Experimental study on catalyst-free high-temperature and high-pressure aluminum-water reaction characteristics using metal as energy carrier

Abstract

Aluminum-water reaction have the potential for clean hydrogen production and power generation. In this work, the effects of reactions such as temperature, pressure, water-aluminum ratio, and water state of the high-temperature and high-pressure aluminum-water reaction are experimentally investigated. The findings demonstrate that the micron aluminum powder can produce 100% hydrogen in a catalyst-free neutral environment by enhancing the temperature and pressure. The aluminum-water interaction is favored by excess water and the gas-liquid two-phase state. The effects of Na+ and K+ ions within water in high-temperature and high-pressure reactions under neutral environments have a negligible effect, and the in-situ reaction with clean water has a high hydrogen yield. The high-temperature and high-pressure aluminum-water reactions consist of four stages. Hydrogen and heat are generated only when water molecules and activated aluminum are constant touch. He results provide the foundation for aluminum-water-based hydrogen cogeneration.