HYDROXY GAS GENERATOR

Abstract

Methods and systems for improving hydroxy gas generation are presented. In one embodiment, a hydroxy gas generator is provided, comprising a gas generation chamber containing water and anode-cathode pairs. The anode-cathode pairs can be configured to generate hydroxy gas using a continuous flow water supply. The hydroxy gas generator may also include a water structuring device that reduces the surface tension of the continuous flow water supply. The water structuring device can also magnetically orient the molecules of the continuous flow water supply. The hydroxy gas generator may further include a gas isolation system for extracting hydroxy gas from the gas generation chamber.

Description

HYDROXY GAS GENERATOR Cross-reference to related applications This application claims the benefit and priority of United States Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 078,649 filed on December 15, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Background of the invention Hydrogen gas (i.e., HHO gas, oxyhydrogen gas) can be used in various industrial applications. For example, hydroxy gas can be ignited and used as fuel in several applications. For instance, hydroxy gas can be used as fuel for a generator. A supply of hydroxy gas is required for such industrial applications. Hydrogen gas can be produced by applying an electric current to water. Brief description of the invention The present invention presents novel and innovative systems and methods for generating hydroxy gas. In one aspect, a hydroxy gas generator is provided, comprising a gas generation chamber containing water and a plurality of anode-cathode pairs within the gas generation chamber, configured to generate hydroxy gas using a continuously flowing water supply. The hydroxy gas generator may also include a water structuring device configured to (i) reduce the surface tension of the continuously flowing water supply and (ii) magnetically orient the molecules of the continuously flowing water supply, and a gas isolation system for extracting the hydroxy gas from the gas generation chamber. In a second aspect, in accordance with the first aspect, the water structuring device reduces the surface tension of the continuous flow water supply by causing the water to flow through a plurality of spheres. In a third aspect, in accordance with the second aspect, the plurality of spheres reduces the surface tension of the continuous flow water supply by creating vortices within the continuous flow water supply. In a fourth aspect, in accordance with either of the second and third aspects, at least a subset of the plurality of spheres has a diameter of at least 1.016 cm (0.4 inches). In a fifth aspect, in accordance with any of the second to fourth aspects, the plurality of spheres creates magnetic fields that magnetically orient the water molecules. In a sixth aspect, in accordance with the fifth aspect, the plurality of spheres is charged with a magnetic field of at least 1 Tesla. In a seventh aspect, in accordance with any of the second to sixth aspects, at least a subset of the plurality of spheres is gold plated. In an eighth aspect, in accordance with any of the first to seventh aspects, the surface tension of the continuous flow water supply is reduced by at least 20%. In a ninth aspect, in accordance with any of the first through eighth aspects, the gas generation chamber includes at least 7 anode-cathode pairs. In a tenth aspect, in accordance with any of the first through ninth aspects, the plurality of anode-cathode pairs are harmonically tuned to have an electrical resonance frequency at a predetermined frequency. In an eleventh aspect, in accordance with the tenth aspect, the default frequency is between 200 and 400 Hz. In a twelfth aspect, in accordance with any of the first through eleventh aspects, the plurality of anode-cathode pairs operate at a predetermined voltage of 30 to 60 V. In a thirteenth aspect, in accordance with any of the first through twelfth aspects, the plurality of anode-cathode pairs have nozzle-shaped plugs. In a fourteenth aspect, in accordance with any of the first through thirteenth aspects, the anodes of the plurality of anode-cathode pairs include aeration holes where the continuous flow water supply is received. In a fifteenth aspect, in accordance with any of the first through fourteenth aspects, hydroxy gas is generated as microbubbles within the water. In a sixteenth aspect, in accordance with any of the first through fifteenth aspects, the hydroxy gas generator further includes a water chiller to reduce the temperature of the continuous flow water supply. In a seventeenth aspect, in accordance with the sixteenth aspect, the water chiller reduces the temperature of the continuous flow water supply to 65 °F (18.33 °C) or less. In an eighteenth aspect, in accordance with either of the sixteenth and seventeenth aspects, the continuous flow water supply proceeds through the water cooler before entering the anode-cathode pairs. In a nineteenth aspect, in accordance with any of the first through eighteenth aspects, the hydroxy gas generator further includes a water recombination system to combine the hydroxy gas with a secondary water supply to generate an oxygenated and hydrogenated water. In a twentieth aspect, in accordance with the nineteenth aspect, hydrogenated and oxygenated water is applied to an agricultural facility. In a twenty-first aspect, a method is provided that includes structuring a continuous-flow water supply using a water-structuring device to (i) reduce the surface tension of the continuous-flow water supply and (ii) magnetically orient the molecules of the continuous-flow water supply. The method may further include passing the continuous-flow water supply through a plurality of anode-cathode pairs to generate hydroxy gas and extracting the hydroxy gas using a gas isolation system. In a twenty-second aspect, a water structuring device is provided for use in a hydroxy gas generator. The water structuring device may include an inlet for receiving a continuous flow water supply and an outlet for providing the continuous flow water supply to a plurality of anode-cathode pairs. The water structuring device may also include a plurality of magnetically charged spheres arranged in a plurality of center-aligned rings along a flow direction of the continuous flow water supply from the inlet to the outlet, wherein the plurality of center-aligned rings includes at least seven center-aligned rings, and wherein each of at least a subset of the center-aligned rings includes at least seven magnetically charged spheres. In a twenty-third aspect, an anode-cathode pair is provided for use in a hydroxy gas generator. The anode-cathode pair includes an inlet end for receiving water, an outlet end for providing water containing hydroxy gas, and a cathode extending from the inlet end to the outlet end. The anode-cathode pair may also include an anode positioned radially outside the cathode and extending from the inlet end to the outlet end, wherein the anode includes a plurality of aeration holes near the inlet end and a nozzle-shaped plug located at the outlet end. The anode and cathode are harmonically tuned to have an electrical resonant frequency at a predetermined frequency. The features and benefits described here are not exhaustive, and in particular, many additional features and benefits will be evident to a person skilled in the art from the figures and description. Furthermore, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been selected primarily for readability and instructional purposes, and not to limit the scope of the subject matter disclosed. Brief description of the drawings Figure 1 illustrates a hydroxy gas generator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 illustrates views of a water structuring device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 illustrates views of a gas generation chamber according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 illustrates views of an anode-cathode pair according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 illustrates a method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 illustrates a system for generating hydroxy gas according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Detailed description of the exemplary modalities Existing hydroxy gas generators can be used to generate hydroxy gas from water. Specifically, these generators can apply an electric current to a fixed, non-circulating volume of water and extract hydroxy gas from the water as if it were generated by the electric current. In this implementation, an electric current can be applied to a fixed volume of water, causing the water itself to steam, along with the resulting hydroxy gas. These systems consume a significant amount of energy to produce the hydroxy gas, as at least a portion of the electric current applied to the water is used to heat the water and convert it to steam, rather than to produce the hydroxy gas itself. For example, current hydroxy gas generators may require 350 W or more of current to produce 5 L / min or less of hydroxy gas. Consequently, there is a need to produce hydroxy gas in a way that requires less energy overall. Furthermore, the use of hydroxy gas can be beneficial in an agricultural setting. For example, adding hydrogen gas to agricultural water supplies has been shown to improve seed germination, seedling growth, root elongation, and crop freshness. Additionally, adding oxygen gas can further enhance agricultural outcomes by increasing the oxygen available to crops through the soil. Therefore, adding hydroxy gas, which contains both hydrogen and oxygen gas, to agricultural water supplies can increase crop yields and improve overall crop quality. However, using current hydroxy gas generators to create hydroxy gas for use in agricultural facilities can be disadvantageous. Specifically, current hydroxy gas generators raise the water temperature so that both the water itself and the produced hydroxy gas are at much higher temperatures (e.g., 150°F [65.55°C] or higher). To prevent crop damage, agricultural water supplies may need to be significantly cooler (e.g., 80°F [26.66°C] or lower). Consequently, current hydroxy gas generation techniques may require the hydroxy gas itself to be cooled considerably before it can be used in an agricultural water supply. Furthermore, many agricultural facilities that could benefit from water supplies containing hydroxy gas may be located in remote areas without convenient or reliable access to an electrical grid.Therefore, hydroxy gas generators installed in these locations will need to rely on alternative energy sources, such as wind turbines and solar panels. In such cases, excessive energy consumption can reduce total hydroxy gas production and / or increase energy requirements to such an extent that installing and maintaining alternative energy sources becomes excessively complicated and / or unsustainable. Therefore, there is a need to generate hydroxy gas in a way that requires less energy. These techniques can reduce the costs of hydroxy gas generation, improve the ability to generate hydroxy gas in remote environments, and improve the compatibility of the generated hydroxy gas with agricultural water supplies. One solution to this problem is to prepare the water from which the hydroxy gas is extracted before applying an electric charge or current. In particular, the water can be prepared by reducing its surface tension and / or magnetically orienting the water molecules so that they align with the applied electric current or charge.Additionally or alternatively, the water structuring device can magnetically orient water molecules using charged spheres. Qbi ;pn / P7n7 / =i / Yi magnetically to create a magnetic field within the water structuring device. Additionally or alternatively, hydroxy gas can be generated using a gas generation chamber configured to continuously flow water through multiple anode-cathode pairs. In particular, the anode-cathode pairs can be designed to allow constant water flow between the anode and cathode. Furthermore, the anode and cathode within the anode-cathode pairs can be designed to resonate harmonically (e.g., electrically) at an operating frequency of the anode-cathode pairs. Figure 1 illustrates a hydroxy gas generator (100) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The hydroxy gas generator (100) can be configured to generate hydroxy gas from a water supply. In particular, the hydroxy gas generator (100) can be configured to generate hydroxy gas more efficiently, thereby reducing the overall energy required. For example, the hydroxy gas generator (100) can be configured to generate hydroxy gas by reducing the surface tension of the water from which the hydroxy gas is generated, magnetically orienting the water molecules, and / or using harmonically tuned anodes and cathodes to apply electric currents to the water. The hydroxy gas generator (100) includes a gas generation chamber (102), a water structuring device (104), and a gas isolation system (106). As explained later, the water structuring device (104) can be configured to receive water from the gas generation chamber. In particular, the water structuring device (104) can be configured to reduce the surface tension of the received water using multiple spheres contained within the device. The spheres can create small vortices in the water as it flows, which can reduce the water's surface tension. Furthermore, the spheres can create a magnetic field that magnetically orients the water molecules. In certain implementations, the water structuring device (104) can supply the water to a water chiller that cools the water within the device.For example, water can be cooled by the water chiller to a temperature of 70 °F [21.11] or less (for example, 60 °F (15.55 °C) or less, 55 °F (12.77 °C) or less, 50 °F (10 °C) or less). The gas generation chamber (102) can store a water supply used to generate hydroxy gas. The gas generation chamber (102) can also store the water received by the water structuring device (104). Specifically, the gas generation chamber (102) includes multiple anode-cathode pairs (108) (only a subset of which are listed in Figure 1), which can be configured to generate hydroxy gas. In particular, the anode-cathode pairs (108) can apply an electrical charge or current to the water to generate the hydroxy gas. The anode-cathode pairs are arranged at a lower end (114) of the gas generation chamber (102).In particular, the anode-cathode pairs (108) are arranged within a support clamp (110), which can be configured to support the anode-cathode pairs (108) and seal the lower end (114) of the gas generation chamber (102) so that water received at the lower end (114) of the gas generation chamber (102) (e.g., received from the water structuring device (104) and / or the water chiller) flows through the anode-cathode pairs (108). The gas isolation system (106) can be configured to extract hydroxy gas. For example, hydroxy gas can be generated as bubbles (e.g., microbubbles) within the water of the gas generation chamber (102), and these bubbles can create a mist as they leave the water within the gas generation chamber (102). Specifically, the gas isolation system (106) can include fibrous materials configured to separate and extract gas bubbles within the mist (e.g., by agitation). These fibrous materials can be made of metallic compounds, such as titanium and / or steel. In certain implementations, the gas isolation system (106) can include multiple chambers (e.g., four chambers), and the mist received from the gas generation chamber (102) can be passed through each of the multiple chambers to extract the hydroxy gas.For example, the chambers can be filled with increasing densities of fibrous materials, and the nebulization can pass from the chamber with the lowest density of fibrous materials to the chamber with the highest density of fibrous materials. Once extracted from the nebulization process, the hydroxy gas can be prepared for storage. Due to its flammable nature, hydroxy gas can be combined with water or other liquids during storage. For example, hydroxy gas can be combined with water from another source (e.g., a secondary water source) in a water recombination system. The combined water and hydroxy gas (e.g., hydrogen peroxide) can then be directed to a storage tank. In certain implementations, the water can be extracted from the storage tank for use in an agricultural facility. For example, the hydrogen peroxide from the storage tank can be extracted and used to irrigate one or more crops. It should also be noted that hydroxy gas, and any liquid containing hydroxy gas, can be stored for future use in other applications. For example, hydroxy gas can be extracted from the liquid and used in industrial applications, such as fuel (e.g., in generators for boiling water). In other implementations, hydroxy gas can be used in certain medical applications. For example, hydrogen peroxide and / or water containing hydroxy gas can be used to relieve or treat dry eyes. Furthermore, hydroxy gas can be used (e.g., ignited to form a plasma flame) to treat and dispose of solid waste (e.g., solid biological waste from humans and / or animals). In still other implementations, the production of hydroxy gas can result in high concentrations of hydrogen in water (e.g., within anode-cathode pairs).Under such conditions, certain types of hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria (e.g., Knallgas bacteria) thrive in regions of the hydroxy gas generator (100) that experience high hydrogen concentrations. Consequently, the hydroxy gas generator (100) can be used similarly to produce hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria. For example, the water contained within the gas generation chamber can harbor hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria, and this water can be extracted to collect and utilize the bacteria. Figure 2 illustrates views (200, 220) of the water structuring device (104) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The water structuring device (104) includes Qbi ;pn / P7n7 / =i / Yi has an inlet (202) and an outlet (204). Water can be received at the inlet (202) (for example, from the gas generation chamber) and can flow along direction (210). Water can exit the water structuring device (104) at the outlet (204) (for example, to continue to a water cooler and / or anode-cathode pairs (114) in the gas generation chamber (102)). The water structuring device (104) also includes an outer casing (206), which can contain the water as it flows from the inlet (202) to the outlet (204). In certain implementations, the outer casing (206) of the water structuring device (104) can have a length of 8 inches (20.32 cm) and an inside diameter of 2 inches (5.08 cm).It should be noted that, in other implementations (e.g., implementations to produce more hydroxy gas or less hydroxy gas), the dimensions of the water structuring device (104) may differ. Between the inlet (202) and the outlet (204), the water structuring device (104) includes multiple rings (208A-C) (of which only a subset is numbered for clarity), which are center-aligned along a water flow direction (210) through the water structuring device (104). Each of the rings (208A-C) includes multiple spheres. For example, as shown in view (220), ring (208A) includes seven spheres (222A-G) arranged around a solid rod (224), which can pass through the center of the water structuring device (104). The solid rod (224) can be made of any solid material, such as glass, plastic (e.g., Delrin® plastic), metal, and the like. Each of the rings (208A-C) can similarly include seven spheres. As depicted, the water structuring device (104) includes 11 rings (208AC).Each of the rings (208A-C) is aligned such that the spheres of one ring (208A) align with the spheres of another ring (208B). In additional or alternative implementations, the rings (208A-C) may be staggered so that the spheres of one ring (208A) align with the spheres of another ring (208B). The rings (208A-C) and spheres (222A-G) can be arranged as described above to agitate the water flow through the water structuring device (104). In particular, the rings (208A-C) and spheres (222A-G) can create vortices within the water as it flows through the water structuring device (104), which can reduce the water's surface tension. Reducing the water's surface tension in this way can be beneficial within the gas generation chamber (102). Specifically, water with lower surface tension can increase the likelihood that the hydroxy gas generated within the water will be produced as microbubbles (e.g., bubbles less than or equal to 2 mm, bubbles less than or equal to 1 mm, bubbles less than or equal to 0.5 mm). In certain implementations, (222A-G) spheres can have a diameter of 0.25 inches (0.635 cm) to 1.5 inches (3.81 cm) (e.g., 0.5 inches (1.27 cm)), although other implementations are possible. Additionally, (222A-G) spheres can be magnetically charged. For example, (222A-G) spheres can be created from a magnetic material, such as a rare-earth magnetic material (e.g., neodymium) and similar materials. In certain implementations, (222A-G) spheres can have a magnetic field of 0.5 to 2 Teslas or more (e.g., at least 1.0 Tesla Gauss [one Gauss is equivalent to 10⁻⁴ Teslas]). In certain cases, (222A-G) spheres can be gold-plated. Magnetically charged spheres (222A-G) can be combined to produce a magnetic field within the water structuring device (104). In particular, the magnetic field produced by the spheres (222A-G) can serve to magnetically orient water molecules as the water passes through the water structuring device (104). For example, the magnetic fields of the spheres (222A-G) can be aligned or configured to align the water molecules with the charge of the anode-cathode pairs (108) within the gas generation chamber. As a specific example, the magnetic fields of the spheres (222A-G) can be aligned perpendicular to the direction of the water (210) flowing through the water structuring device (104). Orienting the water molecules in this way can enhance the overall generation of hydroxyl gas from water.In particular, when the water molecules are already aligned with the electric field in the anode-cathode pairs (108), less energy can be consumed reorienting the molecules, and more energy can instead be used to separate the molecules within the water, thereby generating hydroxy gas. In this way, the magnetically charged spheres (222A-G) can reduce the total energy consumed by the hydroxy gas generator (100). In the preceding examples, the water structuring device is described as including 11 rings (208A-C), each containing seven spheres (222A-G). However, it should be understood that additional or alternative implementations may differ from those described above and represented in Figure 2. For example, additional or alternative implementations may include more rings (e.g., 15 rings, 20 rings) or fewer rings (e.g., five rings or 10 rings). As another example, certain implementations may include fewer spheres in each ring (e.g., four spheres, six spheres) or more spheres in each ring (e.g., eight spheres, 10 spheres). Furthermore, certain implementations may include a different number of spheres in each ring. For example, half of the rings may contain five spheres and the other half eight spheres.All these implementations are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. Figure 3 illustrates views (300A-B) of the gas generation chamber (102) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In particular, Figure 3 illustrates a side view (300A) and a perspective view (300B) of the gas generation chamber (102). The gas generation chamber (102) includes an outer casing (306), an inlet (302), and an outlet (304) at one end of the outer casing (306). The inlet (302) can be used to fill the gas generation chamber (102) (e.g., a portion of the gas generation chamber's water supply) with water to be used for generating hydroxy gas. For example, the gas generation chamber (102) can be emptied and refilled with water on a regular basis (e.g., monthly, every three months, every six months). The generated hydroxy gas can be extracted through outlet (304) (e.g., it can be extracted in the form of nebulization).As explained above, the gas generation chamber (102) also includes a support clamp (110) at a lower end (114) of the gas generation chamber (102) (e.g., at a lower end (114) of the gas chamber (102) opposite the outer casing (306) from the inlet (302) and outlet (304)). The support clamp (110) includes multiple anode-cathode pairs (310A-E), which may be the same as the anode-cathode pairs (108) discussed earlier in relation to Figure 1. As explained later, the anode-cathode pairs (310A-E) can be configured to generate hydroxy gas from water by applying an electric charge or current to the water. In particular, the gas generation chamber (102) can be configured to continuously flow water through the anode-cathode pairs (310A-E) in the direction (316).Specifically, the gas generation chamber (102) includes an inlet (311) at its lower end (114) and can receive water continuously through the inlet (311). The water received through the inlet (311) can flow continuously through the anode-cathode pairs (310A-E). Additionally, the gas generation chamber (102) includes an outlet (308) at its lower end (114). The outlet (308) can be configured to receive water from the water supply portion of the gas generation chamber (102). The water received through the outlet (308) can be supplied to the water structuring device (104). In certain implementations, the outer casing (306) of the gas generation chamber (102) may have a length of 14 inches (35.66 cm) and an inner diameter of 4 inches (10.16 cm). It should be understood that other implementations of the gas generation chamber (102) may have different dimensions. For example, larger gas generation chambers (102) may be used to increase the amount of water stored in the water supply portion and / or to increase the number of anode-cathode pairs used to generate hydroxy gas. As another example, smaller gas generation chambers (102) may be used to reduce the overall size of the hydroxy gas generators (100) (for example, when less hydroxy gas production is required). Figure 4 illustrates views (400A-C) of an anode-cathode pair (450) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In particular, Figure 4 illustrates a side view (400A) of the anode-cathode pair (450) when disassembled, a perspective view (400B) of the anode-cathode pair (450) when disassembled, and a side view (400C) of the anode-cathode pair (450) when assembled. The anode-cathode pair (450) includes a plug (402), a cathode (404), and an anode (406). The cathode (404) and anode (406) extend from an inlet end of the anode-cathode pair (450) to an outlet end of the anode-cathode pair (450) along a flow direction for water through the anode-cathode pair (450). Furthermore, the anode (406) is located radially outside the cathode (404) and forms the exterior of the anode-cathode pair (450), as shown.When in operation, the anode (406) can be negatively charged and the cathode (404) can be positively charged. Specifically, the anode (406) and cathode (404) can be powered and charged to operate at a predetermined frequency. For example, in certain implementations, the predetermined frequency can be 200 to 400 Hz (e.g., 300 Hz). Additionally or alternatively, the anode-cathode pair (450) can be controlled to operate at a predetermined voltage (e.g., a predetermined voltage of 35 to 55 V, such as 48 V). The anode-cathode pair (450) can also be controlled to operate at a desired current, such as 5 to 10 A (e.g., 7 A). Furthermore, in certain implementations, the anode (406) and cathode (404) can be tuned to harmonically match each other. In particular, the anode (406) and cathode (404) can be harmonically tuned to have an electrical resonant frequency at the operating frequency (e.g., 300 Hz). To harmonically tune the anode (406) and cathode (404), the impedance (i.e., resistance, capacitance, and / or inductance) of the anode (406) and cathode (404) can be adjusted by varying one or more dimensions of the anode (406) and cathode (404). For example, one or more of the length, diameter, and / or thickness parameters of the anode (406) and cathode (404) can be selected to achieve the desired harmonic resonant frequency. In certain preferred implementations, the anode (406) may have a length of 1.5 to 2 inches (in) (3.81 to 5.08 cm) (e.g., 1.8 in (4.572 cm)), a maximum diameter of 0.5 to 1 in (1.27 to 2.54 cm) (e.g., 0.75 in (1.905cm)), and a thickness of 0.1 to 0.2 in (0.254 to 0.508 cm) (for example, 0.17 in (0.4318 cm)). The cathode (404) can have a length of 1.75 to 2.25 inches (4.44 cm to 5.71 cm) (for example, 1.9 inches (4.826)), a maximum diameter of 0.25 to 0.75 inches (0.635 to 1.905 cm) (for example, 0.5 inches (1.27 cm)) and a thickness of 0.1 to 0.2 inches (0.254 cm to 0.508 cm) (for example, 0.14 inches (0.355 cm)). Furthermore, the material used to construct the anode (406) and cathode (404) can be selected to achieve the desired impedance. In particular, in certain implementations, the anode (406) and cathode (404) can be constructed from stainless steel, titanium, and similar materials. In preferred implementations, the anode (406) and cathode (404) can be electropolished. For example, the anode (406) and cathode (404) can be made of electropolished stainless steel.It should also be noted that, in certain implementations, the anode (406) and cathode (404) can be made of the same material, as in the previous examples. However, in additional or alternative implementations, the anode (406) can be made of a different material than the cathode (404). The plug (402) can be placed on top of the anode-cathode pair (450). Specifically, the plug (402) can be secured inside the cathode (404). The plug (402) can be positioned to direct the water flow evenly as it exits the anode-cathode pair (450). As shown, the plug (402) has a nozzle-like design. In particular, the plug (402) is cone-shaped with a solid tip and vertical fins evenly spaced at an angle around the solid tip. This design can ensure that the water flows evenly and continuously out of the anode-cathode pair (450). The anode (406) also includes aeration holes (412A-C). The aeration holes may be located at a lower end of the anode (406). In particular, the aeration holes (412A-C) may be positioned so that water received from the water structuring device (104) passes to the anode-cathode pair (450) (e.g., between the anode (406) and the cathode (404)) through the aeration holes (412A-C). In particular, by allowing the water to flow smoothly, the aeration holes (412A-C) can reduce the temperature of the water as it enters the anode-cathode pair (450). The ventilation holes (412A-C) can have a height of 0.1 to 0.2 inches (0.254 to 0.508 cm) (e.g., 0.2 inches (0.508 cm)) and a width of 0.1 to 0.2 inches (0.254 to 0.508 cm) (e.g., 0.13 inches (0.3302 cm)).Furthermore, as hydroxy gas is generated within the anode-cathode pair (450), hydroxy gas bubbles can accumulate on the anode (406) (e.g., on an internal surface of the anode (406)) and the cathode (404) (e.g., on an external surface of the cathode (404)). A continuous flow of water through the anode-cathode pair (450), enabled by the plug (402) and the aeration holes (412AC), allows the continuous flow of water to dislodge the hydroxy gas bubbles that accumulate on the anode (406) and cathode (404). Removing bubbles in this way can improve hydroxy gas yield and / or reduce the amount of energy needed to produce it, since new hydroxy gas bubbles can form faster along the anode (406) and cathode (404) as the continuous flow of water removes the bubbles. In earlier systems, hydroxy gas bubbles could have been detached from the anode-cathode pairs using pulse-width modulation (PWM) current signals. Specifically, PWM signals could have been applied to the anode-cathode pairs, causing the hydroxy gas bubbles to detach. Furthermore, earlier hydroxy gas generators, configured to produce hydroxy gas for industrial applications, may have focused primarily on increasing the hydroxy gas density. Consequently, such systems would have avoided continuous water flow, which would dilute the overall hydroxy gas density within the water.However, since the hydroxy gas generator (100) can produce hydroxy gas for use in agricultural facilities or other remote locations with limited energy availability, the dilution of the hydroxy gas in water may be less of a concern. Therefore, continuous flow water can be advantageously used in the hydroxy gas generator (100) to reduce the total energy required to produce the hydroxy gas. At the lower end of the anode-cathode pair (450) there is a gasket (408) and a nut (410). The gasket (408) can be placed on a lower end (414) of the anode (406) to direct the flow of water from the water structuring device (104) through the aeration holes (412A-C). In certain implementations, the lower end (414) of the anode (406) may be threaded (e.g., on an outer surface of the lower end (414)). In such implementations, the nut (410) may be similarly threaded (e.g., on an inner surface) and can be attached to the anode-cathode pair (450) by joining the nut (410) to the threaded portion. In particular, the nut (410) can be tightened to secure the gasket (408) to the cathode (404), thereby sealing the anode-cathode pair (450) as discussed earlier. In certain implementations, the nut (410) may contain a wire insert.In particular, the cable insert can be connected to a control system for the hydroxy gas generator (100). In such cases, the cable insert can receive electrical current from the control system, which can be used to charge the anode (406) and / or the cathode (404) to operate the anode-cathode pair (450) to generate hydroxy gas, as discussed previously (e.g., at the predetermined voltage, current, and / or frequency). Such implementations can simplify the construction of the anode-cathode pair (450), reducing the total number of parts and potential points of failure for the anode-cathode pair (450). Consequently, such implementations can result in a more reliable and less fault-prone anode-cathode pair (450). Figure 5 illustrates a method (500) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method (500) can be implemented to generate hydroxy gas. For example, all or part of the method (500) can be carried out using the hydroxy gas generator (100) to generate gas Qbi ;pn / P7n7 / =i / Yi hydroxy. Although the examples discussed below are described with reference to the flow diagram illustrated in Figure 5, many other methods can be used to perform the actions associated with Figure 5. For example, the order of some of the blocks can be changed, certain blocks can be combined with others, one or more of the blocks can be repeated, and some of the blocks described can be optional. The method (500) can begin with the receipt of water at a water inlet (block 502). For example, the hydroxy gas generator (100) can receive water at a water inlet. In certain implementations, the water can be received at a water structuring device (104), for example, from the water supply portion of a gas generation chamber (102). In certain implementations, the water can be filtered or otherwise prepared at the water inlet. For example, before being received at the water chiller, the water can flow through a filter to remove debris, deposits, or other compounds. A water-structuring device can be used to structure water (block 504). For example, the water-structuring device (104) can structure water to reduce its surface tension and / or to magnetically orient the water molecules. As explained above, the water-structuring device (104) can include spheres (222A-G) arranged (e.g., in rings (208A-C)) to agitate the water flow through the device. Agitating the water flow in this way can reduce the overall surface tension of the water. In particular, the water-structuring device (104) can be configured to reduce the surface tension of the water by at least 10 to 40% (e.g., preferably by 20% or more, and more preferably by 25% or more). Water with reduced surface tension can have weaker bonds between the water molecules.Consequently, generating hydroxy gas using water with lower surface tension can be more energy-efficient, as less energy is required to break the bonds between water molecules. Furthermore, water with lower surface tension may be more prone to generating hydroxy gas in the form of microbubbles, which can be advantageous because microbubbles are easier to extract from the water within the gas generation chamber and may leave the water with less moisture (e.g., less misting) than larger hydroxy gas bubbles. This can improve the overall hydroxy gas yield, as less hydroxy gas is lost during subsequent processing (e.g., within the gas isolation system (106)). Additionally, the spheres (222A-G) can be magnetically charged and, in combination, can generate a magnetic field within the water structuring device (104).The magnetic field can orient water molecules as they pass through the water-structuring device (104). As explained earlier, orienting water molecules in this way can reduce the total energy required to generate hydroxyl gas within the anode-cathode pairs (108), (310A-E), (450). Water can pass through a gas generation chamber (102) to generate hydroxy gas (block 506). Specifically, the gas generation chamber (102) can contain anode-cathode pairs (108), (310A-E), (450), which can be configured to apply an electrical charge or current to a continuous flow of water from the water structuring device (104) as the water passes through the anode-cathode pairs (108), (310A-E), (450). The electrical charge can separate water molecules to form hydroxy gas (e.g., bubbles or microbubbles of hydroxy gas) within the water, between the anode (406) and cathode (404) of the anode-cathode pairs (108), (310A-E), (450). Additionally, the gas generation chamber (102) can be configured to allow continuous flow of water through the anode-cathode pairs (108), (310A-E), (450).In particular, the gas generation chamber may include an outlet (308) and an inlet (311) used to recirculate water from a portion of the gas generation chamber's water supply (102), through the water structuring device (104), and into the anode-cathode pairs (108), (310A-E), (450). Furthermore, to facilitate continuous water flow through the gas generation chamber (102), the anode-cathode pairs (108), (310A-E), (450) may contain aeration holes (412A-C), as previously explained. Hydroxy gas can be extracted using a gas isolation system (block 508). For example, hydroxy gas can be extracted from the outlet (304) as a mist rising from the water surface within the gas generation chamber (102). Inside the gas isolation system (106), the mist can flow through one or more chambers of fibrous material configured to separate the hydroxy gas from the moisture within the mist. Once extracted, the hydroxy gas can be combined with another liquid in a water recombination system and stored for future use. Alternatively, the hydroxy gas can be combined with an agricultural water supply and used in an agricultural facility (e.g., for crop irrigation). In particular, the hydroxy gas can be combined with a secondary water supply to generate oxygenated and hydrogenated water.Hydrogenated and hydrogenated water can be used in the agricultural facility or can be used for another application, such as a medical application (e.g., in the treatment of dry eyes), or in any other application described herein. Implementing method (500) can enable more efficient hydroxy gas generation. In particular, generating hydroxy gas using method (500) can reduce the total energy required to produce the gas. For example, the hydroxy gas generator (100) can generate 12 L / min of hydroxy gas when operating at 350 W, compared to 5 L / min for existing systems. This improved performance can reduce the total energy required to produce hydroxy gas, enabling its generation in remote locations (e.g., remote agricultural sites). Consequently, these techniques can allow the hydroxy gas generators (100) to be powered by alternative energy sources, such as solar panels and wind turbines. Furthermore, because less energy may be required to produce hydroxy gas according to method (500), these techniques