Power plant using brackish water as an energy source

• US 8,752,512 B1
• Filed: 08/19/2010
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dejan Mladenovic, Joseph Francis, Paul D. Francis
• Original Assignee: Dejan Mladenovic, Joseph Francis, Paul D. Francis
• Inventors: Francis, Paul D., Mladenovic, Dejan, Francis, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamen, Noah
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Long T
• Application Number:
  US12/806,762
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• Field of Search: 123/1.A, 123/1.R, 123/2, 123/3, 123/DIG.12
• US Class Current: 123/3
• 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: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

An electrolyzer converts brackish water to hydrogen and oxygen which are utilized in the multiple cylinder IC engine to reduce the amount of diesel utilized in the power plant. This improves emissions and reduces energy cost of operating the engine. Storage tanks for the oxygen and hydrogen are embedded in the diesel fuel tank to provide dual-walled protection for enhanced security and safety in transporting and storing the hydrogen. Possible energy sources for powering the electrolyzer include third rail technology, multiple unit (MU) jumper cables attached to power sources in refueling stations, a solar collector array, and traction motors associated with a dynamic brake system for the vehicle.

Claims

1. Apparatus for improving an efficiency of a locomotive by reducing an amount of diesel burned, increasing completeness of combustion and utilizing waste energy, said apparatus comprising:

a) a diesel-burning combustion engine for burning hybrid fuel, said hybrid fuel including diesel and hydrogen;

b) first tank means for storing brackish water;

c) electrolyzer means for separating brackish water received from said first tank means into its component elements—

hydrogen, oxygen and salt;

d) an energy source used with said electrolyzer means providing electrical energy on an as-needed basis to facilitate this separation of brackish water into its component elements, said energy source including;

i) a dynamic braking system featuring traction motors utilized to slow the locomotive;

ii) an ultra-capacitor interfaced between said electrolyzer means and said dynamic braking system to store waste energy generated by said traction motors during braking, said ultra-capacitor supplying electricity to said electrolyzer on an as-needed basis to facilitate said separation;

e) second tank means for storing hydrogen received from said electrolyzer means;

f) third tank means for storing oxygen received from said electrolyzer means;

g) first supply feed tube means connected between said third tank means and said combustion engine;

h) second supply feed tube means connected between said third tank means and said combustion engine;

i) sensor means to detect an oxygen-deprived condition in said combustion engine when entering a tunnel and a programmable logic circuit for causing oxygen to be fed from said third tank means through said second supply tube means to said combustion engine to enhance burning of said hybrid fuel;

whereby waste energy powers said electrolyzer which provides fuel for consumption in said combustion engine and oxygen on-demand to enhance burning efficiency thereby reducing the amount of diesel burned and the amount of emissions from said diesel-burning engine.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second tank means comprises two single wall tanks for storing hydrogen produced by said electrolyzer, said two tanks being situated inside a diesel storage tank to provide additional safety.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said third tank means comprises a single wall tank for storing oxygen produced by said electrolyzer.

4. Apparatus for improving an efficiency of a locomotive by reducing an amount of diesel burned and increasing completeness of combustion, said apparatus comprising:

a) a diesel-burning combustion engine for burning hybrid fuel, said hybrid fuel including diesel and hydrogen;

b) first tank means for storing brackish water;

c) electrolyzer means for separating brackish water received from said first tank means into its component elements—

hydrogen, oxygen and salt;

d) an energy source used with said electrolyzer means providing electrical energy on an as-needed basis to facilitate this separation of brackish water into its component elements, said energy source including;

i) a third rail system for receiving electrical power;

ii) an ultra-capacitor interfaced between said electrolyzer means and said third rail system to store electrical energy from said third rail system, said ultra-capacitor supplying electricity to said electrolyzer on an as-needed basis to facilitate said separation;

e) second tank means for storing hydrogen received from said electrolyzer means;

f) third tank means for storing oxygen received from said electrolyzer means;

g) first supply feed tube means connected between said third tank means and said combustion engine;

h) second supply feed tube means connected between said third tank means and said combustion engine;

i) sensor means to detect an oxygen-deprived condition in said combustion engine and a programmable logic circuit for causing oxygen to be fed from said third tank means through said second supply tube means to said combustion engine to enhance burning of said hybrid fuel;

whereby said third rail system powers said electrolyzer which provides fuel for consumption in said combustion engine and oxygen on-demand to enhance burning efficiency thereby reducing the amount of diesel burned and the amount of emissions from said diesel-burning engine.