Photoelectrolysis system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system capable of photoelectrolysis comprising:
- at least one photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell the PEC cell comprising;
a photoanode; and
a photocathode;
a concentrator configured to provide concentrated light to PEC cell;
an electrolyte, the PEC cell configured to electrolyze the electrolyte into H2 and O2 in response to excitons generated by the concentrated light on the PEC cell; and
an electrolyte movement apparatus configured to pressurize the electrolyte above an atmospheric pressure, the electrolyte movement apparatus including;
a pump configured to move the electrolyte over surfaces of one or both of the photoanode and the photocathode;
a feedback component configured to measure one or more characteristics of the photoelectrolysis and to generate a feedback signal based on the characteristics, the characteristics including at least a portion of surface area of at least one of the photoanode and the photocathode that is covered by bubbles; and
a controller configured to control a flow rate produced by the pump based on the feedback signal.
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Abstract
A photoelectrolysis system includes at least one photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell having at least one photoanode and at least one photocathode. A light concentrator provides concentrated light to PEC cell. The PEC cell electrolyzes the electrolyte into H2 and O2 in response to excitons generated by the concentrated light on the PEC cell. An electrolyte flow apparatus moves the electrolyte over surfaces of one or both of the photoanode and the photocathode at a flow rate that is based on one or more characteristics of the photoelectrolysis.
23 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system capable of photoelectrolysis comprising:
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at least one photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell the PEC cell comprising; a photoanode; and a photocathode; a concentrator configured to provide concentrated light to PEC cell; an electrolyte, the PEC cell configured to electrolyze the electrolyte into H2 and O2 in response to excitons generated by the concentrated light on the PEC cell; and an electrolyte movement apparatus configured to pressurize the electrolyte above an atmospheric pressure, the electrolyte movement apparatus including; a pump configured to move the electrolyte over surfaces of one or both of the photoanode and the photocathode; a feedback component configured to measure one or more characteristics of the photoelectrolysis and to generate a feedback signal based on the characteristics, the characteristics including at least a portion of surface area of at least one of the photoanode and the photocathode that is covered by bubbles; and a controller configured to control a flow rate produced by the pump based on the feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method providing photoelectrolysis, comprising:
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concentrating light onto a photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell comprising a photoanode and a photocathode; generating excitons in the PEC cell in response to the concentrated light; pressurizing an electrolyte to a pressure above an atmospheric pressure; electrolyzing the electrolyte into hydrogen and oxygen at surfaces of one or both of the photoanode and photocathode using the excitons; and flowing the electrolyte over the surfaces of one or-both of the photoanode and the photocathode at a flow rate; measuring one or more characteristics of the photoelectrolysis, the characteristics comprising a portion of surface area of at least one of the photoanode and the photocathode that is covered by bubbles; generating a feedback signal based on the measured characteristics; and controlling the flow rate using the feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification