Hydrogen production system and method of operation of same

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, there is a hydrogen production system configured to produce a hydrogen-based fuel and a method of operation of same. In at least one embodiment, the system including a vortex chamber, a processing chamber, a disk-pack turbine having two stages inside the processing chamber, a discharge port(s) from the processing chamber, and a drive system. In a further embodiment, the system further including a halo manifold for feeding the vortex chamber. As the processed water progresses through the production system one or more times, it becomes the desired hydrogen-based fuel.

Description

HYDROGEN PRODUCTION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION OF SAME

[0001] This application claims the benefit and priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 63 / 664,160, filed on June 25, 2025, which is hereby incorporated by reference.I. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates in at least one embodiment to a system for producing a hydrogen-based fuel and method of operation of same. In at least one embodiment, the system may be used as part of a production plant.II. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In at least one embodiment, a method for producing a hydrogen-based fuel using a processing system, the method including: processing fluid in or from an external tank or a processing tank including: delivering fluid from the external tank or the processing tank under pressure into a vortex chamber, rotating a processing disk-pack turbine in the processing chamber, creating a vortex in the vortex chamber from the rotation of the disk-pack turbine and / or pumping fluid into the vortex chamber to move fluid into an expansion chamber of the disk-pack turbine, channeling the fluid between disks of a first stage of the disk-pack turbine to travel from the expansion chamber to a periphery of the disks and into a processing chamber, drawing the fluid into a second stage of the disk-pack turbine through an axial center opening of the second stage disk(s) or plate(s), channeling the fluid from the axial center opening to the periphery of the second stage disk(s) for return to the processing chamber, and discharging the fluid from the processing system into the processing tank, a storage tank, and / or the vortex chamber.

[0004] In a further method embodiment, the method substantially performs all of the steps when the disk-pack turbine is rotating. In a further method embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, further including adjusting a speed of rotation of the disk-pack turbine during operation. In a further method embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, discharging the fluid from the processing chamber includes flowing the fluid to a storage tank or the processing tank before drawing the processed fluid back into the processing system or pumping the fluid to a storage tank as a hydrogen-based fuel for later use. In a further method embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the fluid is determined to be the hydrogen-based fuel when an analysis equipmentdetects a level of at least hydrogen being above a predetermined concentration threshold. In a further method embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the method further including: at predetermined times removing the fluid being processed from the processing tank, and replenishing the fluid in the processing tank from the external tank. In a further method embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the predetermined time is when an analysis equipment detects a level of at least hydrogen being above a predetermined concentration threshold.

[0005] In at least one embodiment, a production system including: an optional manifold configured to be selectively in fluid communication with an external tank; a vortex housing having a vortex chamber in fluid communication with the optional manifold or selectively in fluid communication with the external tank; a processing chamber, the processing chamber including at least one discharge port in fluid communication optionally through a valve with the external tank or another tank; a disk-pack turbine in the processing chamber and in fluid communication with the vortex chamber through a passageway, the disk-pack turbine having at least two stages of disks, optionally the first stage includes two pairs of mated waveform disks stacked together and optionally the second stage includes two separate pump sections having a spiral pattern disk covered by a plate, operationally the disks in the first stage having different waveform patterns from the disks in the second stage; and a drive system such as a motor connected directly or indirectly to the first stage of the disk-pack turbine, and wherein a fluid pathway exists from the vortex chamber through the first stage of the disk-pack turbine into the processing chamber into the second stage of the disk-pack turbine back into the processing chamber and then out the discharge port.

[0006] In a further embodiment, the system including a controller electrically connected to at least one valve configured to control a flow of fluid and fluid in and out of the production system, and the drive system for control of a rotation velocity of the disk-pack turbine. In a further embodiment to any of the previous system embodiments, the system including an analysis equipment configured for mass spectrum, process gas mass spectroscopy, and / or gas chromatograph analysis of the fluid during processing. In a further embodiment to any of the previous system embodiments, drive system includes a motor and a driveshaft connecting the motor to the disk-pack turbine, and optionally the driveshaft passes through a bottom plate of theprocessing chamber. In a further embodiment to any of the previous system embodiments, the diskpack turbine includes a first disk having an axially centered opening passing therethrough, and a second disk; and wherein each of the first disk and the second disk includes a set of waveforms and a plurality of vanes having channels and ridges where the set of waveforms and the plurality of vanes are centered about the opening of the first disk. In a further embodiment, the disk-pack turbine includes a first rotor attached to the first disk and having an axially centered opening passing therethrough, a second rotor attached to the second disk and having a feature to form a bottom of the expansion chamber. In a further embodiment to any of the previous system embodiments, the first and second disks are part of the first stage of the disk-pack turbine.

[0007] In a further embodiment to any of the previous none disk-pack system embodiments, the disk-pack turbine includes a first disk having an axially centered opening passing therethrough, a second disk, and at least one middle disk; and wherein each of the first disk, the second disk, and the at least one middle disk includes a set of waveforms and a plurality of vanes having channels and ridges where the set of waveforms and the plurality of vanes are centered about the opening of the first disk. In a further embodiment to any of the previous system embodiments, the disk-pack turbine includes a first rotor attached to the first disk and having an axially centered opening passing therethrough, a second rotor attached to the second disk and having a feature to form a bottom of the expansion chamber. In a further embodiment to any of the previous system embodiments, the first and second disks are part of the first stage of the disk-pack turbine.

[0008] In a further embodiment to any of the previous system embodiments, the second stage of the disk-pack turbine includes at least one disk having waveforms and / or converging / diverging chambers providing a pathway from its axial center to its periphery, the disk having an optional axial center opening or a plate having an axial center opening configured for allowing the fluid to flow therethrough or the second stage of the disk-pack turbine including a rotor attached to a disk having waveforms and / or converging / diverging chambers providing a pathway from its axial center to its periphery, the rotor having an axially centered hole configured for allowing entry of fluid into the chambers defined between the rotor and the disk, the rotor optionally having a non-flat surface facing away from the disk. In a further embodiment, the second stage disk includes a pattern ofarcuate shapes running from proximate to the axial center to near the periphery, and particularly the arcuate shapes overlap with approximately 15%-25% of the periphery and more particularly the arcuate shapes overlap with approximately 20% of the periphery. In a further embodiment, the second stage of the disk-pack turbine including a rotor attached to a disk having waveforms and / or converging / diverging chambers providing a pathway from its axial center to its periphery, the rotor having an axially centered hole configured for allowing entry of fluid into the chambers defined between the rotor and the disk, the rotor optionally having a non-flat surface facing away from the disk.

