System and Method of Hydrogen and Oxygen Production

Abstract

The invention is an apparatus and method for producing hydrogen and oxygen gas from an aqueous liquid utilizing a direct current power source. The apparatus utilizes an outer reaction chamber having a plurality of cathodes therein and an inner reaction chamber having an anode disposed therein. A direct current power source capable of supplying a pulsed output waveform is connected between the plurality of cathodes and the anode, thereby initiating a electrolytic reaction at the cathodes and anode and further, creating a pyrolitic reaction proximate the anode for enhanced liberation of hydrogen gas.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present invention claims the benefit of and priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60,712,627 entitled “System and Method of Hydrogen and Oxygen Production” filed Aug. 30, 2005.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for electrolysis of a fluid and more specifically to an apparatus and method for separation of gaseous hydrogen and oxygen from aqueous solutions utilizing a two chamber reaction space and electrolytic action as a separation method and catalyst for pyrolitic separation of the aqueous fluid. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] In recent years, the advent of fuel cell technology has required the use of hydrogen gas as a fuel source for many advanced fuel cells which has in turn sparked a high demand for hydrogen gas. Unfortunately, prior art systems for the production of hydrogen gas are relatively expensive to opera...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] Furthermore, the utilization of hydrogen gas as a direct injection additive to modern internal combustion engines greatly enhances the operating efficiency of the engines. However, it is difficult to store hydrogen gas on board an automobile or other conveyance, due to the necessity of high pressure storage tanks and the concomitant safety hazards entailed in storing a highly pressurized explosive gas in a vehicle.

[0007] The present invention obviates the aforementioned problems by providing an apparatus, system and method for hydrogen and oxygen gas production that is initiated via a controlled electrolytic reaction in a chamber wherein an aqueous fluid resides, resulting in separation of the aqueous fluid into its elemental components. Specifically, the present invention provides an apparatus and method for separation of elemental hydrogen and oxygen from an aqueous solution utilizing electrolytic action to initiate the separation process and a resultant pyrolitic reaction that greatly enhances separation of elemental hydrogen and oxygen from the aqueous solution.

[0009] The plurality of cathodes are placed at various locations in the first chamber such that they are substantially equidistant from the single anode. The cathodes and anode are thence electrically connected to a source of direct current power, whereby current flows from the anode through the aqueous solution to the plurality of cathodes, creating a plurality of current conduction paths through the fluid in the outer chamber. These conduction paths necessarily converge in an area of the second chamber proximate the anode, creating extremely high temperature and the release of concomitant light energy around the anode, thereby enhancing the gas separation reaction by sustaining a pyrolitic reaction proximate the anode.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, prior art systems for the production of hydrogen gas are relatively expensive to operate due to the high energy cost of producing hydrogen gas from known methods.

However, these hydrocarbon cracking systems require a large energy input to produce a relatively small amount of hydrogen gas, thereby making them considerably more expensive to produce than an equivalent energy amount of conventional gasoline.

In fact, none of these prior art systems are capable of producing hydrogen gas at a cost or volume necessary to make it a competitively priced fuel to gasoline.

However, since a great deal of energy is required to produce hydrogen by prior art methods, and this energy is primarily produced by burning coal or oil, the overall environmental impact of utilizing hydrogen as a fuel is not greatly reduced by modern hydrogen production methods.

However, it is difficult to store hydrogen gas on board an automobile or other conveyance, due to the necessity of high pressure storage tanks and the concomitant safety hazards entailed in storing a highly pressurized explosive gas in a vehicle.

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