Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A water heater comprising:
an electrolytic heating subsystem comprising:
an electrolysis tank;
a membrane separating said electrolysis tank into a first region and a second
region;
at least one pair of low voltage electrodes contained within said electrolysis
tank, wherein each pair of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes
includes an anode and a
cathode;
at least one pair of high voltage electrodes contained within said
electrolysis
tank, wherein each pair of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes
includes an anode and
a cathode, wherein said anodes of said at least one pair of low voltage
electrodes and said anodes
of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes are contained within said
first region, wherein
said cathodes of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes and said
cathodes of said at least
one pair of high voltage electrodes are contained within said second region,
and wherein a first
separation distance corresponding to the distance between the electrodes of
each pair of high
voltage electrodes is greater than a second separation distance corresponding
to the distance
between the electrodes of each pair of low voltage electrodes;
a low voltage source with a first output voltage electrically connected to
said at
least one pair of low voltage electrodes;
a high voltage source with a second output voltage electrically connected to
said
at least one pair of high voltage electrodes, wherein said second output
voltage is higher than
said first output voltage; and
means for simultaneously pulsing both said low voltage source and said high
voltage source voltage at a specific frequency and with a specific pulse
duration;
a water heating subsystem comprising:
a water storage tank;
a water inlet coupled to said water storage tank;
a water outlet coupled to said water storage tank; and
a heat exchanger within said water storage tank;
a conduit containing a heat transfer medium, wherein a first portion of said
conduit is in
thermal communication with said electrolytic heating subsystem and a second
portion of said conduit is
coupled to said heat exchanger; and
a circulation pump coupled to said conduit and interposed between said first
and second
portions of said conduit.
2. The water heater of claim 1, further comprising a system controller coupled
to
said electrolytic heating subsystem and said water heating subsystem.
3. The water heater of claim 2, wherein said system controller is coupled to
at least
one of said low voltage source, said high voltage source, and said
simultaneous pulsing means.
4. The water heater of claim 2, further comprising a temperature monitor in
thermal contact with water within said water storage tank, wherein said system
controller is coupled to
said temperature monitor.
5. The water heater of claim 2, further comprising a temperature monitor in
thermal contact with said electrolytic heating subsystem, wherein said system
controller is coupled to
said temperature monitor.
6. The water heater of claim 2, further comprising a temperature monitor in
thermal contact with said conduit, wherein said system controller is coupled
to said temperature monitor.
7. The water heater of claim 2, further comprising a temperature monitor in
thermal contact with said heat transfer medium within said conduit, wherein
said system controller is
coupled to said temperature monitor.
8. The water heater of claim 2, wherein said system controller is coupled to
said
circulation pump.
9. The water heater of claim 2, further comprising a flow valve within an
inlet line
coupled to said electrolysis tank, wherein said system controller is coupled
to said flow valve.
10. The water heater of claim 2, further comprising a water level monitor
within
said electrolysis tank, wherein said system controller is coupled to said
water level monitor.
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11. The water heater of claim 2, further comprising a pH monitor within said
electrolysis tank, wherein said system controller is coupled to said pH
monitor.
12. The water heater of claim 2, further comprising a resistivity monitor
within said
electrolysis tank, wherein said system controller is coupled to said
resistivity monitor.
13. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said first portion of said conduit
surrounds
at least a portion of said electrolysis tank.
14. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said first portion of said conduit is
contained within said electrolysis tank.
15. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said first portion of said conduit is
integrated within a portion of a wall comprising said electrolysis tank.
16. The water heater of claim 1, further comprising a liquid within said
electrolysis
tank, wherein said liquid includes at least one of water, deuterated water,
tritiated water, semiheavy
water, heavy oxygen water, water containing an isotope of hydrogen, and water
containing an isotope of
oxygen.
17. The water heater of claim 16, further comprising an electrolyte within
said
liquid, said electrolyte having a concentration of between 0.05 and 10.0
percent by weight.
18. The water heater of claim 16, further comprising an electrolyte within
said
liquid, said electrolyte having a concentration of between 0.05 and 2.0
percent by weight.
19. The water heater of claim 16, further comprising an electrolyte within
said
liquid, said electrolyte having a concentration of between 0.1 and 0.5 percent
by weight.
20. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said specific frequency is between 50
Hz
and 1 MHz.
21. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said specific frequency is between
100 Hz
and 10 kHz.
22. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said specific pulse duration is
between 0.01
and 75 percent of a time period defined by said specific frequency.
22
23. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said specific pulse duration is
between 0.1
and 50 percent of a time period defined by said specific frequency.
24. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said simultaneous pulsing means
comprises a pulse generator coupled to said low voltage source and to said
high voltage source.
25. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said simultaneous pulsing means
comprises a pulse generator coupled to a low voltage switch and coupled to a
high voltage switch,
wherein said low voltage switch is coupled to said low voltage source, and
wherein said high voltage
switch is coupled to said high voltage source.
26. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said simultaneous pulsing means
comprises a first internal pulse generator coupled to said low voltage source
and a second internal pulse
generator coupled to said high voltage source.
27. The water heater of claim 1, wherein a ratio of said second output voltage
to said
first output voltage is within the range of 5:1 to 100:1.
28. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said first output voltage is between
3 volts
and 1500 volts and said second output voltage is between 50 volts and 50
kilovolts.
29. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said first output voltage is between
12 volts
and 750 volts and said second output voltage is between 100 volts and 5
kilovolts.
30. The water heater of claim 1, wherein each low voltage cathode is comprised
of a
first material, wherein each low voltage anode is comprised of a second
material, wherein each high
voltage cathode is comprised of a third material, wherein each high voltage
anode is comprised of a
fourth material, and wherein said first, second, third and fourth materials
are selected from the group
consisting of titanium, stainless steel, copper, iron, steel, cobalt,
manganese, zinc, nickel, platinum,
palladium, aluminum, lithium, magnesium, boron, carbon, graphite, carbon-
graphite, and metal hydrides
and alloys of titanium, stainless steel, copper, iron, steel, cobalt,
manganese, zinc, nickel, platinum,
palladium, aluminum, lithium, magnesium, boron, carbon, graphite, carbon-
graphite, and metal hydrides.
31. The water heater of claim 1, further comprising an electromagnetic rate
controller subsystem, said electromagnetic rate controller subsystem
comprising:
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at least one electromagnetic coil, said at least one electromagnetic coil
generating a
controllable magnetic field within a portion of said electrolysis tank; and
means for controlling magnetic field intensity of said magnetic field, wherein
said
controlling means is coupled to said at least one electromagnetic coil.
32. The water heater of claim 31, wherein said at least one electromagnetic
coil is
contained within said electrolysis tank.
33. The water heater of claim 31, wherein said at least one electromagnetic
coil is
integrated within a wall of said electrolysis tank.
34. The water heater of claim 31, wherein said at least one electromagnetic
coil
surrounds a section of said electrolysis tank.
35. The water heater of claim 31, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a section of said first region of said electrolysis tank, said
section defined by said anodes of said
at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said anodes of said at least
one pair of low voltage
electrodes.
36. The water heater of claim 31, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a section of said second region of said electrolysis tank, said
section defined by said cathodes of
said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said cathodes of said at
least one pair of low voltage
electrodes.
37. The water heater of claim 31, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a first section of said first region of said electrolysis tank, said
first section defined by said
anodes of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said anodes of
said at least one pair of low
voltage electrodes, and wherein said portion of said electrolysis tank
includes a second section of said
second region of said electrolysis tank, said second section defined by said
cathodes of said at least one
pair of high voltage electrodes and said cathodes of said at least one pair of
low voltage electrodes.
38. The water heater of claim 31, said magnetic field intensity controlling
means
further comprising a variable output power supply.
24
39. The water heater of claim 31, further comprising a system controller
coupled to
at least one of said electrolytic heating subsystem, said water heating
subsystem and said electromagnetic
rate controller subsystem.
40. The water heater of claim 1, further comprising at least one permanent
magnet,
said at least one permanent magnet generating a magnetic field within a
portion of said electrolysis tank.
41. The water heater of claim 40, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a section of said first region of said electrolysis tank, said
section defined by said anodes of said
at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said anodes of said at least
one pair of low voltage
electrodes.
42. The water heater of claim 40, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a section of said second region of said electrolysis tank, said
section defined by said cathodes of
said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said cathodes of said at
least one pair of low voltage
electrodes.
43. The water heater of claim 40, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a first section of said first region of said electrolysis tank, said
first section defined by said
anodes of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said anodes of
said at least one pair of low
voltage electrodes, and wherein said portion of said electrolysis tank
includes a second section of said
second region of said electrolysis tank, said second section defined by said
cathodes of said at least one
pair of high voltage electrodes and said cathodes of said at least one pair of
low voltage electrodes.
44. The water heater of claim 40, wherein said at least one permanent magnet
is
comprised of a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet, wherein
said first permanent
magnet generates a magnetic field within a first section of said first region
of said electrolysis tank, said
first section defined by said anodes of said at least one pair of high voltage
electrodes and said anodes of
said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes, and wherein said second
permanent magnet generates a
magnetic field within a second section of said second region of said
electrolysis tank, said second section
defined by said cathodes of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes
and said cathodes of said at
least one pair of low voltage electrodes.
45. A water heater comprising:
an electrolytic heating subsystem comprising:
an electrolysis tank;
a membrane separating said electrolysis tank into a first region and a second
region;
at least one pair of high voltage electrodes contained within said
electrolysis
tank, wherein each pair of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes
includes an anode and
a cathode, wherein said anodes of said at least one pair of high voltage
electrodes are contained
within said first region, and wherein said cathodes of said at least one pair
of high voltage
electrodes are contained within said second region;
a plurality of metal members contained within said electrolysis tank, wherein
at
least a first metal member of said plurality of metal members is contained
within said first region
and interposed between said anodes of said at least one pair of high voltage
electrodes and said
membrane, and wherein at least a second metal member of said plurality of
metal members is
contained within said second region and interposed between said cathodes of
said at least one
pair of high voltage electrodes and said membrane;
a high voltage source with an output voltage electrically connected to said at
least one pair of high voltage electrodes; and
means for pulsing said high voltage source voltage at a specific frequency and
with a specific pulse duration;
a water heating subsystem comprising:
a water storage tank;
a water inlet coupled to said water storage tank;
a water outlet coupled to said water storage tank; and
a heat exchanger within said water storage tank;
a conduit containing a heat transfer medium, wherein a first portion of said
conduit is in
thermal communication with said electrolytic heating subsystem and a second
portion of said conduit is
coupled to said heat exchanger; and
a circulation pump coupled to said conduit and interposed between said first
and second
portions of said conduit.
46. The water heater of claim 45, further comprising a system controller
coupled to
said electrolytic heating subsystem and said water heating subsystem.
47. The water heater of claim 46, wherein said system controller is coupled to
at
least one of said high voltage source and said pulsing means.
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48. The water heater of claim 46, further comprising a temperature monitor in
thermal contact with water within said water storage tank, wherein said system
controller is coupled to
said temperature monitor.
49. The water heater of claim 46, further comprising a temperature monitor in
thermal contact with said electrolytic heating subsystem, wherein said system
controller is coupled to
said temperature monitor.
50. The water heater of claim 46, further comprising a temperature monitor in
thermal contact with said conduit, wherein said system controller is coupled
to said temperature monitor.
51. The water heater of claim 46, further comprising a temperature monitor in
thermal contact with said heat transfer medium within said conduit, wherein
said system controller is
coupled to said temperature monitor.
52. The water heater of claim 46, wherein said system controller is coupled to
said
circulation pump.
53. The water heater of claim 46, further comprising a flow valve within an
inlet
line coupled to said electrolysis tank, wherein said system controller is
coupled to said flow valve.
54. The water heater of claim 46, further comprising a water level monitor
within
said electrolysis tank, wherein said system controller is coupled to said
water level monitor.
55. The water heater of claim 46, further comprising a pH monitor within said
electrolysis tank, wherein said system controller is coupled to said pH
monitor.
56. The water heater of claim 46, further comprising a resistivity monitor
within
said electrolysis tank, wherein said system controller is coupled to said
resistivity monitor.
57. The water heater of claim 45, wherein said first portion of said conduit
surrounds at least a portion of said electrolysis tank.
58. The water heater of claim 45, wherein said first portion of said conduit
is
contained within said electrolysis tank.
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59. The water heater of claim 45, wherein said first portion of said conduit
is
integrated within a portion of a wall comprising said electrolysis tank.
60. The water heater of claim 45, further comprising a liquid within said
electrolysis
tank, wherein said liquid includes at least one of water, deuterated water,
tritiated water, semiheavy
water, heavy oxygen water, water containing an isotope of hydrogen, and water
containing an isotope of
oxygen.
61. The water heater of claim 60, further comprising an electrolyte within
said
liquid, said electrolyte having a concentration of between 0.05 and 10.0
percent by weight.
62. The water heater of claim 60, further comprising an electrolyte within
said
liquid, said electrolyte having a concentration of between 0.05 and 2.0
percent by weight.
63. The water heater of claim 60, further comprising an electrolyte within
said
liquid, said electrolyte having a concentration of between 0.1 and 0.5 percent
by weight.
64. The water heater of claim 45, wherein said specific frequency is between
50 Hz
and 1 MHz.
65. The water heater of claim 45, wherein said specific frequency is between
100 Hz
and 10 kHz.
66. The water heater of claim 45, wherein said specific pulse duration is
between
0.01 and 75 percent of a time period defined by said specific frequency.
67. The water heater of claim 45, wherein said specific pulse duration is
between 0.1
and 50 percent of a time period defined by said specific frequency.
68. The water heater of claim 45, wherein said pulsing means comprises a pulse
generator coupled to said high voltage source.
69. The water heater of claim 68, wherein said pulse generator is integrated
within
said high voltage source.
28
70. The water heater of claim 45, wherein said pulsing means comprises a pulse
generator coupled to a high voltage switch, wherein said high voltage switch
is coupled to said high
voltage source.
71. The water heater of claim 45, wherein said output voltage is between 50
volts
and 50 kilovolts.
72. The water heater of claim 45, wherein said output voltage is between 100
volts
and 5 kilovolts.
73. The water heater of claim 45, wherein each high voltage cathode is
comprised of
a first material, wherein each high voltage anode is comprised of a second
material, wherein each metal
member of said plurality of metal members is comprised of a third material,
and wherein said first,
second and third materials are selected from the group consisting of titanium,
stainless steel, copper,
iron, steel, cobalt, manganese, zinc, nickel, platinum, palladium, aluminum,
lithium, magnesium, boron,
carbon, graphite, carbon-graphite, and metal hydrides and alloys of titanium,
stainless steel, copper, iron,
steel, cobalt, manganese, zinc, nickel, platinum, palladium, aluminum,
lithium, magnesium, boron,
carbon, graphite, carbon-graphite, and metal hydrides.
74. The water heater of claim 45, further comprising an electromagnetic rate
controller subsystem, said electromagnetic rate controller subsystem
comprising:
at least one electromagnetic coil, said at least one electromagnetic coil
generating a
controllable magnetic field within a portion of said electrolysis tank; and
means for controlling magnetic field intensity of said magnetic field, wherein
said
controlling means is coupled to said at least one electromagnetic coil.
75. The water heater of claim 74, wherein said at least one electromagnetic
coil is
contained within said electrolysis tank.
76. The water heater of claim 74, wherein said at least one electromagnetic
coil is
integrated within a wall of said electrolysis tank.
77. The water heater of claim 74, wherein said at least one electromagnetic
coil
surrounds a section of said electrolysis tank.
29
78. The water heater of claim 74, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a section of said first region of said electrolysis tank, said
section defined by said anodes of said
at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said membrane.
79. The water heater of claim 74, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a section of said second region of said electrolysis tank, said
section defined by said cathodes of
said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said membrane.
80. The water heater of claim 74, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a first section of said first region of said electrolysis tank, said
first section defined by said
anodes of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said membrane,
and wherein said portion
of said electrolysis tank includes a second section of said second region of
said electrolysis tank, said
second section defined by said cathodes of said at least one pair of high
voltage electrodes and said
membrane.
81. The water heater of claim 74, said magnetic field intensity controlling
means
further comprising a variable output power supply.
82. The water heater of claim 74, further comprising a system controller
coupled to
at least one of said electrolytic heating subsystem, said water heating
subsystem and said electromagnetic
rate controller subsystem.
83. The water heater of claim 45, further comprising at least one permanent
magnet,
said at least one permanent magnet generating a magnetic field within a
portion of said electrolysis tank.
84. The water heater of claim 83, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a section of said first region of said electrolysis tank, said
section defined by said anodes of said
at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said membrane.
85. The water heater of claim 83, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a section of said second region of said electrolysis tank, said
section defined by said cathodes of
said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said membrane.
86. The water heater of claim 83, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a first section of said first region of said electrolysis tank, said
first section defined by said
anodes of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said membrane,
and wherein said portion
of said electrolysis tank includes a second section of said second region of
said electrolysis tank, said
second section defined by said cathodes of said at least one pair of high
voltage electrodes and said
membrane.
87. The water heater of claim 83, wherein said at least one permanent magnet
is
comprised of a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet, wherein
said first permanent
magnet generates a magnetic field within a first section of said first region
of said electrolysis tank, said
first section defined by said anodes of said at least one pair of high voltage
electrodes and said
membrane, and wherein said second permanent magnet generates a magnetic field
within a second
section of said second region of said electrolysis tank, said second section
defined by said cathodes of
said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said membrane.
88. A water heater comprising:
an electrolytic heating subsystem comprising:
an electrolysis tank;
a membrane separating said electrolysis tank into a first region and a second
region;
at least one pair of low voltage electrodes contained within said electrolysis
tank, wherein each pair of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes
includes an anode and a
cathode;
at least one pair of high voltage electrodes contained within said
electrolysis
tank, wherein each pair of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes
includes an anode and
a cathode, wherein said anodes of said at least one pair of low voltage
electrodes and said anodes
of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes are contained within said
first region, wherein
said cathodes of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes and said
cathodes of said at least
one pair of high voltage electrodes are contained within said second region,
and wherein a first
separation distance corresponding to the distance between the electrodes of
each pair of high
voltage electrodes is greater than a second separation distance corresponding
to the distance
between the electrodes of each pair of low voltage electrodes;
a low voltage source with a first output voltage electrically connected to
said at
least one pair of low voltage electrodes;
a high voltage source with a second output voltage electrically connected to
said
at least one pair of high voltage electrodes, wherein said second output
voltage is higher than
said first output voltage; and
31
means for simultaneously pulsing both said low voltage source and said high
voltage source voltage at a specific frequency and with a specific pulse
duration;
a water heating subsystem comprising:
a water storage tank;
a water inlet coupled to said water storage tank; and
a water outlet coupled to said water storage tank;
a heat exchanger;
a heat transfer medium circulation conduit, wherein a first portion of said
heat transfer
medium conduit is in thermal communication with said electrolytic heating
subsystem and a second
portion of said heat transfer medium conduit is coupled to said heat
exchanger;
a water circulation conduit coupled to said water storage tank and coupled to
said heat
exchanger;
a first circulation pump coupled to said heat transfer medium circulation
conduit and
interposed between said first portion of said heat transfer medium conduit and
said second portion of said
heat transfer medium conduit; and
a second circulation pump coupled to said water circulation conduit and
interposed
between said water storage tank and said heat exchanger.
89. The water heater of claim 88, further comprising a system controller
coupled to
said electrolytic heating subsystem and said water heating subsystem.
90. The water heater of claim 89, wherein said system controller is coupled to
at
least one of said low voltage source, said high voltage source, and said
simultaneous pulsing means.
91. The water heater of claim 89, further comprising a temperature monitor in
thermal contact with water within said water storage tank, wherein said system
controller is coupled to
said temperature monitor.
92. The water heater of claim 89, further comprising a temperature monitor in
thermal contact with said electrolytic heating subsystem, wherein said system
controller is coupled to
said temperature monitor.
93. The water heater of claim 89, further comprising a temperature monitor in
thermal contact with said heat transfer medium circulation conduit, wherein
said system controller is
coupled to said temperature monitor.
32
94. The water heater of claim 89, further comprising a temperature monitor in
thermal contact with heat transfer medium contained within said heat transfer
medium circulation
conduit, wherein said system controller is coupled to said temperature
monitor.
95. The water heater of claim 89, wherein said system controller is coupled to
at
least one of said first circulation pump and said second circulation pump.
96. The water heater of claim 89, further comprising a flow valve within an
inlet
line coupled to said electrolysis tank, wherein said system controller is
coupled to said flow valve.
97. The water heater of claim 89, further comprising a water level monitor
within
said electrolysis tank, wherein said system controller is coupled to said
water level monitor.
98. The water heater of claim 89, further comprising a pH monitor within said
electrolysis tank, wherein said system controller is coupled to said pH
monitor.
99. The water heater of claim 89, further comprising a resistivity monitor
within
said electrolysis tank, wherein said system controller is coupled to said
resistivity monitor.
100. The water heater of claim 88, wherein said first portion of said heat
transfer
medium circulation conduit surrounds at least a portion of said electrolysis
tank.
101. The water heater of claim 88, wherein said first portion of said heat
transfer
medium circulation conduit is contained within said electrolysis tank.
102. The water heater of claim 88, wherein said first portion of said heat
transfer
medium circulation conduit is integrated within a portion of a wall comprising
said electrolysis tank.
103. The water heater of claim 88, further comprising a liquid within said
electrolysis
tank, wherein said liquid includes at least one of water, deuterated water,
tritiated water, semiheavy
water, heavy oxygen water, water containing an isotope of hydrogen, and water
containing an isotope of
oxygen.
104. The water heater of claim 103, further comprising an electrolyte within
said
liquid, said electrolyte having a concentration of between 0.05 and 10.0
percent by weight.
33
105. The water heater of claim 103, further comprising an electrolyte within
said
liquid, said electrolyte having a concentration of between 0.05 and 2.0
percent by weight.
106. The water heater of claim 103, further comprising an electrolyte within
said
liquid, said electrolyte having a concentration of between 0.1 and 0.5 percent
by weight.
107. The water heater of claim 88, wherein said specific frequency is between
50 Hz
and 1 MHz.
108. The water heater of claim 88, wherein said specific frequency is between
100 Hz
and 10 kHz.
109. The water heater of claim 88, wherein said specific pulse duration is
between
0.01 and 75 percent of a time period defined by said specific frequency.
110. The water heater of claim 88, wherein said specific pulse duration is
between 0.1
and 50 percent of a time period defined by said specific frequency.
111. The water heater of claim 88, wherein said simultaneous pulsing means
comprises a pulse generator coupled to said low voltage source and to said
high voltage source.
112. The water heater of claim 88, wherein said simultaneous pulsing means
comprises a pulse generator coupled to a low voltage switch and coupled to a
high voltage switch,
wherein said low voltage switch is coupled to said low voltage source, and
wherein said high voltage
switch is coupled to said high voltage source.
113. The water heater of claim 88, wherein said simultaneous pulsing means
comprises a first internal pulse generator coupled to said low voltage source
and a second internal pulse
generator coupled to said high voltage source.
114. The water heater of claim 88, wherein a ratio of said second output
voltage to
said first output voltage is within the range of 5:1 to 100:1.
115. The water heater of claim 88, wherein said first output voltage is
between 3 volts
and 1500 volts and said second output voltage is between 50 volts and 50
kilovolts.
34
116. The water heater of claim 88, wherein said first output voltage is
between 12
volts and 750 volts and said second output voltage is between 100 volts and 5
kilovolts.
117. The water heater of claim 88, wherein each low voltage cathode is
comprised of
a first material, wherein each low voltage anode is comprised of a second
material, wherein each high
voltage cathode is comprised of a third material, wherein each high voltage
anode is comprised of a
fourth material, and wherein said first, second, third and fourth materials
are selected from the group
consisting of titanium, stainless steel, copper, iron, steel, cobalt,
manganese, zinc, nickel, platinum,
palladium, aluminum, lithium, magnesium, boron, carbon, graphite, carbon-
graphite, and metal hydrides
and alloys of titanium, stainless steel, copper, iron, steel, cobalt,
manganese, zinc, nickel, platinum,
palladium, aluminum, lithium, magnesium, boron, carbon, graphite, carbon-
graphite, and metal hydrides.
118. The water heater of claim 88, further comprising an electromagnetic rate
controller subsystem, said electromagnetic rate controller subsystem
comprising:
at least one electromagnetic coil, said at least one electromagnetic coil
generating a
controllable magnetic field within a portion of said electrolysis tank; and
means for controlling magnetic field intensity of said magnetic field, wherein
said
controlling means is coupled to said at least one electromagnetic coil.
