Patent GB-191109623-A (GB)
Title: An Improved Process of and Apparatus for the Preparation of Hydrogen by Auto-combustion.
Inventor: JAUBERT GEORGE FRANCOIS
IPC: C01B3/00
Filed: 1911-04-20
Granted: 1911-11-30
Abstract: 9623. Jaubert, G. F. May 21, 1910, [Convention date]. Hydrogen.-In an auto-combustion process for making hydrogen, a mixture is kindled in a closed vessel and in the presence of water vapour, which mixture consists of an excess of combustible, for example, a metal, metalloid, or alloy; and an oxidizing-agent able to support combustion in the closed vessel. The water vapour may be generated (1) wholly internally by incorporating with the mixture hydrated bodies which decompose when heated with liberation of water, for example, slaked lime, carbohydrates, or even water; (2) wholly or partly externally, as by using the heat of combustion of the mixtures for vaporizing water in a boiler. Examples of combustibles of which the excess reacts with the water vapour, namely, metals, metalloids, or derivatives thereof, which may be used alone or mixed, are iron, carbon, silicon, ferro-silicon, ferro-chromium, ferro-boron, or ferro-carhon, silicon, boron, or calcium carbides, aluminium, manganese, or a hydride, for instance, of calcium or chromium. Examples of hydrated bodies used in modification (1), namely, metallic hydrates, compounds containing water of hydration or constitution, carbohydrates, &c., are slaked lime, plaster of paris, bauxite, flour, sugar, dextrin, cellulose, &c. Examples of oxidizing-agents are oxygenated salts, such as potassium chlorate or perchlorate, an oxide of a metal, such as lead, manganese, iron, &c. An example of a complete reaction is: 5Fe + KClO3 + 4Ca(OH)2 = Fe2O3 + Fe3O4 + 4CaO + KCl + 4H2. When carbon, or a derivative thereof, is the combustible, the carbonic acid gas formed may be retained by an excess of alkali hydrate present, or by washing the hydrogen. Examples of suitable mixtures are : (i) iron powder, slaked lime, and potassium perchlorate; (ii) ferrosilicon, litharge, and soda lime; (iii) ferro-silicon, iron powder, wheaten flour, lime, and potassium chlorate. In modification (2), an apparatus may be used in which a water-boiler in the form of a jacket b surrounds the generating-chamber a. A cartridge 1, containing a suitable mixture with hydrated bodies wholly or partially omitted, is placed in the chamber a, where it rests on a large cross-pipe i provided with an aperture j; the upper end of the cartridge is removed and a heavy cover d placed, but not bolted, on to the chamber a. The cartridge is then kindled, as bv dropping a fusee through a hole in the cover d, which hole is at once closed by an obturator e. As the resulting combustion proceeds, the water c in the jacket b becomes vaporized, and when a pressure gauge 4 shows a sufficient pressure, a cock h is opened allowing the water vapour to pass through a pipe f to the top g of the chamber a, when the liberation of hydrogen starts. The gases evolved are allowed to pass away through the large pipe i, a three-way cock k, and a chimney m, until a bluish smoke is seen to escape. The three-way cock k is then turned so that the gases pass through a pipe n which dips into water s in the lower chamber q of a gas reservoir o. The hydrogen bubbles through the water s, passes through a filtering-mass t, such as coke, and then passes through a drying-chamber r, which may contain saw-dust, to a supply pipe v. To secure a continuous supply of gas, more than one generator may be connected to one purifying-reservoir o. A modification of the apparatus mounted on a carriage for field use is described. The Specification as open to inspection under Section 91 (3) (a) comprises also the use of alcoholates or polyalcoholates, that is, alcohols wherein the hydrogen of the hydroxyl radicles has been replaced by metals, as suitable hydrated bodies in the generation mixture. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.