Device for producing and recycling hydrogen

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Drawing sheet — no readable text.

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DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED

DEVICE FOR PRODUCING AND RECYCLING EMBODIMENT

HYDROGEN

A DPRH identified as a whole with reference nu

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 5 meral 1 comprises an electrolysis unit having a con tainer 2 adapted for introducing both an electrolyte and 1. Field of the Invention hydrocarbons. A container 2 has a cover 8, inlet means The present invention relates generally to devices for 7.20 for introducing an electrolyte and hydrocarbons producing and recycling hydrogen (DPRH). With rap respectively. An inlet 20 and a pipe 33 (FIG. 2) are idly rising the uncertainty of a continued supply of fossil 10 associated with a container 2 for introducing gasoline, fuel, greater interest in alternative energy forms for petroleum or the like having compounds of carbon and vehicles and engines in general has been perceived. hydrogen. Piping 25 is employed for introducing gaso Moreover, civilization's awareness of a pollution free line, petroleum or the like into the container 2. The inlet environment is at an all time high. 20, pipes 25.33 also may be employed for introducing 2. Prior Art 15 gaseous hydrocarbons including natural gas into the A hydrogen is not available in nature, it must be container 2 for producing hydrogen both from electro produced by expending large amount of others energy lyte and gaseous hydrocarbons. The inlet 20 also may be sources. Attempts has been made in the past to provide employed for introducing exhaust gases having hydro a device which employs an electrolysis unit for produc carbons from exhaust system 31 by means of the pipe 32 ing oxygen and hydrogen gases in the amount required 20 to provide reducing polluting emissions into the atmo to run an engine which are described, for example, in sphere. Piping 24 is employed for introducing an elec U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,373,032; 4,344,831; 4,450,060. These trolyte into the container 2 by means of inlet 7. The devices are not widely utilized for powering vehicles container 2 adapted for introducing said electrolyte and because of low efficiency. said hydrocarbons to produce hydrogen by decomposi Accordingly, this invention has as main object to 25 tion of both electrolyte and hydrocarbons. provide a device for producing combustible gases from The positive and negative electrodes 3,16 are sup both an electrolyte and gasoline or the like including ported by means of the bars 6, 17 respectively having an gaseous hydrocarbons. insulation relative to the container 2. Boxes 5,19 are Another object is to have the device of such con 30 fixed to the container 2 to provide the hermetic insula tion of cables 26,27 connected to source of direct elec struction as to be readily adaptable for insertion or tro-current 29. Cables 26,27 are joined to positive and connection among the parts of a conventional internal negative electrodes 3,16 respectively by means of con combustion engine or the gas turbine for powering a ductors 4,18. Collectors 9,21 are adapted to collect vehicle or the like.

oxygen and hydrogen respectively

A further object of this invention is to provide the 35 decomposition both of electrolyte and liberated in result of device of such construction as to be adaptable for inser hydrocarbons. Collectors 9,21 are fixed, for example, tion in space gas station for producing combustible The pipe 33 is fixed to the inlet 20 and arranged to the cover 8. gases for space exploration. so to It is yet another object to provide a device which below electrodes 3,16. Electrodes 3,16 and the pipe 332 introduce hydrocarbons in lower portion of container substantially decreases pollution levels than those 40 are adapted to be immersed within an electrolyte. The which have been experienced heretofore. It is another pipe 33 has openings 34 for introducing hydrocarbons object of this invention to provide the device for recy into an electrolyte. It should be apparent that numerous cling hydrogen from exhaust gases for reducing pollut fluids can be utilized in DPRH as an electrolyte. An ing emissions into the atmosphere. electrolyte it is a water and any material that will ionize In keeping with these objects and with others which 45 a water, for example, Acids, Bases, Salts. The preferred will become apparent hereinafter, a DPRH comprises a electrolyte it is distilled water and Sodium Hydroxide. container having inlet means for introducing a gasoline Various electrodes can be used for the optimal dissocia or the gaseous hydrocarbons and an electrolyte respec tion of the aqueous portion of the electrolyte solution tively into said container, a source of direct electro-cur into its elemental components, and FIG. 1 teaches the rent, a pair of positive and negative electrodes con 50 use of one specific form in which electrodes 3, 16 are nected to source of direct electro-current and means to formed as hollow pipes to provide reactions from both agitate both said electrolyte and hydrocarbons to in sides of immersed portion electrodes. Electrodes 3,16 crease the speed of decomposition of electrolyte and are made of platinum to provide a catalysis of chemical hydrocarbons. reactions. A DPRH is adapted for producing a hydro The novel features of the present invention are set in 55 gen both from aqueous portion of the electrolyte and particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, hydrocarbons. A decomposition of hydrocarbons is however, both as to its construction and its manner of result of reaction between hydrocarbons and a steam in the operation will be best understood from the follow the presence of the catalyst (platinum electrodes). It is ing description of the preferred embodiments which are known in prior art apparatus that the negative electrode accompanied by the following drawings illustrating the 60 is warming in result of the thermal effect and produces invention. a hydrogen and a steam around the negative electrode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reactions between hydrocarbons and steam produce a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Again, as in

FIG. 1 is a cross section of the container of DPRH; the Bosch process, the reducing property of the carbon FIG. 2 is a scheme of the system for producing hy 65 monoxide gas may be used to produce more hydrogen drogen from an electrolyte and hydrocarbons; gas in a reaction with an additional steam. Decomposi FIG. 3 is a scheme of the system for recycling hydro tion of hydrocarbons is result of combined action of the gen; electrolysis, thermal action and chemical reactions.

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A further development to increase an efficiency of DPRH is operated for recycling hydrogen from ex DPRH comprises introducing ultrasonic or sonic vibra haust gases;

tions into the container 2, in order to agitate an elec DPRH is operated for cleaning exhaust gases of any trolyte/hydrocarbon mixture and to increase the speed exhaust systems to provide reducing polluting of decomposition of both an electrolyte and hydrocar 5 emissions into the atmosphere. bons. The vibrations may be introduced by piezoce Moreover, having thus described the invention, it ramic or magnetostrictive generator 12 mounted to the should be apparent that numerous structural modifica cover 8. The vibrator 13 adapted to be immersed into tions are contemplated as being part of this invention as mixture of an electrolyte and hydrocarbons. The gener set forth hereandabove and as defined hereandbelow by ator of ultrasonic or sonic vibrations 12 is connected to 10 the claims.

the source of electro-current 15 by means of cable 14. What is claimed is:

The container 2 comprises outlet means 22 and 10 1. A device for producing and recycling hydrogen associated with the collectors 21,9 for exiting a hydro (DPRH) comprising a container having inlet means gen and oxygen liberating at the negative electrode 16 associated with said container for introducing a gasoline and positive electrode 3 respectively. Outlet means 15 and an electrolyte respectively into said container, a 22,10 are connected with outlet piping 23, 11 respec source of direct electro-current, a pair of positive and tively to supply the hydrogen and the oxygen to the fuel negative electrodes connected to said source of direct system 30, for example, of the automobile. Pumps or electro-current; said container adapted to receive said other conventional arrangement to pump the hydrogen electrolyte and gasoline, said electrodes adapted to be and oxygen are not shown. Piping 23, 11 adapted to be 20 immersed within said electrolyte, said inlet means for connected to the storage tanks. introducing a gasoline comprising a pipe located inside The electrodes 16.3 are connected to the source of of said container, said pipe arranged in lower portion of direct electro-current 29 by means of cables 27,26 re said container so to introduce said gasoline below said spectively. The source of direct electro-current 29 is electrodes; said container comprising outlet means asso adapted to provide the low voltage electro-current in 25 ciated with said container for exiting said hydrogen gas the electrolyte/hydrocarbons mixture to decompose liberating at the negative electrode and oxygen liberat both the electrolyte and hydrocarbons. ing at the positive electrode; said DPRH adapted for The outlet 28 adapted for the check valve. The check producing said hydrogen by decomposition of both said valve is not shown. The present invention adapted to electrolyte and gasoline.

