GB2344110A

GB2344110A - The production of alloy granules and their use in hydrogen generation

Info

Publication number: GB2344110A
Application number: GB9825885A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Mcelroy Carloss
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-11-27
Filing date: 1998-11-27
Publication date: 2000-05-31
Also published as: GB9825885D0

Abstract

Alloy granules are made by forming a first electrode 20 from metal sheets 12-14 of different compositions and powder 15 lying between the sheets (see Fig. 6). An arc is struck between the first electrode 20 and a second carbon electrode 19, thereby forming molten granules from the first electrode 20 which are collected in a revolving receptacle 17. The granules are made from aluminium, tin and zinc with trace amounts of silicon and antimony and are used in the generation of hydrogen. For hydrogen generation, granules (6, Fig 1) are placed in a reaction vessel (1, Fig 1) along with water (11, Fig. 1). Heat is then applied to the vessel, e.g. from electric elements or from a geothermal or solar source, and the evolved hydrogen gas is collected.

Description

HEAT SENSITIVE WATER SPLITTING ALLOY GRANULES This invention relates to heat sensitive granules capable of producing Hydrogen from water.

The production of Hydrogen gas from water has been, and still is, an ongoing worldwide area of research and development, and has been the subject of many publications both privately and by the Patent Office.

Many of these systems however have failed for reasons such as: 1. Use of very expensive or rare and exotic elements.

2. Rapid decrease in Hydrogen evolution, fast deterioration of one or more elements used in the reaction system, and fast deterioration of the active substances used due to poisoning.

3. Manufacturing costs were too high for commercial exploitation.

4. Conversion efficiency figure too low.

5. The ancillary equipment involved was too much and too expensive for commercial purposes.

6. The use of semi-conductor p and n elements implied high costs.

According to the present invention there is provided a suitable reaction vessel which contains an electrolyte (typically water), and submerged in this electrolyte are alloy granules. When energy in the form of heat, eg, Waste-Geothermal, Solar or Industrial-is applied to the reaction vessel Hydrogen gas is produced at their active centres, ie, at the liquid/solid active interface junctions.

The overall purpose of this system is to convert applied (otherwise waste) heat energy into a gas of very high calorific values.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :- Figure 1 shows the general concept of one form of the reaction vessel system and its embodiments when used in conjunction with a heat energy source, either of natural or man made origin.

Figure 2 shows a similar reaction system when used with a solar energy source.

Figure 3 shows the first stage in the manufacture of the active granules.

Figure 4 shows second stage.

Figure 5 shows third stage.

Figure 6 shows fourth stage.

Figure 7 shows fifth stage.

Figure 8 shows sixth stage.

Figure 9 shows seventh stage.

Figure 10 shows eighth and final stage of this designated 5m granule, since 5 elements are used and the same process of manufacture applies to similar active granules embodying lesser numbers of elements.

Referring to the drawing of the active granules 6 in the reaction vessel Figure 1, the vessel 1 can be made of any material which will (i) withstand double the normal working temperature and pressures, and (ii) be inert to the chemicals and hot gas contained within it.

It will carry a gas outlet pipe, 2, and an electrolyte replenishment pipe, 3. Depending upon the external heat source, it will be fitted with a number of ceramic-coated pipes of which two are shown, 4 and 5, running parallel within the vessel which can allow the passage of hot gases or hot water through the vessel or for the insertion of electrical heaters.

The description of a suitable reaction vessel for external heat absorption is included here only to help with the general understanding of the ultimate active granule application and not as a part of the Patent Application proper.

This observation equally applies to the description of an alternative reaction vessel Figure 2, which describes a possible reaction vessel design to accommodate the active granules when the excitation energy source is to be solar bombardment. In the case of Figure 2, a glass or similar suitable transparent vessel 7, together with Hydrogen gas outlet pipe 8, and water replenishment inlet pipe 9, carries a quantity of the active granules 10, in water 11.

GRANULE CONSTRUCTION Figure 3 depicts an area 600 cm2, 30 x 20 cms and 2.6 grms of Aluminium, Al foil 12, (NOT TO SCALE).

Figure 4 depicts an area 276 cm2, 23 x 12 cms and 8 grms of Tin, Sn foil, 13. (NOT TO SCALE).

Figure 5 depicts an area 6.9 cm2, 23 x 0.3 cms and 1.5 grms of Zinc, Zn 14. (NOT TO SCALE).

Figure 6 depicts the overlaying of 12,13 and 14, also a sprinkling of the trace elements silicon, Si grains 50 mgs and Antimony, Sb grains 50 mgs along the centre line 15 of the overlaid elements.

Figure 7 depicts the initial folding of the areas 12,13,14 and 15, to form a package.

Figure 8 depicts the aforementioned package.

Figure 9 depicts this now tightly rolled-up and then twisted package, so forming a stick or rod.

Figure 10 depicts the purpose designed equipment produced to enable the rods to be turned into active granules. (For small batch laboratory use as distinct from the Industrial approach).

