HK1186007A - Ceramic element - Google Patents

Description

Ceramic element

This application claims priority to U.S. patent application serial No. 12/872750 filed on 31/8/2010. This application, as well as all other extrinsic materials discussed herein, are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Wherein a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of heating technology.

Background

Historically, heat generation has been achieved directly or indirectly through combustion or oxidation of chemical fuels, through friction, through conversion of alternative energy sources such as solar or wind power, or through nuclear energy, particularly fission. While each has certain advantages, these technologies consume scarce or increasingly scarce fuels or use renewable but unreliable sources. Nuclear energy via fission has the disadvantage of nuclear waste. What is needed is a heat source that uses an essentially unlimited amount of continuously available fuel.

Accordingly, there is a significant need for methods, systems, and configurations that provide elements capable of producing an energy output.

Disclosure of Invention

The present subject matter provides devices, systems, and methods that can generate heat by forcing fuel to interact with dopants within a material that is permeable to the fuel. One aspect of the inventive subject matter includes a heat generating device comprising a body formed from a porous material, wherein the material is permeable to a fuel. The preferred fuel is sensitive to electromagnetic fields. The body may also include one or more field control points at least partially embedded in the body. The control point may be configured to generate a drive field that causes fuel to flow or move within the body. By including at least one pinch point within the body, the rate of interaction of the fuel with the dopant may be increased. In certain embodiments, the body may comprise a ceramic material in the form of a toroid, wherein the control points cause fuel to flow around the toroid. Another aspect of the inventive subject matter can include a heating system comprising an array of a plurality of heat generating devices as described above.

Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like parts throughout the drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a possible ceramic heating element with control points.

Fig. 2 shows a slide of recent findings supporting heat generation due to fuel and dopant interactions.

FIG. 3 illustrates a graph of generated power versus fuel to dopant ratio.

FIG. 4 provides a schematic diagram illustrating a possible benefit of the shrinking geometry.

Detailed Description

One aspect of the inventive subject matter includes a solid substrate, which preferably includes a ceramic material forming the body of the heating element. In a preferred embodiment, the material constituting the body is permeable with respect to the fuel compound. Preferred fuel compounds are sensitive to the drive field, preferably to an electromagnetic drive field. For example, the fuel compounds may be ionized or polarized. The drive field will then cause the fuel compounds to move. The body preferably comprises one or more control points configured to generate a drive field capable of moving the fuel compound within the body of the element. Also, the material constituting the body may include one or more dopants.

Without being limited to one or more theories, it is believed that the interaction between the fuel compound and the dopant generates heat. The heat generated can be increased by causing the fuel to move within the body under the influence of the drive field. It is also believed that the fuel will be consumed by interaction, resulting in waste that can be removed. It is assumed that this waste material is also valuable.

Inventive aspects of the present subject matter include apparatus and methods for providing energy for an increase in energy release rate, physical feature adjustment, material optimization for quantity and efficiency of heat release, and providing fuel addition and maintenance. Preferably, the released energy is in the form of heat. The inventive subject matter is also considered to include controlling or managing the production of waste material.

Fig. 1 shows one possible embodiment of a contemplated element 100. The body 110 is preferably made of a material that is considered permeable to the fuel compound and includes a dopant. Assuming appropriate conditions have been met, the body 110 may be heated by application of one or more drive fields of the control point 120. Preferably, the control point 120 is in electrical communication with the drive element and is synchronized via the control element. However, it is contemplated that the drive field may include other fields, including ultrasonic (sonowave) pulses, vibratory operation, wave compression, gas pressure, or other non-electromagnetic fields. The drive field forces the fuel compound through the body 110 and over the dopant, which interacts with the fuel compound to generate heat. It is also contemplated that a system including element 100 may include a feedback element that provides feedback information to the control element. The control element may use the feedback information to adjust the drive field in order to manage heat generation.

