The Boeing Company

William G Harris

Douglas J Silva

Hydrogen gas is generated on demand by reacting hydrochloric acid (haloacid) and a pure metal by flowing the acid upwardly through a bed of metal particles held on a distributor plate within a sliding tray. The tray reciprocates in a retaining vessel. A port in the retaining vessel can be aligned with a drain port in the sliding tray (below the distributor plate) so that the solution in the bed can be shunted directly to an annulus between the retaining vessel and the reactor jacket, thereby eliminating contact of acid and metal and stopping the generation of hydrogen. A coolant may be circulated in the base of the retaining vessel to control the temperature of the acid as it enters the bed, thereby helping to control the reaction rate.

Hydrogen generator

Closed cycle electrical power system

A leak containment storage facility includes a containment vessel with an inner tank surrounded by an outer tank. Upon detection of a leak in the inner tank, the pressure within the outer tank can be increased, usually by flooding the tank, to contain the leak. This facility has special application in a deep basing environment in which a personnel area is powered by hydrogen/chlorine fuel cells. The chlorine is stored as a liquid in the inner tank. Stored water in a reservoir floods the outer tank to apply a pressure on chlorine that leaks from the inner tank and keeps the chlorine from evaporating. Generally the pressure is achieved by the hydrostatic head alone and pumps or compressors are not use.

Leak containment storage facility

Hydrogen gas is generated on demand by reacting hydrochloric acid (haloacid) and a pure metal by flowing the acid upwardly through a bed of metal particles held on a distributor plate within a sliding tray. The tray reciprocates in a receiving vessel. A port in the retaining vessel can be aligned with a drain port in the sliding tray (below the distributor plate) so that the solution in the bed can be shunted directly to an annulus between the retaining vessel and the reactor jacket, thereby eliminating contact of acid and metal and stopping the generation of hydrogen. A coolant may be circulated in the base of the retaining vessel to control the temperature of the acid as it enters the bed, thereby helping to control the reaction rate. A hydrogen generator reactor includes one or more sliding trays housed within a jacket.

Method of generating hydrogen

Metal particles are introduced to reactor beds in a hydrogen generator without introducing contaminating oxygen or nitrogen to the generator. The particles are protected against oxidation under an inert gas atmosphere, are flooded with water prior to injection into the generator, and are further flooded with hydrogen gas drawn from the generator to replace the water prior to injection. The generator includes a receiving hopper for the metal particles and an injector connected to the hopper. Particles introduced to the receiver are flooded with the inert gas and are transferred to the injector (which is flooded with water) by gravity. The water is displaced with gas from the generator prior to injecting the particles into the generator with a reciprocating piston associated with the injector.

Solid fuel feed system

Hydrogen gas is generated on demand by reacting hydrochloric acid (haloacid) and a pure metal by flowing the acid upwardly through a bed of metal particles held on a distributor plate within a sliding tray. The tray reciprocates in a retaining vessel. A port in the retaining vessel can be aligned with a drain port in the sliding tray (below the distributor plate) so that the solution in the bed can be shunted directly to an annulus between the retaining vessel and the reactor jacket, thereby eliminating contact of acid and metal and stopping the generation of hydrogen. A coolant may be circulated in the base of the retaining vessel to control the temperature of the acid as it enters the bed, thereby helping to control the reaction rate. A hydrogen generator reactor includes one or more such sliding trays housed within a jacket.

Sliding tray reactor

By combining the manufacture of sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid, and by using a fuel cell to optimize the energy consumption, the energy efficiency of the manufacture of NaOH and HCl can be improved by at least about 33%. Electrical energy produced in a hydrogen chloride fuel cell is used to assist the electrolysis reaction for making sodium hydroxide, thereby achieving a marked increase in the overall manufacturing efficiency.

Method and apparatus for making hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide

Metal particles are introduced to reactor beds in a hydrogen generator without introducing contaminating oxygen or nitrogen to the generator. The particles are protected against oxidation under an inert gas atmosphere, are flooded with water prior to injection into the generator, and are further flooded with hydrogen gas drawn from the generator to replace the water prior to injection.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

William G Harris