Re: MFS: - Metal Fuel System
Zero carbon-emission electrical power, hot water and central heating generator.
Patent Application Number: 0701691.8
Dear Sir,
We are announcing the above patent application and looking to champion this solution; pushing the politicians to do more than just congratulate us on this development [which they have done enthusiastically]; but seize the opportunity to make major CO2 reductions whilst saving the taxpayers money in the process.
? Wouldn’t it be great if we could cut 28% of the CO2 produced in the UK now; and consumers would make a profit whilst doing it? The government has stated a target of a 20% reduction, and we can do more than this target.
? Wouldn’t it be even better if we did this by recycling and the resultant waste product was a valuable non-polluting resource?
? There is no “greener” solution than this right now on the table; able to be actioned now and actually giving money back to the user.
MFS is a generator that recycles scrap materials and makes electricity from RUST and ALUMINIUM CANS. It sounds far fetched and fantasy science; but it is actually proven scientific fact; and good economics. To recycle; make cheap electricity and generate zero carbon emission from one system is the goal we must strive towards.
We have been congratulated on 7th February 2007 by The Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown M.P. and encouraged to find a means to bring this technology to market.
Problem
Global warming is accepted now as an immediate issue and there is an urgent requirement to reduce carbon emission.
We are not going to reduce our usage of electricity; conversely this usage is steadily increasing and we need to accept this. We need to grow the economy and not allow any “green” policies that negatively impact on growth. The population will only embrace changes that either impact on them directly or offer them an advantage. Altruistic change cannot be relied on.
Micro generation schemes using solar, wind etc are not cost effective and are not being taken up by the public for this reason.
The facts are that:-
? British homes account for 33% of UK CO2 emissions.
? Electricity use doubled from 1972 to 2002; and will increase at least 12% to 2010.
? 85% of home power usage is for space heating and water heating.
The potential of this MFS proposal is to reduce UK CO2 emission by 28%- 33% just by changing home space and water heating to a non-carbon producing energy system
Solution: MFS.:- Metal Fuel System
We are able to partially move now from a scarce carbon-based fossil fuel system to an abundant non-carbon metal fuel non-polluting system.
Under our feet; 10% of the average earth is aluminium; and usable as metal fuel.
The technology is available now to utilise the most abundant non-polluting metals on earth as a non-carbon emission fuel.
To achieve this, we utilise the reaction of powdered iron and aluminium to produce electrical energy and heat using the Goldschmidt process.
We have patent pending on a zero carbon-emission electrical power, hot water and central heating generator. Every home and business can fit this generator, [and it could also be fitted to transportation systems such as ships].
A generator that recycles scrap materials and makes electricity from RUST and ALUMINIUM CANS sounds far fetched and fantasy science; but it is actually proven scientific fact; and good economics. To recycle; make cheap electricity and generate zero carbon emission from one system is the goal we must strive towards.
MFS does this and more.
To explain we need to give a quick history lesson.
History
This reaction of RUST or Iron (III) oxide [Fe2O3 ] and RECYCLED ALUMINIUM CANS or Aluminium [Al] was invented in 1893 [patented in 1895] by a German chemist Dr. Hans Goldschmidt. The reaction is consequently called the Goldschmidt reaction.
Dr. Goldschmidt was interested in producing very pure metals by avoiding the use of carbon in smelting, but realized the value in welding applications. The invention uses this non-carbon generating energy reaction to make electricity.
Please bear with the science; however we need to explain the fundamentals of this and why it works.
Using the Goldschmidt reaction we get:-
Fe2O3(s) + 2Al(s) ? Al2O3(s) + 2Fe(s); ?H = -851.5 kJ/mol
This means we get 3.9 kJ/g of zero-carbon energy, and we use this energy to heat water and use the steam to make electricity.
The MFS patent invention is proven, simple, and reliable and requires no new technological leap to get on and effect change now.
Only the willpower to effect change now is needed.
This invention has the following major economic and environmental advantages:-
• Zero-carbon emission energy generation at each business or home.
• Resultant potential tax breaks for the consumer.
• The invention is not oil or gas reliant.
• The fuel raw materials are the most plentiful on the planet by mass, so we will not run out.
• The reactant product is elemental iron and valuable as a steel raw material. It is safe and non-polluting and actually a valuable re-saleable commodity.
• The cost of the raw fuel materials [rust and aluminium] is offset by the sale of the reactant iron product; so the invention should be almost exactly cost-neutral to operate.
• Surplus electrical energy is sold back into the national grid so the home user or business can actually make money out of the invention while staying connected to the grid for backup.
• So adoption of the invention will be by customer demand instead of push.
• Conventional electrical transmission supply loss is around 8% over the cables from power station to user. We save this by micro-generation at the point of use. So the invention gives an additional indirect 8% saving.
