SYSTEM AND ELECTROLYTIC CELL HAVING PURE METAL CATALYTIC ELEMENTS FOR HEATING A LIQUID ELECTROLYTE

摘要

An electrolytic system (10) and cell (12) for heating water as a liquid electrolyte containing a conductive salt in solution. The electrolytic cell (12) includes a non-conductive housing (14) having an inlet (54) and an outlet (56) and spaced apart first and second conductive foraminous grids (38, 44) positioned within the housing (14). A plurality of conductive particles (36) each formed of a conductive metal which is readily combinable with hydrogen or an isotope of hydrogen to form a metallic hydride are positioned within the housing (14) in electrical contact with the first grid (38) adjacent the inlet (54) and electrically isolated from the second grid (44). The conductive particles (36) may be of any convenient regular or irregular shape, including granular. An electric power source (15, 16) in the system (10) is operably connected across the first and second grids (38, 44) whereby electrical current flows between the grids liquid electrolyte.