Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BP~CKGROUND OF TEIE INVE~TION
This invention relates to reactors and comhus-
tion chambers, and, more particularly, is related toelectro-
magnetic reactor combustion engines which utilize molecular
5 hydrogen and chlorine gases in the presence of solar or
artificial light energy to produce atomic hydrogen and
chlorine which are exothermically combined in the presence
o~ atmospheric oxygen to produce heat energy which is con-
verted into chemical or mechanical energy for propulsion
10 and/or for the generation of electrical po~er.
In the process of converting fossil fuels into
mechanical or chemical energy for ~he purpose o~ generak-
ing mechanical or electrical power, two types of combus~
tion processes are known, i.e., external and internal com-
15 bustion. External combustion ;s generally accomplished byburning a fuel in an open co~bustion cham~er resulting in
a flame which is typically supporte~ b~ atmospheric oxy-
gen. Internal combustion is typically accomplished by
inkroducing a ~uel and a ~ixed amounk o~ o-~ygen or o~her
20 suitable oxidizing agent within an enclosed combustion
chamber. The fuel and oxidizing agent are ignitea 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
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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 this invention to
provide a method and apparatus for generating energy by means
of a non-fossil fuel.
It is another object of this invention to provide
an energy-generation 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 this invention to
provide a reactor combustion chamber wherein an exothermic
reaction is supported by solar and/or artificial light.
It is still another object of this invention to
provide an energy-generation system wherein the products of
combustion are recycled to continuously support an exothermic
reaction therein.
SHORT STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention relates to an
electro-magnetic reactor combustion engine which includes a
chamber having means for controllably coupling molecular
chlorine and hydrogen thereto and means for directing electro-
magnetic radiation into the chamber to thereby energize and
ionize the chlorine and hydrogen. In their ionized state
the chlorine and hydrogen react exothermically in the chamber
to produce hydrogen chloride at a high pressure and temperature
level.
Advantageously oxygen is introduced into the chamber
to provide a suitable oxidizing agent.
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The chamber may be comprised of a solar reactor
chamber, a combustion chamber and a valve communicating the
reactor chamber with the combustion chamber. The means for
controllably coupling chlorine and hydrogen and oxygen con-
trollably couples the chlorine and hydrogen to the reactor
chamber. The means for directing the electro-magnetic ;
radiation directs the latter into the reactor chamber to
thereby energize and ionize the chlorine and hydrogen. The
means for controllably coupling chlorine and hydrogen and
oxygen controllably couples the oxygen to the combustion
chamber.
A block of low permeability impervious silicon
carbide having a relatively large conductive-convective
radiation receiving side surface and a relatively small depth
dimension may be positioned in the combustion chamber. The
block may have a fluid conducting channel formed in the form
of a grid so that the channel passes in proximity to a sub-
stantial portion of the radiation receiving side surface of
the block and the fluid passing through the channel receives
and is heated by heat produced by the high temperature exothermic
reaction in the combustion chamber.
Advantageously the silicon carbide block is "KT"
silicon carbide.
Electromagnetic radiation may be derived from solar
radiation by utilizing a parabolic reflector, or other
suitable focusing means, positioned with respect to the reactor
chamber and controlled to follow the sun by means of an auto-
mated 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
f ~ ..
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through the reactor chamber and onto the surfaee 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,
coupled to the reactor chamber, are split into ionized chlorine
ions 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 com-
bustion 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, compress a piston, or drive a turbine.
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_ IEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects, features and advantages of the `
lnvention will become more fully apparent from the following
detailed description of the preferred embodiment, the
appended claims and the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 i.s a section view taken in elevation
of one embodiment of an electro-magnetic reactor combustion
engine;
FIGURE 2 iS a section view taken in elevation
of another embodiment of an electro-magnetic reactor
combustion engine;
FIGURE 3 iS a section view taken in elevation
of the electro-magnetic reactor combustion engine utilized
as a steam generator;
FIGURE 4 iS a section view taken in elevation
of an electro-magnetic reactor combustion engine utilized
as a turbine drive means;
FIGURE 5 is a schematic illustration of an alternate
embodiment of the electro-magnetic reactor combustion engine
u-tilized as a turbine drive means; ~:
FIGURE 6 iS a section view taken in elevation
ofan electro-magnetic reactor combustion engine utilized
as a piston engine drive means; and
FIGURE 7 iS a simplified section view taken in
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elevation of the electro-magnetic reactor combustion
ensine utilized to drive a sin~le cycle piston engine.
