[go: up one dir, main page]

WO1992002020A1 - Systeme de production de chaleur excedentaire favorisee par procede electrochimique - Google Patents

Systeme de production de chaleur excedentaire favorisee par procede electrochimique Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1992002020A1
WO1992002020A1 PCT/US1990/006419 US9006419W WO9202020A1 WO 1992002020 A1 WO1992002020 A1 WO 1992002020A1 US 9006419 W US9006419 W US 9006419W WO 9202020 A1 WO9202020 A1 WO 9202020A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
metal
electrolytic solution
deuterium
alkali
lithium
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1990/006419
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Bruce E. Liebert
Bor Yann Liaw
Original Assignee
University Of Hawaii
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from PCT/US1990/004122 external-priority patent/WO1992002019A1/fr
Application filed by University Of Hawaii filed Critical University Of Hawaii
Priority to JP3515841A priority Critical patent/JPH06503881A/ja
Publication of WO1992002020A1 publication Critical patent/WO1992002020A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21B—FUSION REACTORS
    • G21B3/00—Low temperature nuclear fusion reactors, e.g. alleged cold fusion reactors
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin
    • Y02E30/10—Nuclear fusion reactors

Definitions

  • This invention relates to electrochemically-assisted excess heat production. Recent reports of excess heat production in electrochemically-assisted metal-deuterium systems have been attributed to fusion.
  • Nuclear fusion occurs when two nuclei of a light element combine in order to form a single nucleus of a heavier element. Nuclear fusion is the process that causes the sun to shine and a hydrogen bomb to explode.
  • the simplest fusion reactions between two deuterium atoms are to form (i) a helium-3 nucleus and a neutron or (ii) a tritium nucleus and a proton.
  • the nucleus of a hydrogen atom consists only of a single positively charged particle, the proton.
  • a hydrogen atom's nucleus may also contain a single neutron and a single proton to form the hydrogen isotope deuterium.
  • a hydrogen atom containing two neutrons and one proton is the hydrogen isotope tritium.
  • the energy in a helium nucleus is less than the energy in two deuterium nuclei, so that if two deuterium nuclei fuse to form a helium nucleus, the excess energy is released; this is the source of energy for a deuterium fusion reaction.
  • deuterium nuclei are positively charged, they repel each other. Accordingly, in order to induce fusion, this repulsion must be overcome.
  • the first method magnetic confinement
  • inertial confinement attempts to overcome the electrostatic repulsion between deuterium nuclei by simultaneously compressing a deuterium cluster from all directions with powerful laser beams.
  • the third method muon-assisted fusion, involves th ⁇ use of muon particles to assist deuterium fusion. Magnetic confinement and inertial confinement fusions require very high energies or extremely expensive equipment.
  • Electrochemically-assisted "cold fusion” has been attributed to deuterium-deuterium or deuterium-hydrogen fusion within a metal's crystal lattice.
  • metal shall be deemed to mean and include metals and alloys that absorb hydrogen and its isotopes.
  • a deuteride is a compound with deuterium and a tritide is a compound with tritium.
  • elevated temperatures shall mean above ambient temperatures, say 20 degrees Celsius.
  • Metals usually form crystal lattices in which the nuclei of the metals are packed closely together.
  • the crystal lattice of a metal also can have two or more phases, depending on such factors as temperature, pressure and impurities.
  • Hydrogen including its heavy isotopes deuterium and tritium, can diffuse into the interstices of the crystal lattice.
  • a suitable potential is applied to the crystal lattice, the diffusion of deuterium can be enhanced so that extremely high effective pressures or activities of deuterium can be obtained in the crystal lattice.
  • the relationship between the applied voltage and the effective pressure or activity of the deuterium within the crystal lattice can be calculated using the Nernst equation. If the effective pressure or activity of the deuterium is sufficiently great, the deuterium nuclei may undergo fusion or some other nuclear process and produce excess heat.
  • Pons and Fleischmann method of electrochemical fusion has several disadvantages.
  • Pons and Fleischmann employed an aqueous solution, which limits the usefulness of their invention to a temperature range below the boiling point of water (approximately 100 degrees Celsius at 1 atmosphere pressure). This low-temperature operation leads to low efficiency in commercial applications.
  • the Pons and Fleischmann invention requires the use of expensive materials such as Pd and its alloys because the aqueous solution will result in an oxide film on almost all other host metals. This oxide film will normally impede diffusion of the deuterium into the metal. Accordingly, the host metal must be a noble metal that will not form diffusion-impeding oxide films in the presence of water or oxygen.
