H2O-BASED ELECTROCHEMICAL HYDROGEN-CATALYST POWER SYSTEM

• US 20140072836A1
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Published: 03/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brilliant Light Power, Inc. (Constellation Energy Corp. (Maryland))
• Original Assignee: BlackLight Power Inc. (Constellation Energy Corp. (Maryland))
• Inventors: Mills, Randell Lee
• Application Number:
  US14/005,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20140072836A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/8
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: G21B 3/002 Fusion by absorption in a matrix
• CPC Class Codes: G21D 7/00 Arrangements for direct production of electric energy from fusion or fission reactions obtaining electric energy from radioactive sources G21H1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 14/00 Electrochemical current or voltage generators not provided for in groups H01M6/00 - H01M12/00; Manufacture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/8626 characterised by the form
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/94 Non-porous diffusion electrodes, e.g. palladium membranes, ion exchange membranes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/96 Carbon-based electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/06 Combination of fuel cells with means for production of reactants or for treatment of residues regenerative fuel cells H01M8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0656 by electrochemical means H01M8/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/184 Regeneration by electrochemical means
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/186 by electrolytic decomposition of the electrolytic solution or the formed water product
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/22 Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising carbon or oxygen or hydrogen and other elements; Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising only elements other than carbon, oxygen or hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/00 Energy generation of nuclear origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/10 Nuclear fusion reactors
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

An electrochemical power system is provided that generates an electromotive force (EMF) from the catalytic reaction of hydrogen to lower energy (hydrino) states providing direct conversion of the energy released from the hydrino reaction into electricity, the system comprising at least two components chosen from: H₂O catalyst or a source of H₂O catalyst; atomic hydrogen or a source of atomic hydrogen; reactants to form the H₂O catalyst or source of H₂O catalyst and atomic hydrogen or source of atomic hydrogen; and one or more reactants to initiate the catalysis of atomic hydrogen. The electrochemical power system for forming hydrinos and electricity can further comprise a cathode compartment comprising a cathode, an anode compartment comprising an anode, optionally a salt bridge, reactants that constitute hydrino reactants during cell operation with separate electron flow and ion mass transport, and a source of hydrogen. Due to oxidation-reduction cell half reactions, the hydrino-producing reaction mixture is constituted with the migration of electrons through an external circuit and ion mass transport through a separate path such as the electrolyte to complete an electrical circuit. A power source and hydride reactor is further provided that powers a power system comprising (i) a reaction cell for the catalysis of atomic hydrogen to form hydrinos, (ii) a chemical fuel mixture comprising at least two components chosen from: a source of H₂O catalyst or H₂O catalyst; a source of atomic hydrogen or atomic hydrogen; reactants to form the source of H₂O catalyst or H₂O catalyst and a source of atomic hydrogen or atomic hydrogen; one or more reactants to initiate the catalysis of atomic hydrogen; and a support to enable the catalysis, (iii) thermal systems for reversing an exchange reaction to thermally regenerate the fuel from the reaction products, (iv) a heat sink that accepts the heat from the power-producing reactions, and (v) a power conversion system.

Claims

1. An electrochemical power system that generates at least one of electricity and thermal energy comprising a vessel closed to atmosphere, the vessel comprising

at least one cathode;

at least one anode,

at least one bipolar plate, and

reactants that constitute hydrino reactants during cell operation with separate electron flow and ion mass transport, the reactants comprising at least two components chosen from;

a) at least one source of H₂O;

b) at least one source of catalyst or a catalyst comprising at least one of the group chosen from nH, OH, OH⁻

, nascent H₂O, H₂S, or MNH₂, wherein n is an integer and M is alkali metal; and

c) at least one source of atomic hydrogen or atomic hydrogen,

one or more reactants to form at least one of the source of catalyst, the catalyst, the source of atomic hydrogen, and the atomic hydrogen;

one or more reactants to initiate the catalysis of atomic hydrogen; and

a support,

wherein the combination of the cathode, anode, reactants, and bipolar plate maintains a chemical potential between each cathode and corresponding anode to permit the catalysis of atomic hydrogen to propagate, and

the system further comprising an electrolysis system.

