Photochemical thermal-energy process and generator

The method of generating thermal energy by a photochemical process which comprises exposing a gas which is enclosed in a sealed vessel to light, said gas being selected from the group which consists of chlorine, bromine and iodine and which is dissociated by light from a molecular state to a free radical state and which on contact with a third body is reconverted to a molecular state with the production of heat, presenting a third body inside the sealed vessel with which the gas atoms in the free radical state come in contact and thereby produce heat on reconversion of the gas to the molecular state, and transmitting the heat from said third body to the outside of the vessel.

Apparatus for generating thermal energy from light by a photochemical process which comprises a sealed vessel at least a portion of its wall being of light transmitting material, a gas enclosed within said vessel which is selected from the group which consists of chlorine, bromine and iodine and which is dissociated by light from a molecular state to an excited atomic state such that on contact with a third body the atomic gas will be reconverted to its molecular state with the production of heat, a third body inside said vessel which said excited atomic gas contacts and which is heated by the reconversion of the excited atomic gas to its molecular state, and means for transmitting the heat from said third body to the outside of the vessel.