GB1585527A

GB1585527A - Process and apparatus for generating hydrogen and oxygen from water

Info

Publication number: GB1585527A
Application number: GB26101/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Century Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Century Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1976-07-06
Filing date: 1977-06-22
Publication date: 1981-03-04
Also published as: CA1080665A

Description

(54) PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN FROM WATER (71) We, CENTURY MFG. Co., a corporation organised and existing under the laws of the State of Nebraska, United States of America, of Industrial Park, Aurora, Nebraska, 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 methods and apparatuses for generating hydrogen and oxygen from water.

In one class of processes for generating hydrogen and oxygen from the disassociation of water, the water is raised to an elevated temperature and, if the temperature is sufficiently high, the energy is capable of disassociating the oxygen and hydrogen. In other systems, chemical reactants are used which interact with the water to form oxygen and hydrogen, and in closed cycle cases, are returned to their original state with further reactions, thus serving as catalysts.

The prior art systems of this class, have the disadvantage of requiring excessively high temperatures, expensive processing systems or catalysts which are exhausted and increase the cost of the system.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of disassociating the hydrogen and the oxygen of steam in which the steam is applied to the surface of a catalyst of the type having a differing attraction for hydrogen and oxygen atoms, an electric or magnetic field is applied to the steam and to the catalyst or a magnetic field is provided by use of a magnetic catalyst, and the hydrogen and the oxygen is removed from the surface of the catalyst.

The method can be carried out in an apparatus comprising a catalytic chamber having a member adapted to be connected to a source of steam and an outlet, whereby hydrogen and oxygen, may be received from the catalytic chamber, a device for applying an electric or magnetic field across the interior of at least a portion of the chamber and a catalyst within that portion of the chamber which is capable of applying a greater surface attraction to one of the hydrogen or oxygen atoms of steam than to the other.

This can be accomplished by applying dry steam from a pressure vessel to a compartment which has two stainless steel screens separated from each other by approximately one quarter of an inch and differing in potential by approximately six volts. The steam is forced past the two screens under a pressure of approximately 440 psi and at 4000F. The screens may be plated with a catalyst such as zirconium or may have the catalyst material between them or some combination of the two.

The invention will be described now by way of example only with particular reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating one process in accordance with the invention; FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic diagram showing one embodiment of an apparatus for carrying out the invention; FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, simplified perspective view, partly broken away, illustrating another embodiment of an appara tus for carrying out the invention; FIG. 4 is an exploded, fragmentary per spective view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view through the longitudinal axis of still an other embodiment of an apparatus for carrying out the invention; and FIG. 6 is a simplified, partly schematic, partly perspective view of still another embodiment of an apparatus for carrying out the invention.

Broadly, the preferred embodiment of the invention includes a process and equipment for weakening the bond between hydrogen and oxygen atoms in a water molecule and separating the hydrogen and oxygen by an electric or magnetic field. The bonds between the hydrogen and oxygen atoms are weakened by applying steam to the surface of a catalyst.

As shown in FIG. 1, the method of the preferred embodiment of the invention includes the following steps: (1) the step 10 of applying heat to water to generate steam; (2) the step 12 of applying the steam to the surface of a catalyst; (3) the step 14 of restructuring or disassociating atoms of hydrogen and oxygen from each other to form ions; (4) the step 16 of separating hydrogen and oxygen ions from each other in the presence of an electric or magnetic field; G) the step 18 of deionising and combining oxygen and hydrogen atoms into gaseous oxygen and hydrogen; and (6) the step 20 of separating gaseous hydrogen and oxygen from each other.

In the preferred embodiment, energy is applied to water to form steam. This is a convenient and economical manner of increasing the enthalpy of the water prior to applying it in the steam phase to the surface of the catalyst. However, a strong electric or magnetic field may be used as a substitute for some of the heat applied to the water.

The steam is applied to tbe surface of the catalyst in the preferred embodiment under the pressure of steam at approximately 400 psi. However, the steam may be moved continuously over the surface of the catalyst by any other means or the steam pressure and some other means such as a pumping source may be used together in appropriate circumstanoes.

