Hydrogen Production by a Novel Thermochemical Water Splitting Cycle
Thermal decomposition of water usually requires temperatures greater than 2,000C. UCLA’s novel thermochemical cycle can be operated at a relatively low temperature of ~ 900C. Its lower operating temperature allows for the process to be powered by a variety of energy sources, including solar energy. The innovation lies in the optimization of intermediates and reaction kinetics, recycling of starting materials, and electricity cogeneration. Those traits, in conjunction with the high reaction efficiency, low operating temperature, and lack of carbon emissions all contribute to the excellent economics that this invention offers over conventional hydrogen generation methods.
Patent Number: US7960063B2
Application Number: US2007745256A
Inventor: Manousiouthakis, Vasilios | Manousiouthakis, Ioannis
Priority Date: 16 Dec 2004
Priority Number: US7960063B2
Application Date: 7 May 2007
Publication Date: 14 Jun 2011
IPC Current: H01M000806 | C01B000308 | C01B001302 | C01B003120
US Class: 429421 | 423438 | 423579 | 4236481
Assignee Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
Title: Hydrogen production by a thermochemical water splitting cycle
Usefulness: Hydrogen production by a thermochemical water splitting cycle
Summary: For producing hydrogen and oxygen from water.
Novelty: Water splitting for producing hydrogen and oxygen, involves use of an alkali metal based or alkali earth metal based process intermediate e.g. carbonate, in thermochemical cycle for water splitting
Chemical/Material
Chemical/Material Application
7960063
State Of Development The invention has been demonstrated through simulations. Some of the process steps have been performed in the lab and temperatures recorded. Kinetic information about elements of the cycle is known. Other Information ABOUT THE LAB: This innovation was created at the Process Control and Design Laboratory at UCLA which is focused on the advancement and application of novel design and control schemes. Dr. Vasilios Manousiouthakis is a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, UCLA's Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science. Website: http://www.seas.ucla.edu/~vasilios/ Background Current hydrogen production is mainly based on steam reforming of methane gas or gasification of coal. These processes require methane, or other fossil fuels, as feedstock, create unwanted carbon dioxide as a process by-product, and require the use of capital- and energy-intensive separation unit operations to purify the hydrogen from undesirable by-products, such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Extensive research has been done on reactions that generate hydrogen by splitting water, rather than reforming carbon-based fuels. Such sets of reactions are referred to as thermochemical cycles. There have been many attempts to create efficient thermochemical cycles with different catalysts and other reactants. To the best of our knowledge, no thermochemical cycle has achieved the efficiency of this invention. Additional Technologies by these Inventors Tech ID/UC Case 20158/2005-332-0 Related Cases 2005-332-0
USA