  • Pons and Fleischmann used a negative Pd electrode which will cause positive deuterium ions and positive alkali ions to migrate to the negative Pd electrode to form alloys with Pd and impede diffusion of the deuterium into the metal.
  • the Pons and Fleischmann invention dissociates its solvent, heavy water, and therefore requires substantial amounts of solvent in order to function, unless recombined.
  • the Pons and Fleischmann invention creates substantial amounts of deuterium and oxygen gas, thereby creating a danger of a chemical explosion.
  • the Pons and Fleischmann invention might not work efficiently with metals including palladium.
  • palladium has two single crystalline phases.
  • Pd as well as many other metals have only one crystalline phase.
  • Each crystalline phase has a different packing density and atomic arrangement and it is therefore unlikely that fusion or other possible nuclear processes will take place under the same conditions for the different crystalline phases.
  • having multiple crystalline phases might reduce the efficiency of any nuclear reaction that was induced.
  • a hydrogen isotope-containing component capable of providing a source of a hydrogen isotope (preferably an alkali deuteride) into a substantially non-aqueous molten salt to form an electrolytic solution, immersing a metal into the electrolytic solution and then applying a sufficiently high electrical potential and current density to the metal and the electrolytic solution to dissociate the alkali deuteride and to force sufficient amounts of deuterium into the metal at sufficient pressures to increase the activity of the deuterium and to initiate the nuclear reaction.
  • a hydrogen isotope-containing component capable of providing a source of a hydrogen isotope (preferably an alkali deuteride) into a substantially non-aqueous molten salt to form an electrolytic solution, immersing a metal into the electrolytic solution and then applying a sufficiently high electrical potential and current density to the metal and the electrolytic solution to dissociate the alkali deuteride and to force sufficient amounts of deuterium into the metal at sufficient pressures to increase the activity of the deuterium and to initiate
  • a liquid salt avoids oxidation of the host metal because of the lack of oxygen and also provides an extremely reducing environment that eliminates any oxides that may form on the metal's surface.
  • Use of a liquid salt also permits a wide range of working temperatures, depending on the particular salt selected. For example, a salt could be selected that was solid at room temperature, but would melt at operating temperatures.
  • the avoidance and elimination of oxidation allows the use of many different metals because no oxide film will impede diffusion of the deuterium into the metal. Thus, less expensive metals can be used.
  • the lack of oxygen also avoids the possibility of a chemical explosion from accumulated oxygen with hydrogen and its isotopes.
  • the ability to use a higher temperature allows the generation of heat at commercially valuable temperatures ar. i also enhances deuterium diffusion into the metal. It als ⁇ allows operation at a temperature in which the host metai . - in a single phase. Because the source for deuterium is the alkali deuter. :• ⁇ dissolved in the liquid salt, the salt can be selected s that dissociation of the alkali deuteride will not dissociate the salt.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic view of an apparatus according to this invention.
  • Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus in Figure 1 through the line 2-2.
  • Figure 3 is a schematic view of an improved mass and energy flow arrangement according to this invention incorporating a lithium deuteride recycling system.
  • Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the lithium deuteride recycling system incorporated into the electrolysis cell. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
  • a crucible 10 (preferably aluminum) is filled with a eutectic lithium chloride- potassium chloride (LiCl-KCl) salt and heated above 350 degrees Celsius (and preferably between 370 and 400 degree Celsius) in an inert gas environment (preferably argon or helium) at atmospheric pressure or greater to form a molten salt solution.
  • the salt could be heated in an evacuated environment or in a deuterium environment.
  • Sufficient alkali deuteride preferably lithium deuteride (iD)
  • iD lithium deuteride
  • the solution is not required to be saturated and is expected to be unsaturated under operating conditions.
  • a transition metal preferably palladium
  • a constant current density (preferably 200 milliamps/cm or higher) is passed at a sufficiently high rate between the electrodes 14 and 16 to dissociate the lithium deuteride and to increase the activity of the deuterium in the positive electrode 14 so that a nuclear reaction takes place.