2. The electrochemical power system of claim 1, wherein the electrolysis system intermittently electrolyzes H₂O to provide the source of atomic hydrogen or atomic hydrogen and discharges the cell such that there is a gain in the net energy balance of the cycle.

3. The electrochemical power system of claim 1, wherein the reactants comprise at least one electrolyte chosen from:

at least one molten hydroxide;

at least one eutectic salt mixture;

at least one mixture of a molten hydroxide and at least one other compound;

at least one mixture of a molten hydroxide and a salt;

at least one mixture of a molten hydroxide and halide salt;

at least one mixture of an alkaline hydroxide and an alkaline halide;

LiOH—

LiBr, LiOH—

LiX, NaOH—

NaBr, NaOH—

NaI, NaOH—

NaX, and KOH—

KX, wherein X represents a halide),

at least one matrix, and

at least one additive.

4. The electrochemical power system of claim 1, further comprising a heater.

5. The electrochemical power system of claim 1, wherein the cell temperature above the electrolyte melting point is in at least one range chosen from about 0 to 1500°

C. higher than the melting point, from about 0 to 1000°

C. higher than the melting point, from about 0 to 500°

C. higher than the melting point, 0 to about 250°

C. higher than the melting point, and from about 0 to 100°

C. higher than the melting point.

6. The electrochemical power system of claim 1, wherein the matrix comprises at least one of

oxyanion compounds, aluminate, tungstate, zirconate, titanate, sulfate, phosphate, carbonate, nitrate, chromate, and manganate, oxides, nitrides, borides, chalcogenides, silicides, phosphides, and carbides, metals, metal oxides, nonmetals, and nonmetal oxides;

oxides of alkali, alkaline earth, transition, inner transition, and earth metals, and Al, Ga, In, Sn, Pb, S, Te, Se, N, P, As, Sb, Bi, C, Si, Ge, and B, and other elements that form oxides or oxyanions;

at least one oxide such as one of an alkaline, alkaline earth, transition, inner transition, and rare earth metal, and Al, Ga, In, Sn, Pb, S, Te, Se, N, P, As, Sb, Bi, C, Si, Ge, and B, and other elements that form oxides, and one oxyanion and further comprise at least one cation from the group of alkaline, alkaline earth, transition, inner transition, and rare earth metal, and Al, Ga, In, Sn, and Pb cations;

LiAlO₂, MgO, Li₂TiO₃, or SrTiO₃;

an oxide of the anode materials and a compound of the electrolyte;

at least one of a cation and an oxide of the electrolyte;

an oxide of the electrolyte MOH (M=alkali);

an oxide of the electrolyte comprising an element, metal, alloy, or mixture of the group of Mo, Ti, Zr, Si, Al, Ni, Fe, Ta, V, B, Nb, Se, Te, W, Cr, Mn, Hf, Co, and M′

, wherein M′

represents an alkaline earth metal;

MoO₂, TiO₂, ZrO₂, SiO₂, Al₂O₃, NiO, FeO or Fe₂O₃, TaO₂, Ta₂O₅, VO, VO₂, V₂O₃, V₂O₅, B₂O₃, NbO, NbO₂, Nb₂O₅, SeO₂, SeO₃, TeO₂, TeO₃, WO₂, WO₃, Cr₃O₄, Cr₂O₃, CrO₂, CrO₃, MnO, Mn₃O₄, Mn₂O₃, MnO₂, Mn₂O₇, HfO₂, Co₂O₃, CoO, Co₃O₄, Co₂O₃, and MgO;

an oxide of the cathode material and optionally an oxide of the electrolyte;

Li₂MoO₃ or Li₂MoO₄, Li₂TiO₃, Li₂ZrO₃, Li₂SiO₃, LiAlO₂, LiNiO₂, LiFeO₂, LiTaO₃, LiVO₃, Li₂B₄O₇, Li₂NbO₃, Li₂SeO₃, Li₂SeO₄, Li₂TeO₃, Li₂TeO₄, Li₂WO₄, Li₂CrO₄, Li₂Cr₂O₇, Li₂MnO₄, Li₂HfO₃, LiCoO₂, and M′