[0009] In a further embodiment to any of the previous system embodiments, the second stage includes 2 disks having a pattern of arcuate shapes running from proximate to the axial center to near the periphery, wherein the disks mirror each other and are covered by a plate to form enclosed channels, and particularly the arcuate shapes overlap with approximately 15%-25% of the periphery and more particularly the arcuate shapes overlap with approximately 20% of the periphery. In a further embodiment to any of the previous system embodiments, each disk includes at least one surface having waveforms selected from circular, sinusoidal, biaxial, biaxial sinucircular, a series of interconnected scallop shapes, a series of interconnected arcuate forms, hyperbolic, plurality of spirals and / or multi-axial including combinations of these that when rotated provide progressive, disk channels, wherein the waveforms being substantially centered about an expansion chamber at the axial center of the first stage of the disk-pack turbine. In a further embodiment to any of the previous system embodiments, each disk of the first stage and / or the second stage includes at least one surface having waveforms configured to break molecular bonds as the fluid passes over the waveform surface. In a further embodiment to any of the previous system embodiments, the waveforms encircle the axial center of the disk-pack turbine have their amplitude (in the radial direction) and / or the height measured from the neighboring channel vary around the ring and the depth of the neighboring channel optionally varies. In a further embodiment to any of the previous system embodiments, a number of peaks of the waveforms increases from the axial center out towards the periphery of the waveform surface of the disk.

[0010] In a further embodiment to any of the previous system embodiments, the processing chamber includes a top plate, a bottom plate, and a housing with a curved wall. In a further embodiment, the curved wall having an oval or figure eight horizontal cross-section and / or the housing includes a top piece and a bottom piece, optionally the top piece and the bottom piece mirror each other.

[0011] In a further embodiment to any of the previous system embodiments, the system further including a first pump connected to the optional halo manifold or the vortex housing to move fluid from the external tank into the production system, and a second pump connected to a discharge port of the processing chamber to move fluid to the external tank. In a further embodiment to any of the previous system embodiments, a gap between mated disks and / or the second stage disk and plate varies along any radius.

[0012] In a further embodiment to any of the previous system embodiments, a halo manifold according to any embodiment described in the specification and / or illustrated in the figures.III. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013] The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. The use of cross-hatching and shading within the drawings is not intended as limiting the type of materials that may be used to manufacture the invention.

[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a processing system for the processing stage according to at least one embodiment.

[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a processing system for the processing stage according to at least one embodiment.

[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a processing system for the processing stage according to at least one embodiment.

[0017] FIGs. 4A-8B illustrate different processing systems according to multiple embodiments.

[0018] FIGs. 9A-9C illustrate a vortex housing according to at least one embodiment.

[0019] FIG. 10 illustrates an example of processing disk-pack turbine according to at least one embodiment.

[0020] FIGs. 11A-1 1 B illustrate a disk-pack turbine according to at least one embodiment.

[0021] FIGs. 12A-12C illustrate a first stage of a disk-pack turbine according to at least one embodiment.

[0022] FIGs. 13A-13E illustrate waveform disks.

[0023] FIGs. 14A-14I illustrate disks for use in a disk-pack turbine according to at least one embodiment.

[0024] FIGs. 15A-15C illustrate waveform disks.

[0025] FIG. 16 illustrates a top plate for a processing chamber according to at least one embodiment.IV. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0026] According to at least one embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIGs. 1-3, a production system 100 for production of a hydrogen-based fuel includes an optional manifold 140, a vortex housing 120 with a vortex chamber, a disk-pack turbine 140 inside of a processing chamber 130, and a drive system 150. Variants of the core processing system include a processing tank 170 (FIGs. 2 and 3) and / or a source tank 180 (FIG. 3) as part of a processing cycle (as oppose to an optional internal cycling of a fluid between the processing components as illustrated in FIG. 1). Although not shown in the figures, there are one or more pumps and / or one or more valves in the processing system to move the fluid into and out of the production system. As the fluid is pumped into the production system 100 and is processed through the production system 100, the fluid will begin to transform into the hydrogen-based fuel while retaining its current state (e.g., liquid). The production process continues until particular conditions are met for the fluid, for example a level of hydrogen present in the fluid.

[0027] In at least one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGs. 4A-7B, the production system 100A- 10OEincludes a plurality of inlets 124 into a vortex chamber 122 that is in fluid communication with a disk-pack turbine 140 (as illustrated in FIG. 9C) residing inside the processing chamber 130-130E to facilitate a circulation through different areas of the disk-pack turbine 140. For illustration purposes in at least one embodiment, the vortex chamber 122 may hold approximately 10 gallons of fluid. The processing chamber 130-130E will have outlets 135 (or discharge ports) to facilitatefluid flow to a processing tank(s) 170 and / or a post-processing storage tank(s) (not shown) depending on the configuration used. In a further embodiment, after particular conditions are reached within the fluid being processed, automated valves switch from routing the fluid to the processing tank(s) 170 to the post-processing storage tank(s) or, alternatively, in a batch configuration, the processed fluid is moved from the processing tank(s) 170 to the storage tank(s). The production system 100 in at least one embodiment includes one or more processing tanks that may also function as part of the circulatory flow of fluid in and out of the production system.

[0028] The inlets 124 into the vortex chamber 122 may be fed by a halo manifold 110 with one or more manifold levels as oppose to a direct connection with the source tank 180 or the processing tank 170. FIGs. 4A-8B illustrate an example of a halo manifold 110 with three levels 1 12, 1 14, 1 16, which in at least one embodiment are independent from each other in terms of fluid passing through them. When multiple manifold levels 112, 1 14, 1 16 are present, the different manifold levels 1 12, 1 14, 1 16 may feed different vertical levels in the vortex chamber 122. Use of different manifold levels 112, 1 14, 1 16 will allow for additional fluids to be added to the mixture being processed and / or different levels of processed fluid to be mixed continually as part of the process. When different levels of processed fluid are mixed, then the production system 100-100E may include a control system to pump part of the fluid leaving the processing chamber 130-130E to different processing tanks 170 or returned to the halo manifold / vortex chamber while the process runs. In an alternative embodiment, adjustment of the valves for routing the fluid from the processing chamber 130-130E is done manually.

