US3775199A - Nitrogen generator - Google Patents

Nitrogen generator Download PDF

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Publication number
US3775199A
US3775199A US00297513A US3775199DA US3775199A US 3775199 A US3775199 A US 3775199A US 00297513 A US00297513 A US 00297513A US 3775199D A US3775199D A US 3775199DA US 3775199 A US3775199 A US 3775199A
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composition
azide
sulfur
percent
gas
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US00297513A
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C Boyars
C Zovko
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US Department of Navy
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US Department of Navy
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Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C06—EXPLOSIVES; MATCHES
    • C06B—EXPLOSIVES OR THERMIC COMPOSITIONS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS EXPLOSIVES
    • C06B35/00—Compositions containing a metal azide
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C06—EXPLOSIVES; MATCHES
    • C06D—MEANS FOR GENERATING SMOKE OR MIST; GAS-ATTACK COMPOSITIONS; GENERATION OF GAS FOR BLASTING OR PROPULSION (CHEMICAL PART)
    • C06D5/00—Generation of pressure gas, e.g. for blasting cartridges, starting cartridges, rockets
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
    • H01S3/09—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
    • H01S3/09—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping
    • H01S3/095—Processes or apparatus for excitation, e.g. pumping using chemical or thermal pumping

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A material for generating hot nitrogen gas comprising sodium azide and sulfur in the presence of a conventional solid propellant ignitor.
  • This invention generally relates to a gas generator and more particularly to a solid propellant nitrogen gas generator.
  • gas dynamic lasers utilizing gas compositions which are mainly N have been operated by are heating of the gas, which had been stored as a gas under pressure or as a cryogenic liquid or else by the combustion of pre-heated CO with with subsequent addition of N from the same sources.
  • any system of furnishing the gas composition which depends on pressurized or cryogenic N is undesirably bulky and inconvenient.
  • Some nitrogen gas generators are based on the reaction of NaN with P ClF N 0 or other similar materials to produce N but use of these toxic, corrosive gases and liquids have proven to be unacceptably hazardous to personnel.
  • one object of this invention is to provide a new composition for generating nitrogen.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a composition for generating nitrogen which is not bulky, and inconvenient to use.
  • a still further object of this invention is to provide a composition for generating nitrogen which does not use toxic or corrosive materials which are hazardous to personnel.
  • Yet another object of this invention is to provide a composition for generating pure nitrogen which can be used in gas dynamic lasers.
  • a still further object of this invention is to provide nitrogen which can be used in the fields of electrical power, mechanical work and pressurization of liquid propellants.
  • the present invention comprises a solid composition which is capable of producing hot nitrogen gas.
  • This composition comprises (1) sodium azide or an azide of similar sensitivity and (2) sulfur which are in the pres ence of any of the conventional solid propellant initiators.
  • the CO may be added after N generation or it may be supplied by adding a carbonate or other fuel oxidizer combinations such as carbon and sodium nitrate to the solid propellant.
  • the azide and sulfur are not hypergolic it is necessary to have an initiator or ignitor present in the combustion chamberin order to start the reaction.
  • the reaction is started by buming or otherwise igniting a small conventional solid propellant ignitor. Once the reaction has started the ignitor is no longer necessary.
  • Once started the stoichiometric reaction between sodium azide and sulfur is ln situations where it is desirable to have as few products in addition to N present in the gas, it is preferred to have about stoichiometric amounts of the azide and sulfur present. However for most uses, it is only necessary to have some quantity of the fuel and oxidizer present.
  • the sulfur constituent present in an amount less than stoichiometric, even as low as 20 percent of the stoichiometric quantity, and preferably as low as about percent of the stoichiometric quantity.
  • the azide constituent present in an amount no less than 20 percent of the stoichiometric quantity and preferably as about 75 percent of the stoichiometric quantity.
  • the chemical reaction that produces N also produces other products.
  • these impurities should be removed before the gas enters the laser, because impurities of this type can plug the nozzle, absorb or scatter light or coat the optical components.
  • the solid and/or liquid impurities can be removed by any of the conventional techniques such as, for example, by passing the gas through a series of baffles while the gas is still at high pressure and low velocity. The entrained particles will not follow the same path as the gas stream and they will impinge on the walls and be trapped. 1
  • azides beside-sodium azide may be used in the compositions of this invention provided that the azide has a similar sensitivity to sodium azide.
  • a specific azide which may be used is lithium azide.
  • the conventional solid propellant ignitor which is used to initiate reaction need only be present in extremely small quantities because once the reaction is started it no longer requires th presence of the ignitor.
  • Any of the well known solid propellant ignitors can be used. Some examples of these'ignitors are black powder, pyrotechnics, metal oxident mixtures, such as horon/KNO aluminum/potassium perchlorate, thermites, etc. The exact nature of the ignitor is immaterial since its only function is to start the reaction. Thus the ignitor is a separate device which contains any of the art recognized solid propellant initiatorsand which is either contained in or vented into the combustion chamber.
  • EXAMPLE A 20 gram pellet of percent by weight NaN and 20 percent by weight S was prepared. About 2 grams of the standard solid rocket propellant initiator, boron-KNO was ignited in the combustion chamber. The pellet was fired in a test chamber by igniting the conventional ignitor.
  • pellets which have been prepared comprise 1 60 percent by weight Na N percent by weight sulfur and 25 percent by weight Na CO and (2) 61 percent by weight Na N 15 percent by weight sulfur and 24 percent by weight Ca CO Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the persent invention are possible in light of the above techniques. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
  • a solid, nitrogen generating composition consisting essentially of (1) an azide selected from the group consisting of sodium azide, lithium azide and mixtures thereof and (2) sulfur.
  • composition of claim 1 wherein said azide is sodium azide.
  • composition of claim 1 which additionally contains a substance or mixture of substances which can produce C0 4.
  • composition of claim 3 wherein said substance is a carbonate.
  • composition of claim 1 wherein said azide and said sulfur are present in about stoichiometric quantities.
  • composition of claim 1 wherein the quantity of either said azide or said sulfur is not less than about 20 percent of the stoichiometric quantity.
  • composition of claim 3 wherein the quantity of either said azide or said sulfur is not less than about 20 percent of the stoichiometric quantity.
  • composition of claim 1 wherein the quantity of said azide or said sulfur is not less than about percent of the stoichiometric quantity.
  • composition of claim 3 wherein the quantity of either side sulfur or said azide is not less than about 75 percent of the stoichiometric quantity.
  • a method of generating hot nitrogen gas comprising igniting the composition of claim 1.
  • a method of generating hot nitrogen and CO comprising igniting the composition of claim 3.
  • a method of generating hot nitrogen which is capable of use in a gas dynamic laser comprising igniting the composition of claim 5.
  • a method of generating hot nitrogen and CO which is capable of use in a gas dynamic laser comprising igniting the composition of claim 6.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Feeding, Discharge, Calcimining, Fusing, And Gas-Generation Devices (AREA)
  • Air Bags (AREA)

