<div>
<p>This research addresses the issues
of electrical energy storage that warfighters in the U.S. military face. A device is presented that combines an
on-demand hydrogen reactor with a state of the art proton exchange membrane
fuel cell. This thesis focuses on the
design criteria and analysis of the chemical hydride reactor. On demand hydrogen release can occur by
controlling the hydrolysis reaction of Ammonia Borane (AB). Maleic acid is used to promote rapid release
of hydrogen and trap the ammonia released from AB. Reactor designs are categorized as either
delivering liquid or solid ammonia borane into an acid filled reactor. In an effort to design as simple of a system
as possible, the delivery mechanisms presented do not use electronically powered
devices. The primary safety criterion is
that the hydrogen does not overly pressurize and meets the consumption rate of
the fuel cell. Two liquid delivery
architectures are proposed and tested using the assumption that a pressure
differential between two chambers will deliver ammonia borane solution into a
reactor. Methods of controlling the
exposure of solid ammonia borane to a promoter is also presented. Pressed AB pellets were experimentally
analyzed in order to characterize the interaction of solid AB in acidic
solution. Designs are ranked against
each other using system parameters that are applicable to man portable device. Liquid delivery architectures provided a safe
and robust method of hydrolysis control.
A bag reactor system that met the hydrogen requirements of a fuel cell was
developed and tested. When used to
compliment a fuel cell and military grade batteries, such a reactor will save
weight and volume for extended missions requiring electronic equipment.<b></b></p>
</div>
<b><br></b>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:purdue.edu/oai:figshare.com:article/11323529 |
| Date | 05 December 2019 |
| Creators | Benjamin Hynes (8086172) |
| Source Sets | Purdue University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, Thesis |
| Rights | CC BY 4.0 |
| Relation | https://figshare.com/articles/CHEMICAL_HYDRIDE_REACTOR_DESIGNS_FOR_PORTABLE_FUEL_CELL_DEVICES/11323529 |
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