Electrical Energy and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1886

page_text: Electrical Energy and to Apparatus therefor.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the direct conversion of heat energy into electrical
energy. Hitherto this has been chiefly accomplished by means of the thermopile
and through the consumption of fuel to generate steam or other prime motor,
which in turn actuates an engine which drives a dynamo.
A thermopile converts heat energy into electrical energy without the inter-
mediate development of chemical energy. The boiler, engine and dynamo, convert
heat energy into electrical energy through the intermediate development of
mechanical energy. My apparatus differs in principle from both of the foregoing
in that. it converts heat energy into electrical energy, through the intermediate
development of chemical energy. So also my apparatus differs in principle from a
galvanic cell which converts chemical energy into electrical energy, the chemical
energy in the case of the galvanic cell being the result of the simple placing of the
ingredients of the cell in proximity so that their affinities are free to act. In my
apparatus, despite the formation of a circuit and the placing together of the
ingredients (this being a proceeding which in the galvanic battery results in an
electrical current being immediately developed) no chemical reaction occurs and no
current is produced. But when heat is applied, and not until then, chemical
energy is developed in the apparatus and the electrical current is generated.
Hence the chemical energy engendered corresponds and is correlated to the heat
energy supplied and the electrical energy, depending on the chemical energy,
through that medium is in like manner (necessary losses incident always to
transformation of one form of energy to another being neglected) correspondent
and correlative.
In order to maintain the development of chemical energy, the supply of heat
energy must be maintained, but the limit of development of chemical energy is
found when the affinities of the elements rendered free to re-act by the heat are

page_text: satisfied, then the apparatus becomes inert, and substantially in like condition to
that of a galvanic cell, a zinc-carbon dilute sulphuric acid cell for instance, when
all the zinc has been converted into sulphate.
When my apparatus has reached this stage, I have discovered that I can
regenerate it and bring it back to its original potential state simply by abstracting
heat beyond a certain limit. The ingredients on cooling develop new affinities and
the consequence is a reaction which brings the apparatus back to its original state;
that is, so that the renewed application of heat will again raise it from the
potential to the kinetic state, causing a new, development of chemical energy and
consequently of electrical energy as in the beginning.
It will be seen therefore that in my apparatus there is substantially no expendi-
ture of material, and that in fact it is a beat engine operating by reason of the
heat supplied to it to yield an electric current until the chemical affinities of its
ingredients, set free to act by the heat, are satisfied; and then by the abstraction
of heat, being caused to return to its original condition ready to become again
operative to yield a current by the renewed application of heat.
The best means which I now know of practically making my apparatus is as
follows:-
Referring to the accompanying drawing which is a sectional view of my
apparatus, A is a containing vessel which is closed hermetically by the cover B.
C is a plate preferably of carbon which rests upon the bottom of the vessel A.
Connected with this plate is a rod D of conducting material which is covered with
india-rubber or other suitable insulating substance E. This rod extends; through
the cover B, and communicates with a binding screw F to which one of the circuit
wires is attached. Upon said plate C, I place a quantity of pulverized metallic tin,
which tin being in contact with plate C, makes electrical connection with it.
G is a plate of carbon which is surrounded with an envelope. H of porous non-
conducting material such as baked porous clay or pottery. Connected to the
plate G is a rod 1 of conducting material surrounded with insulating material J
above said plate. The rod I passes through the cover B and to it is connected the
binding screw K to which the other circuit wire is connected. In the vessel A
and surrounding the plates therein I place a solution of chromic chloride. This
solution I prepare according to a known process of heating together chromic acid,
hydro-chloric acid and alcohol.
My apparatus thus constructed, at a normal temperature gives substantially, no
electrical current that is, if it yields any current at all, the same is very small and
is probably unavoidably due to impurities in the tin or liquid. With chemically
pure materials it should however yield no current at all. On applying heat to the
containing vessel and so raising the temperature of the liquid, a current becomes
manifest and as the result of experiment I have found that the galvanometer
indications obtained are approximately as follows.:--
On heating the cell to 120° Fahrenheit the galvanometer deflection is 2 degrees.
The following table shews the deflections as the heat auginents.
