by sparkgap » Sat Dec 20, 2008 3:33 pm
While reviewing the prior art, I found the following patent which teaches a similar process. Unfortuniately, it does not provide specifics about the magnetic field source, but at least it validates the principle behind AlaskaStar's process.
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United States Patent 6,624,380
September 23, 2003
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Device for recovering sodium hydride
Abstract
A device and method for producing sodium (Na) from a feed material such as a mixture of methane (CH4) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) includes a plasma torch configured to heat the feed material to a temperature sufficient to reduce and ionize sodium (Na). As such, a plasma jet is created by the plasma torch that contains ionized sodium (Na) and non-ionized neutrals such as hydrogen (H) and carbon monoxide (CO). From the plasma torch, the plasma jet is introduced into a chamber where a magnetic field has been established. Once inside the chamber the heated mixture of ions and neutrals interacts with the magnetic field in the chamber to cause the sodium ions to travel substantially along the magnetic field lines while the neutrals travel on paths that are essentially unaffected by the magnetic field. A collector is positioned to receive and accumulate sodium (Na).
Excerpt 1:
Recently, there has been an abundant interest in the use of sodium hydride (NaH) as a portable energy source to produce hydrogen as a replacement for fossil fuels such as gasoline. For example, engines similar to the standard gasoline engines that are now used in automobiles can be manufactured that use hydrogen gas as a fuel. Unfortunately, the bulk amount of actual hydrogen gas that is needed for vehicle applications would require either an extremely large tank or a high-pressure vessel. Both of these requirements can be expensive and impractical for use on a vehicle. Thus, to avoid these requirements, devices have been proposed to produce hydrogen gas at relatively low pressures. Importantly, the gas can be produced as demanded by the hydrogen engine, by reacting sodium hydride with water.
Excerpt 2:
The present invention contemplates separation of Na from the other gases by ionization. For example, consider a mixture of NaOH and CH4 heated to a temperature of 3000-4000 K rather than to 1000 K. This heating can be accomplished using a plasma torch. At these higher temperatures, Na atoms will be fully ionized. The present invention further contemplates separating the ionized Na component from the non-ionized neutrals (i.e. CO and H2) by introducing the mixture in the form of a plasma jet into a strong magnetic field. In the magnetic field that is directed along the jet, sodium ions will move predominantly along the magnetic field lines and neutrals will diffuse from the plasma jet radially, where the neutrals can be pumped from the device.
Excerpt 3:
From the plasma torch, the plasma jet is introduced into a chamber where a magnetic field has been established. Preferably, the chamber is surrounded by a wall shaped as an elongated cylinder. The wall defines a longitudinal axis and is formed with a first end and a second end. The cylindrical wall is preferably open at both ends, allowing particles to enter the chamber at the first end and exit the chamber at the second end. To establish the magnetic field inside the chamber, standard coils can be mounted on the outside of the wall, and an electrical current can be selectively passed through the coils. Preferably, the magnetic field established inside the chamber is oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. Further, the magnetic field is preferably established having substantially uniform field strength along the longitudinal axis.
“I shall not commit the fashionable stupidity of regarding everything I cannot explain as fraud.â€