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Electrolytic Cell for Heating Electrolyte by a Glow Plasma Field in the Electrolyte

a technology of electrolyte and electrolyte, which is applied in the direction of electrolysis process, electrolysis components, plasma technique, etc., can solve the problem of reducing the ability of the plasma field to efficiently heat deeper electrolyte, deteriorating or eroding the electrode, and the plasma field cannot be maintained for an extended period, etc. problem, to achieve the effect of efficient hea

Inactive Publication Date: 2012-06-14
HEC GRP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]The invention is an improved electrolytic cell to generate a plasma field in an electrolyte. The plasma electrode of the electrolytic cell of the present invention can be placed essentially anywhere in the electrolyte without extinguishing the plasma field. The output of the plasma field is controllable without reducing the power density from the plasma electrode to the electrolyte. In preferred embodiments of the electrolytic cell, the plasma electrode can operate hundreds of hours generating a plasma field that efficiently heats the electrolyte heat to relatively high temperatures without need of replacement.

Problems solved by technology

Secondly, the electrolyte can be heated by the plasma field.
This reduces the ability of the plasma field to efficiently heat deeper electrolyte.
And because the plasma field is below the plasma electrode, heat from the plasma field and heated electrolyte impinge against the electrode, deteriorating or eroding the electrode.
The plasma field cannot be maintained for an extended period and the plasma electrode requires frequent replacement, typically after only five or ten minutes of use.
Furthermore, it is difficult to control the output of the plasma field in a conventional electrolytic cell.

Method used

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  • Electrolytic Cell for Heating Electrolyte by a Glow Plasma Field in the Electrolyte
  • Electrolytic Cell for Heating Electrolyte by a Glow Plasma Field in the Electrolyte
  • Electrolytic Cell for Heating Electrolyte by a Glow Plasma Field in the Electrolyte

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Experimental program
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second embodiment

[0054]Thermal expansion and contraction of the rods 28 generates stress in the insulation 34. The insulation must accommodate the expansion and contraction of the rods without through-cracking or separating from the rods to function effectively as a mechanical barrier between the rods and the electrolyte. FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment electrolytic cell 110 with a cathode 112 similar to the cathode 16, but having no insulation along the rods. Instead, the electrolyte is kept from the rods by an air barrier rather than a solid barrier as with the cathode 16. Only the differences between the cathode 112 and cathode 16 will be discussed below.

[0055]Each stainless steel rod 116 (only one rod is shown in FIG. 3) extends from a mounting plate 114 to an upper rod surface 118 forming a portion of the active electrode surface of the cathode 112. A tube 120 attached to the plate 114 surrounds the rod 116 and extends the length of the rod 116. The inner tube wall 122 is spaced from the...

third embodiment

[0058]FIG. 4 illustrates a third embodiment electrolytic cell 210 in accordance with the present invention. Electrolytic cell 210 is similar to electrolytic cell 10 so only the differences will be discussed in detail.

[0059]A cathode 212 forming the plasma electrode is immersed in the electrolyte 214 and connected to a power supply 216. The cathode 212 includes a number of separate conductor rods 218. Each rod 218 is insulated from the electrolyte except for the upper end 220 of the rod. An anode 222 is provided.

[0060]The rods 218 are connected in parallel to the power supply 216 through respective electrical connections 224. Each connection 224 includes a switch 226 that breaks or makes the circuit between the power supply 216 and the rod 218 connected to the switch. The switches 226 are opened and closed by a controller (not shown) that is responsive to a signal representing temperature, flow, or other control parameter.

[0061]Each rod end 220 contributes to the active electrode sur...

fourth embodiment

[0065]FIGS. 5-7 illustrate a plasma electrode 310 used as a cathode in a fourth embodiment electrolytic fuel cell in accordance with the present invention. The electrolytic fuel cell is otherwise identical to the fuel cell 10 previously discussed above and so only the differences will be discussed.

[0066]The plasma electrode 310 includes an elongate metal conductor 312 surrounded by solid virgin PTFE insulation 314. The insulation 314 has a threaded portion 316 that threads into a threaded opening preferably located along the bottom of the electrolyte tank (not shown) and an annular flange 318 that abuts against the bottom of the tank to axially locate the electrode 310 in the tank. The electrode 310 forms the cathode, and may be coaxially aligned with an elongate metal conductor forming the anode.

[0067]The conductor 312 includes an elongate metal rod 320 that screws into one side of a metal annular disk 322 to form the conductor. The disk 322 has a larger diameter cylindrical collar...

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Abstract

An electrolytic cell for the generation of a plasma field in an electrolyte that heats the electrolyte forms part of a closed-loop heat transfer device, the electrolytic cell fluidly connected to a heat exchanger. A plasma electrode and a second electrode are mounted on a tubular insulating member that forms part of the flow path of electrolyte from the tank to the heat exchanger. The electrolyte must flow through the electrodes when flowing from the tank to the heat exchanger.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to electrolytic cells in which electrodes are in electrical contact with a liquid electrolyte. Specifically, the present invention relates to an electrolytic cell for the generation of a plasma field in the electrolyte, and use of the electrolytic cell to generate heated electrolyte as a source of heat transfer.DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART[0002]Electrolytic cells that generate a plasma field in a liquid electrolyte are known. Such electrolytic cells are useful in different ways. First, they enable the study of the plasma field itself. Secondly, the electrolyte can be heated by the plasma field. The heated electrolyte can be circulated in a closed-loop or open-loop system as a heat source for space heating, industrial processes, or heat transfer.[0003]A conventional electrolytic cell includes an aqueous electrolyte, such as a mixture of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3) and water held in a tank. Electrode...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): C25B9/00
CPCH05H1/2406
Inventor HOFFMAN, JR., JOHN E.HOFFMAN, SR., RICHARD A.
Owner HEC GRP