CA1101228A

CA1101228A - Solar reactor combustion chamber

Info

Publication number: CA1101228A
Application number: CA277,900A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Robert L. Scragg; Alfred B. Parker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1976-06-03
Filing date: 1977-05-06
Publication date: 1981-05-19
Also published as: NL185101B; BR7703302A; CH631006A5; NL7705588A; BE853931A; JPS52148708A; SE432127B; DE2722209A1; SE7705984L; ES458801A1; GB1563551A; NL185101C

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An electro-magnetic reactor combustion chamber is disclosed which includes a concrete or other suitable housing having a reactor chamber and a combustion chamber therein. A
solar intensifier, such as a parabolic reflector, is mounted on top of the reactor housing. The parabolic reflector collects and intensifies solar rays and guides them through a solar sight glass, mounted on top of the housing, into the reactor chamber. The concentrated beam of light is directed onto a light disperser within the reactor chamber which disperses solar rays throughout the chamber. Molecular hydrogen and chlorine is conducted into the reactor chamber wherein in the presence of light the chlorine molecules expand into atomic chlorine. The chlorine and hydrogen molecules are forced into the combustion chamber together with oxygen wherein the chlorine and hydrogen react with controlled explosive violence to form HCl. The heat and pressure thus formed are utilized to heat or drive suitable utilization devices, such as turbines or pistons.

Description

Lz~ ~ ' BP~CKGROUND OF TEIE INVE~TION
This invention relates to reactors and comhus-tion chambers, and, more particularly, is related toelectro-magnetic reactor combustion engines which utilize molecular 5 hydrogen and chlorine gases in the presence of solar or artificial light energy to produce atomic hydrogen and chlorine which are exothermically combined in the presence o~ atmospheric oxygen to produce heat energy which is con-verted into chemical or mechanical energy for propulsion 10 and/or for the generation of electrical po~er.
In the process of converting fossil fuels into mechanical or chemical energy for ~he purpose o~ generak-ing mechanical or electrical power, two types of combus~
tion processes are known, i.e., external and internal com-15 bustion. External combustion ;s generally accomplished byburning a fuel in an open co~bustion cham~er resulting in a flame which is typically supporte~ b~ atmospheric oxy-gen. Internal combustion is typically accomplished by inkroducing a ~uel and a ~ixed amounk o~ o-~ygen or o~her 20 suitable oxidizing agent within an enclosed combustion chamber. The fuel and oxidizing agent are ignitea which results in a rapid burning or explosion within the chamber.
Both the internal and external combustion properties are generally sustained by an open flame or an electrical arc~
Both the internal and external combustion processes result .. . .
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in a typically low efficiency conversion of energy. Further, both methods produce harmful exhaust emissions and pollutants and all methods of converting fossil fuels into energy are dependent upon a limited and increasingly expensive supply of such fuels.
It, therefore, is an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for generating energy by means of a non-fossil fuel.
It is another object of this invention to provide an energy-generation system wherein products of combustion formed therein can be totally cleansed of emissions and pollutants which are harmful to the atmosphere and the environment.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a reactor combustion chamber wherein an exothermic reaction is supported by solar and/or artificial light.
It is still another object of this invention to provide an energy-generation system wherein the products of combustion are recycled to continuously support an exothermic reaction therein.
SHORT STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention relates to an electro-magnetic reactor combustion engine which includes a chamber having means for controllably coupling molecular chlorine and hydrogen thereto and means for directing electro-magnetic radiation into the chamber to thereby energize and ionize the chlorine and hydrogen. In their ionized state the chlorine and hydrogen react exothermically in the chamber to produce hydrogen chloride at a high pressure and temperature level.
Advantageously oxygen is introduced into the chamber to provide a suitable oxidizing agent.

