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Chamber for reaction of lithium and deuteriumRelated Patent Categories: Chemistry: Electrical And Wave Energy, Apparatus, Electrolytic, Cells, Plural Cells, Bipolar ElectrodeChamber for reaction of lithium and deuterium description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070170051, Chamber for reaction of lithium and deuterium. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/754,576, filed on Dec. 27, 2005. The entire teachings of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] This invention relates to electrochemical devices, and particularly devices intended to separate elements from electrolytic solutions containing their compounds. Further, this invention relates to a novel method for bringing reactants together apart from the electrolyte from which they are obtained, in a way which can be controlled by regulating the current or pressure. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] One of the most serious problems facing society is our ever growing need for energy, and our almost complete dependence on non-renewable sources, including fossil fuels such as petroleum and coal, to fill this need. If renewable sources of energy could be used to offset some of our stationary needs, such as heating and electrical power, some of the pressure placed on fossil fuels could be relieved. However, the alternative sources of energy we do have are only capable of supplying a fraction of the energy that we use. Further, alternative sources of energy cannot address one of the most urgent needs that we have: how to replace the gasoline, oil, and natural gas we use for transportation. [0004] The recent summary by Hagelstein et al. (see Peter L. Hagelstein, Michael C. H. McCubre, David J. Nagel, Talbot A. Chubb, and Randall J. Heckman, "New Physical Effects in Metal Deuterides", http://www.lenr-canr.org/acrobat/Hagelsteinnewhysica .pdf; December, 2004) cites 141 references of the voluminous effort to understand the effect first reported by Fleischmann et al. in 1989 (see. Martin Fleischmann, S. Pons, and M. Hawkins, J. Electroanal. Chem., 201, 301 (1989); 263, 187 (1990) and Martin Fleischmann, S. Pons, M. W. Anderson, L. J. Li, and M. Hawkins, J. Electroanal. Chem., 287, 293 (1990)). Hagelstein et al. concluded that at least one nuclear reaction, perhaps more, was occurring when deuterium was confined in palladium or palladium alloys such as palladium/silver or palladium/gold, after introducing it electrochemically by electrolysis of heavy water, or physically by introduction of deuterium gas. The evidence was based partly on "excess heat" sometimes produced, which exceeded by several orders of magnitude the amount which could be accounted for by chemical reaction products. The reaction thought responsible was the interaction of deuterons (heavy hydrogen nuclei) with each other. "Excess heat" was not observed when deuterium was replaced with ordinary hydrogen. Helium 4 was thought to be one of the products, but the amounts of helium 4 actually found have been at such a low level that many are skeptical as to whether it actually was a product of some nuclear reaction or just part of naturally occurring helium. In fact no one has yet produced the effect at a high enough power level to dispel these doubts. [0005] Three reactions are known to occur during the bombardment of a target containing deuterium with deuterons, according to conventional physics: .sub.1H.sup.2+.sub.1H.sup.2.fwdarw..sub.2He.sup.4+.gamma.(23.08 MeV); 10.sup.-5 % 1) .sub.1H.sup.2+.sub.1H.sup.2.fwdarw..sub.2He.sup.3(0.82 MeV)+n(2.45 MeV); 50% 2) .sub.1H.sup.2+.sub.1H.sup.2.fwdarw..sub.1H.sup.3(1.01 MeV)+.sub.1H.sup.1(3.02 MeV); 50% 3) [0006] Reaction 1 is presumed to be responsible for "excess heat" when deuterium is confined in a palladium lattice. However, it occurs during bombardment as a very minor fraction of the other two, which predict the formation of neutrons, helium 3, and tritium (hydrogen 3). One would have to assume that in the condensed phase, previously unknown physical phenomena were occurring which would somehow allow Reaction 1 to predominate. Most of the energy would be in the gamma ray. At least some of it would be expected to escape or appear as secondary radiation. [0007] Fleischmann and Pons (see for example Eugene Mallove, "Fire from Ice", Infinite Energy Press, softbound (1999). page 43. Originally published by John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, N.J. (1991)) claimed that their cells were producing 25 watts per cubic centimeter of heat beyond what could be accounted for by chemical and electrochemical reactions. If the heat had come from a deuteron-deuteron reaction with the known branching ratio shown above, radiation from neutrons would have been fatal. R. Petrasso (see in Mallove, page 190) observed that no gamma ray accompanied the formation of "excess heat". [0008] These observations would then suggest that none of reactions 1, 2, or 3, were responsible for the "excess heat". In many of the electrochemical experiments, lithium deuteroxide was present in the heavy water. Palladium and palladium alloys have been used successfully as the cathode to produce "excess heat". Palladium not only absorbs over 600 times its volume in hydrogen gas, palladium is the only metal in its subgroup (nickel, palladium, and platinum) which is also capable of forming solid solutions with low concentrations of lithium near ambient temperature. Appleby (Mallove, page 220) indicated that lithium deuteroxide was needed in order to produce "excess heat". There is therefore evidence that both deuterium and lithium are essential reactants during the production of "excess heat" in at least some electrochemical experiments. The element lithium occurs in nature as two stable isotopes, lithium 6 (7.39%) and the remainder, lithium 7. Lithium metal enriched in lithium 6 may be obtained commercially. Two nuclear reactions between hydrogen (or deuterium) and the two stable isotopes of lithium known to occur during the