Method and apparatus for cooking using a combustible gas produced with an electrolyzer

Abstract

A cooking appliance comprising an electrolyzer which produces a combustible fuel, a burner downstream from the electrolyzer, and, an electrically heatable cooking surface on which food is receivable for cooking, the electrically heatable cooking surface being operable simultaneously with the electrolyzer.

1 . A cooking appliance comprising:
 (a) an electrolyzer which produces a combustible fuel;   (b) a burner downstream from the electrolyzer and positioned to heat a cooking region;   (c) a power cord connectable to a power supply; and,   (d) an ignition member operably connected with the electrolyzer such that the electrolyzer is inoperable when the ignition member is inoperable.   
   
   
       2 . The cooking appliance of  claim 1  wherein the ignition member is wired in series with the electrolyzer. 
   
   
       3 . The cooking appliance of  claim 1  wherein the ignition member is an electrically heated member. 
   
   
       4 . The cooking appliance of  claim 3  further comprising a control system configured such that the electrically heated member commences heating sufficiently in advance of the combustible fuel flowing to the burner such that the electrically heated member is at an ignition temperature when the combustible fuel reaches the burner. 
   
   
       5 . The cooking appliance of  claim 4  wherein the control system comprises at least one of a timer, a pressure sensor and a flow sensor. 
   
   
       6 . The cooking appliance of  claim 1  further comprising a starter operable connected with of the electrolyzer and the ignition member. 
   
   
       7 . The cooking appliance of  claim 6  wherein the starter is operably connected with of the electrolyzer and the ignition member such that operation of the ignition member commences when operation of the electrolyzer commences. 
   
   
       8 . The cooking appliance of  claim 6  wherein the starter is operably connected with of the electrolyzer and the ignition member such that operation of the ignition member commences subsequently to the commencement of operation of the electrolyzer. 
   
   
       9 . The cooking appliance of  claim 1  wherein the ignition member is configured to be on during an entire cooking operation. 
   
   
       10 . The cooking appliance of  claim 1  further comprising a fan connected in fluid flow communication with a combustion region of the cooking appliance and operable to provide dilution air to the combustion region if a safety system of the cooking appliance fails. 
   
   
       11 . The cooking appliance of  claim 10  wherein the safety system comprises the ignition member. 
   
   
       12 . The cooking appliance of  claim 10  wherein the safety system comprises a low pressure valve in a fluid flow path between the electrolyzer and the burner and configured to close when the pressure in the fluid flow path is below a first predetermined pressure. 
   
   
       13 . The cooking appliance of  claim 12  wherein first predetermined pressure is a pressure sufficient to prevent a flame traveling upstream of the low pressure valve. 
   
   
       14 . The cooking appliance of  claim 10  wherein the safety system comprises a high pressure valve in a fluid flow path between the electrolyzer and the burner and configured to open when the pressure in the fluid flow path is above a second predetermined pressure. 
   
   
       15 . The cooking appliance of  claim 14  wherein second predetermined pressure is a pressure indicative of a blockage in the fluid flow path. 
   
   
       16 . The cooking appliance of  claim 15  wherein the second predetermined pressure is between 3 to 150 pounds per square inch (PSIG). 
   
   
       17 . The cooking appliance of  claim 10  wherein the high pressure valve is operably connected to the electrolyzer such that the electrolyzer is inoperable when the high pressure valve is open. 
   
   
       18 . A cooking appliance comprising:
 (a) A hydrogen source comprising at least one of an electrolyzer and a hydrogen storage member;   (b) a burner downstream from the hydrogen source and positioned to heat a cooking region;   (c) a power cord connectable to a power supply;   (d) a safety system comprising at least one of a
 (i) a low pressure valve in a fluid flow path between the hydrogen source and the burner and configured to close when the pressure in the fluid flow path is below a first predetermined pressure; and, 
 (ii) a high pressure valve in the fluid flow path between the hydrogen source and the burner and configured to open when the pressure in the fluid flow path is above a second predetermined pressure. 
   
   
   
       19 . The cooking appliance of  claim 18  wherein first predetermined pressure is a pressure sufficient to prevent a flame traveling upstream to the hydrogen source. 
   
   
       20 . The cooking appliance of  claim 18  wherein second predetermined pressure is a pressure indicative of a blockage in the fluid flow path. 
   
   
       21 . The cooking appliance of  claim 20  wherein the second predetermined pressure is between 3 to 150 pounds per square inch (PSIG). 
   
   
       22 . The cooking appliance of  claim 18  wherein the high pressure valve is operably connected to the hydrogen source such that the hydrogen source is inoperable when the high pressure valve is open. 
   
   
       23 . The cooking appliance of  claim 18  wherein the low pressure valve and the high pressure valve comprise a three way valve. 
   
   
       24 . The cooking appliance of  claim 18  wherein the safety system further comprises an ignition member that is operably connected with the electrolyzer such that the electrolyzer is inoperable when the ignition member is inoperable. 
   
   
       25 . The cooking appliance of  claim 23  wherein the ignition member is wired in series with the electrolyzer 
   
   
       26 . The cooking appliance of  claim 24  wherein the ignition member is an electrically heated member. 
   
   
       27 . The cooking appliance of  claim 25  further comprising a control system configured such that the electrically heated member commences heating sufficiently in advance of the combustible fuel flowing to the burner such that the electrically heated member is at an ignition temperature when the combustible fuel reaches the burner. 
   
   
       28 . The cooking appliance of  claim 26  wherein the control system comprises at least one of a timer, a pressure sensor and a flow sensor. 
   
   
       29 . The cooking appliance of  claim 24  further comprising a starter operable connected with of the electrolyzer and the ignition member. 
   
   
       30 . The cooking appliance of  claim 29  wherein the starter is operably connected with of the electrolyzer and the ignition member such that operation of the ignition member commences when operation of the electrolyzer commences. 
   
   
       31 . The cooking appliance of  claim 29  wherein the starter is operably connected with of the electrolyzer and the ignition member such that operation of the ignition member commences subsequently to the commencement of operation of the electrolyzer. 
   
   
       32 . The cooking appliance of  claim 24  wherein the ignition member is configured to be on during an entire cooking operation. 
   
   
       33 . The cooking appliance of  claim 18  further comprising a fan connected in fluid flow communication with a combustion region of the cooking appliance and operable to provide dilution air to the combustion region if a safety system of the cooking appliance fails.