Granted Patent B2

US 9,133,552 · App. 14/079,491 · Granted Sep 15, 2015

Abstract

Claims (62)

1. An electrolytic cell comprising:

a containment vessel configured to contain an electrolyte;

one or more electrodes configured to be in fluid communication with the electrolyte and in electrical communication with a power supply for producing a first gas and a second gas via electrolysis of the electrolyte;

a separator configured to be in fluid communication with the electrolyte and to separate the first gas from the second gas;

a first gas collection region in the containment vessel; and

a second gas collection region in the containment vessel and substantially concentric with the first gas collection vessel,

wherein

the first gas collection region is arranged to receive the first gas,

the second gas collection region is arranged to receive the second gas,

at least one of the first and second gas collection regions have an internal volume that is at least partially conical in shape and configured to distribute pressure in the containment vessel produced by the first gas and the second gas, and

at least one of the electrodes has a conical shape.

2. The electrolytic cell of claim 1 wherein the separator is configured to be in electrical communication with the power supply and to function as an electrode.

3. The electrolytic cell of claim 1 wherein the separator:

has a generally helical shape;

is concentric with the first gas collection region; and

generally confines the first gas within an internal volume defined by the separator.

4. The electrolytic cell of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the electrodes includes a first conical section and a second conical section nested within the first conical section.

5. The electrolytic cell of claim 1 wherein:

the electrodes include an anode and a cathode;

the anode and the cathode each have a conical shape; and

the anode is nested within the cathode or the cathode is nested within the anode.

6. The electrolytic cell of claim 1 further comprising an insulative plug separating the first gas collection region from the second gas collection region.

7. The electrolytic cell of claim 1 wherein:

the separator includes an inclined surface defining an inner perimeter and outer perimeter; and

the separator is configured to direct a flow of fluid from outside of the outer perimeter toward the inner perimeter and to contain the flowed fluid within the inner perimeter of the separator.

8. A method for operating an electrolytic cell, the method comprising:

providing an electrolytic cell;

performing electrolysis in the electrolytic cell to produce a first gas in a first region in the electrolytic cell and a second gas in a second region in the electrolytic cell;

providing a first gas collection vessel distinct from the electrolytic cell and in fluid communication with the electrolytic cell;

capturing the first gas in the first gas collection vessel prior to substantial expansion of the first gas;

expanding the first gas;

capturing work generated from the expansion of the first gas;

providing a second gas collection vessel distinct from the electrolytic cell and in fluid communication with the electrolytic cell;

capturing the second gas in the second gas collection vessel prior to substantial expansion of the second gas;

expanding the second gas; and

capturing work generated from the expansion of the second gas,

wherein performing electrolysis includes flowing an electrical current between electrodes disposed within the electrolytic cell, wherein at least one of the electrodes has a conical shape.

9. An electrolytic cell comprising:

a containment vessel configured to contain an electrolyte;

one or more electrodes configured to be in fluid communication with the electrolyte and in electrical communication with a power supply for producing a first gas and a second gas via electrolysis of the electrolyte, wherein at least one of the electrodes has a conical shape

a separator configured to be in fluid communication with the electrolyte;

an insulator defining a conically shaped cavity in the containment vessel and an annular-shaped cavity in the containment vessel separated from and surrounding the conically-shaped cavity,

wherein

the conically-shaped cavity is arranged to receive the first gas, and

the annular-shaped cavity surrounds the conically-shaped cavity, wherein the annular-shaped cavity is arranged to receive the second gas, and

the conically-shaped and annular-shaped cavities are configured to distribute pressure in the containment vessel produced by the first gas and the second gas.

10. The electrolytic cell of claim 9 wherein the conically-shaped cavity has a truncated conical shape.

11. The electrolytic cell of claim 9 wherein the separator is configured to be in electrical communication with the power supply and to function as an electrode.

12. The electrolytic cell of claim 9 wherein the separator:

has a generally helical shape;

is concentric with the annular-shaped cavity; and

generally confines the first gas within an internal volume defined by the separator.

13. The electrolytic cell of claim 9 wherein:

the one or more electrodes include an anode and a cathode;

the anode and the cathode each have a conical shape; and

the anode is nested within the cathode or the cathode is nested within the anode.

14. The electrolytic cell of claim 9 wherein:

the separator includes an inclined surface defining an inner perimeter and outer perimeter; and

the separator is configured to direct a flow of fluid from outside of the outer perimeter toward the inner perimeter and to contain the flowed fluid within the inner perimeter of the separator.

15. The electrolytic cell of claim 9 wherein the annular cavity has a conical shape.

16. The electrolytic cell of claim 9 , further comprising a catalytic filter disposed within the conically-shaped cavity and toward a base of the conically-shaped cavity.

17. The electrolytic cell of claim 9 , wherein one electrode of the one or more electrodes includes the containment vessel.

Assignments (7)