Patent Publication Number: US-2011061376-A1

Title: Energy conversion assemblies and associated methods of use and manufacture

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     The present application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/304,403, filed Feb. 13, 2010 and titled FULL SPECTRUM ENERGY AND RESOURCE INDEPENDENCE. The present application is a continuation-in-part of each of the following applications: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/707,651, filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titled ELECTROLYTIC CELL AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF; PCT Application No. PCT/US10/24497, filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titled ELECTROLYTIC CELL AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/707,653, filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING NUCLEATION DURING ELECTROLYSIS; PCT Application No. PCT/US10/24498, filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING NUCLEATION DURING ELECTROLYSIS; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/707,656, filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GAS CAPTURE DURING ELECTROLYSIS; and PCT Application No. PCT/US10/24499, filed Feb. 17, 2010 and titled APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING NUCLEATION DURING ELECTROLYSIS; each of which claims priority to and the benefit of the following applications: U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/153,253, filed Feb. 17, 2009 and titled FULL SPECTRUM ENERGY; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/237,476, filed Aug. 27, 2009 and titled ELECTROLYZER AND ENERGY INDEPENDENCE TECHNOLOGIES; U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/304,403, filed Feb. 13, 2010 and titled FULL SPECTRUM ENERGY AND RESOURCE INDEPENDENCE. Each of these applications is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to improved conversion of renewable forces that produce cyclic rectilinear or rotary motion into electricity and/or hydrogen; distribution of electricity and/or hydrogen substantially by existing electrical and pipeline networks; dense storage of fuel fluids such as hydrogen and methane for transportation and cogeneration applications; improved production of electricity by rotary and/or rectilinear generation techniques; and production and/or recovery of potable heated water for homemaking and commercial purposes of air conditioning, washing, and cooking. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The Industrial Revolution has been fueled with petrocarbons such as coal, oil and natural gas. From the time of earliest records to the middle 1600&#39;s, human population grew at a very slow rate. Since about 1700, startling increases in human population have closely followed the Industrial Revolution&#39;s exploitation of petrocarbons, metallic ores, water, and air. The fossil equivalent of some 180 million barrels of oil are burned each day to support various human pursuits of the good life. At the beginning of the 21st century, the human population on earth will exceed six billion persons which doubles the 1960 population. 
     For millions of years, fossil deposits provided safe and natural storage of carbon and radioactive elements. Burning these fossil deposits releases dangerous substances into the environment. Global combustion of 2,800 million tons of coal each year releases about 10,200 million tons of carbon dioxide, 8,960 tons of thorium and 3,640 tons of uranium to the air, water, and food chain. 
     Burning the fossil equivalent of 180 million barrels of oil per day has polluted the global atmosphere with carbon dioxide and other objectionable emissions. The present concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is about 25 to 30% greater than at any time in the last 160,000 years. This increased presence of carbon dioxide traps solar energy in the atmosphere. Because more energy is trapped in the atmosphere, there is more evaporation of the oceans. This results in more extreme weather-related events such as floods, hurricanes, and tornados. Combustion of fossil fuels for generation of electricity exceeds all other sources of carbon-dioxide pollution. 
     The market for electricity exceeds seven hundred billion dollars annually and is expected to reach one trillion dollars early in the 21st century. Generation of sufficient electricity to meet present requirements along with growing transportation needs for hydrogen and electric vehicles must utilize renewable resources in order to prevent catastrophic degradation of the environment by emissions from fossil-fuel combustion. 
     Cogeneration using an opposed-piston stratified-charge engine with a linear generator between the pistons is needed to greatly simplify the apparatus needed for more than doubling energy conversion efficiency compared to central power plant production of electricity. Similarly a linear generator attached to a harmonic Stirling, Schmidt, or Ericsson cycle engine would greatly simplify cogeneration. But an improved linear generator is needed to overcome the 5% to 20% loss of efficiency that known linear generators impose compared to rotary generators. 
     Ocean waves represent a vast but untapped source of dependable energy. Waves are developed by winds that impart cyclic elevations to the surface of the ocean. Solar energy powers the winds and thus the waves that are common to all oceans and other open surfaces of water. Earth&#39;s oceans provide wave power of 10 to 80 kilowatts per meter of wave height. Most of the populated areas of the continents are relatively near coastal areas with ocean waves that average at least one meter in height. 
     Numerous attempts to harness wind, falling water, tides, and ocean waves have been made and include a variety of machines designed to be powered by waves for the purpose of making electricity. The prior art includes Hydropiezoelectric Devices; Mechanical Rockers such as the Salter Duck; Linear Generators driven by floats and hinges; Water Column Air Turbine Generators; and the Gulf Stream Water Wheel. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,843,249; 4,034,231; 4,048,512; 4,137,005; 4,357,543; 4,625,124; and 5,443,361 illustrate additional difficulties and complications involved with approaches of the prior art. Common problems that such systems present include: 
     1. Expensive materials. The expense of the materials needed and manufacturing requirements generally far exceeds the cost of equal capacity wind machines that could be located on more protected land sites. 
     2. Corrosion of components. Virtually all of the materials that have been developed for land applications provide disappointing performance in ocean atmospheres. Steel rusts and spalls; aluminum and magnesium alloys develop intergranular corrosion; titanium and stainless alloys are tarnished and fail in oxidation-reduction cells that are generated by ocean atmospheres; steel reinforced concrete swells and spalls. 
     3. Bio-fouling. Marine life forms such as barnacles and algae grow on ocean structures and have presented difficult if not impossible impedances to machine operation. 
     4. Storm damage. Even if machines are temporarily able to withstand deterioration due to corrosion and bio-fouling, ocean storms present violent wind and wave forces that far exceed average conditions and often damage or blow away equipment. 
     Another aspect of the problem with such prior art efforts has been the characteristic of requiring complicated and expensive components which waste energy from smaller and larger waves. To overcome this, other prior art systems employ sophisticated highly tuned systems that are adapted to specific wave conditions. Corollaries of these problems are unacceptable down times, extensive maintenance requirements, high operating expenses, and unacceptable rate of return on investment. 
     Common difficulties with past approaches involve the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources. A related problem is the great cost and difficulty of storing surplus electricity from existing and renewable electricity generation systems. Past approaches using chemical batteries, flywheels, capacitors, and inductors fail to provide cost-effective storage of surplus energy for future usage. 
     SUMMARY 
     An object of the present disclosure is to overcome the problems noted above. In accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, this objective is accomplished by providing a process for manufacturing an efficient, low-maintenance, linear generator from very low cost materials. 
     An object of the disclosure is to improve existing natural gas storage and distribution systems by incorporation of occasional addition of hydrogen produced from surplus electricity and/or other forms of surplus energy and placement of selective separation systems for removal of hydrogen from other ingredients typically conveyed by such natural gas systems. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system that utilizes charged particles to force charged particles in a separate circuit to flow and accomplish useful work. 
     An object of the present disclosure is to convert forces exerted at a first frequency to electrical energy with current at a frequency that is a multiple of the frequency of the forces. 
     Another object of the present disclosure is to manufacture the components of the disclosure at a high rate from very low cost materials with minimum energy requirements. 
     Another object of the present disclosure is to provide wave generators that overcome corrosion and biofouling in ocean and lake atmospheres. 
     Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system that is adaptive to application circumstances such as wave conditions or engine operation for the purpose of producing electricity at a high efficiency. 
     An object of the present disclosure is to provide a system that utilizes ingredients that are derived from the surroundings such as ozone from water and chlorine from salt water in which such ingredients are utilized to control biofouling. 
     Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a system that utilizes gases such as hydrogen that are derived from the atmosphere in which the invention is applied to control the buoyancy of components of the invention. 
     Another object of the present disclosure is to distribute hydrogen in existing underground natural gas conduits and to selectively filter hydrogen from mixtures at desired locations. 
     Another object of the present disclosure is to distribute electricity on existing electricity distribution grids from given producers to contract buyers at desired locations. 
     Another object of the present disclosure is to store hydrogen and methane at elevated pressure for purposes of recovering stored pressure energy along with stored chemical energy. 
     Another object of the present disclosure is to provide for rapid startup and generation of electricity using pressure and chemical storage of hydrogen and methane. 
     Another object of the disclosure is to provide a system for achieving a sustainable economy in which energy users are provided with convenient, safe, and cost-effective ways to improve the efficiency of mining, farming, home-making, manufacturing, and transportation operations. 
     An object of the disclosure is to provide improved methods and apparatus for cogeneration purposes. 
     An object of the disclosure is to provide improved methods and apparatus for agricultural industries. 
     An object of the disclosure is to provide improved methods and apparatus for production of chemicals and polymers. 
     An object of the disclosure is to provide improved methods and apparatus for production of clean energy in transportation and electricity generation applications. 
     These and other objects of the present disclosure will become more apparent during the course of the following detailed description and appended claims. 
     The disclosure may be best understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein an illustrative embodiment is shown. 
     This energy conversion regime provides a synergistic system for making the best utilization and payback from the existing large investment that Civilization has made in electricity grids and pipeline networks by harnessing various renewable energy sources such as wave, wind, hydro, and tidal energy. In application, this regime will enable the Industrial Revolution to be evolved from a non-sustainable revolution into a sustainable economic reformation that facilitates realization of the principle of wealth addition. This regime of energy conversion options provides opportunities to achieve wealth expansion in the farming, manufacturing, commerce, transportation, and home making activities of Civilization by providing energy intensive goods from renewable energy sources. 
     While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and/or shown in the accompanying drawings, it is understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad disclosure in embodiments including: electric lighting, microwave cooking, microwave communications, electric motor drives, induction heating, electromagnet drives, electrodialysis, electro-separation of metals from ores, electro-separation of hydrogen from water, and electric-arc devices, and that this disclosure is not limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other modifications should occur to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional side view of a linear generator assembly configured in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure for converting wave energy into electricity. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of components of the linear generator assembly of  FIG. 1  configured in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of additional components of the linear generator assembly of  FIG. 1  configured in accordance with further embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of a rotary generator assembly configured in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure for converting energy in moving water into electricity. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of components of the rotary generator assembly of  FIG. 4  configured in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic end view of the rotary generator assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic side view of a rotary generator assembly configured in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure. 
         8  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the disclosure for converting a renewable energy source, such as water energy into electrical energy, electrical energy into chemical energy, and convenient delivery of hydrogen and or oxygen to a vehicle and other energy applications. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic view of a generator assembly configured in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional side partial view of a filter assembly configured in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic diagram of a selective outcome filter assembly configured in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 14  is a process flow diagram of a method configured in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present application incorporates by reference in its entirety the subject matter of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/626,021, filed Nov. 9, 2004 and titled MULTIFUEL STORAGE, METERING AND IGNITION SYSTEM (Attorney Docket No. 69545-8013US). The present application incorporates by reference in their entirety the subject matter of each of the following U.S. patent applications, filed concurrently herewith on Aug. 16, 2010 and titled: METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR DETECTION OF PROPERTIES OF FLUID CONVEYANCE SYSTEMS (Attorney Docket No. 69545-8003US); COMPREHENSIVE COST MODELING OF AUTOGENOUS SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ENERGY, MATERIAL RESOURCES AND NUTRIENT REGIMES (Attorney Docket No. 69545-8025US); ELECTROLYTIC CELL AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF (Attorney Docket No. 69545-8026US); SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INTEGRATED PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY, MATERIALS RESOURCES, AND NUTRIENT REGIMES (Attorney Docket No. 69545-8040US); SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INTEGRATED FULL SPECTRUM PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY (Attorney Docket No. 69545-8041US); SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INTEGRATED FULL SPECTRUM PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE MATERIAL RESOURCES (Attorney Docket No. 69545-8042US); METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INCREASING THE EFFICIENCY OF SUPPLEMENTED OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION (SOTEC) (Attorney Docket No. 69545-8044US); GAS HYDRATE CONVERSION SYSTEM FOR HARVESTING HYDROCARBON HYDRATE DEPOSITS (Attorney Docket No. 69545-8045US); APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR STORING AND/OR FILTERING A SUBSTANCE (Attorney Docket No. 69545-8046US); ENERGY SYSTEM FOR DWELLING SUPPORT (Attorney Docket No. 69545-8047US); and INTERNALLY REINFORCED STRUCTURAL COMPOSITES AND ASSOCIATED METHODS OF MANUFACTURING (69545-8049US). 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional side view of an energy conversion system or generator assembly  2  configured in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure for converting wave energy, or other forms of water energy or movement in water, into electricity.  FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of components of the linear generator assembly of  FIG. 1  configured in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2  together, in certain embodiments wave energy is used to supply the cyclic rectilinear force required to drive linear generator assembly  2 . As shown in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a motion driver or flotation unit  4  moves up and down as it rides waves and supplies a lifting force on attached cable  6  which is sealed by fitting  8  to bellows  10  which is preferably made of EPDM rubber. The lower portion of bellows  10  is sealed to a bulkhead  12  which is also sealed to a housing or outer tube  14 . The housing or outer tube  14  at least partially defines a cavity therein. At the middle section of outer tube  14 , a bulkhead assembly  16  is sealed to the outer tube  14 . This provides a hermetic seal of the contents of outer tube  14  but allows for relative reciprocating motion between the contents of the outer tube  14 . For example, a first generator assembly or stationary tube  20  can remain generally stationary relative to the outer tube  14 , and a second generator assembly or generator tube  18  can move relative to the first stationary tube  20 . As explained in detail below, the stationary tube  20  and the generator tube  18  each includes multiple spaced apart conductors or metallic rings to generator electricity as the generator tube  18  moves relative to the stationary tube  20 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, a rod  9  couples the generator tube  18  to the cable  6 . In certain embodiments, the rod  9  can be a polished rod  9  made from a low-cost stainless alloy such as type 410 SS. Moreover, the generator tube assembly  18  moves up and down (with respect to stationery tube  20 ) and can be made of a suitable material such as polypropylene, linear low-density polyethylene, or very low-density polyethylene by extrusion or rotational molding techniques in the tubular shape shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . On the inside of tube  18  are assembled spaced metallic bands  22  of a suitable metal such as copper, silver, or aluminum. These bands are connected to charging lead  24  which is used to impart a charge such as a high voltage accumulation of electrons on bands  22  by connecting  24  to a suitable high voltage source at  26  while engaged through the socket shown to charging lead  24 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the schematic circuit diagrams of a transformer  56 , a full-wave rectifier bridge  58 , and an inverter  121  are provided to teach the principles of operation of certain features of the assembly  2 . Persons of ordinary skill in the art of energy conversion will understand that these components can be protected from environmental degradation, and if needed provided within water-tight enclosures in actual operation. Moreover, charging lead  24  may be occasionally connected through contactor  26  to a suitable source such as transformer  56  or rectifier assembly  58  for replenishing zones  22  with additional electrons as needed to restore gradual loss of charge. Negative charge conditions  23  and  25  are shown in  FIG. 2 . Embodiments of the disclosure can be practiced by operating on a repulsive-force basis with a surplus of negative or positive charges, or by operating on an attractive-force basis by charging rings such as  23  and  25  with oppositely charged particles. In certain embodiments, it may be advantageous to operate zones  50 , the primary winding of  56 , along with zones  52  with the same charge that zones  22  receive and to also replenish this charge periodically by connection to the output of transformer  56  or rectifier assembly  58  for purposes of maintaining a high current magnitude in the primary of  56 . 
     Depending upon the size of the embodiment needed, it may be preferred to bond an interference-fit cylindrical tube or dielectric spacers  66  within each ring  22  for the purpose of maintaining dimensional stability in operation. In smaller applications where waves up to 1 meter in height are available it may be preferred to use reinforcements  66 . In waters where waves greater than about 1 meter are available, it may be preferred to reinforce generator tube  18  with a structural tube which is not shown but which serves as an elongated form of dielectric spacers  66  with sufficient wall thickness to provide the desired reinforcement and dimensional stability in all modes of operation. Similarly, in certain embodiments it is preferred to reinforce each ring  50  and  52  with a high-strength, oriented carbon, glass, or polyolefin tape  68  for purposes of maintaining dimensional stability. In operation of smaller embodiments, stationary tube  20  may be rigidized by internal pressure which preferably approaches that of the surrounding water. As discussed in detail below, an electrolyzer assembly  120  integral with the assembly  2  can pressurize the stationary tube  20   
     The generator tube assembly  18  is moved upward by ascending wave motion and downward by gravitational force when float  4  descends into a passing wave trough. Charged conductors or rings  22  produce an electrostatic field that repels like charges in circumferential conductors or rings  50 ,  52 , which are spaced apart from one another and insulated by dielectric tube  20 . Conductors  50  and  52  may be connected in any desired way to produce electricity including the parallel connections shown in  FIG. 2 . Repulsion of like charges provides centering of tube  18  within  20  and establishes a low-friction electro-repulsive bearing regarding relative motion of  18  within  20 . 
     In certain embodiments, the circuit of  50 ,  52 , and the transformer primary winding of  56  may be charged with the same charge and voltage as carried by  22 . Illustratively, charging rings  22  with electrons at a suitable voltage, such as 7,200 volts; and the circuit of  50 ,  52 , and the primary of transformer  56  with electrons at a potential of 7,200 volts, results in accumulation of electrons at zones  52  at the time that the system is in the position shown in  FIG. 2 . As wave force moves conductors or rings  22  of the generator tube  18  to the proximate position of rings  50  of the stationary tube  20 , and alternately to  52  of the stationary tube  20 , the electrons leave  50  and load  52  and vice versa to produce the desired alternating current in the primary winding of transformer  56 . 
     The spacing of conductors  50  and  52  develops an alternating voltage potential in the moving field of permanently charged ring(s)  22  that causes a current flow that alternates between conductors  50  and  52  as tube  18  moves up and down within tube  20 . For most applications, it is preferred to make the gap spacing of rectilinearly reciprocating conductors  22  and stationary conductors  50  and  52  as close as possible with respect to rings  22  within the operating limits regarding the dielectric strength of insulating tubes  18  and  20 . In this regard, in certain embodiments a polyolefin such as polyethylene, polypropylene or polymethylbutene may be used for tubes  18  and  20 , and/or to laminate a similar polyolefin to the surface of tube  18  and to the surface of tube  20  for the purpose of protecting conductive metal rings  22 ,  50 , and  52  from corrosion or parasitic discharge. This lamination also seals these electrical components against corrosion. In other embodiments, all outside surfaces of the polyolefin assembly can be treated with fluorine during the manufacturing process to produce surface zone of fluropolymer with a lower coefficient of friction and to cause these surfaces to be in a state of compression. 
     In certain embodiments, the alternating electrical current frequency is the same as the frequency of the wave motion multiplied by the number of conductors  22  per height of the wave. The width and longitudinal spacing of conductors  22  for optimizing conversion of wave energy into electricity is largely dependent upon the surface and volume resistivity along with other dielectric strength characteristics of polymer tubes  18  and  20 . Exceptionally high dielectric values are available in thin films of polyolefins in which it is common to achieve 2,000 to 6,000 volts/mil along with at least 10 16  ohms surface resistivity compared to less than 500 volts/mil dielectric strength and less than 10 15  ohms surface resistivity in injection molded or extruded material with thicker walls. In one embodiment it is preferred to make tubes  18  and  20  as composites in which at least two thin layers of 0.003″ polyethylene tubings that are interference fit by control of internal pressure at the time of blow forming and orientation, coated with silver or copper in thin layers at the locations shown as  22 ,  50 , and  52 , and then supported by thicker support tubes that are placed on the sides that have been plated with bands  22 ,  50 , and  52  to form the assemblies of tubes  18  and  20  as illustrated in the Figures. 
     Another embodiment utilizes at least two thin layers of 0.003″ polyethylene tubing which are interference fit by control of internal pressure at the time of extrusion blow forming and orientation. Each composite is sized for low-friction running fit of generator  18  within stationary tube  20  and coated with aluminum, silver or copper in thin layers at the locations shown as  22 ,  50 , and  52 . Tube  20  is then coated with a suitable adhesive, assembled, internally pressurized, and conformed to cylindrical support tube  14  with the result of developing circumferential grooves between bands  50  and  52 . Thin-walled composite tube  18  can be bonded to fitted end disks  17  and  19  and the top disk  17  is attached to the rod  9  as shown. In operation, the circumferential grooves in  20  stabilize the gas bearing that results in the annular space between generator tube  18  and stationary tube  20 . Moreover, annular grooves between rings  50  and  52  can also provide gas bearings. Appropriate clearance seals, drain galleries and ports, and feed ports are provided to these bearings to eliminate undesired friction and dynamic instabilities. 
     This low-friction and high performance dielectric design enables close packing of rings  22 ,  50 , and  52  and the use of a transformer to produce the desired voltage for inexpensive transmission to shore for grid distribution or to dedicated industrial applications. Providing close axial spacing of generator rings  22 ,  50 , and  52  also increases the rate at which work is done in forcing electrons back and forth in the circuit shown. High power level per pound of materials results for the components of the invention which is much more attractive than in conventional approaches to wave-energy conversion. 
     Another embodiment utilizes at least two thin layers of 0.003″ polyethylene tubing which are interference fit by control of internal pressure at the time of extrusion blow forming and orientation. Each composite is sized for a low-friction running fit of  18  within  20  and coated with aluminum, silver or copper in thin closely spaced layers at the locations shown in the arrangements noted as  22 ,  50 , and  52 . Tube  20  is then placed on a suitable gas bearing mandril, the gas bearing is relaxed to collapse  20  on the mandril, coated with a suitable adhesive and fitted with at least two additional conformal 0.003″ wall polyolefin tubes with the result of developing conformal seals to bulkheads  12  and  16 . Thin-walled composite  18  is interference fitted to a glass billet or heavy-walled symmetrical nipple which is attached to  9  as shown. In operation, low-friction centering of generator tube  18  within stationary tube  20  is due to the electrostatic and gas bearing forces previously noted. 
     The arrangement of electrical current-inducing components  21 ,  22 , and  23  may be as shown for production of alternating current with delivery as shown by two conductors  63  and  65 , or the system may be configured with equal numbers of current rings with appropriate spacing for production of three-phase alternating current. 
     In many applications it is preferred to transport substantial quantities of electricity as alternating current on appropriate grids or conductors  63  and  65  and at various locations to convert some portion of the alternating current to direct current as shown with full wave bridge  58  for efficient delivery of DC electricity through conductors  60  and  62 . Controller  64  monitors the wave height, form, and frequency as a function of the frequency and timing of the alternating current in transformer  56 . This information is used to adaptively control the operation of the assembly  2  for maximizing conversion of wave energy into electricity. 
     In certain embodiments it is possible to maintain a suitable gas pressure within stationary tube  20  to assure heat transfer rates sufficient to cool tube assembly  18  and to provide a gas bearing function to minimize drag during the motion of generator tube  18  within stationary tube  20 . Tube or nipple ends  17  and  19  are preferably chamfered as shown to provide loading of gas bearing surfaces between the inside diameter of stationary tube  20  and outside diameter of generator tube  18 . 
