Gaseous hydrogen and oxygen combining and condensing device

Claim 1

A gaseous hydrogen and oxygen combining and condensing device, comprising: (a) an inverted, cup-shaped casing, (b) a partition dividing the casing interior into an upper, condensing chamber and a lower, gaseous hydrogen and oxygen combining, catalyst chamber, the partition having drainage passages for distributing draining condensed water, from the condensing chamber, across the interior of the catalyst chamber, (c) a gaseous hydrogen and oxygen combining catalyst assembly partially filling the interior of the catalyst chamber, the catalyst assembly having passages therethrough for the upward flow through the catalyst assembly of gaseous hydrogen and oxygen and the downward flow through the catalyst assembly of condensed water draining from the condensing chamber, the catalyst assembly comprising at least one catalyst support, and a coating on the support, the coating comprising a porous matrix of polytetrafluoroethylene and exposed, partially platinized high surface area carbon particles dispersed throughout the porous matrix, the partially platinized high surface area carbon particles being present in the porous matrix in a weight ratio in the range extending from of the order of 1.5:1 to of the order of 6:1 polytetrafluoroethylene to partially platinized, high surface area carbon particles, and (d) a heat conducting assembly for conducting heat from the upper, condensing chamber, the heat conducting assembly comprising a heat conducting rod sealed to and extending through an upper wall of the casing, heat exchange discs above the casing and secured to the rod above the upper wall of the casing and heat exchange discs in the condensing chamber and secured to the rod, all of the heat exchange discs being secured to the rod for the transmission of heat to and from the rod.