Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02810042 2013-03-14
Canada & World
Patent Application
Nunnerley, Michael John
HIGHLY EFFICIENT SYSTEM OF ELECTROLYSIS CALLED SMD ELECTROLYSIS,
"SWITCH MODE DRIVE ELECTROLYSIS" USING CHARGE-TRANSFER
COMPLEX IN A SPECIAL WAY.
Inventor: Michael John Nunnerley
Appl. No.:
Filed:
ABSTRACT
Disclosed is a highly efficient method of electrolysis which can be used for
the splitting of the
water molecule for the creation of hydrogen and oxygen, or any other liquid
electrolyte which
can be electrolysed, such as sodium acetate, but not limited to sodium
acetate, into other gases.
The name of SMD electrolysis has been given to this type of electrolysis which
has a unique
charge-transfer complex (CT complex) at one electrode.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
loom] This disclosure relates to a type of electrolysis which is considerably
more efficient than
normal Faraday direct current electrolysis, where the amount of electrical
energy added is equal
to the Gibbs free energy of the reaction.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Electrolysis using a direct current to positive and negative electrodes
immersed in an
electrolyte has been around and used since the day when Michael Faraday
invented the system of
electrolysing water, breaking the molecular bond, and so creating hydrogen and
oxygen. This
brute force system of electrolysing is not very energy efficient, and is why
for the production of
hydrogen it is not used to a great extent, and is preferred the reforming of
hydrocarbons, which
gives more gas for the energy consumed.
[0003] By disclosing here this energy efficient system of SMD electrolysis,
hydrogen from water
becomes a more interesting prospect for hydrogen production, but also for
other electrolysis
uses.
SUMMARY
[0004] In accordance with the purpose(s) of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described
herein, the invention, in one aspect relates to a system of electrolysis.
1
CA 02810042 2013-03-14
[0005] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides the means of
collecting electrons from a
charge-transfer complex at one electrode of the system.
[0006] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides for storage of
electron charge.
[0007] In another aspect, the present invention provides for reuse of stored
electron charge.
[0008] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides for more than one
set of collection
electrodes.
[0009] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides for different types
of electrode design.
[0010] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides for different types
of electrode
symmetry.
[0011] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides for different
electrolytes.
[0012] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides for an external
system of control.
[0013] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides for an excited
electronic state or
resonance in the cell.
[0014] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides for a plating of an
electrode.
[0015] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides for an external
circuit of control of the
system.
[0016] Yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of
electrolysis with a
considerably reduced energy consumption.
[0017] While aspects of the disclosed invention can be described and claimed
in a particular
statutory class, such as the system statutory class, this is for convenience
only and one of skill in
the art will understand that each aspect of the disclosed invention can be
described and claimed
in any statutory class.
[0018] Unless by otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that any
method or aspect
placed herein be construed as requiring that it's steps be performed in a
specific order.
Accordingly, where a method claim does not specifically state in the claims or
descriptions that
the steps are to be limited to a specific order, it is in no way intended that
an order be inferred, in
any respect. This holds for any possible non-express basis for interpretation,
including matters of
logic with respect to arrangement of steps or operational flow, plain meaning
derived from
grammatical organization or punctuation, or number or type of aspects
described in the
specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0019] The accompanying figures, incorporated in and constitute part of this
specification,
illustrates several aspects, and together with the description serve to
explain the principles of the
invention.
2
CA 02810042 2013-03-14
[0020] Fig. 1 Schematic illustration of two electrode sets of the SMD
electrolysis system.
[0021] Fig. 2 Example of a tubular electrode set.
[0022] Fig. 3 Example of a six tubular electrode set configuration.
[0023] Additional advantages of the invention will be partly set out in the
detailed description
which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or can be
learned by use of the
invention. The advantages of the invention will be realized and gained by
means of the elements
and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be
understood that both
the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are
exemplary and
explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] Here in is given a detailed description, to be read with reference to
the accompanying
figures 1, 2, 3, but must be understood that the present compounds, reagents,
compositions,
articles, systems, devices and or methods are not limited to specific methods
unless specified
otherwise, as they may be in due course, varied without taking away the true
intention of the
invention. Also it should be understood that the terminology used is for the
purpose of describing
particular aspects only and is not deemed to be limiting.
