GB1563551A

GB1563551A - Electromagnetic radiation reactor combustion chamber

Info

Publication number: GB1563551A
Application number: GB21464/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1976-06-03
Filing date: 1977-05-20
Publication date: 1980-03-26
Also published as: ES458801A1; CA1101228A; JPS52148708A; CH631006A5; SE432127B; NL7705588A; SE7705984L; DE2722209A1; BR7703302A; NL185101C; BE853931A; NL185101B

Abstract

The energy converter has a housing (11), in which a reaction chamber (13) and a combustion chamber (15) are arranged. Concentrated solar radiation is conducted from a parabolic mirror (23) arranged above the reactor housing through a transparent solar glass (31) into the reaction chamber and there strikes a conical reflector (33) which distributes the radiation in the reaction chamber (13). Hydrogen and chlorine are guided in the molecular state via lines (19, 21) into the reaction chamber, in which the chlorine molecules disassociate to form atomic chlorine as a result of the radiation. Chlorine molecules and hydrogen molecules are, together with oxygen supplied via openings (37), guided into the combustion chamber (15), in which a controlled explosive reaction takes place to form hydrogen chloride. The reaction heat and the reaction pressure can be utilised for driving a turbine or a piston machine, it being possible to heat a medium in a duct (30) in the inside of the reactor. When this energy converter is used, fossil fuels can be forgone. Moreover, a complete cleaning of the combustion products arising is possible. <IMAGE>

Description

(54) ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION REACTOR COMBUSTION CHAMBER (71) We, ROBERT LEE SCRAGS and ALFRED BROWNING PARKER, both citizens of the United States of America, and both of 2937 Southwest 27th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33133, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to reactors and combustion chambers, and, more particularly, is related to reactors and combustion chambers which utilize molecular hydrogen and chlorine gases in the presence of electromagnetic radiation, such as solar or artificial light energy, to produce atomic hydrogen and chlorine which are exothermically combined in the presence of atmospheric oxygen to produce heat energy which is converted into chemical or mechanical energy for propulsion and/or for the generation of electrical power.

In the process of convertting fossil fuels into mechanical or chemical energy for the purpose of generating mechanical or electrical power, two types of combustion processes are known, i.e., external and internal combustion. External combustion is generally accomplished by burning a fuel in an open combustion chamber resulting in a flame which is typically supported by atmospheric oxygen. Internal combustion is typically accomplished by introducing a fuel and a fixed amount of oxygen or other suitable oxidizing agent within an enclosed combustion chamber. The fuel and oxidizing agent are ignited which results in a rapid burning or explosion within the chamber, Both the internal and external combustion properties are generally sustained by an open flame or an electrical arc. Both the internal and external combustion processes result in a typically low efficiency conversion of energy. Further both methods produce harmful exhaust emissions and pollutants and all methods of converting fossil fuels into energy are dependent upon a limited and increasingly expensive supply of such fuels.

It, therefore, is an object of the invention to provide apparatus for generating energy by means of a non-fossil fuel.

It is another object to provide an energygeneration system wherein products of combustion formed therein can be totally cleansed of emissions and pollutants which are harmful to the atmosphere and the environment.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a reactor combustion chamber wherein an exothermic reaction is supported by solar and/or artificial light.

Accordingly, the invention provides an electromagnetic radiation reactor comprising a reactor chamber, means for controllably supplying chlorine and hydrogen to said reactor chamber, means for directing electro-magnetic radiation into said chamber to thereby expand and ionize said chlorine, a combustion chamber, valve means communicating said reactor chamber with said combustion chamber, and means for controllably supplying oxygen to said combustion chamber, whereby during operation of the reactor said chlorine and hydrogen react exothermically in said combustion chamber in the presence of said oxygen to generate hydrogen chloride at a high pressure and temperature level.

The electromagnetic radiation may be in the form of solar energy, and in one preferred embodiment a parabolic reflector, or other suitable focusing means, is positioned with respect to the reactor chamber and is controlled to follow the sun by means of an automated azimuth tracker. The parabolic reflector concentrates solar rays onto a focal point reflector which reflects the solar beam via a series of reflectors through a solar sight glass and into the reactor chamber. The beam of light passes through the reactor chamber and onto the surface of a light dispersal means such as a conical reflector valve at the base of the reactor chamber. Thus, the solar rays are dispersed throughout the reactor chamber.

