Hydrogen Generation Device

Abstract

The device 100 for generating hydrogen from water in liquid state comprises a hydrolysis chamber 101 configured to contain a variable volume of water in liquid state at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure, this volume of water being the element that is processed to obtain hydrogen and other gases by implosion of a plurality of bubbles that arise inside the hydrolysis chamber 101 due to changing pressure conditions, and a second gas chamber 110 separated from the first hydrolysis chamber 101 by gas separation means 106, 107, said second gas chamber 110 comprising at its upper portion a gas outlet 103 configured to facilitate the evacuation of gas resulting from the process.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for generating gaseous hydrogen from liquid water, the operating principle of which is based on the irradiation of the water by a wave signal adapted to disrupt the water molecules. [Background technology]

[0002] Hydrogen and energy production is a concept that has been explored for decades. At present, almost all hydrogen production is done from fossil fuels, a highly polluting process resulting from the emission of carbon dioxide, a harmful gas and a gas directly related to the greenhouse effect.

[0003] The reason for using fossil fuels lies in the fact that hydrogen generation by known methods such as water electrolysis is not feasible due to its high economic cost (the energy it takes to produce is less than the energy it takes to obtain it), making the known processes logistically infeasible.

[0004] One of the technical problems to be solved in the prior art is to obtain a system capable of efficiently carrying out electrolytic processes. For this purpose, electrodes based on alloys made of precious metals or metals of high economic value are used, and although this electrolytic process may be economically viable, the cost of the alloys forming the electrodes makes such a process unfeasible. On the other hand, processes using cheaper electrodes do not provide acceptable yields.

[0005] On the other hand, alternative technologies for hydrogen generation are described in the prior art that attempt to solve the problem of electrolysis efficiency, but when scaled up from the research stage to industrial production, the complexity of the equipment required makes this technology unviable as a practical generation system.

[0006] For example, WO2010 / 002781 describes a method and apparatus for generating hydrogen gas as H2 from a hydrogen-containing liquid such as water. In one embodiment, the structure is an electrolyzer configured with catalytic enhancement to maximize the volume and mass of hydrogen produced and minimize the energy input and therefore the cost of operation. The device includes, inter alia: a. Configuration of the device including electric and magnetic fields; b. The use of sonochemistry and cavitation; and c. The use of solutes and solvents within the device that change the pH, ionic state, and chemical potential of the device solution. The present invention is configured to catalytically enhance the decomposition of water and the formation of hydrogen gas by the catalytic reaction.

[0007] WO02 / 46092 describes that its subject matter is an installation for receiving hydrogen and / or oxygen from a hydrogen or hydrogen-oxygen containing liquid (hereinafter referred to as "base material") by initiating cavitation therein. The basic attributes of the installation are that the following elements are available: A container containing the ingredients; b. a cavitation generator that initiates cavitation of the base material; c. A power supply for the cavitation generator; d. A device(s) for capturing hydrogen and / or oxygen.

[0008] The installation ensures the opportunity to receive hydrogen and / or oxygen in an economically and ecologically safe manner and can be used in various fields of human activity where the use of hydrogen and / or oxygen is necessary.

[0009] Thus, the prior art does not describe an economically viable, industrially acceptable method and / or device for hydrogen production. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] WO2010 / 002781 [Patent Document 2] WO02 / 46092 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] The present invention aims to solve the drawbacks presented in the prior art by a technology based on electromagnetic waves generated at specific frequencies, which allows reactions based on the cavitation principle to be carried out in a controlled manner. It is another object of the present invention to generate multiple gases from water in liquid state with efficient yields, using for this purpose a hydrolysis chamber designed for this purpose. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The subject of the present invention therefore consists of a device for generating hydrogen in gaseous state from a source of water in liquid state and comprising at least one filter for collecting the hydrogen generated from the mixture of gases produced in the hydrolysis chamber. This object is achieved by the device of the appended claims.