  • the preferred salt for the practice of this invention is a lithium chloride-potassium chloride eutectic molten salt, the preferred electrolyte is lithium deuteride and the preferred host metal is palladium, as indicated above.
  • the molten salt could be an organometallic salt, an alkali halide, or an alkali hydroxide, and their mixtures.
  • the alkali deuteride could be lithium deuteride, sodium deuteride or potassium deuteride.
  • Group IIA deuterides such as magnesium deuteride, calcium deuteride, or strontium deuteride
  • Group IIIA metal deuterides such as aluminum deuteride
  • the metal also could be a transition metal, such as titanium, palladium, vanadium, tantalum, niobium, zirconium, hafnium, nickel, iron, or cobalt, and their alloys, and intermetallics based on the lanthanum and actinium series.
  • FIG. 3 shows a schematic mass and energy flow chart for a lithium and deuterium recycling system.
  • This recycling is preferably achieved by using tungsten, molybdenum, nickel or iron for the cathode, preferably molybdenum. These metals do not form compounds with lithium and also have very limited solubilities for lithium, so that the lithium will plate on the surface.
  • the excess heat from the fusion cell is used to generate useful electricity. Some of this electricity is used by the cell for electrolysis of the lithium deuteride solution.
  • Unused deuterium- gas evolves from the palladium electrode and, because the cell's temperature is higher than the melting point of lithium, liquid lithium plates on the cathode.
  • the deuterium gas and liquid lithium are recombined to form lithium deuteride. This recombination should release additional heat due to the negative enthalpy of formation and could be used for additional power generation.
  • the lithium deuteride then is recycled through the fusion cell.
  • a separate deuterium gas supply is preferred in order to insure proper formation of lithium deuteride because deuterium will be consumed in the reaction creating excess heat.
  • FIG 4 shows a cell similar to the cell shown in Figure 1, with a lithium and deuterium recycling system.
  • a crucible 20 preferably of the same material as the cathode, namely molybdenum
  • a heating element 24 above 350 degrees Celsius (and preferably between 370 and 400 degrees Celsius) in an inert gas environment (preferably argon or helium) at atmospheric, pressure or greater to form a molten salt solution.
  • an inert gas environment preferably argon or helium
  • a similar system using pure deuterium gas or an evacuated environment can also be employed.
  • LiD lithium deuteride
  • a positive electrode 26 preferably made of torched and annealed palladium, but having a significant horizontal extent, is immersed in the electrolytic solution 22.
  • a negative electrode 30, comprising a metallic sponge (to present a large reaction surface) made of a metal that does not form alloys with lithium and has little lithium solubility, such as tungsten, molybdenum, nickel or iron (and preferably molybdenum) is also immersed in the electrolytic solution but spaced apart from and above the positive electrode.
  • the negative electrode 30 is approximately horizontally coextensive with the interior of the crucible 20.
  • the positive electrode 26 should be electrically isolated from the rest of the cell.
  • excess deuterium D ⁇ that does not react with the positive electrode 26 bubbles upwards into the negative electrode 30.
  • the electrochemically-generated deuterium D- gas that is not incorporated into the host lattice then reacts with the lithium Li to form lithium deuteride LiD, which redissolves into the electrolytic solution 22.
  • a source of additional deuterium S is provided below the negative electrode 30 to react with the lithium Li in the negative electrode 30.
  • any lithium Li that does not react with deuterium D 2 gas in the negative electrode 30 will float to the surface as a liquid because the electrolytic solution 22 is heated above lithium's melting point. Excess deuterium or deuterium from the source S then can react with the lithium Li floating on the surface of the electrolytic solution 22.
  • the palladium used in the cell be torched palladium which has a very porous structure. It appears to be much more effective than other forms of palladium. Any other means to prepare such a porous structure may be obvious in this application and may be usable as well. 1 Industrial Applicability
  • the apparatus and process of this invention have a wide range of applications.
  • these applications include electric power generation, dwelling
  • the applications could include chemical production and materials production.
  • the applications could include vehicles, such as cars, trains, buses, trucks,
  • metals shall include transition metals and their alloys and also shall include elements in the lanthanum and actinium series and intermetallics based thereon.
  • molten salt shall mean and include mixtures of salts. The invention has been described only with respect to single

