Abstract:
An electrolytic cell and chamber for converting electric power into heat. The cell includes a non-conductive housing and a conductive end member sealingly positioned in and extending from each open end of the housing. The end members have spaced apart proximal end surfaces to define, in cooperation with said housing, a chamber. Catalytic particles comprising an admixture of (a) palladium or palladium black particles, (b) inert non-conductive particles and optionally (c) boron particles are closely packed into said chamber and against each proximal end. A longitudinal gas passage extends through each end member in gas communication with the chamber. Each gas passage is sealably closeable, one gas passage being connectable to a source of pressurized hydrogen (H 2 ) or deuterium (D 2 ) gas deliverable under pressure into the chamber. A distal end of each end member is connected to an electric power source whereby, when electric current flows through the end members and across the chamber which is filled with said catalytic particles and hydrogen or deuterium gas, heat is produced within the chamber for external use.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Not applicable  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not applicable  
         INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC  
         [0003]    Not applicable  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0005]    This invention relates generally to energy conversion units producing heat from electrical current and more particularly to an electrolytic cell utilizing a gaseous electrolyte within a sealed chamber filled with packed palladium catalytic particles to produce heat by passing an electric current therethrough.  
           [0006]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0007]    The utility of converting electric current into heat for external use is obvious and well known. Common electrolytic cells utilizing a water-based electrolyte wherein an electric current passes through the liquid electrolyte flowing through or held within the electrolytic cell to produce the chemical breakdown of water into hydrogen and oxygen and the production of heat as a byproduct is also well known.  
           [0008]    The present invention provides a form of electrolytic cell utilizing a gaseous electrolyte in the form of hydrogen or deuterium gas and catalytic particles comprising active palladium particles combined with inert non-conductive particles such as diatomaceous earth or ceramic particles uniformly blended into an admixture with the palladium particles. The catalytic particle mixture is chambered within a non-conductive housing and compacted and held within the housing by conductive end members which are sealingly engaged within the preferably cylindrically configured non-conductive housing. By passing electrical current through the chamber containing the catalytic particles and hydrogen or deuterium gas, heat is produced for external use.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    This invention is directed to an electrolytic cell for converting electric power into heat comprising a non-conductive housing and a conductive end member sealingly positioned in and extending from each open end of the housing. The end members have spaced apart proximal ends to define, in cooperation with said housing, a chamber. Catalytic particles comprising an admixture of palladium particles and inert non-conductive particles are closely packed into the chamber and against each proximal end. A longitudinal gas passage extends through each end member in gas communication with the chamber. Each gas passage is sealably closeable, one gas passage being connectable to a source of pressurized deuterium gas deliverable under pressure into the chamber to charge the catalytic particles. A distal end of each end member is connected to an electric power source whereby, when electric current flows through the end members and across the chamber which is filled with said catalytic particles and hydrogen or deuterium gas, heat is produced within the chamber for use external of the housing.  
           [0010]    It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a heat producing gaseous electrolyte-spaced electrolytic cell.  
           [0011]    It is yet another object of this invention is to produce a hydrogen or deuterium gas electrolyte activated electrolytic cell for producing heat for external use.  
           [0012]    In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a section view through an electrolytic cell in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a graphic data display depicting external cell surface temperature versus electrical power input for the cell shown in FIG. 1 prior to and after charging with a gaseous electrolyte  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a graphic data display for a family of electrolytic cells as shown in FIG. 1 showing the relationship between external surface temperature and power input for the uncharged and uncharged cell. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]    Referring now to FIG. 1, an electrolytic cell in accordance with the present invention is there shown generally at numeral  10 . This cell  10  includes a non-conductive cylindrical housing shown generally at numeral  12  and open at each end thereof. This housing  12  is formed of vitreous lab-quality glass having a wall thickness of 2 mm, an outside diameter of 11 mm, and a length of 3 cm, producing a chamber volume of 7.63 cm 3 .  
         [0017]    Conductive (preferably brass) end members  14  and  16  are fitted into each end of the housing  12  and are sealably engaged against the inside diameter of the tubular housing  12  by elastomeric O-rings  54 . End plates  18  and  20  are positioned against the outer ends of each of the end members  14  and  16 , respectively, and are held substantially parallel one to another and spaced apart by elongated threaded fasteners  22  which are spaced apart in a triangular or rectangular pattern as desired.  
         [0018]    Conductive brass adaptors  36  and  38  are fitted into threaded engagement with mating apertures in each end of each end member  14  and  16 , respectively. These adaptors  36  and  38  have a longitudinally extending aperture therethrough into which conductive tubular extensions  44  and  46  are sealably engaged and longitudinally extending therefrom as shown in FIG. 1. Each of the end members  14  and  16  further include a longitudinally extending passageway  26  and  28 , respectively, which are each in fluid communication with the extension tubes  44  and  46 , respectively.  
         [0019]    Closely packed catalytic particles  34  are positioned between the proximal end faces of each of the end members  14  and  16 . Details of the composition of these catalytic particles  34  and the method of compressing them are discussed herebelow.  
         [0020]    A d.c. voltage source is applied during operation of the cell  10  between each of the conductive tubular extensions  44  and  46 . The chamber which contains the catalytic particles  34  may be completely closed to atmosphere by valves  48  and  50  during calibration and operation of the cell  10  or may be opened to introduce the hydrogen or deuterium gas during charging of the cell  10 . The charging process will be described more fully herebelow.  
         [0021]    A thermocouple  56  is placed directly against the outer surface of the non-conductive housing  12  and in close proximity to the center of the catalytic particles  34 . A temperature read out  58  is provided which will read the surface temperature of the housing  12 .  
         [0022]    A layer of insulation  60 , although now not preferred, is wrapped around the housing  12  and the exposed outer surfaces of each of the end members  14  and  16  up to each of the end plates  18  and  20  as shown. This insulation  60  is held in place by at least one wrap of non-conductive tape  62  such as duct tape and is provided for more accurate and consistent temperature readings.  
       Conductive Particles  
       [0023]    The catalytic particles  34  are preferably formed from palladium crystals or palladium black as pure particle forms of palladium. Mixed uniformly with the palladium particles is either a powder form of diatomaceous earth or powdered ceramic material which increases electrical resistance.  
         [0024]    Pd/DE Mixture  
         [0025]    In preparing the palladium/diatomaceous earth (DE) form of the catalytic particles 2.5 grams of DE were placed in a clean crucible and heated to 800° c. A solution of Pd, Cl 2 /Acetone was mixed and stirred with the DE to form a paste which was dried in a Bell jar over CaCl 2 . This process of applying heat and stirring continued until a dry red-colored brick was obtained. The dried brick was then screened to dry powder having a uniform size of approximately 0.25 mm. Heat was then applied at 700° C. for approximately 24 hours. Thereafter, the mixture was placed in a hydrogen atmosphere furnace for approximately four hours at 320° C. The resultant particles were flushed with N 2  after cooling, after which the mixture was weighed. The above process was repeated until a weight of 12 grams was achieved. The mixture was then ground and screened through a 0.25 mm mesh screen.  
         [0026]    Pd Black/Ceramic Mixture  
         [0027]    Palladium black powder and a ceramic powder were mixed together with distilled water to make a paste. Mixing continues to eliminate all stratification of the two substances. Utilizing a vacuum pump and a suction device, the paste was suctioned until it formed a fine black powder. This process took approximately three hours depending on the capacity of the vacuum pump. This powder is describable as being delatency, i.e. one which, under stress, produces a mixture appearing as a solid; when the stress is relieved, it has a slight appearance of that of a liquid.  
       Chamber Loading  
       [0028]    Approximately 1 cc of one of the above-described catalytic particle mixture was loaded into the chamber formed between the proximate opposing faces  30  and  32  of each of the conductive end members  14  and  16  within the cylindrical housing  12 . The catalytic particles  34  were placed within the chamber in several stages or layers totaling more than one and preferably five to ten layers. A small quantity (approximately ⅕ of the total of the catalytic particles) was placed into the chamber with the cylindrical housing  12  in an upright orientation and only one of the end members  14  or  16  in place. The conductive particles were tamped with a 1 kg load for approximately 2-5 minutes after each layer of the conductive particles were placed within the chamber. The total length of the chamber was approximately 10 mm.  
         [0029]    After both end members  14  and  16  were in position and the end plates  18  and  20  held as shown in FIG. 1, slight tightening of the elongated threaded fasteners  22  at  24  was effected. This further compressed the conductive particles  34  and secured the end members  14  and  16  in proper positioning within the housing  12 . A resistance of in the range of 10-150 ohms was targeted.  
         [0030]    To insure a sealed chamber, approximately 100 p.s.i. of either hydrogen (H 2 ) or deuterium (D 2 ) gas was introduced into one of the tubular extensions  46  through valve  50  as shown by the arrow, while the other valve  48  was closed. The pressurized hydrogen or deuterium gas within the chamber was allowed to sit in the pressurized condition for approximately twenty-four hours.  
         [0031]    Prior to pressurization or charging of the cell  10 , a resistance curve between the conductive tubular extensions  44  and  46  was taken. A d.c. voltage was applied across these conductive tubular extensions  44  and  46  at atmospheric conditions to obtain a calibration curve of the conductive particles prior to hydrogen or deuterium charging. Table I herebelow shows a typical uncharged palladium/diatomaceous earth calibration data set showing the relationship between power input (watts in) and the surface temperature measured at  56  on the outer surface of the housing  12 .  
                                           TABLE I                           Uncharged Pd-Diatomaceous Earth Cell                P (watts in)   T° C.                            .0   17           0.8   38           4.3   71           6.7   85           20.0   160                      
 
         [0032]    Table II shows the calibration data set for another palladium/diatomaceous earth cell and a performance data set in terms of voltage, current, resistant temperature and power input of the charged cell in operation after it had been charged with pressurized deuterium gas overnight. Note that the cell is operated with deuterium or hydrogen gas within the chamber at atmospheric pressure rather than at the charging pressure of 100 p.s.i.  
                                                                                                                             TABLE II                           Pd-DE Cell                Time   V   I   R   Temp   Watts                        Uncharged                1520   5.1   0.071   72   Ω    36.2° C.   0.36           1530   5.1   0.095   54   Ω    36.2° C.   0.48           1540   5.1   0.114   45   Ω    38.7° C.   0.58           1550   5.1   0.122   42   Ω    39.6° C.   0.60           1600   15.0   0.127   40   Ω    40.3° C.   0.60           1610   15.0   0.337   44.5   Ω    94.5° C.   5.00           1617   15.0   0.295   50   Ω    96.5° C.   4.40           1620   15.0   0.283   53   Ω    98.5° C.   4.20            Charged Overnight                0915   6.0   1.120   5.3   Ω   132.6° C.   6.7           0925   6.0   10.84   5.5   Ω   132.6° C.   6.5           0945   6.0   1.056   5.7   Ω     134° C.   6.4           0950   6.8   1.174   5.7   Ω   —   8.0           1005   6.8   1.136   5.9   Ω   150.6° C.   7.8           1030   7.8   1.270   6.1   Ω   155.3° C.   9.9           1040   7.8   1.230   6.0   Ω   175.4° C.   9.6           1048   8.3   1.270   6.5   Ω     184° C.   10.5           1115   8.8   1.297   6.7   Ω     200° C.   11.4           1125   8.8   1.280   6.8   Ω     205° C.   11.3           1150   9.3   1.350   6.9   Ω     218° C.   12.5           1203   10.0   1.350   7.3   Ω     227° C.   13.4           1205   10.5   1.350   7.7   Ω     230° C.   14.1           1207   10.8   1.380   7.8   Ω     251° C.   15.0           1230   12.2   1.380   8.8   Ω     259° C.   16.7           1245   16.9   1.370   12.3   Ω     306° C.   23.1                      
 
         [0033]    Similar performance data of a charged palladium/ceramic cell is shown in Table III herebelow. Note that the cell was shut down for approximately two days and then restarted with the data continuing in continuous uninterrupted fashion.  
