AN ELECTRICITY GENERATOR

Abstract: An electricity generator including a source of energetic neutrons, a fluid medium for intercepting energetic neutrons emitted by the source of energetic neutrons and for collecting at least part of their energy by ionisation of a portion of the fluid medium, an electrode for collecting charge from the ionised portion of the fluid medium; and means for applying a field to the ionised portion of the fluid medium for urging the ionised portion of the fluid towards the electrode.

Description: AM ELECTRICITY GENERATOR The present invention relates to an electricity generator. There are many conventional forms of electricity generator, a number of which are nuclear reactors which act effectively as water pressure cookers. Such nuclear reactors have barely been developed over the last 50 years. Research has been taking place into electricity generators involving the confinement of plasmas at very high temperatures. Such plasmas are generated for extremely short periods of time since they include positive and negative particles within the plasma at the same time. All of the proposed plasma generators are extremely complicated, dangerous and costly, mainly because of difficulties in confining the plasma. Reference is hereby made to the applicant's co- pending British patent application No. 9416996.8, the contents of which are imported in their entirety into this application by this reference. The present invention includes a source of energetic neutrons, a fluid medium for intercepting energetic neutrons emitted by the source of energetic neutrons, and for collecting at least part of their energy by ionisation of a portion of the fluid medium, a charge collection surface and means for applying an electric field to the ionised portion of the fluid medium for urging the ionised portion of the fluid towards the charge collection surface. In the embodiments described within this application, the fluid medium used is water. A number of other features are included in the detailed description. The present invention overcomes many of the disadvantages of conventional electricity generators in that electricity is generated directly from the energetic ionised atoms of a fluid or gas medium. In the present invention, dissociated water is preferably used whereby hydrogen ions and oxygen ions form a gas medium. The fluid or gas medium is ionised by a source of energetic particles at a relatively cool temperature, in some instances as low as 25°C, in order to place the hydrogen and oxygen atoms in their first state of ionisation. The source of energetic particles is preferably a neutron source in which the kinetic energy of the neutrons is used to ionise the hydrogen and oxygen atoms, following which the electrostatic charge may be extracted from the charged gas medium in order to be accumulated on an electrical condenser. The electrons which have been removed from the atoms are collected by anodes within the generator. If the kinetic energy of the neutrons is very close to the ionisation energies of hydrogen and oxygen, ionisation will occur without any significant increase in temperature of the gas medium. The present invention permits a number of advantages over the prior art. In the prior art, nuclear reactors use enormous quantities of water and atmospheric air whereas the present invention requires a relatively small and fixed quantity of water. Furthermore, the present invention presents little danger to the local environment even in the event of damage or destruction in war time. The surrounding ecological and biological environment remains unaffected. The electricity generator may be built on land, or e ersed in the sea. The generator may be controlled remotely without any necessity for local personnel. The generator may function continuously for 50 to 100 years, or in certain circumstances for longer without need for repair or maintenance. The neutron source and water would probably need to be replaced every 50 to 100 years. The generator is typically constructed from prefabricated elements, and is of a modular construction, and even when the generator is 50 x 50 x 50 metres, it may still be assembled and disassembled within a few days. The size of the generator may be scaled up and down depending on the energy required for consumption. No harmful products or sub-products are produced by the generator. The generator normally includes no moving parts, but the only things which move are the neutrons, the ions and the electrostatic charges. The movement of ions by "electrostatic pumping" means that there are no moving parts which could generate friction, no other circuits and no pumping apparatus. There is therefore no wear of parts, and no lubrication is required, no waste products are produced, no personnel are required and fewer damaged or defective parts will require replacing. This invention may also be applied to the production of energy for the propulsion of craft within the atmosphere, oceans, and in space with speeds between 1,000 and 50,000 kilometres per second. Even greater speeds might be possible. The present invention is described below by way of example only with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the present invention showing the general layout of an electricity generator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a plan view of a generator according to the first embodiment of the invention and including sectional views at different positions