Apparatus, system, and method for producing energy using a stream of liquid alkali metal

• US 8,828,108 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2011
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• 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): MERKLING, MATTHEW J
• Application Number:
  US13/011,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20110117459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 48/61, 423/644, 423/657
• 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: C25C 3/02 of alkali or alkaline earth 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 capturing electrical energy from a process designed for producing hydrogen. An electrode is placed within a stream of liquid alkali metal that flows through a titration module and interacts with water to produce, among other byproducts, hydrogen. Another electrode is placed within a reaction chamber that houses the water. The electrodes can then be coupled to a terminal, and during the hydrogen generation process (when the liquid alkali metal and water interact) the stream of liquid alkali metal acts as an anode and the electrode in the water as a cathode. Current flows, and energy is captured and made available as electrical energy at the terminal, which can be connected to electrical loads. The terminal may be connected with the terminal of a fuel cell that is consuming the hydrogen that is being produced, thus providing additional voltage and/or current.

Claims

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

a feeder module that conveys a stream of liquid alkali metal to a reaction chamber containing water, the liquid alkali metal and the water interacting in the reaction chamber;

a first electrode that is in electrical communication with the stream of liquid alkali metal;

a second electrode that is in electrical communication with the water in the reaction chamber; and

a terminal coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a titration module that is situated within the water of the reaction chamber and that receives the stream of liquid alkali metal from the feeder module, the titration module separating the stream of liquid alkali metal into a plurality of streams of liquid alkali metal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the titration module comprises a plurality of passageways that separate the stream of liquid alkali metal into the plurality of streams of liquid alkali metal, the plurality of passageways connecting the feeder module and a surface of the titration module.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the liquid alkali metal in the plurality of streams of liquid alkali metal is consumed at the surface of the titration module.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second electrode is situated proximate to the titration module.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the terminal is connected in series with a terminal of a hydrogen fuel cell that receives hydrogen generated in the reaction chamber.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the terminal further comprises a regulation module connected to the first electrode and connected to the second electrode, the regulation module providing a regulated voltage at the terminal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid alkali metal comprises molten sodium.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is a conducting wire inserted into the liquid alkali metal.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second electrode comprises a noble metal.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second electrode comprises one of gold and platinum.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feeder module comprises a feeder tube.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feeder module further comprises a heater that heats the stream of liquid alkali metal to a temperature above a melting point of the alkali metal.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feeder module conveys the stream of liquid alkali metal to the reaction chamber at a rate selected to control the reaction of the liquid alkali metal with the water.

15. A system for producing energy, the system 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;

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;

a first electrode situated within the liquid alkali metal;

a second electrode situated within the water in the reaction chamber;

a terminal coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode; and

a fuel cell that uses hydrogen gas created in the reaction chamber as a fuel.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the reaction chamber is configured to circulate water through the reaction chamber.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the heating module maintains the titration module at a temperature above a melting point of the alkali metal.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a combustion unit that combusts the hydrogen gas.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the terminal is connected in series with a terminal of the fuel cell.