- 3 -~11 4 ~li ~il ~ ~;228 The chamber may be comprised of a solar reactor chamber, a combustion chamber and a valve communicating the reactor chamber with the combustion chamber. The means for controllably coupling chlorine and hydrogen and oxygen con-trollably couples the chlorine and hydrogen to the reactor chamber. The means for directing the electro-magnetic ;
radiation directs the latter into the reactor chamber to thereby energize and ionize the chlorine and hydrogen. The means for controllably coupling chlorine and hydrogen and oxygen controllably couples the oxygen to the combustion chamber.
A block of low permeability impervious silicon carbide having a relatively large conductive-convective radiation receiving side surface and a relatively small depth dimension may be positioned in the combustion chamber. The block may have a fluid conducting channel formed in the form of a grid so that the channel passes in proximity to a sub-stantial portion of the radiation receiving side surface of the block and the fluid passing through the channel receives and is heated by heat produced by the high temperature exothermic reaction in the combustion chamber.
Advantageously the silicon carbide block is "KT"
silicon carbide.
Electromagnetic radiation may be derived from solar radiation by utilizing a parabolic reflector, or other suitable focusing means, positioned with respect to the reactor chamber and controlled to follow the sun by means of an auto-mated azimuth tracker. The parabolic reflector concentrates solar rays onto a focal point reflector which reflects the solar beam via a series of reflectors through a solar sight glass and into the reactor chamber. The beam of light passes f ~ ..

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through the reactor chamber and onto the surfaee of a light dispersal means such as a conical reflector valve at the base of the reactor chamber. Thus, the solar rays are dispersed throughout the reactor chamber. The chlorine gas molecules, coupled to the reactor chamber, are split into ionized chlorine ions by the solar rays. The resulting hydrogen and chlorine cause an increase in the pressure of the reactor chamber, thereby forcing the chlorine atoms and hydrogen into the com-bustion chamber. In the combustion chamber, the chlorine and hydrogen react in the presence of atmospheric oxygen with controlled explosive violence. The hot gases formed from the explosion can be utilized to provide mechanical and/or electrical power. As an example, the hot gases can be utilized to heat a boiler, compress a piston, or drive a turbine.

~ ,, ~ - 4a -~l~lZ;28 _ IEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of the `
lnvention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 i.s a section view taken in elevation of one embodiment of an electro-magnetic reactor combustion engine;
FIGURE 2 iS a section view taken in elevation of another embodiment of an electro-magnetic reactor combustion engine;
FIGURE 3 iS a section view taken in elevation of the electro-magnetic reactor combustion engine utilized as a steam generator;
FIGURE 4 iS a section view taken in elevation of an electro-magnetic reactor combustion engine utilized as a turbine drive means;
FIGURE 5 is a schematic illustration of an alternate embodiment of the electro-magnetic reactor combustion engine u-tilized as a turbine drive means; ~:
FIGURE 6 iS a section view taken in elevation ofan electro-magnetic reactor combustion engine utilized as a piston engine drive means; and FIGURE 7 iS a simplified section view taken in .~ ' `
.... _~ ~. ..

%~ ) elevation of the electro-magnetic reactor combustion ensine utilized to drive a sin~le cycle piston engine.

D~TAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
. . ~
Throughout the detailed description of the em-bodiments of the present invention, like numerals will correspond to like elements in the figures.
Refer now to Figure 1 where there is disclosed a simplified section view of one embodiment of the solar reactor combustion chamber of the present inven~ion. The solar reactor combustion chamber includes a housing 11 which may, for example, be formed of rein~orced concrete or other materials capable of withstanding very high pressure levels. The housing is divided into a reaction chamber 13 and a combustion chamber 15, by means of a wall 17. Fuel or reactants are fed into the reactor chamber 13, via tubes 19 and 21, respectively. In the preferred embodiment, chlorine is fed into the reactor via tube 19 and hydrogen is ~ed into the reactor chamber via tube 21 at controlled rates.
In one embodiment of the invention, solar rays are concentrated and intensified by an azimuth tracking parabolic reflector system of the type well known in the art. Solar radiation is directed by parabolic reflector 23 which tracks ~le sun by means of the azimuth tracker 25. ~he parabolic reflector concentrates the solar rays . .

