US3787186A - Calcium hydride gas generator - Google Patents

Calcium hydride gas generator Download PDF

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Publication number
US3787186A
US3787186A US00222833A US3787186DA US3787186A US 3787186 A US3787186 A US 3787186A US 00222833 A US00222833 A US 00222833A US 3787186D A US3787186D A US 3787186DA US 3787186 A US3787186 A US 3787186A
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pump
water
gas
pressure
reaction chamber
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US00222833A
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R Geres
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US Department of Navy
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US Department of Navy
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01J—CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J7/00—Apparatus for generating gases
    • B01J7/02—Apparatus for generating gases by wet methods
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
    • C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen

Definitions

  • gas generators have been designed which provide for pressure equalization during descent of the gas generator.
  • these gas generators do not produce a pressure differential over ambient which is of course necessary for performing work at a given depth.
  • the present invention produces a pressure differential over ambient.
  • the present invention provides for refueling through the use of loaded cartridges-of CaH These cartridges are easily inserted into and removed from the reaction chamber of the present invention. Prior art devices do not provide such ease in refueling.
  • the invention comprises a demand mode underwater CaH; gas generator in which a differential area gas operated hydraulic pump is used in a bootstrap or selfsupporting mode to pump water into a reaction chamber. Water is pumped into the reaction chamber until the water level reaches the CaH and reacts to produce enough gas just to exceed the operating pressure, whereupon the pump will stall. No further hydrolysis takes place until the chamber pressure is relieved and the pump again operates to raise the water level into contact with unreacted CaH The cycle is thus repeated as gas is used from the generator. About 50 feet of depth pressure is required to start the generator.
  • a differential area gas operated hydraulic pump is used in a bootstrap or self-supporting mode to pump water into the reaction chamber. Water is pumped into the reactor chamber until the level reaches the CaH and reacts to produce enough gas to just exceed the operating pressure, whereupon the pump will stall. No further hydrolysis takes place until the chamber pressure is relieved and the pump again operates to raise the water level into contact with unreacted CaH The cycle is thus repeated as gas is used from the generator. Operation of the generator would be completely demand and automatic. About 50 feet of depth pressure is required to start the generator. For operation at shallower depths the unit could be prepressurized.
  • the granular CaH is contained in a cylindrical cartridge which consists of an outer wrap of stainless steel screen and an inner liner of fiberglass cloth.
  • the diameter of the cartridges is limited to about 2 inches to insure that all of the CaH will be reacted.
  • a generator could therefore have several cartridges in the reactor chamber. In general the number of cartridges is a function of the gas generation rate, and the length of the cartridges a function of the total volume of gas required.
  • Refueling the generator is accomplished by simply replacing the individual CaH cartridges. Loaded cartridges are stored in sealed containers and reloading performed in a relatively dry atmosphere. Also, the cartridges can be sealed so that refueling could be performed under any conditions even under water. Depleted cartridges can be disposed of in the sea.
  • the regulator serves to maintain a constant pressure of 20 psig downstream of the regulator when the upstream pressure is at least 20 psig. This assures that the 7:1 ratio pump will not exceed psig downstream.
  • a gas generator system comprising:
  • gas conveyance means connected to said chamber and said pump for conveying gas formed in said chamber to said pump for driving said pump;
  • the system of claim 1 further comprising means to control said pump for pumping water into said chamber until the level reaches said hydride and reacts to produce sufficient pressure to cause said pump to stall until said pressure subsides.

