Gas-Loading System for Solid Materials Using Differential Pressure Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for loading hydrogen into solid materials for hydrogen fuel cells and low-energy nuclear reactions (LENRs) face challenges in controlling and sustaining the hydrogen load, particularly in multi-component materials like layered thin films and temperature-sensitive alloys, due to sample-to-sample variability and errors in pressure measurement caused by gas adsorption on non-target surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for gas-loading and packaging solid materials, which involves placing the material in a controlled environment, measuring mass increase to quantify gas absorption, and transferring it to a sealed container while maintaining the gas atmosphere and pressure to ensure consistent and sustainable loading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pressure decrease measurement is used to quantify gas loading, then the loading amount can be measured, but measurement precision deteriorates due to gas adsorption on non-target surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful effect of gas adsorption on non-target surfaces by using a balanced configuration where the sample container and reference container are both exposed to the gas atmosphere. By measuring the differential pressure change between these two containers, the system extracts only the gas loading signal from the target material while canceling out the adsorption effects on non-target surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from absolute pressure decrease to differential pressure change between sample and reference containers. This parameter transformation allows the system to distinguish between gas adsorption on non-target surfaces (affecting both containers equally) and actual gas loading into the target material (affecting only the sample container).
2Reliability
If conventional loading techniques are used, then gas loading can be achieved, but reliability deteriorates due to inability to sustain hydrogen load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by sealing the sample container with the gas-loaded material before removing it from the loading apparatus. This preliminary sealing action preserves the hydrogen load that was achieved during the loading process, allowing the material to maintain its hydrogen content during storage and transport without requiring continuous access to the loading environment.
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
This approach allows for precise and repeatable hydrogen loading into solid materials, minimizing errors and maintaining the loaded gas atmosphere, thereby enhancing the longevity and consistency of the materials for fuel cell and LENR applications.
Implementation Method 1
The loading of a gas into or onto a solid material is quantified by measuring the solid material's increase in mass
Data Source
AI summary
A gas-loading and packaging system is provided for loading a solid material used in a hydrogen fuel cell with gas and packaging the solid material in a sealed container. The gas may comprise a hydrogen gas or other gas. The solid material may, for example, comprise palladium, a nickel alloy, platinum, or other metal. The solid material is loaded with gas by exposing the solid material to the gas under high pressure. When the solid material is exposed to gas under pressure, the gas absorbs into or adsorbs onto the solid material. The mass of the solid material is continuously monitored and used to determine when the solid material is loaded with the desired amount of gas. After the solid material is loaded with gas, high pressure is maintained while the solid material is packaged in a sealed container that is capable of retaining the high pressure gas.