119. The water heater of claim 118, wherein said at least one electromagnetic
coil is
contained within said electrolysis tank.
120. The water heater of claim 118, wherein said at least one electromagnetic
coil is
integrated within a wall of said electrolysis tank.
121. The water heater of claim 118, wherein said at least one electromagnetic
coil
surrounds a section of said electrolysis tank.
122. The water heater of claim 118, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a section of said first region of said electrolysis tank, said
section defined by said anodes of said
at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said anodes of said at least
one pair of low voltage
electrodes.
123. The water heater of claim 118, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a section of said second region of said electrolysis tank, said
section defined by said cathodes of
said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said cathodes of said at
least one pair of low voltage
electrodes.
124. The water heater of claim 118, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a first section of said first region of said electrolysis tank, said
first section defined by said
anodes of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said anodes of
said at least one pair of low
voltage electrodes, and wherein said portion of said electrolysis tank
includes a second section of said
second region of said electrolysis tank, said second section defined by said
cathodes of said at least one
pair of high voltage electrodes and said cathodes of said at least one pair of
low voltage electrodes.
125. The water heater of claim 118, said magnetic field intensity controlling
means
further comprising a variable output power supply.
126. The water heater of claim 118, further comprising a system controller
coupled to
at least one of said electrolytic heating subsystem, said water heating
subsystem and said electromagnetic
rate controller subsystem.
127. The water heater of claim 88, further comprising at least one permanent
magnet,
said at least one permanent magnet generating a magnetic field within a
portion of said electrolysis tank.
128. The water heater of claim 127, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a section of said first region of said electrolysis tank, said
section defined by said anodes of said
at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said anodes of said at least
one pair of low voltage
electrodes.
129. The water heater of claim 127, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a section of said second region of said electrolysis tank, said
section defined by said cathodes of
said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said cathodes of said at
least one pair of low voltage
electrodes.
130. The water heater of claim 127, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a first section of said first region of said electrolysis tank, said
first section defined by said
anodes of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said anodes of
said at least one pair of low
voltage electrodes, and wherein said portion of said electrolysis tank
includes a second section of said
second region of said electrolysis tank, said second section defined by said
cathodes of said at least one
pair of high voltage electrodes and said cathodes of said at least one pair of
low voltage electrodes.
36
131. The water heater of claim 127, wherein said at least one permanent magnet
is
comprised of a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet, wherein
said first permanent
magnet generates a magnetic field within a first section of said first region
of said electrolysis tank, said
first section defined by said anodes of said at least one pair of high voltage
electrodes and said anodes of
said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes, and wherein said second
permanent magnet generates a
magnetic field within a second section of said second region of said
electrolysis tank, said second section
defined by said cathodes of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes
and said cathodes of said at
least one pair of low voltage electrodes.
132. A water heater comprising:
an electrolytic heating subsystem comprising:
an electrolysis tank;
a membrane separating said electrolysis tank into a first region and a second
region;
at least one pair of high voltage electrodes contained within said
electrolysis
tank, wherein each pair of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes
includes an anode and
a cathode, wherein said anodes of said at least one pair of high voltage
electrodes are contained
within said first region, and wherein said cathodes of said at least one pair
of high voltage
electrodes are contained within said second region;
a plurality of metal members contained within said electrolysis tank, wherein
at
least a first metal member of said plurality of metal members is contained
within said first region
and interposed between said anodes of said at least one pair of high voltage
electrodes and said
membrane, and wherein at least a second metal member of said plurality of
metal members is
contained within said second region and interposed between said cathodes of
said at least one
pair of high voltage electrodes and said membrane;
a high voltage source with an output voltage electrically connected to said at
least one pair of high voltage electrodes; and
means for pulsing said high voltage source voltage at a specific frequency and
with a specific pulse duration;
a water heating subsystem comprising:
a water storage tank;
a water inlet coupled to said water storage tank; and
a water outlet coupled to said water storage tank;
37
a heat exchanger;
a heat transfer medium circulation conduit, wherein a first portion of said
heat transfer
medium conduit is in thermal communication with said electrolytic heating
subsystem and a second
portion of said heat transfer medium conduit is coupled to said heat
exchanger;
a water circulation conduit coupled to said water storage tank and coupled to
said heat
exchanger;
a first circulation pump coupled to said heat transfer medium circulation
conduit and
interposed between said first portion of said heat transfer medium conduit and
said second portion of said
heat transfer medium conduit; and
a second circulation pump coupled to said water circulation conduit and
interposed
between said water storage tank and said heat exchanger.
133. The water heater of claim 132, further comprising a system controller
coupled to
said electrolytic heating subsystem and said water heating subsystem.
134. The water heater of claim 133, wherein said system controller is coupled
to at
least one of said high voltage source and said pulsing means.
135. The water heater of claim 133, further comprising a temperature monitor
in
thermal contact with water within said water storage tank, wherein said system
controller is coupled to
said temperature monitor.
136. The water heater of claim 133, further comprising a temperature monitor
in
thermal contact with said electrolytic heating subsystem, wherein said system
controller is coupled to
said temperature monitor.
137. The water heater of claim 133, further comprising a temperature monitor
in
thermal contact with said heat transfer medium circulation conduit, wherein
said system controller is
coupled to said temperature monitor.
138. The water heater of claim 133, further comprising a temperature monitor
in
thermal contact with heat transfer medium contained within said heat transfer
medium circulation
conduit, wherein said system controller is coupled to said temperature
monitor.
139. The water heater of claim 133, wherein said system controller is coupled
to at
least one of said first circulation pump and said second circulation pump.
38
140. The water heater of claim 133, further comprising a flow valve within an
inlet
line coupled to said electrolysis tank, wherein said system controller is
coupled to said flow valve.
141. The water heater of claim 133, further comprising a water level monitor
within
said electrolysis tank, wherein said system controller is coupled to said
water level monitor.
142. The water heater of claim 133, further comprising a pH monitor within
said
electrolysis tank, wherein said system controller is coupled to said pH
monitor.
143. The water heater of claim 133, further comprising a resistivity monitor
within
said electrolysis tank, wherein said system controller is coupled to said
resistivity monitor.
144. The water heater of claim 132, wherein said first portion of said heat
transfer
medium circulation conduit surrounds at least a portion of said electrolysis
tank.
145. The water heater of claim 132, wherein said first portion of said heat
transfer
medium circulation conduit is contained within said electrolysis tank.
146. The water heater of claim 132, wherein said first portion of said heat
transfer
medium circulation conduit is integrated within a portion of a wall comprising
said electrolysis tank.
147. The water heater of claim 132, further comprising a liquid within said
electrolysis tank, wherein said liquid includes at least one of water,
deuterated water, tritiated water,
semiheavy water, heavy oxygen water, water containing an isotope of hydrogen,
and water containing an
isotope of oxygen.
148. The water heater of claim 147, further comprising an electrolyte within
said
liquid, said electrolyte having a concentration of between 0.05 and 10.0
percent by weight.
149. The water heater of claim 147, further comprising an electrolyte within
said
liquid, said electrolyte having a concentration of between 0.05 and 2.0
percent by weight.
150. The water heater of claim 147, further comprising an electrolyte within
said
liquid, said electrolyte having a concentration of between 0.1 and 0.5 percent
by weight.
151. The water heater of claim 132, wherein said specific frequency is between
50 Hz
and 1 MHz.
39
152. The water heater of claim 132, wherein said specific frequency is between
100
Hz and 10 kHz.
153. The water heater of claim 132, wherein said specific pulse duration is
between
0.01 and 75 percent of a time period defined by said specific frequency.
154. The water heater of claim 132, wherein said specific pulse duration is
between
0.1 and 50 percent of a time period defined by said specific frequency.
155. The water heater of claim 132, wherein said pulsing means comprises a
pulse
generator coupled to said high voltage source.
156. The water heater of claim 155, wherein said pulse generator is integrated
within
said high voltage source.
157. The water heater of claim 132, wherein said pulsing means comprises a
pulse
generator coupled to a high voltage switch, wherein said high voltage switch
is coupled to said high
voltage source.
158. The water heater of claim 132, wherein said output voltage is between 50
volts
and 50 kilovolts.
159. The water heater of claim 132, wherein said output voltage is between 100
volts
and 5 kilovolts.
