improvement in the Generation or Production of Electricity.
Year: 1885

page_text: improvement in the Generation or Production of Electricity.
I GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN of the General Patent Office 4 South Street
Finsbury in the County of Middlesex Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature
of the said invention for IMPROVEMENT IN THE GENERATION OR PRODUCTION
OF ELECTRICITY to be as follows:-
The object of the present invention is the economic and practical transformation
of heat into electric energy. This transformation is already effected in the well
known thermo-electric piles by means of a mere difference of temperature but the
result is far from satisfactory in regard to economy.
In this new process I attain the same object by first changing heat into chemical
forces and afterwards into electric energy.
The main feature of the invention may be explained as follows:
I avail myself of the heat, which is produced by any combustible material in
order to heat a compound of hydrogen until dissociation takes place and I then
use the products of the decomposition as electrodes of a galvanic cell.
There are several hydrogen compounds which can be used for this purpose such
as the combination of hydrogen with oxygen chlorine and carbon, but for practical
reasons I shall only take the first into consideration.
It is well known that steam may be decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen
through the influence of heat; but as the temperature, at which dissociation takes
place is exceedingly high, this process is hardly available for practical purposes,
I therefore prefer to lower the temperature of dissociation by means of a substance,
which has a tendency to combine with the oxygen of the steam, when heated such
as carbon or some of the metals, of which the most preferable is iron.
When heated steam is conducted over red hot iron, it is well known, that free
hydrogen and magnetic oxide of iron is formed, and both can be used as electrodes
of a galvanic cell as will be explained hereafter.

page_text: As the magnetic oxide of iron is reduced to metal through the action of the cell,
the same iron can be used over and over again.
In cases where I employ carbon as the oxydising material, the products obtained
are hydrogen and carbonic acid, which can be separated by means of their
different degrees of diffusion, before they are used as electrodes of a galvanic
gas battery.
In order to more fully explain the nature of the new process, I will describe the
same by reference to the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 shows the arrangement employed when iron is used for the decomposi-
tion of the steam and Figure 2 the modified form of the apparatus required when
carbon is used.
In the drawing A is the furnace for the decomposition of steain B and B' are
reservoirs for collecting the gas produced, and C and C' are galvanic cells of a
new design. In place of these cells the ordinary Grove's gas battery can be used.
The furnace A contains the steam boiler D which is partly filled with water and
the dissociation tube E, which is either filled with metal or carbon. Both boilers
are situated over a grate on which any kind of fuel may be used for the production
of heat.
The water which is changed into steam passes through the dissociation tube and
bere the formation of free hydrogen takes place, as explained above.
In Figure 1 the hydrogen is made to fill the reservoir B and is conducted from
here to the different galvanic cells, which may be constructed as shown in C.
The cell consists of a metal box F which serves as a reservoir for the reception
of the hydrogen, the top plate of this box consists of a very thin carbon or platinum
plate, through which this hydrogen has the property of diffusion and which is
electrically connected with the box F.
A frame J of glass or other insulating material rests on the box F and carries
the negative electrode K, which in this case is iron, covered with magnetic oxide
of iron according to the process described above.
The vessel of which the carbon or platinum plate forms the bottom and the
frame J the sides, contains the electrolytic solution such as a solution of common.
salt.
One of the wires for conveying the current is connected to the metal box F. the
other to the iron plate K.
Figure 2 shows the alteration required in the apparatus when carbon is used in
the dissociation tube.
The reservoir B contains a porous diaphragm made of suitable material such as
clay through which the hydrogen passes very freely; consequently the reservoir B
contains hydrogen in its upper part and carbonic acid in its lower part, which
gases may be admitted first into separate reservoirs or directly into the galvanic
cell C.
This cell contains two metal boxes M and N one M for the reception of
hydrogen, the other N for the reception of carbonic acid; O and P are carbon-
plates, which are each electrically connected to one of the boxes M and N and Qis
the vessel, which contains the electrolytic fluid as described above.
The carbon plate P contains small holes and the carbonic acid enters the vessel Q
below the plate P.
It is well known that ordinary atmospheric air may be used as the negative
electrode of a gas battery instead of the carbonic acid.
It will be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise construction of
apparatus as represented in the drawing.
Which ever substance is used for the purpose of oxydation in the dissociation
tube, it is perfectly plain, that the real source of power in this process is the fuel
which is consumed on the grate. The energy generated by the fuel is applied for
the production of the stored up energy of free hydrogen and the simultaneous
production of a substance, which can be used as a negative electrode in a galvanic

