Hydrogen production plant and method of operation of same

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, there is a production plant for producing a hydrogen-based fuel and a method for operation of same. The production plant includes a water source, an optional filtration / screen, a tank farm for preprocessing the water through at least one water treatment system, processing tank(s), at least one production system for converting the fluid into a hydrogen-based fuel based on predetermined levels of hydrogen concentration (e.g., as supplied by a mass spectrum spectroscopy analysis system), and a storage tank(s). The method including optionally screening the incoming water, preprocessing the water, cycling the fluid within the production system(s) or between the production system(s) and the processing tank(s).

Description

HYDROGEN PRODUCTION PLANT AND METHOD OF OPERATION OF SAME

[0001] This application claims the benefit and priority to U.S. Patent Application No.63 / 664,1 14, 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 production plant for producing a hydrogen-based fuel and method of operation of same.II. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In at least one embodiment, the method according to claim 1 and any of its dependent claims is implemented at a production plant optionally according to claim 10 and any of its dependent claims.

[0004] In at least one embodiment, a method for producing a hydrogen based fuel including: preprocessing water including filling a water tank with water sufficient to cover any inlet and any discharge of a treatment system present in said water tank, rotating a disk-pack turbine in a diskpack module of the treatment system, spinning the water to create a vortex where the water that enters the vortex is located inside the water tank, discharging the water from the vortex module into an expansion chamber formed in the disk-pack turbine of the disk-pack module, channeling the water between spaces that exist between disks of the disk-pack turbine to travel from the expansion chamber to and along at least one discharge channel surrounding the disk-pack turbine, and discharging the water through at least one discharge port back into the water tank; moving water as a fluid from the water tank to a second tank; and processing fluid in or from the second tank to produce hydrogen based fuel including pumping fluid from the second tank into a vortex chamber, rotating a processing disk-pack turbine in the production system, creating a second vortex in the vortex chamber from the rotation of the processing disk-pack turbine to move fluid into an expansion chamber of the processing disk-pack turbine and / or pumping fluid into the vortex chamber, channeling the fluid between spaces that exist between disks of the first stage of the processing disk-pack turbine to travel from the expansion chamber to a periphery of the disks of the first stage and into a processing chamber, drawing the fluid into a second stage of the processing disk-pack turbine through an axial center opening of the second stage disk, channeling the fluid from the axial center opening to the periphery of the second stage disk back into the processing chamber, and discharging fluid from the production system.

[0005] In a further embodiment, the method substantially performs all of the preprocessing steps when the preprocessing disk-pack turbine is rotating and / or the method substantially performs all of the processing steps when the processing disk-pack turbine is rotating. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the method adjusting a velocity of rotation of one or both of the disk-pack turbines during operation. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, where discharging fluid from the production system includes flowing the fluid to the second tank before drawing the fluid back into the production system or flowing thefluid to a storage tank as hydrogen based fuel. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, where the fluid is determined to be the hydrogen-based fuel when an analysis equipment detects a level of at least hydrogen being above a predetermined concentration threshold.

[0006] In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the method further including at predetermined times removing the water being preprocessed from the water tank as the fluid to the second tank, and filling the water tank with new fresh pre-treated water. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, where the fluid is determined to be the hydrogen-based fuel when an analysis equipment detects a level of at least hydrogen being above a predetermined concentration threshold. In a further embodiment to any of the previous embodiments, the method further including: filtering the water prior to preprocessing the water, and / or screening the water prior to preprocessing the water to remove large debris.

