High pressure electrolyzer module

• US 6,554,978 B1
• Filed: 06/01/2001
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vandenborre Technologies NV (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Vandenborre Technologies NV (Cummins Incorporated)
• Inventors: Vandenborre, Hugo
• Primary Examiner(s): Valentine, Donald R.
• Application Number:
  US09/807,456
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 204/268, 204/269, 204/270, 204/253-258, 204/279, 204/267
• US Class Current: 204/258
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/003 Coaxial constructions, e.g. a cartridge located coaxially within another
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/08 Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/73 of the filter-press type
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis

Abstract

A high pressure electrolyzer as represented in the figure, having a number of electrolysis chambers being held in frame (1), being separated by membrane (2) to which the electrodes (3) are pressed. The electrodes are electrically connected to the bipolar plate (4) with a metal woven sheet (5). The frame has the larger conduit openings (7) on the top side and (8) on the bottom side. Conduit openings (7) evacuate the gas that is generated and openings (8) form a supply channel of electrolyte. Opening (7) is connected to the electrolyzer module'"'"'s inner space with the small connecting conduit (9) and similarly opening (8) is connected to the inner space via small connecting conduit (10). A ring shaped frame having conduit openings for the supply of electrolyte and the removal of the gasses that are generated and further having a connecting surface with concentric elevations and depressions.

Claims

1. A high pressure electrolyser module comprising a series of stacked electrolysis chambers, each chamber being held within a first and a second ring-shaped holding frame, and each of said ring-shaped holding frames having an outer wall and an inner wall and a first and a second connecting surface, such that said second connecting surface of said first ring-shaped holding frame and said first connecting surface of said second ring-shaped holding frame are adjacent connecting surfaces, each of said ring-shaped holding frames further having circular shaped openings that form conduits for the supply of electrolyte and the removal of gas that is generated, wherein

(1) said connecting surfaces of said ring-shaped frames have one or more elevations and/or one or more depressions in such a manner that in said adjacent connecting surfaces, said elevations fit in said depressions;

(2) a flat gasket is placed between said adjacent connecting surfaces;

(3) the distance between said outer wall and said circular shaped openings forming gas or electrolyte conduits is at least 1.5 cm;

(4) the diameter of said conduits is in the range of from 1 cm to 3 cm.

2. An electrolyser module according to claim 1 wherein the distance between said outer wall and said openings forming gas or electrolyte conduits is at least 2 cm.

3. An electrolyser module according to claim 1 wherein the diameter of said conduit is in the range of from 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm.

4. An electolyser module according to claim 1 having a cylindrically shaped connecting conduit between said inner wall of said ring-shaped holding frame and said circular shaped openings forming gas or electrolyte conduits, wherein said cylindrically shaped connecting conduit has a diameter in the range of from 0.5 mm to 3 mm and a length in the range 1 cm to 4 cm.

5. An electrolyser module according to claim 1 wherein the flat gasket has a thickness in the range of from 0.2 mm to 1 mm and is made of polytetrafluoroethylene.

6. An electrolyser comprising an electrolyser module according to claim 1 and further having a water-supply system, placed above a degassing chamber, comprising a vessel having an inlet for water and an inlet for pressurized gas that is tapped from one of the degassing units, and an outlet for water brought at high pressure into a pipe that is connected to one of the de-gassing chambers.

7. An electrolyser according to claim 6 wherein the water-supply system is placed above the oxygen de-gassing chamber and the pressured gas is tapped from the oxygen de-gassing chamber.

8. A ring-shaped holding frame, for a high pressure electrolyser, said ring-shaped holding frame having an outer wall and an inner wall, and a first and second connecting surface, wherein

(1) each of said connecting surfaces has one or more elevations and/or one or more depressions in such a manner that said elevations on said first connecting surface correspond to said depressions of said second connecting surface and vice versa;

(2) the ring has at least two circular shaped openings forming gas or electrolyte conduits, at least one at the bottom and at least one at the top;

(3) the distance between said outer wall and said circular shaped openings forming gas or electrolyte conduits is at least 1.5 cm;

(4) the diameter of said circular shaped openings forming gas or electrolyte conduits is in the range of from 1 cm to 3 cm.

9. A ring-shaped frame according to claim 8 wherein the distance between said said circular shaped openings forming gas or electrical conduits and said outer wall of said ring-shaped frame is at least 1.5 cm.