Cylindrical hydrogen fuel generator having passive tubular cells

• US 8,714,115 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hydrogen Injection Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hydrogen Injection Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: McConahay, Fred E., Dupree, John D., Ortenheim, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung Q
• Application Number:
  US13/077,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20110174241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 123/3, 123/DIG.12, 204/267, 204/272, 204/273
• US Class Current: 123/3
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 11/036 Bipolar electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2043/106 Hydrogen obtained by electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 43/08 Plants characterised by the engines using gaseous fuel generated in the plant from solid fuel, e.g. wood
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 43/10 Engines or plants characterised by use of other specific gases, e.g. acetylene, oxyhydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0206 Non-hydrocarbon fuels, e.g. hydrogen, ammonia or carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0227 Means to treat or clean gaseous fuels or fuel systems, e.g. removal of tar, cracking, reforming or enriching
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0278 Port fuel injectors for single or multipoint injection into the air intake system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

A hydrogen fuel generator having a cylindrical enclosure and a fuel cell unit having multiple conductive tubular cells is described. The multiple conductive tubular cells are passive conductors that are not coupled to the power source. The passive conductive tubular cells are disposed in a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical enclosure.

Claims

1. A hydrogen fuel generator, comprising:

a cylindrical enclosure of metal, wherein the cylindrical enclosure is to operate as a first electrode when coupled to a first terminal of a power source;

a fuel cell unit disposed within the cylindrical enclosure, wherein the fuel cell unit comprises;

a second electrode coupled to a second terminal of the power source; and

a plurality of conductive tubular cells disposed in a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical enclosure, wherein the plurality of conductive tubular cells are passive conductors and are not coupled to the first and second terminals.

2. The hydrogen fuel generator of claim 1, wherein the second electrode is a metal rod disposed within the plurality of conductive tubular cells along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical enclosure.

3. The hydrogen fuel generator of claim 2, wherein the metal rod is a metal bolt disposed within an innermost one of the plurality of conductive tubular cells.

4. The hydrogen fuel generator of claim 2 wherein the metal rod comprises stainless steel.

5. The hydrogen fuel generator of claim 1, wherein the second electrode is a conductive tubular cell disposed within the plurality of conductive tubular cells.

6. The hydrogen fuel generator of claim 1, wherein the first terminal is a negative terminal and the second terminal is a positive terminal.

7. The hydrogen fuel generator of claim 1, further comprising a non-metal base coupled to the plurality of conductive tubular cells, wherein the non-metal base arranges the plurality of conductive tubular cells to be electrically isolated from one another, wherein the non-metal base is configured to arrange the plurality of conductive tubular cells at specified distances from one another, the non-metal base having a plurality of grooves, wherein a first groove is spaced apart from a second groove to create a first distance, wherein the second groove is spaced apart from a third groove to create a second distance.

8. The hydrogen fuel generator of claim 7, wherein the first distance and the second distance are different.

9. The hydrogen fuel generator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductive tubular cells comprises one outer tube and one or more inner tubes.

10. The hydrogen fuel generator of claim 1, further comprising a non-metal base coupled to the plurality of conductive tubular cells, wherein the non-metal base arranges the plurality of conductive tubular cells to be electrically isolated from one another and to be spaced apart from one another.

11. The hydrogen fuel generator of claim 10, further comprising:

a non-metal lid coupled to the plurality of conductive tubular cells, the non-metal lid having a hole through which a metal bolt passes, wherein the metal bolt operates as the second electrode;

a nut configured to receive the metal bolt to fasten the non-metal lid, the plurality of conductive tubular cells, and the non-metal base; and

a coupler to couple the second terminal of the power source to the metal bolt.

12. The hydrogen fuel generator of claim 10, wherein the plurality of conductive tubular cells are spaced apart by the same approximate distance by the non-metal base.

13. The hydrogen fuel generator of claim 10, wherein the non-metal base is a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) puck having a groove for each of the plurality of conductive tubular cells.

14. The hydrogen fuel generator of claim 10, wherein the non-metal base is a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) puck having a groove for each of the plurality of conductive tubular cells.

15. The hydrogen fuel generator of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical enclosure is a sump to be filled with an aqueous solution of water and electrolyte.

16. The hydrogen fuel generator of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical enclosure is stainless steel.

17. The hydrogen fuel generator of claim 1, wherein every other one of the plurality of conductive tubular cells comprises a plurality of holes on at least one surface of the respective cell.

18. The hydrogen fuel generator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductive tubular cells each comprises microscopic indentations on at least one surface of the respective cell.

19. The hydrogen fuel generator of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductive tubular cells are formed from a plurality of core tubes, wherein the core tubes are alternating materials.

20. The hydrogen fuel generator of claim 19, wherein an outermost core tube comprises a solid material, a second outermost core tube comprises a perforated material, a third outermost core tube comprises a solid material, and a fourth outermost core tube comprises a perforated material, wherein the plurality of core tubes are not coupled to the first and second terminals.

21. A hydrogen fuel generator, comprising:

a cylindrical enclosure of metal configured to hold an aqueous solution of water and electrolyte, wherein the cylindrical enclosure operates as a cathode when connected to a power source;

a metal electrode disposed along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical enclosure, wherein the metal electrode operates as an anode when connected to the power source; and

an electrolysis cell disposed within the cylindrical enclosure, wherein the electrolysis cell comprises a plurality of passive conductive tubular cells that are not coupled to the power source.

22. A system, comprising:

an engine having an air intake;

an injector coupled to the air intake to deliver hydrogen gas to the air intake; and

a hydrogen fuel generator coupled to the injector, wherein the hydrogen fuel generator comprises;

a cylindrical enclosure of metal configured to hold an aqueous solution of water and electrolyte, wherein the cylindrical enclosure operates as a cathode when connected to a power source;

a metal electrode disposed along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical enclosure, wherein the metal electrode operates as an anode when connected to the power source; and

an electrolysis cell disposed within the cylindrical enclosure, wherein the electrolysis cell comprises a plurality of passive conductive tubular cells that are not coupled to the power source.