Apparatus and method for generating hydrogen by electrolysis

Abstract

A vortex reactor ( 200 ) for generating hydrogen gas through electrolysis of water, comprising: a reactor body having a first end ( 204 ) and a second end ( 206 ); one or more inlet ports ( 202 ) disposed at or near the first end ( 204 ) and configured to direct an electrolytic fluid into the reactor body so that the fluid moves toward the second end ( 206 ), the one or more inlet ports ( 202 ) being tangentially oriented with respect to an inner surface of the reactor body so that the fluid directed into the reactor body follows a vortical path as the fluid moves toward the second end ( 206 ); an anode ( 242 ) disposed at the first end ( 204 ); and a tubular cathode ( 244 ) disposed within the reactor body between the first and second ends, the cathode ( 244 ) disposed so that the vortical path of the fluid contacts an inner surface of the cathode ( 244 ) as the fluid moves toward the second end ( 206 ), wherein power supplied to the anode ( 242 ) and cathode ( 244 ) cause hydrogen gas to form at the cathode ( 244 ) and oxygen gas to form at the anode ( 242 ), the vortical path of the moving fluid shearing the forming gases to enable collection of the gases.

1 . A vortex reactor for generating hydrogen gas through electrolysis of water, comprising:
 a reactor body having a first end and a second end;   one or more inlet ports disposed at or near the first end and configured to direct an electrolytic fluid into the reactor body so that the fluid moves toward the second end, the one or more inlet ports being tangentially oriented with respect to an inner surface of the reactor body so that the fluid directed into the reactor body follows a vortical path as the fluid moves toward the second end;   an anode disposed at the first end; and   a tubular cathode disposed within the reactor body between the first and second ends, the cathode disposed so that the vortical path of the fluid contacts an inner surface of the cathode as the fluid moves toward the second end,   wherein power supplied to the anode and cathode cause hydrogen gas to form at the cathode and oxygen gas to form at the anode, the vortical path of the moving fluid shearing the forming gases to enable collection of the gases.   
     
     
         2 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the cathode is configured as a weir having an upper rim positioned below the second end of the reactor. 
     
     
         3 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the anode is configured as a disk disposed at the first end of the reactor. 
     
     
         4 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the anode is configured as a tubular anode extending from the first end of the reactor and the anode being disposed so that the vortical path of the fluid contacts an inner surface of the anode as the fluid moves toward the second end. 
     
     
         5 . The reactor of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more magnetic elements positioned with respect to the anode and/or cathode to impart a radially inward directed Lorentz force. 
     
     
         6 . The reactor of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more magnetic elements include one or more tube or ring-shaped magnets surrounding the anode and/or cathode. 
     
     
         7 . The reactor of  claim 1 , further comprising a guide cone disposed along the central axis of the reactor body and positioned above the anode to collect oxygen gas generated at the anode. 
     
     
         8 . The reactor of  claim 7 , further comprising an oxygen exit pipe coupled to the guide cone and extending from the guide cone out of the reactor to route collected oxygen out of the reactor. 
     
     
         9 . The reactor of  claim 1 , further comprising a hydrogen exit pipe disposed above the cathode. 
     
     
         10 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the anode and/or cathode includes a textured inner surface. 
     
     
         11 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the anode and/or cathode includes a series of stacked electrode rings. 
     
     
         12 . The reactor of  claim 11 , wherein the stacked electrode rings include rings or varying inner diameter. 
     
     
         13 . The reactor of  claim 1 , wherein the cathode has a weir structure enabling fluid to pass over the cathode to an annular space disposed between an external side of the cathode and an inner surface of a reactor wall, the reactor further comprising one or more wall outlets to pass fluid within the annular space out of the reactor. 
     
     
         14 . A vortex reactor for generating hydrogen gas through electrolysis of water, comprising:
 a reactor body having a first end and a second end;   one or more inlet ports disposed at or near the first end and configured to direct an electrolytic fluid into the reactor body so that the fluid moves toward the second end, the one or more inlet ports being tangentially oriented with respect to an inner surface of the reactor body so that the fluid directed into the reactor body follows a vortical path as the fluid moves toward the second end;   a tubular anode disposed at the first end and extending from the first end so that the vortical path of the fluid contacts an inner surface of the anode as the fluid moves toward the second end;   a tubular cathode disposed within the reactor body between the anode and the second end, the cathode being disposed so that the vortical path of the fluid contacts an inner surface of the cathode as the fluid moves toward the second end;   an oxygen exit conduit extending from a position above the anode to a position outside of the reactor; and   a hydrogen exit conduit extending from a position above the cathode to a position outside of the reactor,   wherein power supplied to the anode and cathode cause hydrogen gas to form at the cathode and oxygen gas to form at the anode, the vortical path of the moving fluid shearing the forming gases to enable collection of the gases.   
     
     
         15 . The reactor of  claim 14 , further comprising a tubular magnetic element having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the tubular anode and cathode, the tubular magnetic element circumscribing the anode and cathode. 
     
     
         16 . The reactor of  claim 14 , wherein the tubular magnetic element and the cathode define an annular space between an inner surface of the tubular magnetic element and an outer surface of the cathode. 
     
     
         17 . The reactor of  claim 16 , wherein the cathode includes an upper rim configured to function as a weir to enable fluid to pass over the upper rim and into the annular space, the reactor further comprising one or more wall outlets to pass fluid within the annular space out of the reactor. 
     
     
         18 . The reactor of  claim 15 , wherein the tubular magnetic element forms at least a portion of an outer wall of the reactor. 
     
     
         19 . A method of generating hydrogen gas, comprising:
 providing a vortex reactor as in  claim 1 ;   supplying power to the anode and cathode of the vortex reactor;   directing an electrolytic fluid to the vortex reactor to induce vortical motion of the fluid as it passes through the vortex reactor; and   collecting hydrogen gas as it is generated at the cathode and sheared from an inner surface of the cathode by the vortical motion of the fluid.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising collecting oxygen gas as it is generated at the anode and sheared away from a surface of the anode by the vortical motion of the fluid.