Demonstration of a high throughput on-board hydrogen generation reactor system using aluminum coil as fuel for a vehicle

ABSTRACT

A novel on-board hydrogen generation concept using Al coil with NaOH was investigated. The reaction rate was successfully controlled by introducing a pumping system for the NaOH solution. The time for the flow to develop fully was mainly dependent on the solution temperature, and the fastest start time recorded was 60 sec at a solution temperature of 70°C. The maximum H₂ generation rate was 200 L min^–1 with a prototype design of the on-board hydrogen generation system 1/8 times the size of a full-size reactor. The H₂ generation process coupled with the solution pumping system was simulated with three-dimensional fluid dynamic software, and the calculated H₂ flow and temperature rise of the system were validated with experimental data.

KEYWORDS:

• Al coil
• fuel cell
• hydrogen generation
• on-board system
• simulation

Funding

This work was supported by the Hyundai-Kia Motors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Hyundai-Kia Motors.