Hydrogen gas generators for use in chemical lasers

Claim 1

A solid propellant composition that produces high temperature, chemically pure hydrogen or deuterium from a self-sustaining reaction after said reaction is initiated by a heat source sufficient to initiate said reaction, said solid propellant composition comprising a uniform mixture of a stoichiometric amount of trivalent metal oxide of the formula Q 2 O 3 , where Q is a trivalent metal selected from iron, aluminum, gallium, cobalt, and indium, said trivalent metal oxide rendered moisture free by drying at a temperature at least 10 percent above that temperature needed to remove water of hydration, and a stoichiometric amount of a complex boron compound selected from the complex boron compounds having the formulas: M(BH 4 ) x and M(BD 4 ) x , wherein x is the valence of the metal (M), M is an alkali metal or an alkali earth metal, H is hydrogen, and D is deuterium, said stoichiometric amount being based on the reaction: 3M(BH.sub.4).sub.x or 3M(BD.sub.4).sub.x + 2(x) Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 → 3M(BO.sub.2).sub.x + 4(x) Fe + 6(x) H.sub.2 or 6(x) D.sub.2 wherein x is as previously identified.

Claim 7

A method for producing chemically pure hydrogen or deuterium having a temperature of about 600°C to about 700°C from an initiated reaction that is self-sustaining, said method comprising: i. combining a stoichiometric amount of a trivalent metal oxide of the general formula Q 2 O 3 , where Q is a trivalent metal selected from iron, aluminum, cobalt, gallium, and indium and where said trivalent metal oxide has been rendered moisture free by drying at a temperature at least 10 percent above that temperature needed to remove water of hydration, with a stoichiometric amount of a complex boron compound selected from the complex boron compounds having the formula: M(BH 4 ) x and M(BD 4 ) x , wherein x is the valence of the metal (M), M is an alkali metal or an alkali earth metal, H is hydrogen, and D is deuterium, said stoichiometric amount being based on the reaction ratios of the reactants in the following representative equation: 3M(BH.sub.4).sub.x or 3M(BD.sub.4).sub.x + 2x Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 → 3M(BO.sub.2).sub.x + 4(x) Fe + 6(x) H.sub.2 or 6(x) D.sub.2 ; ii. mixing to achieve a uniform mixture of said trivalent metal oxide and said complex boron compound selected; iii. forming said mixture into a pellet by pressing in a die while using a pressure of up to about 10,000 psig; iv. placing said pellet in a sealable combustion apparatus adapted for operating under vacuum or pressure, said pellet being placed in electrical contact with an ignition wire comprised of about 80 weight percent nickel and of about 20 weight percent chromium; v. purging said combustion apparatus to remove all the air and water vapor; and thereafter, vi. supplying an amount of electrical energy to produce sufficient heat to initiate a reaction which is a self-sustaining reaction whereby said hydrogen or deuterium is produced until said reaction is completed.

Claim 8

A method for producing chemically pure hydrogen or deuterium having a temperature of about 600°C to about 700°C from an initiated reaction that is self-sustaining, said method comprising: i. combining a stoichiometric amount of a trivalent metal oxide of the general formula Q 2 O 3 , where Q is a trivalent metal selected from iron, aluminum, cobalt, gallium, and indium and where said trivalent metal oxide has been rendered moisture free by drying at a temperature at least 10 percent above that temperature needed to remove water of hydration, with a stoichiometric amount of a complex boron compound selected from the complex boron compounds having the formula: M(BH 4 ) x and M(BD 4 ) x , wherein x is the valence of the metal (M), M is an alkali metal or an alkali earth metal, H is hydrogen, and D is deuterium, said stoichiometric amount being based on the reaction ratios of the reactants in the following representative equation: 3M(BH.sub.4).sub.x or 3M(BD.sub.4).sub.x + 2x Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 → 3M(BO.sub.2).sub.x + 4(x) Fe + 6(x) H.sub.2 or 6(x) D.sub.2 ; ii. mixing to achieve a uniform mixture of said trivalent metal oxide and said complex boron compound selected; iii. forming said mixture into a pellet by pressing in a die while using a pressure of up to about 10,000 psig; iv. placing said pellet in a sealable combustion apparatus adapted for operating under vacuum or pressure, said pellet being placed in electrical contact with an ignition wire comprised of about 80 weight percent nickel and of about 20 weight percent chromium; v. purging said combustion apparatus to remove all the air and water vapor; and thereafter, vi. supplying an amount of electrical energy to produce sufficient heat to initiate a reaction which is a self-sustaining reaction whereby said hydrogen or deuterium is produced until said reaction is completed.