United States Patent 6,443,725
Kim September 3, 2002
Apparatus for generating energy using cyclic
combustion of brown gas
Abstract
An energy generating apparatus using the cyclic combustion of Brown
gas is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a heat generating
unit, an outer wall, a Brown gas generator, an open-shut valve and a burner.
The heat generating unit is positioned on a base. The outer wall surrounds
the heat generating unit so as to define a combustion chamber, is provided
with a discharge hole at its upper portion, and radiates infrared rays.
The Brown gas generator is used to generate Brown gas. The open-shut valve is
positioned between supply pipes so as to block the Brown gas discharged from
the Brown gas generator. The burner is used to heat the heat generating unit
by burning Brown gas supplied through the open-shut valve and the supply pipes.
Inventors: Kim; Sang Nam Hyundai Apt. 202-104, 23-3 Chungdam-
2dong,
Kangnam-ku, Seoul, KR
Appl. No.: 533067
Filed: March 22, 2000
Foreign Application Priority Data
Sep 04, 1999KR 99-37519
Current U.S. Class: 431/2; 126/85R; 126/91R;
126/92AC; 431/7
Intern'l Class: F23C 006/04; F23C 011/00;
F23D 014/16; F24C
015/24;
A61H 033/06
Field of Search: 431/5,170,1,171,202,326,4,7,2
126/8,91 R,92
R,85
R,92 C,92 AC 204/266,270,271,278
References Cited Referenced By
U.S. Patent Documents
558176 Apr., 1896 Huber 126/92.
951060 Mar., 1910 Vanden Driessche 126/85.
978127 Dec., 1910 Brock.
1053695 Feb., 1913 Ash.
1218206 Mar., 1917 Panasevich 126/85.
1362789 Dec., 1920 Hamilton 126/92.
1414360 May., 1922 Hicks 122/155.
1494499 May., 1924 O'Dowd 126/92.
1502200 Jul., 1924 Howlett et al. 126/92.
1784927 Dec., 1930 Coon 431/170.
1970529 Aug., 1934 Walton 431/170.
1978517 Oct., 1934 Wetherbee 431/170.
2093239 Sep., 1937 Furlong 431/170.
2098629 Nov., 1937 Knowlton.
3262872 Jul., 1966 Rhodes et al.
4081656 Mar., 1978 Brown 431/11.
4465455 Aug., 1984 Meyer 431/78.
4828481 May., 1989 Weil et al. 431/7.
5244558 Sep., 1993 Chiang 204/241.
5279260 Jan., 1994 Munady.
Foreign Patent Documents
3838142 May., 1990 DE 431/2.
0101761 Mar., 1984 EP 431/2.
2000-329358 Nov., 2000 JP 126/91.
200174216 Mar., 2001 JP.
WO-92/03686 Mar., 1992 WO 431/2.
Primary Examiner: Price; Carl D.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An energy generating apparatus using the cyclic combustion of
Brown gas,
comprising:
a heat generating unit positioned on a base, wherein said heat
generating
unit is masoned by stacking blocks adjacently perpendicular
lengthwise, with
each of the blocks being made by calcining a block of high
temperature
ceramic whose chief ingredient is Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, in which
each of the blocks is provided with a groove formed in a middle
portion of a
bottom of the block so as to improve the block's capacity to receive
and store
heat, two pairs of through holes formed through both sides
of the groove so as to transmit the stored heat upwards, and
a pair of depressions formed by depressing a top of the block
between the two pairs of opposing through holes;
an outer wall surrounding the heat generating unit so as
to define a combustion chamber, heated by the heat generating
unit and radiating infrared rays and far infrared rays which
have a combined wavelength comprising a range that is
absorbed by water;
a Brown gas generator generating Brown gas; and
a burner heating the heat generating unit by burning Brown gas
supplied from
the Brown gas generator.