[0029] The halo manifold 1 10 in at least one embodiment includes a ring having one or more intakes and multiple outlets. The at least one intake and the multiple outlets would be configured to be attached to ports (or piping) to facilitate movement into and out of the manifold as illustrated, for example, in FIGs. 8A-8B. As illustrated, there may be two inlet ports 1122, 1 142, 1162 into each manifold level 112, 1 14, 1 16 with three outlet ports 1 124, 1 144, 1164 where each connection port with the manifold occurs along a tangent with the manifold level and the connection outlet ports include a downward component to impart additional velocity to the flow of the fluid to the vortex chamber 122. In at least one embodiment, the connection outlet ports 1 124, 1 144, 1164 move awayfrom the halo manifold 110 along a tangential phantom line that would be angled from a plane passing through the ring 1 12, 1 14, 116 of the halo manifold 1 10. This arrangement provides additional velocity to the fluid flow in many embodiments when the halo manifold 110 is above the vortex chamber 122. Similarly, the connection inlet ports 1 122, 1142, 1162 connected to the halo manifold 1 10 enter along a tangent to and in the plane passing through the halo manifold 1 10 to facilitate smoother inflow from the long radius relationship with no 90-degree bends etcetera that could corrupt an optimized flow along with unadulterated flow dynamics caused by disruptive angular relationships.

[0030] As illustrated in the figures, the connection outlet port 1 124, 1 144, 1164 may connect to flexible tubing (or hoses) to connect to the vortex chamber 122 in the vortex housing 120, 120B. In at least one embodiment, the tubing 118 that runs from the halo manifold 1 10 to the vortex chamber 122 follows a curved pathway to provide additional rotational movement to the fluid as it enters the vortex chamber 122 as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 8A.

[0031] FIGs. 9A and 9B illustrate the vortex housing 120B without the decorative grooves shown in FIGs. 4A-4D. The illustrated vortex housing 120B includes a sight glass 136 and three sets of three inlets 124 corresponding to the halo manifold connection outlet ports 1 124, 1 144, 1 164, and as such the number of inlets may be adjusted and / or plugged to correspond to the number of connection outlet ports in the halo manifold. FIG. 9C illustrates a cross-section of the vortex housing 120, 120B and an upper spindle 162 that provides a passageway 163 to the diskpack turbine 140. As illustrated and in at least one embodiment, the passageway 163 narrows to a smaller diameter 1632 and then expands 1634 as it approaches the disk-pack turbine 140 to provide a constriction (or convergence) and then expansion (or divergence) for further acting on the fluid. In at least one embodiment, the upper spindle 162 connects to the vortex housing 120, 120B through a bearing and is connected to the disk-pack turbine 140 to facilitate the upper spindle 162 rotating with the disk-pack turbine 140.

[0032] FIGs. 10-1 1 B illustrate examples of a disk-pack turbine 140, 140A, 1406 with two first stage disk sets 142, 142A, 144, 144A and two second stage disk sets 146, 146A, 148, 148A. FIGs. 12A-12C illustrate an example of the first stage disk pairs 142B, 144B. The disk-pack turbine 140includes a stack of disks through and / or over which fluid passes while it is being processed. In at least one embodiment, spacers 141 are inserted into the disk-pack turbine 140 as illustrated in FIG. 1 1 B or, alternatively, spacers 141 B are integrally built into one of the disks 1422B, 1424B as illustrated in FIG. 12B. The spacers 141 , 141 B are used to separate the disks within the disk-pack turbine 140A, 140B and to define the gap 143A, 143B between the disks of the first stage. Although FIGs. 10-12C illustrate two pairs of first stage disks and in FIG. 10 also rotors 149, based on this disclosure it should be appreciated that one pair may be omitted or additional pairs may be added. In an alternative embodiment, a middle disk 220 may be added in one or more pairs of mated disks 210, 230 similar to the illustration in FIGs. 13A-13E.

[0033] The disk-pack turbine 140-140B is present within a processing chamber 130-130E, which may predominately have curved surfaces. FIGs. 4A-8A illustrate examples of processing chambers having a housing 132A-132E with curved walls between a pair of plates 134A-134E, 136A-136E providing the top and the bottom to the processing chamber 130A-130E. As illustrated, the processing chamber 130A-130E includes top and bottom plates 134A-134E, 136A-136E and a housing 132A-132E (made of one (FIGs. 5A-7B) or two pieces (FIGs. 4A-4C and 8A). In at least one embodiment, when the chamber housing is made from two pieces, the pieces may be identical to each other with one piece rotated 180 degrees from the other piece as illustrated, for example, in FIGs. 4A-4C and 8A. The disk-pack turbine 140-140E is mounted on a lower spindle 165 (or drive shaft) that passes through the bottom plate 136A-136E of the processing chamber 130A- 130E.

[0034] The passageway 163 that connects the vortex chamber 132 to the disk-pack turbine 140 is in fluid communication with an expansion chamber 152A-152B formed in the first stage of the disk-pack turbine 140 that is defined by the axial center openings in the disks and spacers making up the first stage 142A, 142B, 144A, 144B of the disk-pack turbine 140A-140B as illustrated in FIGs. 1 1 B and 12B. Examples of cross-sectional shapes for the expansion chamber include substantially cylindrical with curved ends, egg-shaped, ellipsoid, and / or circular. In at least one embodiment, the expansion chamber has a substantially ellipsoid shape with a spindle mount1642A or a rotor or outer disk opposite the vortex housing 130 defining the bottom of the expansion chamber.

[0035] In at least one further embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 10, at least one disk is bolted into a machined cavity set into a rotor; in a further embodiment, the outside disks are set into respective rotors, and in a still further embodiment, each disk is set into a respective rotor. The first stage waveform disks and optional rotors, which each have a wider diameter than the respective mounted disk, in their center define the expansion chamber for receiving the fluid passing from the passageway, which may include a constricted cross-section to match the bottom of the vortex chamber 122 and be smaller than the maximum cross-section of the expansion chamber 152. The first stage 142-142B, 144- 144B of the disk-pack turbine 140-140B is connected to the upper and / or lower spindles 162, 165 with all of the components rotating together during operation of the production system 100-100E. The second stage 146-146B, 148-148B of the disk-pack turbine O- OB are mounted on bearings 154 on the spindles 162, 165 with the lower spindle 165 supporting the lower half 148-148B of the second stage, for example with a support plate having a bearing interface with the lower half 148-148B of the second stage. Alternatively, one or both parts of the second stage are attached to their respective spindle.

