U.S. patent application number 13/013437 was filed with the patent office on 2012-07-26 for method for producing hydrogen gas on board and on demand for automotive use as a gasoline replacement.
Invention is credited to Jeffrey Gootblatt.
Application Number | 20120186991 13/013437 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46543355 |
Filed Date | 2012-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120186991 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gootblatt; Jeffrey |
July 26, 2012 |
Method for producing hydrogen gas on board and on demand for
automotive use as a gasoline replacement
Abstract
This invention is a method for using electricity to break water
down to its gaseous components of hydrogen and oxygen for use as a
replacement fuel for the gasoline engines currently used in
automobiles. The gas produced by this invention is known as HHO,
but is also referred to as Brown's Gas and hydroxy. This invention
is capable of producing HHO gas in sufficient quantities to be the
sole fuel for the gasoline engine. This invention is designed to be
installed in the automobile so that the HHO is generated as needed.
The invention is scalable to meet the differing fuel demands of
various engines.
Inventors: |
Gootblatt; Jeffrey; (East
Stroudsburg, PA) |
Family ID: |
46543355 |
Appl. No.: |
13/013437 |
Filed: |
January 25, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
205/628 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C25B 1/04 20130101; Y02E
60/366 20130101; Y02T 10/121 20130101; F02M 25/12 20130101; Y02E
60/36 20130101; Y02T 10/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
205/628 |
International
Class: |
C25B 1/04 20060101
C25B001/04 |
Claims
1. Given that fossil fuels are limited in quantity and are
generally assumed to be highly polluting as a fuel source for
internal combustion engines, this invention will alleviate the need
for fossil fuels to be used as a fuel source for motor vehicles
using a gasoline powered internal combustion engine. This invention
uses electrolysis to create hydrogen and oxygen (HHO gas) from a
distilled water/sodium hydroxide solution on demand and in
sufficient quantities to be the sole fuel source for a gasoline
powered internal combustion engine. This invention is completely
scalable based on the size and fuel demand of the engine and the
travel range desired. Scalability is possible by increasing the
size of the individual cells, increasing the number of cells, or
increasing the electrical supply or a combination of all three.
This invention differs from other methods of producing HHO gas
because of the configuration of the HHO producing cells. By
isolating the electrolyte in each cell from the electrolyte in all
the other cells, each cell is able to use all of the electricity to
produce HHO gas without heating the water.
2. A secondary benefit to implementing this invention is that a
large number of components currently installed in motor vehicles
for the purpose of fuel economy and emission standards will be
unnecessary as the combustion of hydrogen in an internal combustion
engine produces, as a byproduct, water instead of hydrocarbons, CO,
CO2, etc. In addition, automotive designers will have more
flexibility in vehicle design because they will not have to provide
the fuel tank protection that is currently required as this
invention produces HHO gas as needed, and does not contain the
10-40 gallon equivalent of flammable fuel that is contained in the
current gasoline tank. Any spill resulting from a collision can be
diluted with water so as not to be a threat to the environment,
people, or animals.
3. This has the benefit of reducing the costs of design,
construction, and maintenance of a motor vehicle.
Description
DESCRIPTION
[0001] The source material for producing HHO is a mixture of
distilled water and sodium hydroxide (lye), though potassium
hydroxide can be used in place of sodium hydroxide.
[0002] Electricity for the electrolysis process is supplied by
batteries which are recharged by a home based plug in battery
charger. The alternator in the vehicle is used only to power the
starter motor and the electrical accessories of the vehicle.
[0003] Travel range of the vehicle powered by this device is
determined by 2 factors:
[0004] First, being the liquid capacity of the device.
[0005] Second, is the amperage capacity of the battery/batteries
installed in the vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1. HHO Generator Cell. This figure shows the design of
the individual cell that generates the HHO gas.
[0007] FIG. 2. HHO Generator Stack. This figure shows the
configuration of the 12 volt assembly of 4 HHO generator cells.
[0008] FIG. 3. Safety Bubbler/Check Valve. This figure shows the
design of the safety device
[0009] FIG. 4. This figure shows how the HHO generator stacks and
Safety bubbler/check valves are arranged to supply fuel for the
internal combustion engine.
[0010] The device is constructed as a stack of cells.
[0011] Each cell consists of a pair of 316 L stainless steel
plates, one anode and one cathode, both of equal size, immersed in
a bath of distilled water with sodium hydroxide (lye) in solution.
Each cell has a working voltage of 3 volts. HHO output is
determined by the size of the stainless steel plates and the
concentration of the water/lye solution. Concentration of the
water/lye solution is enough lye in the water to draw 1 ampere of
current per square inch of anode. If 36 square inch plates are used
then there should be approximately a 36 amp current draw. This
water/lye concentration will vary depending on the size of the
anode.
[0012] Each cell (FIG. 1) is constructed as follows.
[0013] The water tight and gas tight housing (1) should be
constructed from plastic or some other electrically non conductive
material. In this housing is a pair of 18 gauge (1.27 mm) or
thicker 316 L stainless steel plates (2 and 3) held together with
non conductive hardware (8) and spaced 1/16th inch (1.59 mm) apart
by non conductive spacers (9). These plates make their electrical
connections through a gas tight seal to the outside of the housing
(4 and 5). The electrical connections must be sized appropriately
based on the current draw of the cell, which is based on the size
of the anode (2). The housing has 2 ports. One is used to fill (7)
the cell with the water/lye solution. The second is the HHO gas
output port (6). The HHO gas output port (6) is sized according to
the output capabilities of the HHO generator cell (1). Fluid level
and ph sensors (10 and 11) can be used to monitor the electrolyte
level and concentration and with the addition of electrically
operated pumps and valves, automatic refilling of the cell is
possible. Electrolyte level (12) is set so that the anode and
cathode (2 and 3) are completely submerged. Since the most commonly
available batteries are 12 volts, 4 cells are stacked (FIG. 2)
electrically in series for a working voltage of 12 volts. Each HHO
generator cell must be physically isolated from all the other cells
in the stack. If they are not, the anodes and cathodes in the
individual HHO generator cells end up sharing the electrolyte, and
the 12 volts will travel from the anode of the first HHO generator
cell to the cathode of the fourth HHO generator cell, resulting in
low HHO gas output and the excess electricity will be used simply
to heat the electrolyte solution. Fluid and ph level sensors (10
and 11 from FIG. 1) are installed in only one of the cells in the
stack since all the cells in the stack are working simultaneously.
