American Gas Association

Institute of Gas Technology

John C Sharer

Jon B Pangborn

Robert H Elkins

A process for the production of hydrogen and oxygen from water comprising the steps of forming ferric chloride from ferriferrous oxide by reaction with a chloride ion yielding substance, thermally reducing the ferric chloride to produce ferrous chloride, reducing the ferrous chloride to metallic iron, then oxidizing the metallic iron with water so as to produce hydrogen. The metallic iron may be formed by reducing the ferrous compound with hydrogen. Two specific reactant regenerative closed cycle systems are disclosed utilizing the process of this invention for the production of hydrogen and oxygen.

Process for producing hydrogen and oxygen from water

A process for the production of hydrogen and oxygen from water comprising the steps of forming ferric chloride from ferriferrous oxide by reaction with a chloride ion yielding substance, reducing the ferric chloride produced with a reducing agent to produce ferrous chloride, thermally reducing the ferric chloride to produce ferrous chloride, then oxidizing either the ferrous compound or metallic iron with water so as to produce hydrogen. The metallic iron may be formed by reducing the ferrous compound with hydrogen. Four specific reactant regenerative closed cycle systems are disclosed utilizing the process of this invention for the production of hydrogen with high energy efficiencies.

A catalytic fluid heater formed of a number of nested fluid heating chambers spaced from one another to provide therebetween a heating zone having a chimney effect such that a mixture of fuel gas and air is caused to flow through the heating zone from the bottom to the top thereof. A catalyzed surface is disposed in contact with the walls of adjacent ones of the fluid heating chambers. A fuel gas, preferably hydrogen, is delivered to the heating zones, mixed with air and combusted on the catalyzed walls. The combustion product, in such cases, is primarily water vapor, so that external venting is not required.

Catalytic fluid heater

A process for the production of hydrogen and oxygen from water comprising the steps of forming ferric chloride from ferriferrous oxide by reaction with a chloride ion yielding substance, reducing the ferric chloride produced with a reducing agent to produce ferrous chloride, and then oxidizing the ferrous compound with water so as to produce hydrogen. Suitable reducing agents include cuprous chloride, chromous chloride and platinum. Several reactant regenerative closed cycle systems are disclosed utilizing the process of this invention for the production of hydrogen with high energy efficiences.

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Evanston, IL, United States of America

John C Sharer