Electrolyzer
First Claim
1. An electrolysis apparatus for splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen gases using electrolysis, the apparatus comprising:
- a first hemi-enclosure having a facing edge;
a second hemi-enclosure having a facing edge that is separable from and not integral with the first hemi-enclosure;
a diaphragm that passes ions and impedes the passage of gas comprising a first side and a second opposing side, the diaphragm positioned between the facing edges of the first hemi-enclosure and the second hemi-enclosure, whereby the first hemi-enclosure and one side of the diaphragm form a first compartment and the second hemi-enclosure and the other side of the diaphragm form a second compartment;
one or more electrodes in the first compartment that emerge from the apparatus in a first interface defined by abutting edges of the first hemi-enclosure and the first side of the diaphragm to form one or more electrical contacts;
one or more electrodes in the second compartment that emerge from the apparatus in a second interface defined by abutting edges of the second hemi-enclosure and the second side of the diaphragm to form one or more electrical contacts;
a first pipe that allows gas within the first compartment to escape;
a second pipe that allows gas within the second compartment to escape;
a fastener that fastens the first hemi-enclosure, the diaphragm, the one or more electrodes, and the second hemi-enclosure together; and
electrical contacts that receive energy from an external source and deliver it to the electrodes.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The electrolytic production of high purity hydrogen and oxygen may include regulating gas pressure in the cathode and anode compartments of the electrolysis apparatus. The supply of water to the apparatus may be through at least one opening on the surface of the apparatus. High pressure hydrogen and oxygen gas may be produced without subjecting the electrolysis apparatus to large pressure differences between the interior and exterior of the apparatus. This may be accomplished by substantially immersing the entire electrolysis apparatus in a high pressure fluid thus making the interior and exterior pressures of the apparatus substantially equal. Two example structures for accomplishing this goal are disclosed. First, the apparatus may be placed in and encapsulated by a fluid-containing vessel that is itself pressurized. Second, the apparatus may be immersed in a deep water environment. Part of the electrical energy used to perform electrolysis may be recovered by capturing the kinetic energy and momentum in high pressure gas flowing in a tube, oxygen for example, and converting it to electricity by causing it to rotate an impeller that is coupled to an electric generator.
104 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An electrolysis apparatus for splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen gases using electrolysis, the apparatus comprising:
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a first hemi-enclosure having a facing edge; a second hemi-enclosure having a facing edge that is separable from and not integral with the first hemi-enclosure; a diaphragm that passes ions and impedes the passage of gas comprising a first side and a second opposing side, the diaphragm positioned between the facing edges of the first hemi-enclosure and the second hemi-enclosure, whereby the first hemi-enclosure and one side of the diaphragm form a first compartment and the second hemi-enclosure and the other side of the diaphragm form a second compartment; one or more electrodes in the first compartment that emerge from the apparatus in a first interface defined by abutting edges of the first hemi-enclosure and the first side of the diaphragm to form one or more electrical contacts; one or more electrodes in the second compartment that emerge from the apparatus in a second interface defined by abutting edges of the second hemi-enclosure and the second side of the diaphragm to form one or more electrical contacts; a first pipe that allows gas within the first compartment to escape; a second pipe that allows gas within the second compartment to escape; a fastener that fastens the first hemi-enclosure, the diaphragm, the one or more electrodes, and the second hemi-enclosure together; and electrical contacts that receive energy from an external source and deliver it to the electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for the production of hydrogen and oxygen from water, the apparatus comprising:
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an electrolysis apparatus comprising; at least one first electrode inside of a first electrode compartment; at least one second electrode inside of a second electrode compartment; a diaphragm that passes ions and impedes the passage of gas positioned between the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode and that forms a common barrier of the first and second electrode compartments; a leak tight vessel completely surrounding the electrolysis apparatus that is capable of holding fluid in an interior region that completely surrounds the first electrode compartment and the second electrode compartment in a leak tight manner; one or more fluid communication channels between an interior region of the vessel and the insides of the first and second electrode compartments; a first electrode compartment oxygen gas removal pipe that channels oxygen gas formed within the first electrode compartment outside of the vessel and prevents the oxygen gas from entering the area of the vessel that surrounds the electrolysis apparatus; and a second electrode compartment hydrogen gas removal pipe that channels hydrogen gas formed within the second compartment outside of the vessel, wherein the apparatus prevents; liquid from escaping the first or the second electrode compartments, and mixing of the oxygen gas and the hydrogen gas; a first electrical conductor that conducts electricity from outside of the vessel to the at least one first electrode; a second electrical conductor that conducts electricity from outside of the vessel to the at least one second electrode. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification