WO2019070789A1

WO2019070789A1 - In-situ breeder reactor

Info

Publication number: WO2019070789A1
Application number: PCT/US2018/054072
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph A. Murray; Julie A. Morris
Original assignee: Ih Ip Holdings Limited
Priority date: 2017-10-04
Filing date: 2018-10-03
Publication date: 2019-04-11

Abstract

A method of preparing a reactor device for triggering exothermic reactions is provided. The reactor device includes an electrically conducting interior element and an electrode that are electrically isolated from each other. The method includes: reducing a pressure in the reactor device to below a predetermined first pressure; providing at least one isotope of hydrogen into the reactor device to above a predetermined second pressure; and applying a voltage difference across at least the electrically conducting interior element and electrode, the voltage difference initiating a plasma in the reactor device thereby loading the interior element with the at least one isotope of hydrogen. The at least one isotope of hydrogen may be deuterium.

Description

In-Situ Breeder Reactor

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional patent application no.

62/567,921, titled "In-Situ LENR Breeder Reactor," filed on October 4, 2017, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the preparation of reactive materials for use in an exothermic reactor device. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to in-situ preparation of the reactive materials within an assembled reactor device.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Current exothermic reaction systems typically require reactive materials and reactive surfaces to be prepared so as to achieve very specific characteristics such as vacancies, grain boundaries, and surface area. Reactions within a reactor device are typically triggered by applying voltage, thermal energy, pressure, and/or magnetic fields to reactive materials and surfaces. Currently, the reactive elements of a reactor system are typically prepared before a reactor device is assembled, or at least are prepared outside the reactor device housing and are then inserted or installed prior to reactor operation.

[0004] Preparations of reactive elements for use as fuel materials for prior reactor systems can include: plating the wall of a reactor container with the material of interest and using techniques such as electro -plating to create a bumpy surface for increased surface area; ball milling a material to create nanoparticles with sufficient surface area and then oxidizing the material to create vacancies; and purchasing nanoparticles with sufficient surface areas and then performing processes such as oxidation or other to create vacancies. These preparations are typically all conducted on reactive elements or their surfaces before inserting the elements into a reactor vessel.

[0005] Requiring preparation of reactive elements to occur outside reactor devices involves inefficiencies and costs related to suspending operations for disassembly and reassembly of reactors. There are also costs and inefficiencies related to handling of the reactive elements to prevent their exposure and contamination in transit from facilities where they are prepared to the reactors where they are used as fuel.

SUMMARY

[0006] This summary is provided to introduce, in a simplified form, concepts that are further described in the following detailed descriptions. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it to be construed as limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0007] In at least one embodiment, a method of preparing a reactor device for triggering exothermic reactions is provided. The reactor device includes an electrically conducting interior element and an electrode that are electrically isolated from each other. The method includes: reducing a pressure in the reactor device to below a predetermined first pressure; providing at least one isotope of hydrogen into the reactor device to above a predetermined second pressure; and applying a voltage difference across at least the electrically conducting interior element and electrode, the voltage difference initiating a plasma in the reactor device thereby loading the interior element with the at least one isotope of hydrogen. The at least one isotope of hydrogen may be deuterium.

[0008] The method may include determining whether the loading of the interior element with the at least one isotope of hydrogen reaches a completion, for example, by determining a color of the plasma and/or determining the pressure in the reactor device.

[0009] The method may include assembling the reactor device prior to reducing the pressure in the reactor device to below the predetermined first pressure.

[00010] The method may include, after loading the interior element with the at least one isotope of hydrogen, triggering an exothermic reaction in the reactor device.

[00011] In at least one example, the reactor device is not opened or disassembled between the step of assembling the reactor device and the step of triggering the exothermic reaction in the reactor device.

[00012] In at least one example, between the step of assembling the reactor device and the step of triggering the exothermic reaction in the reactor device, only gas is entered into the reactor device.

[00013] Triggering an exothermic reaction in the reactor device may include triggering a low- energy nuclear reaction (LENR) in the reactor device.

[00014] The electrically conducting interior element may include nickel, and may include a nickel mesh.

[00015] The electrode may include nickel, and may include a nickel core electrode wrapped with a palladium wire.

[00016] Whether the loading of the interior element with the at least one isotope of hydrogen reaches a completion may be determined according to whether the loading is sufficient to support exothermic reactions.

[00017] The predetermined second pressure may be in a range of 1 to 3 Pascal.

