Patent GB-864026-A (GB)
Title: Process for the production of water or hydrogen enriched with deuterium
IPC: C01B5/02
Filed: 1957-06-17
Abstract: <PICT:0864026/III/1> <PICT:0864026/III/2> <PICT:0864026/III/3> Deuterium-enriched hydrogen or water is produced, in association with the production of hydrogen from water by bringing liquid water into catalytic isotope exchange, at below 100 DEG C. and above 30 atmospheres, with hydrogen from the hydrogen generator, and the catalyst in very fine division is suspended in the water, and is removed therefrom by a separator before passing at least part of the enriched water to the hydrogen generator.  The hydrogen production may be from carbonaceous compounds and steam, or from water electrolysis, and the hydrogen may be supplemented with hydrogen from other sources for the catalytic isotope exchange. Steam from 4, oxygen from Linde column 3, and coal or coke are fed to generator 1, and resulting hydrogen-containing gas passes through condenser 7 to converter 8 where CO reduces steam from 9 to more hydrogen.  The gases pass thence through condenser 10, separator 12, where CO2 and SO2 are extracted by known methods, to compressor 15.  The compressed gases have CO extracted by ammoniacal copper solution in 13 and the extracted CO may be recycled through 16 to the converter feed.  Final CO2 removal with NaOH solution is effected in 14, and the purified hydrogen passes to catalytic isotope exchanger 5, whence the D-poor hydrogen is withdrawn at 20, is mixed with nitrogen from column 3, which has had residual O2 removed in 22, and the mixture is passed to ammonia synthesis 23.  The condensates from condensers 7, 10 are also fed to isotope exchanger.  The water containing suspended catalyst enters exchanger 5 at 6, and is enriched with D in the exchanger which operates at 50-75 DEG C.  The enriched water after separation of catalyst passes through 4 to generator 1.  A cascade of these stages may be used where (Fig. 2 not shown) D-enriched water withdrawn at 18 is passed to the isotope exchanger of the next stage while the D-poor H2 is returned to isotope exchanger 5. Alternatively, D-enriched H2 may be withdrawn at 19.  In Fig. 3 electrolytic H2 from cell 51 passes through condenser 52 and compressor 54 to catalytic isotope exchanger 55, operated as exchanger 5 in Fig. 1.  Water, containing suspended catalyst, passes through exchanger 55 and separator 61, whence catalyst is recycled through 58, to cell 51.  D-enriched H2 and H2O may be withdrawn at 62 and 60 respectively.  In modifications of the electrolytic process, the condensate from H2 and O2 condensers 52, 53 is subjected to concentration and the resulting D-poor water is returned to the cell feed (Fig. 4, not shown), and part of the electrolyte is withdrawn from the cell to a distillation whence part is distilled off, and part returned (Fig. 5, not shown).  The catalyst separator may be a centrifugal filter and the catalyst may be dried and pulverized before return. Alternatively, exchanger 92 (Fig. 7) may be used having filter insert 93 with, or without, filter projection 96. Hydrogen enters at 94, bubbles up through the catalyst suspension, and leaves at 97.  Water enters at 98 and is set in turbulent motion by the H2 and is repeatedly contacted with swirling catalyst suspension.  D-enriched water is withdrawn through 95.  The water may be intermittently pumped back to free the filter of catalyst.