System and Method for Generating Electricity from Water

A method and system for generating electricity from water, which includes the steps of passing water from a water source to a holding tank; heating the water, thereby generating steam; cooling the steam, thereby generating distilled water; splitting the distilled water into hydrogen and oxygen; powering an engine with the hydrogen, wherein the engine is coupled to a generator; and powering the generator with the engine, thereby generating electricity for distribution from the generator.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a system and method for generating electricity, and more specifically to a system and method for generating electricity from water.

2. Brief Description of the Related Art

The use of water (and its component hydrogen) as a sustainable energy source has long been a topic of research. For example, hydrogen fuel cells have been developed for automobiles. The inventors have developed an improved scalable system for generating electricity from water that can be used in a broad range of applications.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a method for generating electricity from water, which includes the steps of passing a quantity of water from a water source to a holding tank; heating the quantity of water, thereby generating steam; cooling the steam, thereby generating distilled water; splitting the distilled water into hydrogen and oxygen; powering an engine with the hydrogen, wherein the engine is coupled to a generator; and powering the generator with the engine, thereby generating electricity for distribution by the generator.

The present invention is also directed to a system for generating electricity from water, which includes a water source; a first tank holding a quantity of undistilled water from the water source; means for heating the quantity of water; a condenser unit; a second tank holding a quantity of distilled water; a water conversion unit operable to split the distilled water into a quantity of hydrogen and a quantity of oxygen; a tank for holding the quantity of hydrogen; an engine powered by a portion of said quantity of hydrogen; and a generator coupled to the engine, wherein said generator generates electricity for distribution.

These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims in conjunction with the drawings as described following:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference toFIG. 1, the preferred embodiments of the present invention may be described. The system35of the present invention is a self-contained system for generating electricity from water that can be used in various applications, including powering houses, factories, and remote sites having little or no access to the traditional electricity infrastructure. The system35is scalable depending on electricity demands.

A water source1supplies water through a water input to a water desalination unit2, resulting in fresh water. Depending on the water source1, the desalination unit2may not be utilized in the system. The desalination unit2removes salt and other impurities from the water and preferably is of a type that would be well-known to those skilled in the art. The fresh water is then received by a water heating tank6, a condenser unit housing3and a water conversion unit housing4. The condenser unit housing3surrounds the condenser unit7and the water conversion unit housing4surrounds the water conversion unit9. The water in the condenser unit housing3and the water conversion unit housing4is used to cool the condenser unit7and the water conversion unit9. If cooling is not necessary, the fresh water may be routed only to the heating tank6. Because of its cooling purposes, the water coming from the water source1is preferably at room temperature or colder.

The water routed through the water heating tank6is heated to boiling temperatures by a heating source33to create steam. The heating source33is preferably electrically heated coils or a flame source. The condenser unit7then cools the steam to create distilled water, which is stored in the distilled water holding tank8. The water conversion unit9uses the distilled water to split the water molecules (H2O) into its component parts (two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom). The water conversion unit9may, for example, be an electrolysis unit17utilizing an anode and a cathode separated by an ion exchange membrane. It should be understood, however, that any water splitting apparatus that would be known to those skilled in the art could be utilized in the system. The resulting hydrogen from the water splitting process is stored in a hydrogen storage unit10and the resulting oxygen is stored in an oxygen storage unit11. The hydrogen storage unit10and the oxygen storage unit11may be pressurized.

For further cooling, the water in the condenser unit housing3and water conversion unit housing4may be passed through a recirculation radiator5and then back to the condenser unit housing3and water conversion unit housing4. In addition to cold water in the water conversion unit housing4, a mechanical fan may also be used to cool the water conversion unit9. The water in the condenser unit housing3and water conversion unit housing4may also be passed back to the water heating tank6to participate in the distillation process described above.

The hydrogen stored in the hydrogen storage unit10is used to power a hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine12in the system35. The engine12is preferably of a type that would be well-known to those skilled in the art. The hydrogen is used as the primary combustible fuel source in the stoichiometric fuel mixture. In one embodiment, the oxygen stored in the oxygen storage unit11is added to the engine12during the intake phase to increase the oxygen level of the air mixture. The oxygen stored in the oxygen storage unit11may also be used to supplement the heating source for the water in the distillation process.

The engine12is coupled (directly or indirectly) to an electrical generator13. The generator13creates electricity that may be distributed and used inside and outside the system. The generator13is preferably of a type that would be well-known to those skilled in the art. The electricity is fed through electrical bus34into an electrical distribution panel14, which provides electrical power to the primary electrical load15and other parts of the system35through electrical junction16. Examples of the primary electrical load are portable generators, houses, commercial properties, industrial properties and sea-going vessels. A control panel19is also powered by electricity from the distribution panel14through electrical connector32. The control panel19is used to control the voltages and electrical requirements of the various components of the system35. The control panel19is coupled to and monitors, charges, senses, and regulates these components of the system35in a feedback mechanism through electrical connectors18,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31. The electrical connectors are preferably of a type that would be well-known those skilled in the art, such as cooper conductors. The system may utilize multiple control panels19. The control panel19may also be powered by a solar array20, which converts solar energy to electricity to power the control panel and thus decrease the load on the system35.

A partial loss of the total electrical output of the system occurs because some of the electricity is consumed by the system35itself. The various components of the system35are connected via a network of electrical connectors referenced above and electrical junctions (like26), which allow the passage of electricity throughout the system35. The electrical connectors within the system35may function as the primary electrical feed to the various components of the system or function as the control circuit that is used to monitor and regulate the various components, such as a temperature probe or water pressure monitor. This partial loss is primarily caused by the electricity required to operate the heating source33and the water conversion unit17.