Hydrogen-fueled visual flame gas fireplace
OwnerJohn S. Fleming, Arthur Morris Listerinventors
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Abstract
The present invention provides a novel means for generating hydrogen gas which is particularly useful in domestic applications, particularly, a hydrogen-fueled gas fireplace. The hydrogen generating means comprises a filter-press electrolyzer that generates hydrogen from an electrolyte solution and has a relatively small size, e.g., about 600 mm2, and is thus convenient for domestic use. Suitable domestic applications include cooking stoves and the like as well as gas fireplaces. A hydrogen-fueled fireplace comprises a housing containing a firebox, an electrolyzer, which comprises a series of electrolytic cells, and a power module.
Claims25
A self-contained power module comprising an enclosure having input and output connectors for providing an electrical interface between an exterior and interior of the enclosure, said module comprising:
- a first full-wave rectifier having an input connected to the input connector of the enclosure, and an output,
- a chopper having an input connected to the first full-wave rectifier output, and a chopped output having a variable duty cycle,
- a transformer having a primary winding coupled to the chopped output, and a secondary winding;
- a second full-wave rectifier having an input coupled to the secondary winding ofthe transformer, and an output connected to the output connector of the enclosure such that a rectified sinusoidal waveform appears at the output connector when an AC voltage is applied to the input connector;
- and
- a controller for regulating the duty cycle of the chopped output as a function of the AC voltage.
A filter-press electrolyzer system comprising:
- an electrolyzer having a series of between about 5 and 30 cells capable of producing hydrogen gas and oxygen gas from an electrolyte solution;
- and
- a switch mode power supply electrically connected to the electrolyzer.
A filter-press electrolyzer comprising:
- (a) a series of cells capable of producing hydrogen gas and oxygen gas from an electrolyte solution, wherein each cell comprises:
- (i) a cathode , olate capable of generating hydrogen gas from the electrolyte solution,
- (ii) an anode plate capable of generating oxygen gas from the electrolyte solution spaced apart from the cathode plate,
- (iii) a hydrogen and oxygen gas impermeable membrane spaced between the cathode plate and anode plate,
- (iv) a first gasket adjacent the periphery of the cathode plate between the cathode plate and the membrane, and
- (v) a second gasket adjacent the periphery of the anode plate between the anode plate and the membrane;
- (b) a hydrogen settling tank;
- and
- (c) an oxygen settling tank;
- wherein each of the cathode plate, anode plate, membrane, first gasket and second gasket contains a series of hydrogen gas holes to form a separate hydrogen gas flowpath for each cell that extends through the series of cells to the hydrogen settling tank, and
- further wherein each of the cathode plate, anode plate, membrane, first gasket and second gasket contains a series of oxygen gas holes to form a separate oxygen gas flowpath for each cell that extends through the series of cells to the oxygen settling tanks.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.