Electrolyser and components therefor

• US 8,057,646 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2005
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hydrogenics Corporation (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Hydrogenics Corporation (Cummins Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hinatsu, James T., Stemp, Michael C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilkins, III; Harry D
• Application Number:
  US11/721,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20090229990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,169 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 204/256
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/08 Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/70 Assemblies comprising two or more cells
• 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

The present invention is directed to cell plates for an electrolyser module and to an electrolyser module incorporating the plates. The plates comprise an electrolysis chamber opening, at least one degassing chamber opening, and at least one gas-liquid conduit opening. The plates further comprise a channel connecting the electrolysis chamber opening and the gas-liquid conduit opening. The present invention is directed further to a process and apparatus for separating a gas-liquid mixture generated at an electrolysis cell.

Claims

1. An electrolyser module comprising:

(a) a plurality of cell plates adapted to be arranged together in sealing engagement to define at least one electrolysis cell, at least one degassing chamber, at least one gas-liquid conduit, and at least one gas-liquid channel connecting said at least one electrolysis cell to said at least one gas-liquid conduit;

(b) at least one transfer channel for connecting said gas-liquid conduit to said at least one degassing chamber;

(c) at least one gas outlet conduit for connecting said at least one degassing chamber to a desired location for receiving gas and at least one degassed liquid conduit for connecting said at least one degassing chamber to a desired location for receiving degassed liquid; and

(d) a transfer plate, said transfer plate comprising a body, at least one electrolysis chamber opening defined in said body, at least one degassing chamber opening defined in said body, at least one gas-liquid conduit opening defined in said body, and a channel which connects the at least one gas-liquid conduit opening to the at least one degassing chamber opening.

2. The electrolyser module of claim 1 wherein the cell plates comprise:

(a) a body;

(b) at least one electrolysis chamber opening defined in said body;

(c) at least one degassing chamber opening defined in said body;

(d) at least one gas-liquid conduit opening defined in said body; and

(e) a channel defined in the body which connects the at least one electrolysis chamber opening to the at least one gas-liquid conduit opening.

3. The electrolyser module of claim 1, said transfer plate having a non-rectilinear peripheral shape.

4. The electrolyser module of claim 1, wherein the transfer plate is comprised substantially of a thermoplastic material.

5. The electrolyser module of claim 1, further comprising a return plate, said return plate comprising:

(a) a body;

(b) at least one degassing chamber opening defined in said body;

(c) at least one degassed liquid conduit opening defined in said body;

(d) a channel which connects the at least one degassing chamber opening to the at least one degassed liquid conduit opening.

6. The electrolyser module of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the return plate is comprised of a conductive material.

7. The electrolyser module of claim 5, wherein the return plate comprises a bipolar plate.

8. The electrolyser module of claim 5, wherein the return plate further comprises a pressure equalization conduit.

9. The electrolyser module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one transfer channel is connected proximate to an end of said at least one gas-liquid conduit.

10. The electrolyser module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one transfer channel is connected proximate to an end of said at least one degassing chamber.

11. The electrolyser module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one transfer channel has one end that is connected proximate to an end of said at least one gas-liquid conduit and another end that is connected proximate to an end of said at least one degassing chamber.

12. The electrolyser module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one gasket disposed between said cell plates.

13. The electrolyser module as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said cell plates define nesting surfaces for nesting with adjacent said cell plates.

14. The electrolyser module as claimed in claim 1, said electrolyser module further comprising a pressure equalization conduit.

15. An electrolyser system comprising the electrolyser module as claimed in claim 1 in combination with a power supply system.

16. An electrolyser system comprising the electrolyser module as claimed in claim 1 in combination with a water purification system.

17. An electrolyser system comprising the electrolyser module as claimed in claim 1 in combination with a gas compression system.

18. An electrolyser system comprising the electrolyser module as claimed in claim 1 in combination with a gas storage system.

19. An electrolyser system as claimed in claim 18 further comprising a gas dispensing system connected to said gas storage system.

20. An electrolyser system comprising the electrolyser module as claimed in claim 1 in combination with an electricity regeneration system.

21. An electrolyser system comprising the electrolyser module as claimed in claim 1 in combination with a gas conditioning system.

