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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Apparatus for generating heat and electrical energy from aluminum waste and other inexpensive aluminum products

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6843959

Aluminum pieces of various shapes and sizes, up to a certain maximum predetermined size, are introduced upon demand into a reaction chamber wherein they react with an aqueous electrolyte solution to generate heat, electricity, and an aluminum hydroxide reaction product. The aqueous electrolyte solution is usually strongly acidic or strongly alkaline, but the latter is preferred. The electricity may be generated either directly, with said reaction chamber comprising a packed-bed anode forming part of an electrochemical cell, or indirectly, by first generating hydrogen in said chamber, and thereafter consuming the hydrogen in a fuel cell. The heat generated in said chamber is carried away by a circulating fluid and used for space-heating and other applications. The aluminum hydroxide reaction product is removed from the system and recycled in the production of fresh

Assignee:
IFI; EDB-81-000741; ERA-06-003583
Patent Number(s):
US 4218520
OSTI ID:
6843959
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English