WO2007086796A1

WO2007086796A1 - Method and apparatus for generating electric current as well as for splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen.

Info

Publication number: WO2007086796A1
Application number: PCT/SE2007/000063
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stig Oskar Christensson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-25
Filing date: 2007-01-24
Publication date: 2007-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2008-07-25
Also published as: EP1984538A1; SE0600166L; SE530479C2

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for generating electric current as well as for splitting water into oxygen gas and hydrogen gas. The apparatus consists of a container (1) filled with electrolyte (11). The container (2) is rotatable by means of a shaft (17) driven by motor. Upon rotation of the container the electrolyte dissociates or separates. While centrifuging, the container is constantly supplied (8, 9) with water. The water is split up into hydrogen and oxygen which are taken care of. Moreover, a potential difference occurs between the different layers formed upon centrifuging. This potential differnece is utilised to cause the driving of a current circuit. The apparatus is characterised by having a funnel shaped guiding means for guiding the formed hydrogen and oxygen gas into separate exit conduits, and in that the inner surface is partly covered by an insulating lining.

Description

TITLE OF INVENTION:

Method and apparatus for generating electric current as well as for splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen.

TECHNICAL FIELD 0 The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for generating an electric current and for creating a splitting of water into its component parts oxygen and hydrogen in gaseous form.

More particularly, .the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for 5 generating an electric current simultaneously with a breaking up of water into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, where by rotation (centrifuging) of a container and/or an electrolyte therein with the container partly filled with said electrolyte, it is to be caused to separate.

0 At the peripheral region of the container, an excess thereby occurs of negative ions, while at the inner region of the container an excess thereby occurs of positive ions.

Water is then to be more or less continuously fed into the container so as to be progressively split up into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, which separated gases are 5 to be led off from the container.

BACKGROUND ART

Apparatuses of the type described by way of introduction are previously known in the art and where an apparatus which closely approaches the present invention is 0 shown in greater detail and described in, for example, Patent Publication EP-Al-1 130 134. This patent publication shows and describes a method and an apparatus for, with the aid of electrolysis, causing the conversion of a first type of energy to a second type of energy and is based on producing electric energy as well as hydrogen gas and oxygen gas.

To this end, the apparatus comprises a container (3) which is mounted on a shaft (2), filled with a diluted electrolyte and with electrodes as well as conductors (6, 7, 8) for a supply of utilised electrolyte and for removal of electrolyte products.

It is also disclosed here that a container (3) is to be subjected to a rotational movement whereby supplied water will be broken up into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas.

Further, the Patent Publication clarifies that, via occurring centrifugal forces, as a result of discrepancies in density, an excess of anions (negative ions) will be pressed and displaced towards and accumulated along the periphery of the container while an excess of lighter cations (positive ions) will be displaced towards and accumulated along the inner central region of the container.

BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM

Taking into account the prior art as disclosed by way of introduction, there is likely to exist a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures which will be required in order, in a method and an apparatus for generating an electric current and for splitting of water into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, to create the preconditions in order, by means of a known rotation (centrifuging) of a container, with the aid of a shaft, which consists of one or more parts of electrically insulating material and one or more parts of electrically conductive material, wholly or partly filled with an electrolyte, to cause the electrolyte to separate so that, at the peripheral region of the container (1) there occurs an excess of first ions with a first electric charge and, at the inner, shaft- related region of the container, there occurs an excess of other ions with another and opposed charge and that water is to be fed into the container (1) in order therein to be split into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas and which separated are led in gaseous form out from the container (1).

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures which will be required in order to cause the apparatus to consist of a container which is rotatably driven via said shaft and which shaft consists of two parts of which the one is produced from an electrically insulating material and the other part is produced from an electrically conductive material that the electrically conductive part is to be designed with an inner channel or duct with an outlet in order to make possible a replenishment of water, that the container is to be designed in any event with two separate outlet devices one for the oxygen gas and respectively one for the hydrogen gas which are formed on a generated splitting of the water and that the outer wall of the container is to be disposed to constitute the one pole in a current circuit where the conductive part of the shaft is disposed to constitute an opposite pole.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures which will be required in order to cause the electrically conductive part of the shaft to be provided with rods in order not to lose required electric contact with the electrolyte solution on completed centrifuging.

There resides a technical problem in being able to realise the importance of, the advantages associated with and/or the technical measures which will be required in order for the container to be allocated an inner configuration which creates the preconditions for negative ions to be able to give off their charge to the container in a manner which causes the transfer of said negative charges to a band utilised in a generator connecting to the principles applicable to a "Van der Graf generator.

The present invention is intended to offer a simple method and an improved apparatus in relation to the prior art. SOLUTION

The present invention takes as its point of departure a method and an apparatus generating electric current and a splitting of water into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. As a supplement to said method and said apparatus, the present invention discloses that by rotation (centrifuging) of a container with the aid of a shaft which consists of one or more parts of electrically insulating material and one or more parts of electrically conductive material, wholly or partly filled with an electrolyte, the electrolyte is caused to dissociate so that, at the peripheral region of the container, there occurs an excess of first ions with a first electric charge and, at the inner, shaft- related region of the container, there occurs an excess of second ions with a second and opposite charge and that water is fed into the container in order therein to be split into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas and which separated are led in gaseous form from the container.

More specifically, it is disclosed to cause the apparatus to consist of a container which is rotatably driven via said shaft and which shaft consists of two parts, of which the one part if produced from an electrically insulating material and the other part is produced from an electrically conductive material, that the electrically conductive part is to be designed with an inner channel or duct with an outlet, in order to make possible a replenishment of water, that the container is to be designed in any event with two separate outlet devices one for the oxygen gas and respectively one for the hydrogen gas which are formed by a generated splitting of the water and that the outer wall of the container is to be designed to constitute the one pole in a current circuit where the conductive part of the shaft is disposed to constitute an opposite pole.

As proposed embodiments falling within the scope of the present invention it is disclosed that the electrically conductive part of the shaft is to be provided with rods in order to ensure a requisite electrical contact with the electrolyte solution during centrifuging. Said rotation (centrifuging) of the container takes place with the aid of said shaft which consists of one or more parts of electrically insulating material and one or more parts of electrically conductive material.

Said electrolyte is given such properties that positive ions in excess are accumulated at the central region of the container and in association with said shaft and that negative ions in excess are accumulated at the peripheral region of the container.

Said electrolyte may be given such properties that negative ions are accumulated at the peripheral region of the container and positive ions are accumulated at the central region of the container and that the interior of the container is given a cylindrical configuration or a configuration corresponding to a sphere.

As said electrolyte is selected a nitric acid (HNO₃) more or less diluted with water.

The container may be given an inner shape which creates the preconditions for negative ions to be able to give off their charge to the container in a manner which is similar to the transfer of said negative charges to a band utilised in a generator exposing to the principles which are valid for a "Van der Graf generator.

ADVANTAGES

Those advantages which are associated with the present invention reside in causing the rotation shaft to be built from one or more parts of electrically insulating material and one or more parts of electrically conductive material.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will be described in greater detail hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying Drawing which shows a cross section through an apparatus according to the invention. The apparatus comprises a container which as a unit is given reference numeral 1 and which consists of a cup-shaped hody or a part 2 with a lid 3. Both the cup-shaped body 2 and the lid 3 are to be produced from an electrically conductive material.

On the inside of the container 1 there are disposed as cladding insulations, a lower and an upper insulation, 4, 5 which leave a part or a layer 15a of the inner surface of the cup-shaped part unprotected and thus make for an electric charging of the outer wall 2 of the container 1.

A shaft 17 on which the container 1 is mounted consists here of two parts 6 and 7, respectively, of which the one part 6 consists of electrically insulating material.

The other part 7 consists of an electrically conductive material and is provided with an internal channel 8 with a lower outlet 9 for a continuous or discontinuous replenishment of water to the interior of the container 1.

The outlet 9 or the outlets are placed in the interface region between the part 6 and the part 7.

The shaft part 7 is moreover provided with rods 10 or the like in order, during a centrifuging, to be in mechanical and electrical contact with that part of the electrolyte which has an excess of positive ions (or negative depending upon the properties of the electrolyte).

The cup-shaped part 2 of the container 1 is mounted to the electrically insulating part 6 of the shaft 17. Neither the cup-shaped part 2 nor the lid 3 is in electrical contact with the conductive part 7 of the shaft 17.

The container 1 is here shown as filled with an electrolyte 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrolyte 11 consists of nitric acid, i.e. HNO₃, diluted in water. On a centrifuging, this will separate. However, water is constantly present on the centrifuging.

The following reactions will occur in the container 1 :

Centrally in the electrolyte 11;

(i) 4 HNO₃ → 4 H + 4 NO₃ ^" (dissociation of the electrolyte. The "heavy" nitrate ions will be urged outwards by the rotation towards the peripheral area of the container, while the "light" hydrogen ions will migrate towards the centre of the container)

At the central area of the container; (ii) 4 H⁺ + 4e^" → 2 H₂

At the peripheral area of the container; (iii) 4 NO₃ ^" 2 H₂O → 4 HNO₃ + O₂ + 4e^"

The total reaction for the liquid in the container (which is obtained if the reactions i + ii + iii are totalled) will thus be;

2 H₂O → O₂ + 2 H₂ i.e. water is split into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas.

Reaction (iii) shows that an excess of electrons occurs at the peripheral area of the container and reaction (ii) shows that a corresponding shortage occurs at the central area of the container. The stratification of the electrolyte will have as a consequence that an insulating intermediate stratum occurs.

The liquid at the peripheral area of the container is in contact with the bowl-shaped portion 2 and the lid 3. The liquid in the centre of the container is, via rods 10, in mechanical and electrical contact with the shaft portion 7. The shaft portion 7 and the bowl-shaped portion 2 and the lid 3 each constitute their pole in an electric circuit. In the Figure, this is shown by each contact 12 and 13, respectively, being connected.

As is apparent from the chemical formulae above, hydrogen gas (H₂) and oxygen gas (O₂) will be formed, viz. hydrogen gas (H₂) at the centre of the container 2 and central areas at the shaft portion 7, and oxygen gas (O₂) at the peripheral area 2 of the container 1.

In order for these gases to be able to be taken care of, a funnel-shaped portion 14 is fixedly disposed at the shaft portion 7.

Hydrogen gas (H₂) which is formed at the centre of the container rises to the brim 16 of the funnel-shaped portion 14 and is led further into the channel formed by the shaft portion 7 and the cylindrical upper portion 15 of the funnel-shaped portion 14.

The oxygen gas (O₂) which is formed at the peripheral area of the container flows outside the brim 16 and is led out of the container through that channel which is formed between the lid 3 and the cylindrical portion 15 of the funnel-shaped portion 14.

Both of the gases are taken care of in a suitable manner outside the container.

The centrifuging is realised by causing the shaft portion 6 to be in communication with a motor (not shown). The speed of the motor is selected on the basis of the properties of the electrolyte.

The Figure also illustrates that a small layer 15a' is laid on the inside of the container 2 and outside the electrically insulating layers 4, 5.

This layer 15a' should be an electrically conductive layer which also protects the container 2. The above-described embodiment is to be considered merely as one example and many other embodiments are conceivable without departing from the scope of the appended Claims.

For example, it is conceivable to place the electric contacts 12, 13 at other positions than those described here.

The anode and cathode sides are of an electrically conductive material and which contain an electrolyte.

The construction is based on the concept of utilising the centrifugal force in order to separate heavier ions from lighter ions in the liquid/saline solution. The electrolyte contains water as well as positive and negative ions of a salt. In the proposed centrifuge, nitric acid HNO₃ is conceived as constituting the electrolyte.

