US 4,071,608 AGranted

Dissociation of water into hydrogen and oxygen using solar energy

OwnerRichard E. Diggsinventor

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for separating hydrogen and oxygen from water molecules. A solar reflecting means reflects solar energy onto a water containing tank to boil water contained therein and form steam. The steam is transferred either to a turbine-generator assembly for producing power, or to a dissociating means for producing hydrogen and oxygen. The steam in the dissociating means is forced to traverse a spiral path wherein it undergoes a circular motion to subject it to centrifugal force while contacting a heat transfer surface. Solar energy is concentrated on the heat transfer surface and heat in amounts sufficient to raise the temperature of the steam to the dissociation temperature thereof is transferred thereto. Hydrogen and oxygen are separated from each other by the centrifugal forces, and are withdrawn from the dissociating means. An electric starter and means for moving solar reflecting means are also disclosed.

Claims3

Dependent claims

A process for dissociating hydrogen and oxygen from water, comprising:

providing a body of water in a container;
focusing solar energy onto said body of water container in a manner such that the temperature of the water is raised to the saturation temperature thereof to form steam;
reflecting solar energy from the container;
providing a dissociation container;
separating said steam from said body of water;
moving said steam into said dissociation container;
focusing additional solar energy on said dissociation container, and focusing said reflected solar energy onto said dissociation container so that said additional solar energy and said reflected solar energy cause the temperature of said steam to be raised to the dissociation temperature thereof to dissociate the hydrogen and oxygen contained therein;
separating said hydrogen and oxygen from each other by moving said hydrogen and oxygen along a curved path to subject them to centrifugal forces which cause oxygen to move radially outward and hydrogen to move radially inward;
and
removing said separated hydrogen and oxygen from proximity with each other.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.