Abstract

A differential area gas operated hydraulic pump used in a bootstrap mode to pump water into a reaction chamber. Water is pumped into the reaction chamber until the level reaches a quantity of calcium hydride (Cah2) and reacts to produce just enough gas to exceed the operating pressure, whereupon the pump will stall. No further hydrolysis takes place until the chamber pressure is relieved at which time the pump again operates to raise the water level into contact with unreacted CaH2.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Geres Jan. 22, 1974 [54] CALCIUM HYDRIDE GAS GENERATOR 3,554,707 1/1971 Holmes et a1 23 282 3,585,007 6/1971 Gross 23/282 [75] Invent Gems Chma Lake 3,561,926 2/1971 McElroy 24/282 [73] Assignee: The United States of America as g 2g 5g represented the Secretary of the app 7 y, Washington D'C. 778,052 12/1904 Lewism, 48/31 Filed: Feb. 2, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OI APPLICATIONS 1,214,195 12/1970 Great Britain 23/282 [21] Appl. No.: 222,833
Primary Examiner-Barry S. Richman 52 us. (:1 23/282, 48/31, 48/37, Arrow/9,1188% or Sciascia er 423/657 511 161. C1. B01j 7/02, c1011 5/00 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Fleld of Search 23/282; 423/657; 48/331, 37 A differential area gas operated hydraulic pump used in a bootstrap mode to pump water into a reaction [56] References Cited chamber. Water is pumped into the reaction chamber UNITED STATES PATENTS until the level reaches a quantity of calcium hydride 713,658 11/1902 MacKenzie 48/32 R m and reacts to Produce j enough 8 to 738,827 9/1903 May 48/37 ceed the operating ressure, whereupon the pump will 988,645 4/1911 Martin 48/37 stall. No further hydrolysis takes place until the cham- 3,174,833 3/1965 Blackmer 23/282 ber pressure is relieved at which time the pump again lg; if at operates to raise the water level into contact with unat1ca 3,453,086 7/1969 Harm 23/282 reacted Cal-I2. 3,542,524 11/1970 Kimble et a1. 23/282 5 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure RELIEF VALVE (1150 M101 REGULATOR (20 P810) 0A8 OUTLET 140 P8101 METERING VALVE CALCIUM HYDRIDE REACTION CHAMBER GAB EXHAUST CHECK VALVE 7:1 RATIO OM OPERATED IWNUUUC 1W PTENTEUJAKZZ I974 RELIEF VALVE (150 PSIG) REGULATOR (20 PSIG) GAS OUTLET (14o PSIG) METERING VALVE CALCIUM HYDRIDE REACTION CHAMBER RELIEF I VALVE (25 PSIG) HYDRAULIC PUMP J GAS EXHAUST CHECK VALV 7:1 RATIO GAS OPERATED 1 CALCIUM HYDRIDE GAS GENERATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention pertains to demand mode underwater reactant hydride gas generators.
2. Description of the Prior Art In the past, gas generators have been designed which provide for pressure equalization during descent of the gas generator. However, these gas generators do not produce a pressure differential over ambient which is of course necessary for performing work at a given depth. The present invention produces a pressure differential over ambient.
Also the present invention provides for refueling through the use of loaded cartridges-of CaH These cartridges are easily inserted into and removed from the reaction chamber of the present invention. Prior art devices do not provide such ease in refueling.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises a demand mode underwater CaH; gas generator in which a differential area gas operated hydraulic pump is used in a bootstrap or selfsupporting mode to pump water into a reaction chamber. Water is pumped into the reaction chamber until the water level reaches the CaH and reacts to produce enough gas just to exceed the operating pressure, whereupon the pump will stall. No further hydrolysis takes place until the chamber pressure is relieved and the pump again operates to raise the water level into contact with unreacted CaH The cycle is thus repeated as gas is used from the generator. About 50 feet of depth pressure is required to start the generator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The drawing shows the invention in schematic form.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A differential area gas operated hydraulic pump is used in a bootstrap or self-supporting mode to pump water into the reaction chamber. Water is pumped into the reactor chamber until the level reaches the CaH and reacts to produce enough gas to just exceed the operating pressure, whereupon the pump will stall. No further hydrolysis takes place until the chamber pressure is relieved and the pump again operates to raise the water level into contact with unreacted CaH The cycle is thus repeated as gas is used from the generator. Operation of the generator would be completely demand and automatic. About 50 feet of depth pressure is required to start the generator. For operation at shallower depths the unit could be prepressurized.
The granular CaH is contained in a cylindrical cartridge which consists of an outer wrap of stainless steel screen and an inner liner of fiberglass cloth. The diameter of the cartridges is limited to about 2 inches to insure that all of the CaH will be reacted. A generator could therefore have several cartridges in the reactor chamber. In general the number of cartridges is a function of the gas generation rate, and the length of the cartridges a function of the total volume of gas required.
Refueling the generator is accomplished by simply replacing the individual CaH cartridges. Loaded cartridges are stored in sealed containers and reloading performed in a relatively dry atmosphere. Also, the cartridges can be sealed so that refueling could be performed under any conditions even under water. Depleted cartridges can be disposed of in the sea.
The regulator serves to maintain a constant pressure of 20 psig downstream of the regulator when the upstream pressure is at least 20 psig. This assures that the 7:1 ratio pump will not exceed psig downstream.
I claim:
1. A gas generator system comprising:
a reaction chamber;
a quantity of water reactant hydride located in said reaction chamber;
a water conduit;
a gas operated hydraulic pump connected to said chamber via said conduit for pumping water into said chamber; and
gas conveyance means connected to said chamber and said pump for conveying gas formed in said chamber to said pump for driving said pump;
whereby said hydride, after coming into contact with water, forms a gas which drives said pump in a bootstrap fashion.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising means for operating said generator in a demand mode.
3. The system of claim 1 further comprising means to control said pump for pumping water into said chamber until the level reaches said hydride and reacts to produce sufficient pressure to cause said pump to stall until said pressure subsides.
4. The system of claim 1 further comprising regulator means located in said conveyance means for maintaining a constant maximum gas pressure entering said pump.
5. The system of claim 1 further comprising said hydride being in the form of a cartridge.