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Metals (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention utilise une réaction nucléaire favorisée par procédé électrochimique pour produire de l'énergie chimique excédentaire à des températures élevées, en immergeant un métal dans une solution électrolytique comprenant un sel en fusion qui contient un deutérure alcalin et en appliquant un potentiel et un courant à l'électrolyte et au métal pour accroître la diffusion du deutérium dans le métal. Un système de recyclage utilisant des métaux qui ne forment pas de composés chimiques avec le lithium et qui possèdent également des solubilités très limitées face au lithium permet d'augmenter l'utilité de l'invention, en recombinant le lithium avec le gaz de deutérium qui n'a pas subi de diffusion dans le métal. Du palladium flambé ayant une structure très poreuse augmente également l'efficacité de l'invention.
PCT/US1990/006419 1989-04-28 1990-11-05 Systeme de production de chaleur excedentaire favorisee par procede electrochimique WO1992002020A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP3515841A JPH06503881A (ja) 1990-07-20 1990-11-05 電気化学的にアシストされた余剰熱生産方法

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US34467989A 1989-04-28 1989-04-28
US55551790A 1990-07-20 1990-07-20
USPCT/US90/4122 1990-07-20
PCT/US1990/004122 WO1992002019A1 (fr) 1990-07-20 1990-07-20 Production de chaleur excedentaire assitee par electrochimie

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1992002020A1 true WO1992002020A1 (fr) 1992-02-06

Family

ID=27376450

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1990/006419 WO1992002020A1 (fr) 1989-04-28 1990-11-05 Systeme de production de chaleur excedentaire favorisee par procede electrochimique

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO1992002020A1 (fr)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1993017437A1 (fr) * 1992-02-24 1993-09-02 Bush Robert T Procede et appareil de generation de puissance par fusion d'alcali et d'hydrogene
EP0563381A4 (en) * 1991-10-21 1993-11-18 Technova Inc. Heat generation apparatus and heat generation method
FR2708779A1 (fr) * 1993-03-25 1995-02-10 Arnaud Guy Procédé et dispositif pour réaliser la fusion nucléaire d'isotopes de l'hydrogène.
EP1345238A3 (fr) * 2002-03-12 2006-08-09 IKEGAMI, Hidetsugu Methode et dispositif pour generer une fusion nucleaire nonthermal sans recul
US10450660B2 (en) 2014-11-04 2019-10-22 Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, Llc Recovery of tritium from molten lithium blanket

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0392324A2 (fr) * 1989-04-13 1990-10-17 Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. Procédé électrochimique par fusion nucléaire
WO1990013127A1 (fr) * 1989-04-18 1990-11-01 Ceramatec, Inc. Appareil electrolytique pour la dissociation de composes contenant des isotopes d'hydrogene
WO1990013125A1 (fr) * 1989-04-26 1990-11-01 Brigham Young University Fusion piezonucleaire

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0392324A2 (fr) * 1989-04-13 1990-10-17 Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. Procédé électrochimique par fusion nucléaire
WO1990013127A1 (fr) * 1989-04-18 1990-11-01 Ceramatec, Inc. Appareil electrolytique pour la dissociation de composes contenant des isotopes d'hydrogene
WO1990013125A1 (fr) * 1989-04-26 1990-11-01 Brigham Young University Fusion piezonucleaire