O, wherein M′

represents an alkaline earth metal, and MgO;

an oxide of an element of the anode or an element of the same group, and Li₂MoO₄, MoO₂, Li₂WO₄, Li₂CrO₄, and Li₂Cr₂O₇ with a Mo anode, and

the additive comprises at least one of S, Li₂S, oxides, MoO₂, TiO₂, ZrO₂, SiO₂, Al₂O₃, NiO, FeO or Fe₂O₃, TaO₂, Ta₂O₅, VO, VO₂, V₂O₃, V₂O₅, B₂O₃, NbO, NbO₂, Nb₂O₅, SeO₂, SeO₃, TeO₂, TeO₃, WO₂, WO₃, Cr₃O₄, Cr₂O₃, CrO₂, CrO₃, MgO, TiO₂, Li₂TiO₃, LiAlO2, Li₂MoO₃ or Li₂MoO₄, Li₂ZrO₃, Li₂SiO₃, LiNiO₂, LiFeO₂, LiTaO₃, LiVO₃, Li₂B₄O₇, Li₂NbO₃, Li₂SeO₃, Li₂SeO₄, Li₂TeO₃, Li₂TeO₄, Li₂WO₄, Li₂CrO₄, Li₂Cr₂O₇, Li₂MnO₃, or LiCoO₂, MnO, and CeO₂.

7. The electrochemical power system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the following reactions occurs:

a) at least one of H and H₂ is formed at the discharge anode from electrolysis of H₂O;

b) at least one of O and O₂ is formed at the discharge cathode from electrolysis of H₂O;

c) the hydrogen catalyst is formed by a reaction of the reaction mixture, and

d) hydrinos are formed during discharge to produce at least one of electrical power and thermal power.

8. The electrochemical power system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the following reactions occurs:

a) OH⁻

is oxidized and reacts with H to form nascent H₂O that serves as a hydrino catalyst;

b) OH⁻

is oxidized to oxygen ions and H;

c) at least one of oxygen ions, oxygen, and H₂O are reduced at the discharge cathode;

d) H and nascent H₂O catalyst react to form hydrinos; and

e) hydrinos are formed during discharge to produce at least one of electrical power and thermal power.

9. The electrochemical power system of claim 1, wherein the at least one reaction of the oxidation of OH⁻

and the reduction of at least one of oxygen ions, oxygen, and H₂O occur during cell discharge to produce a current over time that exceeds the current over time during the electrolysis phase of the intermittent electrolysis.

10. The electrochemical power system of claim 1, wherein the anode half-cell reaction is

OH⁻

+2H to H₂O+e⁻

+H(¼

)

wherein the reaction of a first H with OH⁻

to form H₂O catalyst and e⁻

is concerted with the H₂O catalysis of a second H to hydrino.

11. The electrochemical power system of claim 1, wherein the discharge anode half-cell reaction has a voltage of at least one of

about 1.2 volts thermodynamically corrected for the operating temperature relative to the standard hydrogen electrode, and

a voltage in at least one of the ranges of about 1.5V to 0.75V, 1.3V to 0.9V, and 1.25V to 1.1V relative to a standard hydrogen electrode and 25°

C., and

the cathode half-cell reactions has a voltage of at least one of

about 0 V thermodynamically corrected for the operating temperature, and

a voltage in at least one of the ranges of about −

0.5V to +0.5V, −

0.2V to +0.2V, and −

0.1V to +0.1V relative to the standard hydrogen electrode and 25°

C.

12. The electrochemical power system of claim 1, wherein the cathode comprises NiO, the anode comprises at least one of Ni, Mo, H242 alloy, and carbon, and the bimetallic junction comprises at least one of Hastelloy, Ni, Mo, and H242 that is a different metal than that of the anode.

13. The electrochemical power system of claim 1, comprising at least one stack of cells wherein the bipolar plate comprises a bimetallic junction separating the anode and cathode.

