FUEL-CELL VEHICLE WITH ULTRAVIOLET AMMONIA CRACKER

VEHICULE A PILES A COMBUSTIBLE MUNI D'UNE UNITE DE CRAQUAGE D'AMMONIAC PAR RAYONNEMENT ULTRAVIOLET

English Abstract

~ A fuel-cell vehicle comprises an ammonia tank, a gas regulator, an
ultraviolet ammonia cracker, and a fuel-cell stack. The ammonia tank
stores anhydrous ammonia fuel in liquid form under pressure. The gas
regulator vapourises liquid ammonia in the ammonia tank into gaseous
ammonia (NH3). The ultraviolet ammonia cracker produces gaseous hydrogen
(H2). The ultraviolet ammonia cracker comprises an ultraviolet light
source for generating electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet (UV)
region of the spectrum. The fuel-cell stack generates electrical power
from an electrochemical reaction between gaseous hydrogen (H2) and
gaseous oxygen (O2) in order to drive a plurality of electric motors for
vehicle propulsion. The ultraviolet light source is capable of
dissociating gaseous ammonia (NH3) into gaseous nitrogen (N2) and gaseous
hydrogen (H2) according to formula: 2 NH3 -> N2 + 3 H2. This invention
relates to fuel-cell vehicles, and the principal use of the invention is
for ground transportation.

French Abstract

Un dispositif de pile à combustible comporte un réservoir d'ammoniac, un régulateur de gaz, un dispositif de craquage de l'ammoniac aux ultraviolets ainsi qu'un assemblage de piles à combustible. Le réservoir d'ammoniac renferme un carburant d'ammoniac anhydre sous forme liquide sous pression. Le régulateur de gaz vaporise l'ammoniac liquide présent dans le réservoir en ammoniac gazeux (NH3). Le dispositif de craquage de l'ammoniac aux ultraviolets produit de l'hydrogène gazeux (H2). Ce dispositif de craquage comprend une source de rayonnement ultraviolet permettant de générer un rayonnement électromagnétique dans la région du spectre correspondant au rayonnement ultraviolet (UV). L'assemblage de piles à combustible génère de l'énergie électrique par une réaction électrochimique entre l'hydrogène gazeux (H2) et l'oxygène gazeux (O2); cette énergie permet de faire fonctionner divers moteurs pour la propulsion des véhicules. La source de rayonnement ultraviolet est capable de dissocier l'ammoniac gazeux (NH3) en azote gazeux (N2) et en hydrogène gazeux (H2) selon l'équation suivante : 2 NH3 -> N2 + 3 H2. L'invention a trait à des dispositifs de pile à combustible et sa principale application est le transport terrestre.

Claims

Claims
~ The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A fuel-cell vehicle, comprising:

~ an ammonia tank for storing anhydrous ammonia fuel in liquid form
under pressure;

~ a gas regulator for vapourising liquid ammonia in the ammonia tank
into gaseous ammonia (NH3);
~ an ultraviolet ammonia cracker for producing an output gas
containing gaseous hydrogen (H2), the ultraviolet ammonia cracker
comprising:

~ an ultraviolet light source for generating ionising
electromagnetic radiation in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV)
region of the spectrum;

~ a fuel-cell stack for generating electrical power from an
electrochemical reaction between gaseous hydrogen (H2) from the
ultraviolet ammonia cracker and gaseous oxygen (02) from ambient air
in order to drive a plurality of electric motors for vehicle
propulsion;

~ an ammonia remover for removing residual ammonia (NH3) from the
output gas from the ultraviolet ammonia cracker, the ammonia remover
comprising:

~ a membrane for removing NH3 molecules; and

~ a nitrogen remover for removing nitrogen (N 2) from the output gas
from the ultraviolet ammonia cracker, the nitrogen remover
comprising:

~ a membrane for removing N2 molecules;

the ultraviolet light source of the ultraviolet ammonia cracker being
capable of dissociating gaseous ammonia (NH3) into gaseous nitrogen (N2)
and gaseous hydrogen (H2) according to formula: 2 NH3 -> N2 + 3 H 2 without
any heating unit or relay control with a thermocouple, the ultraviolet
ammonia cracker using an anaerobic process for producing an output gas.