Other contemplated embodiments of the heating system include providing a fuel inlet that can supply fuel to the body 110, or a waste outlet that removes waste. In certain embodiments, the body 110 may be in a fuel tank. In other embodiments, the body 110 may be partially loaded with fuel, wherein the fuel will be consumed inside the body 110.

It is also contemplated that a coating material may cover the body 110, wherein the coating material is less permeable to fuel compounds. In such embodiments, fuel leakage from the body 110 is reduced by retaining fuel within the body 110.

As shown in fig. 1, the body 110 may include one or more constricted regions 130. The constricted region is considered to be a more tortuous path for fuel flow through the body 110 and causes greater interaction with the dopant. In addition, the constricted region 130 is believed to increase the flux density of the fuel as it is driven by the drive field. The constricted region 130 may be macroscopic, as shown, having a thickness greater than 10^-4Rice size, or microscopic, having less than or equal to 10^-4The size of the rice. The macro-regions 130 may be formed via a suitable ceramic forming process. The micro-regions 130 may be formed by interruptions in the lattice structure of the preferred ceramic.

Although a single constriction region 130 is shown in fig. 1, it should be appreciated that all configurations are contemplated including one, two, three, or more constriction regions 130. The body 110 may include a similar set of constricted regions 130, or may include a heterogeneous mix of constricted regions 130. The region 130 may also be formed by having a variable density of the material forming the body 130. All other configurations or combinations of configurations are also contemplated.

Fig. 1 shows an element 100 in the form of a circular ring with a single constricted region 130. It should also be appreciated that the element 100 may have different geometries to fit the target application. For example, the body 110 may form a rod, block, lattice, or other geometric shape. It is also contemplated that multiple elements 100 may be combined together to form a larger heating element system, possibly in a two-dimensional array or a three-dimensional array.

In a preferred embodiment, the body 110 comprises zirconia, barium cerium oxide, or other material capable of allowing fuel compounds to move through the material. Preferably, the body 110 is configured to withstand high temperatures of greater than 500 degrees celsius without significant degradation, more preferably greater than 1000 degrees celsius, and even more preferably greater than 2000 degrees celsius. For example, a ceramic including zirconia may support an operating temperature of greater than 2400 degrees celsius.

Preferred dopants may include palladium, nickel, thorium or other metal compounds or alloys. Preferred fuels include hydrogen, deuterium, or other isotopes of hydrogen that can be at least partially ionized or polarized. It is contemplated that other fuels may be used in combination with the same or different dopants and the same or different materials used for the host.

In other embodiments, the material comprising the body 110 may include a dopant having additional properties beyond interacting with the fuel to generate heat, one example property including providing a measurable signaling event indicating that interaction has occurred. Dopants that provide such measurable signaling events are referred to as "witnessing agents". The signaling event may include phonon emission, photon emission, or possibly some form of particle emission. Example witnesses may include uranium, thorium, silver, or even other possible agents capable of producing a signaling event when a fuel-dopant interaction is present. It will be appreciated that the signalling event may be used as feedback information which may be used to control the amount of heat generated by appropriate adjustment of the drive field.

The field control points 120 may comprise electrodes of electrically conductive material that are preferably capable of withstanding potentially high operating temperatures. In certain embodiments, the field control points 120 may be configured in a manner that may change state at a desired operating point (e.g., temperature) in a manner in which further reaction is prevented and heat generation is reduced, thereby indicating a fail-safe operating principle. In certain embodiments, field control points 120 comprise a mesh or mesh enclosure embedded within body 110. The number, shape or configuration of the control points 120 may be adjusted as needed for the desired application.

The drive element may be configured to withstand the desired operating voltages and currents required to drive the necessary sites. In certain embodiments, the driving element is capable of providing an operating voltage of at least up to 1000 volts and includes an operating current of at least up to 1 amp. These values should not be considered limiting; all operating voltages and currents may be considered.

