Patent ID: 7926275

Claim:
A reactor/storage apparatus for use in a closed Brayton cycle system comprising: a tank; a liquid metal fuel partially filling said tank; an oxidant; an oxidant injector, penetrating said tank below the surface of said liquid metal fuel, for supplying said oxidant to said liquid metal fuel, said oxidant causing a heat generating reaction with said liquid metal fuel; an inert working gas; a working gas inlet, penetrating said tank below the surface of said liquid metal fuel, for supplying said inert working gas to said liquid metal fuel wherein heat is transferred to said working gas by direct contact with said liquid metal fuel, said working gas passing through said liquid metal fuel and becoming contaminated with metal vapors from said liquid metal fuel; chemical scrubbing means, located within said tank and disposed above said liquid metal, said chemical scrubbing means having a reducible material for causing said metal vapors to oxidize thereby forming a solid and a solid metal fuel oxide; and a working gas outlet, penetrating said tank above said liquid metal fuel, for providing said working gas to said closed Brayton cycle system.