Oxygen storage and retrieval system

摘要

A method and apparatus for storing and retrieving oxygen are provided on a steady flow basis. The temperature of a storage vessel containing lithium perchlorate (LiClO4) in the solid state is raised until a molten bath of the LiClO4 is formed. The molten bath of LiClO4 is maintained at a setpoint temperature which is less than the temperature at which substantial decomposition of the LiClO4 occurs. The molten LiClO4 is then caused to flow from the storage vessel to a reaction vessel whose temperature is raised sufficiently to assure essentially instantaneous and complete decomposition of the LiClO4. Specifically, within the reaction vessel, a spray of the molten LiClO4 is directed toward an internal target surface, upon the impingement with which decomposition of the molten LiClO4 into LiCl and O2 occurs.