Fuel-dissociation electrical current generating apparatus and method

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for generating electrical current in controlled fashion and usable amounts from ionically conductive fuels such as hydrazine based fuels.
The apparatus comprises a fuel source conduit leading to a porous, electrically non-conductive membrane which is in contact with two electrodes of dissimilar metals.
Electrically conductive leads extend from each of the electrodes and the entire apparatus is enclosed in an insulated case having gas vents for exhausting fuel-decomposition products.
In operation, electrical current is generated by passing an ionically conducting fuel such as hydrazine based fuel through the conduit leading to the porous membrane.
The membrane disperses the fuel in the vicinity of the electrodes where fuel decomposition is initiated by contact with a fuel decomposition type catalyst.
The catalytically induced decomposition of the fuel provides heat energy to heat the fluid permeable electrodes causing subsequent fuel dissociation to occur directly on the heated electrodes.
The dissociation is sustained on the electrodes by a thermal bootstrapping action.
A different fuel dissociation reaction is enforced at each electrode (note the equations infra) by virtue of the dissimilar electrode materials leading to the generation of an electrical current.
Liquid fuel is maintained between the electrodes for ionic transport by regulating the fuel feed rate and internal pressure in the apparatus.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof as discussed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.