Caviation assisted sonochemical hydrogen production system

Abstract

A method and apparatus of producing hydrogen is disclosed comprising applying an electrical current to flow through an aqueous solution. Cavitation is generated within the aqueous solution, where the cavitation lowers an amount of energy required to break chemical bonds of said aqueous solution.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention generally relates to efficient generation of hydrogen and more specifically to in-situ hydrogen generation.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Water is composed of two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen by mass or volume. Decomposed by any means, two moles of water will produce one mole of oxygen gas (O2) and two moles of hydrogen gas (H2) at a given input of energy E1. When combined together through any means, hydrogen and oxygen react to form water, releasing a given output of energy E2. By all known principles of physics and chemistry, E1>E2 and thus by thermodynamics the process is not favored in direct action. For hydrogen to be useful as an energy source and economical to use, a means must be created to either reduce the dissociation energy of water, or provide energy in some other fashion in the process, for example with catalytic enhancement, or all the above.[0003]Hydrogen can be manufactured by a variety of means (including...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]A method and an apparatus to generate hydrogen gas as H2 from a hydrogen containing liquid such as water. In one embodiment, the structure is a electrolytic cell configured with catalytic enhancements to maximize the volume and mass of hydrogen produced, and minimize the energy input, thus minimizing cost of operation. This device is particularly configured to enhance catalytically the decomposition of water and the formation of hydrogen gas by: 1) the container apparatus configuration of electric and magnetic fields; 2) the use of sonochemistry and cavitation; and 3) the use of applicable solutes and solvents in the device that change the pH, ionic state, and the chemical potential of the device solution.

[0014]2. Storage—How to store the low density, flammable gas. This patent eliminates the need for storage, by creating a scalable process to generate hydrogen from water in-situ wherever it is needed. It thus eliminates the need for dangerous, costly, and hazardous storage and transport issues.

[0015]3. Distribution—Hydrogen, being difficult to store, is thus difficult to transport. Again, this patent eliminates the need for storage and thus transport, by creating a scalable process to generate hydrogen from water in-situ wherever it is needed. There is no need for dangerous, costly, and hazardous storage, distribution, and transport issues.

[0016]4. Use—How can hydrogen be used is a bigger hurdle in light of the prior two items. With the elimination of those two items, the relative cost of the use of fuel cells becomes economical even to the middle class. Without the need for refueling, or by minimizing the need for refueling, the ability to use fuel cells will become ubiquitous to modern life.

Problems solved by technology

3. Distribution—Hydrogen, being difficult to store, is thus difficult to transport.

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