Apparatus and method for the conversion of water into a clean burning combustible gas for use as an additive with other forms of fuels

Abstract

An electrolyzer with principal and supplemental electrodes configured and made from materials, which decomposes distilled water into a highly efficient clean burning fuel composed of hydrogen, oxygen and their bonds, called HHO or hydrogen-enriched gas that can be used as an additive to combustion engine fuels or in flame or other generating equipment such as torches and welders.

1 . An electrolyzer for the separation of water into a hydrogen-rich combustible gas comprising: 
 an aqueous electrolytic solution comprising water, the aqueous electrolyte solution partially filling an electrolysis chamber such that a gas reservoir region is formed above the aqueous electrolyte solution, said chamber being adapted to be used in a pressurized system;    means for adding the aqueous electrolyte solution to the chamber during operation of said electrolyzer;    two or more principal electrodes comprising one or more anode electrodes and one or more cathode electrodes, the principal electrodes being at least partially immersed in the aqueous electrolyte solution;    one or more supplemental electrodes at least partially immersed in the aqueous electrolyte solution wherein the principal electrodes and the supplemental electrodes are held in a fixed spatial relationship; and    for each supplemental adjacent electrodes, one is made of a high porosity foam meshed based material made substantially of a nickel material and the opposing electrode is made substantially of a stainless steel material, wherein said supplemental electrodes results in a (+) and (−) electrical (ionic) current flow that causes the formation of a single combustible gas over an entire surface area of both sides of all electrodes within the electrolyzer.    
   
   
       2 . The electrolyzer according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 a power source is connected to two principal electrodes and the supplemental electrodes are not connected to the power source and the supplemental electrodes are interposed between the two principal electrodes, or    a first group of the supplemental electrodes are connected to the one or more anode electrodes with a first metallic conductor and a second group of the supplemental electrodes are connected to the one or more cathode electrode with a second metallic conductor, or    a power source is connected to the two or more principal electrodes and the supplemental electrodes are not connected to the power source and are each interposed between adjacent anode electrodes, between adjacent cathode anodes and between adjacent anode and cathode electrodes, and wherein the power source is grounded to the electrolysis chamber.    
   
   
       3 . The electrolyzer according to  claim 1 , wherein adjacent electrodes are spaced-apart from each other by a distance of about 0.38 cm (0.15 inches) to about 0.89 cm (0.35 inches).  
   
   
       4 . The electrolyzer according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyzer further comprises a rack to hold the two principal electrodes and the one or more supplemental electrodes in the fixed spatial relationship and the two principal electrodes and the one or more supplemental electrodes are removably attached to the rack.  
   
   
       5 . The electrolyzer according to  claim 1 , wherein the rack is made of a highly dielectric plastic, including PVC, polyethylene or polypropylene.  
   
   
       6 . The electrolyzer according to  claim 1 , wherein when said electrolyzer is installed in an on-demand self-producing combustible gas electrolyzer system for the separation of water into a combustible gas for use in combustion equipment, including welder/cutting/melting equipment and combustion engines, the electrolyzer system further comprises: 
 a pump fluidly interposed between the bottom of the electrolyte reservoir and the electrolyzer wherein the pump draws electrolytic fluid from the electrolyte reservoir and pumps it to the electrolyzer;    a radiator fluidly connected to and interposed between the electrolyzer and the electrolyte reservoir, the radiator adapted to cool the generated combustible gas before returning to the top portion of the electrolyte reservoir;    an interstitial space within the reservoir above the electrolytic fluid in the top portion of the electrolytic reservoir wherein the generated combustible gas accumulates; and    at least one dryer/filter means through which the generated combustible gas passes before being drawn as needed for use.    
   
   
       7 . A method for increasing the fuel efficiency of an internal combustion engine or the cutting or welding efficiency of a welding system, the method comprising: 
 providing an electrolyzer comprising:    an electrolysis chamber;    an aqueous electrolytic solution comprising water, the aqueous electrolyte solution partially filling an electrolysis chamber such that a gas reservoir region is formed above the aqueous electrolyte solution, said chamber being adapted to be used in a pressurized system;    means for adding the aqueous electrolyte solution to the chamber during operation of said electrolyzer;    two or more principal electrodes comprising one or more anode electrodes and one or more cathode electrodes, the principal electrodes being at least partially immersed in the aqueous electrolyte solution;    one or more supplemental electrodes at least partially immersed in the aqueous electrolyte solution wherein the principal electrodes and the supplemental electrodes are held in a fixed spatial relationship;    for each supplemental adjacent electrodes, one is made of a high porosity foam meshed based material made substantially of a nickel material and the opposing electrode is made substantially of a stainless steel material, wherein said supplemental electrodes results in a (+) and (−) electrical (ionic) current flow that causes the formation of a single combustible gas over an entire surface area of both sides of all electrodes within the electrolyzer;    applying an electrical potential between the electrodes wherein a combustible gas is produced; and    providing means for delivery of the combustible gas to its end use.    
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein 
 a power source is connected to two principal electrodes and the supplemental electrodes are not connected to the power source and the supplemental electrodes are interposed between the two principal electrodes, or    a first group of the supplemental electrodes are connected to the one or more anode electrodes with a first metallic conductor and a second group of the supplemental electrodes are connected to the one or more cathode electrode with a second metallic conductor, or    a power source is connected to the two or more principal electrodes and the supplemental electrodes are not connected to the power source and are each interposed between adjacent anode electrodes, between adjacent cathode anodes and between adjacent anode and cathode electrodes, and wherein the power source is grounded to the electrolysis chamber.    
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein adjacent electrodes are spaced-apart from each other by a distance of about 0.38 cm (0.15 inches) to about 0.89 cm (0.35 inches).  
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the electrolyzer further comprises a rack to hold the two principal electrodes and the one or more supplemental electrodes in the fixed spatial relationship and the two principal electrodes and the one or more supplemental electrodes are removably attached to the rack.  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the rack is made of a highly dielectric plastic, including PVC, polyethylene or polypropylene.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising adjusting the operation of an oxygen sensor so that the oxygen sensor does not cause a fuel rich condition.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the operation of the oxygen sensor is adjusted by an RC circuit, the RC circuit includes: 
 a resistor placed in series with the oxygen sensor's check engine light electrical line; and    a capacitor placed between the oxygen sensor's control line that monitors the amount of oxygen and the check engine light electrical line, wherein the capacitor is attached to the check engine electrical line at the opposite side of the resistor from where the resistor is in electrical contact with the oxygen sensor.