METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN BASED ENERGY AND CLEAN WATER FROM A SALINE OR CONTAMINATED WATER SOURCE

Abstract

A method for producing clean water from a contaminated water source, the method comprising the steps of: a) locating a clean water generating device in fluid communication with the contaminated water source, the clean water generating device including a reaction chamber containing an ionic solution; b) transferring contaminated water from the contaminated water source into the reaction chamber through an inlet in the clean water generating device; c) generating an electrolysis reaction within the reaction chamber; d) removing gas generated by the electrolysis reaction from the reaction chamber through an outlet of the reaction chamber; e) combusting the gas generated by the electrolysis reaction; and f) collecting clean water generated by the combustion of the gas.

Claims

1. A method for producing clean water from a contaminated water source, the method comprising the steps of: a) locating a clean water generating device in fluid communication with the contaminated water source, the clean water generating device including a reaction chamber containing an ionic solution; b) transferring water from the contaminated water source into the reaction chamber through an inlet in the clean water generating device; c) generating an electrolysis reaction within the reaction chamber; d) removing gas generated by the electrolysis reaction from the reaction chamber through an outlet of the reaction chamber; e) combusting the gas generated by the electrolysis reaction; and f) collecting clean water generated by the combustion of the gas.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the contaminated water source comprises a naturally-occurring body of water or a man-made body of water.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein contaminants in the contaminated water source comprise molecular contaminants.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the clean water generating device is configured to float on a surface of the contaminated water source or to be at least partially submerged within the contaminated water source.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the ionic solution in the reaction chamber includes soluble ionic compounds, and wherein a concentration of the soluble ionic compounds in the ionic solution is greater than a concentration of contaminants in the contaminated water source.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein one or more osmotic membrane filters are associated with the inlet.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the water from the contaminated water source flows through the one or more osmotic membrane filters into the reaction chamber by osmosis.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein one or more electrodes are located within the reaction chamber, the one or more electrodes being configured to generate the electrolysis reaction.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the gas removed from the reaction chamber through the outlet is transferred to a gas combustion portion.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the outlet is substantially covered by one or more gas-permeable membranes.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the removal of the gas through the outlet is driven by pressure in the reaction chamber.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the gas that passes through the outlet is transferred to a gas combustion portion via one or more conduits.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the one or more conduits are maintained at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the gas combustion portion comprises a sealed portion maintained at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein combustion products from the combustion of the gas in the gas combustion portion comprise water and energy in the form of heat.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the water produced by the combustion of the gas is collected in a clean water collection portion.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the heat produced by the combustion of the gas is used to drive one or more turbines or motors.

18. A clean water generating device for generating clean water from a contaminated water source, comprising: an inlet configured to be placed in fluid communication with the contaminated water source; a reaction chamber configured to contain an ionic solution and to receive contaminated water from the contaminated water source, the reaction chamber including one or more electrodes configured to generate an electrolysis reaction within the reaction chamber; an outlet configured to permit gas generated by the electrolysis reaction to leave the reaction chamber; and a gas combustion portion configured to combust the gas generated by the electrolysis reaction to generate clean water.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0069] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows:

[0070] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a clean water generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0071] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a clean water generating device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device 10 includes a reaction chamber 11 located within the device 10 and containing an ionic solution 12.

[0072] The device 10 includes an inlet 13 located in a lower surface thereof. The inlet 13 is configured to be located in fluid communication with a contaminated water source 14. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the device is configured to be retained partially submerged within the contaminated water source 14 through the use of ballast 15.

[0073] The reaction chamber 11 comprises a lower cylindrical portion 22 and an upper truncated conical portion 23.

[0074] The inlet 13 is provided with one or more osmotic membrane filters 16 that extend across the entire inlet 13. In this way, water from the contaminated water source 14 may flow into the reaction chamber 11 through the osmotic membrane filters 16 by osmosis.

[0075] A photovoltaic cell 17 is associated with an outer surface of the device 10, with the photovoltaic cell 17 being electrically connected to an anode 18 and a cathode 19 located within the reaction chamber 11. Electricity generated by the photovoltaic cell 17 flows to the anode 18 and the cathode 19 to generate an electrolysis reaction within the reaction chamber 11. In particular, oxygen is generated at the anode 18 and hydrogen is generated at the cathode 19. Oxygen bubbles 20 and hydrogen bubbles 21 rise within the ionic solution 12 and are funnelled towards the outlet 24 of the reaction chamber 11 due to the truncated conical shape of the upper portion 23 of the reaction chamber 11.

[0076] The outlet 24 of the reaction chamber is covered by a gas permeable membrane 25 that permits the flow of oxygen 20 and hydrogen 21 therethrough, but substantially precludes the flow of liquid therethrough.

[0077] Gas that passes through the membrane 25 flow along a conduit 26 to a gas combustion portion 27. In the gas combustion portion 27, the gas is combusted to generate combustion products in the form of water 28 and heat. The water 28 generated by combustion in the gas combustion portion 27 is collected in a water collection portion 29, such as a tank, pond, reservoir or the like.

[0078] It will be understood that the conduit 26 may be of any suitable length. Thus, the gas combustion portion 27 may be located relatively close to the clean water generating device 10, or may be located relatively remotely to clean water generating device 10. Preferably, the clean water generating device 10 is located on the surface of a body of water, while the gas combustion portion 27 is located on an area of land relatively close to the body of water.

[0079] The device 10 is associated with a pair of heat exchangers 30, 31. The first heat exchanger 30 is located on an outer surface of the device 10 and is configured to extract heat from within the reaction chamber 11 so as to assist in keeping the temperature of the ionic solution 12 below its boiling point. The second heat exchanger 31 is used to extract energy from the heat 32 generated in the gas combustion portion 27.

[0080] Energy extracted from heat 32 using the heat exchangers 30, 31 may be used or stored for any suitable purpose. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the energy extracted by the heat exchangers 30, 31 may be converted to electricity and used to provide electricity to the gas combustion portion 27 and/or the anode 18 and cathode 19 and/or a device 33 (such as a motor, turbine or the like).

[0081] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word ‘comprising’ and its derivatives including ‘comprises’ and ‘comprise’ include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

[0082] Reference throughout this specification to ‘one embodiment’ or ‘an embodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases ‘in one embodiment’ or ‘in an embodiment’ in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

[0083] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims (if any) appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.