US3130097A - Boron containing fuels - Google Patents

Boron containing fuels Download PDF

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Publication number
US3130097A
US3130097A US140169A US14016961A US3130097A US 3130097 A US3130097 A US 3130097A US 140169 A US140169 A US 140169A US 14016961 A US14016961 A US 14016961A US 3130097 A US3130097 A US 3130097A
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fuel
metal
boron
weight
diborane
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US140169A
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Folsom E Drummond
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Commonwealth Engineering Company of Ohio
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Commonwealth Engineering Company of Ohio
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C06—EXPLOSIVES; MATCHES
    • C06B—EXPLOSIVES OR THERMIC COMPOSITIONS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS EXPLOSIVES
    • C06B47/00—Compositions in which the components are separately stored until the moment of burning or explosion, e.g. "Sprengel"-type explosives; Suspensions of solid component in a normally non-explosive liquid phase, including a thickened aqueous phase
    • C06B47/02—Compositions in which the components are separately stored until the moment of burning or explosion, e.g. "Sprengel"-type explosives; Suspensions of solid component in a normally non-explosive liquid phase, including a thickened aqueous phase the components comprising a binary propellant
    • C06B47/10—Compositions in which the components are separately stored until the moment of burning or explosion, e.g. "Sprengel"-type explosives; Suspensions of solid component in a normally non-explosive liquid phase, including a thickened aqueous phase the components comprising a binary propellant a component containing free boron, an organic borane or a binary compound of boron, except with oxygen

Definitions

  • This invention relates to improved fuels and methods for increasing the calorific Value of fuels, especially those comprising powdered lower atomic weight elements such as boron, beryllium and lithium.
  • the invention is particularly useful in providing a fuel which is composed of powdered metal and oxygen-supplying agents which upon burning release a large amount of heat as measured in B.t.u. per pound of fuel burned.
  • the solid fuel of the invention further may be used as a fuel for jet-driven aircraft, turbines, and the like, as employed in the fields of aviation, military equipment and rail transportation operations.
  • the present invention is based upon the provision of a solid fuel of the character described and which is composed of a mixture of low atomic Weight metals and their compounds, together with oxygen-supplying material to promote the combustion once started.
  • Example I Percent by Weight Diborane 50 Beryllium metal powder (particle size 1-5 micrns) 30 Lithium perchlorate 20 Example 11 Pentaborane 40 Beryllium metal powder (Ex. I) 35 Lithium perchlorate 25 Example Ill Decaborane 60 Beryllium metal powder (Ex. I) 30 Potassium chlorate Example IV Diborane (liquid) 4O Beryllium metal powder (Ex. I) 2O Cellulose nitrate 10 Lithium perchlorate 30 Example V Diborane (liquid) 45 Boron metal powder (average size 1 micron) 30 Lithium perchlorate 25 A means?
  • Example VI Percent by weight Diborane (liquid) 35 Lithium metal powder (average size 1 micron) 50- Lithium perchlorate 15
  • Example VII Diborane (liquid) 40 Lithium metal powder (Ex. VI) 35 Cellulose nitrate 15 Lithium perchlorate 10
  • Example VIII Diborane (liquid) 35 Beryllium metal (Ex. I) 35 Cellulose nitrate 25 Sodium perchlorate 5
  • the sol-id fuel mixture of borane (in liquid state) is suitable admixed with metal powder and chlorate material and compressed (2000 psi.) to a solid fuel mass. The temperature of the mixture is kept low enough so that the borane compound used is liquid and atmosphere pressure.
  • the fuel mixture may be prepared in the form of a pasty mass by mechanically mixing and blending the ingredients together. The fuel thus compacted may be ignited by an electrically heated Wire partially embedded in the mass.
  • Borane (boron-hydrogen) and powdered low atomic weight metal constitute the essential constituents of the fuel. Oxygen is supplied for supporting the combustion by the chlorate. Other decomposable compounds which release oxygen to promote the combustion of the borane and metal, where desired, may be used.
  • diborane by hydrogenation of a compound of boron may be carried out as described in US. Patent 2,965,450 and US. Patent 2,582,268.
  • trimer boron hydrogen sulfide (B S H may be used.
  • combustible fillers such as cellulose cotton, e.g. cellulose nitrate or acetate or the like may be incorporated.
  • Such a filler addition is exemplified in Example IV supra.
  • the proportion of constituents may be varied to produce the desired burning rate and calorific value as required.
  • a preferred range of borane, powdered metal and chlorate in the fuel is borane 20-60%; powdered low atomic weight metal 30-50%; and chlorate 25-40%.
  • Beryllium which has an atomic weight of 9.02 when burned in metal powder form releases approximately 28,000 Btu. per pound of metal burned.
  • Boron which has an atomic weight of 10.82 when burned, releases approximately 25,000 B.t.-u. per pound of metal burned.
  • Lithium having an atomic weight of 6.94 when burned, releases about 18,000 Btu. per pound.
  • Oxygen is supplied by the use of a chlorate and preferably use is made of a low atomic weight metal perchlorate such as lithium perchlorate.
  • the perchlorate releases approximately 60% of the compound upon decomposition as oxygen which sustains the combustion of the fuel mixture.
  • low atomic weight refers to elements having an atomic weight below 12, and exemplified by boron, beryllium and lithium.
  • Powdered mixtures of the fuel may be ignited in the conventional manner or use may be made of a spark plug, electrically heated wire or fuse insert as desired.
  • a fuel consisting of the following in parts by weight:
  • a fuel consisting of the following in parts by weight: Percent by weight 4.
  • a rfuel consisting of the following constituents in parts by weight:
  • Diborane 35 to Metal particles of a metal selected from the group consisting of beryllium, boron and lith ium and mixtures thereof 20 to Alkali metal perchlorate 5 to 30 Cellulose nitrate 10-25 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,070,472 Drummond Dec. 25, 1962

