Desalination methods and devices using geothermal energy
AssigneeMarine Power Products Incorporated
InventorJeffrey M. Carey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of and apparatus for desalinating sea water using geothermal energy. A low voltage (such as less than 0.9V) is applied to a hydrogen generating catalysts to generate hydrogen and oxygen, wherein geothermal heat is used as a heat source. The hydrogen and oxygen are used to drive a gas turbine to generate electricity. The oxygen and hydrogen are transported away and combusted to generate heat and pure water, as such salt are separated from the pure water.
Claims21
1-20. (canceled)
A method of desalination of sea water using geothermal heat comprising:
- a. providing an amount of sea water with sea salt and an amount of geothermal heat as a heat source to a reaction vessel;
- b. generating an amount of oxygen and an amount of hydrogen by performing a catalytic electrolysis reaction by applying an electric voltage between 0.4V to 0.9V to a hydrogen generating catalyst having aluminum, copper, and silver in the sea water in the reaction vessel;
- c. driving a turbine to generate an amount of generated electricity by using a gas pressure generated by the amount of hydrogen, the amount of oxygen, or both;
- d. combusting the amount of hydrogen and the amount of oxygen generating an amount of desalinated water and generated heat;
- and
- e. providing the amount of generated electricity or the amount of generated heat in assisting the catalytic electrolysis reaction in the reaction vessel.
A sea water desalination method comprising:
- a. providing an amount of sea water and geothermal heat in a reaction vessel, wherein the amount of sea water contains water and sea salt;
- b. converting the water into hydrogen and oxygen by performing an electrolysis reaction using a hydrogen generating catalyst containing aluminum, copper, and silver in the reaction vessel with a voltage between 0.4V to 0.9V applied;
- c. generating electricity by driving an electricity generating device using a pressure generated by the hydrogen and oxygen;
- d. combusting the hydrogen and oxygen in a combustion vessel generating desalinated water and heat;
- and
- e. collecting the desalinated water.
A method of storing an amount of energy comprising:
- a. providing an amount of water and geothermal heat in a reaction vessel;
- b. converting the water and geothermal heat into hydrogen and oxygen by performing an electrolysis reaction using a hydrogen generating catalyst containing aluminum, copper, and silver in the reaction vessel with a voltage between 0.4V to 0.9V applied;
- c. storing the hydrogen and oxygen as an energy source in a storage vessel;
- d. generating electricity by releasing the hydrogen and oxygen stored at a predetermined event to drive an expansion turbine;
- and
- e. combusting the hydrogen and oxygen release to generate an amount of stored chemical energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.