2. An energy generating apparatus using the cyclic combustion
of Brown gas, comprising:
a heat generating unit masoned by stacking blocks adjacently
perpendicular lengthwise, with each of the blocks being made
by calcining a block of high temperature ceramic whose chief
ingredient is Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, and being
provided with a groove formed in a middle portion of a
bottom of the block so as to improve the block's capacity to
receive and store heat, two pairs of through holes formed
through both sides of the groove so as to transmit
the stored heat upwards, and a pair of depressions formed by
depressing a top of the block between the two pairs of opposing
through holes;
an outer wall surrounding the heat generating unit so as to
define a combustion chamber, heated by the heating unit,
and radiating infrared rays;
a Brown gas generator generating Brown gas; and
a burner heating the heat generating unit by burning Brown gas
supplied from the Brown gas generator.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to energy
generating apparatuses using the cyclic combustion of Brown gas
and, more particularly, to an energy generating apparatus
using the cyclic combustion of Brown gas, which
generates a great quantity of energy by allowing Brown gas
to repeat a cycle wherein the Brown gas supplied to a sealed
combustion chamber is evaporated and transformed into water
molecules after combustion, the water molecules
absorb infrared rays and far infrared rays radiated from a
heat generating unit and infrared radiating material and are
ionized into hydrogen and oxygen while being heated to a
high temperature due to a self-heat generating phenomenon, and,
thereafter, the ionized hydrogen and
oxygen is
burnt.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, in order to generate energy by burning fossil
fuel, a great quantity of air must be supplied to a
combustion chamber and a great quantity of exhaust gas
is discharged to the atmosphere. The amount of lost
energy contained in the exhaust gas is about 60% or more
of the total generated energy.
In researches into the field of electrolysis, no great
progress has been made since Michael Faraday established
the theory of electrolysis in 1833.
That is, the method of electrolysis was established
and well known, but the method of electrolysis has
not been applied to boilers, heaters, heating
furnaces, etc. for commercial use.
The fact that the method of electrolysis has not
been utilized in commercial
applications results from theoretical and technological
deficiency. The
theoretical deficiency is that the implosion and
thermal reaction
characteristics of the Brown gas have not been known. The
technological
deficiency is that there occur problems including the
leakage of water from a torch tip, etc. while the
electrolytic bath is operated continuously
because the development of an electrolytic bath is
not sufficient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping
in mind the above
problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of
the present invention
is to provide an energy generating apparatus using the cyclic
combustion of
Brown gas wherein a heat generating unit is heated to a temperature
of
1,000.degree. C. or more and an outer wall is heated by radiant heat
radiated from the heat generating unit, so that infrared rays are
radiated
from the outer wall to the outside and inside.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an energy
generating
apparatus that generates a great quantity of energy by forcing Brown
gas to
repeat a cycle wherein the Brown gas supplied to the combustion
chamber is
evaporated and transformed into water molecules after combustion, the
water
molecules absorb infrared rays and far infrared rays radiated from
the heat
generating unit and infrared radiating material and are ionized into
hydrogen and oxygen while being heated to a high temperature
1,000.degree.
C. .fwdarw.2,500.degree. C. .fwdarw.4,000.degree. C.. due to a self-
heat
generating phenomenon, and, thereafter, the ionized hydrogen and
oxygen is
burnt.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an energy
generating
apparatus that does not produce by-products, such as smoke, soot and
odor.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an energy
generation apparatus that does not need a chimney and an air supply.
In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention
provides an
energy generating apparatus using the cyclic combustion of Brown gas,
comprising a heat generating unit positioned on a base, an outer wall
surrounding the heat generating unit so as to define a combustion
chamber,
being provided with a discharge hole at its upper portion, and
radiating
infrared rays, a Brown gas generator for generating Brown gas, an
open-shut
valve positioned between supply pipes so as to block the Brown gas
discharged from the Brown gas generator, and a burner for heating the
heat
generating unit by burning Brown gas supplied through the open-shut
valve
and the supply pipes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the
present
invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a partial cross section showing an energy generating
apparatus
using the cyclic combustion of Brown gas according to an embodiment
of the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view showing the heat generating
unit of
the apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a graph showing the implosion characteristic of Brown gas;
and
FIG. 4 is a graph showing infrared ray absorption ratios of water.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 is a partial cross section showing an energy generating
apparatus
using the cyclic combustion of Brown gas according to an embodiment
of the
present invention. FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view showing the
heat
generating unit of the apparatus of FIG. 1.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an energy generating apparatus using the
cyclic
combustion of Brown gas according to an embodiment of the present
invention
comprises a heat generating unit 20 positioned on a base 10, an outer
wall
30 surrounding the heat generating unit 20 so as to define a
combustion
chamber 35, being provided with a vapor discharge hole 37 at its
upper
portion, and radiating infrared rays, a Brown gas generator 40 for
generating Brown gas, an open-shut valve 60 positioned between supply
pipes
50 and 52 so as to block the Brown gas discharged from the Brown gas
generator 40, and a burner 70 for heating the heat generating unit 20
by
burning Brown gas supplied through the open-shut valve 60 and the
supply
pipes 50 and 52.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the base 10 is made of iron members having
a
sufficient thickness and strength to sustain the heat generating unit
20 and
the outer wall 30. The base 10 is preferably configured to have an
internal
cavity. The base 10 is provided at its top with a mounting hole 14
for
holding and fixing the nozzle (not shown) of the burner 70 and is
provided
at its sidewall with a door (not shown) for maintaining and repairing
the
burner 70.