Claims (4)

  1. 2. The system of claim 1 further comprising means for operating said generator in a demand mode.
  2. 3. The system of claim 1 further comprising means to control said pump for pumping water into said chamber until the level reaches said hydride and reacts to produce sufficient pressure to cause said pump to stall until said pressure subsides.
  3. 4. The system of claim 1 further comprising regulator means located in said conveyance means for maintaining a constant maximum gas pressure entering said pump.
  4. 5. The system of claim 1 further comprising said hydride being in the form of a cartridge.
US00222833A 1972-02-02 1972-02-02 Calcium hydride gas generator Expired - Lifetime US3787186A (en)

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Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3932138A (en) * 1973-02-13 1976-01-13 Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-G.M.B.H. Liquid decomposing system
US4054423A (en) * 1975-07-21 1977-10-18 Blenman Orman L Variable pressure fuel generator and method
US4055632A (en) * 1976-12-22 1977-10-25 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Controllable gas generator
FR2404462A1 (en) * 1977-09-30 1979-04-27 Joud Fernand Robert Appts. for the decomposition of water to give fuel gases - using any solid capable of decomposing water into its elements
US4374091A (en) * 1981-08-14 1983-02-15 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Gas generators having controlled operational attitudes
US4404170A (en) * 1982-04-23 1983-09-13 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Instantaneous start and stop gas generator
US4433633A (en) 1982-04-16 1984-02-28 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Controlled gas generator system
US4781894A (en) * 1987-03-09 1988-11-01 Wheaton Jeffrey C Control mechanism for delivery of gas product at constant pressure
US5202195A (en) * 1990-12-14 1993-04-13 International Fuel Cells Corporation Method of and arrangement for replenishing hydrogen consumed by a fuel cell device
WO1998030493A2 (en) * 1997-01-07 1998-07-16 British Nuclear Fuels Plc Hydrogen gas generation
US20020166286A1 (en) * 1999-05-10 2002-11-14 Mcclaine Andrew W. Storage, generation, and use of hydrogen
US6572836B1 (en) 2000-03-17 2003-06-03 Hydro-Quebec Method for producing gaseous hydrogen by chemical reaction of metals or metal hydrides subjected to intense mechanical deformations
US20040166057A1 (en) * 2003-02-26 2004-08-26 Andreas Schell Powder metal hydride hydrogen generator
US20070217994A1 (en) * 2000-01-07 2007-09-20 Amendola Steven C System for hydrogen generation
US8821834B2 (en) 2008-12-23 2014-09-02 Societe Bic Hydrogen generator with aerogel catalyst

Citations (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US669140A (en) * 1899-09-07 1901-03-05 Wenzl Knapp Production of compressed gas.
US713658A (en) * 1902-05-17 1902-11-18 Cyrus W Mackenzie Acetylene-gas generator.
US738827A (en) * 1903-02-06 1903-09-15 Walter S May Acetylene-gas generator.
US778052A (en) * 1898-12-13 1904-12-20 Thomas E Lewis Acetylene-gas generator.
US988645A (en) * 1911-04-04 Frederick William Martin Acetylene-gas generator.
US3174833A (en) * 1962-05-15 1965-03-23 Richard H Blackmer Hydrogen generating canister
US3268298A (en) * 1965-03-23 1966-08-23 Aircraft Armaments Inc Low-to-high pressure admission valve for gas generator
US3291572A (en) * 1964-04-22 1966-12-13 Fatica Nicholas Hydrogen generator
US3453086A (en) * 1965-10-12 1969-07-01 Gen Electric Self-regulating gas generator
US3542524A (en) * 1967-10-10 1970-11-24 Harry E Kimble Oxygen generating apparatus for aquariums and other oxygen requirement systems
GB1214195A (en) * 1967-12-02 1970-12-02 Siemens Ag Improvements in or relating to a method of and apparatus for producing a gas
US3554707A (en) * 1968-04-10 1971-01-12 Gen Electric Attitude insensitive gas generator
US3561926A (en) * 1968-04-10 1971-02-09 Gen Electric Attitude insensitive gas generator
US3585007A (en) * 1968-09-09 1971-06-15 Morton E Frank Gas generator
US3667216A (en) * 1968-09-27 1972-06-06 United Aircraft Corp Pressurization system

