Ruggero M. Santilli: Magnegas / Aquafuel ~ US Patents &
articles


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**[rexresearch.com](../index.htm)**

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**Ruggero M.
SANTILLI**

**Magnegas / Aquafuel**

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**[SANTILLI,
Rugero : Isodual Theory of Antimatter](SantilliIsodualTheoryAntimatter.pdf)  ( w/
applications to Antigravity, Grand Unification, & Cosmology**


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**Santilli's Magnegas Corp.   
<http://www.santillimagnegas.com/index.htm>** **[R. Santilli: US Patent # 6,183,604 ~ Production
of a Combustible and Non-Pollutant Gas from Underwater Arcs...](#6183)**
  
 **[Ruggero Santilli: US
Patent # 6,540,966 ~ Apparatus and Method for Recycling
Contaminated Liquids](6540966.htm)**   
 **[William H. Richardson,
Jr.: US Patent # 6,299,736 ~ Fuel Gas Production by Underwater
Arcing](6299738.htm)**   
 **[W. Richardson, Jr.: US
Patent # 5,792,325 ~ Electric Arc Material Processing System](5792325.htm)**
  
 **[W. Richardson, Jr.: US
Patent # 5,692,459 ~ Pollution-Free Vehicle Operation](5692459.htm)**
  
 **[W. Richardson, Jr.: US
Patent # 5,435,274 ~ Electrical Power Generation Without
Harmful Emissions](5435274.htm)**   
 **"Recycling Liquid Wastes and Crude Oil into MagneGas and
MagneHydrogen":   
<http://magnegas.com/technology/part1.htm>**  
 **Santilli's Scientific Papers:   
<http://www.i-b-r.org/ir00022.htm>**
  
 **Blaze Labs Aquafuel Generator Report:   
<http://www.blazelabs.com>**  
 **J-L. Naudin Labs Report Aquafuel Experiment:
http://jlnlabs.online.fr/bingofuel/index.htm  
 [More Santilli Patents](../santilli2/santillipatents.htm)**

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**Industrial Production Units:**

![](magnegas.jpg)

  


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**Blaze Labs Aquafuel Generator ( www.blazelabs.com )**

![](aquafuel1.jpg)

![](coh2-1.jpg)

![](coh2-2.jpg)

![](coh2blok.jpg)

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**US Patent # 6,183,604**
**Durable and Efficient Equipment for
the Production of a Combustible and Non-Pollutant Gas from
Underwater Arcs and Method therefor**

**Santilli; Ruggero Maria** (Palm Harbor, FL)

**Abstract ---** A system for producing a clean burning
combustible gas comprising an electrically conductive first
electrode and an electrically conductive second electrode. A
motor coupled to the first electrode is adapted to move the
first electrode with respect to the second electrode to
continuously move the arc away from the plasma created by the
arc. A water tight container for the electrodes is provided with
a quantity of water within the tank sufficient to submerge the
electrodes.

**References Cited**   
**U.S. Patent Documents:**   
603058 ~ Apr., 1898 ~ Eldridge, et al. ~ 204/278   
4089770 ~ May., 1978 ~ Lemke ~ 204/247   
5159900 ~ Nov., 1992 ~ Dammann   
5417817 ~ May., 1995 ~ Dammann, et al.   
5435274 ~ Jul., 1995 ~ Richardson, Jr. ~ 123/3   
5692459 ~ Dec., 1997 ~ Richardson, Jr. ~ 123/3   
5792325 ~ Aug., 1998 ~ Richardson, Jr. ~ 204/164   
5826548 ~ Oct., 1998 ~ Richardson, Jr. ~ 123/3

***Description***

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

*1. Field of the Invention*

The present invention relates to durable and efficient
equipment for the production of a combustible and non-pollutant
gas from underwater arcs and method therefor and more
particularly pertains to producing a combustible gas from the
underwater arcing of electrodes moving with respect to each
other.

*2. Description of the Prior Art*

The combustible nature of the gas bubbling to the surface from
an underwater welding arc between carbon electrodes was
discovered and patented in the last century. Various improved
equipment for the production of said combustible gas have been
patented during this century. Nevertheless, the technology has
not yet reached sufficient maturity for regular industrial and
consumer production and sales because of numerous
insufficiencies, including excessively short duration of the
carbon electrodes which requires prohibitive replacement and
service, as well as low efficiency and high content of carbon
dioxide responsible for the green house effect. As a result of
numerous experimentations, this invention deals with a new
equipment for the production of a combustible gas from
underwater arcs between carbon electrodes which resolves said
insufficiencies, and achieves the first known maturity for
industrial production and sales.

The technology of underwater electric welding via the use of an
arc between carbon electrodes to repair ships, was established
in the last century. It was then discovered that the gas
bubbling to the surface from underwater arcs is combustible. In
fact, one of the first U.S. patent on the production of a
combustible gas via an underwater electric arc between carbon
electrodes dates back to 1898 (U.S. Pat. No. 603,058 by H.
Eldridge).

Subsequently, various patents were obtained in this century on
improved equipment for the production of said combustible gas,
among which I quote U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,900 (W. A. Dammann and
D. Wallman, 1992); U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,274 (W. H. Richardson,
Jr., 1995); U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,817 (W. A. Dammann and D.
Wallman, 1995); U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,459 (W. H. Richardson, Jr.,
1997); U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,325 (W. H. Richardson, Jr., 1998);
and U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,548 (W. H. Richardson, Jr., 1998).

The main process in these inventions is essentially the
following. The arc is generally produced by a DC power unit,
such as a welder, operating at low voltage (25-35 V) and high
current (300 A to 3,000 A) depending on available Kwh. The high
value of the current brings to incandescence the tip of the
carbon electrode in the cathode, with consequential
disintegration of the carbon crystal, and release of highly
ionized carbon atoms to the arc. Jointly, the arc separates the
water into highly ionized atoms of Hydrogen and Oxygen. This
causes in the immediate surrounding of the arc a high
temperature plasma of about 7,000 F, which is composed by highly
ionized H, O and C atoms. A number of chemical reactions then
occur within or near said plasma, such as: the formation of the
H2O2 molecule; the burning of H and O into
H2O; the burning of C and O into CO; the burning of
CO and O into CO2 ; and other reactions. Since all
these reactions are highly exothermic, they result in the
typical, very intense glow of the arc within water, which is
bigger than that of the same arc in air. The resulting gases
cool down in the water surrounding the discharge, and bubble to
the surface, where they are collected with various means.
According to numerous measurements conducted at various
independent laboratories, the combustible gas produced with the
above process essentially consists of 45%-48% H.sub.2, 36%-38%
CO, 8%-10% CO2, and 1%-2% O2, the
remaining gas consisting of parts per million of more complex
molecules composed by H, O and C.

This process produces an excellent combustible gas because the
combustion exhausts meet all current EPA requirement without any
catalytic muffler at all, and without the highly harmful
cancerogenic pollutants which are contained in the combustion
exhausts of gasoline, diesel, natural gas and other fuels of
current use.

Despite the indicated excellent combustion characteristics, and
despite research and development conducted by inventors for
decades, the technology of the combustible gas produced by an
underwater arc between carbon electrodes has not reached
industrial maturity until now, and no equipment producing said
combustible gas for actual practical usages is currently sold to
the public in the U.S.A. or abroad, the only equipment currently
available for sale being limited to research and testing. The
sole equipment currently sold for public use produce different
gases, such as the Brown gas which is not suitable for use in
internal combustion engines because it implodes, rather than
explodes, during combustion.

The main reason for lack of industrial and consumer maturity is
the excessively short duration of the carbon electrodes, which
requires prohibitive replacement and services. According to
extensive, independently supervised, and certified measurements,
the electrodes are typically composed of solid carbon rods of
about 3/8 inch in diameter and about 1 foot length. Under 14 Kwh
power input, said electrodes consume at the rate of about one
and one quarter inch length per minute, requiring the halting of
the operation, and replacement of the electrodes every ten
minutes.