[0036] FIGs. 14A-14I illustrate an example of the disks that can be used in the first and second stages. The first stage waveform disks and optional rotors, which each have a wider diameter than the respective mounted disk, in their center define an expansion chamber 152B for receiving the fluid passing from the passageway 163. Examples of waveforms include, but are not limited to, circular, sinusoidal, biaxial, biaxial sinucircular, a series of interconnected scallop shapes, a series of interconnected arcuate forms, hyperbolic, a plurality of spirals, and / or multi-axial including combinations of these that when rotated provide progressive, disk gaps with the waveforms being substantially centered about an expansion chamber. In at least one embodiment, each disk in the first stage includes at least one surface having waveforms configured to break molecular bonds as the fluid passes over the waveform surface. FIGs. 11 B, 12B, 13A-13D, 14D-14G, and 15A-15C illustrate examples of waveforms. In at least one embodiment, the waveforms encircle the axial center (or axial center opening) that may have their amplitude (in the radial direction) and / or theheight measured from the neighboring channel varies as the ridge goes around the axial center. The channels may have a varying depth as the channel goes around the axial center. The faces of at least a portion of the waveforms flow and change in all three axes to create a hyperbolic waveform. In a further embodiment, the number of peaks of the waveforms increases from the axial center out towards the periphery of the waveform disk. In at least one embodiment, there are multiple types of waveforms present on the waveform surface.

[0037] FIGs. 14C-14G illustrate two disks that may make up each pair of disks in the first stage with FIGs. 14C-14E illustrating the outer disk 143B, 146B and FIGs. 14F and 14G illustrating the center (or inner) disk 144B, 147B. In at least one embodiment, the waveforms are complimentary and allow for the outer and inner disks 143B, 146B, 144B, 147B to fit together as a mated pair. In at least one embodiment, the features and waveforms present on one disk may be relocated to the other disk of the mated disk pair from that shown in these figures.

[0038] FIGs. 14C-14E illustrate the outer disk 143B, 146B includes an outer face 153 that includes a sinusoidal face that includes ridges 1532 and channels 1534 extending out from the opening 151 B in the axial center. The illustrated waveform surface 154 of the outer disk 143B. 146B includes a flat area around the axial center opening that may be raised to provide a gap between the disks (i.e., spacer 141 B), three levels of waveforms 155, and a plurality of convergent / divergent exit ports 156 (or vanes) around the periphery 1434B, 1464B. In the illustrated outer disk, the first waveform level is an example of a sinusoidal ridge 1562, the second waveform level is an example of a larger sinusoidal ridge 1564 with hyperbolic faces 1565, the third waveform layer includes a substantially circular ridge 1566 with hyperbolic faces 1567. Larger is used to describe the wavelength being longer. As illustrated in FIG. 14E, the ridges vary in height as measured from the neighboring channel as well as the ridge varying in diameter (or the radius from the axial center). Examples of the diameters varying are D1 versus D2 for the sinusoidal ridge 1562 and D3 versus D4 for the larger sinusoidal ridge 1564 in FIG. 14D. Examples of the heights varying are H1 versus H2 for the sinusoidal ridge 1562 and H3 versus H4 for the larger sinusoidal ridge 1564 in FIG. 14E.

[0039] FIGs. 14F-14G illustrate the inner disk 144B, 147B that includes a substantially flat surface 158 facing the other mated disk pair. In at least one embodiment where there is just one mated disk pair, the substantially flat surface 158 is replaced by the sinusoidal face 153 illustrated in FIG. 14C. FIGs. 14F-14G illustrate a waveform surface 158 that includes a plurality of spiral features 1582 spaced around the axial center opening 151 of the disk 144B, 147B, and this feature in an alternative embodiment may be split between the outer and inner disks (by number or height) or relocated to the outer disk. The plurality of spirals 1582 is designed to only travel a portion of the distance around the axial center opening 151. In at least one embodiment, the channels 15822 formed between the spirals 1582 includes a narrowing 15824 of the channel 15822 to compress the fluid passing through these channels 15822 before expanding back out 15826 near the exit from the spirals 1582. The illustrated waveform surface 158 of the inner disk 144B, 147B further includes three levels of waveforms 159 and a plurality of convergent / divergent exit ports 156B around the periphery. In the illustrated outer disk, the first waveform level is an example of a sinusoidal ridge 1592, the second waveform level is an example of a larger sinusoidal ridge 1594 with hyperbolic faces 1595, the third waveform layer includes a substantially circular ridge 1596 with hyperbolic faces 1597. As illustrated in FIG. 14G, the ridges vary in height as measured from the neighboring channel as well as the ridge varying in diameter (or the radius from the axial center). Examples of the diameters varying are D5 versus D6 for sinusoidal ridge 1592 and D7 versus D8 for the larger sinusoidal ridge 1594. An example of the heights varying is H5 versus H6 for sinusoidal ridge 1592. Although the inner disk is illustrated as having a wider diameter than the outer disk in FIGs. 1 1A-12C, it should be appreciated based on this disclosure that the diameter may be substantially similar between the outer and inner disks.

[0040] Together the two disks with their respective exit ports 156, 156A that are illustrated as being curved along the channels defined by the exit ports 156, 156A and to include convergent and divergent areas to further process the fluid passing between the disks. The height of the gap through which the fluid travels may vary between these two disks as illustrated, for example, in FIGs. 11 B (G1 versus G2) and 12B (G3 versus G4). Although FIGs. 14D-14G illustrate two levelsof waveforms abutting 1599, the inner level of waveforms could be rotated and aligned with the outer waveform level.

[0041] FIGs. 14A, 14B, 14H, and 141 illustrate the two disks 146B, 148B that make up the second stage of the disk-pack turbine 1406. The two disks are similarto each other and are mirrors to each other based on their positioning and orientation within the disk-pack turbine 140B as they are configured to face each other and to have the fluid enter from the outside of the disk-pack turbine 1406 although this orientation could be reversed. Each disk 146B, 148B will typically be accompanied by a flat plate 149A that goes over the spiral waveform 1462B, 1482B and includes an axially center opening 151 that allows for fluid to pass through it and enter the chambers 1464B, 1484B within the spiral waveform 1462B, 1482B. In at least one embodiment, the spiral waveform 1462B, 1482B includes a plurality of curved features 1466B, 1486B that spiral out from the axial center opening 151 towards the periphery 1469B, 1489B. In a further embodiment, the curved features travel between 15% and 25% of the periphery 1469B, 1489B and more particularly approximately 20% of the periphery 1469B, 1489B. The spiral waveform 1462B, 1482B is configured to have the outer face 1468B, 1488B of the curved features facing in the direction of rotation of the disk 146B, 148B, which in the next embodiment may provide additional thrust to the rotation velocity of the disks 146B, 148B as the fluid is converged and then diverged near the periphery 1469B, 1489B of the disk 146B, 148B. In at least one embodiment to the other embodiments, the channels 1464B, 1484B converge part way through 1465B, 1485B before diverging to provide additional turbulence to the fluid. In at least one embodiment to the other embodiments, there is a gentle slope or sinusoidal waveform along the surface 1461A, 1481A of the disk 146A, 148A onto which the spiral waveform 1462A, 1482A rises as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 1 1 B.