22. An electrolyser module comprising:

(a) a plurality of cell plates adapted to be arranged together in sealing engagement to define at least one electrolysis cell, at least one degassing chamber, at least one gas-liquid conduit, and at least one gas-liquid channel connecting said at least one electrolysis cell to said at least one gas-liquid conduit;

(b) at least one transfer channel for connecting said gas-liquid conduit to said at least one degassing chamber;

(c) at least one gas outlet conduit for connecting said at least one degassing chamber to a desired location for receiving gas and at least one degassed liquid conduit for connecting said at least one degassing chamber to a desired location for receiving degassed liquid; and

(d) a return plate, said return plate comprising a body, at least one degassing chamber opening defined in said body, at least one degassed liquid conduit opening defined in said body, a channel which connects the at least one degassing chamber opening to the at least one degassed liquid conduit opening, and at least a portion of the return plate is comprised of a conductive material.

23. The electrolyser module of claim 22, wherein the return plate is comprised substantially of a thermoplastic material.

24. The electrolyser module of claim 22, wherein the return plate comprises a bipolar plate.

25. The electrolyser module of claim 22, said return plate further comprising at least one gas outlet opening.

26. The electrolyser module of claim 22, wherein the return plate is substantially hollow.

27. The electrolyser module of claim 22, wherein the return plate further comprises liquid feed inlet openings.

28. The electrolyser module of claim 22, wherein the return plate further comprises openings for a mechanical circulation pump.

29. The electrolyser module of claim 22, wherein the return plate further comprises liquid cooling lines.

30. The electrolyser module of claim 22, wherein the return plate further comprises openings for detection or regulation equipment.

31. The electrolyser module of claim 22, wherein the return plate further comprises a pressure equalization conduit.

32. An electrolyser module comprising:

(a) a plurality of cell plates adapted to be arranged together in sealing engagement to define at least one electrolysis cell, at least one degassing chamber, at least one gas-liquid conduit, and at least one gas-liquid channel connecting said at least one electrolysis cell to said at least one gas-liquid conduit;

(b) at least one transfer channel for connecting said gas-liquid conduit to said at least one degassing chamber;

(c) at least one gas outlet conduit for connecting said at least one degassing chamber to a desired location for receiving gas and at least one degassed liquid conduit for connecting said at least one degassing chamber to a desired location for receiving degassed liquid; and

(d) a return plate, said return plate comprising a body, at least one degassing chamber opening defined in said body, at least one degassed liquid conduit opening defined in said body, a channel which connects the at least one degassing chamber opening to the at least one degassed liquid conduit opening, and a bipolar plate.

33. The electrolyser module of claim 32, wherein the return plate is comprised substantially of a thermoplastic material.

34. The electrolyser module of claim 32, said return plate further comprising at least one gas outlet opening.

35. The electrolyser module of claim 32, wherein the return plate is substantially hollow.

36. The electrolyser module of claim 32, wherein the return plate further comprises liquid feed inlet openings.

37. The electrolyser module of claim 32, wherein the return plate further comprises openings for a mechanical circulation pump.

38. The electrolyser module of claim 32, wherein the return plate further comprises liquid cooling lines.

39. The electrolyser module of claim 32, wherein the return plate further comprises openings for detection or regulation equipment.

40. The electrolyser module of claim 32, wherein the return plate further comprises a pressure equalization conduit.

41. An electrolyser module comprising:

(a) a plurality of cell plates adapted to be arranged together in sealing engagement to define at least one electrolysis cell, at least one degassing chamber, at least one gas-liquid conduit, and at least one gas-liquid channel connecting said at least one electrolysis cell to said at least one gas-liquid conduit;

(b) at least one transfer channel for connecting said gas-liquid conduit to said at least one degassing chamber;

(c) at least one gas outlet conduit for connecting said at least one degassing chamber to a desired location for receiving gas and at least one degassed liquid conduit for connecting said at least one degassing chamber to a desired location for receiving degassed liquid; and

(d) a pressure equalization conduit.

42. The electrolyser module of claim 41, further comprising a return plate, the return plate comprising a body, first and second degassing chamber openings defined in the body, at least one degassed liquid conduit opening defined in the body, a channel which connects the degassing chamber openings to the at least one degassed liquid conduit opening, and the pressure equalization conduit which connects the first and second degassing chamber openings.

43. The electrolyser module of claim 42, wherein at least a portion of the return plate is comprised of a conductive material.

44. The electrolyser module of claim 42, wherein the return plate comprises a bipolar plate.