[0007] In at least one embodiment, a production plant including: a preprocessing system having a water inlet, a preprocessing tank(s) in fluid communication optionally through a valve with the water inlet, one or more water processing systems in said preprocessing tank, and a water outlet optionally with a valve; an optional processing tank(s) in fluid communication with said preprocessing tank(s); a production system in fluid communication optionally through a valve with said optional processing tank(s) and / or said preprocessing tank(s), said production system including an optional halo manifold, a vortex chamber in fluid communication with said optional halo manifold, a processing chamber, a production disk-pack turbine in said processing chamber and in fluid communication with said vortex chamber, and a drive system such as a motor connected directly or indirectly to said production disk-pack turbine, said disk-pack turbine having at least two stages of disk-packs, said processing chamber including at least one discharge in fluid communication optionally through a valve with said processing tank or another storage tank, wherein a fluid pathway exists from said vortex chamber into the first stage of the production disk-pack turbine into the processing chamber into the second stage of the production disk-pack turbine into the processing chamber out the discharge.

[0008] In a further system embodiment, the water processing system comprising: a vortex housing having a vortex chamber; a disk-pack module having a housing defining a chamber, a disk-pack turbine within said chamber and in fluid communication with the vortex chamber, at least two discharge channels extending away from the chamber, and at least two discharge outlets, each in fluid communication with one of said discharge channels; and a drive system module engaging said disk-pack turbine. In a further embodiment, the water processing system further comprising a cover over said vortex housing, and at least one valve passing through said cover; and wherein said vortex housing having a plurality of vortex inlets in fluid communication with the vortex chamber. In a further embodiment to the previous system embodiments, the fluid production system further comprising a controller electrically connected to said at least one valve. In a further embodiment to the previous system embodiments, each discharge outlet of the waterprocessing system extends up from said housing of said disk-pack module and is taller than said vortex housing or said discharge outlet includes a cavity that flares out from said discharge channel. In a further embodiment to the previous system embodiments, said drive system module of said fluid production system includes a motor and a driveshaft connecting said motor to said production disk-pack turbine, and optionally said driveshaft passes through a barrier external to said preprocessing chamber.

[0009] In a further embodiment to the previous system embodiments, the drive system includes the motor, a drive shaft connected to the motor, a second drive shaft connected to said disk-pack turbine, and a transmission between said drive shaft and said second drive shaft.

[0010] In a further embodiment to the previous non-drive system embodiments, said drive system of said production system includes a motor and a driveshaft connecting said motor to said production disk-pack turbine.

[0011] In a further embodiment to the previous system embodiments, said disk-pack turbine of said fluid production system or said production system 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. In a further embodiment to the previous system embodiments in prior paragraphs, disk-pack turbine of said preproduction system and / or said production system 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.

[0012] In a further embodiment to the previous system embodiments, said first stage of diskpacks includes two pair of mated disks where each pair is separated by a spacer, surfaces facing each other have waveforms and the outer disk of the pair of mated disks has a non-flat exterior surface, and said second stage of disk-packs includes at least one pump. In a further embodiment to the previous system embodiments, said first stage of disk-packs includes two pair of mated disks where each pair is separated by a spacer, surfaces facing each other have waveforms and the outer disk of the pair of mated disks has a non-flat exterior surface, and said second stage of disk-packs includes two sets of a disk having a plurality of arcuate features defining multiple chambers and a plate over said multiple chambers, said plate having an axial center opening sufficiently large enough for fluid to pass through into the multiple chambers.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 an example block diagram of a production plant according to at least one embodiment.

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

[0016] FIGs. 3A-5 illustrate water processing systems for use in multiple plant embodiments.

[0017] FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of a production system for the processing stage according to at least one embodiment of the invention.

[0018] FIGs. 7A-10B illustrate different processing systems according to multiple embodiments.

[0019] FIG. 11 illustrates a cross-section of a vortex housing according to at least one embodiment.

[0020] FIGs. 12A-12B illustrate a disk-pack turbine according to at least one embodiment.

[0021] FIGs. 13A-13C illustrate a first stage of a disk-pack turbine according to at least one embodiment.

[0022] FIGs. 14A-14I illustrate disks for use in a disk-pack turbine according to at least one embodiment.

