System for obtaining hydrogen and oxygen from water using solar energy
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for obtaining hydrogen and oxygen from water utilizing solar energy, said apparatus comprising:
- A. a water-dissociation chamber having a wall preferentially permeable to the passage of lower molecular weight dissociation components including hydrogen,B. means connected to the dissociation chamber for supplying water to said chamber,C. solar energy concentrating means focused on said dissociation chamber for heating said chamber to a temperature at which water is dissociated into steam, molecular hydrogen, molecular oxygen, atomic hydrogen, atomic oxygen and hydroxyl,D. means connected to the dissociation chamber for withdrawing oxygen enriched dissociation products from said chamber,E. a non-permeable casing spaced from and enclosing said dissociation chamber wall and forming a hydrogen enriched dissociation product collection chamber,F. means connected to said collection chamber for withdrawing hydrogen enriched dissociation product from said chamber,G. cooling means for cooling said oxygen enriched dissociation products and partially liquefying the same, andH. gas-liquid separation means for separating gaseous oxygen from the cooled oxygen enriched dissociation products.
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Abstract
A system for producing and separating hydrogen and oxygen from water in which water is pumped through a preferentially permeable walled vessel heated to a high temperature by a solar energy concentrator. The water dissociates at high temperatures. Lower molecular weight components, especially hydrogen, diffuse preferentially through the vessel walls and are drawn off and separated. Oxygen may be separated from the products which do not diffuse through the walls by conventional separation techniques. A system is provided for making use of solar energy to produce storable fuels for use during periods of no sunshine.
70 Citations
14 Claims
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1. Apparatus for obtaining hydrogen and oxygen from water utilizing solar energy, said apparatus comprising:
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A. a water-dissociation chamber having a wall preferentially permeable to the passage of lower molecular weight dissociation components including hydrogen, B. means connected to the dissociation chamber for supplying water to said chamber, C. solar energy concentrating means focused on said dissociation chamber for heating said chamber to a temperature at which water is dissociated into steam, molecular hydrogen, molecular oxygen, atomic hydrogen, atomic oxygen and hydroxyl, D. means connected to the dissociation chamber for withdrawing oxygen enriched dissociation products from said chamber, E. a non-permeable casing spaced from and enclosing said dissociation chamber wall and forming a hydrogen enriched dissociation product collection chamber, F. means connected to said collection chamber for withdrawing hydrogen enriched dissociation product from said chamber, G. cooling means for cooling said oxygen enriched dissociation products and partially liquefying the same, and H. gas-liquid separation means for separating gaseous oxygen from the cooled oxygen enriched dissociation products. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for obtaining hydrogen and oxygen from water utilizing solar energy, said method comprising:
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A. supplying water to a dissociation zone, having a wall preferentially permeable to the passage of lower molecular weight dissociation components, including hydrogen B. causing said water within said zone to dissociate into steam, molecular hydrogen, molecular oxygen, atomic hydrogen, atomic oxygen and hydroxyl by heating by means of concentrated solar energy to a temperature at which water is dissociated, C. separating hydrogen enriched dissociation product from said dissociation zone by preferential diffusion through said wall, and collecting said hydrogen enriched product, D. withdrawing said hydrogen enriched dissociation product, E. withdrawing oxygen enriched dissociation products remaining in said dissociation zone and cooling to liquefy a portion of the same, and F. separating gaseous oxygen from the resulting mixture. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification