Methods and apparatus for testing fuel materials for exothermic reactions
AssigneeIH IP Holdings Limited
InventorsDennis G. Letts, John Dewey Weaver, III
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for testing simultaneously multiple fuel materials for suitability of producing excess heat. In some embodiments, multiple fuel materials are placed on a substrate with a thermoelectric converter inserted in between each fuel material and the substrate. When a triggering condition is applied, exothermic reactions may be triggered in some of the fuel materials. The voltage output of the thermoelectric converters is a direct measurement of the temperature of each fuel material, which is an indicator of whether an exothermic reaction is taking place in the fuel material. A known fuel material may be included in the testing array to establish the baseline of voltage readings.
Claims22
A method for testing two or more fuel materials for suitability of producing excess heat in an exothermic reaction, comprising:
- arranging the two or more fuel materials on a substrate, wherein a respective one of a plurality of thermoelectric converters are placed in between the substrate and a respective one of the two or more fuel materials;
- controlling the temperature of the substrate, wherein each respective one of the plurality of thermoelectric converters is configured to generate an output voltage based on the temperature difference between the substrate and each of the two or more fuel materials;
- applying a triggering condition to the substrate, wherein the triggering condition is designed to trigger an exothermic reaction in one of the two or more fuel materials;
- and
- monitoring the output voltages of the plurality of thermoelectric converters to determine the suitability of each of the two or more fuel materials for the exothermic reaction during a reaction condition.
A device for selecting one or more fuel materials suitable for producing excess heat in an exothermic reaction, comprising:
- a substrate for holding two or more fuel materials;
- and
- a plurality of thermoelectric converters, wherein a respective one of each of the plurality of thermoelectric converters is placed in between a respective fuel material of the two or more fuel materials and the substrate, wherein each respective thermoelectric converter is configured to generate an output voltage that is proportional to the temperature difference between the substrate and the respective fuel material;
- wherein the suitability of each of the two or more fuel materials for the exothermic reaction is determined based on the output voltage generated by the thermoelectric converter placed between the substrate and the respective fuel material during a reaction condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.