A cold start device for an exothermic hydrogen consumer such as a fuel cell, as well as a method for operating an exothermic hydrogen consumer with a metal hydride storage system. An exothermic hydrogen consumer such as a fuel cell with an efficient cold start device which can be brought into operation rapidly and. does not require a pressure tank is provided. The cold start device is available for an unlimited number of start-up procedures. At least one starter tank is filled with a metal hydride which has an equilibrium pressure for desorption of at least 100 kPa at a temperature of −40° C., as well as at least one operating tank which is filled with at least one metal hydride, which has an equilibrium pressure of <100 kPa at temperatures of <0° C., and wherein the starter tank is incorporated into the operating tank.

Aluminum can be used as a fuel source when reacted with water if its native surrounding oxide coating is penetrated with a gallium-based eutectic. When discrete aluminum objects are treated in a heated bath of eutectic, the eutectic penetrates the oxide coating. After the aluminum objects are treated, the aluminum objects can be reacted in a reactor to produce hydrogen which can, for example, react with oxygen in a fuel cell to produce electricity, for use in a variety of applications.

A fuel cell system including: a first fuel cell performing power generation using a fuel gas; a separation membrane separating at least one of carbon dioxide or water vapor from an anode off gas discharged from the first fuel cell; a second fuel cell disposed in the downstream of the separation membrane and performing power generation using the anode off gas, the anode off gas having at least one of carbon dioxide or water vapor separated therefrom; and a distribution channel disposed on a permeation side of the separation membrane and distributing any of the following: a raw material gas serving as the fuel gas to be reformed and used for the power generation of the first fuel cell, a cathode gas including oxygen to be used for the power generation of the first fuel cell, an anode off gas discharged from the second fuel cell, a cathode off gas discharged from the first fuel cell and to be supplied to the second fuel cell, or a cathode off gas discharged from the second fuel cell, in which at least one of permeability coefficient ratio α1 of the separation membrane or permeability coefficient ratio α2 of the separation membrane is 30 or higher.

The present invention relates to improved hydrogen storage materials and improved processes for their preparation. The hydrogen storage materials prepared by the processes described herein exhibit enhanced hydrogen storage capacity when used as hydrogen storage systems. The processes described herein may be undertaken on a commercial scale.

Disclosed is a method of controlling an air supply system for a fuel cell. The air supply system includes a fuel cell stack, an air channel to supply air to an inlet of the fuel cell stack, a gas adsorption unit disposed on the air channel and configured to adsorb oxygen contained in air introduced into the air channel. In particular, the method includes: determining whether a power generation operation of the fuel cell stack is resumed; when the power generation operation of the fuel cell stack is resumed, controlling a voltage source to apply a voltage to the gas adsorption unit; and supplying air to the fuel cell stack through the air channel in a state in which the voltage is applied to the gas adsorption unit.

A system for high-temperature reversible electrolysis of water, characterised in that it includes: a high-temperature reversible electrolyser, configured to operate in SOEC (solid oxide electrolyser cell) mode to produce hydrogen and store electricity, and/or in SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell) mode to withdraw hydrogen and produce electricity; a hydride tank, thermally coupled with the reversible electrolyser, the system being configured to allow the recovery of heat released by the hydride tank during hydrogen absorption in order to produce pressurised steam intended for entering the reversible electrolyser in SOEC mode, and to allow the recovery of heat released by the one or more outgoing streams from the reversible electrolyser in SOFC mode so as to allow the desorption of hydrogen from the hydride tank.

An ejector has a two-stage nozzle structure. The ejector is installed on a fuel cell recirculation line to supply new hydrogen and a recirculation gas. The ejector includes a housing having a first orifice defined therein and a poppet that is disposed in the housing and having a second orifice defined therein. A damage prevention member is disposed on a surface of the poppet to contact an inner surface of the housing, in which the damage prevention member contacts or is separated from the inner surface of the housing based on a pressure applied to the poppet.

A system for storing solid state hydrogen includes: a solid state hydrogen storage pellet including a magnetic material and storing solid state hydrogen therein; an inner container surrounding the solid state hydrogen storage pellet; and a coil surrounding the inner container, wherein when current is supplied to the coil, the current reacts with the magnetic material included in the solid state hydrogen storage pellet to form an induction magnetic field, thereby heating the solid state hydrogen storage pellet.

A thermo-electrochemical converter is provided. The converter includes a working fluid, coupled first and second membrane electrode assemblies (MEA), first and second heat transfer members, a heat sink and a heat source. Each MEA includes a first porous electrode operating at a first pressure, a second porous electrode operating at a second pressure which is higher than the first pressure, and an ion conductive membrane sandwiched therebetween. The first MEA compresses the working fluid and the second MEA expands the working fluid. The first heat transfer member is coupled to and thermally interfaces with a low-pressure electrode of the first MEA. The second heat transfer member is coupled to and thermally interfaces with a lowpressure electrode of the second MEA. The heat sink is coupled to the low-pressure side of the first MEA and the heat source is coupled to the low-pressure side of the second MEA.

A method for storing and delivering hydrogen gas is described. The method includes reacting a chemical hydride with water in the presence of a synergist. The synergist advances the extent of reaction of the chemical hydride with water to increase the yield of hydrogen production. The synergist reacts with byproducts formed in the reaction of the chemical hydride with water that would otherwise inhibit progress of the reaction. As a result, a greater fraction of hydrogen available from a chemical hydride is released as hydrogen gas.