High temperature electrolysis glow discharge device

A glow discharge vessel comprising:

• a vessel having an open top, an outlet disposed in an upper portion of the vessel, and an inlet disposed in a lower portion of the vessel;
• a top cover that seals the open top of the vessel, secures a glow discharge assembly within the vessel, and provides a first electrical connection and a second electrical connection to the glow discharge assembly;
• the glow discharge assembly comprising:
• an electrically conductive cylindrical screen having an open end and a closed end,
• a flange assembly attached to and electrically connected to the open end of the electrically conductive cylindrical screen, the flange assembly having a hole with a first diameter aligned with a longitudinal axis of the electrically conductive cylindrical screen,
• an electrode aligned with the longitudinal axis of the electrically conductive cylindrical screen and extending through the hole of the flange assembly into the electrically conductive cylindrical screen, the electrode having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter of the hole,
• an insulator that seals the first hole of the flange assembly around the electrode and maintains a substantially equidistant gap between the electrically conductive cylindrical screen and the electrode,
• a non-conductive granular material disposed within the substantially equidistant gap, wherein (a) the non-conductive granular material allows an electrically conductive fluid to flow between the electrically conductive cylindrical screen and the electrode, and (b) the combination of the non-conductive granular material and the conductive fluid prevents electrical arcing between the electrically conductive cylindrical screen and the electrode during an electric glow discharge;
• and
• wherein:
• (1) the electric glow discharge is created whenever (a) the first electrical connection is connected to a DC electrical power supply such that the flange assembly and the electrically conductive cylindrical screen are an anode, (b) the second electrical connection is connected to the DC electrical power supply such that the electrode is a cathode, and (c) the electrically conductive fluid is introduced into the gap via the inlet of the vessel, and (2) the cathode heats up during the electric glow discharge.

A glow discharge system comprising:

• a vessel having an outlet disposed in a top of the vessel, at least one inlet/outlet disposed in a side of the vessel, and an inlet disposed in a lower portion of the vessel;
• one or more structural supports within the vessel that secure two or more glow discharge assemblies within the vessel, and provide a first electrical connection and a second electrical connection to each glow discharge assembly;
• each glow discharge assembly comprising:
• an electrically conductive cylindrical screen having an open end and a closed end,
• a flange assembly attached to and electrically connected to the open end of the electrically conductive cylindrical screen, the flange assembly having a hole with a first diameter aligned with a longitudinal axis of the electrically conductive cylindrical screen,
• an electrode aligned with the longitudinal axis of the electrically conductive cylindrical screen and extending through the hole of the flange assembly into the electrically conductive cylindrical screen, the electrode having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter of the hole,
• an insulator that seals the first hole of the flange assembly around the electrode and maintains a substantially equidistant gap between the electrically conductive cylindrical screen and the electrode,
• a non-conductive granular material disposed within the substantially equidistant gap, wherein (a) the non-conductive granular material allows an electrically conductive fluid to flow between the electrically conductive cylindrical screen and the electrode, and (b) the combination of the non-conductive granular material and the conductive fluid prevents electrical arcing between the electrically conductive cylindrical screen and the electrode during an electric glow discharge;
• and
• wherein:
• (1) the electric glow discharge is created whenever (a) the first electrical connection is connected to a DC electrical power supply such that the flange assembly and the electrically conductive cylindrical screen are an anode, (b) the second electrical connection is connected to the DC electrical power supply such that the electrode is a cathode, and (c) the electrically conductive fluid is introduced into the gap via the inlet of the vessel, and (2) the cathode heats up during the electric glow discharge.

A method for producing a steam comprising the steps of:

• providing:
• (1) a vessel having at least an outlet disposed in an upper portion of the vessel and an inlet disposed in a lower portion of the vessel, (2) one or more structural supports within the vessel that secure one or more glow discharge assemblies within the vessel, and provide a first electrical connection and a second electrical connection to each glow discharge assembly, and (3) each glow discharge assembly comprising:
• an electrically conductive cylindrical screen having an open end and a closed end,
• a flange assembly attached to and electrically connected to the open end of the electrically conductive cylindrical screen, the flange assembly having a hole with a first diameter aligned with a longitudinal axis of the electrically conductive cylindrical screen,
• an electrode aligned with the longitudinal axis of the electrically conductive cylindrical screen and extending through the hole of the flange assembly into the electrically conductive cylindrical screen, the electrode having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter of the hole,
• an insulator that seals the first hole of the flange assembly around the electrode and maintains a substantially equidistant gap between the electrically conductive cylindrical screen and the electrode,
• a non-conductive granular material disposed within the substantially equidistant gap, wherein (a) the non-conductive granular material allows an electrically conductive fluid to flow between the electrically conductive cylindrical screen and the electrode, and (b) the combination of the non-conductive granular material and the conductive fluid prevents electrical arcing between the electrically conductive cylindrical screen and the electrode during an electric glow discharge;
• creating the electric glow discharge by:
• (1) connecting the first electrical connection to a DC electrical power supply such that the flange assembly and the electrically conductive cylindrical screen are an anode, (2) connecting the second electrical connection to the DC electrical power supply such that the electrode is a cathode, and (3) introducing the electrically conductive fluid into the gap via the inlet of the vessel;
• and
• producing the steam using heat generated from the cathode during the electric glow discharge.