There exist a variety of different processes to make hydrogen, many of which are the subject of significant research and development efforts. Some of the processes disclosed include biomass pyrolysis or gasification and biological processes, such as bacterial fermentation and enzymatic hydrogen production. Electrolysis is another technology for making hydrogen in which water is decomposed into oxygen and hydrogen. Currently, however, hydrogen is produced commercially from fossil methane. Such production processes are inexpensive and the natural gas feedstock for the process is widely available and relatively low cost.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,788 (Woollam) discloses an atomic hydrogen storage method and device in which atomic hydrogen is stored in the presence of a strong magnetic field in exfoliated layered compounds such as molybdenum disulfide or an elemental layer material such as graphite. The compound is maintained at liquid helium temperatures and the atomic hydrogen is collected on the surfaces of the layered compound which are exposed during delamination (exfoliation). The '788 Woollam disclosure suggests that strong magnetic field and the low temperature combine to prevent the atoms of hydrogen from recombining to form molecules.
The '788 Woollam implementation, and numerous other attempts to isolate hydrogen, suffer from numerous impediments and inefficiencies that make them sub-optimal for capture and transport of hydrogen in a usable non-dangerous form. Consequently, an improved system for capturing hydrogen is desired.
The embodiments herein are directed to creation of a stable, solubilized output fluid bearing atomic hydrogen at standard temperatures and pressures for use in power, storage and transportation. A wide variety of common input liquids may be used as feedstock for the system and method so long as they are rich in constituent hydrogen. The processes require application of low cost electrostatic and magnetostatic forces that aid in increasing a saturation of protons predominantly atomic hydrogen and a decrease of overall electric charge throughout the fluid. No catalysts or imposed change to the state of the starting fluid is required during the process of the invention.
Advantageously, a saturation of protons will be obtained and a deficiency of electrons by batch or continuous process flow that may be measured and verified experimentally by specific gravity, pH, resistivity and conductivity, thus insuring that an output liquid product is proton rich and electron depleted. In one embodiment, a system, apparatus, and method for concentrating hydrogen in a liquid is disclosed.
A method for driving an overabundance of hydrogen in a liquid is provided in which a liquid is placed in a static electric field having a first polarity. The liquid is then moved through a static magnetic field having a first polarity, through a static electric field having a second polarity, through a static magnetic field having a second polarity, and then through an oscillating magnetic field.
The various embodiments of the inventive subject matter of the present disclosure will be described in more detail in conjunction with the following drawing figures. The structures in the drawing figures are illustrated schematically, and they are not necessarily drawn to scale. The drawings figures are not intended to show actual dimensions.
The input fluid 101 may be one of various commonly-found hydrogen-donating fluids or mixes of multiple hydrogen-donating fluids, and can also be dirty water, fracked water, and/or processed water. A non-limiting list of potential types of hydrogen-donating fluids can be found in an Appendix A to this disclosure, titled “EXAMPLE HYDROGEN-DONATING FLUIDS”.
Referring to
In some embodiments the tanks 104\108\112\114 may be formed from a poly material having a standard wall strength of 19 lb. The tanks 104\108 have the circumferential windings 104cs\108cs applied to their outer surface thereby forming a reaction zone. The windings 104cs\108cs can be formed with a 14-12 gauge copper stranded wire that is wrapped onto outer surface of the tank 104\108 and may be spaced away from the bottom, about e.g. 12 inches with a 2 inch spacing ending about e.g. 8 inches below the top.
The pumps 104p\108p can be threaded to receive a ball valve, e.g., Schedule 40 or 80, and can be liquid impeller pumps. Regardless of which type of pump, the pumps 104p\108p are coupled to the recirculators 104r\108r which have magnet-packs 508 in various orientations attached thereto. The circumferential windings 104cs\108cs may be electrically coupled to a power supply 135 so as to be electrically coupled to either alternating or direct current.
A pre-determined wattage for the circumferential windings 104cs \108cs is selected based on the chemical constituents of the input fluid 101, a desired configuration of the output fluid 140, or other factor. As current moves through windings 104cs\108cs, a corresponding magnetic field directed perpendicularly to windings 104cs\108cs applies a magnetostatic force to liquid 101 while being recirculated through the tanks 104\108 for a predetermined period of time until the outlet fluid 104f\108f is transferred via e.g. the ball valves to the tank 112.