can reduce the overall cost of hydroxy gas generation. Figure 6 illustrates a system (600) for generating hydroxy gas, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The system (600) may be an exemplary implementation of the hydroxy gas generator (100). For example, the system (600) as illustrated in Figure 6 may be a conceptual view of the hydroxy gas generator (100) and its related components, separated to better illustrate the flow of hydroxy gas and water through the hydroxy gas generator (100). The system (600) includes a gas generation chamber (612), a water structuring device (610), a gas isolation system (620), and a gas storage tank (636).The gas generation chamber (612) can be an exemplary implementation of the gas generation chamber (102), the water structuring device (610) can be an exemplary implementation of the water structuring device (104), and the gas isolation system (620) can be an exemplary implementation of the gas isolation system (106). The gas generation chamber (612) stores water (602), which can be received at the inlet (616) of the gas generation chamber (612) (which may be an exemplary implementation of inlet (302)). The water (602) can circulate through the anode-cathode pairs (642) located at the bottom of the gas generation chamber (612). For example, water can be drawn from the outlet (604) located above the anode-cathode pairs (642) (which may be an exemplary implementation of outlet (308)), and can be pumped by the pump (608) to the inlet (606) located below the anode-cathode pairs (642) (which may be an exemplary implementation of inlet (311)). In particular, the water (602) circulating between the outlet (604) and the inlet (606) can be pumped through the water structuring device (610) (e.g., to reduce surface tension and / or to magnetically orient the water molecules).After exiting the inlet (606), the water (602) can pass through the anode-cathode pairs (642), generating hydroxyl gas as previously discussed. In certain implementations, a chiller can be used to cool the water (602) before it passes through the anode-cathode pairs. In such implementations, the chiller can be located between the inlet (606) and the intercathode pairs (642). The intercathode pairs (642) can be powered by a power supply system (614) (e.g., a battery). Hydroxide gas can be generated as microbubbles within the water (602) as the water (602) passes through the anode-cathode pairs (642). Once generated, the hydroxy gas can float to the top of the gas generation chamber (612), where it can be extracted through the outlet (618). When extracted, the hydroxy gas may contain excess moisture (e.g., mist from the water (602) created when the hydroxy gas bubbles leave the water (602)). Consequently, the hydroxy gas can be passed through the gas isolation chamber (620), which removes the excess moisture, as discussed previously. Hydroxy gas can then exit from an outlet (624) of the gas isolation chamber (620) and enter an inlet pipe (634) of an aerator (630) (e.g., a water recombination system).The aerator (632) can be connected to the storage tank (636), which can store water (628) containing hydroxy gas (e.g., hydrogenated and oxygenated water). The hydroxy gas generated within the gas generation chamber (612) can be combined with the water (628) for safe storage of the hydroxy gas. In particular, the aerator (630) can be configured to mix the water (628) from the storage tank (636) with the hydroxy gas received at the inlet pipe (634). For example, the aerator (630) can be a Venturi aerator configured to receive hydroxy gas from the inlet pipe (634) at an inlet (632) and to receive water (628) at the inlet (652). For example, the pump (626) can wait for water from an outlet (644) of the storage tank (636) and can pump the water (628) through the aerator (630) and into the inlet (646) of the storage tank (636).The water (628) can be mixed by the aerator (630) with the hydroxy gas received at the inlet (632), thus allowing the hydroxy gas to be safely stored within the water (628) of the storage tank (636). For example, in certain implementations, the hydroxy gas can be stored within the water (628) at a concentration of 30 ppm or more (for example, it can preferably be stored at 50 ppm). Hydroxy gas and / or water (628) can be extracted from the storage tank (636) for later use. For example, water (628) containing hydroxy gas (e.g., hydrogenated and oxygenated water) can be extracted from outlet (650) of the storage tank (636) (or from an outlet located elsewhere in the storage tank (636)) for later use (e.g., in an agricultural facility or a medical application). Alternatively, hydroxy gas can be extracted from outlet (648) for use in an industrial application. For example, as depicted, hydroxy gas can be extracted for use in generating a plasma flame (640) after passing through a flashback suppressor (638). Alternatively, hydroxy gas can be used as fuel for industrial applications (e.g., to power a generator). All the methods and procedures described in the present invention can be implemented using one or more computer programs or components. These components can be provided as a series of computer instructions on any conventional computer-readable or machine-readable medium, including volatile and non-volatile memories such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, magnetic or optical disks, optical memory, or other storage media. The instructions can be provided as software or firmware and can be implemented wholly or partially on hardware components such as ASIO (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit), FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), DSP (Digital Signal Processor), or any other similar device.Instructions can be configured to be executed by one or more processors, which, by executing the series of computer instructions, perform or facilitate the execution of all or part of the disclosed methods and procedures. It should be understood that several changes and modifications to the examples described herein will be evident to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter herein and without diminishing its intended advantages. Therefore, it is intended that these changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A hydroxy gas generator, comprising: a gas generation chamber containing water; a plurality of anode-cathode pairs within the gas generation chamber configured to generate hydroxy gas using a continuous flow water supply; a water structuring device configured to (i) reduce the surface tension of the continuous flow water supply and (ii) magnetically orient the molecules of the continuous flow water supply; and a gas isolation system for extracting the hydroxy gas from the gas generation chamber.

