American Gas Association

Gas Research Institute

Institute of Gas Technology

Jon B Pangborn

John C Sharer

Robert H Elkins

Mono M Mazumder

Stephen E Foh

James R Dafler

A thermoelectrochemical process for production of hydrogen and oxygen from water providing a closed cycle reactant regenerative process wherein the primary energy input is thermal and a smaller electrical energy input is required for an electrolysis step. The process is a hybrid copper oxide-copper sulfate water splitting cycle using copper oxide reactant in the reactions producing both hydrogen and oxygen providing two phase reaction products in each step.

Thermoelectrochemical process using copper oxide for producing hydrogen

A process and apparatus for energy storage wherein thermal energy from solar or waste heat derived sources is passed in thermal exchange relation with a hydrated inorganic salt, such as calcium sulfate, endothermically dehydrating the salt thereby storing chemical energy and releasing the stored energy as heat by passing water under hydration conditions in contact with the salt exothermically hydrating the salt. The released thermal energy is substantially isothermal and available for any desired use involving thermal energy input. The process and apparatus of this invention is particularly suited to utilization of solar derived thermal energy.

Energy storage by salt hydration

A thermoelectrochemical process for production of hydrogen and oxygen from water providing a closed cycle reactant regenerative process wherein the primary energy input is thermal and a smaller electrical energy input is required for an electrolysis step. The process is a hybrid copper oxide-copper sulfate water splitting cycle.

Thermoelectrochemical process using copper sulfate for producing

A process for the production of hydrogen and oxygen from water comprising the steps of forming ferric chloride from ferriferrous oxide by reaction with a chloride ion yielding substance, thermally reducing the ferric chloride to produce ferrous chloride, reducing the ferrous chloride to metallic iron, then oxidizing the metallic iron with water so as to produce hydrogen. The metallic iron may be formed by reducing the ferrous compound with hydrogen. Two specific reactant regenerative closed cycle systems are disclosed utilizing the process of this invention for the production of hydrogen and oxygen.

Process for producing hydrogen and oxygen from water

A process for the production of hydrogen and oxygen from water comprising the steps of forming ferric chloride from ferriferrous oxide by reaction with a chloride ion yielding substance, reducing the ferric chloride produced with a reducing agent to produce ferrous chloride, thermally reducing the ferric chloride to produce ferrous chloride, then oxidizing either the ferrous compound or metallic iron with water so as to produce hydrogen. The metallic iron may be formed by reducing the ferrous compound with hydrogen. Four specific reactant regenerative closed cycle systems are disclosed utilizing the process of this invention for the production of hydrogen with high energy efficiencies.

A catalytic fluid heater formed of a number of nested fluid heating chambers spaced from one another to provide therebetween a heating zone having a chimney effect such that a mixture of fuel gas and air is caused to flow through the heating zone from the bottom to the top thereof. A catalyzed surface is disposed in contact with the walls of adjacent ones of the fluid heating chambers. A fuel gas, preferably hydrogen, is delivered to the heating zones, mixed with air and combusted on the catalyzed walls. The combustion product, in such cases, is primarily water vapor, so that external venting is not required.

Catalytic fluid heater

A process for the production of hydrogen and oxygen from water comprising the steps of forming ferric chloride from ferriferrous oxide by reaction with a chloride ion yielding substance, reducing the ferric chloride produced with a reducing agent to produce ferrous chloride, and then oxidizing the ferrous compound with water so as to produce hydrogen. Suitable reducing agents include cuprous chloride, chromous chloride and platinum. Several reactant regenerative closed cycle systems are disclosed utilizing the process of this invention for the production of hydrogen with high energy efficiences.

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Lisle, IL, United States of America

Jon B Pangborn