The same tests have shown that, for 100 Kwh power input, said
electrodes are generally constituted by solid carbon rod of
about 1 inch diameter and of the approximate length of one foot,
and are consumed under a continuous underwater arc at the rate
of about 3 inch length per minute, thus requiring servicing
after 3 to 4 minutes of operation. In either case of 14 Kwh or
100 Kwh, current equipment requires servicing after only a few
minutes of usage, which is unacceptable on industrial and
consumer grounds for evident reasons, including increased risks
of accidents for very frequent manual operations in a high
current equipment.

An additional insufficiency of existing equipment is the low
efficiency in the production of said combustible gas, which
efficiency is hereinafter referred to the ratio between the
volume of combustible gas produced in cubic feet per hour (cfh)
and the real electric power at the panel used per hour (Kwh).
For instance extensive measurements have established that
pre-existing equipment have the efficiency of 2-3 cfh/Kwh. Yet
another insufficiency of existing equipment is the high content
in said combustible gas of carbon dioxide, which is the gas
responsible for the green house effect. In fact, prior to
combustion said gas has a CO2 content of 8%-10% with
a corresponding content after combustion of about 15% CO2,
thus causing evident environmental problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known
types of traditional equipment for the production of combustible
and non-pollutant gases now present in the prior art, the
present invention provides improved durable and efficient
equipment for the production of a combustible and non-pollutant
gas from underwater arcs and method therefor.

As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which
will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide
new and improved durable and efficient equipment for the
production of a combustible and non-pollutant gas from
underwater arcs and method therefor and method which has all the
advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a
new and improved system for producing a clean burning
combustible gas from an electric arc generating plasma under
water. First provided is an electrically conductive anode
fabricated of tungsten. The anode is solid in a generally
cylindrical configuration with a diameter of about one inch and
a length of about three inches. Next provided is a generally
Z-shaped crank of a electrically conductive material. The crank
has a linear output end supporting the anode. The crank also has
a linear input end essentially parallel with the output end. A
transverse connecting portion is located between the input and
output ends. An electrically conductive cathode is next
provided. The cathode is fabricated of carbon. The carbon is in
a hollow tubular configuration with an axis. The cathode has a
supported end and a free end. The cathode has a length of about
12 inches and an internal diameter of about 11-1/2 inches and an
external diameter of about 121/2 inches. A motor is next
provided. The motor has a rotatable drive shaft. The drive shaft
has a fixed axis of rotation. The motor is coupled to the input
end of the crank and is adapted to rotate the crank to move the
output end and anode in a circular path of travel. The circular
path of travel has a diameter of about twelve inches with the
anode located adjacent to the free end of the cathode. In this
manner the anode and the arc are continuously moved around the
cathode and away from the plasma created by the arc. Next
provided is an axially shifted support. The support is in a
circular configuration to receive the supported end of the
cathode and to move the cathode axially toward the anode as the
carbon of the cathode is consumed during operation and use. Next
provided is a water tight container for the anode, cathode,
crank and support. A quantity of water is provided within the
tank sufficient to submerge the anode and the cathode. Next
provided is an entrance port in the container. The entrance port
functions to feed water and a carbon enriched fluid into the
container to supplement the carbon and water lost from the
container during operation and use. Next provided is a source of
potential. The source of potential couples the anode and the
cathode. In this manner an electrical arc is created between the
anode and the cathode with a surrounding plasma for the
production of gas within the water. The gas will then bubble
upwardly to above the water. Last provided is an exit port for
exhausting gas resulting from the application of current from
the source of potential to the anode and the cathode while the
anode is rotating and the cathode is shifting axially.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more
important features of the invention in order that the detailed
description thereof that follows may be better understood and in
order that the present contribution to the art may be better
appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the
invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form
the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of
the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited in its application to the details of
construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth
in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The
invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced
and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the
purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be
utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures,
methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the
present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims
be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar
as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide
new and improved durable and efficient equipment for the
commercial production of a combustible and non-pollutant gas
from underwater arcs and method therefor which has all of the
advantages of the prior art equipment for the production of
combustible and non-pollutant gasses and none of the
disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide new
and improved durable and efficient equipment for the production
of a combustible and non-pollutant gas from underwater arcs and
method therefor which may be easily and efficiently manufactured
and marketed on a commercial basis.

Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
new and improved system for producing a clean burning
combustible gas comprising an electrically conductive first
electrode, an electrically conductive second electrode, a motor
coupled to the first electrode and adapted to move the first
electrode with respect to the second electrode to continuously
move the arc away from the plasma created by the arc, and a
water tight container for the electrodes with a quantity of
water within the tank sufficient to submerge the electrodes.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with
the various features of novelty which characterize the
invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims
annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better
understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the
specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had
to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which
there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than
those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is
given to the following detailed description thereof. Such
description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

**FIGS. 1 and 2** are illustrations of prior art equipment
for the fabrication of a pollutant-free combustible gas produced
by an electric arc under water constructed with prior art
technique.

![](6183-1.jpg)![](6183-2.jpg)

**FIG. 3** is a schematic diagram depicting the principles
of the present invention.

![](6183-3.jpg)

**FIG. 4** is a schematic diagram of a partial sectional
view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3, depicting an additional
embodiment of the present invention.

![](6183-4.jpg)

The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout
the various Figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, a typical embodiment of the
electrodes of current use for the production of a combustible
gas from underwater arcs is that in which one or more pairs of
solid carbon rods are immersed within the selected liquid
head-on along their cylindrical symmetry axis. The activation of
the arc first requires the physical contact of the tips of the
two rods, with consequential large surge of electricity due to
shorting, followed by a retraction of the electrodes up to the
arc gap, which is typically of the order of 1/16 inch depending
on power input. The components of such embodiment include:

a, b: carbon electrodes   
c, d: holder of a & b   
e, f: screws for advancement of a & b   
g, h: mechanism for the advancement of a & b   
i: reaction chamber   
j: exit of combustible gas from chamber

Numerous alternatives to the above typical embodiment have been
invented. For instance, in the U.S. Pat. No. 603,058 (H.
Eldridge, 1898) one can see a variety of configurations of the
electrodes, including rod shaped anodes and disk-shaped
cathodes. As a further example also with reference to FIG. 1,
the embodiment of U.S. Pat. No. 5,159,900 (W. A. Dammann and D.
Wallman, 1992) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,817 (W. A. Dammann and D.
Wallman, 1995), essentially consists of the preceding geometric
configuration of the electrodes, complemented by a mechanisms
for the inversion of polarity between the electrodes, in view of
the fact that the cathode experiences the highest consumption
under a DC arc, while the anode experiences a comparatively much
reduced consumption. Even though innovative, this second
embodiment also remains manifestly insufficient to achieve the
duration of the electrodes needed for industrial maturity, while
adding other insufficiencies, such as the interruption of the
arc at each time the polarities are inverted, with consequential
loss of time and efficiency due to the indicated electrical
surges each time the arc is initiated.

As an additional example, and with reference to FIG. 2, the
mechanism of the U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,325 (W. H. Richardson, Jr.,
1998), has a different preferred embodiment consisting of one or
more pairs of electrodes in the shape of carbon disks rotating
at a distance along their peripheral edges, in between which an
electrically neutral carbon rod is inserted. Said rod causes the
shorting necessary to activate the arc, and then the maintenance
of the arc itself. This latter mechanism also does not resolve
the main problem herein considered. In fact, the neutral carbon
rod is consumed at essentially the same rate as that of the
preceding embodiments. In addition, the mechanism has the
disadvantage of breaking down the single arc between two
cylindrical electrodes into two separate arcs, one per each the
two couplings of the conducting disk and the neutral rod, with
consequential reduction of efficiency due to the drop of voltage
and other factors. Numerous means can be envisaged to improve
the life of carbon electrodes, such as mechanisms based on
barrel-type rapid replacements of the carbon rods. These
mechanisms are not preferred here because the arc has to be
reactivated every time a rod is replaced, thus requiring the
re-establishing of the arc with physical contact, and
consequential shortcomings indicated earlier. The components of
such embodiment include:

l, m: carbon disk electrodes   
n, O: gear rotating l & m   
p, q: side gear for rotating n & o   
r, s: shaft of gears p & q   
t, u: mechanism for rotating shafts r & s   
v: electrodes neutral vertical rod   
w: advancement of v   
x: mechanism for advancement of v   
y: reactor chamber   
z: electrical power mechanism

This inventor believes that the primary origin of the
insufficiency herein considered rests with the carbon rods
themselves, which are indeed effective for underwater welding,
but are not adequate for the different scope of producing a
combustible gas from underwater arcs.

