Patent ID: 7951339

Claim:
A reactor/storage apparatus for use in a closed Brayton cycle system comprising: a tank; a liquid metal fuel contained within said tank; an oxidant source having an oxidant contained therein, said oxidant causing a heat generating reaction with said liquid metal fuel; an oxidant injector penetrating said tank below the surface of said liquid metal fuel and in communication with said oxidant source for providing a controlled flow of said oxidant to said liquid metal fuel; a working gas; a working gas inlet penetrating said tank below the surface of said liquid metal fuel for dispersing said working gas into 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; an afterburner oxidant injection means, penetrating said tank above said liquid metal fuel and in communication with said oxidant source, for providing a controlled flow of said oxidant within said tank above said liquid metal fuel so as to react with said metal vapors to form a solid product therefrom leaving said working gas free of said metal vapors; and a working gas outlet, penetrating said tank above said liquid metal fuel, for communicating said heated, metal vapor free, working gas to said Brayton cycle system.