Solar hydrogen generator
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorsDaniel I. Sebacher, Alexander P. Sabol
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for using solar energy to manufacture hydrogen by dissociating water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen molecules. Solar energy is concentrated on a globe containing water thereby heating the water to its dissociation temperature. The globe is pervious to hydrogen molecules permitting them to pass through the globe while being essentially impervious to oxygen molecules. The hydrogen molecules are collected after passing through the globe and the oxygen molecules are removed from the globe.
Claims5
Apparatus for using solar energy to manufacture hydrogen gas by dissociating water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen molecules comprising:
- an inlet tube means for transporting water;
- a hollow globe means affixed to one end of said inlet tube means for receiving the water;
- said globe means being pervious to hydrogen molecules and being impervious to oxygen molecules and undissociated water molecules;
- an outlet tube means extending into said globe means and being concentrically positioned within said inlet tube means;
- a reflector means for concentrating solar energy on said globe means thereby heating the water contained in said globe means to the dissociation temperature of said water whereupon the water decomposes into hydrogen and oxygen molecules;
- the hydrogen molecules permeate through said globe means and the oxygen molecules and undissociated water enter said outlet tube means for removal from said globe means;
- a collector tube means for collecting the hydrogen molecules after the hydrogen molecules pass through said globe means;
- said collector tube means having an enlarged closed end which encases said hollow globe means and a tubular length extending from said enlarged closed end concentrically positioned about said inlet tube means;
- thereby transferring heat from the hydrogen molecules to the water in said inlet tube means and
- wherein said collector tube means is constructed of material transparent to solar radiation to thereby permit solar radiation to pass through said collector tube means to reach said hollow globe means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.