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Description

United States Patent 0. F
3,130,097 BORON CONTAINING FUELS Folsom E. Drummond, Washington, D.C., assiguor to The Commonwealth Engineering Company of Ohio, Dayton, Ohio No Drawing. Filed Sept. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 140,169 4 Claims. (Cl. 149-42) This invention relates to improved fuels and methods for increasing the calorific Value of fuels, especially those comprising powdered lower atomic weight elements such as boron, beryllium and lithium.
The invention is particularly useful in providing a fuel which is composed of powdered metal and oxygen-supplying agents which upon burning release a large amount of heat as measured in B.t.u. per pound of fuel burned.
It is an object of this invention to provide a fuel which, in the form of a solid fuel, is useful as a propellant for missiles, rockets, and for releasing high temperature gases upon burning. The solid fuel of the invention further may be used as a fuel for jet-driven aircraft, turbines, and the like, as employed in the fields of aviation, military equipment and rail transportation operations.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the invention.
The present invention is based upon the provision of a solid fuel of the character described and which is composed of a mixture of low atomic Weight metals and their compounds, together with oxygen-supplying material to promote the combustion once started.
The invention is illustrated further by the following typical examples Example I Percent by Weight Diborane 50 Beryllium metal powder (particle size 1-5 micrns) 30 Lithium perchlorate 20 Example 11 Pentaborane 40 Beryllium metal powder (Ex. I) 35 Lithium perchlorate 25 Example Ill Decaborane 60 Beryllium metal powder (Ex. I) 30 Potassium chlorate Example IV Diborane (liquid) 4O Beryllium metal powder (Ex. I) 2O Cellulose nitrate 10 Lithium perchlorate 30 Example V Diborane (liquid) 45 Boron metal powder (average size 1 micron) 30 Lithium perchlorate 25 A means? Ice Patented Apr- 1964 Example VI Percent by weight Diborane (liquid) 35 Lithium metal powder (average size 1 micron) 50- Lithium perchlorate 15 Example VII Diborane (liquid) 40 Lithium metal powder (Ex. VI) 35 Cellulose nitrate 15 Lithium perchlorate 10 Example VIII Diborane (liquid) 35 Beryllium metal (Ex. I) 35 Cellulose nitrate 25 Sodium perchlorate 5 Preferably the sol-id fuel mixture of borane (in liquid state) is suitable admixed with metal powder and chlorate material and compressed (2000 psi.) to a solid fuel mass. The temperature of the mixture is kept low enough so that the borane compound used is liquid and atmosphere pressure. Where desired, the fuel mixture may be prepared in the form of a pasty mass by mechanically mixing and blending the ingredients together. The fuel thus compacted may be ignited by an electrically heated Wire partially embedded in the mass.
Borane (boron-hydrogen) and powdered low atomic weight metal constitute the essential constituents of the fuel. Oxygen is supplied for supporting the combustion by the chlorate. Other decomposable compounds which release oxygen to promote the combustion of the borane and metal, where desired, may be used.
Boron burned as diborane (13 1-1 which is liquid at 112 C. at atmospheric pressure, releases approximately 35,000 B.t.u.s per pound of the borane burned. Pentaborane (R I-I which is a colorless liquid at ordinary temperatures, is highly combustible and is handled at low temperatures (46 C.) or at temperatures and pressures to maintain it liquid.
The production of diborane by hydrogenation of a compound of boron may be carried out as described in US. Patent 2,965,450 and US. Patent 2,582,268. In place of diborane the trimer boron hydrogen sulfide (B S H may be used.
Examples illustrative of such fuels are as follows Example IX Percent by weight Boron hydrogen sulfide (B S l-I 50 Beryllium metal particles (averaging 1 micron in diam.) 30 Lithium perchlorate 20' Example X Boron hydrogen sulfide 45 Boron metal particles (average size 1 micron) 30 Lithium perchlorate 25 Where the fuel is desired to have a lower density or greater porosity, combustible fillers, such as cellulose cotton, e.g. cellulose nitrate or acetate or the like may be incorporated. Such a filler addition is exemplified in Example IV supra. The proportion of constituents may be varied to produce the desired burning rate and calorific value as required. By increasing the proportionate amounts of borane and low atomic weight powdered metal in the fuel, higher B.t.u. values are obtained. A preferred range of borane, powdered metal and chlorate in the fuel, based on the total weight of the fuel mass, is borane 20-60%; powdered low atomic weight metal 30-50%; and chlorate 25-40%.
Beryllium, which has an atomic weight of 9.02 when burned in metal powder form releases approximately 28,000 Btu. per pound of metal burned. Boron, which has an atomic weight of 10.82 when burned, releases approximately 25,000 B.t.-u. per pound of metal burned. Lithium, having an atomic weight of 6.94 when burned, releases about 18,000 Btu. per pound.
Oxygen is supplied by the use of a chlorate and preferably use is made of a low atomic weight metal perchlorate such as lithium perchlorate. The perchlorate releases approximately 60% of the compound upon decomposition as oxygen which sustains the combustion of the fuel mixture.
The meaning of the term low atomic weight in this specification refers to elements having an atomic weight below 12, and exemplified by boron, beryllium and lithium.
Powdered mixtures of the fuel may be ignited in the conventional manner or use may be made of a spark plug, electrically heated wire or fuse insert as desired.
This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 830,985, filed August 3, 1959, now US. Patent No. 3,070,472.
It is understood that various materials may be substituted for those set forth in the above examples when the same perform the same function and like results, and the proportionate amounts of the constituents may be varied to suit the use being made of the fuel. and variations are deemed to be contemplated as coming Such changes 4 within the scope and spirit of this invention, the same being more particularly set out in the appended claims.
What is claimed is: 1. A fuel consisting of the following in parts by weight:
Percent by weight Diborane 40 Beryllium metal powder 20 Cellulose nitrate 10 Lithium perchlorate 30 100 2. A fuel consisting of the following in parts by weight: Percent by weight 4. A rfuel consisting of the following constituents in parts by weight:
Parts by weight Diborane 35 to Metal particles of a metal selected from the group consisting of beryllium, boron and lith ium and mixtures thereof 20 to Alkali metal perchlorate 5 to 30 Cellulose nitrate 10-25 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,070,472 Drummond Dec. 25, 1962

Claims (1)

  1. 4. A FUEL CONSISTING OF THE FOLLOWING CONSTITUENTS IN PARTS BY WEIGHT:
US140169A 1961-09-20 1961-09-20 Boron containing fuels Expired - Lifetime US3130097A (en)

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3475237A (en) * 1968-07-01 1969-10-28 Dow Chemical Co Boron fuel-salt smoke-producing compositions

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3070472A (en) * 1959-08-03 1962-12-25 Ohio Commw Eng Co Boron containing fuels

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3070472A (en) * 1959-08-03 1962-12-25 Ohio Commw Eng Co Boron containing fuels

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3475237A (en) * 1968-07-01 1969-10-28 Dow Chemical Co Boron fuel-salt smoke-producing compositions

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