FULL SCALE TEST OF THE PORTABLE HYDROGEN GENERATOR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-03642A001300010050-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 31, 2012
• Sequence Number: 50
• Publication Date: August 11, 1958
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 :CIA-RDP78-03642A001300010050-1
(~ ~;~ C ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Lt Auguat ].958
I~MORAN~i FOR THE RS~RD
St~JECT t Ftil.l Scale Test of the Pcs"table Hydrogen t3eaerator
1. Oa 5 July 1958 the folloxing tndivid~oals assembled at the
for the full scale test and dsma~stratic~ o~'~
portable hydrogen geaeratora
FD Personaels
8. Success Achieved
The test was the first for the full scale unit and with this is
mind it is 8ifficult to characterize the generation as anything less than
outstandingl~,~ successful. There were certain time cassumiag operations
Which should be Worked c~axt before the wait could be ccs7sidered aperatiaeal.
These however are in the preparatory operatioais prior to generaticri. once
generatioa~ was begun the reactioai was self-sustaining at a controlled rate.
Actual geaeratiaai time for the 3500 cubic feet of hydrogen was 25 minutes.
25X1
25X1
It should be eeagphasized that the generators even is its present stage
met all of its requireseeats.
(1)
total weight of generator shall be leas than 500 pauadas
actual weights are
NaBH~
100
CoC1Z
50
NaOH 2 r ~~~ _~'.~~Rc~_v/~o~r~ ~ er ~L~,'
Cenerator and Auxiliary equipme~ _ _ -- - -- t ~ .., . _5" ,.,, ~, ? z e C _
q~~~+ ~ ~ t }._ a ~-_ ^'t t ~ i~ ~ i~ ~ 1~1gT _~_ k8%Y 8~..i ~?,,,~-~ - Ayi;B~ HR Tf`-?'s
(2) one man portable and operablet
the components are packaged in Weights of 0 lbs or less. The
satire operation was run through by csse~employee and 25X1
once generation Was begun the balloon was handled essentially by
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 Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 :CIA-RDP78-03642A001300010050-1
~u~l'~ ~~ L+L~~~~~
alone with no ft~rther attention being given to 25X1
3?
the generator at a1.1.
self-sustaining, self'-controlled reaction in lees tyau 1 hours
es pre pointed out earlier, this requirement was met
(4) non?a~etallic s
with the exception of the pump needed to inflate the air mat,
the unit is n~cn~etallic
(3)
(5)
enough hydrogen to provide 250 potmds of lifts
Inasmuch as this reaction repeated ly goes to 9596 plus
completion it is Pelt that this requirement eas satisfied
although a direct measurement of the lift was nat possible
due to difficulties with the inflation ducting and anbse-
quent loss of gss. The reacticm teas Pollon~ed by a thernmo-
couple however and the temperature rise elonfirmed near
complete reaction.
Sequence of Events
~5
The generator, airpump, and tulweighted sack were laid out at the site.
0950.1005
The generator air mat was pumped up with air.
1OO5.,loi5
The sack was filled with 15 pounds of rock.
1015-+1025
The weighted sack was tied to the bottom of the generator.
lo3o.so4o
The generator was moved irrto the water and the filling tubes ad.,3usted.
lo~~o-u3o
The generator Pills unattended. The filling tubes were tied off at 1130.
1050.1130
The ground cloth and balloon were ]aid out and the base of the balloon
tied do!Wa.
u3o-1230
Lunch
1240-1245
The AaOH was added to the generator.
. ?-,
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 :CIA-RDP78-03642A001300010050-1
 Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 :CIA-RDP78-03642A001300010050-1
- - ~
1245-13~
100 pounds of NaB~~4 was
sloshed.
1'
added to the generator and the solution
1305
The temperature of the generator pool was talaen (82 F) and the
appropriate quantity of CoCl2 (8.6 pounds) ~Leeided on
1305-1325
The inflation tubing adapter was fastened to the generator outlet.
1325a.34o
The CoCl2 solutioa was made up.
1340-1410
The system was flushed with nitrogen.
141oa.415
The inflation tubing was fastened to the inflations tubing adapter.
1417-1419
The CoCl2 was added to the generator.
1420
The CoCL, entry tube was tied off.
1420?x.445
t3eneratiou.
A leak developed along the edge of the generator where one of the
supporti~tg rods had been replaced..
The field expedient inflation tube adapter failed at 1430.
The temperature rise was 50oP'.
Foam rose to a height dust siu inches below the tap of the generator.