     In instances that additional mass is needed for returning generator tube  18  from upward excursions, it is preferred to make end portion  19  from a heavier material, such as a lead-antimony or steel alloy such as 410 SS, and to make end portion  17  from an engineering polymer or aluminum alloy for purposes of creating a righting force on cable  6  and rod  9  as it is guided through anti-friction bearing  12  which is preferably made from a self-lubricating material such as WearComp from HyComp Inc., 17960 Englewood Drive, Cleveland, Ohio 44130-3438. 
     A suitable gas for pressurizing the interior of  20  is hydrogen which may be generated as needed by an electrolyzer assembly  120  including electrolyzer electrodes  28 ,  29  in lower chamber  30 . The hydrogen may be admitted to the chamber within  20  through filter  46 , solenoid valve  44 , and filter-regulator  42  as shown. It is preferred to provide a filter media within  42  that prevents water and other liquids from entering stationary tube  20  and which neutralizes any acid/base particles or fumes. The electrolyzer assembly  120  can be driven by at least a portion of the electricity produced by the relative movement of the generator tube  18  and the stationary tube  20 . 
     In certain embodiments, it may be suitable to locate heavier components such as electrolyzer  28  at the lower portion and lighter components such as coaxial tubes  18  and  20  in the upper portion to produce the vertical orientation of components as shown. This improves the efficiency of operation by keeping tubes  18  and  20  aligned with the lifting and descending forces produced by wave action and gravity. In many instances it is beneficial to connect unit generators along with additional units by more or less horizontally positioned tension cables to create a network that is stabilized against traveling or bunching due to wind or wave motion. Further stabilization may be provided by tension cables to anchors at the ocean floor or other structures at outer borders or to the leading and tailing edges of arrays that are thus created to withstand horizontal travel due to wind and wave forces. 
     In certain embodiments, a controller  64  regulates the pressure of the hydrogen atmosphere created by the electrolyzer  28  within stationary tube  20 . For example, in some embodiments the controller can regulate the pressure of the hydrogen or other gases to produce the optimum relationship of minimizing the drag of generator tube  18  within stationary tube  20  while maximizing electrical energy production. Increasing the hydrogen pressure increases heat transfer from generator tube  18  through stationary tube  20  to the surrounding water and produces less drag by slightly expanding the diameter of stationary tube  20 . However this reduces the electrostatic field strength of plates  22  on  52  and  50 , which in turn reduces the repulsive voltage in the circuit of  50  and  52 . Controller  64  can adaptively control the pressure within stationary tube  20  to optimize these counteractive effects while operating the system within prescribed limits. This enables very inexpensive materials to be selected and used with virtually unlimited lifetimes in greatly varying conditions including wave height, wave frequency, and ambient temperature. 
     In certain embodiments, the illustrated energy conversion assembly  2  can operate in water that is deep enough to place the generator assembly at a depth of at least 100 feet or more below the surface where float  4  is operated for the purpose of minimizing exposure to storms and passing ships. In other embodiments, however, the assembly  2  can be positioned at a depth that is less than or greater than 100 feet. Hydrogen in lower chamber  30  and at a lesser pressure within stationary tube  20  is adaptively adjusted to provide rigidity to the tube generator assembly and provide buoyancy for tensioning base cable  32  against anchor  34  which may be a weight, expanding barb, or another suitable means of tensioning base cable  32 . At times that storms or passing ships threaten to damage the float  4  and cable  6  assembly, motorized tensioner  74  can shorten the base cable  32 , and the electrolyzer  28  can be turned off along with opening solenoid valve  44  and solenoid valves  36  and  40  to flood chamber  30  with sea water which has been filtered by filter assembly  38 . These actions cause the system to pull  4  downward to a position below harms way. When it is safe to reestablish normal operation, electrolyzer  29  generates hydrogen within  30  to lift the system as tensioner  74  releases the base cable  32  to establish the normal operating position of the float  4  at the ocean surface. Tensioner  74  can be adaptively operated to adjust the relative positioning of the  4  with respect to the surface for optimum conversion of wave energy to electricity. 
     It is anticipated that larger requirements for energy would be provided by using a long float designed to best harness energy in the types of waves prevalent at the location of application with numerous individual energy conversion units attached to it. Where needed, it is intended that such long floats or individual unit floats would be connected by cables attached in patterns that prevent substantial horizontal travel of the floats due to wind or water currents. Such cables could provide tethers as needed to prevent motion in any given horizontal direction and include arrays based on hexagonal, square, circular and other patterns for spacing the wave generators. 
     Because the generator assembly  2  is vertically and coaxially self centering and provides a high yield of electrical energy per mass of required materials, in certain embodiments it may be preferred to design tube assemblies  18  and  20  for waves that are 5 meters or more. In other embodiments, however, smaller waves are also within the operational envelope as controller  64  can adaptively adjust the tension on base cable  32  to optimize energy conversion efficiency regardless of the prevalent wave height. This enables the system to operate in extreme conditions of high and low wave amplitudes with the capability of efficiently utilizing the maximum amount of wave energy available to produce electricity. 
     For purposes of hydrogen generation, in one embodiment it is preferred to operate electrolyzer electrodes  28  and  29  of the electrolyzer assembly  120  at a voltage only sufficient to liberate hydrogen from  29  but not chlorine or oxygen from  28 . However, when biofouling threatens to become a problem, in other embodiments it may be preferred to increase the voltage applied to electrolyzer electrodes  28  and  29  to the point of producing chlorine along with hydrogen from filtered seawater. This chlorine is kept separate from the hydrogen by use of a semipermeable membrane or divider  27  and is distributed from cavity  30  through valve  40  to delivery tube  75  to annular distributor tube  76  which is perforated in the annular portion at the bottom of the assembly as shown to create a chlorine or ozone-rich atmosphere to dispel biomass agents from the assembly. After chlorine is depleted from the electrolyte in electrolyzer  29 , oxygen is produced. The electrolyzer assembly  120  can include features that are generally similar in structure and function to the corresponding features of electrolyzer assemblies disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/707,651, filed Feb. 17, 2010, entitled “ELECTROLYZER AND ENERGY INDEPENDENT TECHNOLOGIES,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/707,653, filed Feb. 17, 2010, and entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING NUCLEATION DURING ELECTROLYSIS;” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/707,656, filed Feb. 17, 2010, and entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GAS CAPTURE DURING ELECTROLYSIS,” each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     In instances that it is desired to manage heat transfer from generator tube  18  and or stationary tube  20  to the surroundings, the atmosphere within stationary tube  20  may be selected from the group consisting of high conductivity, low viscosity gases such as hydrogen and helium; low conductivity gases such as argon and chlorofluorocarbons, and the pressure and composition of any selected atmosphere may be adjusted for purposes selected from the group consisting of: reducing friction losses, increasing or decreasing heat transfer, producing structural rigidity for the system assembly, and managing buoyancy. 
     In certain embodiments, the electricity generated by the assembly  2  can be used to ionize oxidants such as oxygen or chlorine to increase the reactivity as an anti-biofouling agent before release through distributor  76 . Suitable methods for ionizing these gases include spark discharge and ultraviolet lamps operating on the supply circuit shown. Additional transformers may be connected in parallel with the primary or secondary of transformer  56  and utilized to produce the desired voltages for electrolyzer  28  and ionizer  31  as needed. 
     In addition to controlling the pressure within  20  and  30 , controller  64  utilizes suitable instrumentation such as doppler or optical electronics or spring  70  and  72  at the ends of tube chamber  20  to monitor the length of travel of  18  within  20 . Biasing members or springs  70  and  72  can include integral sensors. Moreover, springs  70  and  72  have multiple functions including sensing the travel path of  18  within  20 , serving as a shock absorber if necessary, and recovering kinetic energy as the motion of generator tube  18  is reversed. It is desired to allow full motion of generator tube  18  with the wave height that is available up to a design limit at which the motion is safely stopped by the arrangement shown until the wave crest passes. Accordingly, controller  64  evaluates the range of motion of generator tube  18  within stationary tube  20  and if spring-sensor  72  is being deflected and  70  is not, controller  64  will move the outer tube assembly downward by shortening cable  32  by winding it on the cable spool of motorized tensioner  74  as shown in  FIG. 1 . If spring-sensor  70  is being deflected and  72  is not, cable  32  is lengthened until  18  is suitably centered within  20 . 
