Method and means of generating gas from water for use as a fuel

A method and means of generating gas from water for use as a fuel wherein a pair of spaced-apart carbon electrodes are positioned in a reaction chamber having water therein. Electrical current is supplied to the carbon electrodes to create an electrical arc therebetween causing the electrodes to burn and oxidize to form carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The gas is generated on an on-demand basis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a method and means for the generation of gas for 
use as a fuel for internal combustion engines. More specifically, this 
invention relates to a method for rapidly generating fuel gas from water 
ad carbon. 
It is the applicant's belief that a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen 
(COH.sub.2) is a gas which will burn very clean in oxygen or air, and that 
the gas maybe used as a fuel for an internal combustion engine. When 
burned, COH.sub.2 produces carbon dioxide and water vapor, thereby adding 
very little, if any, pollution to the environment. 
If COH.sub.2 gas is produced for use as a fuel for an internal combustion 
engine, a problem arises in the storage of the same which maybe a fuel 
hazard. In order to eliminate the storage problem, it is desirable to 
produce the as on an on-demand basis. 
It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a method and 
means for the on-demand generation of gas from water and carbon for use as 
a fuel for internal combustion engines. 
A further object of the invention is to provide a method and means for 
forming COH.sub.2 gas. 
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method and means for 
the on-demand gas generation from water by oxidizing carbon in water, 
hereby producing COH.sub.2 gas. 
Still another object of the invention is to provide a process for the 
on-demand generation of gas from water for use as a fuel for internal 
combustion engines which is safe to use and which eliminates storage 
problems associated with such a process. 
These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled 
in the art. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The apparatus and method of the present invention serves to convert carbon 
and water into a fuel gas (COH.sub.2) on-demand as required to sustain the 
operation of an internal combustion engine. The gas is released rapidly 
and the amount of the same is controlled by the electrical energy input 
into the carbon electrodes. The dangerous gas storage problem is 
eliminated because the gas is produced on-demand. Only a sufficient amount 
of gas to operate the internal combustion engine is produced at any time. 
Anti-pollution devices are not required as the gas burns pure and clean.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
In FIG. 2, the numeral 10 refers to a conventional internal combustion 
engine capable of burning COH.sub.2. Engine 10 may supply power to a 
vehicle, an electrical generator or a heat pump or the like, referred to 
generally by the reference letter P. For the purpose of this disclosure, 
the engine 10 will be described as being a component of a vehicle 
including a battery 12 and an alternator 14. In order to provide COH.sub.2 
gas for the engine, a gas generation unit 16 is provided which is in 
communication with a water supply or source 18. 
In FIG. 1, the numeral 20 refers to a conventional computer or 
microprocessor which is electrically connected to a power sensor 22 by 
line 24. Power sensor 22 is operatively connected to a source of 
electrical power such as the battery 12 by any convenient means. Power 
sensor 22 senses the voltage across the electrodes 24 and 26 and senses 
the current flowing therethrough. This information is fed to the 
microprocessor 20 which in turn controls the operation of the servo drive 
36 as will be described in more detail hereinafter. Electrode 24 is fixed 
in position within the reaction chamber 32 while electrode 26 is mounted 
on a servo shaft 34 which is controlled by the servo drive 36 to vary the 
distance between the electrodes 24 and 26. Servo drive 26 is controlled by 
microprocessor 20 through lead 37. 
Reaction chamber 32 includes a temperature sensor 38 which is connected to 
microprocessor 20 by lead 40. Water level sensor 42 is also provided in 
reaction chamber 32 for sensing the level of water in chamber 32 and which 
is connected to microprocessor 20 by lead 44. 
Gas line 46 is in communication with the upper interior of chamber 32 ad 
extends to a gas/water separator 48 having gas line 50 extending from the 
upper end which includes a pressure regulator 52. Line 52 extends to the 
internal combustion engine for combustion therein. Water return line 54 
extends from the bottom of separator 458 to chamber 32 to return water 
thereto after separation of the water and gas in separator 48. 
Water line 56 extends from the lower end of chamber 32 to expansion chamber 
58 to permit water to flow between chamber 32 and chamber 58 as the water 
within chamber 32 expands due to pressure within chamber 32 when the gas 
is produced therein. 
Water level sensor 60 and air pressure sensor 62 are provided in chamber 58 
(FIG. 1) and are connected to microprocessor 20 by leads 64 and 66 
respectively. Pump 68 is connected to chamber 58 by water line 70 and has 
water line 72 extending therefrom to water line 74. Water line 74 is 
connected to a source of water referred to generally by the reference 
numeral 76. Line 74 is fluidly connected to water cooler 78 and has check 
valves 80 and 82 imposed therein in the locations seen in FIG. 1. Water 
cooler 78 is connected to the lower end of chamber 32 by water line 84. 
Pump 68 is controlled by microprocessor 20 through lead 86. 
In operation, the process starts when power is supplied to the electrodes 
24 and 26. The microprocessor 20 checks all sensor inputs such as the 
temperature sensor 38, water level sensor 44, water level sensor 60, 
pressure sensor 62, etc. If the pressure within expansion chamber 58 is 
within its specified range, the reactor will not be activated. Further, if 
the water level and temperatures are within the preferred operating range, 
the pump 68 will not be activated. Microprocessor 20 continuously checks 
the signals from the sensors and initiates a response when any signal 
indicates need. 
If the pressure is below the specified range as sensed by the sensor 62, 
microprocessor 20 initiates the servo drive 36 to move carbon electrode 26 
toward or away from carbon electrode 24 to achieve the optimum for the 
most efficient operation monitoring the feedback from the reactor power 
sensor 22. This operation continues until the signal from the pressure 
sensor 62 indicates that the pressure is within the operating range. 
The signals from the water level sensors 42 and 60 and the temperature 
sensor 38 is monitored continuously. The pump 68 functions to add water to 
the system or circulate water through the cooler 78. The direction of the 
pump operation determines the function. Water level takes precedence over 
temperature. 
If the water levels falls below the required point, as indicated by the 
combined logic of the two level sensors 42 and 60, pump 68 is operated in 
the reverse mode and moves water from the external water supply through 
the directional check vale 80 to the expansion chamber 58. This operation 
ceases when the level sensor 60 signals indicate proper value. 
If the temperature sensor 38 indicates high water temperature, 
microprocessor 20 controls the pump to run in a forward direction, thereby 
circulating water through the check valve 82 and the water cooler 78 back 
to the reaction chamber 32. This operation continues until the temperature 
sensor signal is within normal operating range or low water level is 
sense. The water replenishing and cooling functions operate simultaneously 
with reactor operation. If the ignition of the vehicle is turned off while 
the reaction is operating, the microprocessor controls the servo drive to 
back off the electrodes before shutting down the system. 
The gas generation unit of this invention provides constant pressure gas at 
a specified volume. Instantaneous demand determines the rate of operation. 
The gas production is on a fully off-on basis, and is intermittent during 
periods of low and moderate fuel consumption. A buffer volume is 
maintained at a level to provide the instantaneous requirement. The 
pressure and volume of the gas reserve is reactively small and does not 
pose a safety hazard. The process operates only when the vehicle ignition 
is on. 
The reaction is controlled by the microprocessor 20 to provide optimum 
output with minimum electrical energy input. Battery 12 provides 
electrical power for the microprocessor and the reactor. Intermittent 
substantial power is require only when the reactor is operating. When the 
engine is operating, the battery is continuously being charged by the 
alternator 14. 
The microprocessor 20 causes electrical energy to be supplied to the carbon 
electrodes 24 and 26 and when the electrodes are in the proper position, 
an electrical are passes there between with the temperature of the 
electrical arc perhaps exceeding 6000.degree. F. The heat and difference 
of potential between the carbon electrodes ionizes the carbon of the 
carbon electrodes. The conduction current burns the carbon to produce a 
flame. Oxidation (burning with a flame) of the carbon combines carbon and 
oxygen forming carbon monoxide. When this process is performed under 
water, it withdraws oxygen from the water, thereby liberating the hydrogen 
therefrom. The result is the rapid release of hydrogen and carbon monoxide 
gas. This process releases the gas from the water on-demand as previously 
stated. The amount of gas being produced is directly proportional to the 
flame and the electrical energy producing it. The carbon monoxide when 
mixed with hydrogen forms COH.sub.2 gas which burns very clean in oxygen 
or air. When burned, COH.sub.2 provides carbon dioxide and water vapor 
thereby substantially reducing pollution to the environment. 
The carbon rod electrodes utilized in the above-identified method will be 
consumed during the oxidation process. Thus, it will be necessary to 
replace the carbon electrodes as they become consumed. An alternate 
concept is to use high temperature no-oxidizing electrodes rather than the 
carbon rod electrodes and to provide a carbon rich feedstock solution 
utilized in the reaction. For example, such a carbon rich feedstock 
solution could be C.sub.6 H.sub.12 O.sub.6 or C.sub.12 H.sub.22 O.sub.11. 
The only problem with utilizing such a feedstock solution is that the 
carbon in this form is not electrically conductive. The feedstock 
oxygen-carbon molecular composition is balanced, as in C.sub.6 H.sub.12 
O.sub.6 or C.sub.12 H.sub.22 O.sub.11 +H.sup.2 O and conductive carbon is 
added to the reaction chamber, as in C+C.sub.6 H.sub.12 O.sub.6 or 
C+C.sub.12 H.sub.22 O.sub.11 +H.sup.2 O, the reactive carbon will be 
replenished from the feedstock as the hydrogen is displaced in the rapid 
oxidation process. If so, carbon will remain in the reaction chamber to 
provide an electrical current path, with only the requirement being that 
feedstock solution be added to the chamber as it is consumed in the 
process. 
Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its 
stated objectives.