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US 4,729,891 AGranted
Hydrogen generating method
OwnerPrabhakar Kulkarniinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Hydrogen generating method and apparatus are disclosed in the preferred and illustrated embodiment. A feedstock of methane from heated coal and steam or methane obtained by any other means is delivered into a furnace. The furnace (free of oxygen) heats to about 950.degree. F. in vacuum conditions, and converts the methane into elemental carbon and hydrogen gas. The preferred embodiment utilizes an inductive furnace for heating.
Claims14
A method of extracting elemental hydrogen comprising the steps of:
- (a) heating in a retort coal and steam free of air to convert the coal and steam into a gaseous outflow including oxides of carbon, trace impurities and methane;
- (b) directing the gaseous outflow through gas separation apparatus for removing the oxides and trace impurities from the gaseous outflow resulting in an outflow of methane;
- (c) heating the outflow of methane from the prior step in a chamber at an elevated temperature in the range of 900.degree. F. to 2000.degree. F. and at a reduced pressure in the range of 50 to 10.sup.-5 torr forming a vacuum within said chamber to disassociate methane, the methane forming elemental hydrogen flowing from said chamber;
- and
- (d) collecting the hydrogen from said chamber.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.