     In certain embodiments, a small hydrogen fuel cell or battery charger and battery pack  78  is utilized to store energy as a small portion of the energy generated and allow operation of controller  64 , tensioner  74 , valves  38 ,  40 ,  44 , and to provide instrumentation and control communications from  64  through a radio antenna in  4  to a central control station on land or on service boats that occasionally maintain the wave generators. Fuel cell  78  and controller  64  are available for service by a diver and can be easily replaced if necessary for activation of units that have been stored in the submerged state for extended periods. 
     Thus controller  64  optimizes the operation by controlling the hydrogen pressure within  20  and  30  in addition to controlling the position of the floatation unit  4  with respect to the generator tube  20  and to the ocean surface for the purpose of converting as much of the wave energy into electricity as possible. Still another function of controller  64  is to monitor biofouling conditions and to control electrolyzer for production of chlorine as needed to dispel marine organisms that cause biofouling. 
     Application of the principles of the present disclosure facilitates many variations in which desired energy conversion, frequency multiplication, or phase transformation may be accomplished by application of a first force that is utilized to cyclically develop a substantially rectilinear force upon a moveable component  18  that incorporates electrically separated zones  22  that are electrostatically charged for the purpose of inducing the flow of electric current in a suitable conductor including an electrical load such as motor winding or electric light filament or semiconductor device or the primary of a transformer  56  connected between electrically separated zones  21  and  23  that are incorporated in a stator or stationary tube  20  that is proximate to the moveable component incorporating zones  22 , and wherein said moveable component  20  is cyclically moved in a direction substantially opposite of the first force by a force selected from the group including a mechanism, an opposed piston engine assembly, gravity, spring action, and compressed gas force. Thus the generator assemblies  2  disclosed herein may be applied in a horizontal, vertical, or any other desired orientation in which cyclic forces other than wave action and gravity are applied. Illustratively, it is contemplated that the first force may be produced by the action of a piston in a Stirling or internal combustion engine (ICE) and the restoring force may be produced by a compressed gas, spring, an opposing piston of the same or another engine or a suitable mechanism such as a crank shaft or swash plate that cyclically converts the kinetic energy of a flywheel into restoring work. 
     Another embodiment of a wave-generator assembly  80  is shown in the schematic view of  FIG. 3 . In the illustrated embodiment, permanent magnets (M 1  and M 2 ) or electro-magnets  82  and  84  are added to the assembly  2  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  to create a magnetic field that is substantially perpendicular to the circumferential insulated turns of conductor  86  that connect each set of annular rings  88  and  90  as shown. In certain embodiments, rings  88 ,  90 ,  92 , and  94  may be split as shown to depress eddy currents. In operation, current alternates between typical rings  88  to  90  as a function of the wave-forced motion of electromagnetic fields such as from  82  and  84  and electrostatic fields from rings such as  92  and  94  as disclosed with respect to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Supplemental inducement to the current in coil(s)  86  is from the magnetic field that is established between magnetic poles  82  and  84  as shown. 
     In applications where it is desired to minimize internal friction and parasitic losses, it is preferred to design outer tube  100  for withstanding the pressure forces of the ocean with only sufficient gas pressure to assure adequate cooling of internal parts. For this purpose, the outer tube  100  may be made from glass, marine aluminum such as 5086, or a low alloy steel such as 4140 with anti-fouling coatings on exposed surfaces. In this instance the program controller  64  can be programmed for use in either the embodiment of  FIG. 2  or  3  to provide hydrogen pressure sufficient to cool the internal components sufficiently to optimize resistive losses along with protecting against material degradation while minimizing losses due to gas drag. This results in much lower hydrogen gas pressures because it is not necessary to cancel crushing forces with internal pressure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3  together, another embodiment of the disclosure is provided by utilizing dielectric materials for composite tubes  18  and  20  that offer much higher use temperatures than the polyolefins. Resins such as polyetherimide, polyethersulfone, and polysulfone are stable at 330° F. (165° C.) or higher and in thin wall film thicknesses of 0.005″ or less provide dielectric strengths of 2,400 to 4,400 volts/mil. This allows the hydrogen (or another gas) pressure within  20  to be lower and results in lower gas-drag losses while the system operates at the higher steady-state temperatures made possible by these materials. It is preferred to utilize higher conductivity materials such as silver or gold with this embodiment for thin platings of rings  22 ,  50  and  52 . 
     One significant application of the disclosure is conversion of mineralized feed stocks and ore concentrates to metals, valuable non-metals such as oxygen, halogens, methane, and other refined materials. Illustratively, application of direct-current electricity from rectifier  58  as delivered from conductors  60  and  62  through appropriate electrolysis cell  120  provides products such as hydrogen; or halogens such as chlorine, iodine, and bromine; or oxygen; or reactive metals such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, titanium, manganese from non-aqueous electrolytes; or transition metals; or heavy metals including precious metals. In this embodiment a substantial portion of the electricity produced is applied to electrolysis cell  120  for the purpose of generating metals and non-metals from appropriate concentrates that contain these elements. 
     In ocean energy conversion and mining applications it is especially important to prevent sludge build-up, biofouling, and contamination of ocean environments by preventative use of halogens such as chlorine to prohibit degradation of the components of the disclosure and accumulation of biomass and/or sludge that would pollute of the ocean environment. 
     Generation of electricity from forces found in wind and falling water such as streams and tides can also be harnessed by the present energy conversion and delivery regime. The following description with reference to  FIGS. 4-8  is for in-stream applications but applies generally to wind applications as well in which propeller  436  is of the appropriate diameter, pitch, etc., for the prevailing wind conditions. More specifically,  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of a rotary generator assembly  400  configured in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure for converting energy in moving water into electricity.  FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of components of the rotary generator assembly of  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 6  is a schematic end view of the rotary generator assembly of  FIG. 4 . Referring to  FIGS. 4-6  together, the rotary generator assembly  400  includes a rugged water tight housing  430  within which are incorporated a suitable generator assembly  420  which may be repeated or cascaded as shown in the illustrated embodiment to produce the torque and electricity conversion desired and one or more anti-friction support bearings  422 . Generator assembly  420  is driven by a suitable motion driver device such as propeller  436  attached to drive shaft  434  as shown and housed by shrouds  432  and  438 . A suitable seal  444  prevents loss of atmosphere from housing  430  to the outside area and inward passage of the exterior atmosphere. In certain embodiments a small portion of the electricity produced by the assembly  400  is utilized to electrolyze water in electrolyzer  442  for the purpose of filling the interior space of housing  430  with hydrogen at an adaptively controlled pressure to remove heat from generator  420  and/or transformer  412 ,  414  and to reduce the windage losses due to viscosity and friction of the atmosphere within housing  430 . Operation of electrolyzer  442  is generally similar as described above regarding electrolyzer  120  along with associated controls. Moreover, electrolyzer  442  can include features that are generally similar in structure and function to the corresponding features of electrolyzer assemblies disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/707,651, filed Feb. 17, 2010, entitled “ELECTROLYZER AND ENERGY INDEPENDENT TECHNOLOGIES,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/707,653, filed Feb. 17, 2010, and entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING NUCLEATION DURING ELECTROLYSIS;” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/707,656, filed Feb. 17, 2010, and entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GAS CAPTURE DURING ELECTROLYSIS,” each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     The illustrated embodiment can also include a reinforcing shroud or wire-form cage  438  around propeller  436  to keep debris, rocks, marine life, etc., from colliding with propeller  436 . The assembly can also be elevated by a suitable base or stand  428  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6  to provide the desired location above the stream bed or ocean floor to take advantage of the best currents and to prevent propeller  436  from striking the stream or ocean floor. A chain or cable attached to  424  secures the generator unit to the desired location of a stream or ocean site. Electricity produced by generator  420  is taken to land by insulated cable  426  generally as shown in  FIG. 4  to be used for replacement of electricity from non-renewable sources such as fossil and nuclear fueled power generation stations and to make hydrogen for any desired energy storage, chemical, or power production application. 
