Kipp's hydrogen generator
Date1850-1900
Inventory Number3803
ClassificationGas Generator
Subject
Maker
American
?
Cultural Region
Dimensions56.3 x 31.7 x 23.9 cm (22 3/16 x 12 1/2 x 9 7/16 in.)
Material
DescriptionA glass vessel composed of three compartments aligned vertically (the top one is removable). The bottom compartment is wide and not very tall, with an opening on one side near the bottom closed with a brass stopper with a handle of a black material that is attached with twisted wire.
The middle compartment has an opening on one side near its top currently with a black stopper through which goes a glass tube with a stopcock. The lower compartment communicates with the lower one by an open narrow neck through which goes a tube from the top compartment to the bottom one (see below) leaving a narrow gap between the compartments
The top compartment has an opening on top (currently with a cork stopper) and does not communicate with the one in the middle, instead extending a long glass tube that ends almost at the base of the lower compartment.
The middle compartment is currently partially filled with thin flakes of a grey-white substance, probably the result of the reaction of sulphuric acid with metallic zinc. A fibrous material prevents these flakes from falling to the lower reservoir, but a few of the flakes can be found in the lower compartment anyway. There is also some yellow residue between the top and middle compartment. A wire attached to the necks of the top and middle compartments helps to keep them together.
The middle compartment has an opening on one side near its top currently with a black stopper through which goes a glass tube with a stopcock. The lower compartment communicates with the lower one by an open narrow neck through which goes a tube from the top compartment to the bottom one (see below) leaving a narrow gap between the compartments
The top compartment has an opening on top (currently with a cork stopper) and does not communicate with the one in the middle, instead extending a long glass tube that ends almost at the base of the lower compartment.
The middle compartment is currently partially filled with thin flakes of a grey-white substance, probably the result of the reaction of sulphuric acid with metallic zinc. A fibrous material prevents these flakes from falling to the lower reservoir, but a few of the flakes can be found in the lower compartment anyway. There is also some yellow residue between the top and middle compartment. A wire attached to the necks of the top and middle compartments helps to keep them together.
Signedunsigned
Curatorial RemarksDW184 and 3802-5 are all similar.
FunctionThis is a device that generates hydrogen gas "on tap" when the user requires it and stops producing it automatically when it is no longer required.
It usually produces hydrogen by the reaction of zinc metal with an acid. During its operation the opening in the lower section is kept stoppered, the top one is kept open to pour the acid in, and the middle opening is the hydrogen gas outlet. Pieces of zinc would be located at the bottom of the middle section, stopped by the narrow gap from falling to the lower section. While the gas outlet is closed, if the user pours acid into the vessel it will only partially fill the lower section as the air pressure of the closed vessel prevents it from filling it entirely, with most of the acid remaining in the top vessel and communicating tube. The moment one opens the outlet, the acid can fill the lower vessel and climb up to the middle section, where it reacts with the zinc to produce hydrogen that leaves the vessel through the outlet. The moment one closes the outlet, the gas pressure in the middle section increases, forcing the acid back into the lower vessel and up to the upper vessel, interrupting the acid's contact with the zinc and the production of hydrogen.
For a more detailed description of the device and several links related to it, see the website dedicated to it at Creighton University by clicking here.
It usually produces hydrogen by the reaction of zinc metal with an acid. During its operation the opening in the lower section is kept stoppered, the top one is kept open to pour the acid in, and the middle opening is the hydrogen gas outlet. Pieces of zinc would be located at the bottom of the middle section, stopped by the narrow gap from falling to the lower section. While the gas outlet is closed, if the user pours acid into the vessel it will only partially fill the lower section as the air pressure of the closed vessel prevents it from filling it entirely, with most of the acid remaining in the top vessel and communicating tube. The moment one opens the outlet, the acid can fill the lower vessel and climb up to the middle section, where it reacts with the zinc to produce hydrogen that leaves the vessel through the outlet. The moment one closes the outlet, the gas pressure in the middle section increases, forcing the acid back into the lower vessel and up to the upper vessel, interrupting the acid's contact with the zinc and the production of hydrogen.
For a more detailed description of the device and several links related to it, see the website dedicated to it at Creighton University by clicking here.
Richard W. Thomas
Date: circa 1861
Accessories: bottle and beaker (1998-1-1634a); hydrometer and manual (1998-1-1634b)
Object number: 1998-1-1634
Distillation Products Industries
Date: circa 1940
Object number: 1998-1-0034
Nachet et Fils (I)
Date: circa 1862
Accessories: 9 objectives and caps 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, (last 3 marked "Nachet à Paris") in their own box; 3 eyepieces 1, 2, 3; large stage clips; dual nosepiece; camera lucida; side illumination prism ; substage cup diaphragm; substage condensers (3); rotating wheel diaphragm; substage mirror on articulated arm; wrench; convertible objectives (3) for a different microscope; flat case.
Object number: 1068b
Claude-Siméon Passemant
Date: 1749-1769
Accessories: ocular; objectives (7); bull's eye condenser; Lieberkühn for stage mounting; cone diaphragm; spring frame for slides; frog plate; stage forceps; large and small black and white disks (2); round micrometer slide with fine wire screen; low-power lens; black aperture disk; brass slider for 4 specimens; ivory slides--rectangular (6); ivory slides--circular (2); brass slide with aperture to hold circular ivory slides; boxes (2) of round ivory slides (40 in total).
Object number: 1182
Wild Heerbrugg Ltd.
Date: circa 1960
Accessories: keys (2); screws (2); screwdriver
Object number: 1997-1-0723
Walter Balcke
Date: 1952-1964
Object number: 1997-1-1605b
Constant Vérick
Date: circa 1875
Accessories: oculars (3): 1, 2, 3; objectives (7): 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 water immersion (2); substage stops (3); condenser with aperture diaphragm wheel on dovetail slide; bullseye; revolving double nosepiece; spatula; blue glass filter; case; and key
Object number: 1012