Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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HYDROGEN GENERATOR
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a hydrogen generation device. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a hydrogen generation device
for use
with an internal combustion engine with the purpose to improve fuel combustion
and
consumption.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Typically, internal combustion engines are powered by a hydrocarbon fuel
such as petrol, diesel or liquid petroleum gas (LPG). Incomplete combustion of
the
fuel in the engine results in pollutants expelled through the exhaust system
of the
associated vehicle and also to low efficiency in the output from the engine.
It is known that the addition of hydrogen and oxygen gases into the fuel air
mixture for combustion can increase efficiency of an engine and also reduce
the
pollutants output through the exhaust to the environment.
It is desirable to produce an improved hydrogen generator that improves
efficiency and reduces pollutants produced due to the incomplete combustion of
conventional fuels.
It is desirable to provide an improved hydrogen generator that is versatile in
size and structure such that it can be fitted to any vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first aspect of the invention provides a hydrogen generator comprising a
plurality of electrodes arranged in a sequence, wherein the sequence comprises
a
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first positively or negatively chargeable electrode, followed by an isolated
member of
similar conductive material to the positively or negatively chargeable
electrodes,
wherein the isolated member is followed in the sequence by an electrode of
opposite
polarity to the first electrode and wherein an isolated member is located
between
each positively and negatively chargeable electrode of the sequence and
wherein
the sequence ends with an electrode of opposite polarity to that of the first
electrode
of the sequence.
The hydrogen generator may comprise a plurality of electrodes and a plurality
of isolated members.
The sequence may comprise a plurality of positively chargeable electrodes
and a plurality of negatively chargeable electrodes where each of the
positively
chargeable electrodes are electrically connected together and to a positive
terminal
of a power input source. The sequence may be arranged such that all negatively
chargeable electrodes are electrically connected together and to a negative
terminal
of a power input source.
The power input source may be provided by a connection to an automobile
battery.
Each electrode may comprise a plurality of members joined in electrical
contact. Each member may be a plate. Each positive and negative electrode may
comprise four plates. Each isolated member of the sequence may comprise three
plates. The plates may be substantially circular in shape. Each plate may be
arranged concentrically and may be mounted on a common shaft. The shaft may be
of non-conductive material. The shaft may be of nylon material. The plates
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providing the electrodes and isolated members may comprise stainless steel.
The
plates may comprise 316L type stainless steel.
Stainless steel, in particular 316L stainless steel was found to be an
efficient
material in the electrolysis process for producing hydrogen and oxygen and
also for
its resistance to corrosion and erosion. The electrodes are fully immersed
during the
electrolysis process. Therefore, it is advantageous to use 316L stainless
steel in
respect of the lifespan of the device and an increased time period between
maintenance periods.
The electrodes may be enclosed in a hermetically sealed housing. The
housing may further comprise a fluid reservoir attached thereto providing a
permanent fluid source for the electrolysis process.
The fluid reservoir may comprise a float device operable to control the level
of
fluid in the fluid reservoir. The fluid reservoir may further comprise an
input and an
output port, wherein the input allows a predetermined level of fluid in the
fluid
reservoir and the output port allows the hydrogen generated to be exported to
a
combustion system. The fluid reservoir may further comprise a vacuum pump to
control the delivery rate of the hydrogen and oxygen gases exiting the fluid
reservoir
via the output port.
Either or both of the fluid reservoir and the hermetically sealed housing may
comprise removable caps for maintenance and cleaning of their interior. The
electrodes may be removable from the housing for maintenance and repair.
The device according to the first aspect of the present invention may be used
with, for example, an internal combustion engine. The device may be operable
to
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generate, through the process of electrolysis, hydrogen and oxygen for
delivery to
the combustion site of the engine. The addition of hydrogen and oxygen to the
combustion site of an engine may improve the efficiency of combustion of the
hydrocarbon fuel and may also reduce emissions normally associated with the
incomplete combustion of hydrocarbon fuels, for example carbon monoxide,
unburned hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides.