If use is made of nitric acid HNO₃, this is dissolved into H⁺ as well as NO₃ ^". The positive hydrogen ions H⁺ may possibly form oxonium ions with the water so that there will be obtained H₃O⁺. The positive and negative ions are dissolved in water H₂O.

The mass numbers for the relevant ions, as well as the water will then be approximately as follows:

H⁺ gives the mass number = 1

H₃O⁺ gives the mass number = 3 * 1 + 16 = 19 NO₃ gives the mass number = 14 + 3 * 16 = 62 and

H₂O gives the mass number = 18

In this application, the ions are not particularly strongly bonded to one another in a solution even if they will attract one another with different charges. The reason for the weak bondings is that in the solution they have relatively large distances to one another and that the "Coulomb" forces fade according to the definition as a square root of the distance.

Hence, the ions will thus move basically at random and substantially independently of one another in an aqueous solution.

Thereby, no unreasonably high speeds will be required to achieve a separation of the negative and positive ions, by exposing them to centrifugal forces.

As an estimation, it may be sufficient with a speed of a maximum of 10,000 rpm in that case when the radius of the vessel is selected at approx. 7 cm.

Further, the speed may be employed to regulate the rate of the chemical process where a higher speed gives a higher hydrogen gas production.

The negatively charged ions (which are heaviest) are forced towards the outer casing 2 which at the same time constitutes the electrode in the chemical process. When the negatively charged nitrate ion reaches the outer casing 2, it will give off an electron which is then taken up by the outer casing/the electrode.

Since the positive ions are considerably lighter, they will be forced aside by the heavier negative ions and consequently the positive ions will be distributed towards the centre of the centrifuge to a greater extent.

There, the negatively charged, so-called "rods" will transfer electrons to the positively charged ions so that the hydrogen ions convert into hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas is thereafter led, via a so-called "screen", to an accumulator vessel.

By replenishing with water, the chemical process in the centrifuge will be maintained continuously so that the nitrate returns to new negative ions. These nitrate ions can be considered as the catalysts of the process, where 4 NO₃ + 2 H₂O > 4 HNO₃ + O₂.

The energy consumption in the construction consists of accelerating the liquid. The kinetic energy for a conceived "liquid cylinder" is:

E = Jω/2 J ^ m r²^ => E = ωmr²/4 m = pV = pπr²h => E = ρ π h ω r⁴/4

For example, it implies for a cylindrical container 2 corresponding to 1 litre (0,001 m³) that proportions may be selected so that the height of the vessel is the same as its radius.

This implies that, via the formula V = πr h there will be obtained the radius and the height of 0.068 m, i.e. approx. 7 cm.

The energy which is required to accelerate the vessel to 10,000 rpm (167 revolutions per second) will then be;

ω = 2π/T (where T is the cycle time, in any event 1/167 = 6 nis)

E = p π h ω r⁴/4 = l*π*0.068*2 *π*167*0.068⁴/4 = π²*167*0.068⁵/2 = 1.2 mJ

The corresponding energy yield consists of the energy which is recovered via the produced hydrogen gas. The quantity of hydrogen gas which is expected to be produced depends upon the rate of the chemical process and the quantity of produced hydrogen gas from, for example, one litre of liquid.

The energy quantity which is consumed for keeping the construction rotating is in principle independent of the rate of the chemical hydrogen gas production. Energy recovery from 1 litre of water

Concentrated nitric acid consists of approx. 68 weight per cent HNO₃. The density is, in such instance, 1.41 g/cm . The concentration OfHNO₃ will be approx. 15 mol/litre.

Thus, the solution contains approx. 32 weight per cent of water. In 1 litre solution, we thus have 0.32 kg water molecules. One water molecule weighs 18 u = 18 * 1.66 * 10^"27 kg = 3 * 10^"26 kg.

