Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to a reforming chamber housing a hydrocarbon-water mixture and receiving a control voltage signal to cause molecular breakdown of the mixture and create a feed of hydrogen and carbon dioxide that can be supplied to fuel cells. The reforming chamber includes multiple electrodes positioned across from a ground plane inside a cylindrical support structure. An input tube receives and directs the mixture to the vertical cavity where the mixture rises past the electrodes. Mixture that is not broken down is recycled back to the bottom of the vertical cavity by a fan while the resultant hydrogen and carbon dioxide is allowed to rise to a trap that separates the hydrogen from the carbon dioxide. The hydrogen can then be directed to the fuel cells or other hydrogen-dependent devices.

Abstract: A circuit applies an electric field to a reforming chamber housing a hydrocarbon-water mixture to cause molecular breakdown and create a feed of hydrogen and carbon and dioxide that can be supplied to fuel cells. The circuit includes a DC-to-DC converter, a DC-to-AC inverter and a transformer to transform available input voltage to a control voltage that can be used to apply the electric field to the mixture in the reforming chamber. The signal supplied to the DC-to-AC inverter is monitored to determine whether enough voltage is supplied to create an electrical discharge in the reforming chamber. If an electrical discharge exists, the variables to the circuit is left alone or decreased until the signal indicates the electrical discharge is no longer present. If no electrical discharge exists, the variable input voltage is increased until an electrical discharge is detected.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to a reforming chamber housing a hydrocarbon-water mixture and receiving a control voltage signal to cause molecular breakdown of the mixture and create a feed of hydrogen and carbon and dioxide that can be supplied to fuel cells. The reforming chamber includes multiple electrodes positioned across from a ground plane inside a cylindrical support structure. An input tube receives and directs the mixture to the vertical cavity where the mixture rises past the electrodes. Mixture that is not broken down is recycled back to the bottom of the vertical cavity by a fan while the resultant hydrogen and carbon dioxide is allowed to rise to a trap that separates the hydrogen from the carbon dioxide. The hydrogen can then be directed to the fuel cells or other hydrogen-dependent devices.

Abstract: A circuit applies an electric field to a reforming chamber housing a hydrocarbon-water mixture to cause molecular breakdown and create a feed of hydrogen and carbon and dioxide that can be supplied to fuel cells. The circuit includes a DC-to-DC converter, a DC-to-AC inverter and a transformer to transform available input voltage to a control voltage that can be used to apply the electric field to the mixture in the reforming chamber. The signal supplied to the DC-to-AC inverter is monitored to determine whether enough voltage is supplied to create an electrical discharge in the reforming chamber. If an electrical discharge exists, the variables to the circuit is left alone or decreased until the signal indicates the electrical discharge is no longer present. If no electrical discharge exists, the variable input voltage is increased until an electrical discharge is detected.