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US4085590A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Hydride compressor

Assignee: United States Department of Energy
•
Filing: 1976-01-05
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Granted: 1978-04-25
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Expires: 1996-01-05
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Abstract

Abstract Method of producing high energy pressurized gas working fluid power from a low energy, low temperature heat source, wherein the compression energy is gained by using the low energy heat source to desorb hydrogen gas from a metal hydride bed and the desorbed hydrogen for producing power is recycled to the bed, where it is re-adsorbed, with the recycling being powered by the low energy heat source. In one embodiment, the adsorption-desorption cycle provides a chemical compressor that is powered by the low energy heat source, and the compressor is connected to a regenerative gas turbine having a high energy, high temperature heat source with the recycling being powered by the low energy heat source.

Inventors

  • 👤 James R. Powell
  • 👤 Francis J. Salzano

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 18:20
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01K; F01K25/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim 174 words
Apparatus for producing hydrogen gas power comprising: a. at least one longitudinally extending outer, nonporous, chemical pressure tube means containing inner, porous tube means having a metal hydride bed sandwiched therebetween for selectively desorbing and adsorbing hydrogen gas and having a longitudinally extending heat exchange jacket around the outer tube means; b. low temperature heat source means connected to the heat exchange jacket for selectively heating the metal hydride bed to desorb hydrogen gas; c. high temperature heat source means for receiving, transporting and further heating the desorbed hydrogen gas; d. power extraction means for receiving and extracting power from the further heated hydrogen gas; e. regenerator means for transferring heat from the hydrogen gas leaving the power extraction means to the desorbed hydrogen gas prior to the desorbed hydrogen gas entering the high temperature heat source; and f. cooling means connected to the heat exchange jacket for controlling the temperature of the metal hydride bed by selectively rejecting heat therefrom to the surroundings during adsorption of the hydrogen gas leaving the regenerator means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 174 words
Apparatus for producing hydrogen gas power comprising: a. at least one longitudinally extending outer, nonporous, chemical pressure tube means containing inner, porous tube means having a metal hydride bed sandwiched therebetween for selectively desorbing and adsorbing hydrogen gas and having a longitudinally extending heat exchange jacket around the outer tube means; b. low temperature heat source means connected to the heat exchange jacket for selectively heating the metal hydride bed to desorb hydrogen gas; c. high temperature heat source means for receiving, transporting and further heating the desorbed hydrogen gas; d. power extraction means for receiving and extracting power from the further heated hydrogen gas; e. regenerator means for transferring heat from the hydrogen gas leaving the power extraction means to the desorbed hydrogen gas prior to the desorbed hydrogen gas entering the high temperature heat source; and f. cooling means connected to the heat exchange jacket for controlling the temperature of the metal hydride bed by selectively rejecting heat therefrom to the surroundings during adsorption of the hydrogen gas leaving the regenerator means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2471476A Cited
US3040528A Cited
US3950949A Cited
US3943719A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1981-04-24 1981-10-24 1982-04-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1985-04-24 1985-10-24 1986-04-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1989-04-24 1989-10-24 1990-04-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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