2. The hydroxy gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the water structuring device reduces the surface tension of the continuous flow water supply by causing the water to flow through a plurality of spheres.

3. The hydroxy gas generator according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of spheres reduces the surface tension of the continuous flow water supply by creating vortices within the continuous flow water supply.

4. The hydroxy gas generator according to claim 2, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of spheres has a diameter of at least 0.4 inches (1.016 cm).

5. The hydroxy gas generator according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of spheres creates magnetic fields that magnetically orient the water molecules.

6. The hydroxy gas generator according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of spheres are charged with a magnetic field of at least 1 Tesla.

7. The hydroxy gas generator according to claim 2, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of spheres is gold plated.

8. The hydroxy gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the surface tension of the continuous flow water supply is reduced by at least 20%.

9. The hydroxy gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the gas generation chamber includes at least 7 anode-cathode pairs.

10. The hydroxy gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of anode-cathode pairs are harmonically tuned to have an electrical resonance frequency at a predetermined frequency.

11. The hydroxy gas generator according to claim 10, wherein the predetermined frequency is between 200 and 400 Hz.

12. The hydroxy gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of anode-cathode pairs operate at a predetermined voltage of 30 to 60 V.

13. The hydroxy gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of anode-cathode pairs have nozzle-shaped plugs.

14. The hydroxy gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the anodes of the plurality of anode-cathode pairs include aeration holes where the continuous flow water supply is received.

15. The hydroxy gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the hydroxy gas is generated in the form of microbubbles within the water.

16. The hydroxy gas generator according to claim 1, further comprising a water cooler for reducing the temperature of the continuous flow water supply.

17. The hydroxy gas generator according to claim 16, wherein the water chiller reduces the temperature of the continuous flow water supply to 65 °F (18.33 °C) or less.

18. The hydroxy gas generator according to claim 16, wherein the continuous flow water supply passes through the water cooler before entering the anode-cathode pairs.

19. The hydroxy gas generator according to claim 1, further comprising a water recombination system for combining the hydroxy gas with a secondary water supply to generate an oxygenated and hydrogenated water.

20. The hydroxy gas generator according to claim 19, wherein the oxygenated and hydrogenated water is applied to an agricultural installation.

21. A method comprising: structuring a continuous flow water supply using a water structuring device to (i) reduce the surface tension of the continuous flow water supply and (ii) magnetically orient the molecules of the continuous flow water supply; passing the continuous flow water supply through a plurality of anode-cathode pairs to generate hydroxy gas; and extracting the hydroxy gas by means of a gas isolation system.

22. A water structuring device for use in a hydroxy gas generator, the water structuring device comprising: an inlet for receiving a continuous flow water supply; an outlet for providing the continuous flow water supply to a plurality of anode-cathode pairs; and a plurality of magnetically charged spheres, arranged within a plurality of center-aligned rings along a flow direction of the continuous flow water supply from the inlet to the outlet, wherein the plurality of center-aligned rings includes at least 7 center-aligned rings and wherein each of at least a subset of the center-aligned rings includes at least 7 magnetically charged spheres.

23. An anode-cathode pair for use in a hydroxy gas generator, the anode-cathode pair comprising: an inlet end for receiving water; an outlet end for providing water containing hydroxy gas; a cathode extending from the inlet end to the outlet end; an anode located radially outside the cathode and extending from the inlet end to the outlet end, wherein the anode includes a plurality of aeration holes near the inlet end; and a nozzle-shaped plug located at the outlet end wherein the anode and cathode are harmonically tuned to have an electrical resonance frequency at a predetermined frequency.

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