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
FUSION TECHNOLOGY. vol. 18, no. 3, November 1990, LAGRANGE PARK, ILLINOIS US pages 505 - 511; ILIC ET AL.: 'Investigations of the deuterium-deuterium fusion reaction in cast, annealed, and cold-rolled palladium' see abstract *

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0563381A4 (en) * 1991-10-21 1993-11-18 Technova Inc. Heat generation apparatus and heat generation method
WO1993017437A1 (fr) * 1992-02-24 1993-09-02 Bush Robert T Procede et appareil de generation de puissance par fusion d'alcali et d'hydrogene
FR2708779A1 (fr) * 1993-03-25 1995-02-10 Arnaud Guy Procédé et dispositif pour réaliser la fusion nucléaire d'isotopes de l'hydrogène.
EP1345238A3 (fr) * 2002-03-12 2006-08-09 IKEGAMI, Hidetsugu Methode et dispositif pour generer une fusion nucleaire nonthermal sans recul
US10450660B2 (en) 2014-11-04 2019-10-22 Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, Llc Recovery of tritium from molten lithium blanket

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
TWI863956B (zh) 磁流體動力氫電力發電機
Fleischmann et al. Electrochemically induced nuclear fusion of deuterium
CN102906925B (zh) 电化学氢催化剂动力系统
Souček et al. Pyrochemical reprocessing of spent fuel by electrochemical techniques using solid aluminium cathodes
HK1245508A1 (zh) 电池或燃料电池系统
Joseph et al. A study of graphite as anode in the electro-deoxidation of solid UO2 in LiCl-Li2O melt
GB2382591A (en) Method of Separating and Recovering Fission Products from Spent Nuclear Fuels
EP0474724A1 (fr) Ameliorations apportees a des matieres
Ashour et al. Communication—molten amide-hydroxide-iodide electrolyte for a low-temperature sodium-based liquid metal battery
WO1992002020A1 (fr) Systeme de production de chaleur excedentaire favorisee par procede electrochimique
Park et al. Electrolytic reduction of spent oxide fuel in a molten LiCl-Li2O system
KR20020092368A (ko) 비평형 조건하의 저온 핵융합
Li et al. Development of a highly stable indium-tin alloy cathode system for enhanced selective separation of europium/dysprosium fission products in molten chloride
US3879228A (en) Photo-regenerative electrochemical energy converter
EP0540694A1 (fr) Systeme de production de chaleur excedentaire favorisee par procede electrochimique
Teprovich Jr et al. Electrochemical extraction of hydrogen isotopes from Li/LiT mixtures
Melchakov et al. Separation of uranium and lanthanides in a fused salt–liquid gallium based alloy system
EP0461690A2 (fr) Générateur de chaleur utilisant la fusion nucléaire froide
WO1991006959A2 (fr) Milieux pour fusion a l'etat solide
US20080205572A1 (en) Apparatus and process for generating nuclear heat
WO1993014503A1 (fr) Procede de production d'energie fonde sur l'affaissement gravitationnel
WO1990013897A1 (fr) Cellule de conversion d'energie au deuterium-lithium
Konishi et al. Electrochemical formation and phase control of La-Ni alloy films in LiCl-KCl eutectic melts
Kobayashi et al. Electrorefining experiments to recover uranium with a cadmium-lithium anode and their theoretical evaluation
Handel Intermittency, irreproducibility, and the main physical effects in cold fusion

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT AU BB BG BR CA CH DE DK ES FI GB HU JP KP KR LK LU MC MG MW NL NO RO SD SE SU US

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE BF BJ CF CG CH CM DE DK ES FR GA GB GR IT LU ML MR NL SE SN TD TG

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2087088

Country of ref document: CA

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 1991917280

Country of ref document: EP

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 1991917280

Country of ref document: EP

REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Ref document number: 1991917280

Country of ref document: EP