through the generator. Figure 3 is a front sectional view of the generator. Figure 4 is a cutaway perspective view of the generator, Figures 5 and 6 show the movement and charge of ions and atoms during generation in the generator. Figure 7 illustrates the magnetic and electric fields present within the upper and lower vacuum chambers of the present invention whereby magnetohydrodynamics takes effect. Successive layers of accumulator plates are shown. Figure θ shows a view of the module used in the present invention for collecting charge and for generating an debris field. Figure 9 shows a second embodiment of the invention in which there are two connected electric generators, Figure 10 shows a sectional view through the second generator of the second embodiment. Figures 11, 12 and 13 are sectional views through the second generator illustrating the position of various features. Figure 14 is a cut-away perspective view of the electricity generator according to the second embodiment and Figure 15 shows. A generator according to the present invention utilises some of the features of electrostatic pumps in that there is a movement of charges controlled by the application of a field within the generator. The generator according to the present invention is shown in Figure 3 and includes a metallic cage or chamber divided into two adjacent vacuum chambers whose volumes are in the ratio 1 to 2. The container includes a series of metal plates one inside the other similar to a concentric succession of Faraday cages or Gauss spheres. A quantity of pure water is disposed within the generator and is dissociated by slow neutrons emitted from within a central neutron source column. The ionisation takes the form of: H,0 + n > 2H* + 0 + + 2e The hydrogen ions and oxygen ions are then separated into the two vacuum chambers, and the electrons are absorbed by four spherical anodes of a Leyder bottle-type charged condenser unit situated within the lower chamber. The positive hydrogen and oxygen ions will move towards the walls of the metallic chambers such that the charge flows on to the accumulator plates. The hydrogen ions and oxygen ions are then neutralised. The oxygen atoms and ions are maintained within the lower chamber of the generator, and the hydrogen atoms and ions within the upper chamber. The atoms therefore pass through cycles of ionisation, neutralisation, re-ionisation. The slow neutrons are therefore permitted to indirectly charge the condenser plates in order that electricity is generated. The neutron source continually ionises the hydrogen and oxygen atoms. The neutron source has a typical optimal efficiency during 50 to 100 years, after which it is preferable to replace the neutron source and the water within the apparatus. Conveniently, the first ionisation energy of hydrogen is very similar to the first ionisation energy of oxygen, being 13.605eV and 13.61eV respectively. The invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 which show a generator for generating electricity directly from ionised atoms, in this instance ions of hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen and oxygen atoms are generated from a volume of pure water disposed within the generator. The water molecules are ionised by neutrons emitted from a slow neutron source whilst maintaining the hydrogen and oxygen ions and atoms at a relatively cool temperature, typically around 25°C. Figure 1 shows schematically the movement of charge, Figures 2 - 4 show the apparatus in detail, and Figures 5 and 6 show the apparatus in operation. The apparatus includes a core in the form of a neutron emitting column, which provides a source (S) of monochromatic neutrons, each having a similar speed and similar kinetic energy of around 13.61 eV or 13.605 eV (the first ionisation energies of oxygen and hydrogen respectively). The slow neutron sources are preferably capable of ionising at least 1% of the particles during 50 to 100 years. The column also slows down neutrons which are being emitted too fast. An example of the neutron source (S) includes, a central column fabricated from materials which emit alpha particles (He), for example radium (Ra), the alpha particles bombarding a shell column of beryllium (Be) which envelopes the radium, and is itself coated in a gold (Au) prismatic tube. This permits the emission of very high numbers of neutrons, as discovered and developed by James Chadwick (see also the experiment of Frederick and Irene Jolliot Curie who used the same source to bombard a paraffin material for obtaining the neutrons). If necessary, the neutrons are filtered by the use of a metallic enveloping tube consisting of gold (Au) of the desired thickness to slow down the neutron energy to 13.61 eV. A water storage and injection unit E is disposed around the neutron source S. The water storage and injection unit E includes a central cubic basin for holding a fixed quantity of pure water where the water molecules are dissociated and ionised by the neutrons from the neutron source S. Four expansion columns extend downwardly from the central cubic basin and around the central column neutron source S. Each expansion columns includes a pressure valve disposed remote from the central cubic basin which releases ionised atoms and electrons from the expansion columns when the pressure therein has increased due to the ionisation of the water molecules. The similarity in first ionisation energies of hydrogen and oxygen means that water is particularly appropriate for this apparatus, and in addition to this is a readily available resource. The core S and water storage and injection unit E are disposed within a well which includes an upper and a lower vacuum chamber having a volume ratio of 1 to 2. These are shown best in Figures 3 and 4. The well is built up from modules. Referring to Figure 3, it can be seen that the walls of the well labelled (a) are 10 modules high, and these modules are labelled 1 to 10. The base of the well is made up of 6 modules long and 6 modules wide, the modules being labelled (b) . The base of the well is electrically isolated from the walls of the well. The upper and lower chambers are separated from each other at about module A7 on the wall. The top of the upper chamber is closed by an access unit H through which air is extracted from the two chambers in order to form a vacuum within the wells. The access unit H also permits the central neutron sources to be inserted into the generator. The lower chamber is prismatic and is intended for holding oxygen ions, whereas the upper chamber is cubic and intended to hold hydrogen ions. The ratio of volumes between the lower chamber and the upper chamber is calculated on the basis that the pressure of the upper and lower chamber will be the same when all of the hydrogen ions are in the upper chamber and all of the oxygen ions are in the lower chamber, so that the oxygen and hydrogen ions are kept separate from each other. For this reason, the lower chamber is twice the volume of the upper chamber in order to take account of the volumetric proportions of the two elements which make up the water molecule, but in this case, each one being at a different temperature as explained later in this text. The interior walls of the upper and lower chambers form a metallic cage constructed, for example, from gold (Au). The interior face of the walls of the well includes conical extractor nozzles for collecting electrical charges from the ions. Each module includes a number of extractor nozzles also preferably made of gold (Au). The well is surrounded by an electrical condenser (X) which includes several successive layers of plates upon which charge is gathered. The inner walls of the well constitute a first condenser plate. The second condenser plate is connected to the third condenser plate by means of an electrical conductor Q disposed on each of the four vertical edges of the second condenser plate. A square base electrical condenser is disposed at the bottom of the lower chamber. The second square plate is electrically connected to the third square plate of the square condenser. Magnetic coils Y are disposed around the multiplated condenser X and are connected directly to the positive and negative plates of the condenser X. In the present arrangement, no cooling of these magnetic coils is required. The coils generate a magnetic field B as electric current passes therethrough, and since the magnetic coils Y are disposed substantially concentrically around the vertical axis of the well with each coil arranged generally concentrically, the magnetic field B is axial through the well. This tends to urge charged particles towards the walls of the well by magnetohydrodynamics. Outside the magnetic coils is disposed a physical protection wall Z which provides physical protection for the apparatus and biological protection from the magnetic field B. The wall Z is typically constructed of concrete. A starter control unit A is disposed within the lower chamber and controls the pressure and temperature within the water storage and injection unit E, and the release valves which permit the ionised water within the storage and injection unit to be released. The starter control unit A is held just above the base of the lower chamber by four metallic columns, and includes four spherical anodes W extending from the starter control unit A. The spherical anodes absorb the free electrons electrons from the lower chamber. The starter control unit A is a charged leyder bottle type, and is electrically connected via the four metallic columns to the floor of the chamber which acts as a plate for collecting positive charge (cathode). The unit A includes a central control system which operates the generator and sensors for detecting the state of the generator. The central control system is not affected by the magnetic field B. In fact, the unit A is disposed in line with the central axis of the well so that it is disposed in a neutral zone of the axial magnetic field B. The only passage between the upper chamber and the lower chamber is via twelve filter extractor columns T which form tunnels for the passage of atoms. However, at the lower end of each extractor column T, a special screen glass restricts the passage of larger atoms so as to retain oxygen atoms within the lower chamber whilst permitting hydrogen atoms to pass into the upper chamber. In some embodiments of the invention, it is possible for the starter control unit A to control the sealing of the screen so that, once the hydrogen and oxygen ions have separated into the upper and lower chambers, they are maintained apart. The upper chamber also includes four prismatic anodes W electrostatically connected to the water basin E for gathering free electrons from the upper chamber. To start the apparatus, the central basin E and its four expansion columns are filled with pure water. The upper and lower chambers are then pumped out in order