[0023] FIG. 15 illustrates a top plate for a processing chamber according to at least one embodiment.IV. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0024] According to at least one embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIG. 1 , a production plant for making a hydrogen-based fuel includes a mutli-stage process beginning with the intake of water from a water source X10 (e g., stream, river, lake, spring, well, or municipal system) that optionally may go through a filtration / screen system X20 to remove larger debris prior to beginning the preprocessing. A preprocessing stage may occur in one or more preprocessing tank(s) X30, e.g., a tank farm. Once the water is preprocessed, it then is passed as a fluid to the processing tank(s) X40 that is in fluid communication with a production system(s) X50 for processing. Once the fluid has been converted into the hydrogen-based fuel, it is transferred to a storage tank(s) X60, a pipeline, or directly into use. The storage tank(s) X60 will have the capability to fuel vehicles, load tankers, supply a pipeline, and / or otherwise distribute the hydrogen-based fuel. The fluid is considered to be a hydrogen-based fuel once the hydrogen concentration exceeds a predetermined threshold.

[0025] The optional filtration / screen system X20 will likely be present where the water is coming from a stream, river, or lake and the water may have a variety of debris present, which likely would not be present when the water is drawn from a spring, well, or municipal system. Examples of debris includes wood (e.g., logs, branches, trees, dead vegetation), leaves, garbage or litter (e.g., boxes, plastic bags, plastic or glass bottles, bottle caps, food packaging, cans, food waste, cups, lids, straws, stirrers, rope, nets and other fishing equipment, tires etc.), dead ordecaying animals, etc. Examples of the location of the filtration / screen system X20 could be at the water intake X10 to prevent objects be drawn into the production plant, prior to entry into the tank farm, or both places. Examples of the filtration / screen X20 system include a grate(s), a screen(s), and / or an active filtration system depending on the circumstances. In at least one embodiment, the preprocessing stage is able to handle a variety of smaller debris with minimal impact on operation of the water treatment (or processing) system(s). In a further or alternative embodiment, the water treatment systems also will assist with the removal and precipitation of dissolved solids present in the source water.

[0026] Within the preprocessing tank(s) X30 would be at least one treatment system X32 that includes a vortex module X100, a disk-pack module X200, and a drive system module X300 as illustrated in FIG. 2. In a further embodiment, the treatment system X32 may include an intake and / or filtration module to prevent smaller debris from entering the treatment system. FIG. 3A-5 illustrate examples of a treatment system X32 having the modules illustrated in FIG. 2 in addition to an intake module.

[0027] FIGs. 3A and 3B illustrate an example of a treatment system that includes the vortex module 100M, the disk-pack module 200M, and a combination motor and intake module 400M.

[0028] The combination motor and intake module 400M includes a housing 420M that includes a cylindrical screen 426M with a cylindrical base 428M with an enclosed bottom. The housing 420M surrounds a motor 310M that is mounted under the disk-pack module 200M for driving the disk-pack 250M with its single shaft 314M (as a double shaft is not needed for this example with the omission of an impeller). In an alternative example, the motor is located in a protective housing isolating it from the disk-pack module and further protects the motor from the fluid beyond the protection offered by the motor housing. The screen 426M provides a barrier for extraneous material that may be present in the water. Once the water passes through the screen 426M, it will then be drawn into the plurality of tubes or hoses (not shown) connecting the intake module 400M with the vortex module 100M. Each module includes an equal number of connectors (outlets 422M / inlets 132M, respectively).

[0029] The structure of the vortex module 100M includes a vortex chamber 130M. The illustrated external housing 120M is small and fitted about the vortex chamber 130M with the addition of structural support members 126M extending up from a bottom plate 128M that connects to the disk-pack module 200M to a point part way up the vortex module 100M to a support ring 125M. In a further example, the support structure is omitted or configured in a different way.