The chlorine gas molecules, supplied to the reactor chamber, are split into ionized chlorine atoms by the solar rays. The resulting hydrogen and chlorine cause an increase in the pressure of the reactor chamber, thereby forcing the chlorine atoms and hydrogen into the combustion chamber. In the combustion chamber, the chlorine and hydrogen react in the presence of atmospheric oxygen with controlled explosive violence. The hot gases formed from the explosion can be utilized to provide mechanical and/or electrical power. As an example, the hot gases can be utilized to heat a boiler, displace a piston, or drive a turbine.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, several embodiments of the invention. In the drawings: figure 1 is a section view taken in elevation of one embodiment of the invention; figure 2 is a section view taken in elevation of another embodiment, Figure 3 is a section view taken in elevation of another embodiment utilized as a steam generator; Figure 4 is a section view taken in elevation of a further embodiment utilized as a turbine drive means; and Figure 5 is a section view taken in elevation of yet another embodiment utilized as a piston engine drive means.

Throughout the detailed description of the illustrated embodiments of the invention which follows, like numerals correspond to like elements in the different drawing figures.

IRefer now to Figure 1 where there is disclosed a simplified section view of one embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reactor combustion chamber in accordance with the invention. The electromagnetic radiation reactor combustion chamber includes a housing 11 which may, for example, be formed 'of reinforced concrete or other materials capable of withstanding very high pressure levels. The housing is divided into a reaction chamber 13 and a combustion chamber 15, by means of a wall 17. Fuel or reactants in the form of chlorine and hydrogen are fed into the reactor chamber 13, via tubes 19 and 21, respectively, at controlled rates.

In this embodiment of the invention solar rays are concentrated and intensified by an azimuth tracking parabolic reflector system of a type well known in the art and providing means for directing electromagnetic radiation, in this case solar radiation, into the reaction chamber. Solar radiation is directed by a parabolic reflector 23 which tracks the sun by means of the azi muth tracker 25. The parabolic reflector concentrates the solar rays onto a focal point reflector 27 which reflects the intense solar beam via reflector 29 through a solar sight glass 31. The intensified solar rays are directed downwardly through the solar sight glass 31 which is encased within the walls of the housing 11 and onto the surface of a conical reflector valve 33, which disperses the intense solar rays onto the surface of the reactor walls. It should be understood that the reflector 33 can have a flat or convex shape, if desired. Of primary importance, however, is the fact that the solar rays must be dispersed throughout the reaction chamber 13 in order to provide for the most efficient operation of the method and apparatus of the present invention.

As mentioned above, molecular chlorine and hydrogen gas are supplied into the chamber 13 via tubes 19 and 21, respectively. When the chlorine becomes exposed to the solar radiation within the chamber, the chlorine expands to form ionic atomic chlorine within the chamber. The chlorine and hydrogen are at least partially combined in chamber 13 to form HCl and a large amount of heat energy. Accordingly, the pressure level within the chamber 13 is substantially increased. The hydrogen, chlorine and HCl are forced through valve port 35, defined by the conical reflector 33 and the wall 17, into the combustion chamber 15. Also, coupled to the combustion chamber 15 is atmospheric oxygen via a plurality of openings 37. The hydrogen and chlorine combine in the presence of the atmospheric oxygen, with controlled explosive violence, to thereby create hydrogen chloride gas and intense heat and pressure within the chamber 15. The explosive pressures and heat thus generated are utilized to perform work by generating steam, driving a turbine and/or driving a piston, as will become more fully apparent herein- below. The high pressure gases generated within the chamber 15 are conducted from the chamber 15 by means of ports 39, or may be conducted from the chamber in a particular manner, as set out more fully in connection with discussion of Figures 4 and 5.

As will become apparent from Figure 1, the conical reflector 33 is fixedly secured to a reciprocating support member 41 and is spring-biased to close the port 35. However, when the pressure within chamber 13 increases, at a predetermined level, the port 35 is opened by forcing the conical reflector 33 downwardly. Subsequently, upon the occurrence of a controlled explosion in the combustion chamber 15, the conical reflector is driven upwardly to close the port 35. This pulsating expansion and combustion process occurs repeatedly as the chlorine and hydrogen molecules are split into atomic hydrogen and chlorine and, subsequently, are combined to form HCI in the combustion chamber 15.

As an alternative, the conical reflector 33 can be fixedly positioned to provide a continuously open port 35 or it can be controlled by a cam to open the port 35 at preselected time intervals.