160. The water heater of claim 132, wherein each high voltage cathode is
comprised
of a first material, wherein each high voltage anode is comprised of a second
material, wherein each
metal member of said plurality of metal members is comprised of a third
material, and wherein said first,
second and third materials are selected from the group consisting of titanium,
stainless steel, copper,
iron, steel, cobalt, manganese, zinc, nickel, platinum, palladium, aluminum,
lithium, magnesium, boron,
carbon, graphite, carbon-graphite, and metal hydrides and alloys of titanium,
stainless steel, copper, iron,
steel, cobalt, manganese, zinc, nickel, platinum, palladium, aluminum,
lithium, magnesium, boron,
carbon, graphite, carbon-graphite, and metal hydrides.
161. The water heater of claim 132, further comprising an electromagnetic rate
controller subsystem, said electromagnetic rate controller subsystem
comprising:
40
at least one electromagnetic coil, said at least one electromagnetic coil
generating a
controllable magnetic field within a portion of said electrolysis tank; and
means for controlling magnetic field intensity of said magnetic field, wherein
said
controlling means is coupled to said at least one electromagnetic coil.
162. The water heater of claim 161, wherein said at least one electromagnetic
coil is
contained within said electrolysis tank.
163. The water heater of claim 161, wherein said at least one electromagnetic
coil is
integrated within a wall of said electrolysis tank.
164. The water heater of claim 161, wherein said at least one electromagnetic
coil
surrounds a section of said electrolysis tank.
165. The water heater of claim 161, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a section of said first region of said electrolysis tank, said
section defined by said anodes of said
at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said membrane.
166. The water heater of claim 161, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a section of said second region of said electrolysis tank, said
section defined by said cathodes of
said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said membrane.
167. The water heater of claim 161, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a first section of said first region of said electrolysis tank, said
first section defined by said
anodes of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said membrane,
and wherein said portion
of said electrolysis tank includes a second section of said second region of
said electrolysis tank, said
second section defined by said cathodes of said at least one pair of high
voltage electrodes and said
membrane.
168. The water heater of claim 161, said magnetic field intensity controlling
means
further comprising a variable output power supply.
169. The water heater of claim 161, further comprising a system controller
coupled to
at least one of said electrolytic heating subsystem, said water heating
subsystem and said electromagnetic
rate controller subsystem.
41
170. The water heater of claim 132, further comprising at least one permanent
magnet, said at least one permanent magnet generating a magnetic field within
a portion of said
electrolysis tank.
171. The water heater of claim 170, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a section of said first region of said electrolysis tank, said
section defined by said anodes of said
at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said membrane.
172. The water heater of claim 170, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a section of said second region of said electrolysis tank, said
section defined by said cathodes of
said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said membrane.
173. The water heater of claim 170, wherein said portion of said electrolysis
tank
includes a first section of said first region of said electrolysis tank, said
first section defined by said
anodes of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said membrane,
and wherein said portion
of said electrolysis tank includes a second section of said second region of
said electrolysis tank, said
second section defined by said cathodes of said at least one pair of high
voltage electrodes and said
membrane.
174. The water heater of claim 170, wherein said at least one permanent magnet
is
comprised of a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet, wherein
said first permanent
magnet generates a magnetic field within a first section of said first region
of said electrolysis tank, said
first section defined by said anodes of said at least one pair of high voltage
electrodes and said
membrane, and wherein said second permanent magnet generates a magnetic field
within a second
section of said second region of said electrolysis tank, said second section
defined by said cathodes of
said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes and said membrane.
175. A method of operating a water heater, the method comprising the steps of
initiating electrolysis in an electrolysis tank of an electrolytic heating
subsystem;
heating a heat transfer medium contained within a first portion of a conduit,
said first
portion of said conduit in thermal communication with said electrolytic
heating subsystem, wherein said
heat transfer medium heating step is performed by said electrolytic heating
subsystem; and
circulating said heat transfer medium through said conduit, wherein a second
portion of
said conduit is coupled to a heat exchanger within said water heater.
42
176. The method of claim 175, further comprising the steps of:
measuring a temperature associated with said heat transfer medium contained
within said
first portion of said conduit;
comparing said measured temperature with a preset temperature; and
initiating said circulating step when said measured temperature is above said
preset
temperature.
177. The method of claim 175, further comprising the steps of
periodically measuring a water temperature within said water heater;
comparing said measured water temperature with a preset temperature; and
modifying said electrolysis in said electrolytic heating subsystem when said
measured
water temperature is above said preset temperature.
178. The method of claim 175, further comprising the steps of:
periodically measuring a water temperature within said water heater;
comparing said measured water temperature with a first preset temperature; and
performing said electrolysis initiating step when said measured water
temperature is
below said first preset temperature.
179. The method of claim 178, further comprising the steps of:
comparing said measured water temperature with a second preset temperature;
and
suspending electrolysis in said electrolytic heating subsystem when said
measured water
temperature is above said second preset temperature.
180. The method of claim 178, further comprising the steps of:
comparing said measured water temperature with a second preset temperature;
and
suspending said circulating step when said measured water temperature is above
said
second preset temperature.
181. The method of claim 178, further comprising the steps of:
comparing said measured water temperature with a second preset temperature;
and
modifying said electrolysis in said electrolytic heating subsystem when said
measured
water temperature is above said second preset temperature.
43
182. The method of claim 175, said electrolysis initiating step further
comprising the
steps of:
applying a low voltage to at least one pair of low voltage electrodes
contained within
said electrolysis tank of said electrolytic heating subsystem, said low
voltage applying step further
comprising the step of pulsing said low voltage at a first frequency and with
a first pulse duration; and
applying a high voltage to at least one pair of high voltage electrodes
contained within
said electrolysis tank, said high voltage applying step further comprising the
step of pulsing said high
voltage at said first frequency and with said first pulse duration, wherein
said high voltage pulsing step is
performed simultaneously with said low voltage pulsing step, and wherein said
low voltage electrodes of
said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes are positioned between said
high voltage electrodes of
said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes.
183. The method of claim 182, further comprising the step of filling said
electrolysis
tank with a liquid, wherein said liquid includes at least one of water,
deuterated water, tritiated water,
semiheavy water, heavy oxygen water, water containing an isotope of hydrogen,
and water containing an
isotope of oxygen.
184. The method of claim 183, further comprising the steps of:
monitoring a liquid level within said electrolysis tank; and
adding more of said liquid to said electrolysis tank when said monitored
liquid level falls
below a preset value.
185. The method of claim 183, further comprising the step of adding an
electrolyte to
said liquid.
186. The method of claim 185, further comprising the step of selecting a
concentration of said electrolyte to be within a range of 0.05 to 10.0 percent
by weight.
187. The method of claim 185, further comprising the step of selecting a
concentration of said electrolyte to be within a range of 0.05 to 2.0 percent
by weight.
188. The method of claim 185, further comprising the step of selecting a
concentration of said electrolyte to be within a range of 0.1 to 0.5 percent
by weight.
189. The method of claim 183, further comprising the steps of:
44
monitoring pH of said liquid within said electrolysis tank; and
adding an electrolyte to said liquid when said monitored pH falls outside of a
preset
range.
190. The method of claim 183, further comprising the steps of
monitoring resistivity of said liquid within said electrolysis tank; and
adding an electrolyte to said liquid when said monitored resistivity falls
outside of a
preset range.
191. The method of claim 182, further comprising the steps of:
fabricating said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes from a first
material;
fabricating said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes from a second
material; and
selecting said first material and said second material from the group
consisting of
titanium, stainless steel, copper, iron, steel, cobalt, manganese, zinc,
nickel, platinum, palladium,
aluminum, lithium, magnesium, boron, carbon, graphite, carbon-graphite, and
metal hydrides and alloys
of titanium, stainless steel, copper, iron, steel, cobalt, manganese, zinc,
nickel, platinum, palladium,
aluminum, lithium, magnesium, boron, carbon, graphite, carbon-graphite, and
metal hydrides.
192. The method of claim 182, further comprising the steps of selecting said
high
voltage within the range of 50 volts to 50 kilovolts and selecting said low
voltage within the range of 3
volts to 1500 volts.
193. The method of claim 182, further comprising the steps of selecting said
high
voltage within the range of 100 volts to 5 kilovolts and selecting said low
voltage within the range of 12
volt to 750 volts.
194. The method of claim 182, further comprising the step of selecting said
high
voltage and said low voltage such that a ratio of said high voltage to said
low voltage is at least 5 to 1.