This particular step in the overall invention represents the required novelty of the process, since it enables the elements involved to be wetted together to form at the correct thermal point to the eutectics involved to produce limited solid solution phases and correct phase boundary conditions to enable the final liquid/solid interface at the water and active granule surface thus permitting the interface reaction to proceed when external energy is introduced into this area of the system.

The numbers in Figure 10 depict a solid metal base plate 16, a small revolving receptacle to collect the formed molten granules 17, a metal support for the carbon rod 18. The carbon rod 19 forms one electrode of the electric arc system and the other electric arc electrode is the rod 20 as depicted in Figure 10. A heavy duty clip 21 to carry the arcing current through the rod.

22 and 23 are the heavy duty electrical cables which carry the alternating current from the transformer 24, to the arc producing area. The arc is formed by a current of 1000 amperes. At 6 volts a. c. from the secondary winding 25 of the transformer 24, the primary winding 26, is supplied with a suitable external alternating voltage supply.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A heat sensitive alloy which can be produced in sheet, rod or granule form by variation of the electric arc method used and described under Section 1 of the Patent Application.
2. The composition of this alloy can consist in one form of the elements Aluminium, Tin and Zinc together with small quantities of the elements or trace elements, one version of which is described in detail in the said Patent Application.
3 Variations in elements and trace elements, according to Claim 2, of the final alloy allow of optimisation of the alloy's conversion efficiency figure.
4. A heat activated alloy, according to Claim 1, a cyclic process for converting heat energy into a chemical reaction at the interface of the alloy and the water in which it is submerged, with the consequent production of anions and cations at the respective anodic and cathodic areas formed.
5. Such areas will, according to Claim 4, if the energy gap is overcome, permit the active centre reaction to proceed.
6. The Hydrogen gas formed, according to Claim 5, can then be put to external use in the form of combustion, or again in the form of electrical energy production from H2+02 driven fuel cell. There are many methods of utilising this form of exotic fuel.
7. In all cases of Hydrogen combustion, Hydrogen will finally oxidise back to water, hence completing the energy cycle.
8. A heat sensitive alloy, according to Claim 1, in which the stages of production, Figures 3 to 8, Sheets 2/3 and 3/3 respectively in the Patent Application are incorporated in the presmelted billot, Figure 9, Sheet 3/3.
9. In one form an aggregate of alloy granules, according to Claim 1 and 2, submerged in water, and producing from that water Hydrogen when energised by external heat such, for example, as found at the base of geothermal geysers and volcanic waste heat, together with electrical heat from surplus hydro-electric generation plant or wherever waste heat is available.
10. In another form as an alloy slab or laminate, according to Claim 1, will, when submerged in water, produce Hydrogen when using the reaction vessel, described in Figure 2, Sheet 1/3 of the said Patent Application, containing the said slab or laminate and is subjected to solar energy.
11. An alloy which involves partially semi-conductor theory together with aspects of catalysis. The former working in principe as a basic galvanic-couple and the latter serving to enhance the overall conversion efficiency which results in a comparatively low heat energy level to sustain a Hydrogen gas flow, ie, below 100 C (typically 75 C).
12. Apparatus, according to Claims 3 and 4 in which appropriately chosen elements from the group Al, Sn and Zn, together with trace elements Si and/or Sb are processed as described in Figures 3 to 6, Sheet 2/3 and Figures 7 to 10, Sheet 3/3 in the said Patent Application.
13. Apparatus, according to Claim 12, for concentrating heat energy upon such granules, or in another form, slab or laminate, when submerged in water as shown in Figure 2, Sheet 1/3 of said Patent Application.
14. Apparatus, according to Claim 12 and 13, for such granules when the externally supplie energy is in heat form, as shown in Figure 1, Sheet 1/3 of the said Patent Application.
15. In the latter case, Claim 14, when considering the heat source to be geothermal, eg, geysers, boilding mud, or hot springs, the granules will be contained in a similar box-like vessel, but with the possible dispensing of the through-pipe as depicted in Figure 1, Sheet 1/3, since these are primarily intended for such heat sources at hot gases or electrical heat elements.
16. An exotic fuel, Hydrogen, obtained by applied external heat energy to water, a gas devoid of corrosive liquid vapours of extreme pH values.
17. A generator system of exotic fuel from water with a stoichiometric value equal to conventional electrolysis systems but free from the inherent danger in the latter systems of explosion by electrical spark due to its basic requirement for electrodes and associated conductors within the electrolysis reaction vessel.
18. A heat active alloy substantially described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, Figures 3 to 6, Sheet 2/3, and Figures 7 to 10, Sheet 3/3, of said Patent Application.

A cyclic process as described in Claim 7, for converting applied heat energy, to produce the gas Hydrogen, from water by use of the alloy already described, Claims 1,2 and 3.
19. A combined generator and catalyst working at atomic level which after an extended period of use, can be treated and returned to service.