METHOD FOR HYDROGEN PRODUCTION Russian patent published in 2023 - IPC C01F7/428 C01B3/08 

FIELD: hydrogen energy; hydrogen production.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to hydrogen energy, more specifically, to a method for producing hydrogen and can be used in the technology of large-scale production of chemically pure hydrogen, not accompanied by the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The method includes dosed supply of powdered aluminium and water to the reactor for hydrothermal oxidation, removal of a steam-hydrogen mixture and aluminium hydroxides and oxides from the reactor, separation and accumulation of hydrogen in high-pressure vessels, drying and heating of aluminium hydroxides and oxides in a high-temperature furnace until alumina is formed, from which aluminium is recovered by electrolysis using an external source of electric power. A suspension of powdered aluminium at a given mass ratio is fed into the hydrothermal oxidation reactor in a continuous or batch mode. The gas phase is withdrawn in a periodic mode through jets located in the upper part of the reactor. The solid phase is periodically withdrawn in the form of hydroxides and aluminium oxides through jets located in the lower part of the reactor. The calcination of the hydroxides and aluminium oxides obtained as a result of the reactions after drying is carried out in a high-temperature furnace at a temperature of 1300°C, which provides the formation of alumina. The recovery of aluminium is carried out in an electrolyser equipped with inert anodes, which provide recovered aluminium and oxygen at the outlet of the electrolyser without carbon dioxide emission. The condensed water obtained after separation of the hydrogen-steam mixture and drying of hydroxides and oxides of aluminium is returned to the technological cycle to obtain a suspension of powdered aluminium. Compression of pure hydrogen is carried out in a block of metal hydride thermal sorption compressors, providing an outlet pressure of 20-90 MPa, for the accumulation of pure hydrogen in commercial quantities in high-pressure tanks. The thermal energy released during the hydrothermal oxidation reaction is utilized in an electric power generating steam generator plant to cover its own needs for hydrogen production.

EFFECT: increase in the efficiency of the method for producing hydrogen on an industrial scale by complete return of the products of hydrothermal oxidation of aluminium and its electrochemical reduction during the electrolysis of alumina to the closed process, provided that cheap electricity is consumed and there is no need to purchase alumina and aluminium from external suppliers.

2 cl, 1 dwg