HyperInfo Canada Inc. <http://WWW.HyperInfo.CA/GS.Sunatori/>
65, des Parulines <mailto:GS.Sunatori@HyperInfo.CA>
Gatineau, QC J9A 1Z4 <skype:GS.Sunatori>
Canada <tel:+1-819-595-9210>
Submission Terms
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Technical Approach
Title of Proposal:
Alternative Uses of Hydrogen: Electromagnetic Hydrogen Generation
Proposed Technical Approach:
Compared to other candidate fuels for fuel-cell vehicles, such as pure dihydrogen (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.
The merit of ammonia for fuel cells in automotive applications is documented in a scientific paper:
AMMONIA FOR HIGH DENSITY HYDROGEN STORAGE <http://www.electricauto.com/HighDensity_STOR.htm>
Despite its toxicity, Dr. Martin Hammerli, P.Eng. (Manager - Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Electric Vehicles, Natural Resources Canada) is advocating ammonia as a great fuel for fuel cells, and has identified the ammonia cracking process as a bottleneck technology to be optimised. Mr. Xavier Isnard (Business Development Representative, H Power Enterprises of Canada Inc.) also considers ammonia as a great fuel for fuel cells, but H Power has ceased the development of an ammonia cracker due to the lack of funding.
Photochemistry experts, Dr. Joshua B. Halpern (Howard University) and Dr. Charlie Strauss (Los Alamos National Laboratories), have both indicated that ammonia cracking using photodissociation with vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) is technically feasible. Dr. William Morrow (Resonance Ltd.) has proposed the use of an Excimer lamp which is of high power and rugged environmentally.
Encyclopedia Britannica says: "Because ammonia can be decomposed easily to yield hydrogen, it is a convenient portable source of atomic hydrogen for welding." Encyclopedia Britannica also says: "If an atom or molecule absorbs energy from a beam of light, it gains far more energy than it ever could by other methods; e.g., from ordinary heating." Don Lancaster (Synergetics) says: "Elemental hydrogen is ludicrously absurd as a personal vehicle energy carrier."
Hence, the objective of the project is to develop a compact device to produce hydrogen gas (H2) from liquid ammonia (NH3) for use by PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane or Polymer Electrolyte Membrane) fuel cell stacks or AFC (Alkaline Fuel Cell) stacks for vehicle propulsion.
Chemists and chemical engineers talk about temperature and pressure controls in a chemical reactor, but I am exploring the concept of concentrating dissociation energy onto a narrow focus. An analogy is: "heating up a quantity of water in a kettle (chemical reactor) versus heating up a flow of water in a coffee maker (narrow tube)"
Another concept is to use photodissociation rather than heating up to 900 C (or 200 C with catalyst) to dissociate NH3 aboard a vehicle, which is difficult especially in a cold climate. An analogy is: "cutting meat with a brute-force hammer (heat) versus slicing meat with a sharp knife (ultraviolet light)"
However, the flow-rate efficiency of ammonia dissociation has not been proven yet.
Visuals/Diagrams/Models/Photos
Specs
0036-Claims.pdf
Proposal Team Experience
Simon Sunatori, P.Eng./ing., M.Eng., is a Canadian engineer, inventor and entrepreneur. He obtained a Master of Engineering (Engineering Physics) degree from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada in 1983, and is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a Member of the Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), a Life Member of the World Future Society (WFS), a Lifetime Fellow of the North American Academy of Arts and Sciences (NAAAS), among others.
HyperInfo Canada has conducted Research and Development projects, especially in the field of Electromagnetic Technology. The company owns more than 60 patents in many fields, i.e., electronics, magnetics, optics, dynamics, software, hardware, energy, safety, environment, medical, consumer products, sporting goods, fashion, food, etc. The company has commercialised the "HyperFeeder" (a squirrel-proof bird feeder with concentric perching rings and a transparent globe), the "MagneScribe" (an auto-retractable ballpoint pen with an ergonomic cushion) and the "Magic Spicer" (a self-sealing auto-aligning magnetically-hanging spice dispenser with a continuously-variable hole-size selector).
Here is a partial list of Simon Sunatori's Canadian patent applications.
Method for Producing a Coreless Frozen Pizza (2 650 085)
Drip-free Interconnect with Unisex Magnetic Connector (2 626 157)
Backpressure Regulator using Magnetic Repulsion (2 624 740)