[0030] The disk-pack module 200M includes the disk-pack turbine 250M that includes a top plate 264M, a plurality of disks 260M, and a bottom plate 268M with a motor coupling (or hub). The illustrated discharge chamber 230M has a toroid / paraboloid shape and is connected to discharge ports 232M. The disk-pack turbine 250M includes an oval expansion chamber in which to receive the incoming water flow from the vortex chamber 130M.

[0031] FIGs. 4A-4C illustrate another example of a treatment system. The vortex module 100N includes a housing (or cover) 420N around the vortex chamber housing 120N having a vortex chamber 130N. The housing 420N includes a valve-controlled inlet 432N, which although illustrated as being a manual valve 422N could be replaced by an electronically controlled valve. In an alternative embodiment, the inlet valve 422N is omitted. In at least one embodiment, the inlet valve can restrict the inflow water into the housing 420N to establish a negative / vacuum condition and effectively stretching the fluid volume as it enters the vortex inlets 132N. The illustrated vortex chamber 130N includes three vortex inlets 132N for supplying water into the vortex chamber 130N. The vortex chamber 130N could take a variety of forms as discussed in connection with the other water processing systems in this disclosure.

[0032] The vortex chamber 130N feeds water into the disk-pack turbine 250N residing in a chamber 230N of the disk-pack housing 220N. The disk-pack turbine 250N includes a first (or top) disk 260N, a second (or bottom) disk 264N, and at least one middle disk 266N that define an expansion chamber 252N that receives the water from the vortex chamber 130N. The middle disk 266N has waveforms on opposed sides of the disk. Ns illustrated in FIG. 4C, the chamber 230N includes a discharge channel 231 N that passes around the outside of the disk-pack turbine 250N starting at about the point the prior discharge channel 231 N extends away from the chamber 230N to the discharge outlet 232N. The discharge outlet includes a housing 2322N that includes a cavity 2324N that flares out over its height from where the discharge channel 231 N connects to the cavity 2324N.

[0033] The illustrated discharge outlets 231 N are proximate to the chamber 230N to continue the spinning flow of the water as it leaves the system, which in at least one embodiment will increase the gasification level of the water being processed, because it shortens the time in which the water can be reassimilate the gas. Although there are two discharge outlets 232N illustrated, it should be understood from this disclosure that one discharge could be used instead or a plurality of discharge ports around the periphery of the discharge chamber may be provided. In at least one embodiment, the top of the discharge ports will be proximate to (or below) the anticipated height of the water level in the processing tank to further minimize the opportunity for the gas that has been released being reassimilated into the water.

[0034] FIG. 5 illustrates another example of a treatment system that includes a vortex module 300P, a disk-pack module 200P, a motor module 300P, and an intake module 400P. Although a housing is not illustrated, it should be understood based on this disclosure that the housing could take a variety of forms while providing a cover over the other modules. In addition, a screen may be included that covers the intake module and the vortex module. The illustrated intake module includes a plurality of intakes 490P that lead to the vortex chamber 130P. The intakes 490P extend down from the vortex inlets 132P of the vortex chamber 130P as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 5. The remainder of the vortex module is similar to the previous examples. FIG. 5 also illustrates an example of a tall discharge outlet 232P relative to the vortex module300P. FIG. 5 also illustrates the presence of the supplemental inlet 290P with an optional valve 294P into the accumulation chamber of the disk-pack module 300P to augment the liquid present in the accumulation chamber.

[0035] Additional examples of (water) treatment systems can be found in U.S. Patent Nos. 8,623,212; 8,636,910; 9,469,553; 9,474,991 ; 9,707,495; and 9,714,176, which teachings regarding treatment systems are incorporated by reference.

[0036] The preprocessing step may include a multiple step process as the fluid passes through multiple preprocessing tanks X30 and / or treatment systems X32. The preprocessing tank(s) X30, in at least one embodiment, is a substantially curved wall structure such that if viewed from above resembles, for example, a circle, an oval, an egg-shape, or an ellipse. In a further embodiment, the side walls curve into the floor and / or cover into the ceiling for the preprocessing tank X30 to reduce hard edges and allow for more complete circulation of fluid throughout the preprocessing tank X30 that minimizes cavitations that might arise if angles were present. The resultant motion in the preprocessing tank(s) X30 leads to debris and dissolved solids to precipitate out and to collect at the center of rotation for removal using a variety of approaches.

