Process and apparatus for the preparation of combustible fluid

Abstract

A fuel and hydrogen generator includes electrolysis in a first closed vessel containing a bath of water, electrolyte and sufficient liquid hydrocarbon fuel to serve as an oxygen barrier. The hydrogen produced in the first closed vessel is introduced into a second closed vessel having a bath of water, electrolyte and liquid hydrocarbon fuel in an amount volumetrically equal to the water. Electrodes extend through the liquid hydrocarbon fuel to the water to conduct electrolysis. Makeup water and liquid hydrocarbon fuel is supplied to both closed vessels as needed. The bath in the second closed vessel is recirculated to entrain all constituents within the bath and to cool the bath to ambient temperature. Gas is drawn off of the bath in the second closed vessel though vacuum with constituents then fractionally liquefied to create a reformed liquid hydrocarbon fuel and to separate the fuel from the gaseous hydrogen.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for the preparation of combustible fluid, comprising
 conducting electrolysis in a bath consisting essentially of water, electrolyte and liquid hydrocarbon fuel;   removing gas from above the bath during electrolysis;   providing makeup water and liquid hydrocarbon fuel during the electrolysis.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , removing gas including drawing gas with a vacuum pump, the vacuum being low enough to separate volatile components from the feedstock water. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , conducting electrolysis being between electrodes of opposite polarity extending into the hydrocarbon fuel and to the water. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising
 fractionally liquefying gas removed from above the bath; and 
 separating hydrogen there from. 
 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  further comprising
 maintaining the bath at ambient temperature. 
 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 5 , maintaining the bath at ambient temperature including recirculating liquid from the bath and cooling the recirculating liquid to ambient temperature. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6 , maintaining the bath at ambient temperature further including pulsing the voltage for the electrolysis on and off to maintain temperature. 
     
     
         8 . A process for the preparation of combustible fluid, comprising
 conducting electrolysis in a bath consisting essentially of water, electrolyte and liquid hydrocarbon fuel using electrodes of opposite polarity extending into the hydrocarbon fuel and to the water;   drawing gas from above the bath during electrolysis under vacuum;   fractionally liquefying gas removed from above the bath; and   providing makeup water and liquid hydrocarbon fuel during the electrolysis.   
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8  further comprising
 recirculating liquid from the bath. 
 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1 , conducting the electrolysis including pulsing the voltage on and off to reduce heat to the bath. 
     
     
         11 . A process for the preparation of combustible fluid, comprising
 conducting electrolysis in a first bath consisting essentially of water, electrolyte and a first amount of liquid hydrocarbon fuel sufficient to form an oxygen barrier above the water in the first bath;   removing gas from above the first bath during electrolysis;   providing makeup water and liquid hydrocarbon to the first bath during the electrolysis;   conducting electrolysis in a second bath consisting essentially of water, electrolyte and a second amount of liquid hydrocarbons between electrodes of opposite polarity extending into the hydrocarbons and to the water;   introducing the gas removed from the first bath during electrolysis to the water in the second bath;   removing gas from above the second bath during electrolysis;   providing makeup water and liquid hydrocarbon to the second bath during the electrolysis.   
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11 , removing gas from the second bath including drawing the gas with a vacuum pump, the vacuum being low enough to separate volatile components from the feedstock water, the process further comprising
 cooling and compressing the gas from the second bath to fractionally liquefy the gas.   
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 11  further comprising
 maintaining the second bath at ambient temperature. 
 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13 , maintaining the second bath at ambient temperature including recirculating liquid from the bath and cooling the recirculating liquid to ambient temperature. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 14 , maintaining the second bath at ambient temperatures further including pulsing the voltage for the electrolysis on and off to maintain temperature. 
     
     
         16 . A fuel generator comprising
 a closed vessel;   water, liquid hydrocarbons, electrolyte and electrodes of opposite polarity extending into the hydrocarbons and water in the closed vessel;   a vacuum pump in communication with gas space in the closed vessel above the water and hydrocarbons.   
     
     
         17 . The fuel generator of  claim 16  further comprising
 a radiator in communication with the vacuum pump. 
 
     
     
         18 . The fuel generator of  claim 16  further comprising
 a source of hydrogen coupled with the closed vessel.