The catalysts are materials, the surfaces of which adsorb hydrogen and oxygen in separated or ionized form. They are materials the crystal or atomic structure of which provide ready bonding of electrons from the catalyst to the hydrogen and/or oxygen and from the hydrogen and/ or oxygen to the catalyst. Within this group are chromium, cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, palladium, zirconium, germanium and niobium.

To separate the hydrogen and oxygen which have been adsorbed in ionic form at the surface of the catalyst, the steam continually flows over the catalyst to impart a velocity to the ions and at the same time an electric or magnetic field pulls the ions apart. The electric or magnetic field may be either externally applied or applied by magnetizing some of the magnetic catalysts themselves. A relatively low intensity field is sufficient.

After being separated from each other, the hydrogep and oxygen ions combine since they are in their nascent stage into gaseous oxygen and hydrogen molecules which are forced from the catalyst chamber into a separating unit by the pressure generated by the steam or by the external pumping means. The gases may be separated from each other by any conventional means such as by centrifugation.

In FIG. 2, there is shown a simplified diagrammatic drawing of a catalyst chamber 21 connected to a source of steam 22 from which it receives steam under pressure through a conduit 24. The catalyst chamber 21 includes a stainless steel cylinder 26 having an inlet communicating with the conduit 24 and an outlet communicating with a conduit 28. Within the cylinder 26 and adjacent to opposite ends thereof are two stainless steel screens 30 and 32, of the type sold under the trademark DYNA PORE filters with the screen 30 being adjacent to the inlet conduit 24 and the screen 12 being adjacent to the outlet conduit 28.

Between the screens 30 and 32 is a looselypacked powder catalyst including chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, molybdenum and palladium. To apply a magnetic field across the catalyst, the electromagnetic coils 34 and 36 are placed across the cylinder 26 to establish a magnetic field across it upon energization.

The cylinder 26 has a one-inch outer diameter and is six inches long. The catalyst powder within the cylinder 26 between the two screens 30 and 32 is loosely packed and consists of 150 grams of chromium, 177.7 grams of manganese, 55 grams of cobalt, 110 grams of nickel, 107 grams of molybdenum and 10 grams of palladium having mesh sizes between 100 and 325.

The catalyst chamber 26 is operated with steam pressure of approximately 400 psi passing therethrough and a strong magnetic field at least near the beginning of operation to magnetize the cylinder, after which, the magnetism of the material within the cylinder is sufficient to sustain operation of the cylinder in disassociating steam into hydrogen and oxygen.

In FIG. 3, there is shown another em bodiment of catalytic chamber 38, having an inlet tube 40, an outer right regular cylindrical casing 42, and an outlet tube 44.

Within the stainless steel cylinder 42, is a smaller cylinder 46 formed of a plurality of annular phenolic rings 48, rings 48A48C being shown in FIG. 3, aligned with each other about a common longitudinal axis adjacent to the inner wall of the stainless steel cylinder 42. Between each of the rings, is a different stainless steel mesh or screen 550, screens 50A-50D being shown in FIG. 3. Suitable screens are the stainless steel filters sold under the trade name DYNAPORE mentioned hereinabove.

The screens 50 form cylindrical solid compartments enclosed with a lateral surface formed by cylindrical rings 48A-48C and by the flat surfaces of stainless steel screens 50A-50D. Alternate ones of the stainless steel meshes 50A, 50C are connected to an electrical conductor 52 and the remaining screens 50B and 50D, which also alternate with each other and the screens 50A and 50C are connected to a source of positive potential through conductor 54, the conductor 52 being connected to the negative terminal of a battery 56 and the conductor 54 being connected to the positive terminal of the battery 56.For this purpose as best shown in the exploded view in FIG. 4, the conductor 52 extends through apertures in each of the rings 48A-48C and is electrically connected to alternate ones of the screens 50A-50D whereas conductor 54 passes through apertures 60 and is electrically connected to the remainder of the screens SO.