to form a vacuum. The well is then sealed by the access unit . (Figure 5-1 ) . The first phase of operation then commences, and the water within the central basin and its four expansion columns E is ionised and dissociated by slow neutrons emitted from the neutron source of the central column S. (Figure 5-2). The slow neutrons cross the basin and the following reaction occurs: H20 ♦ n > 2H* ♦ 0* + 2e . Ionised water is shown in Figure 5-2. Once the pressure within the central basin and its four expansion columns reaches a certain level, and the water has been ionised, the hydrogen and oxygen ions, and the dissociated electrons are released from the four columns E through the pressure valves into the lower chamber of the well. The lower vacuum chamber has a volume of 20 times that of the water storage and injection unit E. The temperature of the medium of hydrogen and oxygen ions, and of the apparatus decreases by 20 times as expansion occurs. The second phase of the operation of the generator is shown in Figures 5-3, 5-4 and 6A in which the electrons which have been expelled from the water storage and injection unit E are collected on the four spherical anodes w of the starter control unit A, which is initially charged to attract the free electrons. The electrons are absorbed whilst the hydrogen and oxygen ions are electrostatically repelled into the rest of the lower chamber. The starter and control unit A is effectively neutralised by the avalanche of electrons emitted from the water storage and injection unit E. The medium of hydrogen ions and oxygen ions expands as it is released from the water storage and injection unit E into the lower chamber, since the volume of the lower chamber is 20 times that of the water storage and injection unit E. The temperature therefore decreases by a factor of 20 from the temperature of the dissociated water in the water storage and injection unit E. At this stage, the lower chamber contains all of the hydrogen and oxygen ions, and the upper chamber is still empty. There is therefore a pressure difference between the two chambers. The filter extractor columns T therefore permit hydrogen ions to pass therethrough into the upper chamber in order to equalise the pressures. Oxygen ions are unable to pass through the glass screen situated at the base of each column T. The upper vacuum chamber has a volume of 10 times that of the water storage and injection unit E. As the hydrogen ions pass into the upper chamber, expansion occurs to further cool the medium by 10 times. The pressure equilibrium is maintained since the oxygen ions are unable to pass into the upper chamber, and the hydrogen ions are maintained in the upper chamber by pressure (Figure 6B). In some instances, the extractor columns may include a sealing arrangement in order to maintain the hydrogen atoms and ions separate from the oxygen ions. The third phase of the operation of the generator involves the transfer of the positive electrostatic charge on the hydrogen ions and the oxygen ions onto the metallic cage of the well (Figures 5-5 and 6C) . The charges are to be collected on the condenser X. The hydrogen and oxygen ions transfer their positive charge onto the metallic cage of the well which is the first plate of the condenser X. There is then a difference of electric potential between the plates of the condenser X. Then the avalanche of electrons from the periphery of the metallic cage will neutralise the hydrogen and oxygen ions and convert them to atoms. The positive charges on the second condenser plate will pass on to the positive third plate of the condenser by the electrical conductor Q. This will occur both in the upper chamber and the lower chamber, as well as in the base condenser of the lower chamber. The first positive plate of the condenser on the base of the lower chamber transfers its electrostatic charge onto the positive spherical electrodes of the starter unit A (the neutralised leyder bottle) in order to electrically recharge the starter unit A. In the fourth phase of operation of the generator (Fig. 5-6 to 5-8 and 6E), the hydrogen atoms and oxygen atoms are re-ionised by the slow neutrons emitted from the neutron source core S: H + n > H* + e 0 + n > 0* + e* Electrons are emitted by the re-ionisation, and the electrons released in the lower chamber are collected on the spherical anode W and in the upper chamber on the prismatic anodes. In the fifth phase, the positive electrostatic charge on each of the hydrogen and oxygen ions are transferred to the inner surface of the well, in order to collect that charge on the condenser and to start the MHD effect. Electrostatic transfer of the positive charged ions to the inner walls of the upper and lower chambers takes place as a result of peripheral electrons within the gold inner walls of the well which are detached from the well's walls to neutralize the positive ions H* and 0*. A radial electric field E is formed within the chambers which is directed from the metallic walls of the vacuum chambers to the centre of the mass of positive hydrogen ions and oxygen ions. The electric field El in the upper chamber, and the electric field E2 in the lower chamber act instantly into each vertical plans in the form of a cross (Figure 2), in both the upper and the lower chamber. As charge collected on the condenser X from the third phase is carried away via the coils Y, the magnetic field B is caused to form axially through the well. This causes the positively charged ions to move in a circular motion and move to the outside of the well against the surface of the well. As a result of this, and the Hall effect on the electric field, the circular movement of the hydrogen and oxygen ions cause them to be moved onto the conical extractor nozzles of the condenser X by means of the agnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effect. The MHD effect is necessary in the upper and lower chambers to homogenize the atomic and ionic density of the two gas media in the upper and lower chambers. The hydrogen and oxygen ions are neutralised by their contact with the charge extractor nozzles (Figure 6H), but are repeatedly re-ionised by the neutrons which are continuously emitted by the neutron source. The electrons knocked from the hydrogen and oxygen atoms are repeatedly absorbed by the anodes . The fifth phase permits the charging, accumulation and storage of electrostatic charges on the plates of the condenser X. It is necessary that the source of neutrons is a source of monochromatic neutrons each having the same speed in terms kinetic energy. The kinetic energy must be of 13.61 eV. Such monochromatic neutrons can be obtained, by using a filter. In this case it is clear that the collision of the neutron with the atoms does not cause a temperature increase since all of the positive kinetic energy from the neutron is absorbed in the ionisation of the hydrogen and oxygen atoms. This therefore means that the generator will operate at low or ambient temperatures, for example at 25°C. In terms of modules, the upper chamber is of the dimensions 10 x 10 x 10 and the lower chamber is of the dimension 10 x 10 x 20. The module may be of any size, but normally between 0.5 cm and 0.5 m. The generator may also be used to de-pollute the atmosphere or water by electrolysis of the environment medium separating the pollutants, molecules and atoms by a special exterior unit which replaces the access unit H. The various energies of the generator are shown below: E, = energy of ions produced by the neutrons source, E 2 = the energy of the condenser, E, = the energy for the magnetic coils, E 4 = the electrical energy obtained from the apparatus, E, > E, > E, . E 4 . 1. The Energy of the Particles: Normal requirement: availability of a source of monochromatic neutrons, thus each of them having the same speed and the same cinetic energy: + 13.61 eV. 13. 61 eV - the energy of the first ionisation of the atom 0. 13.605 eV - the energy of the first ionisation of the atom H. 18 classic example: En = + • mv 2 = + 13.605 eV (by filter). 2 Ee= - 13.605 eV (for H * ) and -13.61 eV (for 0 * ). En + Ee = 13.605 eV + (-13.605 eV ) = 0 ; As the energy of the neutrons is only kinetic, it is exclusively positive. The binding energy of the electron in the hydrogen and oxygen atoms is negative. It is clear that the collision of the neutron with the binding electrons does not cause a temperature increase, because the physic system n + e " = 0 , where the energy of the electrostatic capture of the ions H+ and 0* +13.605 eV for H* and +13.61 eV for 0 + . THE QUANTITY OF PARTICLES/cm3. The molar volume 22.4 1., contains 6.602 x 10 21 particles. The number of Lodschmidt = 2.8 x lO" particles/cm J . All the particles must be identical and to a pressure p = 1 atm., and to a temperature T = 273° K. Example: the energy of the particles/cm l (hydrogen or oxygen ions) . 1 eV = 1.6 x 10" J ; 13.61 eV = 1.6 x 13.61 x 10-" J. NL x 13.61 = 1.6 x 2.8 x 1QJ2 x 13.61 x 1Q.„ = 60 . 97 j /cm J ; Thus an area of 10 x 20 cm 2 with a thickness of 1 cm. volume = 200 cm 1 200 x 60.97 j = 12,000 J/cm in atomic time of 10 l=i sec. = 12,000 10'" w/cm J = 12. 10 18 w/cm J in molecular time 10 "5 sec. = 12.10" w/cm J = 1,200 Mw/cm J , in 10 sec. = 12 Mw/cm J . The time of ionisation = the time of electrical charging of the condenser. Note: In the upper chamber and in the lower chamber the process of the formation of the H and 0, gases is not possible. A further embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 9 - 14. This further embodiment is a double electricity generator in which the generator according to the embodiment described above is modified by replacing the access unit H with a second generator, the second generator being six times larger than the first, as shown clearly in Figures 9 and 14. The starter control unit A permits the two generators to be electrically connected to each other, or de-connected from each other. The basic concept of the second generator is the same as in the first. However, the execution of the generator is somewhat different in that the volume of the second generator is six times greater than the first. As a result the upper chamber is six times larger, and the water storage and injection unit E is six times larger than that described in the first embodiment. The second generator includes five neutron source columns across the lower chamber, the upper chamber and the water storage unit, sixteen filter extractor columns T2 with 32 glass screens for separating the hydrogen from the oxygen, eight expulsion injection columns of ionised medium, twelve electron absorbers W4 of the kind found in a Leyder bottle type device, and one electron absorber grill unit W2. An electron absorber unit W5 replaces the access unit of the double electric generator. This embodiment is particularly applicable where there is a high electrical consumption, and at haval and aerospacial constructions.