[0025] In Fig:1 of the present disclosure of SMD electrolysis, there is
utilized a special
alternating dc current which alternates between the main supply (M) 24vdc, but
not limited to
this voltage, and super capacitors (K), with a low ESR and a minimum voltage
rating of 24v,
10amps@ 1 Farad or more. Collected electrons from electrode (C), generated by
a special
electron doner-acceptor complex, are stored in super capacitors (K), for reuse
in the system.
[0026] In Fig:1 items (H) are half bridge controllers, which along with N type
mosfets (J) and
their internal diodes (L), form the switching circuit to alternate from the
main supply (M) and the
collected supply (K). The half bridge controllers (H) have variable frequency,
duty cycle and
dead time between switching mosfet pairs, those of the art will know how to
build such a
controller and as so is not covered within this present disclosure, apart from
the ranges which are
required ( frequency 1-20hz, duty cycle 30-50% and dead time between mosfets
switching on
and off 50msec-500msec). Each electrode set consisting of (A), (B), (C), have
their own
controller (H), mosfet (J) "pair" and super capacitor (K). Main supply (M) is
common to all
electrode sets from one set to six sets, but not limited to six if voltages
are increased at the main
supply (M) and the super capacitor (K) voltage rating.
[0027] Fig:2 shows the construction of one three electrode set as is disclosed
here in, but not
limited to three electrodes, as those in the art will know that more
electrodes can be added, and
that the electrodes can be configured as plate electrodes as opposed to
tubular electrodes. Outer
electrode (C) is connected to the positive terminal of super capacitor (K).
Mosfet (J) high side
drain is connected to electrode (B) and electrode (A) is connected to the
positive of the main
supply (M). The internal distance of the electrodes from one another should be
a minimum of
one centimetre to allow sufficient room for gas escape. Apertures (F) are for
entry of electrolyte
and exits (E) are for gas exit and should be sized accordingly. End caps (D)
should be made of a
none conducting material and are used to a line and maintain the electrodes,
those of the art will
also know that sealing the ends of the electrodes will stop electric current
from passing at those
points.
[0028] Fig:3 shows in this disclosure, a typical six electrodes sets
arrangement inside a
conducting container (G). Electrode diameter and height can be from 10
centimetres to 50
centimetres, but not limited to these measurements. Cell container (G) should
be larger than the
electrode sets and those of the art will know how to construct a cell
container. Those of the art
3
CA 02810042 2013-03-14
will also know how to enter the electrolyte and exit the gases from the cell
container (G).
[0029] Electrodes (A), (B) and (C) in this disclosure are made of 316 grade
stainless steel, but
not limited to using stainless steel, and the cell enclosure (G) of any
conducting material which
will not react with the electrolyte used, in this disclosure 304 or 316
stainless steel can be used
but must be insulated from direct contact with the tube sets. Even though cell
container (G) has
no direct electrical connection, it is important that it is conductive for the
overall efficiency of
the system.
[0030] A typical electrolyte used in this system is sodium hydroxide in
distilled water, but those
of the art may want to use others and does not change this disclosure of the
invention.
System operation
[0031] When the system is switched on the low side mosfets switch on,
electrodes (A) and
electrodes (C) "now negative", as well as super capacitors (K), are in
circuit, electrode (B) is a
neutral path. When controllers (H) switch off the low side mosfets and switch
on the high side
mosfets, electrodes (C) "now positive", and (B) are in circuit with super
capacitors (K), electrode
(A) is permanently connected to main supply positive.
[0032] With the system running the frequency of change over of each cycle can
be set along with
the duty cycle and down time between each half cycle. A typical frequency is
between 1-2hz and
a typical duty cycle is between 30-40% on time of main supply (M), so making
the super
capacitors (K) do more work than the main supply. A current sensing resistor
and suitable
oscilloscope can be placed between electrode (C) and the super capacitor (K)
positive terminal,
the frequency and duty can be adjusted to maintain the maximum voltage charge
in the super
capacitors (K). A large voltage and current spike will be seen on the
oscilloscope which has a
path back to the main supply (M) via the internal diode of the low side
mosfets and the
electrodes (A), the cell container plays a role of accumulating current path.
These current spikes
supply charge to the main supply (M).
[0033] Those of the art will see on the oscilloscope that less energy goes
into the super
capacitors than is being used in the circuit when the main current supply (M)
is not being used,
but the super capacitors maintain their charge. This is due to the complicated
electron-doner-
acceptor-complex taking place at electrode (C),where current is now being
chemically generated
and is in series with super capacitors (K).
4