195. The method of claim 182, further comprising the step of selecting said
first
frequency to be within the range of 50 Hz to 1 MHz.
196. The method of claim 182, further comprising the step of selecting said
first
frequency to be within the range of 100 Hz to 10 kHz.
45
197. The method of claim 182, further comprising the step of selecting said
first pulse
duration to be between 0.01 and 75 percent of a time period defined by said
first frequency.
198. The method of claim 182, further comprising the step of selecting said
first pulse
duration to be between 0.1 and 50 percent of a time period defined by said
first frequency.
199. The method of claim 182, further comprising the step of generating a
magnetic
field within a portion of said electrolysis tank, wherein said magnetic field
affects a heating rate
corresponding to said heat transfer medium heating step.
200. The method of claim 199, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one electromagnetic coil adjacent to a first
region of said electrolysis tank,
wherein each pair of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes includes
an anode and a cathode,
wherein each pair of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes
includes an anode and a cathode,
and wherein said anodes of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes
and said anodes of said at least
one pair of high voltage electrodes define said first region.
201. The method of claim 199, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one electromagnetic coil adjacent to a first
region of said electrolysis tank,
wherein each pair of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes includes
an anode and a cathode,
wherein each pair of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes
includes an anode and a cathode,
and wherein said cathodes of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes
and said cathodes of said at
least one pair of high voltage electrodes define said first region.
202. The method of claim 199, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the steps of positioning at least a first electromagnetic coil adjacent to a
first region of said electrolysis
tank and positioning at least a second electromagnetic coil adjacent to a
second region of said electrolysis
tank, wherein each pair of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes
includes an anode and a
cathode, wherein each pair of said at least one pair of high voltage
electrodes includes an anode and a
cathode, wherein said anodes of said at least one pair of low voltage
electrodes and said anodes of said at
least one pair of high voltage electrodes define said first region, and
wherein said cathodes of said at least
one pair of low voltage electrodes and said cathodes of said at least one pair
of high voltage electrodes
define said second region.
46
203. The method of claim 199, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one electromagnetic coil adjacent to a first
region and a second region of
said electrolysis tank, wherein each pair of said at least one pair of low
voltage electrodes includes an
anode and a cathode, wherein each pair of said at least one pair of high
voltage electrodes includes an
anode and a cathode, wherein said anodes of said at least one pair of low
voltage electrodes and said
anodes of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes are contained
within said first region, and
wherein said cathodes of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes and
said cathodes of said at least
one pair of high voltage electrodes are contained within said second region.
204. The method of claim 199, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one permanent magnet adjacent to a first
region of said electrolysis tank,
wherein each pair of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes includes
an anode and a cathode,
wherein each pair of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes
includes an anode and a cathode,
and wherein said anodes of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes
and said anodes of said at least
one pair of high voltage electrodes define said first region.
205. The method of claim 199, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one permanent magnet adjacent to a first
region of said electrolysis tank,
wherein each pair of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes includes
an anode and a cathode,
wherein each pair of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes
includes an anode and a cathode,
and wherein said cathodes of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes
and said cathodes of said at
least one pair of high voltage electrodes define said first region.
206. The method of claim 199, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the steps of positioning at least a first permanent magnet adjacent to a first
region of said electrolysis
tank and positioning at least a second permanent magnet adjacent to a second
region of said electrolysis
tank, wherein each pair of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes
includes an anode and a
cathode, wherein each pair of said at least one pair of high voltage
electrodes includes an anode and a
cathode, wherein said anodes of said at least one pair of low voltage
electrodes and said anodes of said at
least one pair of high voltage electrodes define said first region, and
wherein said cathodes of said at least
one pair of low voltage electrodes and said cathodes of said at least one pair
of high voltage electrodes
define said second region.
47
207. The method of claim 199, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one permanent magnet adjacent to a first
region and a second region of
said electrolysis tank, wherein each pair of said at least one pair of low
voltage electrodes includes an
anode and a cathode, wherein each pair of said at least one pair of high
voltage electrodes includes an
anode and a cathode, wherein said anodes of said at least one pair of low
voltage electrodes and said
anodes of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes are contained
within said first region, and
wherein said cathodes of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes and
said cathodes of said at least
one pair of high voltage electrodes are contained within said second region.
208. The method of claim 199, further comprising the step of controlling an
intensity
corresponding to said magnetic field.
209. The method of claim 208, said intensity controlling step further
comprising the
step of controllably varying an output of a power supply coupled to at least
one electromagnetic coil,
wherein said at least one electromagnetic coil performs said magnetic field
generating step.
210. The method of claim 175, said electrolysis initiating step further
comprising the
steps of applying a high voltage to at least one pair of high voltage
electrodes contained within said
electrolysis tank, said high voltage applying step further comprising the step
of pulsing said high voltage
at a first frequency and with a first pulse duration, wherein each pair of
said at least one pair of high
voltage electrodes includes at least one high voltage cathode electrode and at
least one high voltage
anode electrode, wherein each high voltage cathode electrode is positioned
within a first region of said
electrolysis tank and each high voltage anode electrode is positioned within a
second region of said
electrolysis tank, wherein at least a first metal member of a plurality of
metal members is located within
said first region of said electrolysis tank between said high voltage cathode
electrodes and a membrane
located within said electrolysis tank, and wherein at least a second metal
member of said plurality of
metal members is located within said second region of said electrolysis tank
between said high voltage
anode electrodes and said membrane.
211. The method of claim 210, further comprising the step of filling said
electrolysis
tank with a liquid, wherein said liquid includes at least one of water,
deuterated water, tritiated water,
semiheavy water, heavy oxygen water, water containing an isotope of hydrogen,
and water containing an
isotope of oxygen.
212. The method of claim 211, further comprising the steps of:
48
monitoring a liquid level within said electrolysis tank; and
adding more of said liquid to said electrolysis tank when said monitored
liquid level falls
below a preset value.
213. The method of claim 211, further comprising the step of adding an
electrolyte to
said liquid.
214. The method of claim 213, further comprising the step of selecting a
concentration of said electrolyte to be within a range of 0.05 to 10.0 percent
by weight.
215. The method of claim 213, further comprising the step of selecting a
concentration of said electrolyte to be within a range of 0.05 to 2.0 percent
by weight.
216. The method of claim 213, further comprising the step of selecting a
concentration of said electrolyte to be within a range of 0.1 to 0.5 percent
by weight.
217. The method of claim 211, further comprising the steps of:
monitoring pH of said liquid within said electrolysis tank; and
adding an electrolyte to said liquid when said monitored pH falls outside of a
preset
range.
218. The method of claim 211, further comprising the steps of:
monitoring resistivity of said liquid within said electrolysis tank; and
adding an electrolyte to said liquid when said monitored resistivity falls
outside of a
preset range.
219. The method of claim 210, further comprising the steps of:
fabricating said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes from a first
material;
fabricating said plurality of metal members from a second material; and
selecting said first material and said second material from the group
consisting of
titanium, stainless steel, copper, iron, steel, cobalt, manganese, zinc,
nickel, platinum, palladium,
aluminum, lithium, magnesium, boron, carbon, graphite, carbon-graphite, and
metal hydrides and alloys
of titanium, stainless steel, copper, iron, steel, cobalt, manganese, zinc,
nickel, platinum, palladium,
aluminum, lithium, magnesium, boron, carbon, graphite, carbon-graphite, and
metal hydrides.
49
220. The method of claim 210, further comprising the step of selecting said
high
voltage within the range of 50 volts to 50 kilovolts.
221. The method of claim 210, further comprising the step of selecting said
high
voltage within the range of 100 volts to 5 kilovolts.
222. The method of claim 210, further comprising the step of selecting said
first
frequency to be within the range of 50 Hz to 1 MHz.
223. The method of claim 210, further comprising the step of selecting said
first
frequency to be within the range of 100 Hz to 10 kHz.
224. The method of claim 210, further comprising the step of selecting said
first pulse
duration to be between 0.01 and 75 percent of a time period defined by said
first frequency.
225. The method of claim 210, further comprising the step of selecting said
first pulse
duration to be between 0.1 and 50 percent of a time period defined by said
first frequency.
226. The method of claim 210, further comprising the step of generating a
magnetic
field within a portion of said electrolysis tank, wherein said magnetic field
affects a heating rate
corresponding to said heat transfer medium heating step.
227. The method of claim 226, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one electromagnetic coil adjacent to said
first region of said electrolysis
tank.
