US4157270A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydrogen gas generator from hydrazine/ammonia
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1977-09-12
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Granted: 1979-06-05
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Expires: 1997-09-12
Abstract
Abstract A catalyst bed containing alumina pellets on which an active catalyst metal selected from iridium, nickel, niobium, and molybdenium has been deposited is employed to decompose a compound selected from deuterohydrazine, deuteroammonia, hydrazine, and ammonia to yield ammonia free deuterium and nitrogen or hydrogen and nitrogen at a temperature required for immediate use in a DF or HF laser which uses F atoms as the fuel. The decomposition temperature of the catalyst bed is maintained by a hypergolic reaction produced from reacting a fuel selected from the group consisting of hydrazine, methylhydrazine, 1,2-dimethylhydrazine, and blends of the same with an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of inhibited red fuming nitric acid, dinitrogen tetroxide, chlorine trifluoride, and chlorine pentafluoride. A laser employing ammonia free decomposition products of hydrazine and ammonia produced at a temperature between about 500 DEG C. and 900 DEG C. operates at a higher power output. When NH3 is present in the H2 and diluent gas, N2, a decrease of 20% in the output is experienced for each 1-2% NH3 up to about 8% concentration.
Inventors
- 👤 Pasquale Martignoni
- 👤 William M. Chew
- 👤 Orval E. Ayers
- 👤 James A. Murfree, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 05:08
CPC Classifications
C; C01; C01B; C01B3/00; C01B3/02; C01B3/04; C01B3/047; H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/095; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
A method of producing ammonia free deuterium and nitrogen or hydrogen and nitrogen at a temperature required for immediate use in a DF or HF laser which uses F atoms as the fuel, said method comprising: (i) providing a catalyst bed containing alumina pellets on which an active catalyst metal selected from iridium, nickel, niobium, and molybdenium has been deposited; (ii) equiping said catalyst bed with a means for heating and a means for maintaining a temperature between about 500° C. and about 900° C. said means including a hypergolic reaction produced from reacting a fuel selected from the group consisting of hydrazine, methylhydrazine, 1,2-dimethylhydrazine, and blends of the same with an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of inhibited red fuming nitric acid, dinitrogen tetroxide, chlorine trifluoride and chlorine pentafluoride; (iii) heating and maintaining said catalyst bed at a temperature between about 500° C. and about 900° C. from said hypergolic reaction to yield a reaction temperature from about 3000° K. and to about 4,000° K. as determined from mixing said selected fuel and said selected oxidizer in a predetermined ratio of oxidizer to fuel from about 57 weight percent to about 75 weight percent oxidizer to about 25 weight percent fuel to about 43 weight percent fuel; and, (iv) admitting a compound selected from deuteroammonia, deuterohydrazine, hydrazine, and ammonia to said catalyst bed to effect decomposition to yield a mixture of said deuterium and nitrogen or a mixture of said hydrogen and nitrogen as determined by said compound selected.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
251 words
A method of producing ammonia free deuterium and nitrogen or hydrogen and nitrogen at a temperature required for immediate use in a DF or HF laser which uses F atoms as the fuel, said method comprising: (i) providing a catalyst bed containing alumina pellets on which an active catalyst metal selected from iridium, nickel, niobium, and molybdenium has been deposited; (ii) equiping said catalyst bed with a means for heating and a means for maintaining a temperature between about 500° C. and about 900° C. said means including a hypergolic reaction produced from reacting a fuel selected from the group consisting of hydrazine, methylhydrazine, 1,2-dimethylhydrazine, and blends of the same with an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of inhibited red fuming nitric acid, dinitrogen tetroxide, chlorine trifluoride and chlorine pentafluoride; (iii) heating and maintaining said catalyst bed at a temperature between about 500° C. and about 900° C. from said hypergolic reaction to yield a reaction temperature from about 3000° K. and to about 4,000° K. as determined from mixing said selected fuel and said selected oxidizer in a predetermined ratio of oxidizer to fuel from about 57 weight percent to about 75 weight percent oxidizer to about 25 weight percent fuel to about 43 weight percent fuel; and, (iv) admitting a compound selected from deuteroammonia, deuterohydrazine, hydrazine, and ammonia to said catalyst bed to effect decomposition to yield a mixture of said deuterium and nitrogen or a mixture of said hydrogen and nitrogen as determined by said compound selected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said compound selected and admitted to said catalyst bed to effect decomposition is hydrazine which yields a mixture in ratio of about 2 moles of hydrogen and of about 1 mole of nitrogen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said compound selected and admitted to said catalyst bed to effect decomposition is ammonia which yields a mixture in ratio of about 3 moles of hydrogen and of about 1 mole of nitrogen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said compound selected and admitted to said catalyst bed to effect decomposition is deuterohydrazine which yields a mixture in ratio of about 2 moles of deuterium and of about 1 mole of nitrogen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said compound selected and admitted to said catalyst bed to effect decomposition is deuteroammonia which yields a mixture in ratio of about 3 moles of deuterium and of about 1 mole of nitrogen.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-06-04 | 1982-12-04 | 1983-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-06-04 | 1986-12-04 | 1987-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-06-04 | 1990-12-04 | 1991-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |