US3857927A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method including a catalyst bed for combining hydrogen and oxygen gases
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1972-11-30
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Granted: 1974-12-31
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Expires: 1992-11-30
Abstract
Abstract An improved catalyst bed for hydrogen and oxygen gas combiners, and particularly for hydrogen and oxygen gas recombiners for use with nuclear reactors, in which the catalyst bed is relatively thin and has a very large frontal area in relation to the thickness or depth of the catalyst bed. The catalyst bed is designed with a thickness of less than about 0.25 foot and a thickness to frontal area ratio of less than 0.01 ft./ft.2. A modular catalyst bed design employing catalyst cartridges is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 J Henrie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:06
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J8/00; B01J8/02; C; C01; C01B; C01B5/00; B01J2208/00; B01J2208/00008; B01J2208/00017; B01J2208/00106; B01J2208/00168; B01J2208/00176; B01J2208/00212; B01J2208/0053; B01J2208/00539; B01J2208/00548; B01J2208/00557
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
49 words
A SYSTEM FOR RECOMBINING HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN GASES COMPRISING: A. A SOURCE OF HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN GASES; B. A CATALYST BED HAVING A THICKNESS OF LESS THAN 0.25 FOOT AND A THICKNESS TO FRONTAL AREA RATIO OF LESS THAN 0.01 FT./FT/2, THE CATALYST BEING EFFECTIVE TO PROMOTE THE REACTION:
Claim 2
Independent Claim
49 words
A SYSTEM FOR RECOMBINING HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN GASES COMPRISING: A. A SOURCE OF HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN GASES; B. A CATALYST BED HAVING A THICKNESS OF LESS THAN 0.25 FOOT AND A THICKNESS TO FRONTAL AREA RATIO OF LESS THAN 0.01 FT./FT/2, THE CATALYST BEING EFFECTIVE TO PROMOTE THE REACTION:
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 1 in which the thickness of the catalyst bed is less than about 0.10 foot and the thickness to frontal area ratio of the catalyst bed is less than 0.001 ft./ft.2.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 in which the catalyst bed is contained in at least one modular catalyst cartridge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 3 in which the modular catalyst cartridge comprises two gas permeable walls which define a catalyst chamber, said catalyst chamber being packed with catalyst to form the catalyst bed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 4 in which the gas permeable walls are concentric, cylindrical walls and define an annular catalyst chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 4 in which the modular catalyst cartridge includes at least one spacer located between the two gas permeable walls and in the catalyst chamber, said spacer acting as a support for said gas permeable walls and as a support for the catalyst packed in said catalyst chamber to prevent excessive catalyst settling.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
The system of claim 3 in which the modular catalyst cartridge is cylindrical in shape and is vertically oriented and in which said modular catalyst cartridge comprises two gas impermeable walls which define a first catalyst chamber, said first catalyst chamber being packed with catalyst, and two gas permeable walls which define a second catalyst chamber, said second catalyst chamber being packed with catalyst to form the catalyst bed, said first catalyst chamber being in communication with said second catalyst chamber such that catalyst is gravity fed into said second catalyst chamber from said first catalyst chamber when catalyst settling occurs in said second catalyst chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
The system of claim 7 in which the modular catalyst cartridge includes at least one gas impermeable spacer located between the two gas permeable walls and in the second catalyst chamber, said spacer comprising an inverted U-shaped channel which defines a third catalyst chamber, said third catalyst chamber being packed with catalyst, said third catalyst chamber being in communication with said second catalyst chamber such that catalyst is gravity fed into said second catalyst chamber from said third catalyst chamber when catalyst settling occurs in said second catalyst chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
In the method for combining hydrogen and oxygen in which the hydrogen and oxygen are contacted with a catalyst bed in which the catalyst is effective to promote the reaction: 2H2+O2 -> 2H2O, the improvement comprising contacting the hydrogen and oxygen with a catalyst bed which has a thickness of less than about 0.25 foot and a thickness to frontal area ratio of less than 0.01 ft./ft.2.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
In the method for combining hydrogen and oxygen in which the hydrogen and oxygen are contacted with a catalyst bed in which the catalyst is effective to promote the reaction: 2H2+O2 -> 2H2O, the improvement comprising contacting the hydrogen and oxygen with a catalyst bed which has a thickness of less than about 0.25 foot and a thickness to frontal area ratio of less than 0.01 ft./ft.2.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 9 in which the hydrogen and oxygen are contacted with a catalyst bed having a thickness of less than about 0.10 foot and a thickness to frontal area ratio of less than 0.001 ft./ft.2.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2943921A
Cited
US3100141A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-30 | 1978-07-01 | 1978-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-30 | 1982-07-01 | 1982-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-30 | 1986-07-01 | 1986-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |