Partially self-refueling zero emissions system

• US 8,671,684 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2009
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donald E. Moriarty
• Original Assignee: Donald E. Moriarty
• Inventors: Moriarty, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): JETTON, CHRISTOPHER M
• Application Number:
  US12/425,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20090260363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,797 Days
• Field of Search: 60616-624, 606418-64115, 123/3, 136200-241, 180/65.51, 310/74, 310/75.R, 290/1.R, 322/3
• US Class Current: 60/618
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 23/10 with exhaust fluid of one cycle heating the fluid in another cycle F01K17/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 6/001 having photovoltaic cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/46 Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines

Abstract

A method and device to optimize the cumulative beneficial effect of harvesting all available forms of lost energy, including energy that is lost while a vehicle is in motion (e.g., kinetic, inertia, friction, thermodynamic, and aerodynamic losses). The cumulative energy that is recovered is converted to electrical energy which powers the on-board electrolyzer to produce more hydrogen and oxygen while the system is in operation and stationary. Stationary, passive means of energy, solar, wind, hydro, etc. will also be available to power the electrolyzer. The system also contemplates utilizing passive means of energy to power a non-mobile system which incorporates an internal or external combustion engine in place of a fuel cell.

Claims

1. A method for powering a mobile vehicle, comprising:

separating a volume of water into hydrogen and oxygen components using an electrolyzer;

pressurizing the hydrogen and oxygen components and placing the hydrogen and oxygen components into separate tanks using the electrolyzer;

powering a combustion engine with the hydrogen and oxygen components without the use of atmospheric air, wherein the hydrogen and oxygen are exhausted from the combustion engine in the form of steam;

mobilizing the automobile with power generated from the engine;

converting motion from the mobile vehicle to electrical energy;

transmitting the electrical energy to an energy system control;

transmitting a portion of the electrical energy from the energy control system to the electrolyzer; and

utilizing energy generated by an inertial wheel generator to power the electrolyzer, the inertial wheel generator comprising;

a hollow ring disposed in a wheel;

a plurality of coil members disposed throughout the hollow ring; and

a magnet disposed within the hollow ring.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion comprises at least one motion selected from the group consisting of inertia, friction, and aerodynamic motion.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising converting heat from the engine into electrical energy.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the heat comprises infrared heat.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising converting passive energy into electrical energy by way of a device mounted on the mobile vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the passive energy comprises at least one energy selected from the group consisting of wind and hydropower energy.

7. A closed-loop system for powering an automobile, comprising:

an electrolyzer configured to separate a volume of water into hydrogen and oxygen components and to pressurize the hydrogen and oxygen components for storage in separate tanks;

a combustion engine operatively coupled to the electrolyzer, the combustion engine configured to provide combustion without the use of atmospheric air, wherein said combustion engine is coupled with the electrolyzer in a closed loop and configured to deliver exhausted hydrogen and oxygen to the electrolyzer as water;

an energy system control operatively coupled to the electrolyzer;

an energy conversion apparatus operatively coupled to at least a portion of the automobile and configured to transmit energy to the energy system control; and

an inertial wheel generator configured to transmit energy to the energy system control, the inertial wheel generator comprising;

a hollow ring disposed in a wheel;

a plurality of coil members disposed throughout the hollow ring; and

a magnet disposed within the hollow ring.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein combustion fluids used in the combustion engine comprise hydrogen, oxygen, and water.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the energy conversion apparatus comprises a deformable wheel having a void within the wheel and a piezoelectric material disposed within the void, wherein said material is adapted to deform and generate an electrical charge upon deformation of the wheel.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the separate tanks comprise a plurality of higher pressure tanks for pressures ranging from 1,500 to 10,000 psi and a plurality of lower pressure tanks for pressures ranging from 100 to 1,500 psi.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein water is injected into the combustion engine separate from the hydrogen and oxygen.

11. A system for generating power, comprising:

an electrolyzer configured to separate a volume of water into hydrogen and oxygen components and to pressurize the hydrogen and oxygen components for storage in separate tanks;

a combustion engine operatively coupled to the electrolyzer, the combustion engine configured to provide combustion utilizing the hydrogen and oxygen and without the use of atmospheric air;

an energy system control operatively coupled to the electrolyzer;

a passive energy conversion apparatus operatively coupled to the energy system control;

means for utilizing heat generated by the engine combustion to heat the water within the electrolyzer; and

an inertial wheel generator configured to transmit energy to the energy system control, the inertial wheel generator comprising;

a hollow ring disposed in a wheel;

a plurality of coil members disposed throughout the hollow ring; and

a magnet disposed within the hollow ring.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the passive energy conversion apparatus is configured to convert at least one energy selected from the group consisting of wind and hydropower energy.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein combustion fluids used in the combustion engine comprise hydrogen, oxygen, and water.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein water is injected into the combustion engine separate from the hydrogen and oxygen to cool the combustion engine and to reduce pre-ignition of the hydrogen and oxygen.

16. A closed-loop system for powering an automobile, comprising:

an electrolyzer configured to separate a volume of water into hydrogen and oxygen components and to pressurize the hydrogen and oxygen components for storage in separate tanks;

a combustion engine operatively coupled to the electrolyzer, the combustion engine configured to provide combustion without the use of atmospheric air, wherein said combustion engine is coupled with the electrolyzer in a closed loop and configured to deliver exhausted hydrogen and oxygen to the electrolyzer;

an energy system control operatively coupled to the electrolyzer; and

an inertial wheel generator configured to transmit energy to the energy system control, the inertial wheel generator comprising;

a hollow ring disposed in a wheel;

a plurality of coil members disposed throughout the hollow ring; and

a magnet disposed within the hollow ring.