The elevation of temperature should however not be carried above 212° Fahren-
heit; the maximum deflection being obtained at about 207°. I do not mean
to limit myself to an apparatus yielding exactly the foregoing deflections corre-
sponding to the above mentioned degrees of heat, because these may vary somewhat

page_text: depending on the character of the materials used; but in general it may be taken
as fixed, that the temperature should not exceed 212° and that within some 15°
below this, the maximum strength of current is obtained.
In order to prevent the heat exceeding 212° Fahrenheit I prefer to adopt the
arrangement of heating device shewn in the drawing. This consists simply in an
open tank E containing water in which the vessel A is placed. Beneath the tank
I place any convenient source of heat such as a lamp, as shewn. The tank being
open to the atmosphere, the water remains at the normal boiling point, which
under ordinary conditions as well known is about 212° Fahrenheit. In this way
I prevent overheating of the apparatus.
I have already stated that in my apparatus the heat energy supplied, is directly
converted into chemical energy. The immediate effect of the elevation of tempera-
ture so far as I am able to recognize the same is to decompose the chromic chloride,
in the presence of the tin into free clorine and chromium proto-chloride. The
chlorine then combines with the pulverized metallic tin to form tin proto-chloride
and as a consequence of this reaction an electrical current is established through
the liquid and between the metallic tin as one electrode and the carbon plate G as
the other electrode. The carbon plate C is not itself an electrode but serves simply
as a conductor in contact with the tin to lead the current to the circuit terminal.
The heat being maintained the current continues to flow until all the tin is
converted into proto-chloride. The apparatus is then spent or exhausted, all
chemical affinities rendered active by the application of heat being satisfied.
I may now regenerate the apparatus from its present inert state simply by
abstracting heat. This I do by removing the lamp or other source of heat, and in
addition if desired taking the vessel A out of the hot water and placing it in a
cooling medium. As the liquid cools the tin proto-chloride and chromium proto-
chloride react. The chlorine from the tin proto-chloride goes over to the chromium
proto-chloride forming chromic chloride and metallic tin is deposited. This tin
forms by gravity upon the carbon plate C and, by the time the liquid has been
cooled down to normal temperature, the condition of the apparatus is the same as
it was in the beginning; so that it is simply necessary again to apply heat to
cause a current to be generated.
The object of the porous non-conducting envelope around the carbon plate G is
only to prevent any possible deposition of tin thereon. I do not limit myself to
this particular device for the purpose because others may be employed.
In lieu of placing the tin on the apparatus in a comminuted state I may insert
it in a solid state. The reactions will be the same as already described, and when
the apparatus is regenerated the tin will be deposited in pulverulent form. So
also instead of directly putting in metallic tin I may form the liquid of tin
proto-chloride and chromium proto-chloride which immediately on mingling at
normal temperature will deposit the tin, and the remaining liquid will be chromic-
chloride.
It will be apparent from the foregoing that it is not necessary in order to
maintain the apparatus in efficiency as a producer of electricity to replenish the
contents thereof, but that all that is required is to heat the apparatus as above
described to cause it to yield a current, then when the current ceases, to cool it, and
then to re-apply the heat and so on indefinitely.
I have stated that the containing vessel A is provided with a cover B, whereby
it is hermetically closed. This hermetical sealing of the vessel A is not essential,
inasmuch as the apparatus will operate when the vessel A. is open to the atmosphere,
but it is decidedly preferable to seal said vessel, because in time the oxygen of
the air will act on the solution to decompose it, thus impairing the efficiency of
the device.
I have practically operated the apparatus herein described for the generation
of an electric current with which current I have deposited metal, and actuated
electric bells and other electrical apparatus.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is;
First. An apparatus for converting heat energy into electrical energy, containing
the combination of a vessel, two bodies of conducting material and a liquid, the
said bodies and liquid being in said vessel, and a means of heating said liquid;
the said liquid at normal temperature being substantially without chemical action
upon either of said bodies, but when heated capable of chemically reacting on one
of said bodies and so generating an electrical current in a circuit including said
bodies and liquid substantially as described..
