Chemical Liquid Oxide Spray Separator

Abstract

Apparatus for collecting oxygen from air which employs a substance having two oxidation states that absorbs oxygen when introduced into the air. The oxygen laden substance is then removed from the air by a centrifugal separator and reduced to produce oxygen.

Description

Briefly, in accordance with this invention a substance capable of entering into a reversible chemical reaction with oxygen is caused to oxidize in a stream of air. The oxide thus formed is separated from the oxygen depleted air and reduced to evolve the substance and oxygen gas. The oxygen gas is then liquefied and stored, and the substance is introduced into the stream of air to begin again the oxidation-reduction cycle.

The present invention has utility in space vehicles to increase pay-load potential. For example, the oxidizable substance can be introduced into the air intake duct of a ram jet engine of a space vehicle during the ram jet propulsion stage of the vehicle. The oxygen recovered during the ram jet propulsion stage can be stored in the tanks of the space vehicle for use later as an oxidizer during the rocket propulsion stages of the vehicle. The oxygen depleted air can be utilized in the ram jet engine for burning with hydrogen to provide the necessary propulsive force during the ram jet propulsion stage.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus capable of collecting oxygen from air.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a method and apparatus capable of cyclically oxidizing and reducing a substance in air to collect oxygen.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a method and apparatus capable of continuously collecting oxygen from air by oxidizing a substance in the air, separating the oxidized substance from the oxygen depleted air, reducing the oxidized substance, storing the evolved oxygen, and repeating the above cycle of events.

Other objects of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic showing of the apparatus of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a graph showing a reversible chemical reaction equilibrium curve, and an exemplary oxygen collection cycle utilized in the practice of the present invention superimposed on the equilibrium curve.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the numeral 10 designates a ram jet engine on a space vehicle (not shown) which has an air intake duct with a relatively straight portion 12 and a curved portion 14.

The curved portion 14 of the intake duct has an opening 16 leading into a container or expansion chamber 18 of a regenerator attached to the curved portion. A plurality of vanes or louvers 19 are mounted across the opening 16 within the curved duct portion 14 and serve, along with the duct portion 14 and opening 16, as an inertial turn separator arrangement which is capable of separating liquid spray from the stream of air traveling through the inlet duct to the engine 10, as will hereinafter be more clearly apparent.

The chamber 18 of the regenerator has a burner 20 positioned therethrough and is adapted to contain a quantity of oxidizable substance 22, as will hereinafter be more fully described.

A line 24 connects the bottom of chamber 18 through a pump 26 to a spray nozzle 28 which is mounted in the wall of the duct portion 12 for producing a spray of liquid substance 22 in the stream of air passing through the air intake duct.

A line 32 having a pump 33 therein conveys hot gaseous oxygen from the chamber 18 to a liquefaction system 34 and then to a tank 35 which serves to store the liquefied oxygen for use later. The liquefaction system 34 can be any conventional heat exchanger unit as long as it is capable of utilizing liquid hydrogen as a cooling agent.

The liquid hydrogen is pumped by means of a pump 36 and line 38 from a tank 39 to the liquefaction system 34 and then to the combustion chamber portion of the jet engine 10 for combination with oxygen in the stream of air to produce propulsive thrust to the space vehicle (not shown).

A line 40 is connected to the line 38 for supplying hydrogen to the burner 20. The hydrogen combines with oxygen which is conveyed to the burner 20 by means of a line 42 connected through a pump 44 to the oxygen line 32.

A suitable material 22 for use in the collection system of the present invention can be a lower oxide of potassium such as potassium peroxide. Potassium peroxide melts at approximately 1,375.degree. R, has a vapor pressure of one atmosphere at approximately 1,870.degree. R, and combines with oxygen in a reversible adsorption-desorption reaction with a low heat of reaction to produce a higher oxide state of potassium such as potassium dioxide. It is to be understood that other substances, materials, compositions, alloys, or mixtures having similar properties could be used in the practice of the present invention, as will hereinafter be more fully apparent to those skilled in the art.

Referring now to FIG. 2 there is shown a plotted curve 47 setting forth the oxygen partial pressures in atmospheres and the corresponding absolute temperatures at which potassium peroxide, oxygen, and potassium dioxide maintain chemical equilibrium with each other in accordance with the indicated reversible chemical equation involving these substances. Superimposed on the equilibrium curve is a typical collection cycle 49 employed in the practice of the present invention. The points A, B and C of the collection cycle 49 refer to the oxidation states of the material 22 and correspond to the same points on FIG. 1, as will hereinafter be more fully described in the description of operation of the invention.

Preliminary to oxygen collection, in accordance with this invention, a quantity of powdered potassium peroxide 22 is obtained and deposited within chamber 18 wherein it is liquefied and raised to a predetermined temperature at which the peroxide is in chemical equilibrium and has a vapor pressure of one atmosphere. This is accomplished by combustion of hydrogen within the burner 20. Hydrogen for this purpose is obtained from the hydrogen tank 39 by means of pump 36 and line 40. The oxidizer is obtained from oxygen tank 35 through the valve 45, pump 44, and line 42. Sufficient heat is thus generated in chamber 18 by the burner 20 to liquefy the potassium peroxide 22 and raise it to a predetermined temperature. After collection of oxygen is actually commenced the valve 45 may be closed and the oxygen necessary to support the combustion of hydrogen in the burner 20 can be obtained directly from chamber 18 through lines 32 and 42.

