Patent ID: 7897022

Claim:
An apparatus for liberating hydrogen from a base solution, comprising: a cell chamber configured to receive the base solution through an inlet of the cell chamber; the cell chamber defined by a first electrode on one end, and a second electrode on a second end opposing the first electrode; the first and second electrodes being spaced apart from each other substantially along the length of the cell chamber; wherein the first electrode is electrically isolated from the second electrode; and one or more inner electrode plates disposed in the cell chamber in between the first and second electrodes; the one or more inner electrode plates being spaced apart and electrically isolated from each other and the first and second electrodes to form individual cell compartments at least partially along the length of the cell chamber; wherein the individual cell compartments are configured to allow the base solution to pass through the cell compartments along the length of the cell chamber; wherein the base solution passes through each of the cell compartments concurrently in parallel toward an outlet located on an opposing side of the cell chamber from the inlet; wherein the first and second electrodes are configured to receive opposite polarity charges to form an electrolytic chemical reaction in the base solution as the base solution passes through the cell chamber; and wherein the base solution is configured to flow out of said outlet to a return line in communication with said outlet; wherein at least a portion of the base solution passing through the return line is directed back into to the inlet to pass back through the cell; a first junction in communication with the outlet; the first junction configured to direct flow from the outlet into first and second bifurcated lines; wherein the first bifurcated line directs flow into the return line; wherein the first junction is configured such that density differentials between the base solution and the liberated hydrogen are passively separated so that the hydrogen is directed into the second bifurcated line and the base solution is directed into the first bifurcated line; and a second junction disposed along the return line between the first junction and the inlet of the cell chamber; the second junction configured to bifurcate the flow of the base solution in the return line so that a first portion of the base solution is redirected into the inlet of the cell chamber and a second portion of the base solution is directed into a feed tube of a second electrolytic cell.