte between the anode and the cathode. The anode includes an ammonia decomposition catalyst. The method further includes passing the purging the nitrogen from the anode, passing the protons through the proton-conducting electrolyte to the cathode, and passing the electrons from the anode to the cathode, wherein the protons and the electrons react to produce substantially pure hydrogen gas under pressure.

First claim

1 . A method of converting ammonia to substantially pure hydrogen gas (H 2 ) in a fuel cell comprising:
passing the ammonia under pressure to an anode of the fuel cell, wherein the fuel cell comprises the anode having an ammonia decomposition catalyst, a cathode, and a proton-conducting electrolyte disposed between the anode and the cathode, and wherein the ammonia is decomposed into nitrogen gas (N 2 ) and protons (H+); purging the nitrogen gas (N 2 ) from the anode; passing the protons (H + ) through the proton conducting electrolyte and into the cathode; and passing the electrons (e − ) from the anode to the cathode, wherein the protons (H + ) accept the electrons (e − ) to yield the substantially pure hydrogen (H 2 ) under pressure.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the proton-conducting electrolyte comprises a solid oxide electrolyte.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the proton-conducting electrolyte comprises doped barium cerate or barium zirconate.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the ammonia decomposition catalyst comprises a metal-based decomposition catalyst.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the metal-based decomposition catalyst comprises one or more metals selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, iron, ruthenium, and combinations thereof.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the anode comprises a composite of nickel and electrolyte.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cathode comprises a perovskite.

8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein the perovskite comprises La 0.6 Sr 0.4 CoO 3-δ .

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the anode is pressurized with a pump, a valve, or combinations thereof.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cathode is pressurized with a pump, a valve, or combinations thereof.

Assignees

• Saudi Arabian Oil Co
• Korea Advanced Inst Sci & Tech

Inventors

• Katikaneni Sai P
• Lee Kunho
• Bae Joongmyeon
• Jung Woochul

Classifications

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• Y02E60/36

  Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis · CPC title

• C25B11/052

  Electrodes comprising one or more electrocatalytic coatings on a substrate · CPC title

• H01M8/1246

  the electrolyte consisting of oxides · CPC title

• C25B11/055

  characterised by the substrate or carrier material · CPC title