     While any desired generator may be selected for such applications it is preferred to utilize the weight conserving materials shown in the magnified schematic circuit of embodiment  400  in  FIG. 5  for smaller applications. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, a first generator subassembly or rotor  402  is driven by shaft  401  in more or less constant velocity rotation while the wind blows, tide flows, or a stream or current runs and may be provided with reverse pitch capabilities to operate in reverse flow such as provided by tides. Rotor  402  can be constructed of a high electrical resistance material such as ceramic, thermoplastic or thermoset polymer, with conductor sections or strips  404  of conductive material on or near the outer rim of rotor  402 . These conductors  404  are spaced apart but electrically connected as shown. Conductors or conductive zones  404  receive a maintained electrical charge such as electrons or the absence of electrons as may be produced by charging to the desired voltage. 
     Rotor  402  rotates relative to a second generator subassembly or stator  403 , which includes multiple spaced apart stationery conductors or conductive zones  406  and  408 . More specifically, as the rotor  402  rotates to the position shown in  FIG. 5 , stationary conductive zones  408  are depleted of electrons because of like-charge repulsion. Electrons leave zones  408  and travel in the collection circuit shown to junction  410 , which is connected to a suitable load or device such as the transformer primary  412 . Electrons leaving primary  412  are then delivered to interconnected zones  406  through connection  416 . Rotor  402  continues to rotate and conductors or conductive zones  404  to pass near stationery zones  406  to repel the electrons collected there. Repelled electrons pass back through connection  416  to primary  412  and then to conductive zones  408 . This cyclic displacement of charge continues as the rotator  402  rotates. It is generally preferred to charge the stationery circuit connected to primary  412  to a relatively high voltage and to the charge rotor zones  404  with high voltage to assure a satisfactory current density in the stationery circuit shown. 
     In certain embodiments, a number of such generators  420  can be used in appropriate orientations that stagger these electricity producing events to provide three-phase electricity for delivery in the regime shown in  FIG. 9 . In remote applications, however, it is generally preferred to utilize direct current provided by suitable rectifiers or to incorporate an inverter to provide desired conditioning of electricity. Depending upon the voltage carried in the rotors, higher strength dielectric gases may be utilized to insulate the charged zones of generator rotors  402 . Gases suitable for this purpose include fluorinated sulfur and halogenated hydrocarbon gases. 
     In instances that the energy available in moving water or wind is adequate it is possible to increase the density and thus the torque rating of a generator assembly within housing  430  by use of the multiple concentric cylinder arrangements. For example,  FIG. 7  is a schematic side view of a rotary generator assembly configured in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure, and  FIG. 8  is a schematic cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 . Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8  together, drive shaft  401  is rotated or torqued by suitable propeller  436  and is sealed within housing  430  by seal assembly  444 . Bearing assembly  422  provides support, anti-friction rotation, and centering of multiple spaced apart and concentric rotor shells  460  that are attached to drive shaft  401  by disk  462 . The generator further includes multiple spaced apart and concentric stationary shells  464  that are held in place by disk  466  which may incorporate a bearing for supporting an extension of drive shaft  401 . Rotating cylindrical shells  460  have spaced apart conductors or metal longitudinal strips that are kept permanently charged as described regarding the schematic circuits disclosed regarding  FIG. 5 . Stationery cylindrical shells  464  have longitudinal conductors or strips  408  and  406  that are spaced apart generally as shown in  FIG. 5 , and that alternately source and receive electrons that are repelled by charged strips  404  as they rotate to close proximity. The current created between zones  406  and  408  may be applied to any useful load including those in which power conditioning is provided by a suitable inverter or current transformer  412  and  414  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     Utilization of multiple concentric non-contacting cylindrical shells of suitable length allows the generator diameter to be minimized for purposes of conserving material and for reducing drag and turbulence in the wind or water stream that drives the unit. Moreover, permanently charging longitudinal zones like  404  as shown in the end view of  FIG. 5  on rotor  460  greatly reduces the complexity and expense compared to conventional approaches with brushes or permanent magnets to produce the desired generator functions. 
     Materials suitable for construction of shells  460  include thermoplastics, thermosets, glass, ceramic, and composites that are stiffened by high modulus fiber reinforcements. Similar materials may be chosen for stationery cylinders  464 . Protective case  430  may be constructed from materials such as thermoplastics, thermosets, steel, aluminum, glass, ceramics, and composites that are stiffened by high modulus fiber reinforcements. Charged strips  404  may be thin layers of aluminum, nickel, copper, silver, gold or other suitable selections for holding dense charges such as electrons. Similar materials may be used in the thickness needed for strips  406  and  408  to produce the currents desired at the resistance allowed in the application. In other embodiments, however, the features of the present disclosure allow the conductors  404 ,  406 , and/or  408  to not include copper. 
     The invention of converting reciprocating motion from any suitable source into electricity and use of such electricity along with electricity from conventional sources in an energy conversion regime with production, storage, and transportation of hydrogen in an existing natural gas infrastructure, including storage in underground geological structures and transport in existing pipelines, provides favorable economics for replacement of 60 billion barrels of oil used daily with renewable energy. 
     For example,  FIG. 9  is a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the disclosure for converting a renewable energy source, such as water energy, into electrical energy, electrical energy into chemical energy, and convenient delivery of hydrogen and or oxygen to a vehicle and other energy consuming applications.  FIG. 9  illustrates an application of some of the method and apparatus embodiments described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-8 . For example, the generator assembly  2  described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , as well as any other generator assembly described herein, can be deployed in relatively deep water spaced apart from a shore line  188 . The generator assembly  2  can be coupled to a portion of an electricity distribution grid  190  to deliver the generated electricity to a transformer  56 , a rectifier  58 , an electrolyzer assembly  120 , and ultimately an energy consuming device such as a vehicle  201 . 
     In applications that it is desired to cleanly and sustainably operate homes, factories, farms, and/or motor vehicles from solar-derived wave energy, an embodiment similar to that shown in  FIG. 2  may be used. Applications include electric lighting, electric tools and appliances, microwave cooking, microwave communications, electric motor drives, induction heating, electromagnet drives, electrodialysis, electro-separation of metals from ores, electro-separation of hydrogen from water, and electric-arc devices. 
     Providing motive energy for vehicles will be used to illustrate such applications, although other energy consuming apparatuses are within the scope of the present disclosure. Grid electricity  190  produced by wave energy conversion and/or other sources is delivered at the desired voltage to the point of refueling a vehicle  201 . Electric current is delivered by a suitable delivery circuit or grid  190 , which includes appropriate transformers, switch gear, circuit breakers, fuses, electricity conductors, meters, capacitors, resistors, and inductors. At the point of refueling a vehicle  201 , suitable transformer  56  and rectifier circuit  58  provides the desired direct-current and voltage for operation of water electrolyzer  120  to produce pressurized hydrogen. It is preferred to utilize the type of electrolyzer  200  as shown in  FIG. 9 , which produces and delivers hydrogen at the desired pressure by quick fill valve assembly  202  to a suitable storage tank of a vehicle  204  as shown. Hydrogen from pressurized storage in tank  206  can be quickly transferred to refuel a vehicle. In the instance that the vehicle  201  is powered by an internal combustion engine  218 , it is preferred to utilize the spark-injection fuel metering and ignition system disclosed in copending patent application Ser. No. 08/785,376, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In certain embodiments, a carbon or glass fiber reinforced composite hydrogen storage tank can be used such as those provided by manufacturers such as Lincoln or Structural Composites Industries (SCI). 