228. The method of claim 226, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one electromagnetic coil adjacent to said
second region of said electrolysis
tank.
229. The method of claim 226, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the steps of positioning at least a first electromagnetic coil adjacent to
said first region of said electrolysis
tank and positioning at least a second electromagnetic coil adjacent to said
second region of said
electrolysis tank.
50
230. The method of claim 226, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one electromagnetic coil adjacent to said
first region and said second
region of said electrolysis tank.
231. The method of claim 226, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one permanent magnet adjacent to said first
region of said electrolysis
tank.
232. The method of claim 226, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one permanent magnet adjacent to said second
region of said electrolysis
tank.
233. The method of claim 226, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the steps of positioning at least a first permanent magnet adjacent to said
first region of said electrolysis
tank and positioning at least a second permanent magnet adjacent to said
second region of said
electrolysis tank.
234. The method of claim 226, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one permanent magnet adjacent to said first
region and said second region
of said electrolysis tank.
235. The method of claim 226, further comprising the step of controlling an
intensity
corresponding to said magnetic field.
236. The method of claim 235, said controlling step further comprising the
step of
controllably varying an output of a power supply coupled to at least one
electromagnetic coil, wherein
said at least one electromagnetic coil performs said magnetic field generating
step.
237. A method of operating a water heater, the method comprising the steps of:
initiating electrolysis in an electrolysis tank of an electrolytic heating
subsystem;
heating a heat transfer medium contained within a first portion of a conduit,
said first
portion of said conduit in thermal communication with said electrolytic
heating subsystem, wherein said
heat transfer medium heating step is performed by said electrolytic heating
subsystem;
circulating said heat transfer medium between said first portion of said
conduit and a
heat exchanger; and
51
circulating water between a water tank of said water heater and said heat
exchanger.
238. The method of claim 237, further comprising the steps of:
measuring a temperature associated with said heat transfer medium contained
within said
first portion of said conduit;
comparing said measured temperature with a preset temperature; and
initiating said heat transfer medium circulating step when said measured
temperature is
above said preset temperature.
239. The method of claim 237, further comprising the steps of:
measuring a temperature corresponding to said heat transfer medium contained
within
said first portion of said conduit;
comparing said measured temperature with a first preset temperature;
initiating said heat transfer medium circulating step when said measured
temperature is
above said first preset temperature;
comparing said measured temperature with a second preset temperature; and
initiating said water circulating step when said measured temperature is above
said
second preset temperature.
240. The method of claim 239, wherein said first and second preset
temperatures are
the same.
241. The method of claim 237, further comprising the steps of:
periodically measuring a water temperature within said water heater;
comparing said measured water temperature with a preset temperature; and
modifying said electrolysis in said electrolytic heating subsystem when said
measured
water temperature is above said preset temperature.
242. The method of claim 237, further comprising the steps of:
periodically measuring a water temperature within said water heater;
comparing said measured water temperature with a first preset temperature; and
performing said electrolysis initiating step when said measured water
temperature is
below said first preset temperature.
243. The method of claim 242, further comprising the steps of:
comparing said measured water temperature with a second preset temperature;
and
52
suspending electrolysis in said electrolytic heating subsystem when said
measured water
temperature is above said second preset temperature.
244. The method of claim 242, further comprising the steps of:
comparing said measured water temperature with a second preset temperature;
and
suspending said heat transfer medium circulating step when said measured water
temperature is above said second preset temperature.
245. The method of claim 242, further comprising the steps of:
comparing said measured water temperature with a second preset temperature;
and
suspending said water circulating step when said measured water temperature is
above
said second preset temperature.
246. The method of claim 242, further comprising the steps of:
comparing said measured water temperature with a second preset temperature;
and
modifying said electrolysis in said electrolytic heating subsystem when said
measured
water temperature is above said second preset temperature.
247. The method of claim 237, said electrolysis initiating step further
comprising the
steps of:
applying a low voltage to at least one pair of low voltage electrodes
contained within
said electrolysis tank of said electrolytic heating subsystem, said low
voltage applying step further
comprising the step of pulsing said low voltage at a first frequency and with
a first pulse duration; and
applying a high voltage to at least one pair of high voltage electrodes
contained within
said electrolysis tank, said high voltage applying step further comprising the
step of pulsing said high
voltage at said first frequency and with said first pulse duration, wherein
said high voltage pulsing step is
performed simultaneously with said low voltage pulsing step, and wherein said
low voltage electrodes of
said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes are positioned between said
high voltage electrodes of
said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes.
248. The method of claim 247, further comprising the step of filling said
electrolysis
tank with a liquid, wherein said liquid includes at least one of water,
deuterated water, tritiated water,
semiheavy water, heavy oxygen water, water containing an isotope of hydrogen,
and water containing an
isotope of oxygen.
249. The method of claim 248, further comprising the steps of:
53
monitoring a liquid level within said electrolysis tank; and
adding more of said liquid to said electrolysis tank when said monitored
liquid level falls
below a preset value.
250. The method of claim 248, further comprising the step of adding an
electrolyte to
said liquid.
251. The method of claim 250, further comprising the step of selecting a
concentration of said electrolyte to be within a range of 0.05 to 10.0 percent
by weight.
252. The method of claim 250, further comprising the step of selecting a
concentration of said electrolyte to be within a range of 0.05 to 2.0 percent
by weight.
253. The method of claim 250, further comprising the step of selecting a
concentration of said electrolyte to be within a range of 0.1 to 0.5 percent
by weight.
254. The method of claim 248, further comprising the steps of:
monitoring pH of said liquid within said electrolysis tank; and
adding an electrolyte to said liquid when said monitored pH falls outside of a
preset
range.
255. The method of claim 248, further comprising the steps of:
monitoring resistivity of said liquid within said electrolysis tank; and
adding an electrolyte to said liquid when said monitored resistivity falls
outside of a
preset range.
256. The method of claim 247, further comprising the steps of:
fabricating said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes from a first
material;
fabricating said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes from a second
material; and
selecting said first material and said second material from the group
consisting of
titanium, stainless steel, copper, iron, steel, cobalt, manganese, zinc,
nickel, platinum, palladium,
aluminum, lithium, magnesium, boron, carbon, graphite, carbon-graphite, and
metal hydrides and alloys
of titanium, stainless steel, copper, iron, steel, cobalt, manganese, zinc,
nickel, platinum, palladium,
aluminum, lithium, magnesium, boron, carbon, graphite, carbon-graphite, and
metal hydrides.
54
257. The method of claim 247, further comprising the steps of selecting said
high
voltage within the range of 50 volts to 50 kilovolts and selecting said low
voltage within the range of 3
volts to 1500 volts.
258. The method of claim 247, further comprising the steps of selecting said
high
voltage within the range of 100 volts to 5 kilovolts and selecting said low
voltage within the range of 12
volt to 750 volts.
259. The method of claim 247, further comprising the step of selecting said
high
voltage and said low voltage such that a ratio of said high voltage to said
low voltage is at least 5 to 1.
260. The method of claim 247, further comprising the step of selecting said
first
frequency to be within the range of 50 Hz to 1 MHz.
261. The method of claim 247, further comprising the step of selecting said
first
frequency to be within the range of 100 Hz to 10 kHz.
262. The method of claim 247, further comprising the step of selecting said
first pulse
duration to be between 0.01 and 75 percent of a time period defined by said
first frequency.
263. The method of claim 247, further comprising the step of selecting said
first pulse
duration to be between 0.1 and 50 percent of a time period defined by said
first frequency.
264. The method of claim 247, further comprising the step of generating a
magnetic
field within a portion of said electrolysis tank, wherein said magnetic field
affects a heating rate
corresponding to said heat transfer medium heating step.
265. The method of claim 264, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one electromagnetic coil adjacent to a first
region of said electrolysis tank,
wherein each pair of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes includes
an anode and a cathode,
wherein each pair of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes
includes an anode and a cathode,
and wherein said anodes of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes
and said anodes of said at least
one pair of high voltage electrodes define said first region.
266. The method of claim 264, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one electromagnetic coil adjacent to a first
region of said electrolysis tank,
55
wherein each pair of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes includes
an anode and a cathode,
wherein each pair of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes
includes an anode and a cathode,
and wherein said cathodes of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes
and said cathodes of said at
least one pair of high voltage electrodes define said first region.