Refer now to Figure 2 where there is disclosed an alternative embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reactor combustion chamber in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, the housing 111 is formed of a metallic material such as in a standard internal combustion engine wherein the engine is designed for propelling a vehicle or for other similar applications. In order to minimize corrosion, the internal walls of the housing may be formed of an impervious carbonaceous material such as "KT" Silicon Carbidet which has excellent thermal shock characteristics. In this embodiment, rather than utilizing solar energy for splitting the molecular chlorine into atomic chlorine, as in the embodiment of Figure 1, electromagnetic radiation in the form of artificial light is generated by, for example, a photographic projection lamp 44, or other suitable high-intensity light source. The light source is housed in a chamber 45, preferably having reflector walls therein so that substantially all the light generated by the source 44 is eventually directed downwardly through the sight glass 31 into the reaction chamber 13. Thus the walls of the chamber 45 and the sight glass 31 provide means for directing the electromagnetic radiation into the reaction chamber 13. The structure of the reactor combustion chamber is otherwise similar to that of Figure 1 and is for the purpose of providing a means for efficiently and economically generating energy.

Refer now to Figure 3 where there is disclosed an embodiment of a solar reactor combustion chamber utilized for the purpose of generating steam. The solar reactor combustion chamber is similar to that illustrated in Figure 1. However, carbonaceous blocks 51 are positioned along at least two internal walls of the combustion chamber 15. The carbonaceous blocks, preferably consisting of "KT" Silicon Carbide, manufactured by the Carborundum Corporation, have relatively large side surface areas 53 and a relatitvely small or narrow depth dimension, with each of the blocks being fixedly positioned against the side walls of the housing 11 of the combustion chamber 15. A carbonaceous block may be formed of any suitable low permeability impervious graphite or carbon material but, as aforementioned, in a preferred embodiment is formed of "KT" Silicon Carbide. Such a block can operate at working temperatures of up to 3,000oF. in an oxidizing atmosphere and has a thermal conductivity in excess of 700 BTU 1 hr./sq.ft./OF./in. In addition, "KT" Silicon Carbide is impermeable, has excellent thermal shock characteristics, and can contain liquid or gas at pressures in excess of 2000 psig.

As illustrated, channel 30 is formed in each of the blocks 51, with the channel 30 having a grid structure so that fluid or gas, passing through the channel is exposed to a maximum of the heat energy absorbed by the carbonaceous block, In operation, a liquid or vapor such as water or steam is fed into the channel 30 at the input 55 thereto. The fluid passes upwardly through the blocks 51 and out of the ports 57. In the meantime, heat from the combustion chamber 15 is transferred to the carbonaceous blocks 51 by conduction, convection and radiation. The energy is efficiently absorbed by the cabonaceous block and is converted into heat energy.

This heat energy is, in turn, transferred to the fluid passing through the channels 30.

As the fluid heats up, it begins to expand, to rise in temperature, and to increase in velocity. As the fluid travels upward in the channels 30, the fluid absorbs more of the heat absorbed by the carbonaceous block and continues its expansion until it reaches a desired heat and pressure level and is exhausted through the outlet ports 57. The resulting high temperature fluid can be utilized to drive turbines or power other suitable mechanisms. In the meantime, the exhaust gases from the combustion chamber 13 are exhausted via outlet port 39.

Refer now to Figure 4 where there is disclosed an alternative embodiment of electromagnetic radiation reactor combustion chamber in accordance with the present invention utilized to drive a turbine. In this embodiment, at least one reactor-combustion housing 11 is fixedly secured to a turbine 61 which includes a plenum chamber 63, a turbine rotor 65, mounted on a shaft 67, and a turbine housing 69 which defines therein a torus ring assembly 71, which guides the hot gases from the combustion chamber 15 into the turbine blades 65 of turbine 61. Thus, in operation, atmospheric oxygen is supplied to plenum chamber 63 via an annular port 73. The oxygen passes into the combustion chamber 15 of the reactor combustion system 11 through ports 391 to thereby control the formation of hydrogen chloride therein. The hot ex paning reaction products are forced outwardly through the bottom of chamber 15 into the torus ring 71 defined by the tur bine housing 69. The hot gases are then forced radially inwardly toward the turbine rotor 65 to cause the turbine rotor to rapidly rotate in response thereto. The exhaust gases are then forced from the turbine out through port 75 into a scrubber chamber 30. The scrubber chamber receives water into which the HCl dissolves to form hydrochloric acid which falls to the bottom of the scrubber chamber and into container 24. The remaining gases are exhausted to the atmosphere. Sodium hydroxide is supplied to the container 24 via line 38 to thereby convert the sodium hydroxide to water and sodium chloride.

The water and sodium chloride are fed to the chlorine-sodium hydroxide electrolysis cell 50. The output of the electrolysis cell in the form of chlorine and hydrogen is supplied to chamber 13 via lines 19 and 21, respectively. Thus, the sodium and chlorine are continuously recycled to thereby substantially reduce the cost of fuel over that required in conventional fossil fuel powered turbine generators. Furthermore, the emission products exhausted to atmosphere are primarily water and the elements found in the atmosphere. Accordingly, a clean-burning, efficient turbine engine is provided which is relatively inexpensive to operate. While in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, only one reaction combustion chamber is illustrated, it should be understood that a plurality of such reaction combustion chambers can be positioned about the outside periphery of the turbine housing 69 to provide for a more uniform distribution of the high velocity reaction gases generated in the reaction chamber 15.

Refer now to Figure 5 where there is disclosed an alternative embodiment of electromagnetic radiation reactor combustion chamber in accordance with the present invention utilized to drive a piston in a piston engine. In this embodiment, the housing 11 of the reactor chamber is fixedly secured to the engine housing 81 with the exhaust port 39 from the pre-combustion chamber 15 leading into a main combustion chamber 83 defined by the engine block 85, piston 87 and header block 88. Atmospheric oxygen is conducted into the chamber 83 via passage 89 and intake valve 91. This oxygen mixes with the atomic chlorine and hydrogen, passing downwardly through the chamber 15 and into the chamber 83 to create a substantial expansion thereof via a controlled explosive reaction. The resulting combustion products are exhausted from the chamber 83 via exhaust valve 93 and exhaust passage 95. Each time oxygen is admitted into the chamber 83, an explosion occurs which drives the piston 87 downwardly. Upon the upward return stroke, a conical reflector valve 33 is driven upwardly to close the port 35. At the same time, exhaust valve 93 is opened, allowing the exhaust products to pass out to exhaust passage 95. Subsequently, the piston 87 is again moved downwardly, permitting the conical reflector valve 33 to open up to permit atomic chlorine and hydrogen to pass downwardly into the pre-combustion chamber 15 and the chamber 83. At the same time, oxygen is supplied to the chamber 83 via intake valve 91 to control the exothermic combination of the hydrogen and chlorine. The piston is then driven downwardly to complete the cycle.

It should be understood that an electromagnetic radiation reactor in accordance with the present invention can be used to drive a rotary engine such as a Wankel engine as well as two and four stroke piston engines. The embodiment of Figure 5 merely illustrates the application of a reactor to piston engines for efficiently and economically driving these engines.

While the present invention has been disclosed by way of example in connection with preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that there may be other variations 'of the invention which fall within the scope thereof, as defined by the

Claims

appended claims. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. An electromagnetic radiation reactor comprising a reactor chamber, means for controilably supplying chlorine and hydrogen to said reactor chamber, means for directing electromagnetic radiation into said chamber to thereby expand and ionize said chlorine, a combustion chamber, valve means communicating said reactor chamber with said combustion chamber, and means for controllably supplying oxygen to said combustion chamber, whereby during operation of the reactor said chlorine and hydrogen react exothermically in said combustion chamber in the presence of said oxygen to generate hydrogen chloride at a high pressure and temperature level.

2. A reactor according to claim 1, further comprising at least one block of low permeability impervious silicon carbide having a relatively large conductive-convective radiation-receiving side surface and a relatively small depth dimension positioned in said combustion chamber, a fluid-conducting channel formed in said block in the form of a grid so that said channel passes in proximity to a substantial portion of said radiation-receiving sides of said block, during operation said high temperature exothermic reaction in said combustion chamber heating said silicon carbide block to thereby heat said fluid passing therethrough.

3. A reactor according to claim 2, wherein said silicon carbide block comprises "KT" silicon carbide.

4. A reactor according to claim 1, further comprising a turbine, and means for communicating said combustion chamber with said turbine to permit said generated hydrogen chloride at high pressure and temperature to drive the rotor of said turbine.

5. A reactor according to claim 1, further comprising an engine housing, said reactor chamber and said combustion chamber being positioned with respect to said engine housing and said engine housing forming a cylinder, a piston reciprocable within said cylinder, means for controllably coupling oxygen to said combustion chamber to thereby exothermically react said hydrogen and chlorine to generate hydrogen chloride at a high pressure and temperature level, said high pressure hydrogen chloride forcing said piston downwardly in said cylinder, and means for exhausting said hydrogen chloride and said oxygen.

6. A reactor according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said electro-magnetic radiation is solar radiation.

7. A reactor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said electro-magnetic radiation is generated by artificial means.

8. A reactor according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising means for concentrating said electromagnetic radiation, means for directing said concentrated radiation into said reactor chamber, and means for dispersing said radiation in said reactor chamber so that said radiation is dispersed throughout the chamber.

9. An electromagnetic radiation reactor constructed and arranged substantially as herein particularly described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.