Solid state renewable energy supply
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsJerome J. Cuomo, Jerry M. Woodall
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A solid state renewable energy supply is provided by the oxidation of a passivating oxide forming solid state material in the presence of oxygen under the control of a passivating oxide preventing agent forming thereby an oxide reaction product, heat and hydrogen. The oxide reaction product is then electrolytically or thermo chemically reduced to recover the solid state material. Aluminum is hydrolized in the presence of gallium producing aluminum oxide, heat and hydrogen. The aluminum oxide is in turn electrolyzed back to aluminum.
Claims5
The process of providing energy in the form of heat and hydrogen comprising in combination the steps of:
- reacting in an oxidation type of reaction a source of a passivating oxide forming solid state material and an oxygen supplying reagent composed of at least oxygen and hydrogen in the presence of an agent inhibiting said passivating oxide, producing thereby hydrogen gas, heat, and an oxide of said solid state material as reaction products;
- recovering and recycling said passivating oxide inhibiting agent;
- and
- recovering and recycling in a chemical reduction type of reaction said oxide of said solid state material reaction product.
In a process of providing a renewable source of energy employing the oxidation of a source material the improvement comprising chemically reducing the oxide reaction produce back to said source material and including the utilization of both the cogenerated heat and hydrogen liberated by said oxidation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.