Thus, 1 litre nitric acid corresponds to (1 * 0.32) /3 * 10^"26 = 1.07 * 10²⁵ water molecules.

For every two hydrogen ions which are converted into hydrogen gas (H₂) 1 water molecule is consumed according to the relations in the chemical formulae.

HNO₃ is dissolved to H⁺ as well as NO₃ ^"

NO₃ ^" is converted into new nitric acid by: 4 NO₃ + 2 H₂O. - > 4 HNO₃ + =

- O₂

This implies that there will be obtained in total 2.14 * 10²⁵ hydrogen ions or 1.07 * 10²⁵ molecules of hydrogen gas. This corresponds to 1.07 * 10²⁵ * 2 u = 35.5 g hydrogen gas = 0,40 m³ = 400 litre hydrogen gas.

In this context, it might be mentioned that today's hydrogen gas driven cars with fuel tanks of, e.g., 150 litres, are reported as having a range of 300 km.

(u = mass constant 1.66 10^"27 kg p = 0.0899 kg/m³ for hydrogen gas)

Coulomb 's law (directed inwards) F = Q₁Q₂M π εr² Centrifugal force (directed outwards) F = mv ²/r <r- • q →

R e.g. 7 cm

Q⁺

The counteracting electric force:

In our electrolyte (68 %), we have 6.5 * 10²⁴ particles, with positive and negative charge, respectively, to be compared with 11 * 10²⁴ water molecules. Every individual ion has a charge of 1.6 * 10^"19.

In an extreme case, we have all negative (heavy) ions gathered at the outer wall. The total electric force on an individual particle between Q^' and Q⁺ will then be 2.5 Newton, which is a considerable force in relation to the individual particle.

Corresponding electric fields between the electrodes will be of the order of magnitude of 10¹⁹ V/m.

The centrifugal force

The centrifugal force is thus to overcome these 2.5 N.

According to a simplified estimate, the speed of revolution must be 2.5 * 10¹⁴ rpm, which is far above the speed of light and is hence totally unrealistic.

The ion accumulation which can be overcome by a speed of 10,000 rpm can at maximum correspond to 1.7 * 10^'15 C, which is the same as an excess of approx. 10 700 charged particles.

One alternative could be to reduce the concentration of the electrolyte, but a reduction from 68 % by a factor of 100 (to 0.68 %) only results in the situation that the speed of revolution can be reduced by a tenth and will therefore be no viable way.

Instead, the conclusion will be that the speed calculation contains far to conservative preconditions, since it is based on the extreme case that all particles are accumulated at each respective electrode without giving off or taking up an electron.

Depending upon how rapidly the ions give off and take up electrons, respectively, at the electrodes, a considerably lower number of individual, charged particles will be the actual case.

If the quantity of charged particles in practice becomes of the order of magnitude of 10 000, the electric field will be overcome by the centrifugal force.

In order to "combust" 1 litre of water during 24 hours, a reaction rate is needed of about 10²⁰ ions per second, which give off or alternatively take up electrons at the electrodes. This corresponds to an electric current of approx. 10 A.

Since the construction is based on a solution of nitric acid dissolved in water, the material choice for the mechanical construction is controlled by the properties of the nitric acid.

A plurality of metals are dissolved by nitric acid and nitrous and toxic gases are formed, which will be directly unsuitable in the conceived construction.

The oxidising and corrosive properties of the acid reduce progressively on dilution in water.

Electrically conductive plastic, gold and platinum are examples of materials that withstand nitric acid. Tin and antimony form oxides when these come into contact with nitric acid. In the continued development work, different carbon fibre materials and composites will be evaluated from a point of view of suitability.

Underlying equations and relations There will be given below a number of equations and relations which the illustrated construction is based on.

