SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COUPLING A SOLID OXIDE HIGH TEMPERATURE ELECTROLYSIS GLOW DISCHARGE CELL TO A PLASMA ARC TORCH

• US 20090206721A1
• Filed: 02/13/2009
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foret Plasma Labs LLC
• Original Assignee: Foret Plasma Labs LLC
• Inventors: Foret, Todd
• Granted Patent: US 8,278,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/231.10
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 1/281 other than by electrical resistances or electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 1/30 Electrode boilers
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 17/26 Means for producing, introducing, or replenishing gas or vapour during operation of the tube
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/34 Details, e.g. electrodes, nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/3431 Coaxial cylindrical electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/4697 using glow discharges

Abstract

The present invention provides a glow discharge cell comprising an electrically conductive cylindrical vessel having a first end and a second end, and at least one inlet and one outlet; a hollow electrode aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel and extending at least from the first end to the second end of the cylindrical vessel, wherein the hollow electrode has an inlet and an outlet; a first insulator that seals the first end of the cylindrical vessel around the hollow electrode and maintains a substantially equidistant gap between the cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode; a second insulator that seals the second end of the cylindrical vessel around the hollow electrode and maintains the substantially equidistant gap between the cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode; a non-conductive granular material disposed within the gap, wherein the non-conductive granular material (a) allows an electrically conductive fluid to flow between the cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode, and (b) prevents electrical arcing between the cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode during a electric glow discharge; and wherein the electric glow discharge is created whenever: (a) the glow discharge cell is connected to an electrical power source such that the cylindrical vessel is an anode and the hollow electrode is a cathode, and (b) the electrically conductive fluid is introduced into the gap.

Claims

1. A glow discharge cell comprising:

an electrically conductive cylindrical vessel having a first end and a second end, and at least one inlet and one outlet;

a hollow electrode aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel and extending at least from the first end to the second end of the cylindrical vessel, wherein the hollow electrode has an inlet and an outlet;

a first insulator that seals the first end of the cylindrical vessel around the hollow electrode and maintains a substantially equidistant gap between the cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode;

a second insulator that seals the second end of the cylindrical vessel around the hollow electrode and maintains the substantially equidistant gap between the cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode;

a non-conductive granular material disposed within the gap, wherein the non-conductive granular material (a) allows an electrically conductive fluid to flow between the cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode, and (b) prevents electrical arcing between the cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode during a electric glow discharge; and

wherein the electric glow discharge is created whenever;

(a) the glow discharge cell is connected to an electrical power source such that the cylindrical vessel is an anode and the hollow electrode is a cathode, and (b) the electrically conductive fluid is introduced into the gap.

2. The glow discharge cell as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-conductive granular material comprises marbles, ceramic beads, molecular sieve media, sand, limestone, activated carbon, zeolite, zirconium, alumina, rock salt, nut shell or wood chips.

3. The glow discharge cell as recited in claim 1, wherein the electrical power supply operates in a range from 50 to 500 volts DC.

4. The glow discharge cell as recited in claim 1, wherein the electrical power supply operates in a range of 200 to 400 volts DC.

5. The glow discharge cell as recited in claim 1, wherein the cathode reaches a temperature of at least 500°

C. during the electric glow discharge.

6. The glow discharge cell as recited in claim 1, wherein the cathode reaches a temperature of at least 1000°

C. during the electric glow discharge.

7. The glow discharge cell as recited in claim 1, wherein the cathode reaches a temperature of at least 2000°

C. during the electric glow discharge.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive fluid comprises water, produced water, wastewater or tailings pond water.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein:

the electrically conductive fluid is created by adding an electrolyte to a fluid; and

the electrolyte comprises baking soda, Nahcolite, lime, sodium chloride, ammonium sulfate, sodium sulfate or carbonic acid.

10. A glow discharge cell comprising:

an electrically conductive cylindrical vessel having a first end and a closed second end, an inlet proximate to the first end, and an outlet centered in the closed second end;

a hollow electrode aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel and extending at least from the first end into the cylindrical vessel, wherein the hollow electrode has an inlet and an outlet;

a first insulator that seals the first end of the cylindrical vessel around the hollow electrode and maintains a substantially equidistant gap between the cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode;

a non-conductive granular material disposed within the gap, wherein the non-conductive granular material (a) allows an electrically conductive fluid to flow between the cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode, and (b) prevents electrical arcing between the cylindrical vessel and the hollow electrode during a electric glow discharge; and

wherein the electric glow discharge is created whenever;

(a) the glow discharge cell is connected to an electrical power source such that the cylindrical vessel is an anode and the hollow electrode is a cathode, and (b) the electrically conductive fluid is introduced into the gap.