Phase-Changing Borane Fuel for Hypersonic Missiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fuels for air-breathing missiles capable of speeds greater than Mach 8, such as hydrogen, face challenges due to density and storage requirements, making cryogenic options impractical, and existing borane materials are volatile and toxic, with limited practical application as fuels.
Innovation Solution
Development of hydrogen generation compositions comprising ammonia borane and alkylamine borane dissolved in polar organic solvents, which can be stored as solids and liquefied for easier handling and ignition, providing a high-density hydrogen source that can be ignited using conventional methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If hydrogen is used as fuel for air-breathing missiles at speeds greater than Mach 8, then combustion speed is improved, but density and storage requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining borane compounds (solid hydrogen carriers) with liquid fuels to create a composite fuel system. This allows the fuel to maintain high hydrogen content for fast combustion while achieving sufficient density for practical storage and handling in air-breathing missiles operating at Mach 8 and above.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of hydrogen storage from gaseous/cryogenic liquid to solid borane compounds that can be handled as solids or dissolved in liquids. This parameter change enables practical storage and deployment while maintaining high hydrogen content for rapid combustion at hypersonic speeds.
2Quantity of substance
If ammonia borane is used as a solid hydrogen source, then hydrogen generation capability is improved, but volatility and toxicity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates composite borane materials by combining ammonia borane with other borane compounds and solvents to form stable formulations. These composite materials reduce the harmful properties of pure ammonia borane while maintaining high hydrogen generation capability, making them suitable for practical fuel applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses liquid solvents as intermediaries to dissolve or disperse borane compounds, creating stable liquid or slurry formulations. This intermediary approach reduces the volatility and toxicity of solid borane compounds while preserving their hydrogen generation capability for fuel applications.
3Use of energy by moving object
If borane materials are added to base fuels to improve combustion, then combustion performance is improved, but handling and pumping capability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical form of borane materials from solid particles to liquid solutions or slurries by dissolving them in appropriate solvents. This parameter change enables the fuel to be pumped and handled like conventional liquid fuels while maintaining the combustion performance benefits of borane compounds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces liquid solvents as intermediaries that enable borane compounds to be incorporated into fuel systems in a pumpable form. These solvents act as carriers that maintain the hydrogen-rich borane compounds in a liquid state suitable for handling and pumping while preserving combustion performance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The hydrogen generation compositions enable efficient hydrogen release with reduced toxicity and byproduct formation, allowing for stable, high-energy fuels that can be easily pumped and ignited, addressing the limitations of existing borane materials and hydrogen storage challenges.
Implementation Method 1
The ability of ammonia borane and its derivatives to produce hydrogen has been studied in pyrolytic, thermal, ionic liquid, and metal-catalyzed systems
Implementation Method 2
hydrogen generation compositions comprising ammonia borane and alkylamine borane dissolved in polar organic solvents
Data Source
AI summary
Phase-changing fuel compositions which can generate hydrogen are provided herein. The compositions can comprise a hydrogen carrier at least partially dissolved in a polar organic solvent. The hydrogen carrier includes ammonia borane and an alkylamine borane such as methylamine borane or methylenediamine bisborane. The hydrogen carrier act as the primary fuel source in the compositions and can be present in an amount of at least 60% by weight, based on the weight of the hydrogen generation composition. The hydrogen generation compositions are a liquid at temperatures of 5° C. or greater or 25° C. or greater. Methods for the production of hydrogen from the hydrogen generation compositions are further disclosed.