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AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorsCornelius E. Bailey, Jr., Walter G. Taschek
Estimating the term…
The disclosure concerns an apparatus for generating gas by the reaction of water reactive gas producing fuel with water vapor. A chamber houses the metal hydride fuel and a water vapor is introduced into the fuel chamber through a pair of spaced porous hydrophobic membranes. Reaction of the water vapor with the fuel produces a gas such as hydrogen (if calcium hydride fuel is used) or oxygen for use in a fuel cell. A "dead space" is positioned between the porous hydrophobic membranes which provides a safety feature that is unique in its use. If, during operation, an excessive sudden demand is made for the generated gas, i.e. hydrogen, and in turn for water vapor, with this invention, unvaporized water which might be pulled through the outer membrane or membranes will then pass through the hydrogen outlet rather than accidently directly contacting the fuel.
A demand responsive gas generator for producing gas by chemical reaction of a solid fuel upon controlled exposure to a liquid vapor, said generator comprising:
In a demand responsive hydrogen generator for producing hydrogen gas by chemical reaction of a solid fuel upon controlled exposure to a water vapor, wherein the generator includes a separate solid fuel compartment and liquid compartment means to receive controlled amounts of liquid water, and further includes a gas discharge outlet, wall means separating said fuel and liquid compartments, with the wall means having a hydrophobic porous membrane area adapted to pass gaseous and vaporous mediums while also restricting free passage of liquid water therethrough, the improvement wherein
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.