Hydrogen mobile power plant that extracts hydrogen fuel from water

A method for generating electrical energy in a fuel cell, the steps comprising:

• providing a means for boiling water in a boiler to produce superheated steam;
• providing a means for delivering the superheated steam to at least one ceramic membrane mounted within a hydrogen catalytic converter to produce a hydrogen gas;
• providing a means for delivering a portion of the superheated steam to at least one oxygen catalytic converter to produce an oxygen gas;
• providing a means for feeding the hydrogen gas and oxygen gas into the fuel cell, generating electrical power, heat and water;
• and
• providing a means for directing the heat generated by the fuel cell to the boiler.

A system installed in an electrically powered vehicle for producing electrical energy, the system comprising:

• a boiler containing water and capable of producing superheated steam;
• a means for delivering the steam to at least one ceramic membrane for converting the steam from the boiler into hydrogen gas;
• a means for delivering the hydrogen gas to a fuel cell;
• the fuel cell having a means for receiving the hydrogen gas and oxygen gas to generate electrical power, heat and water;
• a water feedback mechanism having a means for capturing unreacted steam and returning the unreacted steam to the boiler;
• a thermal feedback system having a means for capturing the heat generated by the fuel cell and delivering the heat to the boiler;
• a controller having a means for maintaining operation of the system;
• an electrical power storage device for storing the electrical power;
• a motor operatively coupled to a drive system for the electrically powered vehicle;
• and
• a motor controller accepting power from the storage device and providing power to operate the motor.

A method for decomposing water into its constituent elements of diatomic hydrogen and oxygen comprising;

• providing a source of superheated steam to a catalytic cell containing a first ambipolar cermet membrane having a means to decompose the water to diatomic hydrogen;
• providing a source of superheated steam to a catalytic cell containing a second ambipolar cermet membrane having a means to decompose the steam to diatomic oxygen;
• arranging the catalytic cells in a cascade and recirculate configuration so that the catalytic cells for the generation of hydrogen and oxygen are disposed in series;
• and
• providing a pump to circulate the superheated steam through the hydrogen and catalytic cells in turn.

A method for determining the amount of steam, water or mixture of steam and water required in a boiler producing superheated steam, the method comprising;

• providing an output modulation valve for distributing steam to the input of a hydrogen catalytic converter cell;
• monitoring pressure input to the catalytic converter cell by a pressure sensor;
• providing a controller having a means for metering an initial mass of water to the boiler;
• measuring a pressure reservoir in the boiler with a pressure sensor;
• measuring a temperature in the boiler by a temperature sensor;
• and
• providing means in the controller for solving for the mass quantity in the system in moles so that water can be added to the boiler or returned to a water storage tank as needed to maintain a set mass quantity.

A method for the decomposition of water into hydrogen and oxygen comprising:

• providing a boiler containing water;
• providing a source of heat for the boiler from a hydrocarbon fuel;
• providing a plurality of ceramic membranes for receiving superheated steam from the boiler;
• providing a means for delivering the hydrogen and oxygen from an output of the ceramic membranes to a fuel cell;
• and
• providing a means for delivering heat produced by the fuel cell to the boiler.