2~3 ~

onto a focal point reflector 27 which reflects the in-tense solar beam via reflector 29 through a solar sight glass 31. The int~ensified solar rays are directed down-wardly through the solar sight glass 31 which is encased within the walls of the housing 11 and onto the surface of a conical reflector valve 33, which disperses the in-tense solar rays onto the surface of the reactor walls.
It should be understood that the reflector 33 can have a flat or convex shape, if desired. Of primary import-ance, however, is the fact that the solar rays must bedispersed throughout the reaction chamber 13 in order to provide for the most efficient operation of the method and apparatus of the present invention.
As mentioned above, molecular chlorine and hy-drogen gas is emitted into the chamber 13 via tubes 19 and 21, respectively. When the chlorine becomes exposed to the solar radiation within the chamber, the chlorine expands to form ionic atomic chlorine within the chamber.
The chlorine and hydrogen are at least partially combin-ed in chamber 13 to form ~Cl and a large amount of heatenergy. Accordingly, the pressure level within the cham-ber 13 is substantially increased. The hydrogen, chlor-ine and HCl are forced through valve port 35 defined by the conical reflector 33 and the wall 17. The gas is`
passed into the combustion chamber 15. Also, coupled to the combustion chamber 15 is atmospheric oxygen via a plurality of openings 37. The hydrogen and chlorine ::~
combine in the presence of the atmospheric oxygen, with controlled explosive violence, to thereby create hydrosen :
chloride gas and intense heat and pressure within the chamber 15. The explosive pressures and heat thus gen~ :
erated are utilized to perform work by generating steam, driving a turbine and/or driving a piston, as will be~
come more fully apparent hereinbelow. The high pressure gases generated within the chamber 15 are conducted from the chamber 15 by means of ports 39, or may be conducted from the chamber in a particular manner, as set out more fully in connection with discussion of Figures 4 and 5. :
As will become apparent from Figure 1, the con-ical reflector 33 is fixedly secured to a reciprocatingsupport member 41 and is spring-biased to close the port ~ ~
; 35. However, when the pressure within chamber 13 in~ ~;
creases, at a predetermined level, the port 35 is open-ed by forcing the conical ref`lector 33 downwardly. Sub-sequently, upon the occurrence of a controlled explosion in the combustion chamber 15, the conical reflector is driven upwardly to close the port 35. This pulsating expansion and combustion process occurs repeatedly as the chlorine and hydrogen molecules are split into atom-ic hydrogen and chlorine and, subsequently, are combined to form EICl in the combustion chamber 15.
As an alternative, the conical reflector 33can be fixedly positioned to provide a continuously open port 35 or it can be controlled by a cam to open the port 35 at preselected time intervals.
Refer now to Figure 2 where there is disclos-ed an alternative embodiment of the solar reactor com-bustion chamher of the present invention. Xn this em-bodiment, the housing 11 is formed of a metallic materi-al such as in a standard internal combustion enginewherein the engine is designed for propelling a vehicle or for other similar applications. In order to minimize corrosion, the internal wa:lls of the housing may be form-ed of an impervious carbonaceous materlal such as "K~
Silicon Carbide which has excellent thermal shock char-acteristics. In this embodiment, rather than utilizing solar energy for splitting the molecular chlorine into atomic chlorine, as in the embodiment of Figure 1, light - is generated by, for example, a photographic projection lamp 44, or other suitable high intensity light source.
The light source is housed in a chamber 45, preferably having reflector walls therein so that substantially all the light generated by the source 44 is eventually dir-ected downwardly through the solar sight glass 31 into the reaction chamber 13. The structure of the solar _g_ reactor combus-tion chamber is otherwise similar to that of Figure 1 and is for the purpose of providing a means for efficiently and economically generating energy.
Refer now to Figure 3 where there is disclos-ed an embodiment of the solar reactor combustion chamber utilized for the purpose of generating steam. The solar "
reactor combustion chamber is similar to that illustrat~ - ~
ed in Figure 1. However, carbonaceous blocks 51 are po- ;
sitioned along at least two internal walls of the com-bustion chamber 15. The carbonaceous blocks, preferably consisting of "KT" Silicon Carbide, manufactured by the Carborundum Corporation, have relatively large side sur-face areas 53 and a relatively small or narrow depth dimension, with each of the blocks being fixedly posi~
tioned against the side wa:Lls of the housing 11 of the combustion chamber 15. A carbonaceous block may be formed of any suitable low permeability impervious grap-hite or carbon material but, as aforementioned, in a preferred embodiment is formed of "KT" Silicon Carbide.
Such a block can operate at working temperatures of up ~ ;
to 3,000F. in an oxidizing atmosphere and has a ther-mal conductivity in excess of 700 BTU 1 hr./sq.ft~/F./
in. In addition, "KT" Silicon Carbide is impermeable, has excellent thermal shock characteristics, and can contain liquid or gas at pressures in excess of 2000 ps i~ O

