Resumen
[0001] (EN) The present invention relates to a method for producing hydrogen by means of thermochemical water dissociation cycles under (quasi-)isothermal conditions, wherein said method comprises arranging a large amount of active material (104) inside a reaction volume (109) of a reactor (103); heating the active material (104), reducing the active material (104) and generating oxygen in the reaction volume; evacuating the oxygen produced via a first evacuation path (111) of the outlet (106) of the reactor (103); injecting water into the reaction volume (109) of the reactor, oxidating the active material (104) and producing hydrogen; evacuating the hydrogen produced via a second evacuation path (112) of the outlet (106) of the device (100); and separating the evacuated hydrogen and remaining water. The invention further relates to a device for producing hydrogen.
Reivindicaciones
1. A method for producing hydrogen by means of thermochemical water dissociation cycles under (quasi-)isothermal conditions from an active material capable of sustaining redox cycles, with hydrogen production in each oxidation half-cycle, where said material is partially reduced in the reduction half-cycle, consuming energy in the form of heat, and reoxidized in the oxidation half-cycle, due to interaction with water, where said process comprises the following steps: a) placing the active material (104) inside a reaction volume (109) of a reactor (103); b) heating the active material (104) by means of the combined supply of heat from an alternative energy source (108) and heat recovered from radiation losses from the active material (104), reducing the active material (104) and generating oxygen in the reaction volume (109); c) evacuating the oxygen produced through a first evacuation path (111) from the outlet (106) of the reactor (103); d) injecting water into the reaction volume (109) of the reactor (103), oxidizing the active material (104) and producing hydrogen; and e) evacuating the hydrogen produced through a second evacuation path (112) from the outlet (106) of the device (100) characterized in that step b) of heating the active material (104) is carried out by the combined supply of heat from a non-solar energy source (108) and heat recovered from the radiation losses of the active material (104), where the flow of heat supplied, recovered from the radiation losses of the material, is up to 99% of the radiation emitted by the active material (104). 2. The method for producing hydrogen according to claim 1, where the supply and evacuation of compounds and energy is carried out automatically. 3. The method for producing hydrogen according to any of claims 1 to 2, wherein the method is carried out in a vacuum. 4. The method for producing hydrogen according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the energy emitted by the hot material is retained within the reaction volume (109) by a heat trap (102). 5. The method for producing hydrogen according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the method comprises a final step of separating the hydrogen and the remaining water evacuated in step e). 6. The method for producing hydrogen according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the active material is in powder form or is a porous material. 7. The method for producing hydrogen according to claim 6, wherein the active material occupies at least 75% of the reaction volume. 8. A device for producing hydrogen by means of thermochemical water dissociation cycles under (quasi-)isothermal conditions, from an active material capable of sustaining redox cycles with hydrogen production in each oxidation half-cycle, wherein said material is partially reduced in the reduction half-cycle, consuming energy in the form of heat, and oxidized in the oxidation half-cycle due to interaction with water, characterized in that said device comprises: a reactor (103) comprising a reaction volume (109) configured to contain an active material (104) therein and to carry out the thermochemical cycles of water dissociation; an inlet (105), connected to a water injection system (110), configured to introduce a flow of water into the reactor (103); a gas outlet (106), wherein said outlet comprises a two-way system, wherein a first evacuation path (111) is configured to evacuate oxygen produced from the reaction volume (109), and a second evacuation path (112) configured to evacuate produced hydrogen and remaining water from the reaction volume (109); a non-solar energy source (108) configured to heat, in use, an active material (104) disposed in the reaction volume (109) of the reactor (103); a heat trap (102) configured to confine energy emitted in the form of radiation within the reactor and absorb it in a zone proximate to the reaction volume (109) of the reactor (103), comprising at least one radiation reflector, located inside a sealed container (101), configured to reflect, in use, up to 99% of the radiation emitted by a hot active material (104); and a process control system (107) comprising a set of valves and pumps configured to regulate the stages of the redox cycle, synchronizing the opening and closing of the water injection system (110) and the outlet of the gases generated. 9. The device for producing hydrogen according to claim 8, wherein the non-solar energy source (108) is an energy source selected from the group consisting of: a resistive heat source, an inductive heat source, a high-temperature fluid-based source, an electromagnetic radiation source, a nuclear energy source, a geothermal energy source, and a combination of these sources. 10. The device for producing hydrogen according to claim 9, wherein the heat source is an electrical resistance arranged around the reaction volume (109). 11. The device for producing hydrogen according to claim 9, wherein the heat source is a high-temperature fluid contained in a concentric jacket (301) surrounding the reactor (103). 12. The device for producing hydrogen according to claim 9, wherein the heat source is a high-temperature fluid contained in a tube, wherein said tube is concentrically surrounded by the reactor (103). 13. The device for producing hydrogen according to claim 9, wherein the source of electromagnetic radiation is a source of radiation selected from the group consisting of: microwaves or infrared radiation. 14. The device for producing hydrogen according to any of claims 8 to 13, wherein the heat trap (102) is attached to the hermetic container (101). 15. The device for producing hydrogen according to any of claims 8 to 14, wherein the reaction volume (109) is configured to contain active material (104) disposed in a layer adhered to a substrate, or as micrometric or submicrometric powder, or within a porous container, or as a porous bulk material.
