Para-Orthohydrogen Conversion Using a Vortex Tube
A para-orthohydrogen conversion device comprises a vortex tube. The vortex tube may include an inlet disposed at a first end of the vortex tube, a catalyst disposed on the interior wall of the vortex tube, a first outlet comprising an opening on the perimeter of a second end of the vortex tube, a stopper disposed at the center of the second end of the vortex tube, and a second outlet disposed on the first end of the vortex tube. A method includes converting parahydrogen to orthohydrogen via the catalyst and rotational force as hydrogen gas moves through the vortex tube such that cooled parahydrogen-rich gas or liquid hydrogen accumulates near the center of the vortex tube.
1 . A method comprising:
transferring hydrogen gas into a proximal end of a vortex tube, at least a portion of an interior wall of the vortex tube comprising a catalyst, wherein the hydrogen gas comprises orthohydrogen and parahydrogen;
flowing the hydrogen gas toward a distal end of the vortex tube, the hydrogen gas rotating within the vortex tube as the hydrogen gas flows toward the distal end;
reacting the hydrogen gas with the catalyst such that at least a portion of the parahydrogen is converted to orthohydrogen;
expelling orthohydrogen-rich hydrogen gas from the distal end of the vortex tube; and
flowing parahydrogen-rich hydrogen gas out the proximal end of the vortex tube.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen gas transferred into the proximal end of the vortex tube comprises approximately 50% orthohydrogen and approximately 50% parahydrogen.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the orthohydrogen-rich hydrogen gas comprises more orthohydrogen than parahydrogen.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the orthohydrogen-rich hydrogen gas comprises approximately 75% orthohydrogen and approximately 25% parahydrogen.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the parahydrogen-rich hydrogen gas comprises more parahydrogen than orthohydrogen.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the parahydrogen-rich hydrogen gas comprises approximately 75% parahydrogen and approximately 25% orthohydrogen.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen gas transferred to the vortex tube comprises pressurized hydrogen gas.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst comprises ruthenium, copper, platinum, palladium, manganese, ferric oxide, silver, a rare earth metal, or a combination thereof.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed at or below approximately 123 K.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst coats the at least the portion of the interior wall of the vortex tube.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen gas has a first temperature, wherein the orthohydrogen-rich hydrogen gas has a second temperature greater than the first temperature, wherein the parahydrogen-rich hydrogen gas has a third temperature less than the first temperature.
12 . A method comprising:
transferring hydrogen gas into a proximal end of a vortex tube, at least a portion of an interior wall of the vortex tube comprising a catalyst, wherein the hydrogen gas comprises orthohydrogen and parahydrogen;
flowing the hydrogen gas toward a distal end of the vortex tube, the hydrogen gas rotating within the vortex tube as the hydrogen gas flows toward the distal end; and
reacting at least a portion of the hydrogen gas with the catalyst such that at least a portion of the hydrogen gas converts to liquid hydrogen.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the catalyst comprises ruthenium, copper, platinum, palladium, manganese, ferric oxide, silver, a rare earth metal, or a combination thereof.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the liquid hydrogen comprises more parahydrogen than orthohydrogen by mass.
15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
transferring a remaining portion of the hydrogen gas out the distal end of the vortex tube.
16 . A device comprising:
a vortex tube;
an inlet disposed on a first end of the vortex tube;
a catalyst coating at least a portion of an interior wall of the vortex tube;
a first outlet disposed on a second end of the vortex tube, wherein the first outlet comprises an opening on the perimeter of the second end of the vortex tube and a stopper disposed at the center of the second end of the vortex tube; and
a second outlet disposed on the first end of the vortex tube.
17 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the catalyst comprises ruthenium, copper, platinum, palladium, manganese, ferric oxide, silver, a rare earth metal, or a combination thereof.
18 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the catalyst comprises a chemical compound that catalyzes the conversion of parahydrogen to orthohydrogen.
19 . The device of claim 16 , further comprising:
insulation disposed around at least a portion of an exterior of the vortex tube.
20 . The device of claim 16 , further comprising:
a plurality of grooves disposed in the interior wall of the vortex tube.