The magnetostatic forces applied to the windings 104cs\108cs can be adjusted between 2,000-80,000 Gauss, with 20,000-80,000 Gauss being a preferred range. Once a magnetic field setting is reached and a processing cycle has begun, it's typical to make no further adjustments. This is helpful not only for ensuring a steady magnetic field and magnetostatic force being applied to the input fluid 101, but also for optimal experimentation, accurate measurements.
When outlet openings 104f and 108f are opened, the fluids 104f\108f are combined into the third tank 112 which comprises a recirculator 112r and pump 112p. The tank 112 may be formed from a poly tank having a wall strength of e.g. 19 lb. Once the fluid from both first tank 104 and second tank 108 are combined into the third tank 112, the combination is pumped and recirculated within the third tank 112.
Unlike the first tank 104 or second tank 108, third tank 112 does not have a circumferential windings or copper strands, and therefore experiences no electrostatic effects. Instead, the third tank 112 experiences an oscillating magnetic field through the recirculator 112r due to the magnet-packs 508 attached thereto.
Potential alternate embodiments can include a 2-tank system 700 rather than 3-tank system 100, as shown in the contrasting arrangements of
Moving to
Each magnet 508 is arranged on an outer surface of the tube 416 in specific ways. One example arrangement is where each North pole side may be facing e.g. radially inwardly, toward the center of tube 416. In this arrangement, each South pole side of a magnet or magnet group 508 would then face radially outwardly from an outer surface of the tube 416. The specific size, shape, and orientation of the individual magnets 508 can vary.
As shown in
During use, a magnetic field is applied to the tanks 104t\108t. This magnetic field is often in the range of 2K-180K Gauss.
As shown in
During use, the recirculating pumps 104p\108p move the input fluid 101 through the tanks 104\108 via the recirculators 104r\108r which apply a uniform static magnetic field to input liquid 101 via the magnets 508.
A polarity applied to input liquid 101 through recirculator 104r may be opposite the polarity applied recirculator 108r. In one embodiment, recirculator 104r will be set with North pole sides 193 facing radially inwardly applying a total of 46,000 Gauss to input liquid 101, while the recirculator 108r will be set with South pole sides facing radially inwardly thereby applying a total of 46,000-58,000 Gauss to the input liquid 101.
Continuing this example, constant recirculation of the input fluid 101 from the tanks 104\108 through recirculators 104r\108r causes a non-transitory polar imbalance in the input liquid 101. The differences in fluid velocities within recirculators 104r\108r thus creates a separation and segregation of atomic hydrogen within the input fluid 101.
The reactor system(s) 100 can be operated with a variety of ranges and thus have a lot of configurability and ability to be customized for specific types of production runs of the output fluid 140, and also can be adapted to specific types of input fluid 101. As stated, typically, the input fluid will be a hydrogen-donating fluid. Further, each of the first, second, and third recirculators can separately apply a pre-configured magnetic field to the fluid circulating therein, therefore creating a separate proton-rich vortex within each of the plurality of tanks 104\108\112. These pre-configured magnetic fields can be adjusted by changing and varying the magnet packs 508 attached to the recirculators.
The activity within the reactor system(s) 100 result in removing electrons from the input fluid in such a way that the resulting output fluid becomes electron-deficient. This output fluid 140 can remain electron deficient at STP for varying periods, in many configurations have a shelf-life of 36 months.
The circumferential windings 104cs\108cs can have a variety of voltages and currents applied thereto. The voltage applied to the windings 104cs may be equal to that applied to the windings 108cs, or may not. Further, a voltage may be applied to one set of windings but not the other, and polarity may be altered.
This ends the main discussion of the reactor system(s) 100, and the vaporizer 800 will now be discussed.
The table 836 acts to lift and move the pressure vessel 820 into operating position, and is raised and lowered by the up-down table switch 840. The pressure vessel 120 is capable of sustaining chemical reactions at a wide variety of pressures, and thus is very durable and strong. An example range of potential pressures for the pressure vessel 120 might be from 0 PSI to 12,000 PSI. Thus, the pressure vessel 820 must be manufactured of very high durability components, and (during operation) is locked into position by the two head assembly arms 826. In the event of an unexpected reaction, the safety pop-off valve (blowout cap) 828 can release pressure if needed. In the event of a pressure overload, the safety pop-off valve 828 operates to evacuate unexpected volumes of gas, thereby reducing the risk of explosions.