Claims: CJα MS 1. An electricity generator including: a source of energetic neutrons, a fluid medium for intercepting energetic neutrons emitted by the source of energetic neutrons and for collecting at least part of their energy by ionisation of a portion of the fluid medium, an electrode for collecting charge from the ionised portion of the fluid medium, and means for applying a field to the ionised portion of the fluid medium for urging the ionised portion of the fluid towards the electrode. 2. An electricity generator according to claim 1 wherein the fluid medium is water. 3. An electricity generator according to claim 1 or claim 2 including a first chamber for holding the fluid medium. 4. An electricity generator according to any preceding claim including a fluid medium receptacle for holding the fluid medium prior to being released into the first chamber. 5. An electricity generator according to claim 4 wherein the fluid medium receptacle releases the fluid medium ionised by the source of energetic neutrons. 6. An electricity generator according to claims 4 or 5 wherein the fluid medium receptacle releases the fluid medium dissociated by the source of energetic neutrons. 7. An electricity generator according to any of claims 4, 5 or 6 wherein the fluid medium receptacle includes a release valve for releasing the fluid medium into the first chamber. 8. An electricity generator according to any of claims 4 to 7 wherein the fluid medium receptacle is a column. 9. An electricity generator according to any preceding claim including a second chamber for holding a part of the fluid medium. 10. An electricity generator according to claim 9 including a filtered passage between the first and second chambers which permit only hydrogen ions and atoms to pass therethrough into the second chamber. 11. An electricity generator according to claim 10 wherein the filtered passage includes a separation valve to separate the hydrogen ions and atoms in the second chamber from the oxygen ions and atoms in the first chamber. 12. An electricity generator according to any preceding claim wherein the neutron source includes a source of alpha particles and a hydrogen containing material whereby alpha particles entering the hydrogen containing material cause emission of neutrons. 13. An electricity generator according to any preceding claim wherein the source of energetic neutrons is in the form of a column. 14. An electricity generator according to any preceding claim wherein the electrode includes a first charge collection surface forming the inner wall of the first chamber. 15. An electricity generator according to claim 14 wherein the first charge collection surface forms the inner wall of the second chamber. 16. An electricity generator according to any preceding claim wherein the electrode includes a first supplementary electrode disposed in the first chamber. 17. An electricity generator according to any of claims 9 to 16 wherein the electrode includes a second supplementary electrode disposed in the second chamber. 18. An electricity generator according to claims 14 to 17 wherein the first and second charge collection surfaces are cathodes. 19. An electricity generator according to claims 16 to 18 wherein the first and second supplementary electrodes are anodes . 20. An electricity generator according to any preceding claim including condenser plates disposed around the electrodes for gathering charge collected by the electrodes. 21. An electricity according to any of claims 3 to 20 wherein the means for applying the field includes coils disposed within the wall of at least the first chamber for generating a field as current flows through the coils. 22. An electricity generator according to any preceding claim wherein the field applied to the fluid medium is an alternating field. 23. An electricity generator including a first generator and a second generator, each generator according to any preceding claim. 24. An electricity generator constructed and arranged substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: VISAN ADRIAN, VISAN, ADRIAN
Applicants: GODAR GEORGE WILLIAM, VISAN ADRIAN, GODAR, GEORGE, WILLIAM, VISAN, ADRIAN
Application year: 1995
Main classification: G21H1
IPC codes: G21H1