Hydrogen peroxide catalyst

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10364151-B2
Application number	US-201414917562-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2014
Priority date	Sep 9, 2013
Publication date	Jul 30, 2019
Grant date	Jul 30, 2019

Abstract

A catalyst for decomposing high-concentration hydrogen peroxide comprises an active layer on a carrier comprising gamma-phase alumina. The carrier can also comprise aluminum, with the gamma-phase alumina forming a passivating layer on the surface of the aluminum. The active layer can comprise platinum. Apparatus for decomposing hydrogen peroxide can include the catalyst in a decomposition chamber arranged to receive hydrogen peroxide. The apparatus can be used as a thruster, comprising a nozzle arranged to generate thrust by directing exhaust gases in a specific direction. For example, the thruster can be a monopropellant, bipropellant, or hybrid thruster. In other embodiments, the apparatus can be used as a gas generator or a fuel cell.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Apparatus comprising:
a decomposition chamber comprising an inlet arranged to receive high-concentration hydrogen peroxide; and
a catalyst disposed in the decomposition chamber to catalyse decomposition of the high-concentration hydrogen peroxide received through the inlet, the catalyst comprising an active layer on a carrier comprising gamma-phase alumina;
wherein the carrier further comprises aluminium and the gamma-phase alumina is disposed on the surface of the aluminium as a passivation layer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the active layer comprises platinum.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a reservoir storing hydrogen peroxide with a concentration of 80% to 100%, the reservoir being arranged to provide the hydrogen peroxide to the inlet.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is in pellet, granule or monolithic form.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a thruster and further comprises:
a nozzle in fluid communication with the decomposition chamber, the nozzle being arranged to provide thrust by directing gas produced during decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the apparatus is a bipropellant thruster, and the decomposition chamber further comprises a fuel inlet arranged to receive fuel from a fuel tank, the fuel inlet being disposed such that the fuel combusts with oxygen produced by the decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the apparatus is a hybrid thruster and further comprises:
a solid fuel arranged to combust with oxygen produced by the decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a separating unit for separating water vapour and oxygen produced by the decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a fuel cell and further comprises:
an anode comprising the catalyst;
a cathode arranged to be electrically connected to the anode via a load; and
an electrolyte separating the anode from the cathode, the electrolyte being arranged to permit movement of hydrogen ions from the anode to the cathode.

Assignees

• Airbus Defence & Space Ltd

Inventors

• Wynn Jonathan Thomas William
• Musker Anthony Joseph

Classifications

• F02K9/08

  using solid propellants (F02K9/72 takes precedence; using semi-solid or pulverulent propellants F02K9/70) · CPC title

• F02K9/425

  Propellants · CPC title

• B64G1/404

  Hybrid rocket engines · CPC title

• C06D5/04

  by auto-decomposition of single substances · CPC title

• B01J7/00 Primary

  Apparatus for generating gases (production of inert gas mixtures B01J19/14; for generating specific gases, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. C01B, C10J {; in "air bags" on vehicles B60R21/26; for starter gas F02C7/26; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure F42B3/04}) · CPC title