Method and apparatus for efficient on-demand production of H;and O;from water using waste heat and environmentally safe metals

• US 9,415,363 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2010
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marine Power Products Corporation, Marine Power Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Marine Power Products Corporation
• Inventors: Carey, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Nicholas A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cohen, Brian W
• Application Number:
  US12/706,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20100224502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,373 Days
• Field of Search: 205628-639, 205/340
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 21/02 Boron or aluminium; Oxides or hydroxides thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00006 Large-scale industrial plants
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00144 Sunlight; Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/50 Silver
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/72 Copper
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 38/48 Liquid treating or treating in liquid phase, e.g. dissolved or suspended
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 7/02 by wet methods
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/0203 from inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/04 by decomposition of inorganic compounds, e.g. ammonia C01B3/0005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 3/042 Decomposition of water
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 11/075 consisting of a single catalytic element or catalytic compound
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/02 Process control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/08 Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/129 Energy recovery, e.g. by cogeneration, H2recovery or pressure recovery turbines

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for efficient on-demand production of H₂ and O₂ from water and heat using environmentally safe metals are disclosed. In one aspect, the apparatus for the hydrogen generation through water decomposition reaction includes a main reactor, an oxidizer reactor, and a computer controlling system. The main reactor contains a hydrogen generating substance, such as aluminum hydroxide. In some embodiments, the main reactor includes hydroxide shuttles, such as Cu ion and Ag ion. In another aspect, the system for hydrogen generation through water decomposition includes the steps of (1) REDOX reaction, (2) pre-generation reaction, (3) generation reaction, (4) regeneration reaction, (5) second hydrogen reaction, and (6) oxygen reaction.

Claims

1. A catalytic water electric hydrolysis system comprising:

a) a main reactor including;

a. a non-acidic solution containing a hydrogen generating catalyst, wherein the hydrogen generating catalyst contains a charge-treated aluminium metal, a charge-treated copper metal, and a charged-treated silver metal;

b. an electric energy providing device providing a voltage no greater than 1V on the hydrogen generating catalyst containing the charge-treated aluminium, copper, and silver metals, such that hydrogen is catalytically generated by the no greater than 1V voltage applied to the hydrogen generating catalyst without a stochiometric consumption of hydrocarbons; and

c. an electric circuit providing a voltage greater than 1V, used to provide the charge-treated aluminium metal, the charge-treated copper metal, and the charge-treated silver metal;

b) an oxidizer reactor containing a light providing device and the non-acidic solution containing a depleted hydrogen generating catalyst wherein the depleted hydrogen generating catalyst contains an aluminum metal complex, a silver metal complex and a copper metal complex; and

c) a controlling system configured to transfer the non-acidic solution from the main reactor to the oxidizer reactor when the hydrogen generating catalyst becomes depleted and from the oxidizer reactor back to the main reactor when the hydrogen generating catalyst is regenerated by the light providing device from the depleted hydrogen generating catalyst.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-acidic solution further comprises sodium ions.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-acidic solution further comprises an ion from IA or IIA group.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-acidic solution further comprises a salt in an amount sufficient as electrolyte.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-acidic solution comprises various hydroxide formulations of aluminium hydroxide.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the aluminium hydroxide comprises Al(OH)₃.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-acidic solution comprises copper hydroxide and silver hydroxide.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein non-acidic solution comprises silver oxide.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-acidic solution comprises a sufficient amount of copper ions and silver ions to regenerate the hydrogen generating catalyst.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a heat source.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the light providing device comprises LED lights.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the light providing device provides lights having wavelengths approximately around the visible light region.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the controlling system comprises a computer automating substantial all of the transportation of the non-acidic solution.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the controlling system transfers the solution containing a gelatinous suspension back to the main reactor.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the light providing device provides a light having a wavelength regenerates a silver ion from silver oxide.