Energy generating system

Abstract

Energy system in which steam is generated by combustion of hydrogen in ozone enriched air. The steam so generated .[.is supplied to an asymmetric microporous membrane which causes chemical disassociation of the steam to yield hydrogen and oxygen..]. .Iadd.is further heated and activated and the gases from the activated steam are fed to an asymmetric membrane which diffuses only hydrogen therethrough. .Iaddend.The hydrogen gas is used to maintain combustion in a closed power generating system.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed is: 
     
       1. Energy generating system comprising a steam generator, a combustion chamber, fuel supply means for introducing a combustible mixture into said chamber, means for supplying water to said generator for conversion to steam by combustion of said mixture, .Iadd.means connected to said steam generator means for further heating and activating said steam by combustion of said mixture to form gases .Iaddend.feed means for supplying said .Iadd.gases from such further heated and activated .Iaddend.steam to an asymmetric microporous membrane which produces hydrogen by .[.chemical disassociation of said steam,.]. .Iadd.diffusion of hydrogen therethrough from said gases .Iaddend.and conduit means for supplying at least part of the hydrogen gas so produced to said combustion chamber for maintaining combustion therein. 
     
     
       2. Energy generating system as set forth in claim 1 in which is provided a heat exchanger having a water carrying coil in a chamber disposed to receive the gaseous products of combustion from said steam generator, said combustion products providing thermal energy to heat the water in said coil for use in an energy consuming system. 
     
     
       3. Energy generating system as set forth in claim 1 in which said asymmetric membrane comprises a thin, dense polymer layer disposed about the circumference of a porous substrate. 
     
     
       4. Energy generating system as set forth in claim 3 in which said dense layer is selected from the group consisting of cellulose diacetate and dimethyl silicon. 
     
     
       5. Energy generating system as set forth in claim 3 in which said dense polymer layer has a thickness on the order of 1/4 microns in said porous substrate and has a cross section of approximately 100 microns. 
     
     
       6. Energy generating system as set forth in claim 5 in which said polymer layer and porous substrate are of generally cylindrical cross section disposed in a cylindrical shell, said shell having an inlet opening to receive said .Iadd.gases from said further heated and activated .Iaddend.steam and an outlet for said hydrogen. .Iadd. 7. Energy generating system comprising: a steam generator,   a combustion chamber,   fuel supply means for introducing a combustible mixture into such chamber,   
     
     
       means connected to said generator for supplying water thereto for conversion to steam by combustion of said mixture, means connected to said steam generating means for further heating and activating said steam by combustion of said mixture to form gases,   a microporous membrane adapted to diffuse hydrogen, and   feed means connected to said steam activating means for supplying said gases from said activated steam to said microporous membrane through which only hydrogen diffuses, to thereby produce hydrogen from said water. .Iaddend..Iadd. 8. Energy generating system comprising:   a combustion chamber in which the heat of combustion is used for the generation of steam and for further heating and activating said steam,   means operatively connected to said combustion chamber for providing the heat of combustion therewithin,   means about said combustion chamber for generating steam from water by the heat of said combustion,   means for supplying water to said generator for conversion to steam,   means within said generator for further heating and activating said steam from the heat of said combustion to form gases therefrom,   means for supplying the steam from said steam generating means to said steam activating means,   a microporous membrane adapted to diffuse hydrogen, and   feeding means connected to said steam activating means and to said microporous membrane for supplying thereto said gases from said activated steam and wherein said microporous diffuses only hydrogen therethrough, to   
     
     
        thereby produce hydrogen from water. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 9.  An energy generating system comprising: a generator for producing hydrogen from water including:   a combustion chamber,   a plurality of axially extending circumferentially spaced tubes about said combustion chamber,   a steam generator about said tubes and said combustion chamber,   fuel supply means for introducing a combustible mixture into said chamber,   means for supplying water to said generator for conversion to steam by combustion of said mixture, and   means connected to said generator and said tubes for conveying said steam into said tubes for further heating and activating said steam combustion of said mixture to form gases from said steam,   a microporous membrane adapted to diffuse hydrogen, and   feeding means connected to said tubes and said microporous membrane for feeding said gases from said activated steam from said tubes to said microporous membrane, wherein said microporous membrane diffuses only hydrogen therethrough, to thereby produce the hydrogen from water. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 10. Energy generating system, as set forth in claim 9, in which there are eight of said tubes spaced about said combustion chamber. .Iaddend..Iadd. 11. Energy generating system, as set forth in claim 9, in which said microporous membrane is asymmetric, and comprises a thick, dense polymer layer disposed about the circumference of a porous substrate through which only hydrogen diffuses. .Iaddend.