Electrolytic cell and method of use thereof

• US 9,133,552 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2013
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Green Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: McAlister, Roy Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilkins, III, Harry D
• Application Number:
  US14/079,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20140061060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/225 Expansion; Exfoliation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2001/46171 Cylindrical or tubular shaped
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 35/536 based on expanded graphite or complexed graphite
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/00 Electrolytic production of inorganic compounds or non-metals
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/02 Hydrogen or oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 11/02 characterised by shape or form
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 11/03 perforated or foraminous
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 13/02 characterised by shape or form
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/00 Operating or servicing cells
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/02 Process control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/08 Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/00 Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/05 Pressure cells
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/17 Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/19 with diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 43/08 Plants characterised by the engines using gaseous fuel generated in the plant from solid fuel, e.g. wood
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 20/20 Solar heat collectors for receiving concentrated solar energy, e.g. receivers for solar power plants
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 7/103 consisting of more than two coaxial conduits or modules of more than two coaxial conduits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 : Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 : Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 : Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/33 : using wind energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 : using solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1059 : Splitting sheet lamina in plane intermediate of faces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 : by applying separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24322 : Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/26 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component, the element or component having a specified physical dimension

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention an electrolytic cell is provided comprising a containment vessel; a first electrode; a second electrode; a source of electrical current in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode; an electrolyte in fluid communication with the first electrode and the second electrode; a gas, wherein the gas is formed during electrolysis at or near the first electrode; and a separator; wherein the separator includes an inclined surface to direct flow of the electrolyte and the gas due to a difference between density of the electrolyte and the combined density of the electrolyte and the gas such that the gas substantially flows in a direction distal to the second electrode.

Claims

1. An electrolytic cell comprising:

a containment vessel configured to contain an electrolyte;

one or more electrodes configured to be in fluid communication with the electrolyte and in electrical communication with a power supply for producing a first gas and a second gas via electrolysis of the electrolyte;

a separator configured to be in fluid communication with the electrolyte and to separate the first gas from the second gas;

a first gas collection region in the containment vessel; and

a second gas collection region in the containment vessel and substantially concentric with the first gas collection vessel,

wherein

the first gas collection region is arranged to receive the first gas,

the second gas collection region is arranged to receive the second gas,

at least one of the first and second gas collection regions have an internal volume that is at least partially conical in shape and configured to distribute pressure in the containment vessel produced by the first gas and the second gas, and

at least one of the electrodes has a conical shape.

2. The electrolytic cell of claim 1 wherein the separator is configured to be in electrical communication with the power supply and to function as an electrode.

3. The electrolytic cell of claim 1 wherein the separator:

has a generally helical shape;

is concentric with the first gas collection region; and

generally confines the first gas within an internal volume defined by the separator.

4. The electrolytic cell of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the electrodes includes a first conical section and a second conical section nested within the first conical section.

5. The electrolytic cell of claim 1 wherein:

the electrodes include an anode and a cathode;

the anode and the cathode each have a conical shape; and

the anode is nested within the cathode or the cathode is nested within the anode.

6. The electrolytic cell of claim 1 further comprising an insulative plug separating the first gas collection region from the second gas collection region.

7. The electrolytic cell of claim 1 wherein:

the separator includes an inclined surface defining an inner perimeter and outer perimeter; and

the separator is configured to direct a flow of fluid from outside of the outer perimeter toward the inner perimeter and to contain the flowed fluid within the inner perimeter of the separator.

8. A method for operating an electrolytic cell, the method comprising:

providing an electrolytic cell;

performing electrolysis in the electrolytic cell to produce a first gas in a first region in the electrolytic cell and a second gas in a second region in the electrolytic cell;

providing a first gas collection vessel distinct from the electrolytic cell and in fluid communication with the electrolytic cell;

capturing the first gas in the first gas collection vessel prior to substantial expansion of the first gas;

expanding the first gas;

capturing work generated from the expansion of the first gas;

providing a second gas collection vessel distinct from the electrolytic cell and in fluid communication with the electrolytic cell;

capturing the second gas in the second gas collection vessel prior to substantial expansion of the second gas;

expanding the second gas; and

capturing work generated from the expansion of the second gas,

wherein performing electrolysis includes flowing an electrical current between electrodes disposed within the electrolytic cell, wherein at least one of the electrodes has a conical shape.

9. An electrolytic cell comprising:

a containment vessel configured to contain an electrolyte;

one or more electrodes configured to be in fluid communication with the electrolyte and in electrical communication with a power supply for producing a first gas and a second gas via electrolysis of the electrolyte, wherein at least one of the electrodes has a conical shape

a separator configured to be in fluid communication with the electrolyte;

an insulator defining a conically shaped cavity in the containment vessel and an annular-shaped cavity in the containment vessel separated from and surrounding the conically-shaped cavity,

wherein

the conically-shaped cavity is arranged to receive the first gas, and

the annular-shaped cavity surrounds the conically-shaped cavity, wherein the annular-shaped cavity is arranged to receive the second gas, and

the conically-shaped and annular-shaped cavities are configured to distribute pressure in the containment vessel produced by the first gas and the second gas.

10. The electrolytic cell of claim 9 wherein the conically-shaped cavity has a truncated conical shape.

11. The electrolytic cell of claim 9 wherein the separator is configured to be in electrical communication with the power supply and to function as an electrode.

12. The electrolytic cell of claim 9 wherein the separator:

has a generally helical shape;

is concentric with the annular-shaped cavity; and

generally confines the first gas within an internal volume defined by the separator.

13. The electrolytic cell of claim 9 wherein:

the one or more electrodes include an anode and a cathode;

the anode and the cathode each have a conical shape; and

the anode is nested within the cathode or the cathode is nested within the anode.

14. The electrolytic cell of claim 9 wherein:

the separator includes an inclined surface defining an inner perimeter and outer perimeter; and

the separator is configured to direct a flow of fluid from outside of the outer perimeter toward the inner perimeter and to contain the flowed fluid within the inner perimeter of the separator.

15. The electrolytic cell of claim 9 wherein the annular cavity has a conical shape.

16. The electrolytic cell of claim 9, further comprising a catalytic filter disposed within the conically-shaped cavity and toward a base of the conically-shaped cavity.

17. The electrolytic cell of claim 9, wherein one electrode of the one or more electrodes includes the containment vessel.