Direct Conversion of Standard Sea Water Electrolyte to Electrical Energy

Abstract

<p>This paper explains the techno-economical feasibility of very efficient direct energy conversion of standard seawater electrolytes to electrical energy based on solid state power electronics. It can be shown by applying free Gibbs energy concept and chemical REDOX reaction that the ions are in higher entropy than their associated solid crystal’s form, and therefore they have higher potential energy. The key problem is obviously to separate these free ions in separate subspaces according to its charge, since this separation will create electrical potential difference between them. The ions are essentially electrons carrier and therefore despites they are moving with random velocity magnitude and direction, the external observer will observe an increasing electric charge due to free ions influx. This separation and migration can be performed by a rather strong electric field created by a special varnish insulated wire grid, VIWG. It will be shown that the energy expenditure for the liberation of ions from hydrates structure containment and migrate them to separate subspaces is similar to energy activation for the oxidation exothermal process, which requires only marginal external energy. Thus the energy gain is 250 kJoule/kg standard seawater, which is only 0.55% of the fuel value of 1kg Texas’ crude oil, U.S.A. Unlike thermal energy conversion, this system may has 95% efficiency, since all rotating machines are eliminated. With this efficency, the “priceless” seawater feedstock leads to the electric energy tariff which can be as low as 30% of the current one. In addition, this system provides with a number of significant comparative and competitive advantages compare to any known energy generation technology today, a.o.: zero pollution process, significant by products (fresh water, hydrogen gas, pure solid crystal atoms precipates) renewable since the availabilty of seawater feedstock is unlimited, scalable, modular, small foot-print, co-generation of Sodium/Chlorine fuel cell, and table salt (NaCl), and conventioanl hydrogen/oxygen fuel cell. It can be modified as power house for any kind of ship, as small as traditional fishing vessel to ocean liner. </p><p><strong>Keywords</strong>: Gibbs free energy, REDOX, hydrates, zero polution, fuel cell, scalable, modular </p><p> </p>