Electrolysis: processes – compositions used therein – and methods – Electrolytic synthesis – Involving measuring – analyzing – or testing during synthesis
Patent
1995-01-06
1996-04-09
Valentine, Donald R.
Electrolysis: processes, compositions used therein, and methods
Electrolytic synthesis
Involving measuring, analyzing, or testing during synthesis
204262, 204266, 204258, 204257, 205628, C25B 104, C25B 900, C25B 1502, C25B 1508
Patent
active
055058248
ABSTRACT:
A propellant generator is disclosed that automatically adjusts rates of input of lean and excess reactants to compensate for changes in rates of reactions in the generator. In a particular embodiment, the invention generates propellants methane (CH.sub.4) and oxygen gas (O.sub.2) from a lean reactant carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and an excess reactant hydrogen gas (H.sub.2) utilizing stored hydrogen gas transported to a remote site such as the surface of the planet Mars where carbon dioxide is accumulated and stored. A lean reactant flow controller measures the level of excess reactant passing through a sabatier by measuring a current consumed by an electrochemical separator that separates and pressurizes the excess reactant from a mixture of first propellant, water and excess reactant produced by the sabatier. In response to those measurements, the controller adjusts a flow rate of the lean reactant into the sabatier, thereby automatically controlling proportions of the mixture components so that so that unreacted lean reactants are not stored with the propellants and compensation can be made for unforeseen generator interruptions. A stored excess reactant flow controller measures a level of water separated from the mixture by a gravity phase separator and adjusts a flow rate of stored excess reactant into the sabatier to automatically match a flow rate of diatomic hydrogen (H.sub.2) into the sabatier generated by electrolyzing the water separated from the mixture, thereby preventing flooding or emptying of the condensed water in the gravity phase separator.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3379634 (1968-04-01), Rutkowsky
patent: 3520137 (1970-07-01), Newman et al.
patent: 4452676 (1984-06-01), Birbara et al.
patent: 4950371 (1990-08-01), McElroy
patent: 5128003 (1992-07-01), Murdoch et al.
patent: 5362373 (1994-11-01), Murdoch et al.
Chisholm, Jr. Malcolm J.
United Technologies Corporation
Valentine Donald R.
LandOfFree
Propellant generator and method of generating propellants does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Propellant generator and method of generating propellants, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Propellant generator and method of generating propellants will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-136347