• The invention will be an employer; adding jobs to the economy to manufacture the generators, process and deliver raw materials and collect the reacted product.
• The invention can be brought to market fast; making not only an immediate impact on carbon emission; but potentially making the domestic user better off financially by adopting the invention. People will change quickly because it puts money in their pockets.
• The UK can bring this invention to the world first; and take the lead.
How does it work?
The MFS zero carbon-emission electrical power, hot water and central heating generator is powered by abundant low-cost recyclable materials [rust and aluminium] to provide the fuel source to create steam and drive a steam piston or steam turbine, which in turn drives a flywheel which is connected to a generator producing stable AC electrical current. It really is that simple as a concept; with all stages of the technological process established and understood.
This is not fantasy science; only a new invention adding to the application of a 114 year old good idea; and using it in a different way.
Please see the attached patent application where we detail the process clearly.
Notes in support of the invention.
? British homes account for 33% of CO2 emissions.
? Electricity use doubled from 1972 to 2002; and will increase at least 12% to 2010.
? 85% of usage is for space heating and water heating.
Breakdown of home power usage
Consumer electronics 2%
Cooking 2%
Washing machines, dishwashers etc 2%
Lighting 3%
Fridges, freezers etc 3%
Other miscellaneous appliances 3%
Space and water heating 85%
Average annual UK gas heating bill: £450.00
Average annual UK electrical bill: £321.00
Average UK house power consumption 2.5kW.
Average UK house uses 4000-5000 units [kW/h] per year.
Waste Iron cost £1.00 / 1kg
Waste Aluminium cost £ 1.00 / 1kg
The reactant waste material iron that the invention produces is sold on at £1.00 / kg [Industry figures] so the system is almost fuel cost neutral, with only delivery, collection costs and pelletising costs to be added. Quick payback and low running costs should consequently ensure a fast uptake.
Date: 20 November 2006
Patent Application Number 0701691.8
Title
Zero carbon-emission electrical power, hot water and central heating generator.
Background
Global warming is an immediate issue and there is a requirement to reduce carbon emission from domestic and commercial electrical power generation and water heating systems. This invention recycles metals as zero-carbon emission fuel; and produces a marketable metal as waste.
Statement of invention
The invention relates to a zero carbon-emission electrical power, hot water and central heating generator powered by abundant low-cost recyclable materials [rust and aluminium cans] and water. It generates AC electrical power, hot water and central heating hot water for domestic or commercial use; feeding surplus electrical power back into the national grid.
This invention reacts pellets of powdered RUST or iron (III) oxide [Fe2O3 ] and RECYCLED ALUMINIUM CANS or aluminium (Al) powder to provide the fuel source to create steam and drive a multiple expansion steam engine or steam turbine, which in turn drives a flywheel which is connected to an alternator producing stable AC electrical current.
Advantages
• The invention has zero carbon emissions from domestic and commercial electrical power and central heating generation.
• The invention can be integrated into existing electrical and heating installations.
• Fuel pellets simplify the raw material supply and increase safety.
• The invention can recycle waste metals as fuel to create non-carbon emission energy.
• The fuel reaction produces aluminium oxide and free elemental iron which are collected and are saleable raw materials to the metals industry.
Introduction of drawings
An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1: shows numbered layout
Detailed description
Fuel reaction cycle
RUST or Iron (III) oxide [Fe2O3 ] and RECYCLED ALUMINIUM CANS or Aluminium [Al] is powdered and combined into a FUEL PELLET form in the ratio of Fe2O3 powder to Aluminium powder by weight of 2.96 to 1.
Fuel pellets are sized according to domestic or commercial use, and larger commercial fuel pellets cannot be fed into a domestic system due to aperture size control in the fuel pellet feeder chute Fig 1:7.
Fuel pellets are loaded into a feed hopper Fig 1:4 with high /low level sensor Fig 1:5 control linked to the HMI, and introduced through a 180 degree rotating tilt-over fuel pellet feeder Fig 1:6 to the feeder chute Fig 1:7 which is aperture sized to only allow fuel pellets of a maximum defined size to pass through to the reaction chamber Fig 1:8 individually, dependant on demand from the steam boiler thermocouple Fig 1:31.
The feeder chute Fig 1:7 deposits the fuel pellet into a ceramic reaction bowl on the reaction tilt-over Fig 1:10.
The feeder tilt-over Fig 1:6 and reaction tilt-over Fig1:10 are mechanically linked together Fig 1: 11 and turn together so that it is not possible to feed more than one fuel pellet into the reaction area at a time in the single lane variant of the invention.
[A multi-lane variant of the invention is also considered with a pitch-spacing between the reaction points to control cross ignition. The multi-lane variant of the invention enables multiple fuel pellets to be reacted simultaneously.]