The vaporizer 800 further comprises a dryer 832, one or more mass flow meters 844 (which can be located in a variety of positions within the path of the H2 gas being formed), and a Back Pressure Release (BPR) valve 848. As the vaporizer 800 is being used, it's possible to check and ensure proper operation by viewing information from the mass flow meter(s) 844. Partly because the input fluid 101 may often start out as water-based, it's possible that some water will find its way into the vaporizer 800. The dryer 832 removes any such water, which in turn means the resulting H2 gas has a higher level of purity.
The BPR valve 848 works with the specially-configured dryer 832 to be in-line as part of the vaporization process, fully pressurized, so that the resulting H2 gas is ready to sell immediately (AKA retail-ready). In conventional vaporization, compression activities add moisture, which means additional drying must occur down-line from the compression, thus must occur later in some type of extra step. In sharp contrast, the arrangement of the vaporizer 800 eliminates this problem. That is, the BPR 848 working directly in-line with the dryer 832 which means the vaporizer 800 is more retail-ready. This in turn means the vaporizer 800 working with the reactor system(s) 100 can provide retail-ready customer-ready H2 gas more quickly, in a wider variety of environments.
The BPR 848 is helpful for adjusting amount of liquid volume within the pressure vessel 820 being exposed to the electrodes 824. The BPR valve 848 provides thus retail-ready H2 gas at any pressure desired by any customer, without the need of an additional compressor or PRU (Pressure Reducing Unit).
The BPR valve 848 is always positioned behind the pressure chamber 820. Most other vaporization arrangements do not have in-line pressure adjustment within their H2 production arrangements. Instead, it is customary to use a second compressor. Unfortunately for these arrangements, pressure fluctuation can harm the effectiveness of the drying process, so it's best to avoid changing pressure during a drying process.
Conventional ways of producing H2 gas involve setting a compressor either to the SMR or electrolyzer output pressure so as to achieve a required customer pressure. That is, conventional H2 producers must use a compressor to prepare high-pressure canisters or containers e.g. 10K PSI (a common H2 customer requirement). Meanwhile, the embodiments herein produce such containers, at the desired pressure e.g. 10K PSI, without an external compressor. Instead, the BPR 848 can achieve pressures according to what a customer wants.
The vaporizer 800 achieves high pressure gas production without the need of an additional compressor, thereby achieving high pressure retail-ready containers of H2 e.g. ranging between 300 PSI and 10K PSI.
In an embodiment, the BPR valve 848 is a variable speed pump, AKA a variable gas valve, which can change the volume of gas with movement of a dial. Even more convenient, an embodiment facilitates changing the BPR valve 848 using a GUI e.g. GUI 1100, through the PC data-mgmt 112 working with the control box 808. Volume of liquid is directly proportional to efficient power factor load. The embodiments herein can adjust a volume of liquid present in the pressure vessel 820 according to a power factor reading from a customized power supply 882 (
The dryer 832 operates at whatever pressure is determined by the BPR 848. Thus, any outgoing pressure of the H2 gas can be adjusted to customer requirements using the BPR 848, because the BPR 848 is close to the dryer 832.
The heat exchanger 816 is an optional component which provides value by pulling out heat out (like a car radiator) of the pressure chamber 820, or can be used to put heat in.
Next, operating the vaporizer 800 is a complex task with a lot of moving parts and elements, often changing simultaneously. The control box 808 works with a PC-dataMgmt product 812 to display software menus and GUls to assist the operator in making decisions. One example GUI 1100 is shown in
From
The electrical feed-thrus 896 for the electrodes 824 are located at the top of the pressure chamber 820, and have wing-nuts 898 for quickly attaching and detaching wiring from a particular power source. In an embodiment, the customized power source 882 is suitable for driving the two electrodes 824 through the electrical feed-thrus 896. The customized power source 882 provides AC electrical power at high current levels and low voltage levels, which is helpful in driving the chemical reforming process occurring within the vaporizer 800. Various embodiments of the customized power source 882 leverage a variety of configurations of a SMPS (Switch Mode Power Supply) technology using an architecture that eliminates extra stages of conversion compared to how it would commonly be done using conventional SMPS mechanisms.
A dip tube 894 is useful for providing information about level and status of liquid-levels within the pressure vessel 820. The dip tube 894 must be a total and complete non-conductor, so that proper composition is critical. The dip tube 894 must be present at very high temperatures and pressures, yet cannot have metal components as that might interfere with the reactions occurring inside the pressure vessel 820. Some suitable materials for the dip tube 894 can comprise non-melting plastic, graphite, a ceramic base, or potentially a high-temp fiberglass molded embodiment.
