Apparatus and Method for Producing Lift Gas and Uses Thereof

• US 20070278344A1
• Filed: 06/06/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Inventions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Inventions, Inc.
• Inventors: Zubrin, Robert M., Berggren, Mark H., Harber, Dan, Rose, Heather Ann
• Granted Patent: US 7,735,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/31
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/62 Controlling gas pressure, heating, cooling, or discharging gas

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are described for producing lift gas to enable balloon launch or to allow the prolongation of balloon flight. In one example, the method may include reforming a fuel source by reaction with water to generate hydrogen-rich lift gas mixtures, and injecting the lift gas into a balloon. The reforming operation may include causing the combustion of a combustible material with ambient oxygen for the release of energy; and heating a reforming combination of reaction fuel and water with the energy released from the combustion of the combustible material, to a temperature above that required for the reforming reaction wherein the fuel and water sources are reformed into lift gas. In one example, the amount of the combustible material combusted is sufficient to result in the release of enough energy to heat an amount of the reforming reaction fuel and water sources to the temperature above that required for the reforming reaction to proceed. Membrane or other gas separation devices may also be used to reduce the molecular weight of the lift gas produced by the reformer, thereby improving its quality for balloon flight applications. The lift gas may be used to launch balloons from the ground. It may also be used to extend the flight duration of balloons in the atmosphere.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a balloon or other flexible container for constraining a lift gas; and

an apparatus for generating lift gas by reforming a fuel source either on the ground or on-board the balloon, the apparatus releasing the lift gas into the flexible container;

wherein the apparatus generates lift gas captured in the flexible container for either launch from the ground or during balloon flights so as to facilitate the extending flight duration of the balloon.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the apparatus generates lift gas by reforming a fuel source in the presence of water.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the reforming of a fuel source is driven by energy released from a combustion reaction within the apparatus, the combustion reaction resulting from combustion of a combustible material with ambient oxygen.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the fuel source and combustible material are the same.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the fuel source and combustible material are an alcohol, ether, olefin, paraffin, or aromatic.

6. A method for producing lift gas comprising:

reforming a fuel source in the presence of water to generate lift gas for a balloon; and

capturing the generated lift gas in the balloon;

wherein the captured lift gas can be used to launch the balloon or can be used to facilitate the buoyancy of the balloon during a balloon flight.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the lift gas is produced on-board the balloon during a balloon flight.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising causing the combustion of a combustible material with ambient oxygen for the release of energy, the released energy useful in driving the reforming of the fuel source.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein water produced during the combustion of a combustible material is collected and used as the water source during the reforming of a fuel source to generate lift gas.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein water produced during the combustion of a combustible material is collected and used as ballast to be dropped off the balloon during an appropriate period of time.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the reformer fuel source and combustible material are the same.

12. The method of claim 8 where the reformer fuel source and the combustible material are not the same.

13. The method of claim 8 where the combustion to provide energy to drive the reforming reaction is performed in a separate chamber which exchanges heat with the reformer.

14. The method of claim 8 where the combustion to provide energy to drive the reforming reaction is performed in the reforming reactor itself.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the fuel source and combustible material are an alcohol, ether, olefin, paraffin, or aromatic.

16. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

The contact of a catalyst to the reforming reaction fuel source wherein the catalyst reduces the temperature required to drive the reforming reaction generation of lift gas.

17. The method of claim 6 wherein the lift gas is produced by a ground based unit which remains on the ground but is used to enable balloon launch.

18. The method of claim 6 wherein the molecular weight of the lift gas is reduced by using a membrane or other gas separation system to remove some or all of the non-hydrogen components from the lift gas mixture.

23. The balloon launch of claim 6 wherein the molecular weight of the lift gas is reduced by using a membrane or other gas separation system to remove some or all of the non-hydrogen components from the lift gas mixture.

19. A balloon launch comprising:

an apparatus for generating lift gas by reforming a fuel source, wherein the lift gas is released into a balloon to provide buoyancy to the balloon and allow for the launch of the balloon.

20. The balloon launch of claim 19 wherein the apparatus generates lift gas by reforming a fuel source in the presence of water.

21. The balloon launch of claim 20 wherein the balloon launch is located at a remote site.

22. The balloon launch of claim 19 wherein the balloon launch is portable and can be transported on a vehicle, helicopter, ship or airplane.