14. The electrochemical power system of claim 1, wherein the cell is supplied with H₂O, wherein the H₂O vapor is in the pressure is in at least one range chosen from about 0.001 Torr to 100 atm, about 0.001 Torr to 0.1 Torr, about 0.1 Torr to 1 Torr, about 1 Torr to 10 Torr, about 10 Torr to 100 Torr, about 100 Torr to 1000 Torr, and about 1000 Torr to 100 atm, and

the balance of pressure to achieve at least atmospheric pressure is provided by a supplied inert gas comprising at least one of a noble gas and N₂.

15. The electrochemical power system of claim 1, further comprising a water vapor generator to supply H₂O to the system.

16. The electrochemical power system of claim 1, wherein the cell is intermittently switched between charge and discharge phases,

wherein (i) the charging phase comprises at least the electrolysis of water at electrodes of opposite voltage polarity, and (ii) the discharge phase comprises at least the formation of H₂O catalyst at one or both of the electrodes;

wherein (i) the role of each electrode of each cell as the cathode or anode reverses in switching back and forth between the charge and discharge phases, and (ii) the current polarity reverses in switching back and forth between the charge and discharge phases, and

wherein the charging comprises at least one of the application of an applied current and voltage.

17. The electrochemical power system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the applied current and voltage has a waveform comprising

a duty cycle in the range of about 0.001% to about 95%;

a peak voltage per cell within the range of about 0.1 V to 10 V;

a peak power density of about 0.001 W/cm² to 1000 W/cm², and

an average power within the range of about 0.0001 W/cm² to 100 W/cm²

wherein the applied current and voltage further comprises at least one of direct voltage, direct current, and at least one of

alternating current and voltage waveforms, wherein the waveform comprises frequencies within the range of about 1 to about 1000 Hz.

18. The electrochemical power system of claim 17, wherein the waveform of the intermittent cycle comprises at least one of constant current, power, voltage, and resistance, and variable current, power, voltage, and resistance for at least one of the electrolysis and discharging phases of the intermittent cycle, wherein the parameters for at least one phase of the cycle comprise

the frequency of the intermittent phase is in at least one range chosen from about 0.001 Hz to 10 MHz, about 0.01 Hz to 100 kHz, and about 0.01 Hz to 10 kHz;

the voltage per cell is in at least one range chosen from about 0.1 V to 100 V, about 0.3 V to 5 V, about 0.5 V to 2 V, and about 0.5 V to 1.5 V;

the current per electrode area active to form hydrinos is in at least one range chosen from about 1 microamp cm<sup>−

2</sup> to 10 A cm<sup>−

2</sup>, about 0.1 milliamp cm<sup>−

2</sup> to 5 A cm<sup>−

2</sup>, and about 1 milliamp cm<sup>−

2</sup> to 1 A cm<sup>−

2</sup>;

the power per electrode area active to form hydrinos is in at least one range chosen from about 1 microW cm<sup>−

2</sup> to 10 W cm<sup>−

2</sup>, about 0.1 milliW cm<sup>−

2</sup> to 5 W cm<sup>−

2</sup>, and about 1 milliW cm<sup>−

2</sup> to 1 W cm<sup>−

2</sup>;

the constant current per electrode area active to form hydrinos is in the range of about 1 microamp cm<sup>−

2</sup> to 1 A cm<sup>−

2</sup>;

the constant power per electrode area active to form hydrinos is in the range of about 1 milliW cm<sup>−

2</sup> to 1 W cm<sup>−

2</sup>;

the time interval is in at least one range chosen from about 10<sup>−

4</sup> s to 10,000 s, 10<sup>−

3</sup> s to 1000 s, and 10<sup>−

2</sup> s to 100 s, and 10<sup>−

1</sup> s to 10 s;

the resistance per cell is in at least one range chosen from about 1 milliohm to 100 Mohm, about 1 ohm to 1 Mohm, and 10 ohm to 1 kohm;

conductivity of a suitable load per electrode area active to form hydrinos is in at least one range chosen from about 10<sup>−

5</sup> to 1000 ohm<sup>−

1</sup> cm<sup>−

2</sup>, 10<sup>−

4</sup> to 100 ohm<sup>−

1</sup> cm<sup>−

2</sup>, 10<sup>−

3</sup> to 10 ohm<sup>−

1</sup> cm<sup>−

2</sup>, and 10<sup>−

2</sup> to 1 ohm<sup>−

1</sup> cm<sup>−

2</sup>, and

at least one of the discharge current, voltage, power, or time interval is larger than that of the electrolysis phase to give rise to at least one of power or energy gain over the cycle.

19. The electrochemical power system of claim 1, wherein the voltage during discharge is maintained above that which prevents the anode from excessively corroding.

20. The electrochemical power system of claim 1, wherein the catalyst-forming reaction is given by

O₂+5H⁺+5e⁻

to 2H₂O+H(1/p);

the counter half-cell reaction is given by

H₂ to 2H⁺+2e⁻

; and

the overall reaction is given by

3/2H₂+½

O₂ to H₂O+H(1/p).

21. The electrochemical power system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the following products is formed from hydrogen:

a) a hydrogen product with a Raman peak at integer multiple of 0.23 to 0.25 cm<sup>−

1</sup> plus a matrix shift in the range of 0 to 2000 cm<sup>−

1</sup>;

b) a hydrogen product with a infrared peak at integer multiple of 0.23 to 0.25 cm<sup>−

1</sup> plus a matrix shift in the range of 0 to 2000 cm<sup>−

1</sup>;

c) a hydrogen product with a X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy peak at an energy in the range of 500 to 525 eV plus a matrix shift in the range of 0 to 10 eV;

d) a hydrogen product that causes an upfield MAS NMR matrix shift;

e) a hydrogen product that has an upfield MAS NMR or liquid NMR shift of greater than −

5 ppm relative to TMS;

f) a hydrogen product with at least two electron-beam emission spectral peaks in the range of 200 to 300 nm having a spacing at an integer multiple of 0.23 to 0.3 cm<sup>−

1</sup> plus a matrix shift in the range of 0 to 5000 cm<sup>−

1</sup>; and

g) a hydrogen product with at least two UV fluorescence emission spectral peaks in the range of 200 to 300 nm having a spacing at an integer multiple of 0.23 to 0.3 cm<sup>−

1</sup> plus a matrix shift in the range of 0 to 5000 cm<sup>−

1</sup>.

22. The electrochemical power system of claim 1 comprising

a hydrogen anode comprising a hydrogen permeable electrode;

a molten salt electrolyte comprising a hydroxide; and

at least one of an O₂ and a H₂O cathode, wherein

the cell temperature that maintains at least one of a molten state of the electrolyte and the membrane in a hydrogen permeable state is in at least one range chosen from about 25 to 2000°

C., about 100 to 1000°

C., about 200 to 750°

C., and about 250 to 500°

C.,

the cell temperature above the electrolyte melting point in at least one range of about 0 to 1500°

C. higher than the melting point, 0 to 1000°

C. higher than the melting point, 0 to 500°

C. higher than the melting point, 0 to 250°

C. higher than the melting point, and 0 to 100°

C. higher than the melting point;

the membrane thickness is in at least one range chosen from about 0.0001 to 0.25 cm, 0.001 to 0.1 cm, and 0.005 to 0.05 cm;

the hydrogen pressure is maintained in at least one range chosen from about 1 Torr to 500 atm, 10 Torr to 100 atm, and 100 Torr to 5 atm;

the hydrogen permeation rate is in at least one range chosen from about 1×

10<sup>−

13</sup> mole s<sup>−

1</sup> cm<sup>−

2</sup> to 1×

10<sup>−

4</sup> mole s<sup>−

1</sup> cm<sup>−

2</sup>, 1×

10<sup>−

12</sup> mole s<sup>−

1</sup> cm<sup>−

2</sup> to 1×

10<sup>−

5</sup> mole s<sup>−

1</sup> cm<sup>−

2</sup>, 1×

10<sup>−

11</sup> mole s<sup>−

1</sup> cm<sup>−

2</sup> to 1×

10<sup>−

6</sup> mole s<sup>−

1</sup> cm<sup>−

2</sup>, 1×

10<sup>−

10</sup> mole s<sup>−

1</sup> cm<sup>−

2</sup> to 1×

10<sup>−

7</sup> mole s<sup>−

1</sup> cm<sup>−

2</sup>, and 1×

10<sup>−

9</sup> mole s<sup>−

1</sup> cm<sup>−

2</sup> to 1×

10<sup>−

8</sup> mole s<sup>−

1</sup> cm<sup>−

2</sup>.