[0042] FIGs. 13A-13E illustrate a variety of additional waveform examples. The illustrated plates 210, 220, 230 include two different waveforms. The first waveform is a circular waveform 240 in the center and around the periphery. The second waveform 242 is a biaxial, sinocircular, progressive waveform located between the two sets of circular waveforms. The illustrated disks mate together to form the disk channels (or gaps). Each of the disks includes a plurality of assemblyflanges 244 for mounting impellers between the disks. In addition, centrally located openings 246 are present to support a central mounting. The axial central openings 248 define an expansion chamber 252.

[0043] FIG. 13A illustrates an example combination of biaxial, sinuocircular, progressive, and concentric sinusoidal progressive waveform geometry on the disk 210 according to the invention. FIG. 13B and 13C illustrate respectively the opposing sides of the middle disk 220. FIG. 13D illustrates the top surface of the bottom disk 230. FIG. 13E illustrates how the three disks 210, 220, 230 fit together to form the disk chambers 262 and the expansion chamber 252 of a disk-pack turbine. In an alternative embodiment, one or more of the circular waveforms is modified to include a plurality of biaxial segments.

[0044] FIGs. 15A-15C illustrate a disk-pack turbine 350 having at least two disks 360, 364 each with matching waveforms on their respective facing surfaces. In at least one embodiment, there is one or more disks inserted between the two illustrated disks 360, 364 where in at least one embodiment each of the middle disks will include waveforms on both faces. The expansion chamber 352 is defined by the opening passing through the axial center of the first disk 364 and includes the gap (or disk chamber) 362 between the disks given the illustrated central flat region 3602 illustrated in FIG. 15C.

[0045] In at least one embodiment, the waveforms are formed, for example but not limited to, by a plurality of ridges (or protrusions or rising waveforms), grooves, and depressions (or descending waveforms) in the waveform surface including the features having different heights and / or depths compared to other features and / or along the individual features. In some embodiments, the height in the vertical axis and / or the depth measured along a radius of the disk chambers vary along a radius as illustrated. In some embodiments, the waveforms are implemented as ridges that have different waveform faces of the ridge. In this disclosure, waveform patterns (or geometries) are a set of waveforms on one disk surface. Neighboring rotor and / or disk surfaces have matching waveform patterns that form a channel running from the expansion chamber to the periphery of the disks. In this disclosure, matching waveforms include complimentary waveforms, mirroring geometries that include cavities and other beneficial geometric features.

[0046] FIGs. 15B and 15C illustrate the waveform surfaces of disks 360, 364. The disk 360 includes a plurality of recesses 3604 present around its axial center for receiving the vertical members 3644 of the disk 364. Each of the vertical members 3644 includes a passageway (not illustrated) passing through its height for receiving a support shaft that assists in adjusting the gap (or disk chamber height) 362 that will be present between the disks 360, 364. In at least one embodiment, the cavities 3604 and vertical members 3644 are switched between the disks. The illustrated vertical members 3644 form convergent channels 3622 between neighboring members that than expand out to provide divergent channels 3624. This structure in at least one embodiment increases the speed at which the fluid will travel from the expansion chamber 352 into the disk chamber 362 formed between the disks 360, 364.

[0047] After the fluid passes through the convergent / divergent channels 3622, 3624 it encounters a set of waveforms 3606 such as the illustrated hyperbolic waveforms that will impart additional motion to the water including in at least one embodiment establishing a counter flow that will in turn largely be caught up in the flow of water from the expansion chamber.

[0048] The outer band of illustrated waveforms includes a plurality of vanes 3607 having channels 3608 between the ridges 3609 that curve out away from beyond the set of waveforms to the periphery of the disk and in at least one embodiment the channels’ 3608 width increases along its length. In at least one embodiment, the channel 3608 has a shape similar to an “S” curve. During operation, the fluid will flow through the channels 3608 and partially pass over the ridges 3609 further stretching and spinning the molecules. In at least one embodiment, the vanes 3607 may be used in place of the convergent / divergent exit ports 156, 158 in FIGs. 14D-14G.

[0049] In at least one embodiment, the periphery of the disk-pack turbine 350 is not circular, but instead includes a waveform or scallop shapes around the perimeter as illustrated in FIGs. 15B and 15C.

[0050] U.S. Pat. No. 9,605,663 provides additional examples of waveform disks that might be used in the first stage of the disk-pack turbine.

[0051] In at least one embodiment when the rotors are present, the surface on the side opposite where the waveform disk is located is non-flat. In a further embodiment, the surfaceincludes a rolling waveform (e.g., 153 in FIG. 14C) when viewed from the side that includes radial troughs 1534 and wave crests 1532 (or ridges) that together define radial channels as illustrated in FIGs. 11 A, 12A, 12C, and 14C. In at least one embodiment, the channels provide a fluid pathway for fluid to return towards the axial center to pass through the axial center opening of the second stage of the disk-pack turbine if their orientation was reversed. In at least one embodiment, the presence of the waveform leads to breaking down the molecular boundary layer to reduce the level of friction between the fluid and the outer disks of the first stage, which then requires less power to rotate the first stage.

[0052] One or more of the one or more disks that define the second stage include an axial central opening 151 that is larger than the outer diameter of the upper spindle 162 to facilitate fluid starting in the center and flowing back out towards the periphery 1469B, 1489B of the second stage disk. The second stage disk is a non-flat disk that may include waveforms or other structures that define a pathway through which the fluid may pass. Examples of other structures are convergent and divergent chambers 1464B, 1484B moving from the center to the periphery as illustrated in FIGs. 14A, 14B, 14H, and 141. In a further embodiment also illustrated in these figures, the chambers may define a curved or arc flow from the center to the periphery that is similar to a spiral. In a further embodiment, the passageway formed along the disk surface is a spiral with at least one convergent chamber and at least one divergent chamber. In an alternative embodiment, a combination surface may be present like that illustrated in FIGs. 15B-15C that includes waveforms and convergence / divergence feature pairs around the axial center.