[00018] Loading the interior element with the at least one isotope of hydrogen may include loading the interior element with deuterium and a metal, wherein the metal comes from the electrode.

[00019] The plasma may create vacancies or defects in the interior element.

[00020] Triggering an exothermic reaction in the reactor device may include applying at least one of voltage, thermal energy, pressure, and a magnetic field.

[00021] The method may include heating at least the interior element to a temperature high enough for a substance to be expelled from the interior element leaving vacancies.

[00022] The substance may include at least a portion of the loaded isotope of hydrogen and/or oxygen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00023] The previous summary and the following detailed descriptions are to be read in view of the drawings, which illustrate particular exemplary embodiments and features as briefly described below. The summary and detailed descriptions, however, are not limited to only those embodiments and features explicitly illustrated.

[00024] FIG. 1 illustrates a reactor device, according to at least one embodiment, in which preparation of reactive materials and surfaces can be performed in-situ after assembly.

[00025] FIG. 2 is a flow chart representing a method for preparing a reactor device for triggering according to at least one embodiment.

[00026] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a reactor device, according to another embodiment, where material can be prepared in-situ after assembly of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS

[00027] These descriptions are presented with sufficient details to provide an understanding of one or more particular embodiments of broader inventive subject matters. These descriptions expound upon and exemplify particular features of those particular embodiments without limiting the inventive subject matters to the explicitly described embodiments and features. Considerations in view of these descriptions will likely give rise to additional and similar embodiments and features without departing from the scope of the inventive subject matters. Although the term "step" may be expressly used or implied relating to features of processes or methods, no implication is made of any particular order or sequence among such expressed or implied steps unless an order or sequence is explicitly stated.

[00028] Any dimensions expressed or implied in the drawings and these descriptions are provided for exemplary purposes. Thus, not all embodiments within the scope of the drawings and these descriptions are made according to such exemplary dimensions. The drawings are not made necessarily to scale. Thus, not all embodiments within the scope of the drawings and these descriptions are made according to the apparent scale of the drawings with regard to relative dimensions in the drawings. However, for each drawing, at least one embodiment is made according to the apparent relative scale of the drawing.

[00029] Like reference numbers used throughout the drawings depict like or similar elements.

Unless described or implied as exclusive alternatives, features throughout the drawings and

descriptions should be taken as cumulative, such that features expressly associated with some particular embodiments can be combined with other embodiments. [00030] Inventive embodiments expressly described herein, and their permutations and varieties not expressly described but within the full scope of these descriptions, facilitate material preparations in-situ within a reactor system so as to create reaction-enabling characteristics with respect to surface areas, textures, vacancies and other characteristics.

[00031] Non-limiting examples of reaction-enabling characteristics include: the types; sizes, and presence of vacancies and/or defects in a metal lattice; and the presence of hydrogen or deuterium. There are many potential significant contributing factors in facilitating an exothermic reaction. These descriptions relate to reactor systems in which necessary material conditions for an exothermic reaction are created in-situ, rather than performing material preparations outside of a reactor system and then inserting the prepared materials into a reactor to then be triggered.

[00032] The inventive embodiments described, and their permutations and varieties not expressly described but within the full scope of these descriptions, allow for materials to be placed in a reactor as-is. The reactor's triggering process can then bring the material to a state at which reactions occur. Triggering can be prompted, for example, by temperature, pressure, magnetic fields, or other stimuli to begin exothermic reactions.

[00033] By combining material preparation and triggering in a reactor system, contamination of materials between external material preparation and inserting into the reactor are eliminated. This can help minimize operational costs, as external material preparation can require expensive machinery such as cryo mills, and/or ovens, and in some cases nanoparticle materials must be purchased.

[00034] FIG. 1 illustrates a reactor device 100, according to at least one embodiment, in which preparation of reactive materials and surfaces can be performed in-situ after assembly. In the illustrated embodiment, the reactor device 100 has a reactor body 102 having a cylindrical containment wall 104, which may be made of stainless steel.

[00035] The reactor device 100 includes an electrically conducting interior element on which at least one isotope of hydrogen, such as deuterium, is to be loaded. In the illustrated embodiment, an electrically conducting mesh 106, serving as the interior element, can be placed in contact with the interior of the containment wall 104. The mesh 106 may be a metal or may be metallized. The metal or metallization may be, for example, nickel. The metal or metallization can also be sputtered onto the interior of the containment wall 104 to create a surface with a lot of surface area. In either case, the metal or metallized mesh 106 should be connected electrically to the containment wall 104.