Patent Citations (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US988645A (en) * 1911-04-04 Frederick William Martin Acetylene-gas generator.
US778052A (en) * 1898-12-13 1904-12-20 Thomas E Lewis Acetylene-gas generator.
US669140A (en) * 1899-09-07 1901-03-05 Wenzl Knapp Production of compressed gas.
US713658A (en) * 1902-05-17 1902-11-18 Cyrus W Mackenzie Acetylene-gas generator.
US738827A (en) * 1903-02-06 1903-09-15 Walter S May Acetylene-gas generator.
US3174833A (en) * 1962-05-15 1965-03-23 Richard H Blackmer Hydrogen generating canister
US3291572A (en) * 1964-04-22 1966-12-13 Fatica Nicholas Hydrogen generator
US3268298A (en) * 1965-03-23 1966-08-23 Aircraft Armaments Inc Low-to-high pressure admission valve for gas generator
US3453086A (en) * 1965-10-12 1969-07-01 Gen Electric Self-regulating gas generator
US3542524A (en) * 1967-10-10 1970-11-24 Harry E Kimble Oxygen generating apparatus for aquariums and other oxygen requirement systems
GB1214195A (en) * 1967-12-02 1970-12-02 Siemens Ag Improvements in or relating to a method of and apparatus for producing a gas
US3554707A (en) * 1968-04-10 1971-01-12 Gen Electric Attitude insensitive gas generator
US3561926A (en) * 1968-04-10 1971-02-09 Gen Electric Attitude insensitive gas generator
US3585007A (en) * 1968-09-09 1971-06-15 Morton E Frank Gas generator
US3667216A (en) * 1968-09-27 1972-06-06 United Aircraft Corp Pressurization system

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3932138A (en) * 1973-02-13 1976-01-13 Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-G.M.B.H. Liquid decomposing system
US4054423A (en) * 1975-07-21 1977-10-18 Blenman Orman L Variable pressure fuel generator and method
US4055632A (en) * 1976-12-22 1977-10-25 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Controllable gas generator
FR2404462A1 (en) * 1977-09-30 1979-04-27 Joud Fernand Robert Appts. for the decomposition of water to give fuel gases - using any solid capable of decomposing water into its elements
US4374091A (en) * 1981-08-14 1983-02-15 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Gas generators having controlled operational attitudes
US4433633A (en) 1982-04-16 1984-02-28 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Controlled gas generator system
US4404170A (en) * 1982-04-23 1983-09-13 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Instantaneous start and stop gas generator
US4781894A (en) * 1987-03-09 1988-11-01 Wheaton Jeffrey C Control mechanism for delivery of gas product at constant pressure
US5202195A (en) * 1990-12-14 1993-04-13 International Fuel Cells Corporation Method of and arrangement for replenishing hydrogen consumed by a fuel cell device
WO1998030493A2 (en) * 1997-01-07 1998-07-16 British Nuclear Fuels Plc Hydrogen gas generation
WO1998030493A3 (en) * 1997-01-07 1998-09-11 British Nuclear Fuels Plc Hydrogen gas generation
US20020166286A1 (en) * 1999-05-10 2002-11-14 Mcclaine Andrew W. Storage, generation, and use of hydrogen
US7052671B2 (en) 1999-05-10 2006-05-30 Safe Hydrogen, Llc Storage, generation, and use of hydrogen
US20070217994A1 (en) * 2000-01-07 2007-09-20 Amendola Steven C System for hydrogen generation
US6572836B1 (en) 2000-03-17 2003-06-03 Hydro-Quebec Method for producing gaseous hydrogen by chemical reaction of metals or metal hydrides subjected to intense mechanical deformations
US20040166057A1 (en) * 2003-02-26 2004-08-26 Andreas Schell Powder metal hydride hydrogen generator
US7179443B2 (en) * 2003-02-26 2007-02-20 Daimlerchrysler Corporation Powder metal hydride hydrogen generator
US8821834B2 (en) 2008-12-23 2014-09-02 Societe Bic Hydrogen generator with aerogel catalyst

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