                                                                                                                           TABLE III                                   Time   V   I   R   Temp   Watts                                    Charged Pd - Ceramic Cell                1255   8.70   0.65   13.3 Ω    132.2° C.   5.6               1410   3.00   1.94   1.5 Ω   132.2° C.   5.8           1420   3.05   1.94   1.3 Ω   137.7° C.   7.0           1454   3.00   2.30   1.3 Ω     149° C.   6.9           1500   3.40   2.31   1.5 Ω   156.2° C.   7.8           1527   3.00   2.30   1.3 Ω     190° C.   6.9           1540   2.46   2.61   0.9 Ω     144° C.   6.4           1615   5.65   2.61   2.0 Ω     195° C.   15.0           1625   5.34   2.61   2.0 Ω     210° C.   13.0           1630   5.09   2.61   1.9 Ω   215.4° C.   13.0           1640   5.16   2.61   1.9 Ω     207° C.   13.0            Shut Cell Down - Restarted 2 Days Later                0930   14.6   0.325   45.1 Ω    temp. ↑   5.1   w           0950   9.93   0.71   14.0 Ω    135.5° C.   7.0           1000   9.89   0.77   12.8 Ω      150° C.   7.6           1005   9.86   0.91   10.8 Ω      150° C.   8.8           1015   4.33   1.97   2.2 Ω   162.0° C.   8.7           1040   4.48   1.96   2.2 Ω     170° C.   8.7           1100   4.61   1.96   2.3 Ω   172.6° C.   9.0           1120   4.76   1.95   2.4 Ω   173.5° C.   9.2           1140   4.98   1.95   2.5 Ω     180° C.   9.7           1210   5.06   1.94   2.6 Ω   184.8° C.   9.8           1230   5.26   1.94   2.7 Ω   183.9° C.   10.2                      
 
         [0034]    Diatomaceous Earth-Boron-Palladium Mixture  
         [0035]    A mixture of 1.9 grams of diatomaceous earth in a form as previously described, in combination with 0.1 grams of elemental boron in granulated form is added to the diatomaceous earth before the addition of 6.8 grams of palladium chloride. The boron powder is added to facilitate operation of the cell and should have a particle size in the range of that previously described with respect to the diatomaceous earth.  
         [0036]    In testing this cell with boron added, additional thermocouple readings were taken as seen in FIG. 1 at  56   a  and  56   b . Thermocouple  56   a  is closer to the anode  46  while temperature reading at thermocouple  56   b  is taken closer to the cathode  44 .  
         [0037]    The calibration and testing of this cell is shown in Table IV herebelow. Four temperature readings are there shown wherein temperature A reflects the temperature taken at  56 , temperature B is taken at thermocouple  56   b , temperature C is taken at thermocouple  56   a  and temperature D represents an average of the three readings. although previous testing included a layers of insulation  60  and  62 , the only insulation covering the three thermocouples  56 ,  56   a  and  56   b  was a layer of elastomeric bonding agent which covered and was adhered to only a small portion of the area of the cylindrical housing  12  covering the thermocouples.  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   TABLE IV                       1.9 g DE/0.1 g Boron/6.8 g Palladium       Initial Starting Resistance - 90.7 ohms                   UNCHARGED AT ATMOSPHERE                R   Temperature ° C.                Time   V   I   (Ohms)   A   B   C   D   Watts               1040   0.39   2.829   0.14   44.9   45.1   42.0   44.3   1.10       1115   0.51   4.07   0.12               57.2   2.07       1130   0.50   5.12   0.11               69.1   3.02       1300   0.66   6.16   0.11               82.9   4.06       1400   0.68   7.44   0.09               95.4   5.06       1430   0.76   8.26   0.09               109.0   6.28                        Temperature ° C.                