The meshes 50 are stainless steel meshes which have been plated with zirconium, which serves as the catalyst in the catalytic chamber 38. In the operation of the catalytic chamber 38, dry steam flows through the inlet 40 while the screens 50 are energized by the battery 56 with alternate screens having alternate potentials. With this arrangement, the dry steam, as it passes through the catalytic chamber, is ionized on the zirconium surfaces and separated by the potential difference between alternate screens into nascent hydrogen and oxygen, which combine into gaseous molecular hydrogen and oxygen after leaving the screens.

The oxygen and hydrogen are forced out of the outlet 44 by steam pressure. While zirconium is shown as the catalyst in the embodiment of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, other catalysts which have differing attractions for hydrogen and oxygen atoms may be used instead.

In FIG. 5, still another embodiment of catalytic chamber is shown having a stainless steel outer shell 64 and a phenolic cylinder 66 similar to the phenolic cylinder 46 in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, including a plurality of phenolic rings 68A68E. Between the rings are wire screens 70A-70D forming individual compartments such as 72 and 74. The cylindrical compartments 72 and 74 are filled with catalytic powder, which may be powdered zirconium. The screens 70A-70D are also stainless steel screens which may be plated with zirconium although this is not necessary in this embodiment because of the catalyst between screens.

In this embodiment, a conductor 76, which is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the battery, passes through aligned apertures 78A-78E on one side of the rings 68 and is connected to alternate pairs of wire screens such as 70A and 70B so as to energize one compartment 72 on both sides. Similarly, a second conductor 79 passes through a second set of aligned apertures 80A-80E in the rings 68 and is connected to different alternate pairs of screens such as 70C and 70D to energize the opposite sides of the compartment 74.

Otherwise, the catalytic chamber of Figure 5 is similar in structure and operation to the catalytic chamber 38.

It has been found that the catalytic chamber of Figure 5 provides superior results when steam is passed through it as compared to separated zirconium wire meshes without further catalytic material in between. With this arrangement, a higher percentage of the steam is converted to hydrogen and oxygen.

In FIG. 6, there is shown still another embodiment of catalytic convertor 81 having an aluminum tube 82 and a phenolic tube 84. The aluminum tube 82 is electrically grounded and has a different one of the stainless steel screens 86 and 88 at each of its ends 90 and 91. A first end 90 is adapted to be connected to a source of dry steam and a second end is adapted to communicate with interior of phenolic tube 84.

Approximately 1/4 inch from the screen 88 when the tubes 82 and 84 are connected side by side is a stainless steel screen at 92 which is electrically connected to the negative terminal of a battery 94 and at the other end is a similar screen 85. Powdered zirconium is placed between the screens 86 and 88 and between the screens 92 and 85 to form two cylindrical compartments of powdered zirconium each of which are separated by a length of appproximately 1/4 inch.

Steam applied to the catalytic chamber 81 at 440"F and 400 psi results in the disassociation of hydrogen and oxygen from the steam, providing a flame which can be sustained at approximately 20 feet. The same results are obtained when powdered niobium is substituted for powdered zirconium.

EXAMPLES The following examples illustrate the invention.

GENERAL CONDITIONS In testing the processes and the equipment used to generate hydrogen, water was heated in a pressure chamber to a fixed temperature and pressure measured by gauges within the pressure chamber and then permitted to flow under its own pressure through the selected catalysts in the presence of an electric or magnetic field.

The resulting flow stream beyond the catalyst was ignited and the characteristic blue flame for hydrogen observed and measured with the pressure of the out flow being adjusted by a needle valve.

EXAMPLE I Steam at a pressure of 400 psi was forced through a tube including 177.7 grams of manganese, 55.0 grams of cobalt, 110.0 grams of nickel, 107.0 grams of molyb denum and 10 grams of palladium in the presence of a high external magnetic field applied by a magnetometer magnet magnetizer. The output was ignited and provided a six inch blue flame from a 1/4 inch outlet which burned for 1.5 hours, before being terminated.

EXAMPLE II Steam at a pressure of 400 psi was sent through a tube including 177.7 grams of manganese, 55.0 grams of cobalt, 110.0 grams of nickel, 107.0 grams of molybdenum, 10 grams of palladium, and 50% by volume of lava rock in the presence of a high external magnetic field applied by a magnetometer magnet magnetizer. The output was ignited and provided a six inch blue flame from a 1/4 inch outlet which burned for 1.5 hours, before being terminated.

