Electrolytic Cell for Heating Electrolyte by a Glow Plasma Field in the Electrolyte

Abstract

An electrolytic cell for the generation of a plasma field in an electrolyte that heats the electrolyte forms part of a closed-loop heat transfer device, the electrolytic cell fluidly connected to a heat exchanger. A plasma electrode and a second electrode are mounted on a tubular insulating member that forms part of the flow path of electrolyte from the tank to the heat exchanger. The electrolyte must flow through the electrodes when flowing from the tank to the heat exchanger.

1 . An electrolytic cell for the generation of a plasma field on an active surface of a plasma electrode in an electrolyte, the electrolytic cell comprising:
 a vessel containing a liquid electrolyte, a tubular body, a plasma electrode, a second electrode, a power supply, and a circuit extending from the plasma electrode and the second electrode to the power supply and electrically connecting the plasma electrode, the second electrode, and the power supply, the power supply energizable to generate a plasma field on the plasma electrode;   the tubular body being an electrical insulator and having opposed first and second ends, an interior wall defining a bore extending between the first and second ends, the first end on an end portion of the tubular body immersed in the electrolyte; and   the plasma electrode being an annular body surrounding an opening through the body, the plasma electrode immersed in the electrolyte and attached to the first end of the tubular body, the plasma electrode closing the first end of the body, the opening of the plasma electrode over the bore and in fluid communication with the bore.   
     
     
         2 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 1  wherein the second electrode is an annular body surrounding a through-opening, the second electrode disposed in the end portion of the tubular body and spaced from the plasma electrode, the opening of the second electrode in the bore. 
     
     
         3 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 1  wherein the first end of the tubular body has an outer periphery and the plasma electrode does not extend beyond the outer periphery of the first end of the tubular body. 
     
     
         4 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 3  wherein the plasma electrode is a circular metallic disk. 
     
     
         5 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 4  wherein the second electrode is a circular metallic disk facing the plasma electrode. 
     
     
         6 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 1  wherein the circuit comprises a circuit portion that extends from the plasma electrode, the circuit portion located in the tubular body and not wetted by the electrolyte. 
     
     
         7 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 1  wherein the second end of the tubular body is on a second end portion of the tubular body, the second end portion not immersed in the electrolyte. 
     
     
         8 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 1  wherein the second end portion of the tubular body has external threads. 
     
     
         9 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 1  wherein the power supply is a DC power supply. 
     
     
         10 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 1  wherein the circuit comprises a circuit portion that extends from the second electrode, the circuit portion located in the tubular body and not wetted by the electrolyte. 
     
     
         11 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 1  wherein the opening of the plasma electrode has a smaller cross-sectional area than the bore of the tubular body. 
     
     
         12 . The electrolytic cell of  claim 1  wherein the tubular body extends along an axis and the openings of the plasma electrode and the second electrode are disposed along the axis. 
     
     
         13 . A closed-loop heat transfer device comprising:
 a heat exchanger, an electrolytic cell, the electrolytic cell including a tank containing a liquid electrolyte, a first flow path extending from the electrolyte in the tank to the heat exchanger, and a second flow path extending from the heat exchanger to the electrolyte;   the electrolytic cell further comprising a plasma electrode and a second electrode spaced from the plasma electrode, each electrode immersed in the electrolyte, a power supply, and a circuit electrically connecting the power supply with the plasma electrode, the second electrode, and the electrolyte, the power supply capable when energized of generating a plasma field on the plasma electrode; and   the plasma electrode surrounding a portion of the first flow path wherein electrolyte flowing from the tank to the heat exchanger must flow through the plasma electrode.   
     
     
         14 . The closed-loop heat transfer device of  claim 13  comprising:
 a tubular member formed from an electrical insulator and comprising opposite first and second end portions, the first end portion immersed in the electrolyte, a tubular member defining an internal bore, the bore forming a portion of the first flow path whereby electrolyte flowing from the tank to the heat exchanger must flow through the tubular member; and 
 the plasma electrode and the second electrode attached to the first end portion of tubular member. 
 
     
     
         15 . The closed-loop heat transfer device of  claim 14  comprising:
 the first end portion of the tubular member comprises an end of the tubular member immersed in the electrolyte, the plasma electrode on the end of the tubular member, the opening associated with the plasma electrode in fluid communication with the internal bore of the tubular member; and 
 the second electrode is inside the tubular member spaced away from the first end of the tubular member. 
 
     
     
         16 . The closed-loop heat transfer device of  claim 15  wherein the plasma electrode and the second electrode are each an annular metallic member surrounding the opening associated with each electrode. 
     
     
         17 . The closed-loop heat transfer device of  claim 15  wherein the tubular member extends along an axis and defines a radial direction extending away from the axis; and
 the plasma electrode does not extend radially outwardly beyond the first end of the tubular member. 
 
     
     
         18 . The closed-loop heat transfer device of  claim 14  wherein the circuit comprises a first circuit portion extending from the plasma electrode and a second circuit portion extending away from the second electrode, each of the first and second circuit portions disposed in the tubular member and not wetted by the electrolyte. 
     
     
         19 . The closed-loop heat transfer device of  claim 14  wherein the tubular member comprises nylon. 
     
     
         20 . The closed-loop heat transfer device of  claim 14  wherein the second end portion of the tubular member comprises an externally threaded portion that cooperates with a threaded opening in the tank and attaches the tubular member to the tank. 
     
     
         21 . The closed-loop heat transfer device of  claim 13  wherein the power supply comprises a DC power supply. 
     
     
         22 . The closed-loop heat transfer device of  claim 13  wherein the second electrode surrounds a second portion of the flow path wherein electrolyte flowing from the tank to the heat exchanger must flow through the second electrode.