[0037] After preprocessing occurs, the fluid is pumped into a production system(s) X50 and / or a processing tank(s) X40 for further processing, and may optionally flow in a circulatory path internal to the production system X50 or between the production system X50 and the processing tank(s) X40. In at least one embodiment, the processing tank(s) X40 is a substantially curved wall structure such that if viewed from above resembles, for example, a circle, an oval, an egg-shape, or an ellipse. In a further embodiment, the side walls curve into the floor and / or cover into the ceiling for the processing tank X40 to reduce hard edges and allow for more complete circulation of fluid throughout the processing tank X40 that minimizes cavitations, shear, dynamic losses, etc. that might arise if angles were present. In an alternative embodiment, the preprocessing tank X30 and the processing tank X40 are the same tank.

[0038] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the components of the production system and FIGs. 7A-10B illustrate examples of production systems. FIG. 6 illustrates the production system as including an optional manifold X600, a vortex housing X700 with a vortex chamber, a processing chamber X800 with a production disk-pack turbine, and a drive system X900. In at least one embodiment, the production system X50 includes a plurality of inputs into a vortex housing X700 that includes a vortex chamber that is in fluid communication with a disk-pack turbine (as illustrated in FIG. 11) residing inside a processing chamber X800 to facilitate a circulation through different areas of the disk-pack turbine. The processing chamber X800 will have outlets to facilitate fluid flow to the processing tank(s) X40 and / or the post-processing storage tank(s) X60 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 theprocessing tank(s) X40 to the postprocessing storage tank(s) X60. In an alternative embodiment, adjustment of the valves for routing the fluid from the processing chamber X50 is done manually.

[0039] FIGs. 7A-10B illustrate how 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. 7A-10B illustrate an example of a halo manifold 1 10 with three levels 1 12, 1 14, 116, which in at least one embodiment are independent from each other in terms of fluid passing through them. When multiple manifold levels 1 12, 1 14, 1 16 are present, the different manifold levels 1 12, 1 14, 116 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.

[0040] 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, 1 162 into each manifold level 112, 1 14, 116 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, 1144, 1 164 move away from the halo manifold 1 10 along a tangential phantom line that would be angled from a plane passing through the ring 112, 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 1 10 is above the vortex chamber 122. Similarly, the connection inlet ports 1 122, 1 142, 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.

[0041] As illustrated in the figures, the connection outlet port 1 124, 1144, 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 1 18 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 FIGs. 7A and 7B.

[0042] The passageway that connects the vortex chamber to the disk-pack turbine is in fluid communication with an expansion chamber formed in the first stage of the disk-pack turbine thatis defined by the disks and spacers making up the first stage of the disk-pack turbine as illustrated in FIGs. 1 1 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 rotor or outer disk opposite the vortex housing defining the bottom of the expansion chamber.

[0043] FIGs. 12A and 12B illustrate an example of a disk-pack turbine with two first stage disk sets and two second stage disk sets while FIGs. 13A-13C illustrate the first stage of the disk-pack turbine.

[0044] The disk-pack turbine is present within a processing chamber, which may predominately have curved surfaces. FIGs. 7A-10B illustrate examples of processing chambers having curved walls between a pair of plates providing the top and the bottom to the processing chamber. As illustrated in these figures, the processing chamber includes top and bottom plates and a housing (made of one or two pieces). 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. 7A and 8A-8C. The disk-pack turbine is mounted on a lower spindle (or drive shaft) that passes through the bottom of the processing chamber.