As illustrated, channel 30 is formed in each of the blocks 51, with the channel 30 having a grid structure so that the flu.id or gas passing through the channel is exposed to a maximum of the heat energy ab-sorbed by the carbonaceous block.
In operation, a liquid or vapor such as wateror steam is fed into the channel 30 at the input 55 thereto. The fluid passes upwardly through the blocks 51 and out of the ports 57. In the meantime, heat from the combustion chamber 15 is transferred to the carbon~
aceous blocks 51 by conduction, convection and radia- :
tion. The energy is efficient.Ly absorbed by the carbon-aceous block and is converted into heat energy. This . heat energ~ is, in turn, transferred to the fluid pass-ing through the channels 30. As the fluid heats up, it begins to expand, rise in temperature, and increase in velocity. As the fluid travels upward in tha channels :30, the fluid absorbs more of the latent heat absorbed by the carbonaceous block and continues its expansion : 20 until it reaches a desired heat and pressure le~el and is exhausted through the outlet ports 57. The result-ing high temperature fluid can be utilized to drive turbines or power other suitable mechanisms. In the meantime, the exhaust gases from the combustion chamber 13 are exhausted vi.a outlet port 39.

2~ ) ' Reer now to Figure 4 where there is disclosed an alternate embodiment of the solar reactor combustion chamber of the present invention utilized to drive a turbine. In this embodiment, at least one reactor-co~bustion housing 11 is fixedly secured to a turbine 61which includes a plenum chamber 63, a turbine rotor 65, mounted on a sha~t 67, and a turbine housing 69 which defines therein a torus ring assembly 71, which guides :
the hot exhaust gases fxom the combustion chamber 15 into the turbine blades 65 of turbine 61. Thus, in op-eration atmospheric oxygen enters plenum chan~er 63 via ~n annular port 73. The oxygen passes into the combus-tion chamber 15 of the reactor combustion system 11 to thereby control the formation of hydrosen chloride there- !
in. The hot expanding exhaust products are forced out-wardly through the bottom of chamber 15 into the torus ring 71 defined by ~he turbine housing 69. The hot gases are ~hen forced radially inwardly toward the tur-bine rotor 65 to cause the turbine rotor to rapidly ro-tate in response thereto. The exhaust gases arè thenforced from the turbine out through port 75 into a scrubber chamber 30. The scru~ber chamber receives water into which the HCl dissolves to form hydrochloric acid t~hich falls to the bottom o~ the scrubber chambex and into container 24. The remaining gases are exhausted ~,................................ .