     In instances that the vehicle  201  utilizes a fuel cell engine  222 , including arrangements in conjunction with a flywheel or heat engine in a hybrid propulsion system, a reversible fuel cell  222  may be used as shown in  FIG. 9 . In this embodiment, such a reversible electrolyzer/fuel cell  222  can be positioned on-board the vehicle  201  to produce hydrogen and oxygen from water when it occasionally consumes electricity from the grid  190  as shown, and/or in the regenerative deceleration of the vehicle. In the reversed mode it serves as the fuel cell for electricity generation for one or more traction motors, acceleration of hybrid flywheels and for other electricity requirements. 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic view of a generator assembly  300  configured in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosure. More specifically,  FIG. 10  is a combination linear generator and a linear motion prime mover, such as an opposed piston internal combustion engine or an external combustion engine such as a Stirling, Schmidt, or Ericsson cycle engine. For example,  FIG. 10  illustrates one embodiment of a generator assembly  300  for receiving hydrogen and/or methane that has been distributed through a conduit such as a natural gas line or delivered by the storage system disclosed in my co-pending patent application concerning densified storage of fluids which is incorporated herein as part and parcel of this disclosure. The embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 10  efficiently converts the fuel potential energy into electricity and heat for on-site uses at outlets  312  and  318 . 
     A particularly efficient system for storage and pressurization results from the combination of SIFT (e.g., filter  250  described in detail below) generator assembly  300  heat recovery unit  310 . A fuel or substance such as hydrogen is purified and pressurized by SIFT unit  250 . Further storage for mobile or compact storage applications along with pressure increase is provided as needed, in addition to heat addition, voltage application, or vibration absorption by assembly  310 . 
     One or more suitable heat engines  302 , such as an opposed piston type with pistons and cylinders with appropriate intake valves or ports, drives a linear generator  304  preferably having several of the features of the generators described above with reference to  FIG. 1-9 . In certain embodiments, an integrated injector/igniter can be used for a combination of instrumentation, fuel injector, and ignition system  306  disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/785,376 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and which provides a particularly efficient method for burning hydrogen and/or hydrogen-characterized fuels in internal combustion engines. In this application, the SmartPlug devices  306  can sense the position and acceleration of the pistons to provide adaptively controlled proportioning and timing of fuel injection and ignition events. 
     Engine fuel, which can be hydrogen or hydrogen-characterized fuel constituents, is prepared in thermochemical regenerator  308  which has inputs of the engine exhaust and/or engine coolant and can have input of fuel from any suitable source including preferred storage in adsorptive storage  310  and outputs of heated water for domestic purposes such as bathing, clothes washing and space heating. The construction, internal circuits, and operation of the preferred thermochemical regeneration system  308  is found in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/785,376, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     Piston, cylinder, and valve or port assemblies  302  may be of two or four stroke designs and operation. Air is taken in, compressed and heated by fuel that is injected and ignited by injectors  306 . Work is done by expanding the heated gases of combustion along with preferred excess air that insulates stratified charge fuel combustion during the power cycle of the engine. The work product of the engine is converted into electricity by linear generator  304  and into potential energy as air is compressed in the opposing piston and cylinder  302 . After the opposing piston in its cylinder reaches the degree of compression adaptively controlled for optimization, fuel is injected and ignited by  306  to continue the power cycle of the opposed piston operation. 
     Linear generator  304  provides the desired frequency, voltage, and current by the principles disclosed with respect to  FIGS. 1-9  and/or other embodiments disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, it is possible to house engine  302  and integral linear generator  304  within a water heater canister  322  for purposes of noise attenuation and regenerative heat recovery for an extremely efficient domestic hot water supply. City or pressurized well water  314  enters the thermochemical regenerator  308  as shown and after receiving heat not converted into electricity by engine-generator assembly  302 / 304 , is delivered across combination pressure regulator and check-valve  324  to hot water distributor  320 . In certain embodiments, the hottest water from cooler can be segregated from more slowly heated water for purposes of fast response to hot water demands. Pressure relief valve  316  protects against dangerous over pressurization. Hot water delivered to distributor  320  is added to tank  322  at low velocity by outlets in  320  that cancel net circulatory momentum of the entering water. Further segregation of hottest water from more slowly heated water can be performed by a very low cost bundle of parallel vertical tubes  326  that prevent convection cells from forming. A polymer honeycomb structure of thin-walled cross-linked polyethylene or polypropylene can be used for ease of manufacture of  326 . 
     Primary fuel enters adsorptive storage canister  310  and is released to be combusted in engine  302  on an optimized adaptive basis by SmartPlugs  306 . Exhaust from  302  is transferred to  308  for thermochemical regeneration or heating incoming domestic water as needed. Further cooling of the exhaust in  310  provides condensation of distilled-quality water that is available at  330  as shown. 
     In order to rapidly extend the low cost electricity and hydrogen produced by the disclosed embodiments to the public, one embodiment of the present disclosure includes providing the electricity delivery through existing electric grids and hydrogen delivery along with natural gas in existing natural gas lines. In instances that substantially pure hydrogen is needed to maximize water production or to minimize emissions of carbon compounds such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, or carbon dioxide, transporting hydrogen can be intermingled with natural gas constituents for delivery through existing natural gas lines and to separate the hydrogen at or near the site of application. As described in detail below, separation of relatively small amounts as might be needed for producing the electrical and heat energy for a home or small business is performed by a membrane filter that selectively passes hydrogen. 
     Various embodiments of the disclosure combine to provide an energy conversion regime in which the most plentiful available sources such as wave energy, wind energy, falling water, tidal energy, and biomass energy are converted into electricity for meeting instantaneous load requirements and to power electrolyzers and thermoelectrochemical devices for conversion of surplus electricity into chemical fuel potential energy including pressure potential energy and chemical reaction potential energy. 
     These embodiments further provide for storage of such fuel potential energy including use of conduits for substantially underground transport of pressurized supplies of fuels such as natural gas, subsurface geological strata that is sufficiently porous to receive substantial supplies of said electrolysis sourced fuel potential energy, subsurface geological caverns, and above surface pressure tanks for storing fuel potential energy as pressurized inventories. 
     Engine improvements for Stirling, Ericsson, and Schmidt types along with gas turbines, piston engines, rotary combustion engines, and fuel cell engine types are provided by clean, fast, and assured combustion of hydrogen which is selectively filtered where needed from mixtures of hydrocarbon gases such as natural gas by selective ionization filtration technology embodiments which also offer pressurization of such supplies of hydrogen for energy storage or operational advantages as needed. Embodiments include improved heat exchangers that facilitate heating water or air by heat exchange from the exhausts and surfaces of engines and generators used for on-site production of heat, electricity, or shaft power. 
     Rectilinear generator embodiments for improving the material performances and reducing the complexity, wear characteristics, and life cycle cost of operation are provided for primary and secondary energy conversion purposes in the present sustainable energy conversion regime. 
     The resulting energy conversion regime provides transport of renewable electricity and pressurized supplies of fuel potential energy by existing networks of electricity grids and or natural gas distribution conduits which are improved by incorporation of occasional placement of systems for selective separation of hydrogen from other ingredients conveyed as mixtures by such conduits. This facilitates commodity transport followed by filter-separated deliveries of hydrogen and hydrocarbons for respective productions of clean energy along with chemicals, fertilizers, polymers, fibers, pigments, pharmaceuticals, foods, and electronics. 
     Existing natural gas distribution storage and distribution systems are improved by incorporation of occasional addition of hydrogen produced from surplus electricity and/or other forms of surplus energy and selective separation systems for removal of hydrogen from other ingredients typically conveyed by in such natural gas systems. Hydrogen can be supplied at increased pressure compared to the pressure of delivery to said separation systems by application of selective ion filtration technology, pressure swing adsorption coupled with a compressor, temperature swing adsorption coupled with compressor, and diffusion coupled with a compressor. It is generally preferred to supply hydrogen at desired pressure by the selective ion filtration technology (SIFT) embodiment because it requires less energy, reduced maintenance, and lower life-cycle costs to deliver very high purity supplies of hydrogen at the desired pressure. 