Abstract

A material for generating hot nitrogen gas comprising sodium azide and sulfur in the presence of a conventional solid propellant ignitor.

Description

Unite States Patent [1 1 Boyars et a1.
[ NITROGEN GENERATOR [75 I Inventors: Carl Boyars; Carl T. Zovko, both of Silver Spring, Md.
[73 Assignee: The United States of America, as
represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC.
[22] Filed: Oct. 13, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 297,513
[ NOV. 27, 1973 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,981,616 4/1961 Boyer 149/35 Primary Examiner-Stephen .l. Lechert, Jr. Att0rneyR. S. Sciascia et a1.
[5 7] ABSTRACT A material for generating hot nitrogen gas comprising sodium azide and sulfur in the presence of a conventional solid propellant ignitor.
14 Claims, No Drawings NITROGEN GENERATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention generally relates to a gas generator and more particularly to a solid propellant nitrogen gas generator.
Currently nitrogen gas generators find use in the fields of electric power, mechanical work, pressurization of liquid propellants and as a fuel source for gas dynamic lasers. Gas dynamic lasers utilizing gas compositions which are mainly N have been operated by are heating of the gas, which had been stored as a gas under pressure or as a cryogenic liquid or else by the combustion of pre-heated CO with with subsequent addition of N from the same sources. However, any system of furnishing the gas composition which depends on pressurized or cryogenic N is undesirably bulky and inconvenient.
Some nitrogen gas generators are based on the reaction of NaN with P ClF N 0 or other similar materials to produce N but use of these toxic, corrosive gases and liquids have proven to be unacceptably hazardous to personnel.
Thus research has been conducted in an attempt to find a relatively safe method of producing nitrogen which does not require the use of bulky, inconvenient equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly one object of this invention is to provide a new composition for generating nitrogen.
Another object of this invention is to provide a composition for generating nitrogen which is not bulky, and inconvenient to use.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a composition for generating nitrogen which does not use toxic or corrosive materials which are hazardous to personnel.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a composition for generating pure nitrogen which can be used in gas dynamic lasers.
A still further object of this invention is to provide nitrogen which can be used in the fields of electrical power, mechanical work and pressurization of liquid propellants.
These and other objects of this invention are accomplished by providing a solid composition comprising sodium azide or an azide of similar sensitivity, and sulfur which are in the presence of a conventional solid propellant initiator.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention comprises a solid composition which is capable of producing hot nitrogen gas. This composition comprises (1) sodium azide or an azide of similar sensitivity and (2) sulfur which are in the pres ence of any of the conventional solid propellant initiators. If it is desired to have CO present together with the nitrogen gas, as is the case when N is used in gas dynamic lasers wherein it is desirable for the gas being generated to comprise about 80-90 percent N -15 percent CO and 1-2 percent water, the CO may be added after N generation or it may be supplied by adding a carbonate or other fuel oxidizer combinations such as carbon and sodium nitrate to the solid propellant.
Since the azide and sulfur are not hypergolic it is necessary to have an initiator or ignitor present in the combustion chamberin order to start the reaction. The reaction is started by buming or otherwise igniting a small conventional solid propellant ignitor. Once the reaction has started the ignitor is no longer necessary. Once started the stoichiometric reaction between sodium azide and sulfur is ln situations where it is desirable to have as few products in addition to N present in the gas, it is preferred to have about stoichiometric amounts of the azide and sulfur present. However for most uses, it is only necessary to have some quantity of the fuel and oxidizer present. In practice where low combustion temperatures are desirable to minimize impurities in the gas, it is preferable to have the sulfur constituent present in an amount less than stoichiometric, even as low as 20 percent of the stoichiometric quantity, and preferably as low as about percent of the stoichiometric quantity. As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, it is also desirable to have the azide constituent present in an amount no less than 20 percent of the stoichiometric quantity and preferably as about 75 percent of the stoichiometric quantity.