The heat generating unit 20 positioned on the base 10 is masoned by
laying
blocks 21 alternatively in regard to their directions, with each of
the
blocks 21 being made by calcining a block that is formed of high
temperature
ceramic (having a refractoriness of SK37 or more) whose chief
ingredient is
Al.sub.2 O.sub.3. As shown in FIG. 2 in detail, each of the blocks 21
is
provided with a groove 22a, two pairs of through holes 23 and 24 and
a pair
of depressions 25 and 26. The groove 22a is formed in the middle
portion of
the bottom of the block 21 so as to receive heat radiated from the
flame 77
of the burner 20 and store the heat, the through holes 23 and 24 are
formed
through both sides of the groove 22a so as to transmit the stored
heat
upwards, and the depressions 25 and 26 are formed by depressing the
top of
the block 21 between two opposing through holes 23 or 24 by a depth
of
.DELTA.D.
The infrared radiating material constituting the outer wall 30 should
be a
material that radiates a great quantity of infrared rays and is
preferably
elvan.
Hereinafter, the operation of an energy generating apparatus using
the
cyclic combustion of Brown gas is described.
The Brown gas in the present invention refers to a gas that is
generated in
the electrolytic structures of oxyhydrogen gas generators that are
disclosed
in Korea Utility Model Registration No. 117445, Korea Industrial
Design
Registration No. 193034, Korea Industrial Design Registration No.
193035,
Korea Industrial Design Registration No. 19384266, Korea Industrial
Design
Registration No. 191184 and Japan Utility Model Registration No.
3037633.
The Brown gas is generated in the Brown gas generator 40, is supplied
to the
burner 70 through the open-shut valve 60 positioned between the
supply pipes
50 and 52, and, subsequently, is spouted to the combustion chamber 35
through the nozzle of the burner 70.
At this time, if the Brown gas spouted from the nozzle of the burner
70 is
ignited, the bottom block 21 of the heat generating unit 20 is heated
as the
gas flame 77 is generated. As a consequence, heat is transferred to
the
upper blocks 21 of the heat generating unit 20 through the holes 23
and 24,
and so the heat generating unit 20 becomes red hot. Finally, the heat
(whose
directions are designated by the solid line arrows in FIG. 1)
radiated from
the heat generating unit 20 renders the outer wall 30 to be heated.
Since heat accumulated in the combustion chamber 35 is greater in
amount
than lost heat, the combustion chamber may be maintained to be at a
high
temperature with a small fuel supply. In addition, since the heat
generating
unit mounted in the combustion chamber 35 is directly heated by the
Brown
gas, the entire heat generating unit 20 is heated to be at a high
temperature of 1,000.degree. C. or more as the heat generating unit
20
becomes red hot due to the thermal reaction of the Brown gas.
The infrared rays (whose directions are designated by the long dotted
line
arrows in FIG. 1) radiated from the heated outer wall 30 to the
outside may
be used for the purpose of room heating because the outer wall 30 of
the
combustion chamber 35 is made of far infrared radiation material such
as
elvan and is sealed except for a vapor discharge hole 37.
Additionally, each of the infrared rays (whose directions are
designated by
the short dotted line arrows in FIG. 1) radiated from the outer wall
30 to
the combustion chamber 35 is directed from a portion of the outer
wall 20 to
its opposing portion of the outer wall 20, and so each portion of the
outer
wall 20 heats its opposing portion of the outer wall 20, thereby
heating the
outer wall 20 to a high temperature. In addition, the heat generating
unit
20 not only is heated by the combustion of the Brown gas but also is
heated
by the radiation of infrared rays from the outer wall 30.
As a consequence, the entire heat generating unit 20 radiates
infrared rays
continuously while being red hot at a temperature of 1,000.degree. C.
or
more and at the same time the outer wall 30 radiates infrared rays
continuously while being heated by the indirect heat of the heat
generating
unit 20, so that the temperature of the combustion chamber 35 is
increased
and is maintained high. As time passes, pillars of flames 80 are
generated
in the upper portion of the combustion chamber 35, that is over the
heat
generating unit 20. If the quantity of the Brown gas supply is not
reduced,
the exterior wall of the combustion chamber 35, that is the outer
wall 30
may be melted down.
The operation of the present invention is described in more detail in
the
following.
1. Four Chief Characteristics of Brown Gas
A. Pollution-free Characteristic
Since the Brown gas is generated from water and is restored to vapor
after
being burned, pollutants are not created.
B. Complete Combustion Characteristic
Since the Brown gas is a mixture gas of hydrogen and oxygen that has
a
chemical equivalent ratio of two to one, the Brown gas has oxygen
sufficient
for complete combustion.
C. Implosion Characteristic
The Brown gas generator 40 produces about 1,860 liters of Brown gas
with 1
liter of water. On the contrary, as designated by curve "a" of FIG.
3, when
1,860 liters of the Brown gas is burnt in a sealed pressure
container, a
pressure of 0.5 MPa is reached and immediately an abrupt pressure
drop is
experienced, during the explosion duration .DELTA.T of 44/1,000,000
second.
In addition, as soon as the pressure drop is experienced, implosion
occurs
and at the same time the volume reduction of 1/1,860 is generated.
That is,
1 liter of water is generated and the rest of the volume is
vacuumized. The
phenomenon may be referred to as implosion that is different from
explosion.
In FIG. 3, curve "b" is an explosion curve that is plotted when a
normal gas
is exploded in a pressure container, and is different from the
curve "a".
The gas flame 77 occurring in the combustion of the Brown gas is
generated
by the continuation of implosions. The gas flame 77 progresses
straight
without interruption and forms a pinpoint flame. The length of the
gas flame
77 may reach 400 mm.
D. Thermal Reaction Characteristic
The Brown gas is a mixture gas that includes atomic hydrogen and
oxygen
dissociated from water. In the gas flame 77 generated during the
combustion
of the Brown gas, the atomic and molecular hydrogen and oxygen
reacts. The
atoms of hydrogen and oxygen infiltrate into the atomic nucleus of
heated
material. The material that is heated by the thermal reaction of
hydrogen
and oxygen is heated by the gas flame 77 hotter than flame generated
during
the combustion of gas in the atmosphere. The Brown gas melts aluminum
at
700.degree. C. and evaporates tungsten while generating 6,000.degree.
C. of
heat. The Brown gas that shows various thermal reactions according to
heated
materials can weld the blocks 21 to iron while melting the blocks 21
and the
iron.
2. Combustion and Heat Generating Mechanism of Brown Gas
The combustion process of the molecular hydrogen and oxygen is as
follows:
H.sub.2.fwdarw.H.+H.
O.sub.2.fwdarw.O:+O:
H+O.sub.2.fwdarw.O:+OH.
O:+H.sub.2.fwdarw.H.+OH.
O:+H.sub.2 O.fwdarw.OH.+OH.
OH.+OH..fwdarw.H.sub.2 O+O:
When the electron of OH. is excited and is returned to its original
state,
heat is generated. Additionally, energy generated when atoms are
transformed
into molecules may be utilized.
3. Self-heat Generation Phenomenon by Infrared Rays
FIG. 4 is a graph showing infrared ray absorption ratios of water.
The graph
shows that the absorption ratio peaks at 3 .mu.m of a middle-infrared
wavelength range and the absorption ratios are high at 6-11 .mu.m of
far
infrared wavelength range. In other words, if a molecule of water
comes into
contact with an infrared ray of 3 .mu.m of a wavelength, the molecule
absorbs almost 100% of the infrared ray. At this time, the molecule
of water
radiates a great quantity of energy as heat while the molecule of
water is
excited and the collisions of molecules of water become severe.
The energy generating apparatus of the present invention generates a
great
quantity of energy in the process of allowing the Brown gas to repeat
a
cycle wherein the water molecules generated continuously during
combustion
absorb infrared rays and far infrared rays and are ionized into
hydrogen and
oxygen while being heated to a high temperature due to a self-heat
generating phenomenon and the ionized hydrogen and oxygen is burnt.
4. Function of Seal-type Combustion Chamber
In the energy generating apparatus using the cyclic combustion of
Brown gas
according to the present invention, the four chief characteristics of
the
Brown gas appear. In the apparatus, smoke and soot are not produced
because
carbon does not exist in the Brown gas, and the combustion in a
sealed space
in which an air inlet and a chimney are not needed is possible
because
complete combustion can be performed.
Therefore, since heat accumulated in the combustion chamber 35 is
greater in
amount than lost heat, the combustion chamber may be maintained to be
at a
high temperature with a small fuel supply.
In addition, since the heat generating unit mounted in the combustion
chamber 35 is directly heated by the Brown gas, the heat generating
unit 20
radiates heat as the heat generating unit 20 becomes red hot due to
the
thermal reaction characteristics of the Brown gas and the entire heat
generating unit 20 is heated to be at a high temperature of
1,000.degree. C.
or more.
Since the outer wall 30 of the combustion chamber 35 is made of far
infrared
radiation material such as elvan and is sealed except for the vapor
discharge hole 37, the infrared rays (whose directions are designated
by the
long dotted line arrows in FIG. 1) radiated from the heated outer
wall 30 to
the outside may be used for the purpose of room heating.
