Method for producing orthohydrogen and/or parahydrogen

• US 6,419,815 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xogen Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Xogen Power Inc. (Trigon Metals, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chambers, Stephen Barrie
• Primary Examiner(s): Valentine, Donald R.
• Application Number:
  US09/608,316
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 205/341, 205/628, 205/637
• US Class Current: 205/628
• 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: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 204/09 Wave forms

Abstract

An apparatus for producing orthohydrogen and/or parahydrogen. The apparatus includes a container holding water and at least one pair of closely-spaced electrodes arranged within the container and submerged in the water. A first power supply provides a particular first pulsed signal to the electrodes. A coil may also be arranged within the container and submerged in the water if the production of parahydrogen is also required. A second power supply provides a second pulsed signal to the coil through a switch to apply energy to the water. When the second power supply is disconnected from the coil by the switch and only the electrodes receive a pulsed signal, then orthohydrogen can be produced. When the second power supply is connected to the coil and both the electrodes and coil receive pulsed signals, then the first and second pulsed signals can be controlled to produce parahydrogen. The container is self-pressurized and the water within the container requires no chemical catalyst to efficiently produce the orthohydrogen and/or parahydrogen. Heat is not generated, and bubbles do not form on the electrodes.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a container;

filling the container with a fluid including water until the container is at least partly filled;

submersing a pair of electrodes in the fluid;

positioning said electrodes so that they are spaced apart 5 mm or less; and

after submersing and positioning said electrodes, applying a pulsed electrical signal to one of said electrodes, the pulsed electrical signal having a frequency from 10 to 250 kHz, thereby producing hydrogen.

2. The method of claim 1 adapted to produce hydrogen in the absence of a chemical catalyst.

3. The method of claim 1 adapted to produce hydrogen in the absence of potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the pulsed electrical signal has a mark-space ratio from 1:

1 to 10;

1.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a device having an input port connected to the output port of the container, the device selected from the group consisting of;

a. an internal combustion engine;

b. a reciprocating piston engine;

c. a gas turbine engine;

d. a stove;

e. a heater;

f. a furnace;

g. a distillation, unit;

h. a water purification unit; and

i. a hydrogen/oxygen flame jet; and

operating the device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

arranging a coil within the container; and

applying a second pulsed electrical signal to the coil.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the pulsed electrical signal is a variable voltage pulsed electrical signal.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the pulsed electrical signal is a square wave.

9. The method of claim 1 in which the pulsed electrical signal is a sawtooth wave.

10. The method of claim 1 in which the pulsed electrical signal is a triangular wave.

11. A method of producing hydrogen, comprising:

providing a container;

filling the container with a fluid including water until the container is at least partly filled;

submersing a pair of electrodes in the fluid;

spacing said electrodes apart 5 mm or less to thereby form an interaction zone between said electrodes;

after submersing and spacing said electrodes, applying a pulsed electrical signal to one of said electrodes, thereby producing hydrogen and oxygen in the interaction zone;

arranging a coil within the container; and

applying a second pulsed electrical signal to the coil.

12. The method of claim 11 adapted to produce hydrogen in the absence of a chemical catalyst.

13. The method of claim 11 adapted to produce hydrogen in the absence of potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide.

14. The method of claim 11 in which the pulsed electrical signal has a mark-space ratio from 1:

1 to 10;

1.

15. The method of claim 11 in which the pulsed electrical signal has a frequency of from 10 to 250 kHz.

16. The method of claim 11 in which the pulsed electrical signal is a variable voltage pulsed electrical signal.

17. The method of claim 11 in which the pulsed electrical signal is a square wave.

18. The method of claim 11 in which the pulsed electrical signal is a sawtooth wave.

19. The method of claim 11 in which the pulsed electrical signal is a triangular wave.