Creating Orthohydrogen from Parahydrogen

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the conversion of parahydrogen to orthohydrogen, particularly in the context of its application in the Space Shuttle and claims regarding fuel economy enhancements. Participants explore the methods purportedly used for this conversion and challenge the validity of certain claims made by commercial products.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the existence of a magnetizer on the Shuttle that converts parahydrogen to orthohydrogen, suggesting that such claims are unfounded.
  • One participant cites a patent (number 3228868) that mentions the conversion of parahydrogen to orthohydrogen, but this is met with skepticism regarding its relevance to the Shuttle.
  • Another participant, with experience on the Centaur upper stage, asserts that the energy value of parahydrogen is no different than that of orthohydrogen, implying no benefit in conversion.
  • There is a humorous remark about the fictional concept of a flux capacitor interfering with the magnetizer, indicating a light-hearted tone amidst the technical discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the existence and utility of a magnetizer for converting parahydrogen to orthohydrogen on the Shuttle, with multiple competing views presented regarding the validity of claims made by certain products.

Contextual Notes

Some claims about patents and historical figures lack verification, and the discussion does not resolve the technical aspects of hydrogen conversion or its implications for fuel economy.

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parahydrogen into the orthohydrogen??
 
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The Shuttle does not have a magnetizer that "converts parahydrogen to orthohydrogen".

I assume you are referring to a certain product that purports to boost a vehicle's fuel economy. I will not give the web sites that hawk this piece of junk the light of day. A couple of points:

1. These web sites refer to a certain engineer who supposedly worked at NASA in the 50s. Nope. NASA is meticulous about its early history, including its predecessor agency, NACA. Google that person's name, restricting the search to NASA pages. Zero hits.

2. These website cite a certain patent for the device. The US government did indeed issue a patent with that exact number -- on Oct. 20, 1885 to J.L. Wilbur. The patent is for a stock rack.

3. Here a few real ways to enhance your fuel economy: Easy on the gas pedal and on the break. Don't speed. Keep your tires inflated properly and keep your car well-maintained.
 
D H said:
The Shuttle does not have a magnetizer that "converts parahydrogen to orthohydrogen".

I assume you are referring to a certain product that purports to boost a vehicle's fuel economy. I will not give the web sites that hawk this piece of junk the light of day. A couple of points:

1. These web sites refer to a certain engineer who supposedly worked at NASA in the 50s. Nope. NASA is meticulous about its early history, including its predecessor agency, NACA. Google that person's name, restricting the search to NASA pages. Zero hits.

2. These website cite a certain patent for the device. The US government did indeed issue a patent with that exact number -- on Oct. 20, 1885 to J.L. Wilbur. The patent is for a stock rack.

3. Here a few real ways to enhance your fuel economy: Easy on the gas pedal and on the break. Don't speed. Keep your tires inflated properly and keep your car well-maintained.


Haha, no I was actually just wondering how they use a magnetic flux to flip the rotation of the H in parahydrogen.

I don't see any change that a magnetic flux would cause in fossil fuel to make it more combustable.

So what method do they use on the shuttles to convert para to ortho?? I read it was a magnetizer.
 
Last edited:


I found a website that cites patent number 3228868. This patent was issued January 11, 1966 to S.L. Ruskin and does mention "conversion of parahydrogen to orthohydrogen".

D H said:
The Shuttle does not have a magnetizer that "converts parahydrogen to orthohydrogen".

I assume you are referring to a certain product that purports to boost a vehicle's fuel economy. I will not give the web sites that hawk this piece of junk the light of day. A couple of points:

1. These web sites refer to a certain engineer who supposedly worked at NASA in the 50s. Nope. NASA is meticulous about its early history, including its predecessor agency, NACA. Google that person's name, restricting the search to NASA pages. Zero hits.

2. These website cite a certain patent for the device. The US government did indeed issue a patent with that exact number -- on Oct. 20, 1885 to J.L. Wilbur. The patent is for a stock rack.

3. Here a few real ways to enhance your fuel economy: Easy on the gas pedal and on the break. Don't speed. Keep your tires inflated properly and keep your car well-maintained.
 


I'd bet there is no such thing on the Shuttle. I worked on Centaur (LH2 upper stage) for 8 years, and they didn't have such a thing. As far as I'm aware, the energy value of parahydrogen is no different than ortho, so there's no benefit in converting it. The other possibility is that it converts almost instantly as the LH2 is heated in the HX as it goes through the engine bell.
 


Besides, everybody knows that using the magnetizer on the Shuttle during flight interferes with keeping the flux capacitor adjusted correctly so the craft doesn't go back in time.
 

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