page_text: cell; now a carbon plate charged with hydrogen is electro-positive compared with
a carbon plate charged with carbonic acid or an iron plate covered with iron
oxide.
And in this way the energy of the hydrogen together with the other products
of the process are ultimately used for the production of electric energy.
What is claimed is
1. The generation of electric energy by first decomposing hydrogen compounds
by means of heat and then applying the products of the decomposition as acting
electrodes of a galvanic cell.
2. The transformation of heat into electricity through the agency of water in
connection with metal or carbon, which substances are changed into acting electrodes
of a galvanic cell, through the action of heat.

page_text: Improvements in the Generation or Production of Electricity.
I GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN of the General Patent Office, 4, South Street,
Finsbury, in the county of Middlesex, Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature
of this invention (a communication from abroad by Alexander Bernstein of Frank-
fort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of Germany, Electrician) and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
The object of this invention is the economical and practical transformation of
heat into electric energy. This transformation has already been effected in the
well known thermo-electric piles by means of a mere difference of temperature,
but the result has been far from satisfactory as regards economy.
In this improved process I attain the same object by first changing heat into
chemical forces and afterwards into electric energy.
The main feature of the invention may be explained as follows:
I avail myself of the heat, produced from any suitable combustible material for
heating a suitable compound of hydrogen, until dissociation takes place and I then
use the products of the decomposition as acting electrodes of a galvanic cell.
There are several hydrogen compounds which can be used for this purpose, such
as the combination of hydrogen with oxygen, chlorine or carbon, but for practical
reasons I shall only take the first into consideration.
It is well known that steam may be decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen
under the effect of heat; but as the temperature, at which dissociation takes place,
is exceedingly high, this process is hardly available for practical purposes. I there-
fore prefer to lower the temperature of dissociation by means of a substance, which
has a tendency to combine with the oxygen of the steam, when heated, such as
carbon or some of the metals, of which the most suitable is iron.
When heated steam is conducted over red hot iron, it is well known, that free
hydrogen and magnetic oxide of iron are formed, and both can be used as electrodes
of a galvanic cell, as will be explained hereafter.
As the magnetic oxide of iron is reduced to metal through the action of the cell,
the same iron can be used over and over again.
In cases where I employ carbon for the dissociation of steam, the products
obtained are a mixture of hydrogen, carbonic oxide and carbonic acid. As it is my
intention to produce as much hydrogen and carbonic acid as possible, I convert
the carbonic oxide into carbonic acid by heating the mixture, which is mentioned
above, in the presence of superheated steam.
The products now obtained are hydrogen and carbonic acid, which can be
separated by means of their different degrees of diffusion before they are used as
acting electrodes on opposite poles of a galvanic gas battery.
In order to more fully explain the nature of the improved process, I will describe
the same by reference to the drawing accompanying my provisional specification.
Figure 1, shows an arrangement which can be employed when iron is used for
the decomposition of the steam and figure 2, the modification of the apparatus
required when carbon is used.