In trials with a device according to the present invention a notable change in
the fuel consumption in a family car with a diesel engine was recorded. Normal
fuel
consumption of the vehicle was in the region of forty eight miles per gallon
of fuel
used. In comparison, the same engine with a device according to the invention
attached, and driven under comparable conditions, produced improved fuel
consumption. In the comparison test, sixty one miles per gallon of fuel used
was
recorded.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described by
way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows an illustrative example of a hydrogen generator according to
an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 shows an illustrative example of an electrode pack of the hydrogen
generator of Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows an illustrative example showing the shape of an electrode of
the electrode pack illustrated in Figure 2;
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Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of the electrode sequence of
Figure 2; and
Figure 5 shows an illustrative example of a hydrogen generator according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Referring to Figure 1, a hydrogen generator 1 is illustrated which comprises a
fluid reservoir 3 that in the illustrated embodiment is arranged substantially
perpendicular to an electrode housing 5. The electrode housing 5 is arranged
to
receive fluid 9 from the reservoir 3.
In the illustrated embodiment the reservoir 3 comprises a clear tube 7 such
that the level of fluid 9 contained in the reservoir 3 can be observed. The
fluid 9 is
an electrolyte solution comprising water; for example rainwater, a saline
solution or
water containing bicarbonate of soda or caustic soda. Fluid is added to the
reservoir
3 through an inlet 8.
A float device 11 is included in the reservoir 3. The float device 11 is
operable
to measure the level of fluid 9 in the reservoir 3 and is also operable to
activate a
pump (not shown) such that a predetermined level of fluid 9 is maintained in
the
reservoir 3. The float device 11 can also be operable to indicate the
condition of the
fluid 9 in the device 1.
The condition of the fluid 9 will determine when maintenance is required. In
this regard, the reservoir 3 comprises a cap 12 that, in use, provides a
hermetically
sealed unit. Advantageously, the cap 12 is removable for maintenance. As such
suitable seals, for example o-rings are arranged at the top of the reservoir 3
in
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sealing communication with the cap 12. The cap 12 can be further sealed with
the
use of a screw thread and a sealing compound such as PTFE tape.
Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2, the electrode housing 5 comprises a
substantially tubular casing 13 which houses a bank of electrodes 15 arranged
in
arrays of anodes 17, cathodes 19 and isolated members 21 (see Figure 2). The
electrodes 15 are arranged in a sequence, where each anode 17 and each cathode
19 is interposed with an isolated member 21. In the embodiment illustrated,
each
electrode 15 comprises a substantially circular disc 23 made of 316L stainless
steel
(see Figure 3).
Each anode 17 and each cathode 19 comprises four discs 23. The isolated
member 21 comprises three discs 23. The isolated members 21 separate the
cathodes 19 from the anodes 17. Each disc 23 forming the anode 17 or cathode
19
is separated from another disc by a conductive material and the discs 23
forming the
isolated member 21 are spaced using non-conductive nylon washers.
The bank of electrodes 15 is arranged on a non-conductive nylon shaft 25.
The shaft 25 extends from an end cap 27 to a non-conductive disc 35. The non
conductive disc acts as a guide and a stop when the electrodes are inserted in
the
tubular casing 13.
The end cap 27 seals and closes the housing 5. The end cap 27 also
comprises two electrical terminals 29, 31 that provide electrical connection
of the
anodes 17 and the cathodes 21 to an external power source (not shown). In an
example of an application of the device 1, the external power source is
provided by
an automobile battery.
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In the illustrated embodiment, the bank of electrodes 15 comprises three
anodes 17, three cathodes 19 and five isolating members 21 arranged in a
sequence. The sequence comprises an anode 17, followed by an isolating member
21, followed by a cathode 19, followed by an isolating member 21 and so on. In
this
example the sequence ends with a cathode 19. Alternatively, the arrangement
may
start with a cathode 19 and as such the sequence would end with an anode 17
having an isolating member between each cathode 19 and each anode 17 until the
end of the sequence (see Figure 3).