bombardment of lithium metal targets with either ordinary hydrogen or deuterium are as follows (see, for example, http://www.physics.isu.edu/sigmabase/data/li6.html and /li7.html): .sub.1H.sup.1+.sub.3Li.sup.7.fwdarw.2 .sub.2He.sup.4 (17.25 MeV) 4) .sub.1H.sup.2+.sub.3Li.sup.6.fwdarw.2 .sub.2He.sup.4 (25 MeV) 5) [0009] Neither of these reactions would produce gamma rays, neutrons, .sub.1H.sup.3 (tritium), or .sub.2He.sup.3 nuclei, but only ordinary helium, .sub.2He.sup.4. The cross section for reaction 5 is larger than that for reaction 4, (last reference above) which may account for why "excess heat" has not been observed in ordinary water. [0010] Since metallic lithium reacts with water, an explanation is needed as to how lithium might have found its way from an aqueous electrolyte into palladium to take part in the proposed reactions shown above. When exposed to a solvent or an electrolyte, metallic lithium reacts superficially to form a thin salt film on its surface. This film has been called a "solid electrolyte interphase" (SEI) (see for example E. Peled, "The Electrochemical Behavior of Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metals in Nonaqueous Battery Systems--The Solid Electrolyte Interphase Model", J. Electrochem. Soc. 126, 2047-2051 (1979)). If the SEI is soluble, such as in water, the lithium takes part in a violent reaction. If it is not, such as in many organic solvents including propylene carbonate, the film acts as a solid electrolyte, through which only lithium ions may pass. In the past, hundreds of hours of electrolysis were needed before "excess heat" was apparent (Hagelstein et al., page 2). During this time, the possibility exists that a slightly soluble film of lithium carbonate formed on the palladium cathode, through which lithium was plated. The electrolyte had originally contained lithium deuteroxide, which would eventually have formed slightly soluble lithium carbonate by reaction with carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] The purpose of this invention is principally to provide a better means for facilitating interactions occurring in systems which contain the materials discussed above. The objective is to bring both deuterium and lithium into a metallic matrix at the same time. [0012] In one embodiment, the stated purpose is accomplished through electrochemical means, for example by reducing hydrogen (deuterium) from an aqueous electrolyte into the metallic matrix such as palladium. Yet an aqueous electrolyte seems hardly the only appropriate one to choose to admit lithium into the metallic matrix, since as already stated, metallic lithium reacts with water. [0013] This invention seeks to eliminate this problem by providing a double-chambered electrochemical cell in which each chamber contains a different liquid electrolyte, one aqueous and the other non-aqueous. The chambers are separated by an electronically conductive membrane such as palladium foil, impervious to each of the liquid electrolytes but capable of absorbing both elemental lithium and elemental hydrogen (deuterium). The non-aqueous electrolyte is heat resistant and one from which lithium can be plated. When the membrane is made cathodic with respect to a lithium anode situated in the non-aqueous electrolyte, lithium is electrochemically plated on the membrane from the non-aqueous side. The metal will begin to diffuse into the membrane. When the membrane is made cathodic with respect to an appropriate anode situated in the aqueous electrolyte, hydrogen (deuterium) is electrochemically reduced from the aqueous side. The hydrogen will also begin to diffuse into the membrane. The elements will then meet within the membrane, each free of its respective electrolyte. [0014] In other embodiments, lithium and deuterium can be brought together within a metallic matrix by selecting a solid solution or compound of lithium with metals which are also capable of absorbing hydrogen (deuterium), for example, magnesium to which nickel has been added. The alloy can be placed within a container from which ambient atmosphere is withdrawn, said container then being charged with hydrogen (deuterium) at a measured rate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. [0016] FIG. 1 is a representation of an electrochemical cell constructed according to this invention. Shown in this cross section are the two cylindrical electrolyte chambers, the membrane, for example palladium foil, the Viton.TM. O ring seals as a means for containing the electrolytes within the cell, the lithium anode on the non-aqueous electrolyte side, the inert anode on the aqueous side, the thermocouple for measuring temperature, and the exhaust ports as a means to allow the hydrogen (deuterium) and oxygen generated during electrolysis to escape from the system without mixing with each other, and to allow the equalization of pressure on the non-aqueous side. Not shown are the clamp needed to hold the two chambers against the O ring seals and the palladium foil, and the two constant current DC power supplies needed to run current through each of the electrolyte chambers. [0017] FIG. 2 shows a hollow tube of resilient metal or alloy such as stainless steel, in which is placed an alloy, as a powder or a sintered powder, capable of absorbing both lithium and hydrogen (deuterium). One example is an alloy consisting of magnesium, lithium (preferably lithium 6) and nickel. The tube includes an opening to permit charging the tube with the alloy, and a valve through which air may be evacuated and hydrogen (deuterium) may be admitted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0018] A description of preferred embodiments of the invention follows. Continue reading about Chamber for reaction of lithium and deuterium... Full patent description for Chamber for reaction of lithium and deuterium Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Chamber for reaction of lithium and deuterium patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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