page_text: In the drawing, A is the furnace for the decomposition of steam; B, and B', are
receivers for collecting the gas produced, and C and C', represent galvanic cells. In
place of these cells the ordinary Grove's gas battery can be used.
The furnace A contains the steam boiler D which is partly filled with water and
the dissociations tube E, which is either filled with metal or preferably with carbon.
Both boilers are situated over a grate on which any kind of fuel may be used, for
the production of heat.
Instead of the said arrangement I sometimes use the highest temperature
generated by the fuel for heating the dissociation tube and afterwards apply the
hot gas of combustion in order to superheat the steam and lastly to evaporate the
water before the same are conducted to the chimney.
If coal is used for the dissociation process, then the ordinary process of distillation
of coal may be carried on in order to obtain. all the bye products, which are now
obtained in the gas process before the steam is let into the dissociation tube.
The water which is changed into steam passes through the dissociation tube and
here the formation of free hydrogen takes place as above explained.
In the arrangement shewn in figure 1, the hydrogen would fill the receiver B,
and be conducted thence to the different galvanic cells, which may be constructed
as shown in C.
The cell consists of a metal box F, which serves as a reservoir for the reception
of the hydrogen, the top plate of this box consists of a very thin carbon plate,
through which this hydrogen has the property of diffusion, and which is electrically
connected with the box F.
A frame J of glass or other insulating material rests on the box F and carries the
negative electrode K, which in this case is iron covered with magnetic oxide of
iron, according to the process described above.
The vessel of which the carbon plate forms the bottom and the frame J, the sides,
contains the required electrolytic solution, such as acidulated water.
One of the wires for conveying the current is connected to the metal box F, tho
other to the iron plate K.
Figure 2 shows the alteration required in the apparatus, when carbon is used in
the dissociation tube with the exception of those alterations, which relate to the
dissociation furnace itself and which have been indicated before.
The receiver B, contains a porous diaphragm made of suitable material such as
clay, through which the hydrogen passes very freely; consequently the receiver B,
contains hydrogen in its upper part and carbonic acid in its lower part, which gases
may be admitted first into separate receivers or directly into the galvanic cell C.
Instead of this arrangement a long tube made of porous clay can be placed inside
a metal tube, or other tube, which does not allow hydrogen to pass. The hydrogen
and the carbonic acid coming from the furnace enter at one end of the porous tube,
through which the hydrogen gradually diffuses into the surrounding space, and in
this way the separation of the gases is gradually effected.
As the gases will not entirely separate in passing through the first tube, and the
hydrogen will still contain some carbonic acid, this hydrogen may again be treated
in the same way until it is practically free from carbonic acid.
The cell C, contains two metal boxes M and N, one. M, for the reception of
hydrogen, the other N, for the reception of carbonic acid; O and P, are carbon-
plates, which are each electrically connected to one of the boxes M and N; and Q,
is the vessel, which contains the electrolytic fluid as described above.
The carbon-plate P, contains small holes and the carbonic acid enters the vessel Q,
below the plate P.
It is well known that ordinary atmospheric air may be used as the negative
electrode of a gas battery instead of carbonic acid.
I wish it to be understood that the apparatus herein described and represented
in the drawing is given merely for the purpose of showing how the invention can
be carried into effect and that I make no claim to such apparatus.

page_text: Whatever substance is used for the purpose of oxydation in the dissociation tube,
it is perfectly plain that the real source of power in this process is the fuel, which
is consumed on the grate. The energy generated by the fuel is applied for the
production of the stored up energy of free hydrogen, and the simultaneous pro-
duction of a substance, which can be used as a negative electrode in a galvanic
cell; because a carbon-plate charged with hydrogen is electro-positive compared
with a carbon-plate charged with carbonic acid or an iron plate covered with iron-
oxide.
And in this way the potential energy of the free hydrogen together with the
other products of the process are ultimately used for the production of electric
energy.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The generation of electric energy by first decomposing hydrogen compounds
by means of heat and then applying both products of the decomposition as acting
electrodes of a galvanic cell as hereinbefore described.
2. The transformation of heat into electricity through the agency of water in
connection with metal or carbon, which substances are changed into acting
electrodes on both poles of a galvanic cell, through the action of beat as berein-
before described.
Dnted the 0th day of Ontahan 100%