Additionally, each of the infrared rays (whose directions are
designated by
the short dotted line arrows in FIG. 1) radiated from the outer wall
30 to
the combustion chamber 35 is directed from a portion of the outer
wall 20 to
its opposing portion of the outer wall 20, and so each portion of the
outer
wall 20 heats its opposing portion of the outer wall 20, thereby
heating the
outer wall 20 to a high temperature. In addition, the heat generating
unit
20 not only is heated by the combustion of the Brown gas but also is
heated
by the radiation of infrared rays from the outer wall 30.
As a consequence, the entire heat generating unit 20 radiates
infrared rays
continuously while being red hot at a temperature of 1,000.degree. C.
or
more and at the same time the outer wall 30 radiates infrared rays
continuously while being heated by the indirect heat of the heat
generating
unit 20, so that the temperature of the combustion chamber 35 is
increased
and is maintained high. As time passes, pillars of flames 80 are
generated
in the upper portion of the combustion chamber 35, that is over the
heat
generating unit 20. The pillars of flames 80 prove that the vapor
generated
by the combustion of the Brown gas is burned cyclically.
The present invention generates energy at a high efficiency in the
combustion chamber that has a sealed structure in which the interior
temperature of the structure can be maintained at a high temperature
with a
small quantity of fuel, using as fuel the Brown gas having the
above-described characteristics.
According to the present invention, the heat generating unit 20 is
heated to
a temperature of 1,000.degree. C. or more by burning the Brown gas,
and
infrared rays are radiated from the outer wall 30 to the outside and
inside
by heating the outer wall 30 by means of radiant heat radiated from
the heat
generating unit 20. In addition, the Brown gas repeats a cycle
wherein the
Brown gas supplied to the combustion chamber 35 is evaporated and
transformed into water molecules after combustion and the water
molecules
absorb infrared rays and far infrared rays radiated from the heat
generating
unit 20 and the infrared radiating material and are ionized into
hydrogen
and oxygen while being heated to a high temperature due to a self-
heat
generating phenomenon. In the process of repeating the cycle, since a
great
quantity of heat is generated by the cyclic combustion of the vapor
and the
Brown gas is burnt, air supply for the combustion and the chimney for
discharging the by-products of the combustion are not needed.
According to the present invention, water can be used as fuel for
commercial
use because there is developed an electrolytic bath that generates
the Brown
gas stably, and the high barrier of an electrolytic technology can be
broken
down because the characteristics of the Brown gas are found and
applied.
In addition, according to the present invention, there is provided
the
combustion chamber that does not need the air inlet and the chimney,
using
the characteristics of the Brown gas, thereby bringing about a
combustion
revolution. The energy generating apparatus can generate a great
quantity of
energy during the repetition of the cycle wherein the water molecules
absorb
infrared rays radiated from the infrared ray radiating material to
the
inside and are ionized into hydrogen and oxygen while being heated to
a high
temperature due to a self-heat generating phenomenon.
The present invention provides a new combustion technique that has
not been
fabricated by prior arts, thereby bringing about a combustion
revolution.
Since the heat generating apparatus of the present invention can
achieve
high temperature, the apparatus may be used as a combustion apparatus
that
should achieve high temperature.
For example, when a water conduit is positioned in the energy
generating
apparatus of the present invention and water is circulated through
the water
conduit, this construction may be used as a boiler. The energy
generating
apparatus may be used as a special waste disposal furnace that should
reach
2,000.degree. C.
Since the outside of the energy generating apparatus is formed of
infrared
radiating material such as elvan, a great quantity of far infrared
rays of a
wavelength range (6-14 .mu.m) profitable to the human body is
radiated when
the heated temperature of the infrared generating material is
maintained at
300-400.degree. C. Therefore, the apparatus may be used for far
infrared
room heating for green houses, chicken raising houses and cattle
sheds.
The inventor of the present invention has commercialized an elvan
heating
furnace that is an application of the energy generating apparatuses
of the
present invention. In the furnace, everybody can observe with an
unaided eye
a surprising phenomenon where the pillars of fire are generated while
water
is burnt.
The present invention may be applied to the elvan heating furnace
that
radiates far infrared rays of a wavelength range (6-14 .mu.m)
profitable to
the human body, thereby improving human health by means of its heat
effects.
The present invention generates clean energy without pollution at a
high
efficiency, thereby realizing the dream of energy generation without
pollution.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been
disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will
appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions
are
possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the
invention as
disclosed in the accompanying claims.
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