Home heating system utilizing electrolysis of water

Abstract

Disclosed is a heating system utilizing electrolysis of water for heating a space. The system includes a tank configured to hold water, a separation cell configured to perform electrolysis of water, a first heat exchanger, a gas bubbler, a burn unit, and a second heat exchanger, where water from the tank is delivered to the separation cell where electrolysis is performed. The fluid produced from the electrolysis is delivered through the first heat exchanger back to the tank, then to the gas bubbler, and finally to the burn unit, where the hydrogen gas produced during electrolysis is burned to emit heat directed at the second heat exchanger. Through the process environment air is heated.

1 . A heating system utilizing electrolysis of water for heating a space, comprising:
 a tank configured to hold water, said tank defining a tank refill port, a first tank outlet, a first tank inlet, and a second tank outlet;   a separation cell configured to perform electrolysis of said water, said separation cell producing a cell outlet mixture containing hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, said separation cell defining a cell inlet and a cell outlet;   a first conduit operationally connecting said first tank outlet and said cell inlet, said first conduit being configured to pass said water between said tank to said separation cell;   a first heat exchanger operationally connecting said cell outlet and said first tank inlet, said first heat exchanger being configured to pass said cell outlet mixture between said separation cell and said tank, said first heat exchanger being further configured to accommodate cooling of said cell outlet mixture;   a gas bubbler containing a bubbler fluid, said bubbler fluid defining a bubbler fluid level, said gas bubbler defining a gas bubbler inlet and a gas bubbler outlet, said gas bubbler inlet being defined below said bubbler fluid level;   a second conduit operationally connecting said second tank outlet and said gas bubbler inlet, said second conduit being configured to pass said hydrogen gas and said oxygen gas between said tank and said gas bubbler;   a third conduit connected to said gas bubbler outlet, said third conduit being configured to pass therethrough said hydrogen gas and said oxygen gas exiting said gas bubbler via said gas bubbler outlet;   a burn unit operationally connected to said third conduit, said burn unit including a flashback arrestor and an igniter, said igniter being configured to produce a torch flame by burning said hydrogen gas to produce heat;   said third conduit passing said hydrogen gas and said oxygen gas into said burn unit;   said flashback arrestor being configured to prevent said igniter from burning hydrogen gas contained within said third conduit; and   a second heat exchanger configured to accommodate heating of environmental air via said heat produced by said igniter;   wherein said water from said tank is utilized to produce said hydrogen gas and said oxygen gas in said separation cell and said hydrogen gas is utilized by said igniter to produce heat.   
     
     
         2 . The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein said tank refill port is configured to accommodate selective addition of water to said tank. 
     
     
         3 . The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein said tank is further configured to hold an electrolyte in mixture with said water. 
     
     
         4 . The heating system of  claim 3 , wherein said tank refill port is further configured to accommodate selective addition of said electrolyte to said tank. 
     
     
         5 . The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein said first tank outlet is defined in a low region of said tank. 
     
     
         6 . The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein said first tank inlet is defined in a low region of said tank. 
     
     
         7 . The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein said second tank outlet is defined in an upper region of said tank. 
     
     
         8 . The heating system of  claim 7 , wherein said upper region is situated above said water. 
     
     
         9 . The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein said first conduit operationally connects said first tank outlet and said cell inlet via a pump configured to compel said water out of said tank via said first tank outlet and into said separation cell via said cell inlet. 
     
     
         10 . The heating system of  claim 1 , wherein said gas bubbler inlet and said gas bubbler outlet are defined in an upper area of said gas bubbler. 
     