23. The electrochemical power system of claim 1 comprising

a hydrogen anode comprising a hydrogen sparging electrode;

a molten salt electrolyte comprising a hydroxide, and

at least one of an O₂ and a H₂O cathode, wherein

the cell temperature that maintains a molten state of the electrolyte is in at least one range chosen from about 0 to 1500°

C. higher than the electrolyte melting point, 0 to 1000°

C. higher than the electrolyte melting point, 0 to 500°

C. higher than the electrolyte melting point, 0 to 250°

C. higher than the electrolyte melting point, and 0 to 100°

C. higher than the electrolyte melting point;

the hydrogen flow rate per geometric area of the H₂ bubbling or sparging electrode is in at least one range chosen from about 1×

10<sup>−

13</sup> mole s<sup>−

1</sup> cm<sup>−

2</sup> to 1×

10<sup>−

4</sup> mole s<sup>−

1</sup> cm<sup>−

2</sup>, 1×

10<sup>−

12</sup> mole s<sup>−

1</sup> cm<sup>−

2</sup> to 1×

10<sup>−

5</sup> mole s<sup>−

1</sup> cm², 1×

10<sup>−

11</sup> mole s<sup>−

1</sup> cm<sup>−

2</sup> to 1×

10<sup>−

6</sup> mole s<sup>−

1</sup> cm<sup>−

2</sup>, 1×

10<sup>−

10</sup> mole s<sup>−

1</sup> cm<sup>−

2</sup> to 1×

10<sup>−

7</sup> mole s<sup>−

1</sup> cm<sup>−

2</sup>, and 1×

10<sup>−

9</sup> mole s<sup>−

1</sup> cm<sup>−

2</sup> to 1×

10<sup>−

8</sup> mole s<sup>−

1</sup> cm<sup>−

2</sup>;

the rate of reaction at the counter electrode matches or exceeds that at the electrode at which hydrogen reacts;

the reduction rate of at least one of H₂O and O₂ is sufficient to maintain the reaction rate of H or H₂, and

the counter electrode has a surface area and a material sufficient to support the sufficient rate.

24. A power system that generates thermal energy comprising:

at least one vessel capable of a pressure of at least one of atmospheric, above atmospheric, and below atmospheric;

at least one heater,

reactants that constitute hydrino reactants comprising;

a) a source of catalyst or a catalyst comprising nascent H₂O;

b) a source of atomic hydrogen or atomic hydrogen;

c) reactants to form at least one of the source of catalyst, the catalyst, the source of atomic hydrogen, and the atomic hydrogen; and

one or more reactants to initiate the catalysis of atomic hydrogen wherein the reaction occurs upon at least one of mixing and heating the reactants.

25. The power system of claim 24 wherein the reaction to form at least one of the source of catalyst, the catalyst, the source of atomic hydrogen, and the atomic hydrogen comprise at least one reaction chosen from

a dehydration reaction;

a combustion reaction;

a reaction of a Lewis acid or base and a Bronsted-Lowry acid or base;

an oxide-base reaction;

an acid anhydride-base reaction;

an acid-base reaction;

a base-active metal reaction;

an oxidation-reduction reaction;

a decomposition reaction;

an exchange reaction, and

an exchange reaction of a halide, O, S, Se, Te, NH₃, with compound having at least one OH;

a hydrogen reduction reaction of a compound comprising O, and

the source of H is at least one of nascent H formed when the reactants undergo reaction and hydrogen from a hydride or gas source and a dissociator.