[0045] The disk-pack turbine includes a stack of disks through and / or over which fluid passes while it is being processed. In at least one embodiment, spacers are inserted into the disk-pack turbine as illustrated in FIG. 13B or, alternatively, spacers are integrally built into one of the disks. The spacers are used to separate the disks within the disk-pack turbine and to define the gap between the disks of the first stage. FIGs. 12A and 13A illustrate two pairs of first stage disks. 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 may be added in one or more pairs of mated disks and / or rotors added to the first stage.

[0046] In at least one further embodiment, 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 140- 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 bearinginterface 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.

[0047] 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. 12B, 13B, 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 the height 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.

[0048] 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.

[0049] 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 thesinusoidal 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.

[0050] 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. 12A-13C, it should be appreciated based on this disclosure that the diameter may be substantially similar between the outer and inner disks.

[0051] 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. 12B (G1 versus G2) and 12B (G3 versus G4). Although FIGs. 14D-14G illustrate two levels of waveforms abutting 1599, the inner level of waveforms could be rotated and aligned with the outer waveform level.

[0052] 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 similar to each other and are mirrors to each other based on their positioning and orientation within the disk-pack turbine 1406 as they are configured to face each other and to have the fluid enter from the outside of the diskpackturbine 1406 although this orientation could be reversed. Each disk 146B, 148B will typicallybe 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. 12A, 14A, and 14H.

[0053] 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, and / or multi-axial including combinations of these that when rotated provide progressive, disk channels with the waveforms being substantially centered about an expansion chamber. In at least one embodiment, the waveforms when viewed encircle the axial center (or axial center opening) that may have their amplitude (in the radial direction) and / or the height measured from the neighboring channel vary around the axial center. The neighboring channel may have a depth may vary 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.

[0054] U.S. Pat. No. 9,605,663 provides examples of waveform disks that might be used in the first stage of the disk-pack turbine. U.S. Pat. No. 9,714,176 in FIGs. 8A-8C provides an example of a disk pair that might be used in the present system including with or without rotors.

[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, nickel, mild steel, copper, beryllium-copper alloys, bismuth, bismuth alloys, magnesium alloys, silver, silver alloys, and inert plastics.

[0056] The rotation of the disk-pack turbine is provided by a drive system such as a motor that is directly or indirectly connected to a shaft on which the disk-pack turbine sits. A further example of a drive system is the motor connected through a transmission to the shaft. Anotherexample 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. 7A-10B, 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 processing chamber 130. In a further or alternative embodiment, there is a sight glass 126 present in the top of the vortex chamber 122.

[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 disk-pack turbine 140 into the processing chamber 130. The second stage 146, 148 of the diskpack 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 differentpressure 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 together impact 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] After processing, the hydrogen-based fuel is passed for storage and / or immediate use, for example as fuel for prime movers.

[0062] In a further embodiment, the tank farm and the optional processing tank(s) are located external to a housing (e.g., building) for the production system, which may be resident in an enclosed housing or structure of the building. In an alternative embodiment, the optional processing tank(s) are in close proximity to the production system and may be located in and / or below the same building as the production system. In a further embodiment, there may be multiple production systems present in the plant that may operate independently from each other or operate in a stage arrangement with the fluid passing through the first production system to storage / processing tanks before passing into the second production system and this pattern could continue through multiple production systems. Alternatively, the plant includes a common pre-processing tank farm that feeds a processing tank(s) that feeds the production system(s) and may depending upon configuration operate in a circulation loop with the production system(s) before the finally processed fluid is passed to storage tanks or is used. In at least oneembodiment, the fluid continually flows into the pre-processing tank(s) and out to the processing tank(s) for a continual process where a portion of the output of the production system is fed back to the processing tank and the rest to storage depending upon the particular configuration. In an alternative embodiment, the processing is a batch processing where fluid is preprocessed in the first tank before being moved to the processing tank to fill it, which then is used as part of a closed-loop system to process the fluid into the desired fluid before it is passed to the storage tank(s) or is used. In this embodiment, a portion of the fluid / fluid may be retained at each step to help influence the process and to allow for each step to have sufficient fluid / fluid to avoid needing to be primed.