The digital output wire 894 connects to the control box 808, but also connects to the analog pressure gauge 874. Proper monitoring of the pressure within the pressure vessel 820 is critical to its successful operation. The fill tube brings output fluid 140 from the diastolic pump 804, and thus supplies the proton-rich atomic hydrogen output fluid 140 into the vaporizer 800. Finally, the output tube 872 is where the processed H2 gas exits, which is the main point of the vaporizer 800, to effectively product H2 gas at high volume and high purity.
In a simple visual bubble test the extreme hydrogen content within the output liquid 140 was demonstrated.
As stated earlier, the positive electrode 824p and negative electrode 824n are both located inside the pressure vessel 820, and activated for the purpose of generating H2 gas. From
In normal convention hydrolysis, a gas volume at the negative electrode will be 2× the gas volume at a positive electrode. Within the embodiments herein, a much higher volume of H2 gas is produced.
From
Combining the bubble sizes and amounts affirms that the negative electrode 824p produces ˜48 times the gas volume of the positive electrode 824p, which in turn means that the vaporizer 800 can produce at least 48 times as much H2 gas as oxygen gas, and potentially even more. This proportion can be changed depending on the proton-concentration in the input fluid 101, as well as amount of time within the various tanks within the reactor system 100, the amount and positioning of magnets or magnet packs 508. Other variations may include the type of power supplied to the electrodes 824p/824n (through the electrical feed-thrus 896). For example, supplying DC power to the electrodes 824n/824p may have higher production of H2 gas than supplying AC power, because DC power may cause hydrogen to have an affinity for the cathode 824p (for brevity, not overtly shown in
Within the embodiments herein, measurements are important. One example is checking for Faradaic Efficiency (FE), which pertains to the processes governed by Faraday's laws of electrolysis. These laws relate to a relationship between the amount of substance altered at an electrode during electrolysis and the quantity of electricity used during that alteration. Faradaic efficiency thus measures the efficiency with which electric power is converted into a desired chemical product during electrolysis.
As such, within the vaporizer 800, one goal is to achieve 100% Faradaic efficiency. This can be achieved if all the electrical energy supplied is used for the production of hydrogen gas, without losses due to side reactions or energy inefficiencies. This implies an optimal conversion rate where the electrical charge contributes directly to the desired gasification reaction, marking a significant leap in the field of electrolysis-based hydrogen production.
One way to assess Faradaic Efficiency is by measuring temperature at various places in the vaporization process, weighing electrodes 824 before and after gasification, and checking for any losses along the various elements of the vaporizer 800.
Achieving 100% Faradaic Efficiency is advantageous for minimizing energy loss, thereby enhancing the overall energy efficiency of H2 gas production. This efficiency is in turn helpful for the economic viability and environmental impact of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier.
Next, some notes on energy states. H2 is required to be neutral, and covalently bonded. To achieve this, some electrons are needed. IOW, diatomic H2 does not occur without at least some electrons, a balance electrons. As stated earlier, the output fluid 140 is intentionally configured to be in an unbalanced electron-deficient state so that when electrons are given to the fluid through absorption, H2 is created.
H2 is the lowest energy state. Meanwhile, the output fluid 140 exists in an unbalanced energy state, so adding electrons allows the fluid to achieve neutrality and/or a lower energy state. That in turn occurs in the creation of H2 gas.
Once the embodiments herein give the output fluid 140 a bump with electrons, natural entropy takes over and nucleation occurs, thereby allowing H2 to be created. H2 gas is a lower energy state than HEZ, because it's neutral. This is somewhat comparable to a rock that is rolling downward, but finally reaches the bottom of a hill and coms to a halt. The rock stopped rolling because it reached a lower energy state.
The customized power supply 882 assists in achieving an optimal voltage for effective nucleation, sometimes referred to as an Overall Nucleation Voltage (ONV). An Overall Nucleation Voltage is applied to the electrodes 824 by the power supply 882. In an embodiment, an ONV voltage could range between a minimum of 0.02V and a maximum of 1200V, and can be either AC or DC.
The embodiments herein strive to affirm\verify that any gains in potential mass achieved during the vaporizing steps of claim 1 are directly attributable to a plurality of absorbed electrons. This can be affirmed by measuring the potential mass of the absorbed electrons by assessing degradation of a the specially-configured material which makes up the electrodes 824.