The electrodes 15 are arranged such that all of the anodes 17 are connected
together and to the positive terminal 29. Similarly, the cathodes 19 are also
connected together and to the negative terminal 31. The isolated members 21
are
isolated from the anodes 17 and cathodes 19 by virtue of the isolating members
21
being mounted on a non-conductive shaft 25 and being separated by non
conductive
spacers 33 such as nylon washers arranged on the shaft 25. The shaft 25
terminates with the nylon disc 35.
The process of hydrogen generation occurs when electricity passes through
the terminals 29, 31 and when the electrodes 15 are immersed in electrolytic
fluid,
for example distilled water or filtered rainwater containing a quantity of
sodium
bicarbonate (bicarbonate of soda) or sodium hydroxide (caustic soda).
In the example illustrated the capacity of the reservoir 3 is in the region of
three litres.
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In an embodiment of the invention, the fluid 9 in contact with the electrodes
15
is water containing two teaspoons (10ml) of bicarbonate of soda or two
teaspoons
(10ml) of caustic soda per litre of fluid.
The reservoir 3 comprises a filter to ensure that contaminants do not enter
the
housing 5 containing the electrodes 15. The reservoir 3 comprises an inlet 8
and an
outlet 37, where the inlet 8 allows the reservoir to be filled with fluid 9
and the outlet
37 facilitates removal of the hydrogen and oxygen gases to the intake side of
the
engine.
An alternative arrangement is illustrated in Figure 5, where the device 100
comprises two reservoirs 300, 310 to suit different vehicle types. This
example
operates in the same way as the device 1 illustrated by Figures 1 to 4, but
includes
increased fluid capacity.
It will be appreciated that larger capacity reservoirs 3 or a plurality of
reservoirs 300, 310 may be used depending on the application.
Alternatively, or in addition, a permanent fluid source may be connected to
the
inlet 8 of the reservoir 3 to ensure adequate fluid supply to the casing 13
for the
electrolysis process.
The reservoir 3 includes a screen or filter to remove contaminants from the
fluid 9 before it passes to the electrodes 15.
The hydrogen and oxygen gases generated by the electrolysis process in the
device 1 (Figure 1) or device 100 (Figure 5) form bubbles 39 that rise to the
surface
of the fluid 9 contained in the reservoir 3, 300 and exits through the outlet
37, 370 to
the intake system of the engine (not shown).
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A vacuum pump (not illustrated) is connected to the outlet 37, 370 of the
reservoir 3, 300 to draw the hydrogen gas at a predetermined rate towards the
engine intake. The vacuum pump facilitates delivery of the hydrogen and oxygen
from the device 1, 100 to the intake of the engine. In an embodiment of the
invention
the vacuum pump is arranged to deliver hydrogen gas to the intake of the
engine at
a rate of eight litres per minute.
The hydrogen and oxygen gases produced from the electrolysis of the fluid 9
combine with the hydrocarbon fuel and air mixture to improve the speed of
combustion and the combustion efficiency of the engine. The improved
combustion
also reduces the emission of carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons, nitrogen
oxides and sulphur oxides. Improved combustion efficiency may also result in
improved fuel consumption such that the energy used per unit of fuel is
improved. a
device similar to that illustrated in the figures and in accordance with the
claimed
invention was tested in a Kia Cerada diesel car. Improvements in fuel
consumption
were noted. The fuel consumption of the car without the device fitted was in
the
region of forty eight miles per gallon of fuel used. The fuel consumption of
the same
car with the device fitted was in the region of sixty one miles per gallon of
fuel used.
The device 1, 100 is arranged to operate when the ignition is switched on in
the vehicle in which the device 1, 100 is installed. By switching on the
ignition, a
power supply is provided to the terminals 29, 31 of the housing 5.
Whilst specific embodiments of the present invention have been described
above, it will be appreciated that departures from the described embodiments
may
still fall within the scope of the present invention.