[0063] In at least one embodiment, the processing tank and the production system work in conjunction, but when there are multiple processing tanks and / or production systems, then a variety of combinations may be made including operating the processing tanks and production systems in series or in parallel. The processing tank(s) and production system(s) may be connected one processing tank to one production system, multiple processing tanks to one production system, multiple processing tanks to multiple production systems, and one processing tank to multiple production systems. In a further embodiment, the multiple aspects and operation in series / parallel may be arranged in a variety of combinations.

[0064] 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 processing system, which may be resident in an enclosed housing or structure of the building. In an alternative embodiment, the processing tank(s) are in close proximity to the processing system and may be located in and / or below the same building as the processing system. In a further embodiment, there may be multiple processing systems present in a plant that may operate independently from each other or operate in a stage arrangement with the fluid passing through the first processing system to storage / processing tank(s) before passing into the second processing system and this pattern could continue through multiple processing systems.

[0065] In some embodiments, the processing system may operate in a continual manner or a batch processing model. In a continual manner, the processing system draws in fluid from an external source and runs it through the system at a flow velocity that allows for the fluid to pass through the two stages of the disk-pack turbine before exiting the processing chamber into, for example, either a processing tank or a storage tank. In an alternative embodiment, a portion of the fluid is recycled through the system either being pumped up to the optional manifold or the vortex chamber to run through both stages of the disk-pack turbine while the rest of the fluid is discharged from the system into either the processing tank or the storage tank. A slight alternative is to include a processing tank as part of the recirculation through the system. In a batch processing mode, the processing system would work with an external tank (processing tank or storage tank).

[0066] 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 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 the system 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.

[0067] 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.

[0068] 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, the pump flow rates, and / or the pump and / or system pressures 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).

[0069] 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 operational velocities 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 isidentified as hydrogen or other desired elemental thresholds and once the desired level is reached, the process can conclude.

[0100] 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.

[0101] 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.

[0102] 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.

[0103] 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

I claim:1 . A method for producing a hydrogen based fuel comprising: preprocessing water including filling a water tank with water sufficient to cover any inlet and any discharge of a treatment system present in said water tank, rotating a disk-pack turbine in a disk-pack module of the treatment system, spinning the water to create a vortex where the water that enters the vortex is located inside the water tank, discharging the water from the vortex module into an expansion chamber formed in the disk-pack turbine of the disk-pack module, channeling the water between spaces that exist between disks of the disk-pack turbine to travel from the expansion chamber to and along at least one discharge channel surrounding the disk-pack turbine, and discharging the water through at least one discharge port back into the water tank; moving water as a fluid from the water tank to a second tank; and processing fluid in or from the second tank to produce hydrogen based fuel including pumping fluid from the second tank into a vortex chamber, rotating a processing disk-pack turbine in the production system, creating a second vortex in the vortex chamber from the rotation of the processing disk-pack turbine to move fluid into an expansion chamber of the processing disk-pack turbine and / or pumping fluid into the vortex chamber, channeling the fluid between spaces that exist between disks of the first stage of the processing disk-pack turbine to travel from the expansion chamber to a periphery of the disks of the first stage and into a processing chamber, drawing the fluid into a second stage of the processing disk-pack turbine through an axial center opening of the second stage disk, channeling the fluid from the axial center opening to the periphery of the second stage disk back into the processing chamber, and discharging fluid from the production system.

