Electrolytic hydrogen generating system

Abstract

A hydrogen generating system includes a housing defining an interior chamber, an electrolyte solution contained within the interior chamber of the housing, and an electrode plate assembly disposed in the interior chamber of the housing and at least in part submerged in the electrolyte solution. The electrode plate assembly comprises a cathode plate, an anode plate separate from the cathode plate and disposed in spaced relationship therewith, and at least one neutral plate separate from both the anode plate and the cathode plate and disposed therebetween in spaced relationship with the anode plate and the cathode plate.

1 . A hydrogen generating system comprising:
 a housing defining an interior chamber;   an electrolyte solution contained within the interior chamber of the housing;   an electrode plate assembly disposed in the interior chamber of the housing and at least in part submerged in the electrolyte solution, the electrode plate assembly comprising:
 a cathode plate, 
 an anode plate separate from the cathode plate and disposed in spaced relationship therewith, and 
 at least one neutral plate separate from both the anode plate and the cathode plate and disposed therebetween in spaced relationship with the anode plate and the cathode plate; and 
 a power source in electrical communication with the electrode plate assembly. 
   
     
     
         2 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 1  wherein the anode plate is a first anode plate, the electrode plate assembly further comprising:
 a second anode plate separate from the first anode plate and in spaced relationship therewith with the first anode plate being disposed intermediate the cathode plate and the second anode plate; and   at least one additional neutral plate separate from the first anode plate and the second anode plate and being disposed therebetween in spaced relationship with the first and second anode plates.   
     
     
         3 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 2  wherein the electrode plate assembly further comprises:
 a third anode plate separate from the first and second anode plates and in spaced relationship therewith with the second anode plate disposed intermediate the first anode plate and the third anode plate; and   at least one additional neutral plate separate from the anode plates and being disposed between the second anode plate and the third anode.   
     
     
         4 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 1  wherein the anode plate is a first anode plate, the electrode plate assembly further comprising:
 a second anode plate separate from the cathode plate and disposed in spaced relationship therewith with the cathode plate intermediate the first and second anode plates, and   at least one additional neutral plate separate from the first and second anode plates and the cathode plate, and disposed between and in spaced relationship with the second anode plate and the cathode plate   
     
     
         5 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 1  wherein at least three neutral plates are disposed in spaced relationship with each other intermediate the cathode plate and the anode plate. 
     
     
         6 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 2  wherein the first anode plate is configurable between an anode plate and a neutral plate such that each plate disposed between the second anode plate and the cathode plate acts in the manner of a neutral plate. 
     
     
         7 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 1  further comprising a heater operable to heat the interior chamber of the housing to decrease the time required for the electrolytic solution to reach an operating temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 7  wherein the heater is disposed exterior of the housing in abutting relationship therewith. 
     
     
         9 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 1  wherein the system is operable to deliver hydrogen to a combustion engine, the generating system further comprising a delivery system for delivering hydrogen from the generating system to the engine, the delivery system including a condenser for inhibiting water vapor from entering the engine. 
     
     
         10 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 9  wherein the condenser is a bubbler-type condenser. 
     
     
         11 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 1  further comprising a reservoir holding maintenance solution, the reservoir being in fluid communication with the interior chamber to deliver maintenance solution to the interior chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 11  wherein the reservoir is disposed above the chamber for gravity flow of the maintenance solution to the chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 11  wherein the maintenance solution includes distilled water and at least one buffer solution. 
     
     
         14 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 1  wherein the cathode plate is a first cathode plate, the electrode plate assembly further comprising:
 a second cathode plate separate from the first cathode plate and in spaced relationship therewith, the anode plate being separate from the first and second cathode plates and disposed intermediate said cathode plates in spaced relationship therewith;   at least one neutral plate disposed between the anode plate and the first cathode plate in spaced relationship with said anode plate and said first cathode plate; and   at least one additional neutral plate disposed between the anode plate and the second cathode plate in spaced relationship with said anode plate and said second cathode plate.   
     
     
         15 . A hydrogen generating system comprising:
 a housing defining an interior chamber;   an electrolyte solution contained within the interior chamber of the housing;   an electrode plate assembly disposed in the interior chamber of the housing and at least in part submerged in the electrolyte solution, the electrode plate assembly comprising:
 a plurality of electrode plates, at least one electrode plate having opposite faces exposed to the electrolyte solution, and 
 a cathode plate having opposite faces exposed to the electrolyte solution, 
 said at least one electrode plate having a length, a height, a thickness and a plurality of surface features on at least one of the opposite faces such that the at least one electrode plate has a surface area that is greater than a surface area of a hypothetical electrode plate having the same length, height and thickness as the at least one electrode plate and free from said surface features; and 
 a power source in electrical communication with the electrode plate assembly. 
   
     
     
         18 . The hydrogen generating system of claim  17  wherein the surface features comprise at least one of projections extending outward from at least one of the opposite faces, impressions disposed in at least one of the opposite faces and holes extending through the thickness of the electrode plate from one of said faces to the other one of said faces. 
     
     
         19 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 18  wherein the electrode plate assembly comprises an anode plate and a cathode plate, the cathode plate being free from surface features. 
     
     
         20 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 18  further comprising a neutral plate separate from and intermediate the anode and cathode plates in spaced relationship therewith, at least the neutral plate having said features. 
     
     
         21 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 18  wherein the holes comprise slots. 
     
     
         22 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 18  wherein the surface area of each plate having holes is at least about 0.3% greater than the hypothetical plate without such holes. 
     
     
         23 . The hydrogen generating system of  claim 18  wherein the surface area of each plate having holes is at least about 0.5% greater than a plate without such holes. 
     
     
         24 . A hydrogen generating system comprising:
 a housing defining an interior chamber;   an electrolyte solution contained within the interior chamber of the housing;   an electrode plate assembly disposed in the interior chamber of the housing and submerged at least in part in the electrolyte solution, the electrode plate assembly comprising:
 a plurality of electrode plates, at least one electrode plate having opposite faces exposed to the electrolyte solution, and a cathode plate having opposite faces exposed to the electrolyte solution, said at least one electrode plate having a length, a height, a thickness and a plurality of holes extending through the thickness of the electrode plate from one of said opposite faces to the other one of said opposite faces; and 
 a power source in electrical communication with the electrode plate assembly. 
   
     
     
         25 . The hydrogen generator of  claim 24  wherein the holes comprise slots. 
     
     
         26 . The hydrogen generator of  claim 24  wherein the surface area of each plate having holes is at least about 0.3% greater than a plate without such holes. 
     
     
         27 . The hydrogen generator of  claim 24  wherein the surface area of each plate having holes is at least about 0.5% greater than a plate without such holes. 
     
     
         28 . An electrode plate assembly for a hydrogen generator comprising:
 a plurality of electrode plates;   at least one electrically non-conductive bracket engaging the plates, the bracket comprising a bridge and a plurality of spacers extending from the bridge in spaced relationship with each other, the spacing between said spacers being adapted for receiving a respective one of the electrode plates therebetween such that the plates are maintained by the spacers in uniform spaced relationship with each other.   
     
     
         29 . The plate assembly of  claim 28  wherein the plate assembly comprises a plurality of said electrically non-conductive brackets disposed about a perimeter of said plates. 
     
     
         30 . The plate assembly of  claim 28  wherein at least some of the plates have a plurality of holes to increase the surface area exposed to the electrolyte solution. 
     
     
         31 . The plate assembly of  claim 28  wherein the plurality of plates includes at least  6  plates having a plurality of holes therein to increase the surface area exposed to the electrolytic solution. 
     
     
         32 . The plate assembly of  claim 29  wherein the holes are slots. 
     
     
         33 . The plate assembly of  claim 30  wherein the plurality of plates includes two end plates having substantially no holes therein. 
     
     
         34 . The plate assembly of  claim 28  including at least three of said brackets and further comprising fasteners for securing the brackets and plates together. 
     
     
         35 . The plate assembly of  claim 31  wherein the plurality of plates comprises a pair of end plates having substantially no holes therein.