L & N cycle for hydrogen, electricity, & desalinated seawater

Abstract

The L & N Cyde combines a single heat source with several different cycles into one unique system that takes maximum advantage of the heat available. The cycles/systems included are 1) a chemo-thermal process to convert water into oxygen and hydrogen, 2) a modified Regenerative Brayton cycle to produce electricity, 3) a thermal flash distillation desalination cycle 4) a reverse osmosis desalination cycle, and 5) ion-exchange mineral extraction system. The heat source will supply a temperature of about 900° C. to 1,000° C. to the chemo-thermal furnace for that process. The hot products of the chemo-thermal water conversion process (oxygen and hydrogen) pass through different heat exchangers to supply heat to the other cycles. In this manner the oxygen and hydrogen proceed through their first cooling step. The hot hydrogen heat exchanger supplies heat to the fluid in the Regenerative Brayton cycle to produce the electricity. The hot oxygen heat exchanger supplies the heat to convert the seawater to steam to extract the salt. The L & N Cycle provides the United States with the economics to allow the success of a hydrogen economy, provide independence from foreign oil, and advert our electricity and fresh water crisis.

1 . The L & N cycle files a claim as a system that applies a single heat source to state-of-the-art processes to produce a) hydrogen and oxygen from water through a chemo-thermal reaction, b) electricity with a modified regenerative brayton cycle, c) desalinate seawater through a thermal flash distillation desalination cycle and/or a reverse osmosis desalination cycle, and d) ion-exchange mineral extraction system.  
     
     
         2 . The L & N Cycle files a claim as a system that applies a single heat source to state-of-the-art processes to produce a) hydrogen and oxygen from water through a chemo-thermal reaction and b) electricity with a modified Regenerative Brayton cycle.  
     
     
         3 . The L & N Cycle files a claim as a system that applies a single heat source to state-of-the-art processes to produce a) hydrogen and oxygen from water through a chemo-thermal reaction, b) desalinate seawater through a thermal flash distillation desalination cycle and/or reverse osmosis desalination cycle, and c) ion-exchange mineral extraction system.