PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN-BASED GASEOUS FUEL

摘要

1492785 Hydrogen TEXAS GAS TRANSMISSION CORP 29 Aug 1974 [9 Nov 1973] 37833/74 Heading ClA [Also in Divisions C5 and G6] Hydrogen is produced by decomposition of H 2 O into H 2 and O 2 by exposure of the H 2 O to energy from a nuclear fusion reaction. The hydrogen may be reacted with carbon, CO, or CO 2 to form a hydrocarbon fuel. In the apparatus shown, a fusion pellet is introduced into reaction chamber 10 from injection device 32 and is fired by laser energy directed through tube 38. Water vapour present in chamber 10 is decomposed and the gases issue through separation nozzle 14 which may be designed for supersonic flow, oxygen being removed at 18 and hydrogen led to methanation plant 47. The nozzle may include a grid of ZrO 2 ceramic through which O 2 diffuses more rapidly than H 2 . The chamber 10 is surrounded by a lithium blanket 20, lithium being circulated through heat exchanger 76 and tritium separation plant 82 and used to heat plant 84 where water is decomposed into H 2 and O 2 . This decomposition is assisted by radiolytic converter 90 driven by gamma rays and alpha particles generated in neutron conversion chamber 92. The plant 84 is also heated by nuclear energy from loop 24 connected by pipes 86, 88. Hydrogen and oxygen are also produced in radiolysis blanket 28 and separated at 100. Water is introduced into chamber 60 where it boils and decomposes partially into H 2 and O 2 ; separation takes place at 66, the residual water vapour being led by pipe 72 into reaction chamber 10. A carbon-containing material, e.g. coal or limestone, passes through channel 40 where it is heated to produce carbon or carbon dioxide which is directed to chamber 47 where it reacts with hydrogen from the chamber 10 to form methane. In the apparatus of Fig. 2 (not shown), the channel 40 is replaced by a further jacket (110) round the chamber 10 through which a heat transfer medium, e.g. lead, circulates and heats the carbonaceous material in an external heat exchanger (116). Specification 1,492,786 is referred to.