In doing this affirming, it is helpful to note that there is nowhere else the gain in potential mass could come from, other than absorbed electrons. Since the reactor pressure vessel 820 is sealed, there can't be anything else in there. As such, one can affirm that the plurality of absorbed electrons are increasing an energy potential present in the output fluid 140. Calculating the energy potential due to absorbed electrons can be achieved in a way similar to calculating compounding interest.
Specifically, as shown in
Finally, as shown in
In
In an embodiment, if the electrodes 824 are powered with A/C, there should be zero or minimal ion donation. There should be no ion transfer, instead all H2 gas should be produced via conductance. That suggests that the electrodes 824 would not even slightly change with each vaporization cycle.
However, it is a general procedure to weigh the electrodes 824 before and after a vaporization process. Ideally, if A/C power is supplied, the weights should not change, or change very minimally. However, D/C might be different than AC, so perhaps some ion transfer occurs. This means there might be some weight-change of the electrodes 824.
A non-limiting list of advantageous characteristics of output fluid 140 comprises the following: Output fluid 140 will often have a hydrogen density greater than 110 kg per cubic meter. The bond energy disassociation rate of output fluid 140 is far less than that for input fluid 101. The conductivity of output fluid 140 has been measured to be 3× or greater than copper. The pH of the output fluid 140 will most often be less than 1, yet still is non-corrosive.
The output fluid 140 is stable at normal temperatures and pressures. Output fluid 140 is compatible with existing fuel hydrocarbons such as diesel, fuel oils, etc. When used in an internal combustion engine (ICE), the output fluid 140 reduces emissions by 90% compared to common hydrocarbons. The output fluid 140 is compatible with existing turbines. The hydrogen gas produced from the output fluid 140 is reagent grade or better, and is compatible with existing fuel cell technology. The hydrogen gas produced from the output fluid 140 is compatible with all stationary turbines for power production. The hydrogen gas produced from the output fluid 140 is compatible with HaberBosch processes, and also with products created by Fischer-Tropsch processes.
It is advantageous that the output fluid 140 having low power storage requirements required for vaporization. Lowering energy consumption of the vaporization process (e.g.
It is conventional to use Steam Methane Reformer (SMR) machines to act as a “cracker” for separating natural gas to yield hydrogen gas. One non-limiting example of an industry using crackers is oil refining. Many oil refineries have an SMR which takes hydrogen out of natural gas, which is useful in a hydrogen demand system. Refineries might also use a standard electrolysis unit which breaks covalent bonds.
The combination of reactor system 100 and vaporizer 800 may be introduced into such a traditional cracker arrangement to substitute for an SMR machine. The embodiments may remove the need for an SMR machines, but also may remove the need for an electrolysis unit. Using the embodiments herein, it becomes possible to locate an exemplary vaporizer 800 downstream from a conventional SMR.
Now imagine introducing the proton-rich electron-deficient output fluid 140 into this SMR scenario. While the output fluid 140 cannot go directly into a tube trailer or cryogenic system, the output fluid 140 could be run through a vaporizer 800, dried, compressed and then made compatible within such common usages such as a tube trailer, a cylinder or cryogenic system, at any pressure needed by a customer.
The following examples present potential parameters and specifications for improving the performance of different hydrogen-based fluids in accordance with various of the embodiments described herein.
Assumes a standard boiler burning six liters per minute. The following are steps for making system compatible with output fluid 140.
The engine used to test output fluid 140 was a standard Caterpillar 3606 engine.
A non-limiting list of potential types of hydrogen-donating fluids can include but is not limited to e.g., HCl—hydrochloric acid, HNO3—nitric acid, H2SO4—sulfuric acid, HBr—hydrobromic acid, HI—hydroiodic acid, HClO4—perchloric acid, HClO3—chloric acid, HO2C2O22H—oxalic acid, H2SO3—sulfurous acid, H2O—water, HSO4—hydrogen sulfate ion, H3PO4—phosphoric acid, HNO2—nitrous acid, HF—hydrofluoric acid, HCO2H—methanoic acid, C6H5COOH—benzoic acid, CH3COOH—acetic acid, HCOOH—formic acid, C6H8O7—citric acid, C18H36O2—stearic acid, CH3OH—methyl alcohol, CH3CH2OH—ethyl alcohol, CH3 (CH2) 3OH—n-butyl alcohol, C3H8O—propanol, CH3CH2CH2OH—n-propyl alcohol, (CH3) 3COH—t-butyl alcohol, CH3 (CH2) 4O—n-pentyl alcohol, and (CH3) 2CHOH—isopropyl alcohol.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
63502161 | May 2023 | US | |
63548963 | Feb 2024 | US |