Para-orthohydrogen conversion using a vortex tube
AssigneeWashington State Universiy
InventorsJacob William Leachman, Carl Dale Bunge
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Abstract
A para-orthohydrogen conversion device comprises a vortex tube. The vortex tube may include an inlet disposed at a first end of the vortex tube, a catalyst disposed on the interior wall of the vortex tube, a first outlet comprising an opening on the perimeter of a second end of the vortex tube, a stopper disposed at the center of the second end of the vortex tube, and a second outlet disposed on the first end of the vortex tube. A method includes converting parahydrogen to orthohydrogen via the catalyst and rotational force as hydrogen gas moves through the vortex tube such that cooled parahydrogen-rich gas or liquid hydrogen accumulates near the center of the vortex tube.
Claims15
A method comprising:
- transferring hydrogen gas having 50% orthohydrogen and 50% parahydrogen and pressurized to at least 50 pounds per square inch into a proximal end of a vortex tube;
- flowing the hydrogen gas toward a distal end of the vortex tube, the hydrogen gas rotating within the vortex tube as the hydrogen gas flows toward the distal end;
- reacting a first portion of parahydrogen hydrogen gas of the hydrogen gas that contacts a catalyst on an interior wall into orthohydrogen gas, wherein the first portion creates a layer of orthohydrogen-rich gas at the periphery of the vortex tube via contact with the catalyst such that a second portion of the hydrogen gas in the center of the vortex tube converts to liquid hydrogen;
- expelling the orthohydrogen-rich hydrogen gas from the distal end of the vortex tube;
- and
- flowing parahydrogen-rich hydrogen gas out the proximal end of the vortex tube.
A method comprising:
- transferring hydrogen gas having 50% orthohydrogen and 50% parahydrogen and pressurized to at least 50 pounds per square inch into a proximal end of a vortex tube;
- flowing the hydrogen gas toward a distal end of the vortex tube, the hydrogen gas rotating within the vortex tube as the hydrogen gas flows toward the distal end;
- and
- reacting a first portion of parahydrogen hydrogen gas of the hydrogen gas that contacts a catalyst on an interior wall into orthohydrogen gas, wherein the first portion creates a layer of orthohydrogen-rich gas at the periphery of the vortex tube via contact with the catalyst such that a second portion of the hydrogen gas in the center of the vortex tube converts to liquid hydrogen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.