The Boeing Company

David Stelman

Alan Zachary Ullman

Thomas L Bunn

Vytas Thomas Gylys

Steven M Klee

Methods and apparatus are provided for the generation of hydrogen peroxide from an electrochemical (EC) cell arrangement. One embodiment of the apparatus comprises an EC cell having anode and cathode electrodes with a cation exchange membrane disposed between them to form anode and cathode compartments. An aqueous salt solution is supplied to the anode compartment and water and oxygen are supplied to the cathode compartment. An electric potential applied across the anode and cathode electrodes initiates an electrochemical process that results in the formation of an acid anolyte solution in the anode compartment and an alkaline catholyte solution in the cathode compartment. The anolyte solution and the catholyte solution are combined in a neutralizing chamber to form a neutral aqueous solution comprising hydrogen peroxide, salt, and water. The hydrogen peroxide is separated from the neutral aqueous solution by conventional means.

Electrochemical cell arrangement for the production of hydrogen peroxide

A real time in situ system and method for monitoring solutions, such as basic hydrogen peroxide (BHP) and other laser fuel solutions, is provided. Raman spectroscopy is applied to a solution of interest to provide substantially real time and in situ characterization of the solution. In one embodiment, OOHand HORaman peaks are monitored in real time and in situ for determination of BHP composition.

Real time in situ monitoring of a solution

Methods and apparatus are provided for the removal and purification of the water and salt by-products from spent BHP emitted from a lasing process. The apparatus comprises a liquid processing system that freezes the water and salt by-products into a slurry, and then separates out the water (as ice) and salt components by filtering in a centrifuge. In order to remove as much residual BHP from the wet mixed ice-salt component as possible, a heat source is used to partially melt ice crystals, thereby generating an aqueous rinsing liquid on the surface of the wet mixed ice-salt crystals. The applied centrifugal force causes a continual displacement of the liquid film wetting the surface, so that it becomes progressively diluted. As such, the purification of the mixture of ice and salt crystals is implemented with an aqueous (water) rinse that is unaffected by the sub-freezing temperatures within the centrifuge. The separation and purification may also be performed with a filter in which the conventional built-in water rinse is replaced with a heat source. The filter's driving force, for example gas pressure or vacuum, would be continuously applied during warming.

Recovering purified water and potassium chloride from spent basic hydrogen peroxide

A solid generator laser provides device simplicity and fuel regeneration without relying upon highly-corrosive or unstable fuels. The laser system includes a fuel supply system that provides a solid fuel to a laser. The laser processes the fuel products to produce at least a solid waste product and a gaseous waste product. A fuels regeneration system receives the solid and gaseous wastes at a reagent production system to replenish the fuel products in the fuel supply system. Rather than relying upon corrosive fuels such as BHP, then, the laser suitably processes solid peroxide (e.g. NaO) and a halide (e.g. hydrogen or deuterium halide) to form a salt, water and singlet delta oxygen that may be used to induce a lasing effect. The processes and structures described herein may be used, for example, with chemical oxygen iodine lasers and the like.

Methods and apparatus for regenerating fuels in a solid generator chemical oxygen iodine laser

A basic hydrogen peroxide composition is described, wherein the basic hydrogen peroxide is formed by mixing aqueous potassium hydroxide and aqueous hydrogen peroxide in a mole ratio such that the resulting basic hydrogen peroxide composition does not crystallize when maintained at a temperature down to &minus;21&deg; C. The basic hydrogen peroxide composition is especially suitable for use with chemical oxygen iodine laser systems. The mole ratio of hydrogen peroxide to potassium hydroxide corresponds to a composition represented by at least one location within a triangular region on a triangular phase diagram which is substantially bounded by the shortest line having coordinates (26.4, 16.0, 57.6), (62.3, 37.7, 0.0), and (46.8, 53.2, 0.0), wherein these coordinates correspond to the respective weight percentages of potassium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide and water.

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Thousand Oaks, CA, United States of America

David Stelman