Hydrogen extraction

1. A method of separating carbon from hydrocarbon molecules, the method comprising:

heating hydrocarbon molecules beyond their boiling point;

decomposing the heated hydrocarbon molecules to generate elemental or molecular carbon and hydrogen gas;

separating at least some of the elemental or molecular carbon from the hydrogen gas;

compacting said separated elemental or molecular carbon with a plunger to form a compacted mass of said separated elemental or molecular carbon;

chemically reacting the hydrogen gas to produce heated exhaust gasses; and

applying some of the heated exhaust gasses, using a heat exchanger, in carrying out said heating.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein: the heating is carried out with a heater having a capability of heating hydrocarbon molecules beyond their boiling point;

the decomposing is carried out with a chamber configured to receive the heated hydrocarbon molecules and to decompose the heated hydrocarbon molecules into elemental or molecular carbon and hydrogen gas;

the separating is carried out with a filter located to separate at least some of the elemental or molecular carbon from the hydrogen gas; and

the applying is carried out with a reaction chamber arranged to produce heat by using the hydrogen gas in a chemical reaction and to communicate some of the heat to the heater via the heat exchanger.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying includes harvesting heat from exhaust gasses from said chemical reacting.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying includes applying heat from a catalytic converter in a path of exhaust gas resulting from said chemical reacting.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heating includes providing heat from an electrically powered heater.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heating includes providing heat from an electric power generator.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heating includes providing heat from a catalyzed chemical reaction.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heating includes providing heat from nuclear decays within radioisotopes.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heating includes providing heat from thermal contact with nuclear reactor components.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon molecules are a fuel and wherein the hydrogen gas is at least partially decomposed into molecular hydrogen.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the decomposing includes decomposing the hydrocarbon molecules at a temperature above 800° C.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the decomposing includes decomposing the hydrocarbon molecules at a temperature above 900° C.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the decomposing includes decomposing the hydrocarbon molecules at a temperature above 1000° C.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the separating is carried out, at least in part, by coating the elemental or molecular carbon on a surface.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising detaching at least some of the elemental or molecular carbon as a coating from said surface by a flexing motion of said surface.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising detaching at least some of the elemental or molecular carbon as a coating from said surface by changing a temperature of said surface.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the separating includes separating at least some of the elemental or molecular carbon with a carbon dust filter that allows passage of at least some of the hydrogen gas.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said separating includes continuously cleaning the filter.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein said separating includes periodically cleaning the filter.

20. A method of separating carbon from hydrocarbon molecules, the method comprising:

heating hydrocarbon molecules beyond their boiling point;

decomposing the heated hydrocarbon molecules to generate elemental or molecular carbon and hydrogen gas;

separating at least some of the elemental or molecular carbon from the hydrogen gas, wherein the separating includes separating at least some of the elemental or molecular carbon with a carbon dust filter that allows passage of at least some of the hydrogen gas, and cleaning the filter with a beater;

compacting said separated elemental or molecular carbon with a plunger to form a compacted mass of said separated elemental or molecular carbon that is urged by the plunger to a compactor system exit;

chemically reacting the hydrogen gas to produce heated exhaust gasses including water vapor; and

applying some of the heated exhaust gasses by using a heat exchanger in carrying out said heating.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein said cleaning is carried out with a beater.

22. A method of separating carbon from hydrocarbon molecules, the method comprising:

heating hydrocarbon molecules beyond their boiling point;

decomposing the heated hydrocarbon molecules to generate elemental or molecular carbon and hydrogen gas;

separating at least some of the elemental or molecular carbon from the hydrogen gas, wherein the separating includes separating at least some of the elemental or molecular carbon with a carbon dust filter that allows passage of at least some of the hydrogen gas, and cleaning the filter with a vibrator;

mechanically compacting said separated elemental or molecular carbon to form a compacted mass of said separated elemental or molecular carbon;

chemically reacting the hydrogen gas to produce heat; and

applying some of the heat, via a heat exchanger, in carrying out said heating.

23. The method of claim 19 , wherein said cleaning is carried out with a vibrator.

24. The method of claim 18 , wherein said cleaning is carried out with a fluid, a gas, or a combination thereof.

25. The method of claim 19 , wherein said cleaning is carried out with a fluid, a gas, or a combination thereof.

26. The method of claim 1 , further including engaging a carbon compactor system disposed to carry out said compacting and disposed to locate the compacted mass into a storage area.

27. The method of claim 26 , further including engaging a carbon compactor system disposed to carry out said compacting and disposed to locate the compacted mass in a storage area.

28. The method of claim 1 , further including fueling an internal combustion engine with the hydrogen gas.

29. The method of claim 1 , further including reacting the hydrogen gas in a reaction chamber.

30. The method of claim 1 , further including fueling a fuel cell with the hydrogen gas.

31. The method of claim 1 , further including fueling a boiler with the hydrogen gas.

32. The method of claim 1 , further including fueling a furnace with the hydrogen gas.

33. The method of claim 1 , further including fueling a water heater with the hydrogen gas.

34. The method of claim 1 , further including fueling a thermoelectric generator with the hydrogen gas.

35. The method of claim 1 , further including fueling a photovoltaic generator with the hydrogen gas.

36. The method of claim 1 , further including fueling catalyzed chemical reaction with the hydrogen gas.

37. The method of claim 1 , further including simultaneously fueling more than one device with the hydrogen gas.

38. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemically reacting is performed while said hydrogen gas is preheated by said heating to a temperature above 500° C.

39. The method of claim 38 , further including making fertilizer from the elemental or molecular carbon.

40. The method of claim 38 , further including making a colorant from the elemental or molecular carbon.

41. The method of claim 38 , further including making a lubricant from the elemental or molecular carbon.

42. The method of claim 38 , further including making a sintered object from the elemental or molecular carbon.

43. The method of claim 38 , further including making an alloy or chemical compound from the elemental or molecular carbon.

44. The method of claim 38 , further including making a fuel from the elemental or molecular carbon.

45. The method of claim 38 , further including making an explosive from the elemental or molecular carbon.