Investigation of Hydrazine System Reaction Product Formation.
Abstract
Investigations were conducted to eliminate the effluent ammonia from hydrazine-air fuel cell systems. It was found that the porous nickel plaque, normally used to support the anode catalyst in a hydrazine fuel cell, was the major contributor to ammonia formation. Studies conducted with single cells showed that when porous nickel is replaced with porous iron as the anode catalyst support, the ammonia evolution rates are reduced by an order of more than one magnitude. A single cell fabricated with a porous nickel anode (3 in x 3 in) and operating at 75 mA/sq cm generated ammonia at a rate of 4 mg/h, while the iron anode generated ammonia at a rate of 0.2 mg/h, operating under similar load conditions. Hydrazine-air cells, containing iron anodes impregnated with palladium catalyst, were fabricated in the 60 watt fuel cell module configuration and evaluated under practical loads in the 60 watt fuel cell module configuration and evaluated under practical loads in the 60 watt system equipped with blower, fuel feed control, and voltage regulator. No ammonia odors could be detected by smell during operation. Analysis of exhaust gases from the 60 watt hydrazine air fuel cell system showed ammonia generation rates of 5-10 g/hour from the cell stacks containing nickel anodes and 0.12 g/hour from the cell stacks containing iron anodes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA028587
Entities
People
- John Perry Jr
Organizations
- United States Army Communications-Electronics Command