[0013] In a first aspect of the invention, a gaseous hydrogen filter is claimed, which is characterized in that it consists of metal hydride plates through which an electric current flows in a particular direction or polarity, and when the electric current flows in a particular polarity, gaseous hydrogen is trapped within the metal hydride plates, when the electric current flows in the opposite polarity, hydrogen is released from the metal hydride plates, and when the electric current flows in the opposite polarity, hydrogen remains within the plates in the absence of electric current through the plates. In one practical embodiment, the hydride metal is nickel (Ni).

[0014] In a second aspect of the invention, a gaseous hydrogen generation device comprises: a hydrolysis chamber configured to contain a variable volume of water in a liquid state at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure, said volume of water being the element that is processed to obtain hydrogen and other gases by implosion (collapse) of at least one bubble that occurs in the water contained within the chamber; a second gas chamber separated from the first hydrolysis chamber by a gas separation means, said second gas chamber having a gas outlet at an upper portion thereof configured to facilitate the discharge of gases resulting from the process; The hydrogen generation device is characterized in that it comprises an electromagnetic wave generating means and a vacuum system configured to generate variable pressure conditions per unit time inside the first hydrolysis chamber due to changes in the internal pressure conditions of the hydrolysis chamber until at least one bubble generated in the water contained in the first hydrolysis chamber implodes.

[0015] In a practical embodiment, the gas separation means comprises at least one gaseous hydrogen filter according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0016] In a practical embodiment, the hydrolysis chamber comprises at least one water inlet configured to receive liquid water to be dissociated (dissociated) continuously or in batches (or in small portions).

[0017] In another working embodiment, the electromagnetic wave generating means is configured to generate at least one electromagnetic wave optimized to produce an adiabatic compression inside the hydrolysis chamber, the distance between the trough and the crest of the generated wave being less than or equal to 0.05 seconds.

[0018] In another practical embodiment, the frequency of the electromagnetic waves generated by the electromagnetic wave generating medium is between 20 KHz and 3 GHz.

[0019] In another practical embodiment, the waveform generated by the electromagnetic wave generating means is a sine wave, but has a leading edge limit in the range of 10% to 40% of the peak amplitude of the sine wave.

[0020] The hydrogen gas production facility according to the present invention comprises a power source, a hydrogen gas generation device, a water supply system supplying water to the generation device, a collection system for the gas generated in the generation device, and a system for filtering and storing the hydrogen gas, the generation device being a generation device having the main features and, if applicable, one or more of the optional or preferred features described above, and the power source is also connected to the wave engine generator through an electronic control module.

[0021] The power source for the system may include a battery that powers the electronic control module and a photovoltaic or other renewable energy system that powers the battery. Notwithstanding the above, the system may be operated with direct current or alternating current as the power input.

[0022] The hydrogen gas production plant may also include additional conventional components, such as gas and water pressure sensors, electrical sensors, electrical overload protection systems, shutoff and safety valves, pumps to pump hydrogen gas and oxygen gas to their respective tanks, a water pump for pumping water from the water supply tank to the generation device, and a water pump for pumping water from the water supply tank to the generation device.

[0023] Throughout the specification and claims, the term "comprises" and variations thereof are not intended to exclude other technical features, additions, components or steps. Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art, in part from the present invention and in part from the practice of the present invention. The following examples and drawings are provided by way of illustration and are not intended to limit the present invention. Moreover, the present invention is directed to all possible combinations of the specific and preferred embodiments shown herein.

[0024] Below is a very brief description of a series of drawings which will assist in a better understanding of the invention and which relate in particular to one embodiment of the invention, given as a non-limiting illustration of the invention. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a hydrogen generation device according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] 1 illustrates an electromagnetic waveform of the type used in the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] According to the attached drawings, in an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the generation device 100 comprises a hydrolysis chamber 101 configured to contain a variable volume of water in liquid state, which volume of water is the element processed by the generation device 100 to obtain hydrogen (H2) and other gases resulting from the reaction inside the chamber 101. The generation device 100 further comprises a second gas chamber 110 separated from the first hydrolysis chamber 101 by gas separation means 106, 107. In said second gas chamber 110, at its top, the generation device 100 comprises a gas outlet 103 configured to facilitate the discharge of gases resulting from the process, as described below.

[0027] The hydrolysis chamber 101 comprises at least one water inlet 102 for receiving, either continuously or in batches, the water to be hydrolyzed. Inside the first hydrolysis chamber 101 there is an electromagnetic wave generating means 104 connected to an electronic control module 108, which in a practical non-limiting example comprises at least one processor or processors and one or more memories storing one or more programs of instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic control module 108 to generate the required electromagnetic waves in power, frequency and shape to carry out the effect of generating gas from the water contained in the hydrolysis chamber 101.

[0028] On the other hand, the vacuum system 105 is configured to generate a minimum pressure condition inside the first hydrolysis chamber 101, but can also generate a pressure higher than the minimum pressure such that the vacuum system 105 is configured to create variable pressure conditions per unit time.

[0029] The process of breaking water molecules basically consists of providing a sufficient amount of energy to break the bonds between the atoms so that they are separated in the form of ions. It is not necessary that all energy be provided exogenously to carry out this process, as there can also be an endogenous supply of energy, as described in this invention.

[0030] As mentioned above, various methods of disrupting water molecules are known in the prior art, for example using precision lasers or inputting energy into the body of water in the form of heat. However, the present invention creates changes in the pressure conditions of the environment, which trigger a series of thermodynamic processes within the medium, as will be explained below.

[0031] Initially, the water contained within the hydrolysis chamber 101 is in a liquid state at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. The water is then subjected to a rapid pressure change by a vacuum system 105 and also by generating electromagnetic waves 104 having a predetermined frequency, peak amplitude and power, thereby creating a negative pressure environment at least in the peripheral region of the hydrolysis chamber 101. In this disclosure, peripheral region means at least the area near the walls of the hydrolysis chamber 101.

[0032] The negative pressure in the edge area causes a cavity generation process, i.e. the water, which is in liquid state at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature, changes to gaseous state and forms (at least) one bubble. As long as the pressure is kept at a negative value (e.g. when the electromagnetic wave shown in FIG. 2 is in the valley zone), the cavity grows at a certain speed. As soon as the combined conditions of the vacuum system 105 and the EM wave generator 104 drive the hydrolysis chamber 101 towards a higher pressure, the bubble growth changes drastically. In other words, the water film can no longer grow and an opposite effect occurs, causing a reversal of the movement of the bubble water film and therefore the bubble implosion. It is at this moment that a chemical reaction occurs inside the cavity (i.e. the bubble) that forms a gas at a very high temperature and in a very short time interval.

[0033] The shape of the electromagnetic wave (FIG. 2) generated by the electromagnetic wave generating means 104 is optimized to create an adiabatic compression inside the hydrolysis chamber 101, and the distance between the trough and the crest of the generated wave is less than 0.05 seconds. In a practical embodiment of the invention, the frequency of the electromagnetic wave generated by the electromagnetic wave generating means 104 is between 20 KHz and 3 GHz. The waveform generated is then preferably sinusoidal, but with a limit on the rise (i.e. the crest of the wave), in other words a limit to the generation of higher pressures inside the hydrolysis chamber 101.

[0034] Through this wave mechanism, the cavities that are formed will implode at the optimum time, which will inevitably involve maximum temperature and gas generation. In practical embodiments of the present invention, the maximum amplitude value of the wave is in the range of 10% to 40% of the peak amplitude of the sine wave.

[0035] In this thermodynamic process, the pressure-temperature relationship must be maintained, so a sudden decrease in the volume of the bubble means a sudden increase in the temperature of the gas contained in the bubble. Thus, since the increase in temperature is achieved by absorbing energy from the environment, the gas in the bubble heats up by absorbing energy from the surrounding liquid water, resulting in the cooling of the liquid water and the heating of the gas contained in the bubble.