Referring to FIG. 2, and the equilibrium curve 47 shown therein, it is readily apparent that liquefaction of the potassium peroxide occurs at approximately 1,375.degree. R and a partial pressure of 0.085 atmospheres. At approximately 1,870.degree. R the potassium peroxide 22 is in chemical equilibrium and has a partial vapor pressure of approximately one atmosphere. It is at this point, commonly designated A on both the equilibrium curve 47 and the collection cycle 49, that oxygen collection is preferably commenced. Between points A and B a portion of the potassium peroxide 22 is pressurized by the pump 26 and forced through the spray nozzle 28 as a spray into the stream of air flowing through the air duct. Referring to FIG. 2 and the collection cycle 49 it can be seen that spraying occurs at approximately the equilibrium temperature of 1,870.degree. R and at a pressure greater than the equilibrium pressure of the potassium peroxide at this temperature. The pressure utilized is indicated as being approximately three and one-half atmospheres.

Between points B and C on the collection cycle 49, the chemical equilibrium being upset by the sudden increase in pressure, the potassium peroxide spray readily combines with oxygen in the stream of air to produce potassium dioxide. Since this oxidation reaction is exothermic, the temperature between points B and C will rise to about 2,060.degree. R and the pressure drops to approximately two atmospheres.

Between points C and A the potassium dioxide is separated from the stream of air by the action of centrifugal force on the potassium dioxide particles, and introduced into the chamber 18 wherein it undergoes decomposition to potassium peroxide and oxygen gas. The heat lost during the oxidation reaction between points B and C is supplied by the heater 20 during the reduction reaction. Thus, the temperature falls from approximately 2,060.degree. R to 1,870.degree. R, and the pressure falls from approximately two atmospheres to one atmosphere.

The oxygen gas evolved in the chamber 18 by reduction of the potassium dioxide is continuously pumped by means of pump 33 through line 32 and the liquefaction system 34 to the oxygen tank 35 for storage and use later as desired.

While the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and applications are possible and that the invention is not in any way limited to the specific embodiment disclosed herein.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. A gas collection system comprising

air duct means capable of passing a stream of air therethrough,

a chamber,

means connecting said air duct and said chamber,

heat generator means for generating heat within said chamber to establish and maintain therein a predetermined temperature,

liquid spray generator means for spraying a liquid under pressure from said chamber into said air duct means,

liquid spray separator means located downstream from said spray generator means for separating liquid spray from a stream of air in said air duct means and means connecting said liquid spray separator means and said chamber for introducing said liquid spray into said chamber,

and gas recovery means connected to said chamber for recovering gas evolved within said chamber.

2. A gas collection system comprising

air duct means capable of passing a stream of air therethrough, said air duct means comprising a substantially straight portion and a curved portion with an opening therethrough,

said opening being located on the side of said curved portion having the greater radius,

a chamber connected to said duct curved portion through said opening,

heat generator means for generating heat within said chamber to establish and maintain therein a predetermined temperature,

liquid spray generator means for spraying a liquid under pressure from said chamber into said air duct means at said substantially straight portion,

louvers positioned within the curved portion of said duct downstream from said spray generator means and across said opening to divert liquid spray from a stream of air in said air duct means to said chamber,

and gas recovery means connected to said chamber for recovering gas evolved within said chamber.

3. A gas collection system comprising

air duct means capable of passing a stream of air therethrough,

a chamber,

heat generator means for generating heat within said chamber to establish and maintain therein a predetermined temperature,

a spray nozzle positioned in said air duct means,

pump means connected to said chamber and said spray nozzle for forcing liquid under spray pressure from said chamber into said duct means,

liquid spray separator means located downstream from said spray nozzle for separating liquid spray from a stream of air in said air duct means and means connecting said liquid spray separator means and said chamber for introducing said liquid spray into said chamber,

and gas recovery means connected to said chamber for recovering gas evolved within said chamber.

4. A gas collection system comprising

air duct means capable of passing a stream of air therethrough,

a chamber,

heat generator means for generating heat within said chamber to establish and maintain therein a predetermined temperature,

liquid spray generator means for spraying a liquid under pressure from said chamber into said air duct means,

liquid spray separator means located downstream from said spray generator means for separating liquid spray from a stream of air in said air duct means and means connecting said liquid spray separator means and said chamber for introducing said liquid spray into said chamber,

gas liquefaction means connected to said chamber for liquefying gas evolved in said chamber,

and pump means for pumping said liquefied gas to a tank for storage therein.

5. A gas collection system comprising

air duct means capable of passing a stream of air therethrough, said air duct means comprising a substantially straight portion and a curved portion with an opening therethrough,

a chamber connected to said duct curved portion through said opening,

heat generator means for generating heat within said chamber to establish and maintain therein a predetermined temperature,

a spray nozzle positioned in said duct straight portion,

pump means connected to said chamber and said spray nozzle for forcing liquid under spray pressure from said chamber into said duct means,

louvers positioned within the curved portion of said duct downstream from said spray nozzle and across said opening to divert liquid spray from a stream of air in said duct means to said chamber,

said louvers being located on the side of said curved portion having the greater radius,

gas liquefaction means connected to said chamber for liquefying gas evolved in said chamber,

and pump means for pumping said liquefied gas to a tank for storage therein.