Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Santa Barbara Research Center

Robert D Stephens

Michael D Jack

David R Nelson

Jose A Santana

Geoffrey A Walter

Lane H Rubin

Christopher B Tacelli

Some metal hydrides permit reversible storage and release of hydrogen for a hydrogen using power-generator. But the surfaces of some metal hydrides or metal hydride precursors may be oxidized or have other coatings that inhibit hydrogen absorption or release. Such materials may be suspended in a suitable liquid of supercritical carbon dioxide or liquid nitrogen and subjected to cavitation processing to break up such hydrogen impermeable surfaces or to fracture the particles so as to provide fresh hydrogen penetratable surfaces.

Activation of metal hydrides

A device for producing hydrogen includes a container housing a water-based solution and a metal constituent. A generator ultrasonically irradiates the water-based solution in the presence of the metal constituent to produce hydrogen gas.

System for sono-catalytic production of hydrogen

A light source radiates an infrared beam that passes through a chopper, a calibration cell and the exhaust plume of a motor vehicle passing in front of the source. A photosensor assembly includes a plurality of photodetectors which are spaced closely adjacent to each other and simultaneously sense the beam after it propagates through the plume. An optical beam homogenizer or integrator disposed between the plume and the photosensor unit causes the light incident on the photodetectors to have uniform intensity. The photodetectors are sensitive to different wavelengths corresponding to spectral absorption peaks of constituents of the composition of the plume, including carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2), hydrocarbon (HC), water vapor (H.sub.2 O) and nitric oxide (NO). A computer computes the composition of the plume as the percentages of the constituents based on the sensed transmittances of the respective wavelengths through the plume. A video camera produces a video image of the vehicle license plate, which is displayed on a video monitor and recorded on a video recorder together with the plume composition data.

Optical sensing apparatus for remotely measuring exhaust gas composition

Growing community of inventors

Sterling Heights, MI, United States of America

Robert D Stephens