Centripetal force

F = mv²/r F = the force in N m = the mass of the particle, e.g. mass number 62 v = the speed determined by the speed of revolution r = the radius in the centrifuge Coulomb's law

F = Q₁Q₂M π εr² F = the attraction- or repulsion force in N Q₁ = the charge of a first particle

Q₂ = the charge of a second particle ε = the dielectricity constant r = the distance between the charges

Chemical reaction

NO₃ ^" -> NO₃ + e^" followed by 4 NO₃ + 2 H₂O -> 4 HNO₃ + O₂

The formulae are intended to describe what happens with the nitrate ions which have given off an electron at the outer casing 2 and thereby convert from being ions into uncharged nitrogen molecules dissolved in the water.

hi the literature, it is stated that nitrogen oxides NO₂ occur as: Nitrogen monoxide NO

Nitrogen dioxide NO₂ Nitrous oxide N₂O On the other hand, nitrogen trioxide is not given, which can make the above formula improbable.

The intention will be that it either results in nitrogen oxide or nitrogen dioxide, since these "are converted in air to nitric acid which falls as acid rain in nature". This thus entails that nitrogen oxide or nitrogen dioxide gives additional nitric acid when water is replenished in the process and the construction. The process is thereby maintained. The above, in combination with the engineering and technical assessments and reasonings constitute that which highlights the arguments for the possibilities of the construction.

It should further observed that the vessel 2 may be considered as a sphere in a well- known "Van der Graf generator.

This implies a "draught" of electrons from the inside of the sphere to the outer casing of the sphere.

This in turn entails that the nitrate ions willingly give up the electric charge to the inner wall because of the potential difference between the inner and outer wall.

This difference also contributes to the positively charged ions seeking towards the centre of the vessel.

It is thus not only the centrifugal force, but also the thus occurring potential difference which contributes to the splitting of the electrolyte.

The invention is naturally not restricted to the embodiment disclosed above by way of example, but may undergo modifications without departing from the scope of the inventive concept as disclosed in the appended Claims.

Claims

1. A method of generating electric current and splitting of water in hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, characterised in that by a rotation (centrifuging) of a container (1) with the aid of a shaft which consists of one or more parts of electrically insulating material and one or more parts of electrically conductive material, wholly or partly filled with an electrolyte (11), the electrolyte is caused to separate so that, at the peripheral region of the container (1) there occurs an excess of first ions with a first electric charge and, at the inner, shaft-related region of the container there occurs an excess of second ions with a second, and opposite charge, and that water is fed in (8) to the container (1) in order therein to be split up into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas and which separated are led from the container (1).

2. The method as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that said electrolyte (11) is given such properties that positive ions are accumulated at the central region of the container (1) and in conjunction with said shaft and that negative ions are accumulated at the peripheral region of the container (1).

3. The method as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that said electrolyte (11) is given such properties that negative ions are accumulated at the peripheral region of the container (1) and positive ions are accumulated at the central region of the container (1) or vice versa, and that the interior of the container is given a cylindrical configuration or an inner configuration corresponding to the configuration of a sphere.

4. The method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that, as said electrolyte (11) is selected nitric acid (HNO₃) diluted with water.

5. An apparatus for carrying out the method as claimed in any of the preceding Claims with a generation of an electric current and a separation of water into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, characterised in that the apparatus consists of a container (1) which is rotatably driven via a shaft (17), the shaft consisting of two parts (6, 7) of which the one part (6) is produced from an electrically insulating material and the second part (7) is produced from an electrically conductive material, that the electrically conductive part (7) is formed with an inner channel or duct (8) with an outlet (9) in order to make possible a replenishment of water, that the container (1) is designed in any event with two separate outlet devices, one for the oxygen gas and respectively one for the hydrogen gas formed on a generated splitting of the water and that the outer wall of the container (1) is designed to constitute the one pole in a current circuit where the conductive part (7) of the shaft (17) is disposed to constitute the opposite pole.

6. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that the electrically conductive part (7) of the shaft (17) is provided with rods or the like (10) in order to ensure a requisite electrical contact with the electrolyte solution during centrifuging.

7. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that said rotation (centrifuging) of the container (1) takes place with the aid of said shaft which consists of one or more parts of electrically insulating material and one or more parts of electrically conductive material.

8. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that said electrolyte (11) is given such properties that positive ions in excess are accumulated at the central region of the container (1) and in association with said shaft and that negative ions in excess are accumulated at the peripheral region (2) of the container (1).

9. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that said electrolyte (11) is given such properties that negative ions are accumulated at the peripheral region of the container (1) and positive ions are accumulated at the central region of the container (1) and that the interior of the container is given a cylindrical configuration or a configuration corresponding to the configuration of a sphere.

10. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that, as said electrolyte (11) nitric acid (HNO₃) more or less diluted with water is selected.

11. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 or 9, characterised in that the container (1) is given an inner configuration which creates preconditions for negative ions to be able to give off their charge to the container (1, 2) in a manner which causes the transfer of said negative charges to a band, utilised in a generator associated with the principles valid for a "Van der Graf generator.

12. The apparatus of generating an internal electric current and simultaneously splitting of water in hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, makinig use of a container (1) and means for rotating said water within and/or said container (1), with the aid of a shaft (6, 7), said container is wholly or partly filled with a water diluted electrolyte (11), said electrolyte is within said container caused to separate so that, at the peripheral region of the container (1) there occurs an excess of first (negative) ions with a first electric charge, close to a first electrode (13), and at the inner shaft-related region (7) of said container there occurs an excess of second electric (positive) ions with a second electric opposite charge, close to a second electrode (12), said container is allotted at least two separated outlets, one adapted for, within said container, separated hydrogen gas and one adapted for, within said container, separated oxygen gas, that an outer wall (3) of the container (1) is designed to constitute said first electrode (13), within a current circuit, where a conductive part (7) of the shaft (17) is disposed to constitute an opposite electrode (12), and that water is fed into (8, 9) said container (1), in order to substitute the water contents to be split up into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas and which thus separated are led from the container (1) via each outlet, characterised in that said shaft (17) is formed as two parts (6, 7), one lower first part (6), exposing an electrically insulating material, and one upper second part (7), exposing an electrically conductive material, said upper second part (7) is surrounded by a funnel-shaped means (14), adapted to guide hydrogen gas through an outlet formed between an outer surface of said upper second part (7) and an inner surface of a pipe socket arrangement (4), said funnel-shaped means (14) is further adapted to guide oxygen gas through an outlet, formed between an outer surface of said pipe socket arrangement (4) and an aperture in a lid arrangement (3), that said second part (7) is formed with an inner channel or duct (8), with an outlet (9), through said part (7) in order to make possible a replenishment of water to the container (1), that said electrically conductive part (7) is provided with rods or the like (10), in order to ensure a required electrical contact with the electrolyte solution during centrifuging, and with an electricity insulating lining (4, 5) covering the inside of said container (1) leaving a central section (15a) of said inside, offering a charging of said container (1) by using an interrelated water (H₂O) part as an insulation distance between said electrodes (12, 13).

13. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 12, characterised in that said rotation (centrifuging) of the container (1) takes place with the aid of said first part (6) of said shaft (17), which shaft (17) consists of one or more parts of electrically insulating material and one or more parts of electrically conductive material.

14. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 12, characterised in that said electrolyte (11) is given such properties that positive ions in excess are accumulated at the central region of the container (1) and in association with said electrically conductive shaft portion, that negative ions in excess are accumulated at the peripheral region of the container (1), and that electric means connects (12) the electrically conductive shaft portion (7) with a peripheral lid region (3) of said container (2).

15. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 12, characterised in that said electrolyte (11) is given such properties that negative ions are accumulated at the peripheral region of the container (1) and positive ions are accumulated at the central region of the container (1) and that the interior of the container (1) is given a cylindrical configuration or an inner configuration corresponding to the configuration of a sphere.

16. The apparatus as claimed in Claim 12, characterised in that the container (1) is given an external configuration which causes preconditions for negative ions to be able to give off their charge to the container (1).