Power device

• US 5,900,330 A
• Filed: 09/25/1997
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takeo Kagatani
• Original Assignee: Takeo Kagatani
• Inventors: Kagatani, Takeo
• Primary Examiner(s): KALAFUT, STEPHEN J
• Application Number:
  US08/935,092
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 429/17, 429/20, 429/21, 429/24
• US Class Current: 429/422
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/72 Constructional details of fuel cells specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/33 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/34 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/006 Converting flow of air into electric energy, e.g. by using wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0082 Organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/065 by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0656 by electrochemical means H01M8/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/186 by electrolytic decomposition of the electrolytic solution or the formed water product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a new power device. More specifically, it creates hydrogen from supplied water and electricity. The hydrogen is then used in combination with air in an electrolysis-electrical cell to produce electric power. All of this is accomplished by first storing the hydrogen in a storage tank or section furnished for such storage, then converting the electricity, via a power converter, to power. Additionally, the power device of the present invention has a special feature whereby the electric power is created from the hydrogen stored in the above mentioned metal alloy hydride storage tanks. The present invention primarily comprises the following four components: (1) an energy source (i.e., a photovoltaic array to convert solar energy to electrical power; a windmill to collect wind power and convert it to electrical power; etc.); (2) a compressor which supplies the electrolysis-fuel cell with oxygen and the hydrogen storage tank with hydrogen from the atmosphere; (3) a hydrogen storage device (i.e., a solid metallic alloy hydride which stores hydrogen through a reversible chemical process); and (4) a hydrogen consumption device (i.e., an electrolysis-fuel cell which consumes the hydrogen released from the tanks (using a heat exchange process) to provide electricity which powers a motor).

Claims

1. A power device for creating power from water and electricity, said power device comprising:

an energy source;

a hydrogen storage device;

an electrolysis-fuel cell; and

a compressor;

wherein said electrolysis-fuel cell receives oxygen from said compressor, hydrogen from said hydrogen storage device, water from an external source and an electric charge from said energy source;

wherein said electrolysis-fuel cell electrically disintegrates said water into hydrogen and oxygen;

wherein said hydrogen is stored in said hydrogen storage device and said oxygen is purged from said electrolysis-fuel cell as exhaust; and

wherein said electrolysis-fuel cell combines said hydrogen with air in said electrolysis-fuel cell to produce electric power.

2. A power device according to claim 1, wherein said power device further comprises a heat exchanger, wherein said heat exchanger controls the temperature of said hydrogen storage device and said hydrogen consumption device.

3. A power device according to claim 2, wherein said power device further comprises a controller, wherein said controller controls the power sent to the motor of the machine to be powered.

4. A power device according to claim 1, wherein said hydrogen storage device is a metal alloy hydride storage tank.

5. A power device according to claim 1, wherein said energy source is a photovoltaic array which converts solar energy to electrical power.

6. A power device according to claim 1 wherein said electrolysis-fuel cell comprises a solid polymer electrolyte cell.

7. A method for generating power using an electrolysis-fuel cell in which hydrogen is created from water and an electric charge, said method comprising the following steps:

supplying water and an electric charge to said electrolysis-fuel cell;

electrically disintegrating said water into hydrogen and oxygen;

storing said hydrogen in a hydrogen storage device; and

combining said hydrogen with air to generate said power;

wherein a compressor supplies said electrolysis-fuel cell with said oxygen;

wherein said compressor transfers said hydrogen from said hydrogen storage device to said electrolysis-fuel cell;

wherein a water source supplies said electrolysis-fuel cell with said water; and

wherein an energy source supplies said electrolysis-fuel cell with said electric charge.

8. A method for generating power according to claim 7, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

controlling the temperature of said hydrogen storage device and said electrolysis-fuel cell.

9. A method for generating power according to claim 8, wherein said controlling is performed by a heat exchanger.

10. A method for generating power according to claim 7, wherein said method further comprises the step of:

controlling the power sent to the motor of the machine being powered.

11. A method for generating power according to claim 10, wherein said controlling is performed by a controller.

12. A method for generating power according to claim 7, wherein said hydrogen storage device is a metal alloy hydride storage tank.

13. A method for generating power according to claim 7, wherein said energy source is a photovoltaic array which converts solar energy to electrical power.

14. A power device comprising:

an energy source;

a water source;

an electrolysis-fuel cell;

a hydrogen storage device; and

a compressor,

wherein an electric charge from said energy source and water from said water source are provided to said electrolysis-fuel cell;

wherein said electrolysis-fuel cell electrically disintegrates said water into hydrogen and oxygen, thereby providing hydrogen to said hydrogen storage device; and

wherein hydrogen from said hydrogen storage device and oxygen from the atmosphere are provided to said electrolysis-fuel cell through said compressor, thereby creating electric power, water which is extracted as exhaust and hydrogen which is provided to said hydrogen storage device.

15. A power device according to claim 14, wherein said power device further comprises a heat exchanger, wherein said heat exchanger controls the temperature of said hydrogen storage device and said electrolysis-fuel cell.

16. A power device according to claim 15, wherein said power device further comprises a controller, wherein said controller controls the power sent to the motor of the machine to be powered.

17. A power device according to claim 14, wherein said hydrogen storage device is a metal alloy hydride storage tank.

18. A power device according to claim 14, wherein said energy source is a photovolatic array which converts solar energy to electrical power.

19. A power device according to claim 14 wherein said electrolysis-fuel cell comprises a solid polymer electrolyte cell.