Time   V   I   R   A   B   C   D   Watts                    CHARGED            0850   1.74   2.590   0.67   94.6   97.3   86.2   92.7   4.51       0910   1.72   2.590   0.66   95.1   97.0   86.6   92.9   4.45       0940   1.71   2.591   0.66   94.7   97.5   87.0   93.1   4.43       1000   1.71   2.591   0.66   95.3   97.1   86.8   93.1   4.43       1115   1.72   2.594   0.66   97.6   99.7   89.4   95.6   4.46       1335   1.77   2.599   0.68   100.7   101.9   92.5   98.3   4.60       1400   1.77   2.600   0.68   101.1   102.6   93.4   99.0   4.60       1505   1.76   2.599   0.68   98.3   100.2   90.0   96.2   4.57       1600   1.75   2.596   0.67   97.7   99.6   89.4   95.6   4.54       1645   1.73   2.596   0.67   97.7   100.2   89.8   95.9   4.49            OVERNIGHT BREAK            0845   1.73   2.585   0.67   96.4   98.1   87.1   93.9   4.00       0920   1.72   2.586   0.66   97.5   99.5   88.6   95.2   4.45       1000   1.71   2.588   0.66   98.3   100.9   90.1   96.4   4.42       1020   1.71   2.591   0.66   99.3   101.2   90.6   97.0   4.43       1040   1.70   2.591   0.65   99.3   101.3   90.5   97.0   4.41       1115   1.74   2.593   0.67   100.5   102.8   92.6   98.6   4.51       1120   1.74   2.593   0.67   101.3   103.4   92.9   99.2   4.51       1125   1.73   2.594   0.67   101.2   103.9   93.1   99.4   4.49       1135   1.82   2.595   0.70   103.3   105.1   94.5   100.9   4.72       1145   1.81   2.595   0.70   103.7   106.1   95.3   101.7   4.70       1150   1.81   2.555   0.70   104.5   106.6   95.6   102.2   4.70       1220   1.80   2.597   0.69   104.6   106.8   95.8   102.4   4.67       1255   1.80   2.597   0.69   105.3   107.4   95.9   102.9   4.67       1415   1.81   2.598   0.70   106.3   108.7   96.6   103.9   4.70       1520   1.83   2.596   0.70   105.3   107.9   95.0   102.7   4.75       1545   1.85   2.595   0.71   105.3   108.2   95.4   103.0   4.80       1610   1.86   2.595   0.71   106.0   108.3   95.4   103.2   4.80       0845   1.94   2.589   0.75   106.2   109.5   99.9   103.5   5.02       1035   1.99   2.591   0.77   106.7   109.8   96.9   104.5   5.16       1050   2.13   2.597   0.82   110.0   113.2   100.3   107.8   5.53       1315   2.13   2.613   0.81   114.1   117.7   103.0   111.6   5.56       1440   2.21   2.613   0.84   114.9   118.8   104.1   112.6   5.77       1500   2.21   2.613   0.84   116.3   119.6   104.6   113.5   5.77       1535   2.24   2.612   0.86   116.6   120.0   104.6   113.7   5.85                  
 
         [0038]    During each overnight break, operation of the cell continued at a reduced power input level sufficient to maintain the average temperature at approximately 60° C. It is noted that aluminum in place of boron was also tested but produced less favorable results leading to the conclusion that other periodic table group IIIA family members, i.e. gallium (Ga), indium (In) and thallium (Tl) may be equivalent.  
         [0039]    Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, a performance curve of the uncharged and charged cells with the catalytic particles contained therein is there shown. Note that there is a family of uncharged cell performance curves representing a variability in the overall resistance of the conductive particles, depending upon the degree of compaction and whether a ceramic or a diatomaceous earth non-conductive mixture was added to the palladium or palladium black particles. Note that the uncharged calibration of the boron cell shown in Table IV is compatible with calibration of the other cells reported hereinabove.  
         [0040]    While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be afforded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent apparatus and articles.