Apparatus for electrolysis of water

• US 7,452,449 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2003
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lectro Press, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lectro Press, Inc.
• Inventors: Tomantschger, Klaus, Genders, J. David, Feldstein, Robert S., Weinberg, Norman L., Rait, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilkins, III; Harry D
• Application Number:
  US10/643,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20040084325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,918 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 204/229.4
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/02 Hydrogen or oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for electrolyzing water for enhanced production of oxygen, hydrogen and heat by the steps of (i) providing an electrochemical cell comprising an isotopic hydrogen storage cathode, an electrically conductive anode and an ionically conducting electrolyte comprising water, and (ii) impressing a repeating sequence of voltages across the cathode and anode comprised of at least two cell voltage regimes, a first cell voltage regime consisting of a voltage sufficient to enhance cathodic absorption of hydrogen, and a second cell voltage regime consisting of at least one voltage pulse which is at least two times the voltage of the first cell voltage regime for a total duration no greater than 0.10 seconds.

Claims

1. An apparatus for electrolyzing water for the production of hydrogen, oxygen and heat, which comprises:

(i) an electrochemical cell having an isotopic hydrogen storage cathode, an electrically conductive anode and a compartment for holding an ionically conducting electrolyte comprising water, and

(ii) a pulsed power supply for said electrochemical cell comprising means for generating a repeating sequence of voltages across said anode and said cathode, each said sequence including a first cell voltage regime consisting of a voltage sufficient to enhance cathodic absorption of hydrogen and a second voltage regime consisting of at least one voltage pulse which is at least two times the voltage of the first cell voltage regime in magnitude with a duration no greater than 0.10 seconds.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said voltage of said first cell voltage regime generated by said pulsed power supply ranges from about 1 to about 10 volts, and the voltage pulse of said second cell voltage regime ranges from 2 to 1000 times the voltage of said first cell voltage regime, and the total duration of said second voltage pulse ranges from about 0.5 nanoseconds to about 0.10 seconds.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said pulsed power supply is operatively arranged to dovetail said second cell voltage regime onto said first cell voltage regime.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said pulsed power supply is operatively arranged to superimpose said second cell voltage regime onto said first cell voltage regime.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said pulsed power supply is operatively arranged to re-equilibrate the cathode in a region of zero potential.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pulsed power supply is operatively arranged to dovetail said second cell voltage regime onto said first cell voltage regime.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pulsed power supply is operatively arranged to superimpose said second cell voltage regime onto said first cell voltage regime.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each said sequence of said pulsed power supply further includes a positive voltage sufficient for cleaning said anode.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said pulsed power supply is operatively arranged to apply a negative potential for further cathodic absorption of hydrogen.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each said sequence of said pulsed power supply further includes a positive voltage sufficient for cleaning said cathode.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said pulsed power supply is operatively arranged to apply a negative potential for further cathodic absorption of hydrogen.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pulsed power supply is operatively arranged to re-equilibrate the cathode in a region of zero potential.

13. An apparatus for electrolyzing water for the production of hydrogen, oxygen and heat, which comprises:

(i) an electrochemical cell having an isotopic hydrogen storage cathode, an electrically conductive anode and a compartment for holding an ionically conducting electrolyte comprising water, and

(ii) a pulsed power supply for said electrochemical cell comprising;

a quadruple power supply having a first low voltage direct current supply, a second low voltage direct current supply, a third low voltage direct current supply and a fourth high voltage direct current supply;

an oscillator coupled to and powered by said second low voltage direct current supply, operatively arranged to provide a train of timing pulses;

a binary counter operatively arranged to receive said timing pulses from said oscillator;

a decoder coupled to said binary counter and operatively arranged to count said timing pulses; and

,

a current generator coupled to and controlled by said decoder, said current generator operatively arranged to provide oscillating pulsed potentials to said anode and said cathode.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said oscillating pulsed potentials comprise a repeating sequence of voltages, each said sequence including a first cell voltage regime consisting of a voltage sufficient to enhance cathodic absorption of hydrogen and a second voltage regime consisting of at least one voltage pulse which is at least two time the voltage of the first cell voltage regime in magnitude with a duration no greater than 0.10 seconds.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the voltage of said first cell voltage regime ranges from about 1 to about 10 volts, and the voltage pulse of said second cell voltage regime ranges from 2 to 1000 times the voltage of said first cell voltage regime, and the total duration of said second voltage pulse ranges from about 0.5 nanoseconds to about 0.10 seconds.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said anode and cathode are connected via electronic switching circuitry to all four of said power supplies in order that oscillating potentials of varying polarity may be impressed across said anode and cathode over time.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said first low voltage direct current power supply is a 12 Volt power supply.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the second low voltage direct current power supply is a 12 Volt power supply.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the fourth high voltage direct current power supply is a 1000 Volt power supply.