Plasma reactor and process for producing lower-energy hydrogen species
OwnerRandell Millsinventor
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Abstract
This invention relates to a reactor to generate power, plasma, light, and novel hydrogen compounds by the catalysis of atomic hydrogen. The power balance is optimized by maximizing the output power from the hydrogen catalysis reaction while minimizing the input power by controlling the parameters of the input power to initiate or at least partially maintain the plasma such as the power density, pulse frequency, duty cycle, and peak and offset electric fields.
Claims316
A plasma reactor to generate power and novel hydrogen species and compositions of matter comprising new forms of hydrogen via the catalysis of atomic hydrogen and to generate a plasma and a source of light via the catalysis of atomic hydrogen, the reactor comprising
- a plasma forming energy cell for the catalysis of atomic hydrogen to form lower-energy hydrogen species and compositions of matter comprising lower-energy hydrogen,
- a source of catalyst for catalyzing the reaction of atomic hydrogen to form the lower-energy hydrogen and release energy,
- a source of atomic hydrogen, and
- a source of intermittent or pulsed power to at least partially maintain the plasma.
The reactor of claim 9 wherein the pulse frequency and duty cycle is adjusted to optimize the power balance by optimizing the reaction rate versus the input power by controlling the amount of catalyst and atomic hydrogen generated by the discharge decay during the low-field or nondischarge period wherein the concentrations are dependent on the pulse frequency, duty cycle, and the rate of plasma decay.
The reactor of claim 107 wherein the catalyst is selected from the group of He+, Ne+, and Ar+.
The reactor of claim 247 wherein the plurality of microwave sources comprise Evenson cavities.
A method for producing power and lower-energy-hydrogen species and compounds comprising the steps of:
- providing a vessel, a source of atomic hydrogen, a source of pulsed or intermittent power, and a catalyst capable of providing a net enthalpy of m·27.2±0.5 eV where m is an integer or m/2·27.2±0.5 eV where m is an integer greater than one;
- forming a plasma in the vessel with the source of power;
- forming atomic hydrogen in the plasma;
- reacting the catalyst with the atomic hydrogen to form lower-energy-hydrogen species and compounds.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.