The present disclosure provides a method of producing hydrogen. The method includes heating a mixture comprising a metal component exhibiting a nanostructured surface, water, and carbon dioxide.

A system for controlling contamination in hydrogen production from water-reactive aluminum includes at least one reaction vessel. For example, each reaction vessel may include a container, a conduit, and a plurality of baffles. The container may define a volume, and the conduit may define an orifice outside of the container and spaced away from the container. The plurality of baffles may be disposed in the volume to form a tortuous flow path through the volume to the orifice of the conduit to facilitate rapid production of a large quantity of hydrogen from water-reactive aluminum while reducing the likelihood that ejecta, aerosols, or a combination thereof, may escape the reaction vessel to interfere with end-use of the hydrogen produced.

A system for controlling contamination in hydrogen production from water-reactive aluminum includes at least one reaction vessel. For example, each reaction vessel may include a container, a conduit, and a plurality of baffles. The container may define a volume, and the conduit may define an orifice outside of the container and spaced away from the container. The plurality of baffles may be disposed in the volume to form a tortuous flow path through the volume to the orifice of the conduit to facilitate rapid production of a large quantity of hydrogen from water-reactive aluminum while reducing the likelihood that ejecta, aerosols, or a combination thereof, may escape the reaction vessel to interfere with end-use of the hydrogen produced.

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for housing a chemical looping process comprising of at least one fluidized-bed combustor reactor, at least one entrained riser, at least one particle separator, optionally at least one particle holding reactor, at least one moving-bed reactor, at least one standpipe, at least one L-valve system for solid flow control and interconnecting sections.

A method of producing hydrogen gas is provided. The method can include the steps of providing a reaction vessel containing aluminum, delivering a stream of natural gas to the reaction vessel, in which the natural gas includes methane, and heating the reaction vessel at a temperature in a range of 300 to 800° C., in which the heating causes a chemical reaction between the methane and the aluminum to provide hydrogen gas and aluminum carbide. The method can include delivering steam to the reaction vessel and heating the reaction vessel at a temperature in a range of 300 to 800° C., in which the heating causes a chemical reaction between the methane, steam, and the aluminum to provide hydrogen gas, aluminum carbide, and aluminum oxycarbide.

A method of producing hydrogen gas is provided. The method can include the steps of providing a reaction vessel containing aluminum, delivering a stream of natural gas to the reaction vessel, in which the natural gas includes methane, and heating the reaction vessel at a temperature in a range of 300 to 800° C., in which the heating causes a chemical reaction between the methane and the aluminum to provide hydrogen gas and aluminum carbide. The method can include delivering steam to the reaction vessel and heating the reaction vessel at a temperature in a range of 300 to 800° C., in which the heating causes a chemical reaction between the methane, steam, and the aluminum to provide hydrogen gas, aluminum carbide, and aluminum oxycarbide.

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for housing a chemical looping process comprising of at least one fluidized-bed combustor reactor, at least one entrained riser, at least one particle separator, optionally at least one particle holding reactor, at least one moving-bed reactor, at least one standpipe, at least one L-valve system for solid flow control and interconnecting sections.

The invention provides a process for producing hydrogen having the steps of reacting a fuel with a combination of two oxygen carriers to produce gaseous products and reduced oxygen carriers; reacting a portion of the reduced oxygen carriers with steam to generate hydrogen and partially oxidized oxygen carriers; and reacting the partially oxidized oxygen carriers and remaining reduced oxygen carriers with air to generate heat and regenerate the two oxygen carriers in their original oxidation state, wherein the heat and regenerated oxygen carriers are reused.

Systems and methods for producing mixed lifting gases (e.g., hydrogen gas and steam) for filling balloons are described. In some embodiments, controlling an altitude of a balloon includes combining a reactant and water to produce hydrogen gas and steam, and flowing the hydrogen gas and steam into the balloon to increase a buoyancy of the balloon.

Systems and methods for producing mixed lifting gases (e.g., hydrogen gas and steam) for filling balloons are described. In some embodiments, controlling an altitude of a balloon includes combining a reactant and water to produce hydrogen gas and steam, and flowing the hydrogen gas and steam into the balloon to increase a buoyancy of the balloon.