[00036] An electrically conducting electrode 110 extends along the center of the interior of the reactor body 102. The electrode 110 may be, for example, a nickel core electrode wrapped with a palladium wire and inserted down the center of the reactor body 102 and electrically isolated from the containment wall 104.

[00037] As illustrated, the reactor device 100 has at least one gas port 112, which may serve as both an inlet and an outlet. In other embodiments, the reactor device 100 can include separate inlet and outlet ports. An electrical connector 114 in electrical contact with the central electrode 110 is used to apply voltage to the electrode 110. Another electrical connector 116 in electrical contact with the containment wall 104 is to apply voltage to the containment wall 104 and mesh 106. A high voltage can be applied such that electropositive relative voltage goes to the electrode 110 via the connector 114 and the return goes to the mesh 106 via the containment wall 104 and connector 116. An opposite polarity operation is within the scope of the descriptions as well, such that the electrode 110 may serve as anode or cathode, as the mesh 106 serves as opposite to the electrode 110. In at least one embodiment, the electrode 110 serves as the cathode, and the mesh 106 serves as the anode. Once the reactor device 100 is fully assembled, material preparation can begin, for example, as further detailed below with reference to FIG. 2.

[00038] FIG. 2 is a flow chart representing a method 200 for preparing a reactor device for triggering according to at least one embodiment. In that process, reaction materials are generated inside the reactor during the preparation process. All numerical values for parameters shown in FIG. 2 are intended as non-limiting examples. Other embodiments of a method practiced with other parameter values are within the scope of these descriptions. Furthermore, the below descriptions of steps of the method 200 of FIG. 2 include references to the reactor device 100 of FIG. 1. Such references are made as non-limiting examples. Not all embodiments of the reactor device 100 of FIG. 1 are used as described with reference to FIG. 2, and not all embodiments of the method 200 of FIG. 2 are limited to use with only the reactor device 100 of FIG. 1.

[00039] In step 202, a reactor device is assembled, for example, as shown in FIG. 1 with reference to the reactor device 100. Assembly includes removing any contaminants through vacuum, heat, gases, or a combination of such conditions. In step 204, a vacuum is drawn, for example, reducing the pressure in the reactor device 100 to 10^" Torr or less. For example, with reference to FIG. 1, the gas port 112 can serve as an outlet through which the interior of the reactor device 100 is evacuated.

[00040] In step 206 (FIG. 2), at least one isotope of hydrogen, such as deuterium, is flowed into the reactor at a low pressure. In at least one embodiment, deuterium gas is entered into the gas port 112 (FIG. 1), serving as an inlet, and the interior of the reactor device 100 is brought to a predetermined pressure. In one embodiment, the pressure of the deuterium is brought into the range of 1 to 3 Pascal.

[00041] In step 208 (FIG. 2), high voltage is placed on an electrode so there is a significant voltage differential between the electrode and the reactor wall so as to initiate a plasma. This voltage can be AC or DC, and can be brought into a range of 200- 1200V. In at least one embodiment, the voltage is brought to a minimum of 1000V. The pressure, temperature, and voltage differential cause a plasma within the reactor device 100 (FIG. 1). This causes nanoparticles 120 of palladium from the wire around the electrode to be loaded onto and/or into the nickel mesh 106 on the wall of the reactor device 100. Deuterium can also be captured within the nickel on the wall.

[00042] In at least one embodiment, the plasma initiated inside the reactor is of a glow discharge type, and the color of the glow discharge can be used to determine whether the preparation process is finished and the reactor is ready.

[00043] Once all deuterium is used up, which can be determined by the color of the plasma or possibly by reading the reactor pressure, then there are enough nanoparticles of Palladium and trapped deuterium on the nickel mesh that the material is ready for an exothermic reaction. At this point, the high voltage can be removed. Thus, in step 210, a determination is made as to whether the activation process is complete. If activation is complete ("Yes"), the method 200 continues to step 212 for reactor triggering. If activation is not complete ("No"), the activation process continues.

[00044] When step 212 is reached, the reactor can be triggered to begin exothermic reactions by using, voltage, thermal energy or temperature, pressure, and/or a magnetic field, all of which may be steady state or varying, or other known methods of triggering the reaction, dependent on the specific type of reactor. In at least one embodiment, the exothermic reactions are low-energy nuclear reactions (LENR).

