Water combustion technology - methods, processes, systems and apparatus for the combustion of Hydrogen and Oxygen

• US 20090194996A1
• Filed: 01/02/2009
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ClearValue Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ClearValue Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Haase, Richard Alan
• Application Number:
  US12/319,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20090194996A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/51
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/0248 Physical processing only
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/0259 by adsorption on solids
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2210/0046 Nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2210/0082 Argon
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/001 characterised by the uptaking medium; Treatment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/045 in gaseous phase
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 25/005 the working fluid being steam, created by combustion of hydrogen with oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/001 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0017 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/004 by flash gas recovery F25J1/0267 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0052 by vaporising a liquid refrigerant stream
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0072 Nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0208 in combination with an internal quasi-closed refrigeration loop, e.g. with deep flash recycle loop F25J1/021 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0228 Coupling of the liquefaction unit to other units or processes, so-called integrated processes combined plants, e.g. engine plant combined with an industrial process F01K23/064; gas turbine plants in combination with other processes F02C6/00
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 1/0284 Electrical motor as the prime mechanical driver
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2210/50 Oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2215/40 Air or oxygen enriched air, i.e. generally less than 30mol% of O2
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2245/90 the recycled stream being boil-off gas from storage
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2260/44 using nitrogen for cooling purposes
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2290/42 Modularity, pre-fabrication of modules, assembling and erection, horizontal layout, i.e. plot plan, and vertical arrangement of parts of the cryogenic unit, e.g. of the cold box
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 2290/62 : Details of storing a fluid in a tank
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/04533 : for the direct combustion of fuels in a power plant, so-called "oxyfuel combustion"
• CPC Class Codes: F25J 3/04563 : Integration with a nitrogen consuming unit, e.g. for purging, inerting, cooling or heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/46 : Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 : Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 : Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis

Abstract

This invention presents improved combustion methods, systems, engines and apparatus utilizing H₂, O₂ and H₂O as fuel, thereby providing environmentally friendly combustion products, as well as improved fuel and energy management methods, systems, engines and apparatus. The Water Combustion Technology; WCT, is based upon water (H₂O) chemistry, more specifically H₂O combustion chemistry and thermodynamics. WCT does not use any hydrocarbon fuel source, rather the WCT uses H₂ preferably with O₂ and secondarily with air. The WCT significantly improves the thermodynamics of combustion, thereby significantly improving the efficacy of combustion, utilizing the first and second laws of thermodynamics. The WCT preferably controls combustion temperature with H₂O and secondarily with air in the combustion chamber. The WCT preferably recycles exhaust gases as fuel converted from water. The WCT minimizes external cooling loops and minimizes exhaust and/or exhaust energy, thereby maximizing available work and internal energy while minimizing enthalpy and entropy losses.

Claims

1. An engine comprising a mixture of oxygen, as O₂, and hydrogen, as H₂, wherein

temperature of combustion is at least partially controlled with air to combustion in excess over that required to perform combustion, and wherein the excess air reduces at least one of the combustion temperature and formation of nitrogen oxides.

2. The engine of claim 1, wherein mechanical rotating energy is created.

3. The engine of claim 2, wherein at least a part of said rotating mechanical energy turns a generator to create electrical energy.

4. The engine of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of said electrical energy is used in the electrolysis of water to hydrogen and oxygen, and wherein

at least a portion of at least one of the hydrogen and oxygen is used in said mixture.

5. The engine of claim 1, wherein at least part of a steam produced by combustion turns a generator to create electrical energy.

6. The engine of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of said electrical energy is used in the electrolysis of water to hydrogen and oxygen, and wherein

at least a portion of at least one of said hydrogen and oxygen is used in said mixture.

7. The engine of claim 1, wherein said air to combustion flows through a compressor.

8. The engine of claim 1, further comprising water in said mixture.

9. The engine of claim 8, wherein said water comprises at least one selected from a list consisting of a:

corrosion inhibitor, chelant, dispersant and any combination therein.

10. The engine of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the steam produced by combustion is converted to hydrogen by the corrosion of at least one metal and wherein

at least a portion of said hydrogen is used in said mixture.

11. The engine of claim 10, wherein the conversion of said steam into said hydrogen is increased by an electrical current in said metal(s).

12. The engine of claim 1, wherein a generator turns due to the movement of air or water, and wherein

said generator creates electrical energy, and wherein

said electrical energy is at least partially utilized in the electrolysis of water to hydrogen and oxygen, and wherein

at least a portion of at least one of said hydrogen and oxygen is used in said mixture.

13. The engine of claim 1, wherein a photovoltaic cell creates electrical energy, and wherein

said electrical energy is at least partially used in the electrolysis of water to hydrogen and oxygen, and wherein

at least a portion of at least one of said hydrogen and oxygen is used in said mixture.

14. The engine of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

cryogenic air separation,

membrane air separation, and

PSA air separation, wherein

said engine powers at least a portion of said air separation.

15. The engine of claim 14, wherein the oxygen separated from air is at least one of enriched oxygen, pure oxygen and very pure oxygen, and wherein

at least a portion of the oxygen separated from air is used in said mixture.

16. The engine of claim 1, wherein at least one of oxygen and hydrogen is stored in at least one of a cooled gas state and a liquid state by liquefaction.

17. The engine of claim 16, wherein compressor(s) for at least one of said cooling and liquefaction is powered by at least one of said engine and a fuel cell.

18. The engine of claim 1, wherein at least one selected form a list consisting of:

hydrogen, oxygen and water are preheated prior to combustion with the energy from at least one selected from a list consisting of;

ambient temperature, said engine, said engine exhaust, an electrical radiant heat source and any combination therein.

19. The engine of claim 2, wherein said mechanical rotating energy from said engine enters a transmission, wherein

said transmission engage in a manner that is inversely proportional to at least one of the torque and work output of said engine, and wherein

said transmission output mechanical rotating energy turn a generator to create electrical energy.

20. The engine of claim 19, wherein said transmission engage a flywheel capable of storing rotational kinetic energy, wherein

said flywheel turns said generator.

21. The engine of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of said electrical energy is used in the electrolysis of water to hydrogen and oxygen, and wherein

at least a portion of at least one of said hydrogen and oxygen is used in said mixture.

22. The engine of claim 1, wherein said engine is insulated.

23. The engine of claim 1, further comprising jet propulsion.

25. The engine of claim 1, further comprising rocket propulsion.

26. The engine of claim 1, further comprising transportation.

24. The engine of claim 24, wherein said engine exhaust is cooled with water.