Hydrogen on demand electrolysis fuel cell system

Abstract

A hydrogen and oxygen (HHO) gas on-demand electrolysis fuel cell system for use with internal combustion engines is disclosed. This hydrogen on-demand (HOD) system integrates with the engine control module (ECM) or other control system that regulates the operation of an internal combustion engine in order to supply HHO to the engine and improve the engine's overall fuel efficiency. This system includes an electrolyte fluid reservoir outfitted with level, pressure and temperature sensors; a pump and heat exchanger; a uniquely-configured electrolyzer; and a filter. The combined engine and HOD system is controlled and regulated by an electronic control system (ECS) and a combustion control module (CCM). The CCM is installed on the engine such that it actively intercepts the electronic signals from the engine manufacturer's ECM to continuously coordinate the functions and operations of the HOD system and the engine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An on-demand system to produce diatomic molecular hydrogen and oxygen (HHO) gases for use as an additive in internal combustion engines, said system comprising a fluid reservoir, a fluid pump, a heat exchanger, a fluid electrolyzer, a filter assembly, and a combined electronic control system (ECS) and combustion control module (CCM),
 said reservoir including overfilling prevention safeguards, fluid flush and fill systems, a plurality of sensors to determine fluid fill level, fluid temperature and internal pressure, a fluid return tube, and means for rigidly attaching said reservoir and a system cabinet to a vehicle frame that also supports an internal combustion engine;   said fluid pump being configured to deliver fluid throughout the on-demand system;   said heat exchanger configured to adjust the temperature of a fluid that will be pumped into said fluid electrolyzer;   said electrolyzer comprising a plurality of compartments, each said compartment being further divided into a plurality of electrolysis chambers that are situated in a substantially vertical orientation, with top and bottom manifolds configured to optimize even fluid flow over a plurality of cathode and anode plates in the electrolysis chambers;   said filter assembly being configured in an upright orientation such that HHO gases are separated from electrolytic fluid vapor and byproducts, with the vapor and byproducts being drained back into said reservoir via a gravity feed and the HHO gases being supplied into the air stream that is integral to the operation of an internal combustion engine; and   said combined ECS and CCM being designed to communicate with each other and with a computerized engine control module (ECM) that has been designed and integrated into the internal combustion engine by its manufacturer via control area network technology in order to monitor the overall system and to control said overall system's operations.   
     
     
         2 . The on-demand system described in  claim 1 , where said fluid reservoir includes an integrated flush and fill system that includes means to prevent HHO gas leakage from said reservoir. 
     
     
         3 . The on-demand system described in  claim 1 , including a fluid return tube that originates at said electrolyzer and that terminates in said reservoir, said fluid return tube having a configuration that allows reintroduction of HHO gas along with electrolyte fluid back into said reservoir. 
     
     
         4 . The on-demand system described in  claim 1 , wherein said reservoir is rigidly attached to a cabinet that contains the system itself, and said reservoir and cabinet are rigidly attached to a vehicle frame. 
     
     
         5 . The on-demand system described in  claim 1 , wherein said heat exchanger is configured to allow said system to operate in a broad range of ambient temperatures. 
     
     
         6 . The on-demand system described in  claim 1 , wherein the components of said system are manufactured from materials that are resistant to corrosion and electrical degeneration. 
     
     
         7 . The on-demand system described in  claim 1 , wherein said electrolyzer includes four separate compartments. 
     
     
         8 . The on-demand system described in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of compartments in said electrolyzer includes six chambers. 
     
     
         9 . The on-demand system described in  claim 1 , configured to pump at least one gallon of electrolyte fluid per minute into said electrolyzer, with said fluid being evenly distributed among said plurality of electrolyzer compartments. 
     
     
         10 . The on-demand system described in  claim 1 , wherein the HHO gases and any by-products produced by the said electrolyzer are supplied into the bottom of said filter, and said filter separates said gases from said byproducts such that the gases are supplied into the air intake stream of an engine and said by-products are drained back into said reservoir. 
     
     
         11 . The on-demand system described in  claim 1 , wherein said ECS and CCM communicate with a computerized ECM that is supplied by the manufacturer of an internal combustion engine in a handshake manner. 
     
     
         12 . The on-demand system described in  claim 1 , wherein said ECS and CCM include safety mechanisms that cease operation of said system when an engine is not in a combustion state. 
     
     
         13 . A method of generating HHO gases that may be supplied into the air supply stream of an internal combustion engine, said method comprising
 storing a quantity of electrolyte fluid in a reservoir;   pumping said electrolyte fluid into a heat exchanger to adjust the temperature of said fluid;   electrolyzing said fluid in a multi-sectioned, multi-chambered electrolyzer;   separating byproducts and excess electrolyte fluid from said HHO gases via a filtration process and returning said byproducts and excess fluid to said reservoir; and   collecting filtered HHO gases that are produced in said electrolyzer and supplying said gases into the air supply stream of an internal combustion engine; and   
     
     
         14 . The method described in  claim 13 , further including controlling said electrolysis process via ECS and CCM systems. 
     
     
         15 . The method described in  claim 13 , wherein said method improves the fuel efficiency of a vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The method described in  claim 13 , wherein said method increases the power output of an internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         17 . The method described in  claim 13 , wherein said method maintains environmental emission standards for vehicle emissions.