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

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising adjusting a velocity of rotation of one or both of the disk-pack turbines during operation.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein discharging fluid from the production system includes flowing the fluid to the second tank before drawing the fluid back into the production system.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein discharging fluid from the production system includes flowing the fluid to a storage tank as hydrogen based fuel.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the fluid is determined to be the hydrogen-based 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 1-5, further comprising: at predetermined times removing the water being preprocessed from the water tank as the fluid to the second tank, and filling the water tank with new fresh pre-treated water.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the fluid is determined to be the hydrogen-based fuel when an analysis equipment detects a level of at least hydrogen being above a predetermined concentration threshold.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, further comprising: filtering the water prior to preprocessing the water, and / or screening the water prior to preprocessing the water to remove large debris.

10. A production plant comprising: a preprocessing system having a water inlet, a preprocessing tank(s) in fluid communication optionally through a valve with the water inlet, one or more water processing systems in said preprocessing tank, and a water outlet optionally with a valve; an optional processing tank(s) in fluid communication with said preprocessing tank(s); a production system in fluid communication optionally through a valve with said optional processing tank(s) and / or said preprocessing tank(s), said production system including an optional halo manifold, a vortex chamber in fluid communication with said optional halo manifold, a processing chamber, a production disk-pack turbine in said processing chamber and in fluid communication with said vortex chamber, and a drive system such as a motor connected directly or indirectly to said production disk-pack turbine, said disk-pack turbine having at least two stages of disk-packs, said processing chamber including at least one discharge in fluid communication optionally through a valve with said processing tank or another storage tank, wherein a fluid pathway exists from said vortex chamber into the first stage of the production disk-pack turbine into the processing chamber into the second stage of the production disk-pack turbine into the processing chamber out the discharge.1 1 . The production plant according to claim 10, wherein the water processing system comprising: a vortex housing having a vortex chamber; a disk-pack module having a housing defining a chamber, a disk-pack turbine within said chamber and in fluid communication with the vortex chamber,at least two discharge channels extending away from the chamber, and at least two discharge outlets, each in fluid communication with one of said discharge channels; and a drive system module engaging said disk-pack turbine.

12. The production plant according to claim 1 1 , wherein the water processing system further comprising a cover over said vortex housing, and at least one valve passing through said cover; and wherein said vortex housing having a plurality of vortex inlets in fluid communication with the vortex chamber.

13. The production plant according to claim 11 , wherein the fluid production system further comprising a controller electrically connected to said at least one valve.

14. The production plant according to claim 1 1 , wherein each discharge outlet of the water processing system extends up from said housing of said disk-pack module and is taller than said vortex housing or said discharge outlet includes a cavity that flares out from said discharge channel.

15. The production plant according to claim 1 1 , wherein said drive system module of said fluid production system includes a motor and a driveshaft connecting said motor to said production disk-pack turbine, and optionally said driveshaft passes through a barrier external to said preprocessing chamber.

16. The production plant according to claim 9, wherein the drive system includes the motor, a drive shaft connected to the motor, a second drive shaft connected to said disk-pack turbine, and a transmission between said drive shaft and said second drive shaft.

17. The production plant according to any one of claims 11-16, wherein said drive system of said production system includes a motor and a driveshaft connecting said motor to said production disk-pack turbine.

18. The production plant according to any one of claims 11-16, wherein said diskpack turbine of said fluid production system or said production system 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.

19. The production plant according to any one of claims 11-16, wherein said diskpack turbine of said preproduction system and / or said production system 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.

20. The production plant according to any one of claims 10-16, wherein said first stage of disk-packs includes two pair of mated disks where each pair is separated by a spacer, surfaces facing each other have waveforms and the outer disk of the pair of mated disks has a non-flat exterior surface, and said second stage of disk-packs includes at least one pump.21 . The production plant according to any one of claims 10-16, wherein said first stage of disk-packs includes two pair of mated disks where each pair is separated by a spacer, surfaces facing each other have waveforms and the outer disk of the pair of mated disks has a non-flat exterior surface, and said second stage of disk-packs includes two sets of a disk having a plurality of arcuate features defining multiple chambers and a plate over said multiple chambers, said plate having an axial center opening sufficiently large enough for fluid to pass through into the multiple chambers.

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