Abstract:
A novel electrolyzer utilizing direct conversion of heat to electrical energy and heat production by waste fuel combustion is disclosed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,789,048 Coffey, Jr., Ray S., Cox, Jacob D., Sep. 7, 2010 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM  
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    This invention relates to electrolyzers, specifically to such electrolyzers that power generators and internal combustion engines. 
         [0006]    2. Background of the Invention 
         [0007]    Electrolyzers can be employed to run internal combustion engines and associated electrical generators. U.S. Pat. No. 7,789,048 to Coffey and Cox (2010) discloses a method of producing energy from electrolyzer gases and returning the reformed water to the electrolyzer. Input of additional energy from the burning of waste fuel into the system was not addressed in this patent. Likewise, the recovery of heat energy and conversion into electrical energy to further power the electrolyzer was not considered. The invention disclosed herein incorporates both of these novel features. 
       OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
       [0008]    Accordingly, besides the objects and advantages of the electrolyzer described in my above patent, several objects and advantages of the present invention are: 
         [0009]    (a) to provide thermoelectric conversion of heat in the water after reformation as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,789,048; 
         [0010]    (b) to provide an additional source of heat energy by burning waste material to heat the water; 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    In accordance with the present invention a thermoelectric module to convert heat into electricity and a waste material burning unit to provide additional heat energy are attached to an electrolyzer such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,789,048. 
     
    
     
       DRAWING 
         [0012]    FIG. I is a side view of the apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. I Preferred Embodiment 
       [0013]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. I (side view). Electrolyzer enclosure  1  contains water with a 25% sodium hydroxide content whose top surface  2  is contained within. Stainless steel anode  3  is a hollow pipe immersed in the water bath and which conducts the released gas to the internal combustion engine of U.S. Pat. No. 7,789,048. Anode  3  passes through funnel  7  which facilitates collection of the gas. Anode  3  is equipped with apertures  5  to further aid in gas collection. Cathode  4  is also a hollow stainless steel pipe with apertures  6  and passes through funnel  8 . Cathode  4  conducts the released gas to the internal combustion engine of U.S. Pat. No. 7,789,048. Divider  24  separates the anode section of the electrolyzer  1  from the cathode section of electrolyzer  1 . 
         [0014]    Electrical energy flows from the exterior of anode  3  to the anode  10  of battery  9  by wire  12 . Electrical energy flows from the exterior of cathode  4  to the cathode  11  of battery  9  by wire  13 . 
         [0015]    Heating tank  14  receives the water reformed by the internal combustion engine in U.S. Pat. No. 7,789,048 via pipe  16 . The water in tank  14  has water surface  17 . The water in tank  14  is provided with additional heat energy by waste fuel combustor  18 . Heat energy in the water in tank  14  is converted to electrical energy by thermoelectric peltier junction module  19 . Electrical energy at anode  20  of the thermoelectric module flows to anode  10  of battery  9  via wire  22 . Electrical energy at cathode  21  of the thermoelectric module flows to cathode  11  of battery  9  via wire  23 . The water cooled by the thermoelectric process flows to electrolyzer  1  via pipe  15 .