Energy conversion system for hydrogen generation and uses thereof

• US 7,753,010 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2006
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keith Rutledge
• Original Assignee: Keith Rutledge
• Inventors: Rutledge, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin; Stephen K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coleman; Keith
• Application Number:
  US11/383,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20070169723A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/44, 180/60, 429/9, 429/254, 290/14, 290/17, 290/51, 105/50, 123/27.GE, 123/525, 123/25.B, 123/295, 123/556, 123/572
• US Class Current: 123/3
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03006 Gas tanks B60K15/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/07 of gas tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03315 for hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/28 Trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/36 Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/26 by pedal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/12 for vehicles propelled by dc motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/147 Trailers, e.g. full trailers or caravans
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2043/106 Hydrogen obtained by electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 43/10 Engines or plants characterised by use of other specific gases, e.g. acetylene, oxyhydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/06 peculiar to engines driving electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0027 the fuel being gaseous non-electrical control F02D19/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/12 the apparatus having means for generating such gases using rays and simultaneously generating ozone F02M27/06
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 27/04 by electric means, ionisation, polarisation or magnetism
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 to a system capable of using kinetic/inertial and renewable energy to generate hydrogen for use as a fuel in vehicles and other applications. In certain embodiments, this invention relates to a system in which hydrogen is generated during vehicle braking and which is operable with an internal combustion engine, and which can be retrofitted to vehicles with such an engine as well as to stationary combustion devices. Methods for generating hydrogen to power vehicles and vehicles utilizing the inventive technology are also provided. The present invention also relates to stationary devices, such as space heaters and water heaters, capable of generating hydrogen for use as a fuel additive therewith, and methods of generating hydrogen using such devices.

Claims

1. A vehicle hydrogen generation retrofit kit functionally installed, as an aftermarket product, on an internal combustion engine vehicle configured for operating utilizing fuels selected from the group consisting of fossil fuels and bio-diesel fuels, said retrofit kit comprising:

a generator/alternator for generating electricity, wherein said generator/alternator being structurally configured and so installed such that it is capable of engaging a member or a moving surface of a said internal combustion engine vehicle such that energy resulting from braking of said internal combustion engine vehicle is transferred to and utilized by said generator/alternator to generate electricity;

an electrolyzer capable of being connected to said generator/alternator to utilize said electricity generated by said generator/alternator to generate hydrogen;

a storage tank capable of being connected to said electrolyzer to receive and store said hydrogen generated by said electrolyzer;

a fuel mixture control member capable of being so installed and structurally configured such that it regulates the mixture of said hydrogen produced by said electrolyzer with said fossil or biodiesel fuel to form a hydrogen/fuel mixture, and such that it regulates hydrogen/fuel composition of said mixture; and

a hydrogen delivery member capable of being connected to said storage tank to provide said hydrogen stored therein to said fuel mixture control member,

wherein, when said generator/alternator, said electrolyzer, said storage tank, said fuel mixture control member, and said hydrogen delivery member are so configured and so installed, in combination as said aftermarket retrofit kit, on said internal combustion engine vehicle, said generator/alternator is coupled to a member or a moving surface of said internal combustion engine vehicle such that energy resulting from braking of said internal combustion engine vehicle is transferred from said member or said moving surface of said internal combustion engine vehicle to said generator/alternator which utilizes said energy to generate electricity, said electricity generated by said generator/alternator is then provided to said electrolyzer which utilizes said electricity to generate hydrogen, said hydrogen is then stored in said storage tank, said stored hydrogen is then provided, by said hydrogen delivery member, to said fuel mixture control member for mixing with fossil or biodiesel fuel to produce hydrogen-enriched fossil or biodiesel fuel which is then provided to combustion chambers of said internal combustion engine vehicle during operation, whereby increased fuel efficiency of said internal combustion engine vehicle is thereby achieved.

2. A vehicle hydrogen generation retrofit kit according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle member is a drive shaft.

3. A vehicle hydrogen generation retrofit kit according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle member is an engine or engine component.

4. A vehicle hydrogen generation retrofit kit according to claim 1, further comprising an engagement member for increasing the field of said generator/alternator.

5. A vehicle hydrogen generation retrofit kit according to claim 4, wherein said engagement member is selected from the group consisting of a mechanical potentiometer, an electrical potentiometer, and a computer control member.

6. A vehicle hydrogen generation retrofit kit according to claim 5, wherein said engagement member is a rheostat.

7. A vehicle hydrogen generation retrofit kit according to claim 5, wherein said engagement member is a pulse-width modulated current device.

8. A vehicle hydrogen generation retrofit kit according to claim 1, further comprising a solar member.

9. A vehicle hydrogen generation retrofit kit according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle member is a wheel, tire or axle.

10. A vehicle hydrogen generation retrofit kit according to claim 9, wherein said generator/alternator engages said wheel, tire or axle through electromagnetic coupling.

11. A vehicle hydrogen generation retrofit kit according to claim 1, wherein said fuel mixture control member for mixing said hydrogen with a fossil fuel is a pressure regulator.

12. A vehicle hydrogen generation retrofit kit according to claim 1, further comprising a receptacle for storing water for use by said electrolyzer to generate hydrogen.

13. A vehicle hydrogen generation retrofit kit according to claim 3, wherein said generator/alternator is capable of engaging said engine or engine component by a belt.

14. A vehicle hydrogen generation retrofit kit according to claim 1, wherein said generator/alternator is activated to cause said vehicle braking energy to be transferred to and utilized by said generator/alternator by depression of a vehicle brake pedal.

15. A vehicle hydrogen generation retrofit kit according to claim 14, wherein the field level of said generator/alternator increases proportionally to the amount of brake pedal depression.

16. A vehicle hydrogen generation retrofit kit according to claim 1, wherein said fuel mixture control member is activated to regulate the mixing of said hydrogen and said fossil or biodiesel fuel by depression of a vehicle accelerator pedal.

17. A vehicle hydrogen generation retrofit kit according to claim 16, wherein the amount of hydrogen mixed with said fossil or biodiesel fuel is proportional to the amount of accelerator pedal depression.