Device and method for producing hydrogen

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for producing hydrogen from a hydrogen-containing substance by splitting the hydrogen-containing substance into its components, wherein the hydrogen-containing substance is excited by means of an electromagnetic wave generator. The electromagnetic wave generator emits energy at the resonant frequency of an atomic bond of the hydrogen-containing substance. According to the invention, the splitting of the hydrogen-containing substance takes place in an electromagnetic resonator.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the efficient production of hydrogen. A specially adapted apparatus and the use of electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength in the range of the resonant frequency of the atomic bond of a hydrogen-containing substance increase the efficiency of the splitting of the hydrogen-containing substance. BACKGROUND

[0002] Hydrogen production can become a key technology for addressing the energy crisis and climate change. To produce hydrogen efficiently, the efficiency of conventional production methods, electrolysis, must be significantly improved. Improving this efficiency will enable more cost-effective production and thus open up many new applications for hydrogen in industry, aerospace, and the private sector.

[0003] US 2013 / 0134046 A1 discloses a device and method for increasing hydrogen production during electrolysis. First, a vibrational mode of the electrolyte fluid is determined. Subsequently, a laser is tuned to a wavelength close to the selected vibrational mode. A tuned laser is then applied to the electrolyte fluid. Applying a laser with a wavelength close to the wavelength of a specific vibrational mode of the electrolyte fluid leads to an increase in the hydrogen production rate compared to electrolysis alone. The specific vibrational mode can correspond to a mode that stretches the interatomic bonds of hydrogen in the electrolyte fluid.

[0004] US 2023 / 0332298 A1 discloses an apparatus and method for producing hydrogen-oxygen gas by breaking up water molecules by applying an electrical signal and a constant voltage. The container in which the production takes place is described as a non-conductive cylinder or prism with a capacity of, for example, 1000 ml and a diameter of 5 inches and a height of 10 inches. The container is not an electromagnetic resonator.

[0005] DE 4025803 A1 discloses a plant for producing hydrogen in which hydrogen is produced by electrolysis. The production takes place in an undefined water tank.

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and device for the more efficient production of hydrogen.

[0007] One aspect of the present invention is the use of an electromagnetic wave at the resonance frequency of the atomic bond, for example, between OH or CH bonds. The resonance frequency depends on the spatial arrangement of the atoms to be separated. For example, to generate pure hydrogen from the base medium water, the resonance frequency with a wavenumber of 3657 / cm is used. The electromagnetic wave at the resonance frequency causes the atomic bond to be destroyed through a resonance catastrophe. The hydrogen and oxygen atoms of the water molecule are separated and then separated by a static electric field.

[0008] There are several ways to generate an electromagnetic wave and these are listed below: 1. Laser at the resonance frequency 2. Further development of the magnetron (traveling wave tube) 3. Heat / infrared source with subsequent filtering PROBLEM AND ITS SOLUTION

[0009] The problem with the known method lies in the difficulty of controlling electromagnetic waves and their precise targeting. In the manufacturing process described here, efficiency is increased by using a cavity resonator tuned to the resonance frequency of the medium used. A deviation from the irradiated frequency or irradiation with a broad spectrum of frequencies reduces the efficiency of the system. By using a cavity resonator tuned to the resonance frequency of the medium, all frequencies other than the resonance frequency are suppressed, thereby significantly increasing the efficiency of the system.

[0010] To maximize efficiency and focus the effect, it is proposed that the separation of the medium (e.g., water) be carried out in a cavity resonator. Cavity resonators are commonly used in radio-frequency technology. When using a cavity resonator, the electromagnetic wave is forced to form a standing wave within the resonator.

[0011] To improve efficiency, the cavity resonator is tuned to the resonant frequency of the covalent bond of the hydrogen-containing substance. The separation of the medium then takes place within the resonator. Because the energy of the electromagnetic wave is concentrated in the resonator and not radiated, the separation of the hydrogen-containing substance can be achieved with high efficiency. This means that a large amount of energy can be introduced into the resonator while simultaneously reducing losses. The efficiency of the chemical splitting of the hydrogen-containing substance is increased.

[0012] Depending on the material properties of the hydrogen-containing substance to be split, the mechanical size of the resonator must be adjusted. However, a supermode cavity resonator can also be used to achieve a mechanically manufacturable size. In general, it can be stated that all n-fold and 1 / n-fold (n element of all natural numbers) of the characteristic resonance wavelength of the atomic bond of the hydrogen-containing substance can be used.

[0013] An electric field is used to separate the components of the split hydrogen-containing substance. However, this is only needed for the separation, not for the splitting.

[0014] The object of the invention is solved by the independent claims.

[0015] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0016] The invention relates to a process for producing hydrogen from a hydrogen-containing substance by splitting the hydrogen-containing substance into its components, wherein the hydrogen-containing substance is excited by an electromagnetic wave generator. The electromagnetic wave generator emits energy at the resonant frequency of an atomic bond in the hydrogen-containing substance. According to the invention, the splitting of the hydrogen-containing substance takes place in an electromagnetic resonator.

[0017] In particular, the electromagnetic resonator is a cavity resonator.

[0018] In a further development of the process, the geometry of the electromagnetic resonator is designed for the resonance frequency of the atomic bond of the hydrogen-containing substance.