With reference to FIG. 3, this invention specifically deals
with an equipment that solves the insufficiency herein
considered, by achieving the duration desired by the
manufacturer, while sustaining a continuous arc without
interruptions for the entire desired duration. For the case of
large industrial production of said combustible gas with
electrical energy input of the order of 100 Kwh, a
representative equipment of this invention essentially consists
of:

1) One or more arcs produced by a DC current as typically
available in commercially sold power units;

2) One or more anodes made of solid rods of about 1 inch in
diameter and about 2 inches in length and composed by a high
temperature conductor, such as Tungsten or ceramic. Extensive
and diversified experimentations have established that the
consumption of said anode composed by ordinary Tungsten is
minimal, and definitely of the order of several weeks of
operation.

3) One or more carbon-based cathodes in the configuration of a
large hollow rod geometrically defined as a cylinder with the
same thickness of the anode, but with a radius and length
selected to provide the desired duration. This cathode performs
the vital function of becoming incandescent in the immediate
vicinity of the arc, thus releasing carbon to the plasma.

With greater specificity and with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4,
the present invention essentially comprises a new and improved
system 10 for producing a clean burning combustible gas from an
electric arc generating plasma under water. First provided is an
electrically conductive anode 12 fabricated of tungsten. The
anode is solid in a generally cylindrical configuration with a
diameter of about one inch and a length of about three inches.

Next provided is a generally Z-shaped crank 14 of a
electrically conductive material. The crank has a linear output
end 16 supporting the anode. The crank also has a linear input
end 18 essentially parallel with the output end. A transverse
connecting portion 20 is located between the input and output
ends.

An electrically conductive cathode 22 is next provided. The
cathode is fabricated of carbon. The carbon is in a hollow
tubular configuration with an axis. The cathode has a supported
end 24 and a free end 26. The cathode has a length of about 12
inches and an internal diameter of about 111/2 inches and an
external diameter of about 121/2 inches.

A motor 28 is next provided. The motor has a rotatable drive
shaft 30. The drive shaft has a fixed axis of rotation. The
motor is coupled to the input end of the crank and is adapted to
rotate the crank to move the output end and anode in a circular
path of travel. The circular path of travel has a diameter of
about twelve inches with the anode located adjacent to the free
end of the cathode. In this manner the anode and the arc are
continuously moved around the cathode and away from the plasma
created by the arc.

Next provided is an axially shifted support 32. The support is
in a circular configuration to receive the supported end of the
cathode and to move the cathode axially toward the anode as the
carbon of the cathode is consumed during operation and use.

A water tight container 34 for the anode, cathode, crank and
support is next provided. A quantity of water 36 is provided
within the tank sufficient to submerge the anode and the
cathode.

An entrance port 38 is provided in the container. The entrance
port functions to feed water and a carbon enriched fluid into
the container to supplement the carbon and water lost from the
container during operation and use.

Next provided is a source of potential 42. The source of
potential couples the anode and the cathode. In this manner an
electrical arc is created between the anode and the cathode with
a surrounding plasma for the production of gas within the water.
The gas will then bubble upwardly to above the water.

Lastly provided is an exit port 44 for exhausting gas resulting
from the application of current from the source of potential to
the anode and the cathode while the anode is rotating and the
cathode is shifting axially.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG.
3, but is directed to an alternate embodiment. In such
embodiment, the anode 48 is wing shaped to cause less turbulence
in the water when moving. In addition, various supports 50 are
provided for abating turbulence and for providing rigidity.

Again with reference to FIG. 3, the anode rod is placed head-on
on the edge of the cylindrical cathode and is permitted to
rotate around the entire periphery of said cylindrical edge via
an electric motor or other means. The inverse case of the
rotation of the cathode cylinder on a fixed anode rod or the
simultaneous rotation of both, are equally acceptable, although
more expensive for engineering and production. Extensive tests
have established that, under a sufficient rotational speed of
the anode rod on the cylindrical cathode of the order of 100
r.p.m. or thereabout, the consumption of the edge of the cathode
tube is uniform, thus permitting the desired continuous
underwater arc without the interruptions necessary for the
frequent cathode rod replacements in the pre-existing
configurations.