[0053] In an alternative or further embodiment, the first stage and / or the second stage includes complementary disks that form the features and / or gaps through which the fluid passes. In a further embodiment, the complementary disks separate different features between them to simplify the machining required to manufacture the disk where each disk will have projections that are configured to engage receiving cavities / holes of the other disk. In at least one embodiment, at least some of the projections provide the needed spacing between the disks and also a way to secure the disks together.

[0054] In a further embodiment, the second stage disk includes an attached rotor or plate 149A to define part of the chambers 1464A, 1468A present on the disk as illustrated in FIGs. 11A and 1 1 B. In such an embodiment, the rotor or plate 149A may include the axial center opening 151 for fluid to pass through and around the spindle. In at least one embodiment, the second stage disks are connected to the first stage disks through bearings 190 allowing the two stages to rotate independent to each other instead of a fixed mounting connection between them.

[0055] Examples of material that may be used for the disks include, but are not limited to, aluminum, aluminum alloys, brass, brass alloys, stainless steel such as austenitic grade stainless steel, mild steel, nickel, copper, beryllium-copper alloys, bismuth, bismuth alloys, magnesium alloys, silver, silver alloys, alloys of these materials, and inert plastics.

[0056] The rotation of the disk-pack turbine is provided by a drive system 160 such as a motor that is directly or indirectly connected to the drive shaft 164 or other mechanism on which the diskpack turbine 140 is mounted or attached. In at least one embodiment, the motor is 50 HP, 60 HP, 75 HP, 100HP, 150 HP, 200. A further example of a drive system is the motor connected through a transmission to the shaft. Another example is the motor connected to a drive shaft, a second drive shaft connected to the disk-pack turbine, and a transmission between the drive shaft and the second drive shaft.

[0057] In at least one embodiment as illustrated in FIGs. 4A-8A, the processing chamber sits on a support structure 400 that houses and / or supports the drive system(s) 160. There is a top support structure 410 that sits on top of the processing chamber 130 that rises up and supports the one or more levels for the halo manifolds 1 10. Further to any of the other embodiments, although three halo manifold levels are illustrated, based on this disclosure it should be understood that there may be one or two halo manifold levels present or fewer than all of the halo manifold levels present might be used in a particular configuration. In this orientation, the vortex housing 120 sits above the processing chamber 130 on the interior of the top support structure 410 and may be supported by the top plate 134 of the processing chamber 130. The support structures 400 provide multiple access areas for workers to reach components of the systems and / or view through optional sight glasses 136 on the processing chamber 130 to view the environment internal to the processingchamber 130 as illustrated, for example, in FIGs. 4C, 5B, and 6B. In a further or alternative embodiment, there is a sight glass 126 present in the top of the vortex chamber 122 as illustrated, for example, in FIGs. 4D, 7B, 9A, and 9B.

[0058] In operation in at least one embodiment and without reference to letter variants, the fluid is pumped into the halo manifold 1 10 or the vortex chamber 122 such that the vortex formed within the vortex chamber 122 forms a tight cylindrical vortex in the axial center of the vortex chamber 122 to pass through the passageway 163 in the upper spindle 162 before rapidly expanding into the expansion chamber 252 and passing through the first stage 142, 144 of the diskpack turbine 140 into the processing chamber 130. The second stage 146, 148 of the disk-pack turbine 140 then draws in fluid from the processing chamber 130 over the surface of the rotor (of the first stage or the second stage) into its (or optional rotor) axial center opening 151 before passing back through the channels 1464, 1484 in the disk 146, 148 to its periphery and back into the processing chamber 130. In at least one embodiment, the second stage acts as its own pump to draw fluid into it. The second stage imparts exotic fluid motions that include compression and expansion along the pathway over the disk. The movement of fluid out and back into the disk-pack turbine 140 provides an environment of infinitely varied motion, pressure differentials, thermal gradients, torsion, magnetic fluxes, field energies, harmonics, vibratory physics, reciprocating expansion, compression, etc. from a mixing motion within the processing chamber 130. The system 100 may be operated where the fluid passes through the system 100 once or multiple times. In a further embodiment when the fluid passes through the processing chamber 130 multiple times, the fluid passes from the processing chamber 130 to the halo manifold 1 10 back into the vortex chamber 122 to form a closed loop. Alternatively, the fluid may flow from the processing chamber 130 into the processing tank 170. In at least one further embodiment, the fluid is pumped from the processing chamber 130 to the processing tank 170.

[0059] The movement through the system 100 including the vortex chamber 122 and through the two stages of the disk-pack turbine 140 leads to exotic motions that impart different pressure differentials along the path leading to rapid condensing and expansion of fluid while subjecting the fluid to variable frequency and harmonics, for example from the waveform surfaces, that togetherimpact the character of the fluid and transforming the fluid along the way into a hydrogen-based fuel. Additionally, the spinning disks impart centrifugal and centripetal forces during rotation of the disk-pack turbine 140. This variety of forces, in at least one embodiment, leads to the chemical bonds to be subject to a resonance that causes the bonds to be altered and / or to break and the molecules to rearrange in new combinations. In at least one embodiment, the mixing motion results in a condition of infinite variety of motions imparted to the fluid as it passes over the disk surfaces.

[0060] In at least one embodiment, the stepped waveform harmonics cause high- and low- pressure zones to form in the channels with the circulation of the flow illustrated from the top to the bottom of the zones by the C’s (clockwise) and backward C’s (counterclockwise) that reflect the circulation. These pressure zones and tortile reciprocating motion allow the fluid and material to flow within the space between the disks and to break the molecular bonds in at least one embodiment. As the fluid passes between the disks, the fluid is conditioned, separated, dissociated, and / or transformed based on controllable variables such as construction materials, waveform geometry, tolerances, numbers of progressions, waveform diameters, disk stack densities, internal and external influences and charging media composition. While progressing through the waveform geometries, the fluid is exposed to a multiplicity of dynamic action and reactionary forces and influences such as alternating pressure zones and changing circular, vortex and multi-axial flows of fluid as the fluid progresses over the valleys and peaks and highly variable hyperbolic and / or non-hyperbolic geometries. These dynamics in at least one embodiment include a multiplicity of multi-axial high pressure centrifugal flow zones and low-pressure centripetal flow zones, the majority of which are vortexual in nature.

[0061] FIGs. 7A and 7B also illustrate an embodiment of the invention that omits the tubing between the optional halo manifold 110 and the vortex housing 120 that sits above the processing chamber 130. FIG. 7B illustrates how the vortex housing 120 may include a sight glass 126 to allow the inside of the vortex chamber 122 to be viewed. FIG. 7A also provides a cleaner presentation of the support structure 190 for the production system 100, while FIG. 7B illustrates an optional support platform 198 that secures the tops of the vertical supports 196 and / or provides a platformon which to work from, for example for adjustment of the connections to the halo manifold 110 from external to the system 100 and / or to the vortex chamber 122.

[0062] FIG. 16 illustrates the top plate for the processing chamber illustrated in FIGs. 5A and 5B. This figure provides an example of how the top plate 134B of the processing chamber 130B may include access ports 1342B and sight glasses 1344B (or windows) for viewing the inside of the processing chamber 130B. FIG. 16 also illustrates a mounting 1346B on which the vortex housing 120 from FIG. 8A-8B can be mounted.

[0063] In a further embodiment that includes external tanks, the processing tank and / or storage tank are located external to a housing (e.g., building) for the production system 100, which may be resident in an enclosed housing or structure of the building. In an alternative embodiment, the processing tank(s) 170 are in close proximity to the production system 100 and may be located in and / or below the same building as the production system 100. In a further embodiment, there may be multiple production system 100s present in a plant that may operate independently from each other or operate in a stage arrangement with the fluid passing through the first production system 100 to storage / processing tank(s) 180, 170 before passing into the second production system 100 and this pattern could continue through multiple production system 100s.

[0064] In some embodiments, the production system 100 may operate in a continual manner or a batch processing model. In a continual manner, the production system 100 draws (or pumps) in fluid from an external source and runs it through the system 100 at a flow velocity that allows for the fluid to pass through the two stages of the disk-pack turbine 140 before exiting the processing chamber 130 into, for example, either a processing tank 170 or a storage tank. In an alternative embodiment, a portion of the fluid is recycled through the system 100 either being pumped up to the optional manifold 110 or the vortex chamber 132 to run through both stages of the disk-pack turbine while the rest of the fluid is discharged from the system 100 into either the processing tank 170 or the storage tank 180. A slight alternative is to include a processing tank as part of the recirculation through the system. In a batch processing mode, the production system 100 would work with an external tank (processing tank 170 or storage tank).

[0065] In an alternative embodiment, the processing is a batch processing where water is preprocessed in a first tank before being moved to the processing tank 170 to fill it, which then is used as part of a closed-loop system to process the fluid into the desired product before it is passed to the storage tank(s) or is used. In this embodiment, sufficient levels are maintained to avoid priming any pumps in or ancillary to the production system 100 and / or fluid levels above entry point for the discharge pipes. In a further embodiment, if the pumps require priming, then the pumps are run until any gas present is purged.

[0066] In a further embodiment, the production plant includes a control room for monitoring processes and flow of fluid through the production system. The control room may have one or more controllers along with a plurality of sensors and / or sampling tubing connected to sampling ports.

[0067] An example of a controller to the above-described fluid processing systems and / or the processing system is for the above-described drive systems to adjust operation parameters (e.g., flow rates and pressures) and velocities based, for example, on process monitoring features. Examples include a switch (binary and variable), computer controlled, or built-in controller resident in the drive system. Examples of a built-in controller include an application specific integrated circuit, an analog circuit, a processor or a combination of these. The controller in at least one example provides control of the drive system via a signal or direct control of the power provided to the drive system. The controller in at least one example is programmed to control the RPM of the drive system over a predetermined time based on time of day / week / month / year or length of time since process start, and in other examples the controller responds to the one or more characteristics to determine the speed at which the drive system is operated. As such in these examples, the controller varies the RPM for the drive system based on conditions of the fluid being processed with an aim to reach target results for the fluid to become the desired product (i.e. , hydrogen-based fuel).

[0068] Examples of input parameters include chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), pH, ORP, dissolved oxygen (DO), bound oxygen, fluid temperature, fluid viscosity, conductivity, electrical charge, magnetic flux and other concentrations of elements and / or lack thereof and have the controller respond accordingly by automatically adjusting operationalvelocities and run times. In an alternative embodiment, a sampling port is placed in the processing chamber and / or processing tank leading to analysis equipment. In at least one embodiment, the analysis equipment detects the composition of the gas and / or the fluid present in the chamber / tank, for example with gas chromatography and / or mass spectrometry to obtain an elemental analysis of the fluid to allow for adjustment of operational parameters by the controller to obtain desired results for the product. In an alternative embodiment, the parameters are displayed for manual adjustments in the process. In a further embodiment to any of the embodiments in this disclosure, the elemental analysis provides a percentage of the fluid that is identified as hydrogen or other desired elemental thresholds and once the desired level is reached, the process can conclude.

[0069] As used above “substantially,” “generally,” and other words of degree are relative modifiers intended to indicate permissible variation from the characteristic so modified. It is not intended to be limited to the absolute value or characteristic which it modifies but rather possessing more of the physical or functional characteristic than its opposite, and preferably, approaching or approximating such a physical or functional characteristic. “Substantially” also is used to reflect the existence of manufacturing tolerances that exist for manufacturing components.

[0070] The foregoing description describes different components of embodiments being “in fluid communication” to other components. “In fluid communication” includes the ability for fluid to travel from one component / chamber to another component / chamber.

[0071] Based on this disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the use of “same,” “identical,” and other similar words are inclusive of differences that would arise during manufacturing to reflect typical tolerances for goods of this type.

[0072] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the exemplary and alternative embodiments described above can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for producing a hydrogen-based fuel using a processing system, the method comprising: processing fluid in or from an external tank or a processing tank including: delivering fluid from the external tank or the processing tank under pressure into a vortex chamber, rotating a processing disk-pack turbine in the processing chamber, creating a vortex in the vortex chamber from the rotation of the disk-pack turbine and / or pumping fluid into the vortex chamber to move fluid into an expansion chamber of the diskpack turbine, channeling the fluid between disks of a first stage of the disk-pack turbine to travel from the expansion chamber to a periphery of the disks and into a processing chamber, drawing the fluid into a second stage of the disk-pack turbine through an axial center opening of the second stage disk(s) or plate(s), channeling the fluid from the axial center opening to the periphery of the second stage disk(s) for return to the processing chamber, and discharging the fluid from the processing system into the processing tank, a storage tank, and / or the vortex chamber.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method substantially performs all of the steps when the disk-pack turbine is rotating.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising adjusting a speed of rotation of the disk-pack turbine during operation.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein discharging the fluid from the processing chamber includes flowing the fluid to a storage tank or the processing tank before drawing the processed fluid back into the processing system.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein discharging the fluid from the production system includes pumping the fluid to a storage tank as a hydrogen-based fuel for later use.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the fluid is determined to be the hydrogenbased fuel when an analysis equipment detects a level of at least hydrogen being above a predetermined concentration threshold.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, further comprising: at predetermined times removing the fluid being processed from the processing tank, and replenishing the fluid in the processing tank from the external tank.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined time is when an analysis equipment detects a level of at least hydrogen being above a predetermined concentration threshold.