2. The fuel-cell vehicle as defined in claim 1, in which the fuel-cell stack
comprises a plurality of alkaline fuel cells (AFC).

3. The fuel-cell vehicle as defined in claim 1, in which the fuel-cell stack
comprises a plurality of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells or
proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC).

4. The fuel-cell vehicle as defined in claim 1, in which the fuel-cell stack
comprises a plurality of direct ammonia fuel cells (DAFC).

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5. The fuel-cell vehicle as defined in claim 1, in which the fuel-cell stack
comprises a plurality of ammonia-air fuel cells (AAFC).

6. The fuel-cell vehicle as defined in claim 1, in which the fuel-cell stack
comprises a plurality of regenerative fuel cells or reversible fuel cells
7. The fuel-cell vehicle as defined in claim 1, in which the fuel-cell
vehicle is a hybrid vehicle further comprising:

~ an ultracapacitor or a supercapacitor or a hypercapacitor as a
secondary energy storage system.

8. The fuel-cell vehicle as defined in claim 1, in which the fuel-cell
vehicle is a hybrid vehicle further comprising:

~ a chemical battery as a secondary energy storage system.

9. The fuel-cell vehicle as defined in claim 1, in which the fuel-cell
vehicle is a hybrid vehicle further comprising:

~ a flywheel battery as a secondary energy storage system.

Description

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CA 02403741 2011-03-28
Description

Title
= Fuel-Cell Vehicle with Ultraviolet Ammonia Cracker
Technical Field

= This invention relates to fuel-cell vehicles, more particularly to a
fuel-cell vehicle with an ultraviolet ammonia cracker.

Background Art

= There are many instances where it would be desirable to be able to
provide a fuel-cell vehicle with an on-board fuel processor.

= Compared to other candidate fuels for fuel-cell vehicles, such as pure
hydrogen (H2) and methanol (CH3OH), ammonia (NH3) has advantages in
energy density (high) and fire safety (non-flammable), among others. In
addition, an ammonia fuel-cell system has superior environmental
performance to a methanol fuel cell system because the exhaust contains
not CO2 (greenhouse gas) or CO (toxic gas) but N2 (inert gas). Moreover,
ammonia is naturally found (e.g., urine), and is a household cleaning
product (e.g., Windex (Trade Mark)). Furthermore, ammonia is a liquid at
modest pressures, not unlike propane. Therefore, high hydrogen content is
possible in a relatively small volume. As for toxicity, the smell of
ammonia will prevent people from drinking it.

= Because ammonia (NH3) can be decomposed easily to yield hydrogen (H2), it
is a convenient portable source of atomic hydrogen for welding. If an
atom or molecule absorbs energy from a beam of light (E = hv), it gains
far more energy than it ever could by other methods (e.g., from ordinary
heating).

= A number of patents disclose fuel-cell vehicles.

= U.S. Patent 5 629 102 discloses "Electrical automobile having a fuel
cell, and method of powering an electrical automobile with a fuel cell
system".

= U.S. Patent 5 690 902 discloses "Hydrogen-powered automobile with in situ
hydrogen generation".

= These prior art arrangements do not provide a fuel-cell vehicle with an
on-board ultraviolet ammonia cracker.

Description of the Invention

= It is a primary object of the invention to provide a fuel-cell vehicle
with an on-board fuel processor.

= It is another object of the invention to provide a fuel-cell vehicle
which uses liquid anhydrous ammonia (NH3) as a fuel.

= It is another object of the invention to provide a fuel-cell vehicle
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which uses photodissociation with ultraviolet light to crack ammonia
(NH3).

