Desalination methods and devices using geothermal energy

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for desalinating sea water using geothermal energy. A low voltage (such as less than 0.9V) is applied to a hydrogen generating catalysts to generate hydrogen and oxygen, wherein geothermal heat is used as a heat source. The hydrogen and oxygen are used to drive a gas turbine to generate electricity. The oxygen and hydrogen are transported away and combusted to generate heat and pure water, as such salt are separated from the pure water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of desalination of sea water using geothermal heat comprising:
 a. providing an amount of sea water with sea salt and an amount of geothermal heat as a heat source to a reaction vessel;   b. generating an amount of oxygen and an amount of hydrogen by performing a catalytic electrolysis reaction by applying an electric voltage between 0.4V to 0.9V to a hydrogen generating catalyst having aluminum, copper, and silver in the sea water in the reaction vessel;   c. driving a turbine to generate an amount of generated electricity by using a gas pressure generated by the amount of hydrogen, the amount of oxygen, or both;   d. combusting the amount of hydrogen and the amount of oxygen generating an amount of desalinated water and generated heat; and   e. providing the amount of generated electricity or the amount of generated heat in assisting the catalytic electrolysis reaction in the reaction vessel.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising leaving the sea salt in the reaction vessel. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the electric voltage is 0.85V. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising separating the desalinated water and the amount of generated heat. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising collecting the generated heat using a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising condensing the desalinated water using a condenser. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the solution is a non-acidic solution. 
     
     
         28 . A sea water desalination method comprising:
 a. providing an amount of sea water and geothermal heat in a reaction vessel, wherein the amount of sea water contains water and sea salt;   b. converting the water into hydrogen and oxygen by performing an electrolysis reaction using a hydrogen generating catalyst containing aluminum, copper, and silver in the reaction vessel with a voltage between 0.4V to 0.9V applied;   c. generating electricity by driving an electricity generating device using a pressure generated by the hydrogen and oxygen;   d. combusting the hydrogen and oxygen in a combustion vessel generating desalinated water and heat; and   e. collecting the desalinated water.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the electricity generating device comprises an expansion turbine fluidically connected between the reaction vessel and the combustion vessel. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising utilizing a light source configured to regenerate the hydrogen generating catalyst. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising utilizing a light source configured to generate a wavelength that reduces an oxidation state of silver oxide, copper oxide, or both generated from the silver, the copper, or both. 
     
     
         32 . A method of storing an amount of energy comprising:
 a. providing an amount of water and geothermal heat in a reaction vessel;   b. converting the water and geothermal heat into hydrogen and oxygen by performing an electrolysis reaction using a hydrogen generating catalyst containing aluminum, copper, and silver in the reaction vessel with a voltage between 0.4V to 0.9V applied;   c. storing the hydrogen and oxygen as an energy source in a storage vessel;   d. generating electricity by releasing the hydrogen and oxygen stored at a predetermined event to drive an expansion turbine; and   e. combusting the hydrogen and oxygen release to generate an amount of stored chemical energy.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising using a light source to generate a light energy to regenerate the hydrogen generating catalyst. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the light source comprises a LED. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising reducing an oxidation state of the aluminum, copper, and silver using the LED. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising reducing an oxidation state of the aluminum, copper, and silver. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising reducing an oxidation state of the aluminum by using the copper. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising reducing an oxidation state of the copper by using the silver. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising reducing an oxidation state of the silver by using a light source. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the light source comprises a LED.