4. Caseents and Aeco~nendations
Looking over the time sequence it is evident that there are several
rather time ec~+stmting operations that should be imprrnred own s Also there are
some operatio?s which could or should be eliminated.. They are discussed beloxt
(a)
It has been suggested that the pulp used for the air met be
replaced by a smntl]. pressure battle. The volusme of air re-
gaited is small (less than 10 cubic feet 8TP) and could
probably be provided in a lightweight fiberglass sphere with
metal liner. The diffusion problem over a period of time
should be looked at here. Also, the metal will present somewhat
of a radar target. Since the agent will be 'bringing is tools
and equipment e.g, radio) of natal, hort~ever, the strict non-
metal requiremeat for the generator is probably nart too realistic
~Ye4Y?
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 Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 :CIA-RDP78-03642A001300010050-1
' ? ~
~V ~~~iV ~~
~
^
~
(b) The filli.ag operation should be speec`Le$ up. This might
be done by better or more elliciezrt inlets or weighting
the unit. Since the lilting proced,es unattended, Dace
the process has begun, hoeever, and the operator can
occupy himself in other preparatory operations (e,g. putting
in the ground anchor, laying Dart the balloon, tying the
halloos dawn, unpacking the borohydrida and. catalept, pre.
paring the NaOH solutioa, etc.) it is not too critical that
the time oa this tilling operatics be reduced greatly bslw
the present 50 ednvtes.
(c) The addition o! the IgaBH~ is not an easy procedure and should
be i'proved. Rot ashy is it time eossumingf but the possibility
o! spilling andlosing the chemical ~i~i: exists.
(d) The attacbm~ent o! the inllatias tubing to the generator is
most unsatislaetory. Abetter system should be davissd.
Also, it would probably be a good id,~ to pronrid~e sn in?
llatioa tube with both more length and strength.
(e)
The !lashing out with nitrogen was simply a precautisaary
measure and largel,}r an unnecessary oni ? even for a lust
test. The air trapped above the generator is so anal.! that
the period during which an explosive mixture exists is ex?
tremely small. Also, siaoe the gas is wet the static prob.
lam is largely eliminated.
It vas remarked that an integral duct was not the best type
!or this appliaatioa.
Handling the halloos would probably be made easier by use
of a reeling Sleeve.
5. F~rture work
has been directed to submit an extension proposal. to cover the
costs o! writing a tins! report and operations manual The films o! the eration
are being processed nor and when this is completed
can review them and decide what it any modifications should be made oa the
generator. Alan the question o! whether a second lull scale test should be ran
has not been settled. 25X1
It is the leeltng of the undersigned that lM~pite the outstanding success
achieved on the first full scale run that the unit is still a very marginal unit
as far as any operational use is concerned. This for ~ number of reasons and
they are enumerated beloars
-4
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 Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 :CIA-RDP78-03642A001300010050-1
_ t ? ~
~T~~~
(a)
(b)
(c)
the generator and chemicals weigh 202 pounds and constitute
a considerable bulk. Ths 'balloon weighs 47 pamds. The
total weight involved is then 249 pounds. Moreover this does
not include packaging and whey packagLng in a manner satisfactory
for cashing is figured in, a total weight of at least 500 pounds
is involved. This is a considerable weight to bring in.
ble fob 25X1
The
undersigned estimates that the bulk to be buried is in excess
of 25 cubic feet.
a pool of water appzbacimately 3 feet deep must be found in order
to candutzt the operation. This means a transportation problem
of carrying 500 pounds of 'bull~r materials sane distance. The
time imrolv~ed is obviously a problem here also for Deice the
mowing has begun the items are exposed to possible detection
and the longer the time elapsed the more serious this will
probabl}r became.
(d) wrather is a critical roblem. 3amehow a forecast of the winds
must be obtained and can not be expected to obtain thiE25X1
himself. Coaiceivab]y this can be radioed in but this is a rather
unsatisfactory procedure unless the agent has all the gear at the
site sad ready to begin operations an short ao~tice. This woail.d
bring up the problem of exposure cited in (e) above hasever.
Even if exposure were not a concern, the problem of forecasting
winds in a denied area is riser to say the least.
(e) handling the ballooai by one man is no simple problem under very
light wind canditioa3s and is virtually impossible wader gusty
coaidttions. Therefore even if everything up to the point of
generatioan we:rt satisfactorily, the remaining problem of a
successful launch is a serious cx;e.
In view of the operational problems described above, it is the re?
caa-endation of the undersigned that this project be terminated as soon as
is practicable. A total of $44,000 has als~eac~y been expended on this program
and a further expenditure of same $6,000 more might be justified in order to
put the pro~eet in satisfactory shape.
If it is decided to run a second full scale test, it is the recammendatian
of the undersigned that this be dome at the low temperature conditiaa (i.e. e
water temperature of 45oF) as the catalapt requirement is mooch gpeater here and
the generatbn problems might not be the same as those experienced in the test
dust completed..
25X1
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/31 :CIA-RDP78-03642A001300010050-1