Electrolysis method for producing hydrogen and oxygen

• US 4,107,008 A
• Filed: 12/22/1976
• Issued: 08/15/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Beeston Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Beeston Company Limited
• Inventors: Horvath, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Andrews, R. L.
• Application Number:
  US05/753,610
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 204/129
• US Class Current: 205/339
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/123 Ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/17 Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/73 of the filter-press type
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis

Abstract

A novel electrolytic cell produces a mixture of highly ionized hydrogen and oxygen gases by a method combining electrolysis and radiolysis of an aqueous electrolyte. The electrolyte, which may be a 25% of potassium hydroxide, is introduced into the cell and is simultaneously subjected to an electrolysing current and intense irradiation by electromagnetic radiation of frequency less than 10^-10 meters.

Claims

1. A method of decomposition of water to produce hydrogen and oxygen comprising the steps of

placing an electrically conductive aqueous solution in a vessel in contact with a pair of separated electrodes,

causing electric current to flow between said electrodes while simultaneously irradiating the aqueous solution with electromagnetic radiation of wave length less than 10^-10 meters and a stream of neutrons, and

collecting hydrogen and oxygen which accumulates at the electrodes as highly ionised gases in which the hydrogen contains a higher proportion of deutrons than in naturally occurring hydrogen.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrodes are cylindrically arranged about a common centre line and wherein the electromagnetic radiation and said stream of neutrons are generated in a radiation generator disposed within the inner electrode and radiate outwardly through the inner electrode into said aqueous solution.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein a magnetic field is applied to said aqueous solution in field directions extending between said electrodes which magnetic field produces a "spin-flip" effect on protons released from the aqueous solution.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stream of neutrons is a pulsed stream of neutrons associated with said electromagnetic radiation and wherein the highly ionised hydrogen and oxygen gases are collected as a gaseous mixture.

5. A method of decomposition of water to produce hydrogen and oxygen comprising the steps of

placing an electrically conductive aqueous solution in a vessel in contact with a pair of separated electrodes arranged cylindrically one within the other,

producing by electron bombardment of an anode in a radiation tube disposed within the inner electrode a beam of electromagnetic radiation of wave length less than 10^-10 meters which radiates outwardly through the inner electrode to irradiate the aqueous electrolyte between the electrodes,

causing an electric current to flow between the electrodes and through the irradiated electrolyte, and

collecting hydrogen and oxygen gases which accumulate at the electrodes.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the electron bombardment of the anode in the radiation tube also produces a pulsed stream of neutrons associated with said beam of electromagnetic radiation which stream of neutrons also enters the irradiated electrolyte and the hydrogen and the oxygen are collected as highly ionised gases in which the hydrogen comprises a higher proportion of deuterons than in naturally occurring hydrogen.

7. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said electron bombardment is produced by applying between the anode and a filament of said radiation tube a pulsating DC voltage of at least 17,000 volts and pulse frequency of at least 3,000 pulses per second.

8. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein there is generated within the said vessel a magnetic field which in the vicinity of the irradiated electrolyte extends between said electrodes and which in the vicinity of the radiation tube is directed so as to accelerate the bombardment electrons.

9. A method of decomposition of water to produce hydrogen and oxygen comprising the steps of

placing an electrically conductive aqueous solution in a vessel in contact with a pair of separated electrodes

irradiating the aqueous solution with electromagnetic radiation of wavelength less than 10^-10 meters while causing electric current to flow between said electrodes and collecting hydrogen and oxygen gases which accumulate therefrom.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein a pulsed stream of neutrons is associated with said electromagnetic radiation and wherein the hydrogen and oxygen gases are collected as a highly ionized gaseous mixture in which the hydrogen contains a higher proportion of deuterons than naturally occurring hydrogen.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein a magnetic field is applied to said aqueous solution in field directions extending between said electrodes.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the magnetic field produces a "spin flip" effect on portons released within the aqueous solution.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said magnetic field is generated by permanent magnets.

14. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said electrodes are cylindrically arranged about a common centre line and wherein the electromagnetic radiation is generated in a radiation generator disposed within the inner electrode and radiates outwardly through the inner electrode into said aqueous solution.