As can be seen from the above equation, the chemical reaction that produces N also produces other products. For some uses, such as gas dynamic laser, these impurities should be removed before the gas enters the laser, because impurities of this type can plug the nozzle, absorb or scatter light or coat the optical components. The solid and/or liquid impurities can be removed by any of the conventional techniques such as, for example, by passing the gas through a series of baffles while the gas is still at high pressure and low velocity. The entrained particles will not follow the same path as the gas stream and they will impinge on the walls and be trapped. 1
It should be noted that other azides beside-sodium azide may be used in the compositions of this invention provided that the azide has a similar sensitivity to sodium azide. A specific azide which may be used is lithium azide.
The conventional solid propellant ignitor which is used to initiate reaction need only be present in extremely small quantities because once the reaction is started it no longer requires th presence of the ignitor. Any of the well known solid propellant ignitors can be used. Some examples of these'ignitors are black powder, pyrotechnics, metal oxident mixtures, such as horon/KNO aluminum/potassium perchlorate, thermites, etc. The exact nature of the ignitor is immaterial since its only function is to start the reaction. Thus the ignitor is a separate device which contains any of the art recognized solid propellant initiatorsand which is either contained in or vented into the combustion chamber.
The general nature of the invention having been set forth, the following example is presented as aspecific illustration thereof. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to this example but is susceptible to various modifications that will be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art.
EXAMPLE A 20 gram pellet of percent by weight NaN and 20 percent by weight S was prepared. About 2 grams of the standard solid rocket propellant initiator, boron-KNO was ignited in the combustion chamber. The pellet was fired in a test chamber by igniting the conventional ignitor.
Other pellets which have been prepared comprise 1 60 percent by weight Na N percent by weight sulfur and 25 percent by weight Na CO and (2) 61 percent by weight Na N 15 percent by weight sulfur and 24 percent by weight Ca CO Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the persent invention are possible in light of the above techniques. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.
What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:
l. A solid, nitrogen generating composition consisting essentially of (1) an azide selected from the group consisting of sodium azide, lithium azide and mixtures thereof and (2) sulfur.
2. The composition of claim 1 wherein said azide is sodium azide.
3. The composition of claim 1 which additionally contains a substance or mixture of substances which can produce C0 4. The composition of claim 3 wherein said substance is a carbonate.
5. The composition of claim 1 wherein said azide and said sulfur are present in about stoichiometric quantities.
6. The composition of claim 3 wherein said azide and said sulfur are present in about stoichiometric quantities.
7. The composition of claim 1 wherein the quantity of either said azide or said sulfur is not less than about 20 percent of the stoichiometric quantity.
8. The composition of claim 3 wherein the quantity of either said azide or said sulfur is not less than about 20 percent of the stoichiometric quantity.
9. The composition of claim 1 wherein the quantity of said azide or said sulfur is not less than about percent of the stoichiometric quantity.
10. The composition of claim 3 wherein the quantity of either side sulfur or said azide is not less than about 75 percent of the stoichiometric quantity.
1 1. A method of generating hot nitrogen gas comprising igniting the composition of claim 1.
12. A method of generating hot nitrogen and CO comprising igniting the composition of claim 3.
13. A method of generating hot nitrogen which is capable of use in a gas dynamic laser comprising igniting the composition of claim 5.
14. A method of generating hot nitrogen and CO which is capable of use in a gas dynamic laser comprising igniting the composition of claim 6.