Second. An apparatus for converting heat energy into electrical energy con-
taining the combination of an hermetically closed vessel, two bodies of conducting
material and a liquid, the said liquid and bodies being in said vessel, and a means
of heating said liquid; the said liquid at normal temperature being substantially
without chemical action upon either of said bodies, but when heated capable of
chemically reacting on one of said bodies and so generating an electrical current
in a circuit including said bodies and liquid substantially as described.
Third. An apparatus for converting heat energy into electrical energy, containing
the combination of a vessel, a solid body of conducting material, a body of
conducting material in comminuted form, and a liquid, the said bodies and liquid
being in said vessel, and a means of heating said liquid; the said liquid at normal
temperature being substantially without chemical action on either of said bodies,
but which liquid on being heated, chemically reacts on said comminuted body so
generating an electrical current in a circuit including said bodies and liquid,
substantially as described.
Fourth. An apparatus for converting heat energy into electrical energy con-
taining the combination of a vessel, a solid body of conducting material, a body of
conducting material in comminuted form, a body of conducting material in
electrical contact with said comminuted body and with one circuit terminal, and a
liquid, the said bodies and liquid being in said vessel, and a means of heating said
liquid, the said liquid at normal temperature being substantially without action on
said bodies but which liquid on being heated chemically reacts on said comminuted
body so generating an electrical current in a circuit including said bodies and
liquid, substantially as described.
Fifth. An apparatus for converting heat energy into electrical energy containing
the combination of a vessel, a solid body of conducting material, a body of con-
ducting material in comminuted form, a means (such as a porous partition of
non-conducting material) for preventing contact between said bodies, and a liquid,
the said bodies and liquid being in said vessel, and a means of heating said liquid,
the said liquid at normal temperature being substantially without chemical action
on either of said bodies but which liquid on being heated chemically reacts on
said comminuted body so generating an electrical current in a circuit including
said bodies, and liquid, substantially as described.
Sixth. In an apparatus for converting heat energy into electrical energy, the
combination of a vessel A, carbon body Ğ, plate C of conducting material, a mass
of pulverized metallic tin in contact with said plate, circuit .connections and a
liquid consisting of a solution of chromic chloride, the said liquid carbons and tin
being contained in said vessel, and a means of heating said liquid, substantially as
described.
Seventh. In an apparatus for converting heat energy into electrical energy, the
combination of a vessel A, carbon plate G having a porous envelope H, carbon
plate C, a mass of pulverized metallic tin in contact with said plate, circuit con-
nections and a liquid consisting of a solution of chromic chloride, the said liquid,
carbons and tin being contained in said vessel, and a means of heating said liquid,
substantially as described.
Eighth. In combination with an apparatus for converting heat energy into
electrical energy, substantially such as herein described, a receptacle adapted to

page_text: receive said apparatus containing a substance having a boiling point not exceeding
212° Fahrenheit (under ordinary conditions) and a means of heating said substance,
substantially as set forth.
Ninth. In combination with an apparatus for converting heat energy into
electrical energy, substantially as herein described, an open receptacle adapted to
receive said apparatus and containing water, and a means of heating said water,
substantially as set forth.
Tenth. The process of regenerating a spent or exhausted galvanic cell as herein
set forth, which consists in abstracting heat from the liquid in said cell and thereby
causing the liberation from said liquid of an element capable of forming an
electrode and also simultaneously the conversion of said liquid into a substanco
capable of chemically attacking said liberated electrode when the temperature of
said substance is again elevated to a certain point.
Eleventh. The improvement in the art of converting heat energy into electrical
energy as herein before described, which consists in imparting heat energy to a
liquid containing two separate conducting bodies and thereby causing a develop-
ment of chemical energy between said liquid and one of said conducting bodies
corresponding to the heat energy so imparted.
Twelfth. The improvement in the art of converting heat energy into electrical
energy which consists first in combining a liquid and immersed therein separate
conducting bodies, the chemical affinities of the elements of which liquid are
mutually satisfied at or below a certain temperature, at which temperature the
liquid is substantially without action on the conducting bodies; and second,
applying heat to said liquid whereby the same is decomposed and an element
thereof liberated, which element chemically reacts on one conducting body and so
generates an electrical current in a circuit including said conducting bodies and
liquid.