[0036] The energy absorbed from the medium allows the thermochemical conditions inside the bubble to be suitable for a process that breaks down the water molecules, generating in these stages large amounts of hydrogen and oxygen in the gaseous state, as well as other gases depending on the exact composition of the water contained in the hydrolysis chamber 101. In summary, the process depicted is similar to a boiling process achieved by a change in the pressure of the water in the hydrolysis chamber 101.

[0037] Therefore, the invention has the particularity that only the energy required for the wave generator 104, the vacuum system 105 and the gas separation means 106, 107 for separating the hydrogen as described below is supplied to the device 100.

[0038] A very important aspect of the present invention is the capture of the hydrogen that is generated. For this purpose, gas separation means 106, 107 are used. The gases generated by the implosion of bubbles inside the hydrolysis chamber 101 rise vertically, so it is necessary to provide a filter 106, placed at the top of the hydrolysis chamber 101, to separate this first chamber 101 from the second gas chamber 110. The filter 106 comprises an inlet 107, which is an orifice that communicates the reactor part (chamber 101) with the filter 106, so that the resulting gases rise from the chamber 101 through the inlet or orifice 107 to the filter 106.

[0039] The filter 106 consists of plates whose material is a hydride metal; in a practical, non-limiting example, nickel (Ni). An electric current flows through the plates in a specific direction or polarity. In this way, hydrogen is trapped within the filter plates 106 and the remaining gas is exhausted through the gas outlet 103.

[0040] Hydrogen trapped in the filter 106 can be released by changing the polarity, i.e., reversing the direction of the current, for example, by instructions stored in a memory and executed by a processor of the control device 108. Thus, an alternative hydrogen / oxygen release cycle can be established within the filter 106 or by a signal received by the hydrogen sensor 109, such that when the presence of H2 in the filter 106 exceeds a certain threshold measured in ppm, a signal is sent to the control device 108 to change polarity.

[0041] Finally, in one embodiment of the present invention, the above-described filter 106 can also act as a hydrogen storage system and can be transported by simply removing the circulating stream. Thus, the above-described filter 106 is modular and easily removable from the hydrolysis chamber 101, allowing hydrogen to be efficiently transported.

Claims

1. a hydrolysis chamber (101) configured to contain a variable volume of water in a liquid state at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure, said volume of water being an element that is processed to obtain hydrogen and other gases by implosion of at least one bubble generated in said water contained within said chamber; a second gas chamber (110) separated from the first hydrolysis chamber (101) by gas separation means (106, 107), the second gas chamber (110) having a gas outlet (103) at its top adapted to facilitate the evacuation of the gases resulting from the treatment; A gaseous hydrogen generation device (100) comprising:

1. A gaseous hydrogen generation device (100), comprising electromagnetic wave generating means (104) and a vacuum system (105) configured to generate variable pressure conditions per unit time inside the first hydrolysis chamber (101) until at least one bubble generated in the water contained in the first hydrolysis chamber (101) due to a change in the pressure conditions inside the hydrolysis chamber (101) implodes.

2. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the gas separation means comprises at least one hydrogen gas filter (106) comprising metal hydride plates through which an electric current flows in a particular direction or polarity, whereby the hydrogen gas is trapped within the metal hydride plates when the electric current flows in a particular polarity, released from the metal hydride plates when the electric current flows in the opposite polarity, and remains within the plates in the absence of electric current.

3. The device described in claim 2, wherein the metal hydride of at least one hydrogen gas filter (106) is made of nickel (Ni).

4. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the hydrolysis chamber (101) has at least one water inlet (102) configured to receive the liquid water intended to be decomposed continuously or in batches.

5. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic wave generating means (104) is configured to generate at least one electromagnetic wave optimized to produce adiabatic compression inside the hydrolysis chamber (101), and wherein the distance between the trough and the crest of the generated wave is less than or equal to 0.05 seconds.

6. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the frequency of the electromagnetic waves generated by the electromagnetic wave generating means (104) is between 20 KHz and 3 GHz.

7. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the waveform generated by the electromagnetic wave generating means (104) is a sine wave having a leading edge limit in the range of 10% to 40% of its peak amplitude.

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