Para-Orthohydrogen Conversion Using a Vortex Tube

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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.