For the case of smaller electrical power input the above
equipment remains essentially the same, except for the reduction
of the diameter of the non-carbon based anode and of the
corresponding thickness of the carbon-based cylindrical cathode.
For instance, for 14 Kwh power input, said anode diameter and
related thickness of the cylindrical cathode can be reduced to
about 3/8 inch.

The above new equipment does indeed permit the achievement of
the desired duration of the electrodes prior to servicing. As a
first illustration for industrial usage, suppose that the
manufacturer desires an equipment for the high volume industrial
production of said combustible gas from about 100 Kwh energy
input with the duration of four hours, thus requiring the
servicing twice a day, once for lunch break and the other at the
end of the working day, as compared to the servicing only after
a few minutes of use for the pre-existing equipment.

This invention readily permits the achievement of said duration
under said power input. Recall that carbon rods of about 1o in
diameter are consumed by the underwater arc from 100 Kwh at the
speed of about 3 inches in length per minute. Numerous
experimentations have established that a cylindrical carbon
cathode of 1o thickness, approximately one foot radius and
approximately two feet length permits the achievement of the
desired duration of 4 hours of continuous use prior to service.
In fact, such a geometry implies that each 1 inch section of the
cylindrical cathode is consumed in 6 minutes. Since 4 hours
correspond to 240 minutes, the duration of four hours of
continuous use requires forty 1 inch sections of the cylindrical
cathode. Then, the desired 4 hours duration of said cathode
requires the radius R=40/3.14=12.7 inches, as indicated. It is
evident that a cylindrical carbon cathode of about two feet in
radius and about one foot in length has essentially the same
duration as the preceding configuration of one foot radius and
two feet length. As a second example for consumer units with
smaller power input than the above, the same duration of 4 hours
prior to servicing can be reached with proportionately smaller
dimensions of said electrodes which can be easily computed via
the above calculations.

It is important to show that the same equipment described above
also permits the increase of the efficiency as defined earlier.
In-depth studies conducted by this inventor at the particle,
atomic and molecular levels here, omitted for brevity, have
established that the arc is very efficient in decomposing water
molecules into hydrogen and oxygen gases. The low efficiency in
the production of a combustible gas under the additional
presence of carbon as in pre-existing patents is due to the fact
that, when said H and O gases are formed in the plasma
surrounding the discharge, most of these gases burn, by
returning to form again water molecules. In turn, the loss due
to re-creation of water molecules is the evident main reason for
the low efficiency of pre-existing equipment. The very reason
for said poor efficiency is the stationary nature of the arc
itself within the plasma, because under these conditions the arc
triggers the combustion of hydrogen and oxygen originally
created from the separation of the water.

The above described new equipment of this invention also
improves the efficiency. In fact, said efficiency can be
improved by removing the arc from the plasma immediately after
its formation. In turn, an effective way for achieving such an
objective without extinguishing the arc itself is to keep the
liquid and plasma in stationary conditions, and rapidly move
instead the arc away from the plasma. This function is precisely
fulfilled by the new equipment of this invention because the arc
continuously rotates, by therefore exiting the plasma
immediately after its formation. Extensive experimentations
conducted have established that the new equipment of this
invention can increase the efficiency from the 2-3 cf per Kwh of
current embodiments to 4-6 cf per Kwh.

