Method and apparatus for producing hydrogen
OwnerRandall Carr, L. E. Geoffroy +2inventors
InventorsRandall Carr, L. E. Geoffroy, Rodger H. Flagg, Donald L. Carr
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Abstract
Electrodes are immersed within oil which forms a layer over a quantity of water. When current is passed between the electrodes which are held to a predetermined gap from the interstitial surface between the oil and water, water is caused to undergo electrodecomposition. Gaseous hydrogen is then recovered in the sealed space above the oil-water layers and the oxygen is caused to react with constituents in the oil layer. Consequently, there is produced continuously a quantity of hydrogen which is separately collected and is usable in gaseous form.
Claims19
A process for producing hydrogen gas comprising the steps of:
- passing a current through electrodes disposed within a hydrocarbon oil layer which is formed as a supernatant layer above a water layer, electrically dissociating the water layer and forming whereby a continuous outflow of hydrogen, and replenishing the water which is electrically dissociated in the aforementioned manner.
Apparatus for generating hydrogen gas comprising a chamber adapted to receive therein immissible layers of oil and water, respectively, a plurality of electrodes adapted to receive a preferred current charge and adapted to be immersed within the oil layers with the ends thereof a predetermined and relatively constant clearance from the interfacial area between the oil and water but disposed solely within the oil layer, means for imposing electrical potential across the electrodes wherein preferred current is transferred between such electrodes through a combination of the oil and water layers respectively to effect an electrical decomposition of the water, means for maintaining the water level within said chamber to maintain the said relatively constant clearance of the electrode ends from the interfacial area between said oil and water layers respectively, means for maintaining a preferred current flow between said electrodes in the vicinity of the interfacial boundaries separating the water and supernatant oil layers, and means for collecting hydrogen gas which is generated by the electrical decomposition of water, occurring in accompanyment to the passage of current between said electrodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.