267. The method of claim 264, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the steps of positioning at least a first electromagnetic coil adjacent to a
first region of said electrolysis
tank and positioning at least a second electromagnetic coil adjacent to a
second region of said electrolysis
tank, wherein each pair of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes
includes an anode and a
cathode, wherein each pair of said at least one pair of high voltage
electrodes includes an anode and a
cathode, wherein said anodes of said at least one pair of low voltage
electrodes and said anodes of said at
least one pair of high voltage electrodes define said first region, and
wherein said cathodes of said at least
one pair of low voltage electrodes and said cathodes of said at least one pair
of high voltage electrodes
define said second region.
268. The method of claim 264, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one electromagnetic coil adjacent to a first
region and a second region of
said electrolysis tank, wherein each pair of said at least one pair of low
voltage electrodes includes an
anode and a cathode, wherein each pair of said at least one pair of high
voltage electrodes includes an
anode and a cathode, wherein said anodes of said at least one pair of low
voltage electrodes and said
anodes of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes are contained
within said first region, and
wherein said cathodes of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes and
said cathodes of said at least
one pair of high voltage electrodes are contained within said second region.
269. The method of claim 264, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one permanent magnet adjacent to a first
region of said electrolysis tank,
wherein each pair of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes includes
an anode and a cathode,
wherein each pair of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes
includes an anode and a cathode,
and wherein said anodes of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes
and said anodes of said at least
one pair of high voltage electrodes define said first region.
270. The method of claim 264, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one permanent magnet adjacent to a first
region of said electrolysis tank,
wherein each pair of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes includes
an anode and a cathode,
wherein each pair of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes
includes an anode and a cathode,
56
and wherein said cathodes of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes
and said cathodes of said at
least one pair of high voltage electrodes define said first region.
271. The method of claim 264, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the steps of positioning at least a first permanent magnet adjacent to a first
region of said electrolysis
tank and positioning at least a second permanent magnet adjacent to a second
region of said electrolysis
tank, wherein each pair of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes
includes an anode and a
cathode, wherein each pair of said at least one pair of high voltage
electrodes includes an anode and a
cathode, wherein said anodes of said at least one pair of low voltage
electrodes and said anodes of said at
least one pair of high voltage electrodes define said first region, and
wherein said cathodes of said at least
one pair of low voltage electrodes and said cathodes of said at least one pair
of high voltage electrodes
define said second region.
272. The method of claim 264, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one permanent magnet adjacent to a first
region and a second region of
said electrolysis tank, wherein each pair of said at least one pair of low
voltage electrodes includes an
anode and a cathode, wherein each pair of said at least one pair of high
voltage electrodes includes an
anode and a cathode, wherein said anodes of said at least one pair of low
voltage electrodes and said
anodes of said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes are contained
within said first region, and
wherein said cathodes of said at least one pair of low voltage electrodes and
said cathodes of said at least
one pair of high voltage electrodes are contained within said second region.
273. The method of claim 264, further comprising the step of controlling an
intensity
corresponding to said magnetic field.
274. The method of claim 273, said intensity controlling step further
comprising the
step of controllably varying an output of a power supply coupled to at least
one electromagnetic coil,
wherein said at least one electromagnetic coil performs said magnetic field
generating step.
275. The method of claim 237, said electrolysis initiating step further
comprising the
steps of applying a high voltage to at least one pair of high voltage
electrodes contained within said
electrolysis tank, said high voltage applying step further comprising the step
of pulsing said high voltage
at a first frequency and with a first pulse duration, wherein each pair of
said at least one pair of high
voltage electrodes includes at least one high voltage cathode electrode and at
least one high voltage
anode electrode, wherein each high voltage cathode electrode is positioned
within a first region of said
57
electrolysis tank and each high voltage anode electrode is positioned within a
second region of said
electrolysis tank, wherein at least a first metal member of a plurality of
metal members is located within
said first region of said electrolysis tank between said high voltage cathode
electrodes and a membrane
located within said electrolysis tank, and wherein at least a second metal
member of said plurality of
metal members is located within said second region of said electrolysis tank
between said high voltage
anode electrodes and said membrane.
276. The method of claim 275, further comprising the step of filling said
electrolysis
tank with a liquid, wherein said liquid includes at least one of water,
deuterated water, tritiated water,
semiheavy water, heavy oxygen water, water containing an isotope of hydrogen,
and water containing an
isotope of oxygen.
277. The method of claim 276, further comprising the steps of:
monitoring a liquid level within said electrolysis tank; and
adding more of said liquid to said electrolysis tank when said monitored
liquid level falls
below a preset value.
278. The method of claim 276, further comprising the step of adding an
electrolyte to
said liquid.
279. The method of claim 278, further comprising the step of selecting a
concentration of said electrolyte to be within a range of 0.05 to 10.0 percent
by weight.
280. The method of claim 278, further comprising the step of selecting a
concentration of said electrolyte to be within a range of 0.05 to 2.0 percent
by weight.
281. The method of claim 278, further comprising the step of selecting a
concentration of said electrolyte to be within a range of 0.1 to 0.5 percent
by weight.
282. The method of claim 276, further comprising the steps of:
monitoring pH of said liquid within said electrolysis tank; and
adding an electrolyte to said liquid when said monitored pH falls outside of a
preset
range.
283. The method of claim 276, further comprising the steps of:
monitoring resistivity of said liquid within said electrolysis tank; and
58
adding an electrolyte to said liquid when said monitored resistivity falls
outside of a
preset range.
284. The method of claim 275, further comprising the steps of:
fabricating said at least one pair of high voltage electrodes from a first
material;
fabricating said plurality of metal members from a second material; and
selecting said first material and said second material from the group
consisting of
titanium, stainless steel, copper, iron, steel, cobalt, manganese, zinc,
nickel, platinum, palladium,
aluminum, lithium, magnesium, boron, carbon, graphite, carbon-graphite, and
metal hydrides and alloys
of titanium, stainless steel, copper, iron, steel, cobalt, manganese, zinc,
nickel, platinum, palladium,
aluminum, lithium, magnesium, boron, carbon, graphite, carbon-graphite, and
metal hydrides.
285. The method of claim 275, further comprising the step of selecting said
high
voltage within the range of 50 volts to 50 kilovolts.
286. The method of claim 275, further comprising the step of selecting said
high
voltage within the range of 100 volts to 5 kilovolts.
287. The method of claim 275, further comprising the step of selecting said
first
frequency to be within the range of 50 Hz to 1 MHz.
288. The method of claim 275, further comprising the step of selecting said
first
frequency to be within the range of 100 Hz to 10 kHz.
289. The method of claim 275, further comprising the step of selecting said
first pulse
duration to be between 0.01 and 75 percent of a time period defined by said
first frequency.
290. The method of claim 275, further comprising the step of selecting said
first pulse
duration to be between 0.1 and 50 percent of a time period defined by said
first frequency.
291. The method of claim 275, further comprising the step of generating a
magnetic
field within a portion of said electrolysis tank, wherein said magnetic field
affects a heating rate
corresponding to said heat transfer medium heating step.
292. The method of claim 291, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one electromagnetic coil adjacent to said
first region of said electrolysis
tank.
59
293. The method of claim 291, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one electromagnetic coil adjacent to said
second region of said electrolysis
tank.
294. The method of claim 291, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the steps of positioning at least a first electromagnetic coil adjacent to
said first region of said electrolysis
tank and positioning at least a second electromagnetic coil adjacent to said
second region of said
electrolysis tank.
295. The method of claim 291, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one electromagnetic coil adjacent to said
first region and said second
region of said electrolysis tank.
296. The method of claim 291, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one permanent magnet adjacent to said first
region of said electrolysis
tank.
297. The method of claim 291, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one permanent magnet adjacent to said second
region of said electrolysis
tank.
298. The method of claim 291, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the steps of positioning at least a first permanent magnet adjacent to said
first region of said electrolysis
tank and positioning at least a second permanent magnet adjacent to said
second region of said
electrolysis tank.
299. The method of claim 291, said magnetic field generating step further
comprising
the step of positioning at least one permanent magnet adjacent to said first
region and said second region
of said electrolysis tank.
300. The method of claim 291, further comprising the step of controlling an
intensity
corresponding to said magnetic field.
301. The method of claim 300, said controlling step further comprising the
step of
controllably varying an output of a power supply coupled to at least one
electromagnetic coil, wherein
said at least one electromagnetic coil performs said magnetic field generating
step.
60