It is easy to see that the same equipment of this invention
also decreases the content of carbon dioxide. In fact, CO.sub.2
is formed by burning CO and O, thus originating from a secondary
chemical reaction in the arc plasma following the creation of
CO. But the latter reaction is triggered precisely by the
stationary arc within the plasma. Therefore, the removal of the
arc from the plasma after its formation via the fast rotation of
the anode on the cylindrical edge of the cathode while the
liquid is stationary implies a decrease of CO.sub.2 content
because of the decrease of the ignition of CO and O. Extensive
experimentation has established that a rotation of 100 r.p.m of
the anode over the edge of the cylindrical cathode of radius one
foot decreases the content of carbon dioxide in the combustible
gas at least by half, thus permitting a significant
environmental advance. The decrease of the CO.sub.2 content also
implies an increase of the efficiency alternatively defined as
energy content of the gas produced per hour (BTUh) divided by
the real electric energy absorbed per hour (Kwh). In fact,
CO.sub.2 is a non-combustible gas, thus having no meaningful BTU
content. It is then evident that, since the total carbon content
in the gas remains the same, the decrease of the non-combustible
CO.sub.2 is replaced in the gas by a corresponding increase of
the combustible CO with the same carbon content, thus increasing
the energy content of the gas for the same production volume of
pre-existing inventions and for the same real power absorbed.

With reference to FIG. 3, among various possible alternatives,
a preferred embodiment of this invention for the high volume
industrial production of a combustible gas from underwater arcs
with about 100 Kwh real electrical energy essentially comprises:

A) An enclosed reactor chamber of the approximate dimensions 4
feet high, 3 feet wide and 3 feet long fabricated out of steel
sheets or other metal of about 1/4 inch thickness, comprising in
its interior the electrodes for the creation of the arc serviced
by said power input and having means for the exiting of the gas
produced in its interior as well as means for the rapid access
or servicing 56 of the internal electrodes for services;

B) The filling up of said chamber with a liquid generally
consisting of water and/or water saturated with carbon rich
water soluble substances;

C) One or more anodes consisting of rods of about 1 inch
diameter and about 2 inches length made of Tungsten or other
temperature resistant conductor;

D) One or more cylindrical shaped carbon cathodes with
essentially the same thickness as that of the anodes and with
radius and length selected for the desired duration;

E) Electromechanical means for the rotation of the anode rod
head-wise on the edge of the cylindrical cathode, or the
rotation of the edge of the cylindrical cathode on a stationary
anode rod, or the simultaneous rotation of both;

F) Automation for the initiation of the arc and its maintenance
via the automatic advancement of the carbon cathode, and/or the
anode rod and/or both, in such a way to maintain constant the
arc gap 58.

G) Fastenings of said cylindrical carbon cathode such to permit
its rapid replacement; various gauges for the remote monitoring
of the power unit, combustible gas, liquid and electrodes; tank
for the storage of the gas produced and miscellaneous other
items.

An improved version of the above embodiment is conceived to
minimize the rotation of said liquid because of drag due to the
submerged rotation of the anode, with consequential return to
the stationary character of the plasma 54 and the arc,
consequential loss of efficiency and increase of CO.sub.2
content for the reasons indicated above.

With reference to FIG. 4, and among a variety of embodiments,
this objective can be achieved by shaping the rotating anode in
the form of a wing with minimal possible drag resistance while
rotating within said liquid, and by inserting in the interior of
the enclosed reactor chamber panels fabricated out of metal or
other strong material with the approximate thickness of 1/8
inch, said panels being placed not in contact with yet close to
the cathode and the anode in a radially distributed with respect
to the cylindrical symmetry axis of the equipment and placed
both inside as well as outside said cylindrical cathode. The
latter panels perform the evident function of minimizing the
rotational motion of said liquid due to drag created by the
submerged rotation of the anode.

The remote operation of the equipment is essentially as
follows:

1) The equipment is switched on with electric current
automatically set at minimum, the anode rod automatically
initiating its rotation on the edge of the cylindrical cathode,
and the arc being open;

2) The automation decreases the distance between anode and
cathode until the arc is initiated, while the amps are released
automatically to the desired value per each given Kwh, and the
gap distance is automatically kept to the optimal value of the
selected liquid and Kwh via mechanical and/or optical and/or
electrical sensors;

3) The above equipment produces the combustible gas under
pressure inside the metal vessel, which is then transferred to
the storage tank via pressure difference or a pump; production
of said combustible gas then continues automatically until the
complete consumption of said cylindrical carbon cathode

As to the manner of usage and operation of the present
invention, the same should be apparent from the above
description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the
manner of usage and operation will be provided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be
realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the
parts of the invention, to include variations in size,
materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation,
assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one
skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification
are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of
the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.

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