Hydrogen gas generators for use in chemical lasers

• US 3,948,699 A
• Filed: 11/08/1974
• Issued: 04/06/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Ayers, Orval E., Patrick, Roy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sebastian, Leland A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walsh, Donald P.
• Application Number:
  US05/522,156
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 149/109.2, 149/109.4, 149/DIG. 34, 149/22, 149/87, 149/37, 423/644, 423/645, 423/646, 423/647, 423/648, 423/656, 423/294, 423/295, 23/302, 23/303, 252/375
• US Class Current: 149/22
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 47/10 a component containing free boron, an organic borane or a binary compound of boron, except with oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: C06D 5/00 Generation of pressure gas, e.g. for blasting cartridges, starting cartridges, rockets explosive compositions containing an oxidizer, fuels for rocket engines intended for reaction with an oxidant other than air C06B
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/095 using chemical or thermal pumping

Abstract

A storable solid propellant composition based on complex metal boron compds of the general formula M(BH₄)_x or M(BD₄)_x, (where M equals a metal and x equals the valence of the metal M; M is an alkali metal or an alkali earth metal; H is hydrogen, and D is deuterium) and metal oxides of the general formula Q₂ O₃ (where Q is a trivalent metal selected from iron, aluminum, gallium cobalt, and indium) combined stoichiometrically. The stoichiometric blend is employed in a method for producing high temperature (e.g. 600°C-700°C) hydrogen or deuterium that is acceptable for use in HF/DF and HCl chemical lasers, the gas dynamic laser (GDL), or a source to generate chemically pure and hot hydrogen gas as a reducing fuel.

Claims

1. A solid propellant composition that produces high temperature, chemically pure hydrogen or deuterium from a self-sustaining reaction after said reaction is initiated by a heat source sufficient to initiate said reaction, said solid propellant composition comprising a uniform mixture of a stoichiometric amount of trivalent metal oxide of the formula Q₂ O₃, where Q is a trivalent metal selected from iron, aluminum, gallium, cobalt, and indium, said trivalent metal oxide rendered moisture free by drying at a temperature at least 10 percent above that temperature needed to remove water of hydration, and a stoichiometric amount of a complex boron compound selected from the complex boron compounds having the formulas:

M(BH₄)_x and M(BD₄)_x, wherein x is the valence of the metal (M), M is an alkali metal or an alkali earth metal, H is hydrogen, and D is deuterium, said stoichiometric amount being based on the reaction;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">3M(BH.sub.4).sub.x or 3M(BD.sub.4).sub.x + 2(x) Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 →

3M(BO.sub.2).sub.x + 4(x) Fe + 6(x) H.sub.2 or 6(x) D.sub.2

wherein x is as previously identified.

2. The solid propellant composition of claim 1 wherein said M of said complex boron compound is Na and wherein x of said complex boron compound is one, said selected complex boron compound being the compound NaBH₄, and wherein said trivalent metal oxide is Fe₂ O₃.

3. The solid propellant composition of claim 1 wherein said M of said complex boron compound is Na and wherein x of said complex boron compound is one, said selected complex boron compound being the compound NaBD₄, and wherein said trivalent metal oxide is Fe₂ O₃.

4. The solid propellant composition of claim 1 wherein said M of said complex boron compound is Na and wherein x of said complex boron compound is one, said selected complex boron compound being the compound NaBH₄, and wherein said trivalent metal oxide is Al₂ O₃.

5. The solid propellant composition of claim 1 wherein said M of said complex boron compound is Na and wherein x of said complex boron compound is one, said selected complex boron compound being the compound NaBD₄, and wherein said trivalent metal oxide is Al₂ O₃.

6. A method for producing chemically pure hydrogen or deuterium having a temperature of about 600°

C to about 700°

C from an initiated reaction that is self-sustaining, said method comprising;

i. combining a stoichiometric amount of a trivalent metal oxide of the general formula Q₂ O₃, where Q is a trivalent metal selected from iron, aluminum, cobalt, gallium, and indium and where said trivalent metal oxide has been rendered moisture free by drying at a temperature at least 10 percent above that temperature needed to remove water of hydration, with a stoichiometric amount of a complex boron compound selected from the complex boron compounds having the formula;

M(BH₄)_x and M(BD₄)_x, wherein x is the valence of the metal (M), M is an alkali metal or an alkali earth metal, H is hydrogen, and D is deuterium, said stoichiometric amount being based on the reaction ratios of the reactants in the following representative equation;

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">3M(BH.sub.4).sub.x or 3M(BD.sub.4).sub.x + 2x Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 →

3M(BO.sub.2).sub.x + 4(x) Fe + 6(x) H.sub.2 or 6(x) D.sub.2 ;

ii. mixing to achieve a uniform mixture of said trivalent metal oxide and said complex boron compound selected;

iii. forming said mixture into a pellet by pressing in a die while using a pressure of up to about 10,000 psig;

iv. placing said pellet in a sealable combustion apparatus adapted for operating under vacuum or pressure, said pellet being placed in electrical contact with an ignition wire comprised of about 80 weight percent nickel and of about 20 weight percent chromium;

v. purging said combustion apparatus to remove all the air and water vapor; and

thereafter,

vi. supplying an amount of electrical energy to produce sufficient heat to initiate a reaction which is a self-sustaining reaction whereby said hydrogen or deuterium is produced until said reaction is completed.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said amount of electrical energy supplied is equivalent to about 10 volts at about 10 amperes and wherein said complex boron compound selected produces said hydrogen.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said amount of electrical energy supplied is equivalent to about 10 volts at about 10 amperes and wherein said complex boron compound selected produces said deuterium.