     
         11 . A heating system utilizing electrolysis of water for heating a space, comprising:
 a tank configured to hold a water-electrolyte mixture, said water-electrolyte mixture comprising water, potassium carbonate, and a anti-foaming agent, said tank defining a tank refill port, a first tank outlet, a first tank inlet, and a second tank outlet;   a separation cell configured to perform electrolysis of said water within said water-electrolyte mixture, said separation cell producing a cell outlet mixture containing hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, said separation cell defining a cell inlet and a cell outlet;   a first conduit operationally connecting said first tank outlet and said cell inlet, said first conduit being configured to pass said water-electrolyte between said tank to said separation cell;   a first heat exchanger operationally connecting said cell outlet and said first tank inlet, said first heat exchanger being configured to pass said cell outlet mixture between said separation cell and said tank, said first heat exchanger being further configured to accommodate cooling of said cell outlet mixture;   a gas bubbler containing a bubbler fluid, said bubbler fluid defining a bubbler fluid level, said gas bubbler defining a gas bubbler inlet and a gas bubbler outlet, said gas bubbler inlet being defined below said bubbler fluid level;   a second conduit operationally connecting said second tank outlet and said gas bubbler inlet, said second conduit being configured to pass said hydrogen gas and said oxygen gas between said tank and said gas bubbler;   a third conduit connected to said gas bubbler outlet, said third conduit being configured to pass therethrough said hydrogen gas and said oxygen gas exiting said gas bubbler via said gas bubbler outlet;   a burn unit operationally connected to said third conduit, said burn unit including a flashback arrestor and an igniter, said igniter configured to produce a torch flame to burn said hydrogen gas to produce heat;   said third conduit passing said hydrogen gas and said oxygen gas into said burn unit;   said flashback arrestor being configured to prevent said igniter from burning hydrogen gas contained within said third conduit; and   a second heat exchanger configured to accommodate heating of environmental air via said heat produced by said igniter;   wherein said water from said tank is utilized to produce said hydrogen gas and said oxygen gas in said separation cell and said hydrogen gas is utilized by said igniter to produce heat.   
     
     
         12 . A heating system utilizing electrolysis of water for heating a space, comprising:
 an internal case having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said internal case defining a front fan opening, a back fan opening, a back conduit opening, a back heat exchanger opening, and a flashback arrestor opening;   a tank located mostly within said internal case, said tank configured to hold a water-electrolyte mixture containing water and an electrolyte, said tank defining a tank refill port, a first tank outlet, a first tank inlet, and a second tank outlet;   a pump contained within said internal case, said pump defining a pump inlet and a pump outlet;   a first conduit operationally connecting said first tank outlet and said pump inlet, said first conduit being configured to pass said water-electrolyte mixture between said tank and said pump;   a plurality of separation cells mounted to said exterior surface of said internal case, said separation cells configured to perform electrolysis of said water within said water-electrolyte mixture, said separation cells producing a cell outlet mixture containing hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, said separation cells defining a cell inlet and a cell outlet, said separation cells emitting heat generated by electrolysis of said water;   a second conduit operationally connecting said pump outlet and said cell inlet, said second conduit passing from inside said internal case to outside said internal case via said back conduit opening, said second conduit being configured to pass said water-electrolyte mixture between said pump to said separation cells;   a first heat exchanger operationally connecting said cell outlet and said first tank inlet, said first heat exchanger being configured to pass said cell outlet mixture between said separation cells and said tank, said first heat exchanger including
 a primary segment connected to said cell outlet, said primary segment being located outside said internal case, said primary segment being configured to accommodate cooling of said cell outlet mixture, whereby heat is emitted from said primary segment; 
 a third conduit connected to said primary segment, said third conduit pass from outside said internal case to inside said internal case via said back heat exchanger opening; and 
 a secondary segment connected to said third conduit and to said first tank inlet, said secondary segment being located inside said internal case, said secondary segment being arranged so as to encircle said tank at least once, said secondary segment also being connected to said first tank inlet, said second segment being configured to pass said cell outlet mixture from said third conduit to said tank via said first tank inlet, said primary segment being configured to accommodate further cooling of said cell outlet mixture, whereby heat is emitted from said secondary segment; 
   a gas bubbler containing a bubbler fluid, said gas bubbler being located inside said internal case; said bubbler fluid defining a bubbler fluid level, said gas bubbler defining a gas bubbler inlet and a gas bubbler outlet, said gas bubbler inlet being defined below said bubbler fluid level, said gas bubbler emitting a gas bubbler mixture of said hydrogen gas, said oxygen gas, and bubbler fluid vapors;   a fourth conduit operationally connecting said second tank outlet and said gas bubbler inlet, said fourth conduit being configured to pass said hydrogen gas and said oxygen gas between said tank and said gas bubbler;   a fifth conduit connected to said gas bubbler outlet, said fifth conduit being configured to pass therethrough said gas bubbler mixture exiting said gas bubbler via said gas bubbler outlet;   a condenser located within said internal case, said condenser defining a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet, said fifth conduit connecting to said condenser inlet, said condenser configured to cool said gas bubbler mixture such that said bubbling gas vapors condense to form a bubbling gas condensate;   a sixth conduit connected to said condenser outlet, said sixth conduit being configured to pass therethrough said hydrogen gas and said oxygen gas exiting said condenser via said condenser outlet, said sixth conduit passing outside said internal case via said flashback arrestor opening;   a flashback arrestor situated outside said internal case, said flashback arrestor being operationally connected to said sixth conduit;   said sixth conduit passing said hydrogen gas and said oxygen gas into said flashback arrestor;   an igniter connected to said flashback arrestor, said igniter being configured to burn said hydrogen gas to produce heat;   said flashback arrestor being configured to prevent said igniter from burning hydrogen gas contained within said sixth conduit;   a second heat exchanger attached to said exterior surface of said internal case, said second heat exchanger configured to accommodate heating of environmental air via said heat produced by said igniter;   an external case containing said internal case, said primary segment of said first heat exchanger, said separation cells, said flashback arrestor, said igniter, and said second heat exchanger, said external case having
 a front side; 
 an upper front fan attached to said front side, said upper front fan aligning with said second heat exchanger, said upper front fan being configured to encourage heat emitted from said second heat exchanger to exit said external case and enter said space; 
 a lower front fan attached to said front side, said lower front fan aligning with said front fan opening, said lower front fan being configured to encourage said environmental air to enter said external case and said internal case from said space; and 
   a rear fan mounted within said back fan opening, said rear fan being configured to encourage said environmental air to pass from inside said internal case to outside said internal case and past said primary segment of said first heat exchanger;   wherein said mixture of water and said electrolyte is utilized to produce said hydrogen gas and said oxygen gas in said separation cells;   wherein said hydrogen gas is utilized in the presence of said oxygen gas by said igniter to produce heat; and   wherein heat generated by said electrolysis of said water in said separation cells, heat emitted from said primary segment of said first heat exchanger, heat emitted by said secondary segment of said first heat exchanger, and heat produced by said igniter are passed out of said external case to heat said space.   
     
     
         13 . The heating system of  claim 12 , wherein said internal case further defines a tank port opening in an upper area of said internal case, said tank port opening aligning with tank refill port, said tank refill port extending out of said internal case, whereby said tank refill port is accessible outside of said internal case. 
     
     
         14 . The heating system of  claim 12 , wherein said pump emits heat during operation thereof; and wherein heat emitted from said pump is passed out of said internal case via said rear fan and out of said external case via said upper front fan. 
     
     
         15 . The heating system of  claim 12 , wherein said second heat exchanger is supported by said internal surface via at least one mounting bracket mounted to said exterior surface of said internal case. 
     
     
         16 . The heating system of  claim 12 , further comprising an upper rear fan located outside said internal case and situated above said separation cells, said upper rear fan being configured to direct heat emitted from said separation cells toward said upper front fan. 
     
     
         17 . The heating system of  claim 12 , wherein
 said first tank further defines a tank bubbler port;   said gas bubbler further defines a gas bubbler fluid port; and   said heating system further comprises a seventh conduit operatively connecting said tank bubbler port and said gas bubbler fluid port.   
     
     
         18 . The heating system of  claim 17 , wherein
 said first tank further defines a tank condenser port;   said condenser further defines a condenser fluid port; and   said heating system further comprises an eight conduit operatively connecting said tank condenser port and said condenser fluid port.   
     
     
         19 . The heating system of  claim 12 , wherein said electrolyte comprises potassium carbonate. 
     
     
         20 . The heating system of  claim 19 , wherein said water-electrolyte mixture further comprises a anti-foaming agent.