) 1~1228 to the atmosphere. Sodium hydroxide is coupled to the container 24 via line 38 to thereby convert the sodium ~hydroxide to water and sodium chloride. The water and sodium chloride are fed to the chlorine-sodium hydrox-ide electrolysis cell 50. The output of the electrol-ysis cell in the orm of chlorine an~ hydrogen is sup-plied to chamber 13 via lines 19 and 21, respectively.
Thus, the hydroyenand chlorine are continuously recycled to thereby substantially reduce the cost of fuel over t~at reguired in conventional fossil fuel powered tur-bine generators. Furthermore, the emission products ex-hausted to atmosphere are primarily water and the ele-ments found in the atmosphere. Accordingly, a clean burning, efficient turbine engine is provided which is 15 relatively inexpensive to operate. While in the em~odi- ;
ment illus~rated in Figure 4, only one reaction combus-tion chamber is illustrated, it should be understood that a plurality o~ such reaction combustion chambers can be positioned about the outside periphery of the - 20 turbine housing 69 to provide for a more uniform distri- ~;
bution of the high velocity exhaust gases generated in the reaction chamber 15.
Refer now to Figure 5 where there is disclos-ed in schematic orm an alternati~e embodiment of the solar reactor engine of the present inventionO In this embodiment the housing 11 is formed of a metallic materi~
al such as in a standard gas turbine engine wherein the engine is designed for propulsion or other mobile appli-cations. In order to reduFe corrosion the inner walls S of the reactor may be lined with an impervious carbon-aceous material. The reactants, hydrogen and chlorine, ~' are supplied to the reactor housing 11 by means of lines 21 and 19, respectively. The hydrogen and chlorine can be provided by means of storage containers (not shown) or can be generated on a continuous basis. Oxygen, pref-erably in atmospheric form, is supplied to chamber~
by means of line 36 for the purpose of controlling the reaction of the hydrogen with the chlorine. In this em-bodiment rather than utilizing solar energy for sustain-in~ in the reaction chamber 100, the light isgenerated by a high intensity light source 44. As be-fore, ~he light generated by the high intensity light source 44 is ~irected into the chamberlO~ and against the conical reflector 33 The light is thus dispersed ~
20 against the walls of the reaction chamberlO to thereby ~;
generate atomic chlorine. The chlorine and hydrogen are combined in chamberloo to form hydrogen chloride. The hydrogen chloride thus formed is at a high temperature and pressure level and is thereby forced through the turbine blades of turbine 61 into the exhaust chamber ~ .... ~ .
~, .,~..... ,., , ~.

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30. The turbine blades of turbine 61 are thereby rapid-ly driven with the mechanical eneryy thus generated coupled to a power take~of~ 42 which may drive a mechan-ical means for moving a vehicle and in addition a por-tion of the mechanical power may be utilized to drive agenerator 48. The output of the generator 48 is utilized to recharge battery 50 which in turn provides ~C current for energizing electrolysis cell 14. In the exhaust chamber 30, water is dispersed through tubes 28 to com-bine with the hydrogen chloride to form hydrochloricacid. This acid is conveyed away from the exhaust cham-ber 30 into a container 24. By combining the HCl with water a partial vacuum is created in the exhaust chamber 30 which assists in driving the turbine because of the increased pressure differential thereacross.
In the preferred embodiment sodium hydroxide from a chloxine-sodium hydroxide electrolysis cell 14 is supplied to the container 24 via line 40. The hydro-chloric acid is mixed with the sodium hydroxide to pro-duce water and sodium chloride. Th0 water and sodiumchloride are fed from the container 24 to the chlorine sodium hydroxide cell via line 46. The water and sodium chloride are converted into fuel and/or reactants, hydro-gen and chlorine and sodium hydroxide. ThiS process is continuously repeated. The output from the generator ' ''' , :

48 is utilized to sustain electrolysis in the chlorine-sodium hydroxide electrolysis cell.
Refer now to Figure 6 where there is disclosed an alternate embodiment of the solar reactor combustion chamber of the present invention utilized to drive a piston in a piston engine. In this embodiment, the housing 11 of the reactor combustion chamber is fixedly secured to the engine housing 81 with the exhaust port 39 from the combustion chamber 15 leading into a cylinder chamber 83 de~ined by the engine block 85, piston 87 and header block 88. Atmospheric oxygen is conducted into the cylinder chamber 83 via manifold 89 and intake valve 91. This oxygen ;
mixes with the atomic chlorine and hydrogen, passing down-wardly into the chamber 15 and into t:he cylinder chamber 83 to create a substantial expansion thereof via a controlled explosive reaction. The resulting combustion products are èxhausted from the cylinder chamber 83 via exhaust valve 93 and exhaust manifold 95. Each time oxygen is permitted into ; the cylinder chamber 83, an explosion occurs which drives the piston 87 downwardly. Upon the return upward stroke, a conical reflector valve 33 is driven upwardly to close the port 35. At the same time, exhaust valve 93 is low-ered, causing the exhaust products to pass out to exhaust manifold 95. Subsequently, the piston 87 is again moved -downwardly, permitting the conical reflector valve 33 to -' ' .:;.

open up to permit atomic chlorine and hydrogen to pass downwardly into the combustion chamber 15 and the cylinder chamber 83. At the same time, oxygen is coupled to the cylinder chamber 83 via intake valve 91 to control the exothermic combination of the hydrogen and chlorine. The piston is then driven downwardly to complete the cycle.
Refer now to Figure 7 which is a simplified schematic illustration of a single cycle internal com-bustion engine. In this embodiment a piston 80 defines a chamber lO0 into which a measured amount of chlorine and hydrogen and atmospheric oxygen is supplied via lines l9, 21 and 37, respectively. The resulting controlled explosion drives the piston 80 downwardly until the top surface 82 of the piston passes the exhaust port 84 of the cylinder defined by the housing ll. The reaction gas, hydrogen chloride, as well as air egress through the port into a scrubber chamber (not shown) of similar degree to that illustrated in Figure 4. The piston is then returned to a top dead-center position.
Before the piston reaches the top dead-center position, the chlorine and hydrogen are supplied to the chamber lO0. When the piston reaches top dead-center, the light source 44 is energized synchronously with movement of the piston 80 to cause the hydrogen and chlorine to combine exothermically to thereby force the piston 80 downwardly.

,. ..
~" J~i ;2;28 It should be understood the solar reactor of the present invention can be used to drive a rotary en-gine such as a Wankel engine as well as mutiple cycle piston engines. The embodiments of Figures 6 and ;
7 merely illustrate the application of the solar reactor engine to piston engines for efficiently and economic-ally driving these engines.
While the present invention has been disclos- :~
ed in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, it :
should be understood that there may be other variations of the invention which fall within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined by the appended claims.

i ~',

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. An electro-magnetic reactor combustion engine comprising:
a chamber;
means for controllably coupling chlorine and hydrogen to said chamber;
means for directing electro-magnetic radiation into said chamber to thereby energize and ionize said chlorine and hydrogen, whereby said chlorine and hydrogen react exothermically in said chamber to generate hydrogen chloride at a high pressure and temperature level; and converter means positioned proximate to said chamber for converting said high temperature and high pressure hydrogen chloride to mechanical energy.

2. An electro-magnetic reactor combustion chamber comprising:
a chamber;
means for controllably coupling chlorine, hydrogen and oxygen to said chamber;
means for directing electro-magnetic radiation into said chamber to thereby energize and ionize said chlorine and hydrogen, whereby said chlorine and hydrogen react exothermically in said chamber in the presence of said oxygen to generate hydrogen chloride at a high pressure and temperature level; and converter means positioned proximate to said chamber for converting said high temperature and high pressure hydrogen chloride to mechanical energy.

3. An electro-magnetic reactor combustion chamber comprising:
a solar reactor chamber;
a combustion chamber;
a valve communicating said reactor chamber with said combustion chamber;
- page one of claims -means for controllably coupling chlorine and hydrogen to said solar reactor chamber;
means for directing electro-magnetic radiation into said solar reactor chamber to thereby energize and ionize said chlorine and hydrogen; and means for controllably coupling oxygen to said combustion chamber, said chlorine and hydrogen reacting exo-thermically in said combustion chamber in the presence of said oxygen to generate hydrogen chloride at a high pressure and temperature level.

