Hydrogen-oxygen generating apparatus

Abstract

A hydrogen-oxygen generating apparatus includes a plurality of frames each including a main hole and at least one first engaging hole formed along an outer side of the main hole, at least one insulation gasket, disposed between the plurality of frames for maintaining a space between the plurality of frames and for providing a water tight seal and including at least one second engaging hole corresponding to the at least one first engaging hole and at least one electrode plate in electrical contact with at least one of the plurality of frames.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present disclosure is based on and claims benefit of Korean Patent No. 10-2009-0008464 filed on Feb. 3, 2009 and entitled A Hydrogen-Oxygen Generating Apparatus.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a hydrogen-oxygen generating apparatus which makes it possible to effectively generate a mixed gas of oxygen and hydrogen.

2. Description of the Background Art

The apparatus for generating a mixed gas of oxygen and hydrogen is basically directed to generating hydrogen and oxygen as water is electrolyzed. Water with a small amount of electrolytes is inputted into an electrolytic cell with positive and negative electrode plates, and a DC voltage is applied for thereby generating a mixed gas of hydrogen and oxygen which are non-pollution energy sources. At this time, the hydrogen and oxygen are generated at a molecular ratio of 2:1. Hydrogen is generated from the surface of the negative electrode plate in bubble form, and oxygen is generated from the surface of the positive electrode plate in bubble form. The thusly generated mixed gas of hydrogen and oxygen are combustible. Since the hydrogen and oxygen mixed gas does not produce any pollutants, it is considered an environmentally friendly energy source.

However, since the amount of hydrogen and oxygen produced is too small as compared to the electric energy applied to the positive and negative electrode plates, it is needed to mix a sub-fuel such as a propane gas into the mixed gas of hydrogen and oxygen and to burn the same, as a result of which economic productivity is low.

SUMMARY

A hydrogen-oxygen generating apparatus includes a plurality of frames each including a main hole formed in a center portion and at least one first engaging hole formed along an outer side of the main hole. At least one insulation gasket is disposed between the plurality of frames for maintaining a space between the plurality of frames and for providing a water tight seal and includes at least one second engaging hole corresponding to the at least one first engaging hole. At least one electrode plate is in electrical contact with at least one of the plurality of frames, the at least one electrode plate being arranged within an inner side of the at least one insulation gasket and in electrical contact with edges of the main hole of the at least one of the plurality of frames, the at least one electrode plate including at least one electrode hole in an inner side. At least one spacing ring is disposed between the at least one electrode plate and at least one of the plurality of frames disposed opposite the electrode plate and forms a space and electrically isolates the electrode plate from the at least one of the plurality of frames disposed opposite the electrode plate. A front cover is installed in front of at least one of the plurality of frames and includes at least one inlet hole, at least one exhaust hole for exhausting a mixed gas of hydrogen and oxygen, and at least one third engaging hole corresponding to the at least one first engaging hole and the at least one second engaging hole. A rear cover is installed behind at least one of the plurality of frames and includes at least one drain hole for draining water, at least one exhaust hole for exhausting the mixed gas of hydrogen and oxygen, and at least one fourth engaging hole corresponding to the at least one first engaging hole and the at least one second engaging hole. At least one engaging part passes through the at least one first, second, third and fourth engaging holes for interconnecting the front and rear covers and the plurality of frames.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings which are given only by way of illustration and thus are not limitative of the present disclosure, wherein;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hydrogen-oxygen generating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a disassembled perspective view of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is directed at providing a hydrogen-oxygen generating apparatus.

In particular, the present disclosure is directed at providing a hydrogen-oxygen generating apparatus which can obtain a high productivity by increasing the amount of mixed gas of oxygen and hydrogen generated compared to the amount of electric energy used.

In a hydrogen-oxygen generating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the amount of mixed gas of hydrogen and oxygen increases as compared to an electric energy inputted, and it is possible to burn the mixed gas without adding a sub-fuel such as propane gas for thereby obtaining a high economic productivity.

Since the oxygen and hydrogen generated in bubble forms can be easily separated from the electrode plates, the effective surface area of the electrode plates from which electrolysis occurs increases, thereby enhancing electrolyte efficiency.

In addition, heat can be efficiently emitted while electrolysis is performed without using a separate heat radiating apparatus, so the entire construction can be minimized, and electrolysis can be constantly performed.

The edge of the frame positioned in the interior of the insulation gasket functions as a terminal for applying electric power to the electrode plates and as a support for supporting the electrode plates, so that even when the electrode plates are made of weak materials, the electrode plates can be stably and reliably supported.