At 150 psi some hydrogen was emitted sufficient to obtain a small flame. At 350 psi an eight inch flame was obtained.

EXAMPLE III Steam under a pressure of 50 psi and temperature of 250"F was forced through 12 zirconium plated stainless steel screens all having a pulsating potential difference between alternate screens of 110 volt. The screens were 1/4 inch apart and were in a phenoilc tube having an inner diameter of 1/4 inch. At 50 psi a flame was obtained at the outlet of about 20 inches in length.

EXAMPLE IV Steam under a pressure of 50 psi and the temperature of 250"F was forced through 12 zirconium plated stainless steel screens all having a potential difference between alternate screens of 6 volts DC. The screens are 1/4 inch apart and were in a phenolic tube having an inner diameter of 1/4 inch. At 50 psi a flame was obtained at the outlet of about 20 inches in length.

EXAMPLE V The 12 zirconium plated screens were combined in pairs with each pair being connected to one of the terminals of the 6 volt source, alternate pairs being connected to the positive terminal and to the negative terminal. Between the pairs of screens, the following mixture was placed: 177.7 grams of manganese, 55.0 grams of cobalt, 110.0 grams of nickel, 107.0 grams of molybdenum and 10 grams of palladium, so that there were filled compartments of catalysts separated by air gaps. Steam at 440"F with pressure of 400 psi was applied through the chamber and the gas leaving the chamber is burned in a flame of approximately 15 inches long passing through an orifice in a 1 inch exit pipe.

EXAMPLE VI Steam under a pressure of 400 psi at 4400F is applied through powdered zirconium in an aluminum tube which was grounded and then through further powdered zirconium in a phenolic tube having a screen with a potential of 6 volts on it, separated from the aluminum tube and an end screen on the aluminum tube by 0.25 inches and from there to an exit portion approximately 2 inches away with zirconium in it. The gas upon leaving burned with a blue flame.

EXAMPLE VII Steam from a pressure vessel was heated in a coil and passed through a mixture of magnetized magnetite, CeO, Eu2O3 and GdO. The vapor output was ignited and burned for 10 minutes with a blue flame.

EXAMPLE VIII A powder mixture of 10% Co, 10% Ni, 3% Sm, 7% Cr, 10% Mn, 25% Mo, 1% Pd, 29% V, 5% B, by weight was packed in a catalyst chamber surrounded by a current carrying coil. Steam was passed through the chamber while the coil was energized and the output of the chamber was ignited providing a blue flame.

As can be understood from the above description, the method and apparatus of this invention have the advantages of providing hydrogen from water without exhausting a catalyst and using a low pressure and temperature steam and low electric potentials.

Although specific examples have been described with particularity, many modifications of the examples are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A method of disassociating the hydrogen and the oxygen of steam in which the steam is applied to the surface of a catalyst of the type having a differing attraction for hydrogen and oxygen atoms, an electric or

