Electrolyzer apparatus and method of making it
First Claim
1. A method for making a diaphragm electrode array suitable for use in an electrolysis apparatus using a plurality of individual wire strands for an anode and a plurality of individual wire strands for a cathode that each have two opposing ends and using a diaphragm, the diaphragm having opposing and substantially planar surfaces that each have a surrounding perimeter and is made of a material that passes ions but impedes the passage of gas through the opposing surfaces of the diaphragm, the method comprising:
- placing the plurality of individual wire strands that comprise the anode while unattached to one another against one surface of the diaphragm such that the opposing ends of each of the individual wire strands are at or beyond the perimeter of the one surface of the diaphragm;
placing the plurality of individual wire strands that comprise the cathode while unattached to one another against the other surface of the diaphragm such that the opposing ends of each of the individual wire strands are at or beyond the opposing perimeter of the other surface of the diaphragm; and
after placing the individual wire strands against one of the surfaces of the diaphragm, and before any of the individual wire strands are affixed to the diaphragm, pressing each individual wire strand against the perimeter of the diaphragm surface against which the individual wires strands have been placed in a manner that makes a diaphragm electrode array suitable for use in the electrolyzer apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for the electrolytic splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen gases is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: (i) a first hemi-enclosure; (ii) a second hemi-enclosure; (iii) a diaphragm electrode array positioned between the first hemi-enclosure and the second hemi-enclosure comprising: (a) a diaphragm, that passes ions and impedes the passage of gases, comprising a first side and a second opposed side; (b) a first plurality of electrodes in a first vicinity of the first side of the diaphragm; and (c) a second plurality of electrodes in a second vicinity of the second opposed side of the diaphragm; (iv) a fastener, for leak-tight fastening of the first hemi-enclosure, the diaphragm electrode array, and the second hemi-enclosure, whereby a leak-tight enclosure is formed; (v) contacts, for electrically powering the first and second pluralities of electrodes, and; (vi) pathways, configured to remove hydrogen and oxygen gases from the enclosure.
67 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for making a diaphragm electrode array suitable for use in an electrolysis apparatus using a plurality of individual wire strands for an anode and a plurality of individual wire strands for a cathode that each have two opposing ends and using a diaphragm, the diaphragm having opposing and substantially planar surfaces that each have a surrounding perimeter and is made of a material that passes ions but impedes the passage of gas through the opposing surfaces of the diaphragm, the method comprising:
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placing the plurality of individual wire strands that comprise the anode while unattached to one another against one surface of the diaphragm such that the opposing ends of each of the individual wire strands are at or beyond the perimeter of the one surface of the diaphragm; placing the plurality of individual wire strands that comprise the cathode while unattached to one another against the other surface of the diaphragm such that the opposing ends of each of the individual wire strands are at or beyond the opposing perimeter of the other surface of the diaphragm; and after placing the individual wire strands against one of the surfaces of the diaphragm, and before any of the individual wire strands are affixed to the diaphragm, pressing each individual wire strand against the perimeter of the diaphragm surface against which the individual wires strands have been placed in a manner that makes a diaphragm electrode array suitable for use in the electrolyzer apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for making a diaphragm electrode array suitable for use in an electrolysis apparatus using wire electrodes that each have two opposing ends and using a diaphragm, the diaphragm having opposing and substantially planar surfaces that each have a surrounding perimeter and is made of a material that passes ions but impedes the passage of gas through the opposing surfaces of the diaphragm, the method comprising:
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placing one or more of the electrodes against one surface of the diaphragm such that the opposing ends of each of the one or more electrodes are at or beyond the perimeter of the one surface of the diaphragm; placing one or more of the other electrodes against the other surface of the diaphragm such that the opposing ends of each of the one or more other electrodes are at or beyond the opposing perimeter of the other surface of the diaphragm; after placing the electrodes against one of the surfaces of the diaphragm, affixing each electrode at substantially the perimeter of the diaphragm surface against which the electrode has been placed in a manner that makes a diaphragm electrode array suitable for use in the electrolyzer apparatus; and wrapping one end of each wire electrode around a feed bobbin and the other end of each wire electrode around a take-up bobbin, affixing each wire electrode to the diaphragm, un-affixing each wire electrode from the diaphragm, pulling fresh wire electrodes across the surfaces of the diaphragm using the take-up bobbins, and affixing the fresh wire electrodes to the diaphragm.
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Specification