D~TAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
. . ~
Throughout the detailed description of the em-
bodiments of the present invention, like numerals will
correspond to like elements in the figures.
Refer now to Figure 1 where there is disclosed
a simplified section view of one embodiment of the solar
reactor combustion chamber of the present inven~ion. The
solar reactor combustion chamber includes a housing 11
which may, for example, be formed of rein~orced 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 are fed into the reactor
chamber 13, via tubes 19 and 21, respectively. In the
preferred embodiment, chlorine is fed into the reactor
via tube 19 and hydrogen is ~ed into the reactor chamber
via tube 21 at controlled rates.
In one embodiment of the invention, solar rays
are concentrated and intensified by an azimuth tracking
parabolic reflector system of the type well known in the
art. Solar radiation is directed by parabolic reflector
23 which tracks ~le sun by means of the azimuth tracker
25. ~he parabolic reflector concentrates the solar rays
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onto a focal point reflector 27 which reflects the in-
tense solar beam via reflector 29 through a solar sight
glass 31. The int~ensified solar rays are directed down-
wardly 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 in-
tense 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 import-
ance, however, is the fact that the solar rays must bedispersed 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 hy-
drogen gas is emitted 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 combin-
ed in chamber 13 to form ~Cl and a large amount of heatenergy. Accordingly, the pressure level within the cham-
ber 13 is substantially increased. The hydrogen, chlor-
ine and HCl are forced through valve port 35 defined by
the conical reflector 33 and the wall 17. The gas is`
passed into the combustion chamber 15. Also, coupled to
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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 hydrosen :
chloride gas and intense heat and pressure within the
chamber 15. The explosive pressures and heat thus gen~ :
erated are utilized to perform work by generating steam,
driving a turbine and/or driving a piston, as will be~
come more fully apparent hereinbelow. 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 con-
ical reflector 33 is fixedly secured to a reciprocatingsupport member 41 and is spring-biased to close the port ~ ~
; 35. However, when the pressure within chamber 13 in~ ~;
creases, at a predetermined level, the port 35 is open-
ed by forcing the conical ref`lector 33 downwardly. Sub-
sequently, 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 atom-
ic hydrogen and chlorine and, subsequently, are combined
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to form EICl in the combustion chamber 15.
As an alternative, the conical reflector 33can 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 disclos-
ed an alternative embodiment of the solar reactor com-
bustion chamher of the present invention. Xn this em-
bodiment, the housing 11 is formed of a metallic materi-
al such as in a standard internal combustion enginewherein the engine is designed for propelling a vehicle
or for other similar applications. In order to minimize
corrosion, the internal wa:lls of the housing may be form-
ed of an impervious carbonaceous materlal such as "K~
Silicon Carbide which has excellent thermal shock char-
acteristics. In this embodiment, rather than utilizing
solar energy for splitting the molecular chlorine into
atomic chlorine, as in the embodiment of Figure 1, 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 dir-
ected downwardly through the solar sight glass 31 into
the reaction chamber 13. The structure of the solar
_g_
reactor combus-tion 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 disclos-
ed an embodiment of the solar reactor combustion chamber
utilized for the purpose of generating steam. The solar "
reactor combustion chamber is similar to that illustrat~ - ~
ed in Figure 1. However, carbonaceous blocks 51 are po- ;
sitioned along at least two internal walls of the com-
bustion chamber 15. The carbonaceous blocks, preferably
consisting of "KT" Silicon Carbide, manufactured by the
Carborundum Corporation, have relatively large side sur-
face areas 53 and a relatively small or narrow depth
dimension, with each of the blocks being fixedly posi~
tioned against the side wa:Lls of the housing 11 of the
combustion chamber 15. A carbonaceous block may be
formed of any suitable low permeability impervious grap-
hite 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 3,000F. in an oxidizing atmosphere and has a ther-
mal conductivity in excess of 700 BTU 1 hr./sq.ft~/F./
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
ps i~ O
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As illustrated, channel 30 is formed in each
of the blocks 51, with the channel 30 having a grid
structure so that the flu.id or gas passing through the
channel is exposed to a maximum of the heat energy ab-
sorbed by the carbonaceous block.
