# US 4,394,230 A · Method and apparatus for splitting water molecules

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- Number: US 4,394,230 A
- Document ID: US4394230A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/272,277
- Filed: 1981-06-10
- Granted: 1983-07-19
- Earliest claimed: 1981-06-10
- Inventors: Henry K. Puharich
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4394230A

## CPC

- C01B 3/042: Decomposition of water (by electrolysis of water C25B1/04)
- C25B 1/04: by electrolysis of water
- C25B 11/02: characterised by shape or form
- H01M 8/0656: by electrochemical means (H01M8/065 takes precedence)
- Y02E 60/36: Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
- Y02E 60/50: Fuel cells
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B)
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Disclosed herein is a new and improved thermodynamic device to produce hydrogen gas and oxygen gas from ordinary water molecules or from seawater at normal temperatures and pressure. Also disclosed is a new and improved method for electrically treating water molecules to decompose them into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas at efficiency levels ranging between approximately 80-100%. The evolved hydrogen gas may be used as a fuel; and the evolved oxygen gas may be used as an oxidant.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for splitting water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen comprising
(a) generating complex electrical wave forms matching the complex wave form resonant frequencies of tetrahedral water molecules;
(b) applying said generated wave forms in resonance to said water molecules to shatter said molecules, thereby liberating hydrogen and oxygen.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, in which
(a) the bond angles of said tetrahedral water molecules are approximately 109.degree..

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, in which
(a) said water molecules are saline water molecules.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, in which
(a) the bond angles of said tetrahedral water molecules are 109.degree. 28'.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, in which
(a) the applied complex wave form is a signal in the form of an audio-frequency, amplitude modulated carrier wave;
(b) the water molecules are supplied to a cell during electrolysis;
(c) the impedance of said signal is matched continuously with that of said cell during the electrolysis of said molecules.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, in which
(a) the audio frequency is in the range of 20 to 200 Hz.;
(b) the carrier wave is in the range of 200-100,000 Hz.

### Claim 7

Apparatus for splitting water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen comprising
(a) water cell means including a pair of electrode means;
(b) means for supplying water molecules to said cell means;
(c) means for generating signals in the forms of complex electrical waves having resonant frequencies of tetrahedral water molecules;
(d) means for applying said generated signals to said electrode means;
(e) means to recover liberated hydrogen and oxygen from said cell means.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, in which
(a) said electrode means includes an outer cylindrical electrode of steel alloys coated on its inner surfaces with a nickel alloy and an inner coaxial hollow tubular electrode coated on its outer surface with a nickel alloy;
(b) said signal generating means, including means matching the impedance of said generated signal with that of said electrodes.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, in which
(a) said outer electrode includes integral fins;
(b) porous vitreous ceramic means, are disposed about said center electrode;
(c) a pair of spaced cylindrical glass tubes, one of which surrounds said vitreous ceramic means are disposed in said water cell means;
(d) the uppermost portion of said outer electrode is generally hemispherically shaped;
(e) the other of said glass tubes extends upwardly through said outer electrode and forms a gas vent for said cell means.