[00045] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a reactor device 300, according to another embodiment, where material can be prepared in-situ after assembly of the device. The material selected for use in this reactor device can be, for example, a metal hydride, metal deuteride, or metal oxide. Metals may include lithium, nickel, palladium, and other known metals used for exothermic reactions. After the material is placed in the reactor device 300, the material is prepared by heating the reactor to a temperature high enough for the material to expel the trapped hydrogen, deuterium or oxygen. The reactor device 300 must be able to withstand high pressure so the gas remains trapped in the reactor, as the gas should only be removed by vacuum under control by the user. As the hydrogen, deuterium, and/or oxygen leaves the metal, vacancies and defects remain within the metal, which are required for the exothermic reaction later.

[00046] In the case of using oxygen, the metal may be re-exposed to oxygen to re-create an oxide and then the oxygen may be expelled again to create additional defects. In the case of hydrogen or deuterium, the gas may be used again to help trigger the exothermic reaction but may not be expected to reform into a hydride or deuteride with the metal. After the gas is expelled, another mechanism such as temperature, pressure change (higher pressure or vacuum), magnetics, or voltage may be used to trigger the exothermic reaction.

[00047] Particular embodiments and features have been described with reference to the drawings. It is to be understood that these descriptions are not limited to any single embodiment or any particular set of features, and that similar embodiments and features may arise or modifications and additions may be made without departing from the scope of these descriptions and the spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS s claimed is:

A method of preparing a reactor device for triggering exothermic reactions, the reactor device comprising an electrically conducting interior element and an electrode that are electrically isolated from each other, the method comprising:

reducing a pressure in the reactor device to below a predetermined first pressure;

providing at least one isotope of hydrogen into the reactor device to above a

predetermined second pressure; and

applying a voltage difference across at least the electrically conducting interior element and electrode, the voltage difference initiating a plasma in the reactor device thereby loading the interior element with the at least one isotope of hydrogen.

The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the loading of the interior element with the at least one isotope of hydrogen reaches a completion.

The method of claim 2, wherein determining whether the loading of the interior element with the at least one isotope of hydrogen reaches a completion comprises determining a color of the plasma.

The method of claim 2, wherein determining whether the loading of the interior element with the at least one isotope of hydrogen reaches a completion comprises determining the pressure in the reactor device.

The method of claim 1, further comprising assembling the reactor device prior to reducing the pressure in the reactor device to below the predetermined first pressure.

The method of claim 5, further comprising, after loading the interior element with the at least one isotope of hydrogen, triggering an exothermic reaction in the reactor device.

The method of claim 6, wherein the reactor device is not opened or disassembled between the step of assembling the reactor device and the step of triggering the exothermic reaction in the reactor device.

The method of claim 6, wherein, between the step of assembling the reactor device and the step of triggering the exothermic reaction in the reactor device, only gas is entered into the reactor device.

The method of any one of claims 6-8, wherein triggering an exothermic reaction in the reactor device comprises triggering a low-energy nuclear reaction (LENR) in the reactor device.

The method of any one of claims 1-9, wherein the at least one isotope of hydrogen comprises deuterium.

11. The method of any one of claims 1-10, wherein the electrically conducting interior element comprises nickel.

12. The method of any one of claims 1-10, wherein the electrically conducting interior element comprises a nickel mesh.

13. The method of any one of claims 1-12, wherein the electrode comprises nickel.

14. The method of any one of claims 1-12, wherein the electrode comprises a nickel core electrode wrapped with a palladium wire.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein determining whether the loading of the interior element with the at least one isotope of hydrogen reaches a completion comprises determining whether the loading is sufficient to support exothermic reactions.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the at least one isotope of hydrogen into the reactor device comprises providing deuterium, and the predetermined second pressure is in a range of 1 to 3 Pascal.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein loading the interior element with the at least one isotope of hydrogen comprises loading the interior element with deuterium and a metal, wherein the metal comes from the electrode.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the plasma creates vacancies or defects in the interior element.

19. The method of claim 6, wherein triggering an exothermic reaction in the reactor device

comprises applying at least one of voltage, thermal energy, pressure, and a magnetic field.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating at least the interior element to a temperature high enough for a substance to be expelled from the interior element leaving vacancies.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the substance comprises at least a portion of the loaded

isotope of hydrogen.

22. The method of any one of claims 20 and 21, wherein the substance comprises oxygen.