4. An electro-magnetic reactor combustion engine com-prising:
a reactor chamber;
means for controllably coupling chlorine and hydrogen to said reactor chamber;
means for directing electro-magnetic radiation into said reactor chamber to thereby expand said chlorine and hydrogen and to ionize said chlorine and hydrogen;
a combustion chamber;
valve means communicating said reaction chamber with said combustion chamber;
means for controllably coupling oxygen to said combustion chamber, said chlorine and hydrogen reacting exothermically in said combustion chamber in the presence of said oxygen to generate hydrogen chloride at a high pressure and temperature level; and at least one block of low permeability impervious silicon carbide having a relatively large conductive-convective - Page two of Claims -radiation-receiving side surface and a relatively small depth dimension positioned in said combustion chamber, a fluid-conducting channel formed in said block in the form of a grid so that said channel passes in proximity to a substantial portion of said radiation-receiving side surface of said block, said high temperature exothermic reaction in said combustion chamber heating said silicon carbide block to thereby heat said fluid passing therethrough.

5. The electro-magnetic combustion engine of claim 4 wherein said silicon carbide block comprises "KT" silicon carbide.

6. The electro-magnetic reactor combustion engine of claim 5 wherein said electro-magnetic radiation is solar radiation.

7. The electro-magnetic reactor combustion engine of claim 6 further comprising:
means for concentrating said electro-magnetic radiation;
means for directing said concentrated radiation into said reactor chamber; and means for dispersing said radiation in said reactor chamber so that some radiation is dispersed throughout said reactor chamber.

8. An electro-magnetic reactor combustion engine comprising:
a reactor chamber;
means for controllably coupling chlorine and hydrogen to said reactor chamber;

- Page three of Claims -means for directing electro-magnetic radiation into said reactor chamber to thereby expand said hydrogen and chlorine and to ionize said hydrogen and chlorine;
a combustion chamber;
valve means communicating said reactor chamber with said combustion chamber;
means for coupling oxygen to said combustion chamber to thereby exothermically react said hydrogen and said chlorine to generate hydrogen chloride at a high pressure and temperature level;
a turbine; and means for communicating said combustion chamber with said turbine to permit said generated hydrogen chloride at high pressure and temperature to drive a rotor of said turbine.

9. The electro-magnetic reactor combustion engine of claim 8 wherein said electro-magnetic radiation is generated by artificial means.

10. A solar reactor combustion chamber comprising:
a solar reactor chamber, means for controllably coupling chlorine and hydrogen to said solar reactor chamber;
means for directing electro-magnetic radiation into said chamber to thereby expand said hydrogen and chlorine and to ionize said hydrogen and said chlorine;
a combustion chamber;
valve means for communicating said reactor chamber with said combustion chamber;
an engine housing, said engine housing being fixedly positioned adjacent to said reactor chamber and - page four of claims -said combustion chamber, and said engine housing forming a cylinder chamber therein;
a piston for reciprocally moving within said cylinder chamber;
means for controllably coupling oxygen to said cylinder chamber to thereby exothermically react said hydrogen and chlorine to generate hydrogen chloride at a high pressure and temperature level, said high pressure hydrogen chloride forcing said piston downwardly in said cylinder chamber; and means for exhausting said hydrogen chloride and said oxygen.

11. The electro-magnetic reactor combustion engine of claim 10 wherein said electro-magnetic radiation is generated by artificial means.

12. The electro-magentic reactor combustion engine of claim 10 further comprising;
means for concentrating said electro-magnetic radiation;
means for directing said concentrated radiation into said reactor chamber; and means for dispersing said radiation in said reactor chamber so that said radiation is dispersed throughout said reacter chamber.
- page five of claims -