US3682142A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and means for generating hydrogen and a motive source incorporating same
Assignee: INTERN MATERIALS
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Filing: 1971-05-06
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Granted: 1972-08-08
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Expires: 1991-05-06
Abstract
Abstract A hydrogen generation system mixes a liquid hydrocarbon fuel with water and heats the mixture sufficiently to thermally decompose the mixture to obtain hydrogen gas. This gas is then fed to an internal combustion engine capable of running on such gas. The engine generates exhaust products, consisting principally of water which is recycled back for mixing with the hydrocarbon fuel and carbon dioxide which is not considered a pollutant.
Inventors
- 👤 Marc S Newkirk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:12
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B43/00; F02B43/10; F02B2043/106; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/30; Y10; Y10S; Y10S123/00; Y10S123/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
The motive source defined in claim 1 and further including A. means for conducting a portion of the hydrogen gas being fed to the engine back to the conduit heating means, and B. means in the heating means for igniting the hydrogen gas conducted thereto in the presence of oxygen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
30 words
The motive source defined in claim 1 and further including A. means for condensing steam in the engine exhaust, and B. means for conducting condensate back to the water source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The motive source defined in claim 1 and further including means for mixing the hydrocarbon fuel and water together prior to their being thermally decomposed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The motive source defined in claim 4 and further including a heat exchanger for preheating the hydrocarbon fuel and water prior to their decomposition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The motive source defined in claim 5 wherein the thermal decomposition products are conducted through the heat exchanger to preheat the incoming fuel and water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The motive source defined in claim 1 wherein the fuel and water sources include high pressure, low volumetric flow rate pumps which maintain the fluids in the conduit under relatively high pressure during the decomposition process.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The motive source defined in claim 7 and further including a tank communicating with the conduit ahead of the engine for temporarily storing hydrogen gas generated during the thermal decomposition process so that such gas will be available immediately to meet the demands of the engine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The motive source defined in claim 8 wherein the conduit includes a pressure regulator between the tank and the engine which reduces the gas pressure prior to the gas being fed to the engine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The motive source defined in claim 8 and further including A. means in the conduit for condensing steam generated during the thermal decomposition process prior to its reaching the tank and the engine, and B. means for removing the condensate from the conduit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The motive source defined in claim 10 wherein the condensing means includes an expansion chamber and the removing means comprises A. a trap, and B. means for conducting the condensate from the trap to the water source at predetermined times.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The motive source defined in claim 1 and further including means for controlling the operation of the heating means so as to maintain the pressure of the gas in the conduit above a selected minimum value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The motive source defined in claim 3 wherein A. the engine includes a cooling system, and B. the condensing means is coupled to the cooling system and cooled thereby.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The motive source defined in claim 7 wherein each pump comprises A. a fluidtight housing, B. an inlet containing a check valve, C. an outlet containing a check valve, and D. means for heating the contents of the housing at selected time intervals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The motive source defined in claim 1 and further including means for preventing flow of fuel and water through the conduit unless the heating means is heated to a selected temperature sufficient to thermally decompose the fuel and water mixture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
98 words
The motive source defined in claim 1 wherein A. the heating means comprises 1 a heat exchange element, 2 means for flowing air by the heat exchange element, 3 means for flowing a gas by the element so as to create with the air a combustible mixture, 4 means for igniting the mixture at selected time intervals to heat the element, and B. the conduit is arranged in intimate heat exchange relation with the element so that when the air-gas mixture is ignited, sufficient heat is generated to thermally decompose the fuel and water contained in the conduit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The motive source defined in claim 16 wherein a portion of the hydrogen gas generated in the conduit during the thermal decomposition process is tapped off to supply gas to heat the element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The motive source defined in claim 16 and further including means for controlling the operation of the air flowing means, the gas flowing means and the igniting means so as to heat the element and conduit when the gas pressure in the conduit falls below a predetermined value.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The motive source defined in claim 1 and further including a catalyst inside the conduit and exposed to the fuel and water mixture therein.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The motive source defined in claim 19 wherein the catalyst is comprised of alumina grains having a surface coating selected of the group consisting of tungsten and molybdenum oxide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-08 | 1976-02-07 | 1976-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-08 | 1980-02-07 | 1980-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-08 | 1984-02-07 | 1984-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |