Apparatus, system, and method for producing energy using an alkalai metal

• US 8,012,223 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2008
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bruce Mcgill
• Original Assignee: Bruce Mcgill
• Inventors: McGill, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Neckel; Alexa D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Merkling; Matthew J
• Application Number:
  US12/173,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20100015477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 48 61-214 A, 423644-658, 429/416, 429/421
• US Class Current: 48/61
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00103 in a heat exchanger separate from the reactor
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 4/001 Feed or outlet devices as such, e.g. feeding tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 4/004 Sparger-type elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 7/02 by wet methods
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 2203/066 with fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/08 with metals
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/10 by reaction of water vapour with metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0606 with means for production of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/065 by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

An apparatus, system and method are disclosed for producing energy from the controlled reaction of an alkali metal with water. The method comprises forcing a liquefied alkali metal through a filter that separates the liquid alkali metal into alkali metal droplets. The alkali metal droplets comprise small enough particles that the alkali metal droplets completely react in water to produce heat, steam, an alkaline hydroxide and hydrogen gas before the alkali metal droplets reach the surface of the water. The filter separates the alkali metal droplets at a sufficient distance to avoid recombining of the alkali metal droplets. The alkaline hydroxide is reduced to an alkali metal and water which can be reused in the system.

Claims

1. An apparatus for producing energy, the apparatus comprising:

a reaction chamber that retains water at a level sufficient to react an alkali metal with the water;

a heating module that heats the alkali metal to a temperature above a melting point of the alkali metal, wherein the alkali metal is converted to a liquid form;

a titration module that separates the liquid alkali metal into alkali metal droplets, the alkali metal droplets separated at a distance selected to avoid re-association of the alkali metal droplets, the titration module controlling a size of the alkali metal droplets such that the alkali metal droplets completely react with the water before the alkali metal droplets reach a surface of the water; and

a feeder module that conveys the alkali metal to the reaction chamber at a rate selected to control the reaction of the liquid alkali metal with the water.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alkali metal comprises sodium.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reaction of the alkali metal with the water produces an alkali metal hydroxide, a hydrogen gas and heat.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the reaction chamber is configured to circulate fresh water through the reaction chamber.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a hydrogen collection module that collects the produced hydrogen gas from the reaction chamber.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a fuel cell that utilizes the hydrogen gas as a fuel.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a combustion unit that combusts the hydrogen gas.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the heat produced by the reaction of the alkali metal with water produces steam.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a condensation module that recovers heat from the steam and condenses the steam to separate the hydrogen gas from the steam.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a turbine, wherein the steam rotates the turbine.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a generator, wherein the turbine rotates the generator to create an electrical current.

12. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a recycling module that regenerates the alkali metal from the alkaline hydroxide by electrolysis to produce an alkali metal and water.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a water heater that heats the water to a temperature just below a boiling point of the water.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the titration module comprises a ceramic filter that separates the liquid alkali metal into alkali metal droplets separated at a distance selected to avoid re-association of the alkali metal droplets, the ceramic filter controlling the size of the alkali metal droplets such that the alkali metal droplets completely react with the water before the alkali metal droplets reach the surface of the water.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the titration module comprises at least one capillary tube that separates the liquid alkali metal into alkali metal droplets, the alkali metal droplets separated at a distance selected to avoid re-association of the alkali metal droplets, the at least one capillary tube controlling the size of the alkali metal droplets such that the alkali metal droplets completely react with the water before the alkali metal droplets reach the surface of the water, wherein the alkali metal is forced through the at least one capillary tube into the reaction chamber.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the titration module comprises a shape selected to disperse the separated liquid alkali metal droplets in the water at a distance selected to avoid re-association of the liquid alkali metal droplets.

17. A system for producing energy from the controlled reaction of an alkali metal with water comprising:

a reaction chamber that retains water at a level sufficient to react the alkali metal with the water;

a heating module that heats the alkali metal to a temperature above a melting point of the alkali metal, wherein the alkali metal is converted to a liquid form;

a titration module that separates the liquid alkali metal into alkali metal droplets, the alkali metal droplets separated at a distance selected to avoid re-association of the alkali metal droplets, the titration module controlling a size of the alkali metal droplets such that the alkali metal droplets completely react with the water before the alkali metal droplets reach a surface of the water;

a feeder module that conveys the alkali metal to the reaction chamber at a rate selected to control the reaction of the alkali metal with the water, wherein the reaction of the alkali metal with the water produces an alkali metal hydroxide, a hydrogen gas and heat; and

a energy consumption device that uses one or more of the produced hydrogen gas and the heat.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a generator that creates an electrical current from the heat produced from the reaction of the alkali metal with water.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the energy consumption device comprises one or more of an internal combustion engine, a steam engine, a generator, and a fuel cell.