[0019] Advantageously, the geometry of the electromagnetic resonator is designed for an n-fold or a 1 / n-fold of the resonance frequency of the atomic bond of the hydrogen-containing substance in order to achieve a realistically producible size.

[0020] The invention further relates to a device for producing hydrogen. The device comprises: - an electromagnetic resonator filled with a hydrogen-containing substance; - an anode and a cathode connected to a power supply and in electrical contact with the hydrogen-containing liquid; - an electromagnetic wave generator designed to generate electromagnetic waves at the resonant frequency of the hydrogen-containing substance; - an inlet for the hydrogen-containing substance and - at least one outlet for a split hydrogen-containing substance.

[0021] In particular, the electromagnetic resonator is a cavity resonator.

[0022] In one embodiment, the electromagnetic wave generator is a laser, a magnetron, or a heat source.

[0023] In an advantageous embodiment, the geometry of the electromagnetic resonator is designed for the resonance frequency of the atomic bond of the hydrogen-containing substance or for an n-fold or a 1 / n-fold of the resonance frequency of the atomic bond of the hydrogen-containing substance.

[0024] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

[0025] Showing: Fig. 1 schematic structure of the device according to the invention for producing hydrogen Fig. 2 schematic representation of the molecular structure of a water molecule and an ethane molecule

[0026] Fig. Figure 1 shows a possible device for splitting a hydrogen-containing substance 8 in a cavity resonator 6. A hydrogen-containing substance 8, such as water, is fed into a cavity resonator 6 via an inlet 4. The geometry of the cavity resonator 6 is designed for the resonant frequency of the atomic bond 9 of water. The specially designed geometry of the cavity resonator 6 enables a standing electromagnetic wave 7 in the cavity resonator 6 at the resonant frequency of water. By linearly enlarging the underlying output geometry of the cavity resonator 6, the number of resulting maxima of the standing electromagnetic wave 7 is increased. For example, a 1000-fold larger geometry of the underlying cavity resonator 6 is used to achieve a realistically manufacturable size.The standing electromagnetic wave 7 is generated by the high-frequency source 5, such as a laser or traveling-wave tube, and fed into the cavity resonator 6. At the maxima of the standing electromagnetic wave 7, the atomic bond 9 of the hydrogen-containing substance 8 is excited and destroyed by a resonance catastrophe. The hydrogen-containing substance 8 is broken down into its components, partial substance A 3 and partial substance B 12. After the molecule has been broken down, partial substance A 3 and partial substance B 12, such as hydrogen and oxygen in this example, exist as charged ions and are separated by a static electric field 10. The static electric field 10 is generated by an applied voltage between anode 2 and cathode 11. At the anode 2 and cathode 11, the partial substance A ions and partial substance B ions are converted into partial substance A 3 molecules and partial substance B 12 molecules.In the specific example with water, hydrogen and oxygen ions are converted into hydrogen and oxygen molecules. Substance A3 and substance B12 are removed via outlets A1 and B13. In the specific example with water, hydrogen and oxygen are removed via outlets A1 and B13.

[0027] Fig. Figure 2 shows the molecular structure of a water molecule 14 and an ethane molecule 15. The atomic bond 9 is disrupted by excitation by an electromagnetic wave 7 at the resonance frequency of the atomic bond 9. The resulting motion 16 between the atoms ultimately results in a resonance catastrophe. This leads to the disruption of the atomic bond 9. For example, to excite the resonance of the atomic bond 9 in a water molecule 14, a wave number of 3657cm is used for a symmetrical stretching of the atomic bonds 9 of water. -1 which corresponds to the frequency of 17.45THz.

Claims

[1] A process for producing hydrogen from a hydrogen-containing substance by splitting the hydrogen-containing substance into its components, wherein the hydrogen-containing substance is excited by means of an electromagnetic wave generator, wherein the electromagnetic wave generator emits energy at the resonant frequency of an atomic bond of the hydrogen-containing substance, characterized by that the splitting of the hydrogen-containing substance takes place in an electromagnetic resonator. [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that the electromagnetic resonator is a cavity resonator. [3] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that the geometry of the electromagnetic resonator is designed for the resonance frequency of the atomic bond of the hydrogen-containing substance. [4] Method according to claim 3, characterized bythat the geometry of the electromagnetic resonator is designed for an n-fold or a 1 / n-fold of the resonance frequency of the atomic bond of the hydrogen-containing substance. [5] Apparatus for producing hydrogen comprising: an electromagnetic resonator filled with a hydrogen-containing substance; an anode and a cathode connected to a power supply and in electrical contact with the hydrogen-containing liquid; an electromagnetic wave generator designed to generate electromagnetic waves at the resonant frequency of the hydrogen-containing substance; an inlet for the hydrogen-containing substance and an outlet for a split hydrogen-containing substance. [6] Device according to claim 5, characterized by that the electromagnetic resonator is a cavity resonator. [7] Device according to claim 5, characterized by that the electromagnetic wave generator is a laser, a magnetron, or a heat source. [8] Device according to claim 5, characterized by that the geometry of the electromagnetic resonator is designed for the resonance frequency of the atomic bond of the hydrogen-containing substance or for an n-fold or a 1 / n-fold of the resonance frequency of the atomic bond of the hydrogen-containing substance.

Images