     For example,  FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional side partial view of a filter assembly  250  including an outcome selective apparatus or filter  254  for selective separation of chemical species.  FIG. 12  is an enlarged view of a portion of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 11 . Referring the  FIGS. 11 and 12  together, the illustrated embodiment includes a filtration process in which a suitable filter such as a coaxial filter  254  is concentrically positioned in a conduit  262  that is configured to receive a producer gas, synthesized gas or pipeline mixtures of hydrocarbons such as natural gas and hydrogen  262 . As described in detail below, the filter  254  is configured to selectively allow hydrogen to pass through the filter  254  from a first or interior surface  252  to a second or exterior surface  256 . In certain embodiments, the filter  254  can be an electrolyzer or filter that is positioned inline with the conduit  262  and that includes corresponding electrodes at the first and second surfaces  252  and  256 . Filters or membranes suitable for such filtering include molecular sieves, semi-permeable polymer membranes and palladium and alloys of palladium such as silver-palladium that greatly increase the rate of hydrogen filtration as temperature is elevated. Semi-permeable membranes  254  suitable for application in filter assembly  250  include popular proton exchange membranes (PEMs) of the types used for electrodialysis and fuel cell applications. Insulator seals  274  support and isolate membrane  254  including conductive reinforcement materials  256  on the outside diameter as shown in  FIG. 12  as a magnified section. The filter  254  can include features that are generally similar in structure and function to the corresponding features of electrolyzer assemblies disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/707,651, filed Feb. 17, 2010, entitled “ELECTROLYZER AND ENERGY INDEPENDENT TECHNOLOGIES,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/707,653, filed Feb. 17, 2010, and entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING NUCLEATION DURING ELECTROLYSIS;” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/707,656, filed Feb. 17, 2010, and entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GAS CAPTURE DURING ELECTROLYSIS,” each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     In this hydrogen filtration assembly  250 , a process called “Selective Ion Filtration Technology” (or SIFT) can be used. Hydrogen is ionized on inside surface  252  for rapid entry and transport in PEM filter  254  as an ion by application of a bias voltage to the PEM filter  254 , to which a catalyst may be coated for purposes of increasing the process rates involved. Suitable catalysts include platinum or alloys such as platinum-iridium, platinum palladium, platinum-tin-rhodium alloys and catalysts developed for fuel cell applications in which hydrocarbon fuels are used. 
     Facilitation of electron removal as ionized hydrogen may be with conductive tin oxide or with a fine screen of stainless steel which is attached to the bare end of an insulated lead from controller  270  as shown. Electrons circuited by another insulated lead as shown to the outside surface of membrane  254  by controller  270  can be returned to hydrogen ions reaching the outside of membrane  254  by a fine stainless steel screen  256  that serves as a pressure arrestment reinforcement and electron distributor. 
     Electrons taken from the hydrogen as it is ionized are circuited to the outside surface  256  of PEM filter  254 . On the “filtered hydrogen” side  256  of the membrane, electrons rejoin hydrogen ions and form hydrogen atoms which in turn forms diatomic hydrogen, which pressurizes annular region  264 . The energy expended for this new type of selective-ion filtration and pressurization of hydrogen can be much less than the pumping energy required by other separation and pressurization processes. Controller  270  maintains the bias voltage as needed to provide hydrogen delivery at the desired pressure at port  266  by SIFT processes from mixture  262 . Bias voltage generally in the range of 1.5 to 6 volts is needed depending upon the polarization and ohmic losses in developing and transporting hydrogen ions along with pressurization of the hydrogen delivered to  264  by the SIFT assembly. 
       FIG. 13  is a schematic diagram of a selective outcome filter assembly  1350  configured in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the filter assembly  1350  includes multiple electrolyzers or filters  1354  (shown schematically and identified individually as first through further filters  1354   a - 1354   d ) positioned inline with a conduit  1362 . In certain embodiments, the conduit  1362  can be a natural gas conduit, such as natural gas conduit in a pre-existing network of natural gas conduits. Moreover, the filters  1354  can be configured to remove hydrogen that has been added to the natural gas in the conduit  1362  for different purposes or end results. For example, each of the filters  1354  can include any of the features described above with reference to the filter  254  of  FIGS. 11 and 12 , including, for example, corresponding electrolyzer electrodes. Furthermore, although four filters  1354  are shown in  FIG. 13 , the separation of these filters  1354  as individual spaced-apart filters is for purposes of illustration. For example, although the filters  1354  may provide different outcomes or functions as described in detail below, in other embodiments the filters  1354  can be combined into a single filter assembly. 
     As noted above, the filters  1354  are schematically illustrated as separate filters for selectively filtering hydrogen for one or more purposes. In one embodiment, for example, the first filter  1354   a  can be a hydrogen filter that removes hydrogen from a gaseous fuel mixture in the conduit  1362  including hydrogen and at least one other gas, such as natural gas. The first filter  1354   a  can accordingly remove a portion of the hydrogen (e.g., by ion exchange and/or sorption including adsorption and absorption) from the fuel mixture for the purpose of providing the hydrogen as a fuel to one or more fuel consuming devices. The second filter  1354   b  can be configured to produce electricity when removing the hydrogen from the gaseous fuel mixture. For example, as the hydrogen ions pass through the second filter  1354   b , electrons pass to the electron deficient side of the second filter  1354   b  (e.g., a side of the second filter  1354   b  exposed to Oxygen or other oxidant and opposite the side of the gaseous fuel mixture). The third filter  1354   c  can be used to provide water as an outcome of filtering the hydrogen from the gaseous fuel mixture. Moreover, the fourth filter  1354   d  can be used to filter hydrogen from the gaseous fuel mixture and to combine the filtered hydrogen with one or more other stored fuels to create an enriched or Hyboost fuel source. For example, the filtered hydrogen can be added to a reservoir of existing gas fuels. 
     As noted above, although the filters  1354  of the illustrated embodiment are shown as separate filters, in other embodiments any of the functions of the first through fourth filters  1354   a - 1354   d  (e.g., providing hydrogen, providing electricity, providing water, and/or providing an enriched fuel source) can be accomplished by a single filter assembly  1354 . The illustrated embodiment according provides for the storage and transport of hydrogen mixed with at least natural gas using existing natural gas lines and networks. The filters  1354  as described herein accordingly provide for filtering or otherwise removing at least a portion of the hydrogen for specific purposes. 
       FIG. 14  is a process flow diagram of a method or process  1400  configured in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the process  1400  includes storing a gaseous fuel mixture including hydrogen and at least one other gas (block  1402 ). In one embodiment, for example, the hydrogen can make up approximately 20% or less of the gaseous fuel mixture. In other embodiments, however, the natural gas can be greater than or less than approximately 20% of the gaseous fuel mixture. The process  1400  further includes distributing the gaseous fuel mixture through a conduit (block  1404 ). In certain embodiments, the conduit can be a natural gas conduit, such as a conventional or pre-existing natural gas conduit as used to distribute natural gas for residential, commercial, and/or other purposes. In other embodiments, however, the conduit can be other types of conduit suitable for distributing the gaseous fuel mixture. 
     The process  1400  further includes removing at least a portion of the hydrogen from the gaseous fuel mixture (block  1406 ). Removing at least a portion of the hydrogen can include removing the hydrogen from the conduit through a filter positioned in-line with the conduit. For example, the filter can be a filter generally similar in structure and function to any of the filters described above with reference to  FIGS. 11-13 . The process of removing the hydrogen can be used to provide the hydrogen as a fuel to a fuel consuming device, produce electricity, produce water, and or produce hydrogen for combination with one or more other fuels to produce an enriched fuel mixture. 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the various embodiments of the disclosure. Further, while various advantages associated with certain embodiments of the disclosure have been described above in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages, and not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within the scope of the disclosure.