Today hydrogen is obtained mainly from natural gas and despite the fact that this technology is energetically very competitive, development of this technology is not considered as a perspective direction. Firstly, natural gas is not renewable source of energy; secondly, this technology is characterized with greenhouse gases emission during the production of hydrogen. Therefore, production of hydrogen from natural gas cannot solve the problem of global warming. Same problems are presented during hydrogen production from coal.

Only completely clean technology of hydrogen production is electrolysis, but today its high energy consumption rate is a barrier for its commercialization. We propose solving exactly this problem in this invention with absolutely new cavitation-electrolysis method, which not only significantly decreases the energy consumption but also reduces cost of device.

The several types of electrolysis are currently known with their strong and weak points. Especial we would like to underline the two types of technologies: high temperature and high pressure electrolysis. Our completely new type cavitation-electrolysis method unites the strong sides of these technologies and doesn't include their weak points. For example, in the cavitation bubble very high temperatures and high pressures are located. Therefore we need not high pressure proof containers because high pressure is located in the cavitation bubble. As a result the cost of technology significantly decreases; the high pressure proof containers are costly technology. In the given technology for reaching high temperatures providing of additional heat is not required. As a result we have also significant increase in energy efficiency.

In widely-spread electrolyzers chemically very active catalysts are used, therefore electrodes are required to be covered by rare substances (for example platinum), which also makes this technology more expensive compared to our method which has no such requirements.

Really we have a new method of hydrogen production and a device, which by its main characteristics is cavitation physical-chemical reactor - electrolysis cell.

Most close to this invention is a cavitation hydrogen generator, which is represented by US patent (1), which used only hydraulic cavitation. In presented invention also effectively is used nonlinear electrolysis method, as a result efficiency of device increased compare to prototype. What about Meyer's nonlinear etecrolysis device, improved method of which is used in this invention, it without modification has production rate restriction. This problem is overcome in given invention.

Given method differs from existed electrolysis technologies mainly with using of cavitaion. Cavitation phenomenon is interesting by itself with diversity, contradictive and amazing discoveries.

Cavitation is defined as disruption of fluid by arising of negative pressure. The pressure decrease may be achieved by different methods: by fluid stream flow round the body, by solid body movement with high velocity through the fluid, by pushing fluid by plunger, by fast tearing away the plunger, by fluid turbulence. Also it is known acoustic ultrasonic cavitation. Therefore, mainly there are two types of cavitation in the fluid: acoustic and hydrodynamical. It is worth to mention separately the ultrasonic cavitation: sonoluminiscence and sonochemistry. The chemical effects of ultrasonic cavitation chemistry, sonochemistry are well investigated. During the treatment by ultrasound in water develops next reactions:

H ₂ 0 - ))) H, OH, H ₂ , H ₂ 0 ₂

Next thermal spliting reactions may develope in cavitaion bubble as a result of high temperatures:

H ₂ 0 ₂ T OH+OH; H+H0 ₂ ; H ₂ +0 ₂ ;

As we saw, during the ultrasonic cavitation hydrogen is made and this fact is well known for science, but this proccess is charactered with high recombination rate. Thus, ultrsonic cavitaion is not used for production of industrial hydrogen. In our technology hydrodynamical turbulent cavitator is used, which differe from sonochemistry and allows to treat huge mass of water and can obtain significant amount of hydorgen.

Cavitation bubble collapse produces intense local heating (5000K), high pressures (-1000 atm.), and enormous heating and cooling rates (>100k/sec), providing a unique interaction of energy and matter. These extreme conditions affect hydrogen bonding in water and facilitate destruction of water clusters, reducing energy consumption for the electrolysis.

One of the objectives of invention is development of turbulent cavitation theoretical model by mathematical modeling. Another objective of project is theoretical investigation of hydrogen bonding in water and experimental investigation of its effects on water macro properties. We think that hydrogen bonding and cluster formation in water affects electrolysis efficiency.

Developed during cavitaion phenomenon can be considered as plasma. It is also known that plasma chemical methods of hydrogen production are one of the most energy effective. Plamsa chemical proccesses which are obtained by nonuniforme plasma highfreuquency treatment of water are very energy effective.

In our device cavitation and electrolysis in other words plasma-chemical and electrochemical effective combination is used and achived maximal energy efficiency.

Expected result of invention is development of completely new cheap hydrogen technology by cavitation electrolysis method. It is expected that obtained by this technology electrolyzer will be 10 times cheaper of existed prototypes. The energy efficiency also will increase.

Really we have a new hydrogen production method and device, which by its main characteristics is cavitations physical-chemical reactor - electrolysis cell. We developed absolutely new approach for electrolysis: cavitations electrolysis method. Our approach is based on the investigation of fundamental properties of water, investigation of hydrogen bonding in water and its effects on water properties, investigation of cavitations effects on water fundamental properties and its usage for electrolysis.

The device for production of hydrogen by cavitation electrolysis method is shown on Fig. 1. Numbers indicate:

1,2 - electrodes, cilidrical cathode and anode;

3 - cavitator;

4- water pump;

5 - modulator;

6, 7 - oxigen and hydrogen tanks;

8 - energy source.

Electrodes 1, 2 - anode and cathode are made from stainless steel.

Cavitator includs water input and autput parts.

Water pump 4 is chosen by hydrogen production rates demand.

Modulator 5 includes resonance circuit elements.

Energy source 8 supplaies pulsed voltage.

Cavitation electrolysis device operates on next priciple:

By means of water pump (4) water is supplaied to cavitator (3), in which it undergoes turbulent hydravlic cavitation. Water continues cavitating and turbulent ratation, goes up and appear between coaxial, made from stainless steel cylidrical electrods (1, 2)(cathode and anode). Electrodes are supplaied by special impulse high frequency water own frequnecy modulate current. On the first eleqctrode - cathode hydrogen is generated, second electrode (anode) - oxigen is generated. Gas acumulation on electrodes by generation from water by cavitaton and electrolysis is more stimulated also by water rotation centrifugal effect. The distance between electrodes should be suficient that water enriched by oxigena and hydrogen should not mixed up. Electrodes with supplaied water play role of condesator in resonance circute which is regulated acording water own frequncies. Device size is defined by production rates. Acodrdingly is made modulator which is switched on in circute between energys source and cathode. Only main ussue which should be taken into acoount is water own frequency. As a result a device has not upper and lower production limits. After passing space throgh electrodes enriched by hydrogen and oxigen water flow by tubes in two diferent tanks and undergoes degassing. After this water by tubes located at the bottom of tanks throgh the pump returns to cyclic system. Obtained hydrogen and oxigen lead out by tubes which are located on hydrogen and oxigen tanks.

Device does not need purificated water and can work on tap water. Device also can work on sea water, with adjusment for sea water frequency. Also it should be taken into account on this case utilization of aditional products obtained during sea water lelctrolysis.

1. US, 6719817B 1, 13.04.2004