Claims (13)

  1. 2. The composition of claim 1 wherein said azide is sodium azide.
  2. 3. The composition of claim 1 which additionally contains a substance or mixture of substances which can produce CO2.
  3. 4. The composition of claim 3 wherein said substance is a carbonate.
  4. 5. The composition of claim 1 wherein said azide and said sulfur are present in about stoichiometric quantities.
  5. 6. The composition of claim 3 wherein said azide and said sulfur are present in about stoichiometric quantities.
  6. 7. The composition of claim 1 wherein the quantity of either said azide or said sulfur is not less than about 20 percent of the stoichiometric quantity.
  7. 8. The composition of claim 3 wherein the quantity of either said azide or said sulfur is not less than about 20 percent of the stoichiometric quantity.
  8. 9. The composition of claim 1 wherein the quantity of said azide or said sulfur is not less than about 75 percent of the stoichiometric quantity.
  9. 10. The composition of claim 3 wherein the quantity of either side sulfur or said azide is not less than about 75 percent of the stoichiometric quantity.
  10. 11. A method of generating hot nitrogen gas comprising igniting the composition of claim 1.
  11. 12. A method of generating hot nitrogen and CO2 comprising igniting the composition of claim 3.
  12. 13. A method of generating hot nitrogen which is capable of use in a gas dynamic laser comprising igniting the composition of claim 5.
  13. 14. A method of generating hot nitrogen and CO2 which is capable of use in a gas dynamic laser comprising igniting the composition of claim 6.
US00297513A 1972-10-13 1972-10-13 Nitrogen generator Expired - Lifetime US3775199A (en)

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Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4547235A (en) * 1984-06-14 1985-10-15 Morton Thiokol, Inc. Gas generant for air bag inflators
FR2624114A1 (en) * 1987-12-03 1989-06-09 France Etat THERMOSTABLE PYROTECHNIC COMPOSITION SENSITIVE TO PERCUSSION
US5019220A (en) * 1990-08-06 1991-05-28 Morton International, Inc. Process for making an enhanced thermal and ignition stability azide gas generant
US5223184A (en) * 1990-08-06 1993-06-29 Morton International, Inc. Enhanced thermal and ignition stability azide gas generant
RU2102365C1 (en) * 1995-05-30 1998-01-20 Самарский государственный технический университет Gas generating composition
RU2102366C1 (en) * 1995-05-30 1998-01-20 Самарский государственный технический университет Gas generating composition
US20090321570A1 (en) * 2008-06-25 2009-12-31 Lockheed Martin Corporation System, method and apparatus for windblast reduction during release or ejection from aircraft

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2981616A (en) * 1956-10-01 1961-04-25 North American Aviation Inc Gas generator grain

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2981616A (en) * 1956-10-01 1961-04-25 North American Aviation Inc Gas generator grain

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4547235A (en) * 1984-06-14 1985-10-15 Morton Thiokol, Inc. Gas generant for air bag inflators
FR2624114A1 (en) * 1987-12-03 1989-06-09 France Etat THERMOSTABLE PYROTECHNIC COMPOSITION SENSITIVE TO PERCUSSION
EP0375821A1 (en) * 1987-12-03 1990-07-04 GIAT Industries Thermally stable percussion-sensitive pyrotechnical composition
US5019220A (en) * 1990-08-06 1991-05-28 Morton International, Inc. Process for making an enhanced thermal and ignition stability azide gas generant
US5223184A (en) * 1990-08-06 1993-06-29 Morton International, Inc. Enhanced thermal and ignition stability azide gas generant
US5437229A (en) * 1990-08-06 1995-08-01 Morton International, Inc. Enhanced thermal and ignition stability azide gas generant intermediates
RU2102365C1 (en) * 1995-05-30 1998-01-20 Самарский государственный технический университет Gas generating composition
RU2102366C1 (en) * 1995-05-30 1998-01-20 Самарский государственный технический университет Gas generating composition
US20090321570A1 (en) * 2008-06-25 2009-12-31 Lockheed Martin Corporation System, method and apparatus for windblast reduction during release or ejection from aircraft
US8033504B2 (en) 2008-06-25 2011-10-11 Lockheed Martin Corporation System, method and apparatus for windblast reduction during release or ejection from aircraft

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