Each HHO generator stack used has it's own fluid and ph level
sensors as not all of the HHO generator stacks will be in use at
all times. HHO gas output from each cell in the stack is connected
to a manifold for a common line to the safety bubbler/check valve
(FIG. 3). HHO Gas output from multiple HHO generator stacks should
be connected to a common manifold for gas output to the safety
bubbler/check valve. This can be a common manifold to all the
individual cells in the generator stacks. The manifold and gas
lines must be plastic as the HHO gas at this point contains trace
amounts of lye which is corrosive to metal. The manifold and gas
lines are sized to allow full flow of HHO gas based on the output
capabilities of the HHO generator cells.
[0014] There are two safety bubblers/check valves (FIG. 3) in the
system. The first is placed very close to the HHO generator stacks.
The second is placed in the engine compartment of the vehicle as
close to the gaseous fuel carburetor as possible. The second safety
bubbler/check valve is placed in the engine compartment to minimize
the amount of HHO gas in the lines in the event of a backfire.
These are constructed as follows.
[0015] The water tight and gas tight housing (15) is constructed of
plastic and is filled with distilled water to the 75% full line.
The HHO gas from the HHO generator stack is piped to the input tube
(16) of the safety bubbler/check valve. This tube extends to the
bottom of the housing and is perforated along its submerged length,
with the topmost perforation being no higher than the 50% full
mark. The HHO gas output port (17) is connected through the housing
and the bottom of the output port is flush with the inside of the
housing. This port is mounted in the housing through a large,
spring loaded rubber plug. In the event of a backfire, the plug
will push against the spring and open the safety bubbler/check
valve and allow the pressure to be released, preventing damage to
the system. Once the pressure is released, the spring will close
the plug again and the system will continue to operate.
[0016] The purpose of the safety bubbler/check valve is twofold.
First, the HHO gas produced by the generator contains trace amounts
of lye. Lye is extremely corrosive to aluminum, which is a common
material in automotive engine construction. Running the HHO gas
through the safety bubbler/check valve scrubs the lye from the HHO
gas. Second, running the HHO gas through the safety bubbler/check
valve isolates the HHO gas flow from the engine by having the gas
bubble through water. This acts as a check valve in the event of an
engine backfire because if the engine backfires, the flame front
will follow the HHO gas line back to the bubbler, but the flame
front will not be able to pass through the water and continue back
to the HHO generator stacks. The purpose of having 2 safety
bubbler/check valves in the system is twofold. First, the HHO gas
gets scrubbed twice and removes all of the lye from the gas.
Second, in the event of a backfire, if the flame front passes
through the first safety bubbler/check valve, it will be stopped by
the second safety bubbler/check valve.
[0017] FIG. 4 shows how the system is configured for an automobile.
HHO generator stacks (18) are connected to the 12 volt batteries in
a parallel configuration. The number of HHO generator stacks
required will vary based on the fuel requirements of the vehicle.
Obviously a 1.6 liter 4 cylinder engine will require less fuel than
a 5.7 liter V-8 engine. The three HHO generator stacks shown in
FIG. 4 are for visual purposes only.
[0018] HHO gas flows from the HHO generator stacks (18) through the
fuel lines (21) to the first safety bubbler/check valve (19) placed
next to the group of HHO generator stacks (18). The HHO gas then
flows through a fuel line (21) to the second safety bubbler/check
valve (20). In this line is a pressure switch (22). This switch
allows one or more of the HHO generator stacks (18) to be shut off
when fuel demand is not high, such as when idling or cruising at a
steady speed. This allows for the system to be operated at a lower
overall internal pressure and also conserves electrical
consumption. HHO gas then flows from the second safety
bubbler/check valve (20) through a fuel line (21) to the gaseous
fuel carburetor (23) mounted on the intake manifold of the
vehicle's engine (24). The engine ignition timing must be set to
approximately 8 degrees after top dead center, though this will
vary somewhat from engine to engine. This is required because HHO
gas ignites very rapidly. If the timing is set to fire before top
dead center as is required for gasoline, the engine will attempt to
run backwards and the resulting backfire will activate the safety
bubbler/check valve.
[0019] This system is scalable and flexible in configuration to fit
the application. Since each HHO generator cell operates on 3 volts,
the HHO generator stack can be configured, for instance, for 6 volt
batteries by constructing the HHO generator stack with two HHO
generator cells in series instead of four. HHO gas output is
scalable by either adding more HHO generator stacks to the system
or increasing the size of the anode and cathode in each HHO
generator cell and increasing the water/lye concentration to
maintain the 1 amp per square inch current draw, or both. Physical
shape of the HHO generator cells or the HHO generator stack is not
important and can be designed to fit in the space currently
occupied by the vehicle fuel tank. Physically, the individual HHO
generator cells can be built into one housing provided that the
electrolyte in each individual HHO generator cell is physically
isolated from the electrolyte in all the other HHO generator cells
in the assembly.
[0020] Travel range can be increased by increasing the number of
batteries supplying the electricity.
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