= A fuel-cell vehicle comprises an ammonia tank, a gas regulator, an
ultraviolet ammonia cracker, and a fuel-cell stack. The ammonia tank
stores anhydrous ammonia fuel in liquid form under pressure. The gas
regulator vapourises liquid ammonia in the ammonia tank into gaseous
ammonia (NH3). The ultraviolet ammonia cracker produces gaseous hydrogen
(H2). The ultraviolet ammonia cracker comprises an ultraviolet light
source for generating electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet (UV)
region of the spectrum. The fuel-cell stack generates electrical power
from an electrochemical reaction between gaseous hydrogen (H2) and
gaseous oxygen (02) in order to drive a plurality of electric motors for
vehicle propulsion. The ultraviolet light source is capable of
dissociating gaseous ammonia (NH3) into gaseous nitrogen (N2) and gaseous
hydrogen (H2) according to formula: 2 NH3 -> N2 + 3 H2.

Brief Description of the Figures in the Drawings

= In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention:

o Figure 1 is a sectional view of one embodiment of a fuel-cell
vehicle with an ultraviolet ammonia cracker according to the
invention.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

= In one embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, a fuel-cell vehicle
comprises an ammonia tank 1-0, a gas regulator 2-0, an ultraviolet
ammonia cracker 3-0, and a fuel-cell stack 4-0.

= The ammonia tank 1-0 stores anhydrous ammonia fuel in liquid form under
pressure.

= The gas regulator 2-0 vapourises liquid ammonia in the ammonia tank 1-0
into gaseous ammonia (NH3).

= The ultraviolet ammonia cracker 3-0 produces an output gas containing
gaseous hydrogen (H2). The ultraviolet ammonia cracker 3-0 comprises an
ultraviolet light source 3-1 for generating electromagnetic radiation in
the ultraviolet (UV) region of the spectrum.

= The fuel-cell stack 4-0 generates electrical power from an
electrochemical reaction between gaseous hydrogen (H2) from the
ultraviolet ammonia cracker 3-0 and gaseous oxygen (02) from ambient air
in order to drive a plurality of electric motors for vehicle propulsion.

= The ultraviolet light source 3-1 of the ultraviolet ammonia cracker 3-0
is capable of dissociating gaseous ammonia (NH3) into gaseous nitrogen
(N2) and gaseous hydrogen (H2) according to formula: 2 NH3 -> N2 + 3 H2.

= The fuel-cell vehicle may further comprise an ammonia remover 5-0 for
removing residual ammonia (NH3) from the output gas from the ultraviolet
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ammonia cracker 3-0. The ammonia remover 5-0 may comprise a membrane for
removing NH3 molecules.

= The fuel-cell vehicle may further comprise a nitrogen remover 6-0 for
removing nitrogen (N2) from the output gas from the ultraviolet ammonia
cracker 3-0. The nitrogen remover 6-0 may comprise a membrane for
removing N2 molecules.

= Preferably, the ultraviolet light source 3-1 of the ultraviolet ammonia
cracker 3-0 generates electromagnetic radiation in the vacuum ultraviolet
(VUV) region of the spectrum.

= The fuel-cell stack 4-0 may comprise a plurality of alkaline fuel cells
(AFC), a plurality of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), a
plurality of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), a plurality of
direct ammonia fuel cells (DAFC), or a plurality of ammonia-air fuel
cells (AAFC).

= The fuel-cell stack 4-0 may comprise a plurality of regenerative fuel
cells, or a plurality of reversible fuel cells

= The fuel-cell vehicle may be a hybrid vehicle further comprising, as a
secondary energy storage system, an ultracapacitor, a supercapacitor, or
a hypercapacitor. The fuel-cell vehicle may be a hybrid vehicle further
comprising, as a secondary energy storage system, a chemical battery to
store chemical energy, or a flywheel battery to store kinetic energy.

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Representative Drawing