Hydrogen generator

Abstract

A hydrogen generator including a series of plates positioned in an electrolysis chamber. The plates are configured to generate hydrogen. The chamber has a water inlet configured to receive water from a water source and a hydrogen outlet configured to allow the hydrogen to exit therefrom. The plates include a positive plate, a negative plate, and a neutral plate. Each of the plates has through-holes configured to allow the water and the hydrogen to flow therethrough. The positive and negative plates are configured to be connected to positive and negative terminals, respectively, of an electrical power source. The water inside the chamber forms an electrical connection between the positive and negative plates that splits the water into the hydrogen and oxygen.

1 . A hydrogen generator for use with a water source and an electrical power source, the hydrogen generator comprising:
 a plurality of plates each having a plurality of through-holes formed therein, each of the plurality of plates being electrically conductive, the plurality of plates comprising a first positive plate, a first negative plate, and a first neutral plate, the first positive plate being configured to be connected to a positive terminal of the electrical power source, the first negative plate being configured to be connected to a negative terminal of the electrical power source, the plurality of plates being arranged in a series with the first neutral plate being positioned between the first positive plate and the first negative plate, interstitial spaces being defined between adjacent ones of the plurality of plates in the series;   a plurality of seals each being positioned within a corresponding one of the interstitial spaces, each of the plurality of seals defining an interior shape that is closed along a peripheral portion of the seal within the corresponding interstitial space and open along the adjacent plates defining the corresponding interstitial space, the peripheral portion of each of the plurality of seals being configured to position the plurality of through-holes formed in each of the adjacent plates defining the interstitial space corresponding to the seal in communication with the interior shape defined by the seal to thereby form a sealed chamber that extends through the series, each of the plurality of seals being electrically non-conductive;   a water inlet configured to allow water from the water source into the sealed chamber, the water electrically connecting the first positive plate to the first negative plate, which causes the water to split into oxygen and hydrogen; and   a hydrogen outlet configured to allow the hydrogen to exit from the sealed chamber.   
     
     
         2 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The hydrogen generator of  claim 1 , wherein the water comprises a catalyst. 
     
     
         14 . The hydrogen generator of  claim 13 , wherein the catalyst is potassium hydroxide. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A hydrogen generator for use with a water source and an electrical power source, the hydrogen generator comprising:
 an electrolysis chamber having a water inlet and a hydrogen outlet, the water inlet being configured to receive water from the water source, the hydrogen outlet being configured to allow hydrogen generated inside the electrolysis chamber to exit therefrom; and   a series of parallel plates positioned in the electrolysis chamber and configured to generate the hydrogen, the series of parallel plates comprising at least one positive plate, at least one negative plate, and at least one neutral plate, each of the series of parallel plates comprising through-holes configured to allow the water and the hydrogen to flow therethrough, the at least one positive plate being configured to be connected to a positive terminal of the electrical power source, the at least one negative plate being configured to be connected to a negative terminal of the electrical power source, the water inside the electrolysis chamber forming an electrical connection between the at least one positive plate and the at least one negative plate that splits the water into the hydrogen and oxygen.   
     
     
         18 . The hydrogen generator of  claim 17 , wherein the electrolysis chamber is at least partially defined within a plurality of seals positioned one each between each adjacent pair of plates within the series of parallel plates. 
     
     
         19 . The hydrogen generator of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 first and second end caps flanking the series of parallel plates;   a first end cap seal positioned between the first end cap and the series of parallel plates; and   a second end cap seal positioned between the second end cap and the series of parallel plates, the electrolysis chamber extending from the first end cap to the second end cap.   
     
     
         20 . The hydrogen generator of  claim 19 , wherein the water inlet is formed in the first end cap, and
 the hydrogen outlet is formed in the second end cap.   
     
     
         21 . The hydrogen generator of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one neutral plate comprises a plurality of neutral plates configured to provide a desired amount of electrical resistance between the at least one positive plate and the at least one negative plate. 
     
     
         22 . The hydrogen generator of  claim 17 , wherein the water comprises a catalyst. 
     
     
         23 . The hydrogen generator of  claim 22 , wherein the catalyst is potassium hydroxide. 
     
     
         24 .- 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A hydrogen generator for use with a water source and an electrical power source, the hydrogen generator comprising:
 an electrolysis chamber divided into an oxygen chamber and a hydrogen chamber;   at least one water inlet in communication with the electrolysis chamber, each of the at least one water inlet being configured to receive water from the water source;   a hydrogen outlet in communication with the hydrogen chamber, the hydrogen outlet being configured to allow hydrogen generated inside the electrolysis chamber to exit therefrom;   an oxygen outlet in communication with the oxygen chamber, the oxygen outlet being configured to allow oxygen generated inside the electrolysis chamber to exit therefrom; and   a series of parallel plates positioned in the electrolysis chamber and configured to generate the hydrogen, the series of parallel plates comprising at least one positive plate, at least one negative plate, and at least one neutral plate, each of the series of parallel plates comprising through-holes configured to allow the water, the oxygen, and the hydrogen to flow therethrough, the at least one positive plate being configured to be connected to a positive terminal of the electrical power source, the at least one negative plate being configured to be connected to a negative terminal of the electrical power source, the water inside the electrolysis chamber forming an electrical connection between the at least one positive plate and the at least one negative plate that splits the water into the hydrogen and the oxygen.   
     
     
         28 . The hydrogen generator of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 a plurality of membranes each comprising through-holes configured to allow the water, the oxygen, and the hydrogen to flow therethrough, each of the plurality of membranes being positioned at a different location within the series of parallel plates; and   a plurality of seals each positioned in between a different first one of the series of parallel plates and either a different second one of the series of parallel plates or a different one of the plurality of membranes, the electrolysis chamber being at least partially defined within the plurality of seals, the plurality of seals dividing the electrolysis chamber into the hydrogen chamber and the oxygen chamber.   
     
     
         29 . The hydrogen generator of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 first and second end caps flanking the series of parallel plates;   a first end cap seal positioned between the first end cap and the series of parallel plates; and   a second end cap seal positioned between the second end cap and the series of parallel plates, the electrolysis chamber extending from the first end cap to the second end cap.   
     
     
         30 . The hydrogen generator of  claim 29 , wherein the each of the at least one water inlet is formed in the second end cap,
 the hydrogen outlet is formed in the second end cap, and   the oxygen outlet is formed in the second end cap.   
     
     
         31 . The hydrogen generator of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one water inlet comprises a first water inlet and a second water inlet,
 the first water inlet is in communication with the hydrogen chamber, and   the second water inlet is in communication with the oxygen chamber.   
     
     
         32 . The hydrogen generator of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one neutral plate comprises a plurality of neutral plates configured to provide a desired amount of electrical resistance between the at least one positive plate and the at least one negative plate. 
     
     
         33 . The hydrogen generator of  claim 27 , wherein the water comprises a catalyst. 
     
     
         34 . The hydrogen generator of  claim 33 , wherein the catalyst is potassium hydroxide.