A more detailed description of a hydrogen-oxygen generating apparatus according to embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 2, an apparatus for generating a mixed gas of oxygen and hydrogen includes a plurality of frames 10 and 10′ which are assembled in a stacked fashion as shown. The frames include a main hole 10a formed in a center portion and a plurality of first engaging holes 10b formed along an outer side of the main hole 10a. An insulation gasket 20 is disposed between adjacent frames 10 and 10′ and allows the adjacent frames to be maintained in a spaced apart fashion while providing a water tight seal. Insulation gasket 20 includes second engaging holes 20b corresponding to the first engaging holes 10b. Electrode plates 30, are each in electrical contact with one of the frames 10 and 10′. The electrode plates 30 are arranged along an inner side of insulation gasket 20 and are in electrical contact with edges 10c of the main hole 10a of the frame. Each electrode plate 30 includes electrode holes 31 in an inner side as shown.

As shown in FIG. 3, a spacing ring 40 is disposed between the electrode plate 30 and the adjacent facing frame 10 and along the inner edge of insulation gasket 20. Spacing ring 40 provides a space which electrically insulates and prevents contact between the electrode plate 30 and the adjacent facing frame 10. A front cover 50 is installed in front of the frames 10 and 10′ and includes an inlet hole 51, an exhaust hole 52 for exhausting the mixed gas of hydrogen and oxygen, and a third engaging hole 50b corresponding to the first and second engaging holes 10b and 20b. A rear cover 60 is installed behind the frames 10 and 10′ and includes a drain hole 61 for draining water, an exhaust hole 62 for exhausting the mixed gas of hydrogen and oxygen, and fourth engaging holes 60b corresponding to the first and second engaging holes 10b and 20b. An engaging part 70 passes through the first, second, third and fourth engaging holes 10b, 20b, 50b and 60b for thereby interconnecting the front and rear covers 50 and 60 and the frames 10 and 10′, respectively.

The frames 10 and 10′ are made of a metallic material such as stainless and alloy steel and each has a main hole 10a in its center portion.

The frames can be configured in various shapes such as a rectangular shape or circular shape. In the present disclosure, the rectangular shape is shown and described.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the frames 10 and 10′ function for applying electric power to the electrode plates 30 and form an electrolysis space sealed by the insulation gasket 20. The plurality of frames 10 and 10′ are in direct contact with air, so that the frames can function as heat radiating plates for radiating the heat generated during the course of electrolysis away from the device.

The edges 10c of main hole 10a in the frames 10 and 10′ are positioned in the interior of the insulation gasket 20 and function as a terminal for applying the power to the electrode plates 30 and also function as a support for supporting the electrode plates 30. Even when the electrode plates 30 are made of weak materials, the edges 10c of the frames positioned at the inner side of the insulation gasket 20 support the entire edge portion of the electrode plates 30. Accordingly, the electrode plates can be stably and reliably supported.

Insulation gaskets 20 space the adjacent frames 10, 10′ apart from each other and insulate and provide water tight seals. The front insulation gasket 20′ spaces frame 10′ from front cover 50 and at the same time insulates and seals. The rear insulation gasket 20″ spaces rear cover 60 from adjacent frame 10 and also insulates and seals. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the insulation gaskets 20, and the front and rear insulation gaskets 20′ and 20″ are made of materials which do not lose their physical properties in the course of electrolysis and are configured in a circular shape. Some exemplary materials include, but are not limited to, Teflon, rubber, acetal, PP, PE, etc.

The electrode plates 30 are positioned in the inner side of the insulation gaskets 20 and are close to the edges of the main hole 10a of the frame 10. It. is preferred that the electrode plates 30 are made of material(s) which can effectively generate electrolysis. For example, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electrode plates 30 are made of carbon nano tube alloy steel. The carbon nano tube alloy steel is made after carbon nano tube is made into powders, and nickel and tourmaline are made into powders, and the mixtures of the same are compressed in the shapes of electrode plates and are molded. As additives, decarbonated potassium combined compound can be added, and a plastic process can be performed at about 1300° C.

The electrode plates 30 can be made of a metal such as stainless steel and can be nano-polished for efficient electrolysis and in order for the bubbles of hydrogen and oxygen to easily detach. The electrode plates 30 can be made of stainless steel, alloy steel or some other appropriate type of material.

The term nano polishing refers to a process in which the surfaces of the electrode plates 30 can be polished smoothly down to the units of nano (e.g., nanometers). Since friction forces on the surfaces of the electrode plates 30 can be minimized through the nano polishing process, the bubbles of hydrogen and oxygen can easily detach. In general, when the sizes of a substance changes from the bulk size to the nano size, the mechanical, thermal, electrical, magnetic and optical properties change. So, it is possible to enhance the electrolysis of water by changing the physical properties through the nano process with respect to the surfaces of the electrode plates 30.

A photo catalyst such as tourmaline can be attached on the surfaces of the electrode plates 30. The tourmaline photo catalyst can be ground powder ranging from micro sizes to nano meter sizes that is molded at 1300° C. The photo catalyst can be attached to the electrode plates 30 using an adhesive or other bonding method. The tourmaline is a mineral belonging to a hexagonal system with a crystal structure like crystal and generates power by friction and a lot of anion, while accelerating electrolysis and generating lots of hydrogen and oxygen. The tourmaline is ground powder and can be molded to manufacture a photo catalyst with a lot of micro pores by which the contact surface area with water can be increased. The electrolysis of water can thus be promoted by attaching the tourmaline photo catalyst on the electrode plates 30.

As shown in the magnified view of FIG. 3, spacing ring 40 is positioned along the inner side of the insulation gasket 20 and abuts electrode plate 30 preventing electrode plate 30 from contacting the next adjacent frame 10 facing the electrode plate 30. Spacing ring 40 thus forms a space between electrode plate 30 and the next adjacent frame 10 facing the electrode plate 30. According to this embodiment, the cross section of the spacing ring 40 is circular. However, the cross section of spacing ring 40 could be another shape such as, for example, rectangular.

The front cover 50 remains spaced from the adjacent facing frame 10′ by front insulation gasket 20′, and the rear cover 60 remains spaced from the adjacent facing frame by rear insulation gasket 20″.

The engaging parts 70 can be implemented in various forms. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the engaging part 70 includes a plurality of bars 71 with bolt ends 71b at both ends. An insulation layer 72 surrounds an outer surface of the bar 71. Sealing members 73 are inserted onto the bolt ends 71b which protrude from the third engaging holes 50b of the front cover and the fourth engaging holes 60b of the rear cover. Nuts 74 engage the bolt ends 71b protruding through sealing members 73 (see FIG. 1).

With the present arrangement, the insulation layer 72 thus allows the bars 71 passing through the first, second, third and fourth engaging holes 10b, 20b, 50b and 60b to be electrically isolated from contact with the frames 10 and 10′ and the front and rear covers 50 and 60.

The front cover 50 and the rear cover 60 are electrically insulated from the frames 10 and 10′ by the front and rear insulation gaskets 20′ and 20″. The adjacent frames 10 and 10′ are also electrically insulated from each other by insulation gasket 20. With this arrangement, the front cover 50 and the rear cover 60 can be used as electrode terminals, and each frame can be used as an electrode terminal. When the front cover 50 and the rear cover 60 are used as electrode terminals, a high voltage of about 300 to 700V and low current of 2˜10 A are applied. In addition, when the frames 10 and 10′ are used as electrode terminals, a low voltage of 1˜10V and high current of 100˜300 A are applied.

With the above structure, water flows into the inlet hole 51 and the electrode holes 31. In this state, when power is applied to the front and rear covers 50 and 60 and the frames 10 and 10′, positive and negative electric charges gather on the surfaces of the electrode plates 30, so that an electric field is generated between the electrode plates 30. Since the electrolyte space in which electrolysis is performed is a space where the electric field is generated, the dimension of the electrolyte space is in proportion to the number of electrode plates 30. Accordingly, an apparatus for generating a mixed gas of hydrogen and oxygen according to the embodiments of the present disclosure which is equipped with a plurality of electrode plates 30, has a large electrolyte space, so the electrolysis is efficiently performed, and the amount of hydrogen and oxygen generated increases.

The oxygen and hydrogen bubbles are mixed and discharged to the outside through the exhaust holes 52 and 62.

A lot of heat is generated in the electrolyte space between the electrode plates in the course of electrolysis. Such heat could inhibit electrolysis, and in rare cases, explosion might occur. However, according to the present disclosure, since the frames 10 and 10′ function as heat radiating plates directly in contact with air, the heat generated in the electrolyte space is conducted to the frames 10 and 10′ and is radiated to the outside through the air. Accordingly, it is possible to radiate and dissipate the heat without use of a separate radiating device, as a result of which the construction is simplified, the manufacture cost decreases, and errors can be minimized.