In operation, a liquid or vapor such as wateror 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 carbon~
aceous blocks 51 by conduction, convection and radia- :
tion. The energy is efficient.Ly absorbed by the carbon-
aceous block and is converted into heat energy. This
. heat energ~ is, in turn, transferred to the fluid pass-
ing through the channels 30. As the fluid heats up, it
begins to expand, rise in temperature, and increase in
velocity. As the fluid travels upward in tha channels
:30, the fluid absorbs more of the latent heat absorbed
by the carbonaceous block and continues its expansion
: 20 until it reaches a desired heat and pressure le~el and
is exhausted through the outlet ports 57. The result-
ing 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 vi.a outlet port 39.
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Reer now to Figure 4 where there is disclosed
an alternate embodiment of the solar reactor combustion
chamber of the present invention utilized to drive a
turbine. In this embodiment, at least one reactor-
co~bustion housing 11 is fixedly secured to a turbine 61which includes a plenum chamber 63, a turbine rotor 65,
mounted on a sha~t 67, and a turbine housing 69 which
defines therein a torus ring assembly 71, which guides :
the hot exhaust gases fxom the combustion chamber 15
into the turbine blades 65 of turbine 61. Thus, in op-
eration atmospheric oxygen enters plenum chan~er 63 via
~n annular port 73. The oxygen passes into the combus-
tion chamber 15 of the reactor combustion system 11 to
thereby control the formation of hydrosen chloride there- !
in. The hot expanding exhaust products are forced out-
wardly through the bottom of chamber 15 into the torus
ring 71 defined by ~he turbine housing 69. The hot
gases are ~hen forced radially inwardly toward the tur-
bine rotor 65 to cause the turbine rotor to rapidly ro-
tate in response thereto. The exhaust gases arè thenforced from the turbine out through port 75 into a
scrubber chamber 30. The scru~ber chamber receives
water into which the HCl dissolves to form hydrochloric
acid t~hich falls to the bottom o~ the scrubber chambex
and into container 24. The remaining gases are exhausted
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to the atmosphere. Sodium hydroxide is coupled 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 hydrox-
ide electrolysis cell 50. The output of the electrol-
ysis cell in the orm of chlorine an~ hydrogen is sup-
plied to chamber 13 via lines 19 and 21, respectively.
Thus, the hydroyenand chlorine are continuously recycled
to thereby substantially reduce the cost of fuel over
t~at reguired in conventional fossil fuel powered tur-
bine generators. Furthermore, the emission products ex-
hausted to atmosphere are primarily water and the ele-
ments found in the atmosphere. Accordingly, a clean
burning, efficient turbine engine is provided which is
15 relatively inexpensive to operate. While in the em~odi- ;
ment illus~rated in Figure 4, only one reaction combus-
tion chamber is illustrated, it should be understood
that a plurality o~ such reaction combustion chambers
can be positioned about the outside periphery of the
- 20 turbine housing 69 to provide for a more uniform distri- ~;
bution of the high velocity exhaust gases generated in
the reaction chamber 15.
Refer now to Figure 5 where there is disclos-
ed in schematic orm an alternati~e embodiment of the
solar reactor engine of the present inventionO In this
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embodiment the housing 11 is formed of a metallic materi~
al such as in a standard gas turbine engine wherein the
engine is designed for propulsion or other mobile appli-
cations. In order to reduFe corrosion the inner walls
S of the reactor may be lined with an impervious carbon-
aceous material. The reactants, hydrogen and chlorine, ~'
are supplied to the reactor housing 11 by means of lines
21 and 19, respectively. The hydrogen and chlorine can
be provided by means of storage containers (not shown)
or can be generated on a continuous basis. Oxygen, pref-
erably in atmospheric form, is supplied to chamber~
by means of line 36 for the purpose of controlling the
reaction of the hydrogen with the chlorine. In this em-
bodiment rather than utilizing solar energy for sustain-
in~ in the reaction chamber 100, the light isgenerated by a high intensity light source 44. As be-
fore, ~he light generated by the high intensity light
source 44 is ~irected into the chamberlO~ and against
the conical reflector 33 The light is thus dispersed ~
20 against the walls of the reaction chamberlO to thereby ~;
generate atomic chlorine. The chlorine and hydrogen are
combined in chamberloo to form hydrogen chloride. The
hydrogen chloride thus formed is at a high temperature
and pressure level and is thereby forced through the
turbine blades of turbine 61 into the exhaust chamber
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30. The turbine blades of turbine 61 are thereby rapid-
ly driven with the mechanical eneryy thus generated
coupled to a power take~of~ 42 which may drive a mechan-
ical means for moving a vehicle and in addition a por-
tion of the mechanical power may be utilized to drive agenerator 48. The output of the generator 48 is utilized
to recharge battery 50 which in turn provides ~C current
for energizing electrolysis cell 14. In the exhaust
chamber 30, water is dispersed through tubes 28 to com-
bine with the hydrogen chloride to form hydrochloricacid. This acid is conveyed away from the exhaust cham-
ber 30 into a container 24. By combining the HCl with
water a partial vacuum is created in the exhaust chamber
30 which assists in driving the turbine because of the
increased pressure differential thereacross.