In a preferred embodiment, the control elements incorporate an operating program to provide signals to the drive elements and thus to the field control points 120. When a signal is transmitted to the control points 120, an electromagnetic field is generated between adjacent control points 120, causing fuel to flow through the material of the body 110, which in turn generates heat. The control element may adjust the modulation of the field to change various parameters associated with generating heat. For example, the parameters may include one or more of thermal modulation, thermal maximums, stable values and minimums, thermal damping, fuel control, fuel loading, fuel purging, fuel monitoring, and fuel feedback. In a preferred embodiment, the control mechanism and control electrodes acting through the drive element may produce fuel clusters or clusters of fuel to produce a higher fuel density in at least one cluster or region 130.

In certain embodiments, the field between the control points 120 may be controlled as desired to produce a desired movement of fuel within the body 110. The desired field effect may include a rotational motion, a periodic motion, an oscillating or non-uniform motion, or a "super wave" effect on other bases. The frequency component of the motion control signal may be a single frequency or multiple frequencies. In a further embodiment, the characteristic of the control signal may be time varying.

In a further preferred embodiment, a method is provided for providing maintenance or repair that may include the movability of all or a small number of components.

FIG. 2 shows a slide chart discussing recent findings in support of heat generation due to fuel and dopant interactions. As discussed by Kitamura et al in physics letters a at 24.8.2009, deuterium (e.g., D2) has been demonstrated to generate heat in the presence of palladium dopants within ceramic powders or matrices.

FIG. 3 illustrates a comparison of generated energy (e.g., heat) versus fuel to dopant ratio. The power generated (e.g., Pxs) appears to depend on the squared difference between the cross-sectional areas of the build region and the body.

Fig. 4 provides additional detail regarding the benefit of the constriction region geometry with respect to the heat generated. The constricted region 430 of element 400 is graphically represented as having a cross-sectional area X that is greater than the cross-sectional area of body 410₀A small cross-sectional area X. The fuel may be driven through the constricted region 430 by one or more drive fields, such as the rotating field shown.

It is also contemplated that the body may include one or more chambers through which the medium may pass. The medium may be used to capture or retain the energy generated. For example, in embodiments where energy is released as heat, the medium may comprise a liquid that is heated in order to transport heat away from the body. Such a configuration would provide an energy exchange cycle in which the medium carries excess energy away from the body and back after the energy is depleted. Such methods provide applications that may include wall heating, floor heating, or other applications.

Thus, specific compositions and methods of the inventive subject matter have been discussed. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that many modifications, in addition to those already discussed, are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the invention. Moreover, in interpreting the disclosure, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced.

Claims (19)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a body of a material permeable to a fuel, the fuel being sensitive to an electromagnetic field, the material comprising a dopant;

a plurality of field control points at least partially embedded in a material capable of generating a drive field that causes the fuel to move within the body; and

at least one pinch point in the body configured to increase a rate of interaction of the fuel with the dopant.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a drive element configured to cause the field control point to generate the drive field.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising a control element configured to control the drive field via the drive element.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drive field comprises a dynamic field.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the dynamic field induces at least one of a rotational motion, a periodic motion, an oscillatory motion, a non-uniform motion, and a super wave.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a cover material at least partially covering the body, wherein the cover material is partially impermeable to the fuel.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the constriction region is a macro-region.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of constriction regions.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the plurality of constriction regions comprises a heterogeneous mixture of constriction regions.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the constriction region is formed as a result of a change in density of the body material.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a fuel inlet.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a waste outlet.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a fuel tank in which the body is disposed.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising a witness agent capable of generating a signaling event even in the presence of a fuel-dopant interaction.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the field control point is configured to change state at a threshold temperature so as to reduce fuel-dopant interaction.

16. A system comprising a plurality of heating elements, wherein each heating element has:

a body of a material permeable to a fuel, the fuel being sensitive to an electromagnetic field, and the material comprising a dopant;

a plurality of field control points embedded in the material capable of generating a drive field that can cause fuel to move within the body; and

at least one pinch point in the body configured to increase an interaction rate of the fuel with the dopant.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of heating elements form an at least two-dimensional array.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of heating elements form a three-dimensional array.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein at least two of the heating elements share a common control element configured to control a drive field of each element.