As the present disclosure may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described examples are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the meets and bounds of the claims, or equivalences of such meets and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A hydrogen-oxygen generating apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of frames 10 and 10′ each of which include a main hole 10a formed in a center portion and a plurality of first engaging holes 10b formed on an outer side of the main hole 10a;

an insulation gasket 20, which is disposed between the frames 10 and 10′ and allows the frames to be spaced apart while providing a water tight seal and includes a plurality of second engaging holes 20b corresponding to the plurality of first engaging holes 10b;

electrode plates 30, each of which is in electrical contact with one of the frames 10 and 10′, the electrode plates being arranged in an inner side of insulation gasket 20 and in electrical contact with edges 10c of the main hole 10a of the frame, each electrode plate 30 including at least one electrode hole 31 in an inner side;

a spacing ring 40 which is disposed between electrode plate 30 and a frame 10′ opposite the electrode plate 30 and forming a space and electrically isolating the electrode plate 30 from the opposite electrode plate 30;

a front cover 50 which is installed in front of frames 10 and 10′ and includes an inlet hole 51, an exhaust hole 52 for exhausting a mixed gas of hydrogen and oxygen, and a plurality of third engaging holes 50b corresponding to the first and second engaging holes 10b and 20b;

a rear cover 60 which is installed behind the frames 10 and 10′ and includes a drain hole 61 for draining water, an exhaust hole 62 for exhausting the mixed gas of hydrogen and oxygen, and a plurality of fourth engaging holes 60b corresponding to the first and second engaging holes 10a an 20a; and

an engaging part 70 which passes through the first, second, third and fourth engaging holes 10b, 20b, 50b and 60b for thereby interconnecting the front and rear covers 50 and 60 and the frames 10 and 10′, respectively.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising;

a front insulation gasket 20′ disposed between a frame facing the front cover 50 and having a plurality of second engaging holes 20b corresponding to the first engaging holes 10b; and

a rear insulation gasket 20″ which is disposed between the frame facing the rear cover 60 and has a plurality of second engaging holes 20b corresponding to the first engaging holes 10b.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said engaging part 70 comprises:

a bar 71 with bolt ends 71b at its both ends;

an insulation layer 72 which surrounds an outer surface of the bar 71;

a sealing member 73 which is inserted onto the bolt ends 71b which protrude from the third engaging hole 50b of the front cover and the fourth engaging hole 60b of the rear cover; and

a nut 74 which is engaged to the bolt end 71b.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said electrode plates 30 are made of carbon nano tube alloy steel.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein surfaces of the electrode plates 30 are nano-polished so that the electrolysis can efficiently take place, and the bubbles of generated oxygen and hydrogen can easily detach.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein surfaces of the electrode plates 30 have photo catalyst material attached.

7. A hydrogen-oxygen generating apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of frames each including a main hole formed in a center portion and at least one first engaging hole formed along an outer side of the main hole;

at least one insulation gasket, disposed between the plurality of frames for maintaining a space between the plurality of frames and for providing a water tight seal and including at least one second engaging hole corresponding to the at least one first engaging hole;

at least one electrode plate in electrical contact with at least one of the plurality of frames, the at least one electrode plate being arranged within an inner side of the at least one insulation gasket and in electrical contact with edges of the main hole of the at least one of the plurality of frames, the at least one electrode plate including at least one electrode hole in an inner side;

at least one spacing ring disposed between the at least one electrode plate and at least one of the plurality of frames disposed opposite the electrode plate and forming a space and electrically isolating the electrode plate from the at least one of the plurality of frames disposed opposite the electrode plate;

a front cover installed in front of at least one of the plurality of frames and including at least one inlet hole, at least one exhaust hole for exhausting a mixed gas of hydrogen and oxygen, and at least one third engaging hole corresponding to the at least one first engaging hole and the at least one second engaging hole;

a rear cover installed behind at least one of the plurality of frames and including at least one drain hole for draining water, at least one exhaust hole for exhausting the mixed gas of hydrogen and oxygen, and at least one fourth engaging hole corresponding to the at least one first engaging hole and the at least one second engaging hole; and

at least one engaging part passing through the at least one first, second, third and fourth engaging holes for interconnecting the front and rear covers and the plurality of frames.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising;

a front insulation gasket disposed between a frame facing the front cover and having at least one second engaging hole corresponding to the at least one first engaging hole; and

a rear insulation gasket disposed between a frame facing the rear cover and having at least one second engaging hole corresponding to the at least one first engaging hole.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said engaging part comprises:

a bar with bolt ends at its both ends;

an insulation layer which surrounds an outer surface of the bar;

a sealing member which is inserted onto the bolt ends which protrude from the third engaging hole of the front cover and the fourth engaging hole of the rear cover; and

a nut which is engaged to the bolt end.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said electrode plates are made of carbon nano tube alloy steel.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein surfaces of the electrode plates are nano-polished so that the electrolysis can efficiently take place, and the bubbles of generated oxygen and hydrogen can easily detach.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein surfaces of the electrode plates have photo catalyst material attached.