9. A production system comprising: an optional manifold configured to be selectively in fluid communication with an external tank; a vortex housing having a vortex chamber in fluid communication with said optional manifold or selectively in fluid communication with the external tank; a processing chamber, said processing chamber including at least one discharge port in fluid communication optionally through a valve with said external tank or another tank; a disk-pack turbine in said processing chamber and in fluid communication with said vortex chamber through a passageway, said disk-pack turbine having at least two stages of disks, optionally the first stage includes two pairs of mated waveform disks stacked together and optionally the second stage includes two separate pump sections having a spiral pattern disk covered by a plate, operationally the disks in the first stage having different waveform patterns from the disks in the second stage; and a drive system such as a motor connected directly or indirectly to said first stage of said diskpack turbine, and wherein a fluid pathway exists from said vortex chamber through the first stage of the diskpack turbine into the processing chamber into the second stage of the disk-pack turbine back into the processing chamber and then out the discharge port.

10. The production system according to claim 9, further comprising a controller electrically connected toat least one valve configured to control a flow of fluid and fluid in and out of the production system, and said drive system for control of a rotation velocity of the disk-pack turbine.1 1. The production system according to claim 10, further comprising an analysis equipment configured for mass spectrum and / or gas chromatograph analysis of the fluid during processing.

12. The production system according to claim 9, further comprising an analysis equipment configured for mass spectrum, process gas mass spectroscopy, and / or gas chromatograph analysis of the fluid during processing.

13. The production system according to claim 9, wherein said drive system includes a motor and a driveshaft connecting said motor to said disk-pack turbine, and optionally said driveshaft passes through a bottom plate of said processing chamber.

14. The production system according to any one of claims 9-13, wherein said disk-pack turbine includes a first disk having an axially centered opening passing therethrough, and a second disk; and wherein each of said first disk and said second disk includes a set of waveforms and a plurality of vanes having channels and ridges where the set of waveforms and said plurality of vanes are centered about the opening of said first disk.

15. The production system according to claim 14, wherein said disk-pack turbine includes a first rotor attached to said first disk and having an axially centered opening passing therethrough, a second rotor attached to said second disk and having a feature to form a bottom of said expansion chamber.

16. The production system according to claim 14, wherein said first and second disks are part of the first stage of the disk-pack turbine.

17. The production system according to any one of claims 9-13, wherein said disk-pack turbine includes a first disk having an axially centered opening passing therethrough, a second disk, and at least one middle disk; and wherein each of said first disk, said second disk, and said at least one middle disk includes a set of waveforms and a plurality of vanes having channels and ridges where the set of waveforms and said plurality of vanes are centered about the opening of said first disk.

18. The production system according to claim 17, wherein said disk-pack turbine includes a first rotor attached to said first disk and having an axially centered opening passing therethrough, a second rotor attached to said second disk and having a feature to form a bottom of said expansion chamber.

19. The production system according to claim 17, wherein said first and second disks are part of the first stage of the disk-pack turbine.

20. The production system according to any one of claims 9-13, wherein said second stage of said disk-pack turbine includes at least one disk having waveforms and / or converging / diverging chambers providing a pathway from its axial center to its periphery, said disk having an optional axial center opening or a plate having an axial center opening configured for allowing the fluid to flow therethrough.

21. The production system according to claim 20, wherein the second stage disk includes a pattern of arcuate shapes running from proximate to the axial center to near the periphery, and particularly the arcuate shapes overlap with approximately 15%-25% of the periphery and more particularly the arcuate shapes overlap with approximately 20% of the periphery.

22. The production system according to any one of claims 9-13, wherein said second stage of said disk-pack turbine including a rotor attached to a disk having waveforms and / orconverging / diverging chambers providing a pathway from its axial center to its periphery, said rotor having an axially centered hole configured for allowing entry of fluid into the chambers defined between said rotor and said disk, said rotor optionally having a non-flat surface facing away from said disk.

23. The production system according to any one of claims 9-13, wherein the second stage includes 2 disks having a pattern of arcuate shapes running from proximate to the axial center to near the periphery, wherein the disks mirror each other and are covered by a plate to form enclosed channels, and particularly the arcuate shapes overlap with approximately 15%-25% of the periphery and more particularly the arcuate shapes overlap with approximately 20% of the periphery.

24. The production system according to any one of claims 9-13, wherein each disk includes at least one surface having waveforms selected from circular, sinusoidal, biaxial, biaxial sinucircular, a series of interconnected scallop shapes, a series of interconnected arcuate forms, hyperbolic, plurality of spirals and / or multi-axial including combinations of these that when rotated provide progressive, disk channels, wherein said waveforms being substantially centered about an expansion chamber at the axial center of said first stage of said disk-pack turbine.

25. The production system according to any one of claims 9-13, wherein each disk of the first stage and / or the second stage includes at least one surface having waveforms configured to break molecular bonds as the fluid passes over the waveform surface.

26. The production system according to any one of claims 9-13, wherein said waveforms encircle said axial center of said disk-pack turbine have their amplitude (in the radial direction) and / or the height measured from the neighboring channel vary around the ring and the depth of the neighboring channel optionally varies.

27. The production system according to any one of claims 9-13, wherein a number of peaks of the waveforms increases from the axial center out towards the periphery of the waveform surface of the disk.

28. The production system according to any one of claims 9-13, wherein the processing chamber includesa top plate, a bottom plate, and a housing with a curved wall.

29. The production system according to claim 28, wherein the curved wall having an oval or figure eight horizontal cross-section.

30. The production system according to claim 28, wherein the housing includes a top piece and a bottom piece, optionally the top piece and the bottom piece mirror each other.

31. The production system according to any one of claims 9-13, further comprising: a first pump connected to the optional halo manifold or the vortex housing to move fluid from the external tank into the production system, and a second pump connected to a discharge port of the processing chamber to move fluid to the external tank.

32. The production system according to any one of claims 9-13, wherein a gap between mated disks and / or the second stage disk and plate varies along any radius.

33. A halo manifold according to any embodiment described in the specification and / or illustrated in the figures.

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