supply the combustible gases in the amount required to 30 2. A device for producing and recycling hydrogen run an engine or gas turbine for powering a vehicle or (DPRH) comprising a container having inlet means the like. associated with said container for introducing a gasoline Present invention adapted for insertion in space gas and an electrolyte respectively into said container, a station for producing combustible gases for space explo source of direct electro-current, a pair of positive and ration. A DPRH for use in space gas station must pro 35 negative electrodes connected to said source of direct vide a circulation of the electrolyte and a separation of electro-current; said container adapted to receive said liberated gases from electrodes 3,16. electrolyte and gasoline, said electrodes adapted to be Present invention may be adapted to provide combus immersed within said electrolyte, said inlet means for tible gases for submarine power plant. introducing a gasoline comprising a pipe located inside Present invention adapted to reduce polluting emis of said container, said pipe arranged in lower portion of sions of motor vehicles into the atmosphere. said container so to introduce said gasoline below said Motor vehicles are the major sources of carbon mon electrodes; said container comprising outlet means asso oxide and hydrocarbons. "In the United States gasoline ciated with said container for exiting said hydrogen gas and diesel vehicles produced about 70 percent of the liberating at the negative electrode and oxygen liberat carbon monoxide, 50 percent of the hydrocarbons, 35 45 ing at the positive electrode; said container comprising percent of the nitrogen oxides". /Laurent Hodges, "En a generator of ultrasonic vibrations having a vibrator, vironmental Pollution'/. said vibrator is located inside of the electrolyte/gasoline It is necessary to join, for example, the exhaust system mixture to agitate both said electrolyte and gasoline and of the automobile 31 with the inlet 20 of the DPRH 1 by to increase the speed of decomposition of said electro means of the pipe 32 to provide reactions between hy 50 lyte and gasoline; said DPRH adapted for producing drocarbons and steam near the electrode 16 in the pres said hydrogen by decomposition of both said electro ence of catalysts and to produce a mixture of hydrogen lyte and gasoline.

and carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide will be used to 3. A device for producing and recycling hydrogen produce more hydrogen gas in a reaction with addi (DPRH) as defined in claim 2, wherein said outlet tional steam. Pipes 11 and 23 also may be connected 55 means associated with said container for exiting hydro with the fuel system 30 of the automobile. gen gas and oxygen respectively comprising piping for The above operations are summarized as follow: connecting said container with a combustion chamber, DPRH is operated for producing the combustible for example, of gas turbine.

gases in result of decomposition of aqueous portion 4. A device for producing and recycling hydrogen of the electrolyte and gasolyne, petroleum or the (DPRH) as defined in claim 2, wherein said positive and like; negative electrodes are made of platinum and formed as DPRH is operated for producing the combustible hollow pipes.

gases in result of decomposition of aqueous portion 5. A device for producing and recycling hydrogen of the electrolyte and gaseous hydrocarbons; (DPRH) comprising a container having inlet means DPRH is operated for producing the combustible 65 associated with said container for introducing gaseous gases in result of decomposition of aqueous portion hydrocarbons and an electrolyte respectively into said of the electrolyte, gasolyne or the like and gaseous container, a source of direct electro-current, a pair of hydrocarbons; positive and negative electrodes connected to said

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source of direct electro-current; said container adapted negative electrode and oxygen liberating at the positive to receive said electrolyte and gaseous hydrocarbons, electrode; said container comprising a generator of said electrodes adapted to be immersed within said ultrasonic vibrations having a vibrator, said vibrator is electrolyte, said inlet means for introducing the gaseous located inside of the electrolyte/hydrocarbons mixture hydrocarbons comprising a pipe located inside of said 5 to agitate both said electrolyte and hydrocarbons and to container, said pipe arranged in lower portion of said container so to introduce said gaseous hydrocarbons increase and the speed of decomposition of said electrolyte hydrocarbons; said DPRH adapted for producing below said electrodes, said pipe adapted for introducing exhaust gases having gaseous hydrocarbons; said con said hydrogen by decomposition of both said electro tainer comprising outlet means associated with said O lyte and hydrocarbons. sk sk k sk sk container for exiting said hydrogen gas liberating at the