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. EXAMPLES The following examples illustrate the invention. GENERAL CONDITIONS In testing the processes and the equipment used to generate hydrogen, water was heated in a pressure chamber to a fixed temperature and pressure measured by gauges within the pressure chamber and then permitted to flow under its own pressure through the selected catalysts in the presence of an electric or magnetic field. The resulting flow stream beyond the catalyst was ignited and the characteristic blue flame for hydrogen observed and measured with the pressure of the out flow being adjusted by a needle valve. EXAMPLE I Steam at a pressure of 400 psi was forced through a tube including 177.7 grams of manganese, 55.0 grams of cobalt, 110.0 grams of nickel, 107.0 grams of molyb denum and 10 grams of palladium in the presence of a high external magnetic field applied by a magnetometer magnet magnetizer. The output was ignited and provided a six inch blue flame from a 1/4 inch outlet which burned for 1.5 hours, before being terminated. EXAMPLE II Steam at a pressure of 400 psi was sent through a tube including 177.7 grams of manganese, 55.0 grams of cobalt, 110.0 grams of nickel, 107.0 grams of molybdenum, 10 grams of palladium, and 50% by volume of lava rock in the presence of a high external magnetic field applied by a magnetometer magnet magnetizer. The output was ignited and provided a six inch blue flame from a 1/4 inch outlet which burned for 1.5 hours, before being terminated. At 150 psi some hydrogen was emitted sufficient to obtain a small flame. At 350 psi an eight inch flame was obtained. EXAMPLE III Steam under a pressure of 50 psi and temperature of 250"F was forced through 12 zirconium plated stainless steel screens all having a pulsating potential difference between alternate screens of 110 volt. The screens were 1/4 inch apart and were in a phenoilc tube having an inner diameter of 1/4 inch. At 50 psi a flame was obtained at the outlet of about 20 inches in length. EXAMPLE IV Steam under a pressure of 50 psi and the temperature of 250"F was forced through 12 zirconium plated stainless steel screens all having a potential difference between alternate screens of 6 volts DC. The screens are 1/4 inch apart and were in a phenolic tube having an inner diameter of 1/4 inch. At 50 psi a flame was obtained at the outlet of about 20 inches in length. EXAMPLE V The 12 zirconium plated screens were combined in pairs with each pair being connected to one of the terminals of the 6 volt source, alternate pairs being connected to the positive terminal and to the negative terminal. Between the pairs of screens, the following mixture was placed: 177.7 grams of manganese, 55.0 grams of cobalt, 110.0 grams of nickel, 107.0 grams of molybdenum and 10 grams of palladium, so that there were filled compartments of catalysts separated by air gaps. Steam at 440"F with pressure of 400 psi was applied through the chamber and the gas leaving the chamber is burned in a flame of approximately 15 inches long passing through an orifice in a 1 inch exit pipe. EXAMPLE VI Steam under a pressure of 400 psi at 4400F is applied through powdered zirconium in an aluminum tube which was grounded and then through further powdered zirconium in a phenolic tube having a screen with a potential of 6 volts on it, separated from the aluminum tube and an end screen on the aluminum tube by 0.25 inches and from there to an exit portion approximately 2 inches away with zirconium in it. The gas upon leaving burned with a blue flame. EXAMPLE VII Steam from a pressure vessel was heated in a coil and passed through a mixture of magnetized magnetite, CeO, Eu2O3 and GdO. The vapor output was ignited and burned for 10 minutes with a blue flame. EXAMPLE VIII A powder mixture of 10% Co, 10% Ni, 3% Sm, 7% Cr, 10% Mn, 25% Mo, 1% Pd, 29% V, 5% B, by weight was packed in a catalyst chamber surrounded by a current carrying coil. Steam was passed through the chamber while the coil was energized and the output of the chamber was ignited providing a blue flame. As can be understood from the above description, the method and apparatus of this invention have the advantages of providing hydrogen from water without exhausting a catalyst and using a low pressure and temperature steam and low electric potentials. Although specific examples have been described with particularity, many modifications of the examples are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A method of disassociating the hydrogen and the oxygen of steam in which the steam is applied to the surface of a catalyst of the type having a differing attraction for hydrogen and oxygen atoms, an electric or

magnetic field is applied to the steam and to the catalyst or a magnetic field is provided by use of a magnetic catalyst, and the hydrogen and the oxygen is removed from the surface of the catalyst.

2. A method according to claim 1 in which the catalyst is zirconium.

3. A method according to claim 1 in which the catalyst is manganese.

4. A method according to claim 1 in which the catalyst is cobalt.

5. A method according to claim 1 in which the catalyst is nickel.

6. A method according to claim 1 in which the catalyst is molybdenum.

7. A method according to claim 1 in which the catalyst is palladium.

8. A method according to claim 1 in which the catalyst is chromium.

9. A method according to claim 1 in which the catalyst is germanium.

10. A method according to any of claims 1 to 9 in which the step of applying electric or magnetic fields includes the step of applying an eletcric field having an intensity of greater than 12 volts per inch across the catalyst and the steam.

11. A method according to either of claims 1 or 7 in which the step of applying steam to the surface of a catalyst includes the step of forcing steam at an elevated temperature against the surface of a powdered catalyst.

12. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 for disassociating the hydrogen and oxygen of steam substantially as described and shown in the accompanying specification and drawings.