VISIT TO (SANITIZED) ON PORTABLE HYDROGEN GENERATOR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-03642A001300010036-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 31, 2012
• Sequence Number: 36
• Content Type: MEMO

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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300010036-7
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008 ..U--!EV~DATE
BRIG CLASS -5 P.-07S REV CLASS
JUST PO-J"EXT REV fimdI n Ai HI MR 70-71
SUBJECT: Visit tol on Portable Hydrogen Generator
. On 11 February 1958 the undersigned met wit
25X1
25X1
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Ifor the purpose of reviewing progress on the portable 25X1
hydrogen generator.
2. A total of seven tests had been run on the 1/5 scale unit,
four of them being 1/5 scale tests (using about 20 pounds of sodium
borohydride, 110 gallons of water, and 830 grams of cobaltous ehiride)
and three being 1/10 scale tests. Most of the tests were run at a
pool temperature of about 60?F. The average temperature rise during
generation was approximately 60?F. Total generalllon time varied from
60 minutes to 150 minutes with the average being about 85 minutes.
The long generation time of 150 minutes resulted from a low initial
temperature of 113?F. The faster rates were usually due to higher concentra-
tions of borohydride. Approximately 20% by volume of the off gas was
water vapor on the runs having an initial pool temperature of 60?F.
Much of this water vapor would condense and run out of the balloon
during inflation. However since as much as 2 pound moles of water
vapor (36 pounds) could be introduced into the balloon during inflation,
there might be a problem of weight pickup on the polyethylene film.
This might be particularly serious after launch when the balloon would
get into lower temperatures which would cause further condensation and perhapss
freezing. I was asked to look into the problem and said that they 25X1
3. ~~ will attempt to reduce the total generation time to 25X1
about 1E5 minttes. This will probably be done by using a higher concentra-
tion of both the borohydride and the catalyst.
4. Design of the full scale generator came up for discussion.
The zipper seals on the present unit are unsatisfactory and will be re-
placed by some means of bunching the fabric at the openings and tying
it off with cord. had intended to build the generator as a one 25X1
piece unit. The weight however would be 75 pounds and the size about
15 cubic feet in its collapsed condition. The weight and bulk would make
for a very difficult "man-portable" situation and therefore Battelle
will have the unit made in two pieces. It should be recognized that the
bulk of the chemicals is also considerable -- 100 pounds of sodium
borohydride filling cimpletely a 55 gallon drum. Transporting and caching
of such of bulk may present real problems to the operator who will have 25X1
a balloon in addition to the generator and chemicals to concern himself
with.
25X1
5. ~ estimates that the first full scale test will be run
in lyJUNFIOENTIAL
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 : CIA-RDP78-03642AO01300010036-7