In the preferred embodiment sodium hydroxide
from a chloxine-sodium hydroxide electrolysis cell 14 is
supplied to the container 24 via line 40. The hydro-
chloric acid is mixed with the sodium hydroxide to pro-
duce water and sodium chloride. Th0 water and sodiumchloride are fed from the container 24 to the chlorine
sodium hydroxide cell via line 46. The water and sodium
chloride are converted into fuel and/or reactants, hydro-
gen and chlorine and sodium hydroxide. ThiS process is
continuously repeated. The output from the generator
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48 is utilized to sustain electrolysis in the chlorine-
sodium hydroxide electrolysis cell.
Refer now to Figure 6 where there is disclosed
an alternate embodiment of the solar reactor combustion
chamber of the present invention utilized to drive a piston
in a piston engine. In this embodiment, the housing 11
of the reactor combustion chamber is fixedly secured to
the engine housing 81 with the exhaust port 39 from the
combustion chamber 15 leading into a cylinder chamber 83
de~ined by the engine block 85, piston 87 and header block
88. Atmospheric oxygen is conducted into the cylinder
chamber 83 via manifold 89 and intake valve 91. This oxygen ;
mixes with the atomic chlorine and hydrogen, passing down-
wardly into the chamber 15 and into t:he cylinder chamber 83
to create a substantial expansion thereof via a controlled
explosive reaction. The resulting combustion products are
èxhausted from the cylinder chamber 83 via exhaust valve 93
and exhaust manifold 95. Each time oxygen is permitted into
; the cylinder chamber 83, an explosion occurs which drives
the piston 87 downwardly. Upon the return upward stroke, a
conical reflector valve 33 is driven upwardly to close
the port 35. At the same time, exhaust valve 93 is low-
ered, causing the exhaust products to pass out to exhaust
manifold 95. Subsequently, the piston 87 is again moved -
downwardly, permitting the conical reflector valve 33 to
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open up to permit atomic chlorine and hydrogen to pass
downwardly into the combustion chamber 15 and the cylinder
chamber 83. At the same time, oxygen is coupled to the
cylinder 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.
Refer now to Figure 7 which is a simplified
schematic illustration of a single cycle internal com-
bustion engine. In this embodiment a piston 80 defines
a chamber lO0 into which a measured amount of
chlorine and hydrogen and atmospheric oxygen is supplied
via lines l9, 21 and 37, respectively. The resulting
controlled explosion drives the piston 80 downwardly until
the top surface 82 of the piston passes the exhaust
port 84 of the cylinder defined by the housing ll. The
reaction gas, hydrogen chloride, as well as air egress
through the port into a scrubber chamber (not shown) of
similar degree to that illustrated in Figure 4. The
piston is then returned to a top dead-center position.
Before the piston reaches the top dead-center position,
the chlorine and hydrogen are supplied to the chamber
lO0. When the piston reaches top dead-center, the light
source 44 is energized synchronously with movement of
the piston 80 to cause the hydrogen and chlorine to combine
exothermically to thereby force the piston 80 downwardly.
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It should be understood the solar reactor of
the present invention can be used to drive a rotary en-
gine such as a Wankel engine as well as mutiple
cycle piston engines. The embodiments of Figures 6 and ;
7 merely illustrate the application of the solar reactor
engine to piston engines for efficiently and economic-
ally driving these engines.
While the present invention has been disclos- :~
ed in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, it :
should be understood that there may be other variations
of the invention which fall within the spirit and scope
thereof, as defined by the appended claims.
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