A pulsed injection parahydrogen generator and techniques for quantifying enrichment

[Display omitted] ► A parahydrogen generator based on pulsed injections is presented. ► A simple protocol for quantifying enrichment is described. ► Relaxation kinetics were investigated in mass-produced aluminum storage tanks. A device is presented for efficiently enriching parahydrogen by pulsed i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of magnetic resonance (1997) 2012-01, Vol.214 (1), p.258-262
Main Authors: Feng, Bibo, Coffey, Aaron M., Colon, Raul D., Chekmenev, Eduard Y., Waddell, Kevin W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Equipment Design
Equipment Failure Analysis
Hydrogen - chemistry
Hydrogen - isolation & purification
Hyperpolarization
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy - instrumentation
Microfluidics - instrumentation
Orthohydrogen
Parahydrogen
PASADENA
PHIP
SABRE
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Summary:[Display omitted] ► A parahydrogen generator based on pulsed injections is presented. ► A simple protocol for quantifying enrichment is described. ► Relaxation kinetics were investigated in mass-produced aluminum storage tanks. A device is presented for efficiently enriching parahydrogen by pulsed injection of ambient hydrogen gas. Hydrogen input to the generator is pulsed at high pressure to a catalyst chamber making thermal contact with the cold head of a closed-cycle cryocooler maintained between 15 and 20 K. The system enables fast production (0.9 standard liters per minute) and allows for a wide range of production targets. Production rates can be systematically adjusted by varying the actuation sequence of high-pressure solenoid valves, which are controlled via an open source microcontroller to sample all combinations between fast and thorough enrichment by varying duration of hydrogen contact in the catalyst chamber. The entire enrichment cycle from optimization to quantification and storage kinetics are also described. Conversion of the para spin-isomer to orthohydrogen in borosilicate tubes was measured at 8 min intervals over a period of 64 h with a 12 T NMR spectrometer. These relaxation curves were then used to extract initial enrichment by exploiting the known equilibrium (relaxed) distribution of spin isomers with linear least squares fitting to a single exponential decay curve with an estimated error less than or equal to 1%. This procedure is time-consuming, but requires only one sample pressurized to atmosphere. Given that tedious matching to external references are unnecessary with this procedure, we find it to be useful for periodic inspection of generator performance. The equipment and procedures offer a variation in generator design that eliminate the need to meter flow while enabling access to increased rates of production. These tools for enriching and quantifying parahydrogen have been in steady use for 3 years and should be helpful as a template or as reference material for building and operating a parahydrogen production facility.
ISSN:1090-7807
1096-0856
DOI:10.1016/j.jmr.2011.11.015