The stoichiometric mixture of finely powdered Fe2O3 and Al is ignited by direct heating through the ignition port Fig 1: 9. The ignition source can be by laser; electric arc, or by chemical dosing into the ceramic reaction bowl.
The reaction is self-sustaining after ignition. The reaction temperature will be around 2500 °C; depending on how quickly heat can escape to the surrounding water tanks.
The reaction is as follows:-
Fe2O3(s) + 2Al(s) ? Al2O3(s) + 2Fe(s); ?H = -851.5 kJ/mol
The change in enthalpy of the reaction is ?H = -768.75 kJ with the assumption that both the Fe2O3 and Al are in a liquid state after the reaction. As the reactants cool and solidify they release additional energy, bringing the total reaction change in enthalpy to ?H = -851.50 kJ per 213.65 grams or -3.985 kJ/g.
The fuel reaction produces aluminium oxide and free elemental iron in liquid form which is captured in the ceramic bowl of the reaction tilt-over Fig 1:10. The reaction tilt-over then tilts through 180 degrees, pouring the liquid reactant along a ceramic guide channel in the reaction tilt-over and into a ceramic liquid guide Fig 1:13 which gravity feeds to the indexed-rotating cooling wheel Fig 1:15. The liquid reactant is deposited into ceramic release-shaped bowls Fig 1:14 and cooled through heat exchange with the central heating Fig 1:29 and hot water exchange circuits Fig 1:25. The rotating cooling wheel ejects Fig 1:16 and Fig 1:17 the solid-state cooling iron plug into a removable safety-interlocked Fig 1:23 and level controlled Fig 1:22 waste hopper Fig 1:21. Safety screens Fig 1: 19 close off the waste hopper Fig 1: 21 to allow safe waste hopper exchange.
Steam cycle
The reaction chamber Fig 1:8 is positioned below a steam boiler Fig 1:32; where the water is heated to produce steam. A thermocouple Fig 1:31 in the tank controls the tank temperature by demand loop to the fuel pellet feeder Fig 1:6. Maximum fuel pellet feed-rate is pre-set in the HMI to allow time for reaction of the fuel pellet and heat transfer.
The steam generated drives a piston Fig 1:33 which in turn drives a flywheel Fig 1:34 connected to an electrical alternator / generator Fig 1:3.
The adjustable controller HMI Fig 1:1 is set to various electrical demands against multiple time segments. If the system generates surplus electrical power this is fed into the national grid. If the demand is higher than the HMI time / set-point then the controller will demand electrical power from the national grid Fig 1:35 to compensate and log the data; allowing the user to adjust the HMI demands to reflect actual power usage.
The invention is insulated Fig 1: 18 to contain heat loss.
Central heating loop
A central heating loop can be taken from the heat exchange tank Fig 1:29 with pressure relief Fig 1: 28 and high/ low level control Fig 1: 26, and connected to an existing or new central heating system; and controlled by an existing or new thermostat controller. Increasing the central heating demand will cause the tank thermocouple to demand an increase in the fuel pellet feed to the reaction chamber.
Hot water loop
A water heating loop can be taken from the heat exchange tank Fig 1:25 with pressure relief Fig 1:28 and high/ low level control Fig 1: 26, and used to heat a hot water boiler to a set temperature controlled by an existing or new boiler thermostat. Increasing the hot water demand will cause the tank thermocouple to demand an increase in the fuel pellet feed to the reaction chamber.
Claims
1. A zero carbon-emission energy generator powered by the reaction of rust or Iron (III) oxide [Fe2O3 ] and recycled aluminium cans or Aluminium [Al].
2. An energy generator according to claim 1; fuelled by fuel pellet or mixed powder or rod or ribbon in the ratio of Fe2O3 powder to Aluminium powder by weight of 2.96 to 1.
3. An energy generator according to claim 2 with a feeder tilt-over and reaction tilt-over slaved together or mechanically linked together and turning together so that it is not possible to feed more than one fuel pellet into the reaction area at a time in the single lane variant of the invention.
4. An energy generator according to claim 3, where a multi-lane variant of the invention is also considered with a pitch-spacing between the reaction points to control cross ignition. The multi-lane variant of the invention enables multiple fuel pellets to be reacted simultaneously.
5. An energy generator according to claim 4, where the liquid reactant is deposited into ceramic release-shaped bowls and cooled through heat exchange.
6. An energy generator according to claim 5, where a rotating cooling wheel or conveyance ejects the solid-state cooling metal plugs into a removable safety-interlocked and level controlled waste hopper.
Abstract
This invention reacts pellets of powdered RUST or iron (III) oxide [Fe2O3 ] and RECYCLED ALUMINIUM CANS or aluminium (Al) powder to provide the zero carbon emission fuel source to create steam and drive a multiple expansion steam engine or steam turbine, which in turn drives a flywheel which is connected to an alternator / generator producing stable AC electrical current.
