Method and Apparatus for Converting Water into Hydrogen and Oxygen for a Heat and/or Fuel Source

Abstract

A water separation apparatus is provided to separate hydrogen and oxygen from water that includes a reaction chamber containing a plurality of spaced apart conductive plates, a positive electrical terminal electrically connected to one of the conductive plates, and a negative electrical terminal electrically connected to another of the conductive plates. A mixture of water and a catalyst is placed in the chamber and in contact with the plates. A non-conductive adjuster plate is provided to separate the chamber into a front chamber and a rear chamber, and may include at least one fluid passageway. A portion of the plates are disposed in the front chamber and a portion of the plates are disposed in the rear chamber. The adjuster plate may include a moveable member adapted to adjust the cross-sectional area of fluid passageway and thus the cross-sectional area of fluid communication between the front and rear chambers. The apparatus may include a collector-separator to collect gases from the reaction chamber and separate any remaining water from the gases. The separated water is returned to the reaction chamber, and the hydrogen and oxygen gases are transmitted to a bubbler assembly which functions to prevent any flashback from igniting the gases in the reaction chamber or collector-separator. The present invention will separate hydrogen from water in a more efficient manner than any previous technology, making it economically feasible.

1 . A reaction chamber for use in separating hydrogen and oxygen from water including:
 a plurality of spaced apart conductive plates disposed within a housing,   a positive electrical terminal electrically connected to one of the conductive plates, and   a negative electrical terminal electrically connected to another of the conductive plates,   at least one of the conductive plates not being electrically connected to the positive terminal or the negative terminal.   
   
   
       2 . The reaction chamber of  claim 1 , further including a mixture of water and a catalyst within the housing and in contact with the plates. 
   
   
       3 . The reaction chamber of  claim 2 , wherein the mixture of water and catalyst and capacitance of the conductive plates creates separation of the hydrogen and oxygen from the water. 
   
   
       4 . The reaction chamber of  claim 1 , further including a non-conductive adjuster plate separating the housing into a front chamber and a rear chamber, the adjuster plate having at least one fluid passageway, and wherein a portion of the spaced apart plates are disposed in the front chamber and a portion of the spaced apart plates are disposed in the rear chamber. 
   
   
       5 . The reaction chamber of  claim 4 , wherein the adjuster plate sets a cross-sectional area of the mixture of water and catalyst in communication between the front and rear chambers. 
   
   
       6 . The reaction chamber of  claim 5 , wherein the adjuster plate includes a first and a second conductive plate disposed on opposite sides of the adjustor plate. 
   
   
       7 . The reaction chamber of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustor plate may adjust the cross sectional area set between the front and rear chambers. 
   
   
       8 . A first reaction chamber for use in separating hydrogen and oxygen from water including:
 a plurality of spaced apart conductive plates disposed within a housing,   a positive electrical terminal electrically connected to one of the conductive plates,   a negative electrical terminal electrically connected to another of the conductive plates, and   a non-conductive adjuster plate separating the housing into a front chamber and a rear chamber, the adjuster plate having at least one fluid passageway, and wherein a portion of the spaced apart plates are disposed in the front chamber and a portion of the spaced apart plates are disposed in the rear chamber.   
   
   
       9 . The reaction chamber of  claim 8 , further including a mixture of water and a catalyst within the housing and in contact with the conductive plates. 
   
   
       10 . The reaction chamber of  claim 9 , wherein a second reaction chamber is connected to the first reaction chamber, and wherein the first and second reaction chambers may be configured in series with respect to a voltage source or in parallel with respect to a voltage source. 
   
   
       11 . The reaction chamber of  claim 9 , wherein the catalyst is a chemical that will break down the surface tension of the water and serve as an electrolyte. 
   
   
       12 . The reaction chamber of  claim 8 , wherein the adjuster plate includes a moveable member adapted to adjust the cross-sectional area of fluid communication through the at least one fluid passageway between the front and rear chambers. 
   
   
       13 . The reaction chamber of  claim 8 , wherein the adjuster plate includes a first and a second conductive plate disposed on opposite sides of the control plate. 
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for separating hydrogen and oxygen from water comprising:
 a reaction chamber including a plurality of spaced apart conductive plates, a positive electrical terminal electrically connected to one of the conductive plates, and a negative electrical terminal electrically connected to another of the conductive plates, at least one of the conductive plates not being electrically connected to the positive terminal or the negative terminal;
 a collector-separator including at least one inlet conduit in communication with the reaction chamber, and an outlet conduit; and 
 a bubbler including an outlet port and a perforated tube, the perforated tube being in communication with the outlet conduit of the collector-separator. 
   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further including a non-conductive adjuster plate separating the reaction chamber into a front chamber and a rear chamber, the adjuster plate having at least one fluid passageway, and wherein a portion of the spaced apart plates are disposed in the front chamber and a portion of the spaced apart plates are disposed in the rear chamber. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the adjuster plate includes a moveable member adapted to adjust the cross-sectional area of fluid communication through the at least one fluid passageway between the front and rear chambers. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the adjuster plate includes a first and a second conductive plate disposed on opposite sides of the adjuster plate. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further including a mixture of water and a catalyst within the reaction chamber and in contact with the conductive plates. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further including a controller having an on/off switch and an AC to DC converter, and electrically connected to the negative terminal and the positive terminal. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the apparatus includes two reaction chambers, each having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and wherein the controller includes a series/parallel switch wired to the terminals and adapted to switch the electrical connections between a series electrical flow through the reaction chambers and a parallel electrical flow between the reaction chambers. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further including a pressure regulator in fluid communication with the collector-separator and the bubbler, and adapted to restrict electricity flow to the reaction chamber at a predetermined high pressure and allow electricity flow to the reaction chamber at a predetermined low pressure. 
   
   
       22 . A method of separating hydrogen and oxygen from water comprising:
 positioning a plurality of spaced apart conductive plates in a chamber;   separating the chamber into a first and second chamber with an adjustor plate;   connecting one of the conductive plates to a positive terminal in the first chamber and another of the conductive plates to a negative terminal in the second chamber, at least one of the spaced apart conductive plates not being connected to the positive terminal or negative terminal;   filling the chamber with a mixture of water and a catalyst such that the conductive plates are in contact with the mixture;   passing electricity through the mixture;   adjusting the cross-sectional area of contact between the fluid mixture in the front chamber and the fluid mixture in the rear chamber with the adjustor plate; and.   allowing hydrogen and oxygen to exit the chamber.