WO1994005830A1 - Electrolysis apparatus for producing hydrogen - Google Patents

Electrolysis apparatus for producing hydrogen Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1994005830A1
WO1994005830A1 PCT/FI1993/000343 FI9300343W WO9405830A1 WO 1994005830 A1 WO1994005830 A1 WO 1994005830A1 FI 9300343 W FI9300343 W FI 9300343W WO 9405830 A1 WO9405830 A1 WO 9405830A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
hydrogen
oxygen
liquid
electrolytic cell
gas
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/FI1993/000343
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Jyrki LEPPÄNEN
Jukka-Pekka Nieminen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Neste Oyj
Original Assignee
Neste Oyj
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=8535790&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=WO1994005830(A1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Neste Oyj filed Critical Neste Oyj
Priority to US08/392,939 priority Critical patent/US5665211A/en
Priority to AU49611/93A priority patent/AU4961193A/en
Priority to DE69309937T priority patent/DE69309937T3/en
Priority to CA002143448A priority patent/CA2143448C/en
Priority to EP93919347A priority patent/EP0656959B2/en
Publication of WO1994005830A1 publication Critical patent/WO1994005830A1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B15/00—Operating or servicing cells
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B1/00—Electrolytic production of inorganic compounds or non-metals
    • C25B1/01—Products
    • C25B1/02—Hydrogen or oxygen
    • C25B1/04—Hydrogen or oxygen by electrolysis of water
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B9/00—Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B9/00—Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
    • C25B9/05—Pressure cells
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
    • Y02E60/36—Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P20/00—Technologies relating to chemical industry
    • Y02P20/10—Process efficiency
    • Y02P20/133—Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electrolysis apparatus for producing hydrogen by decomposing electrolytic liquid into hydrogen and oxygen in a pressurized electroly ⁇ tic cell.
  • Hydrogen is an ideal and non-polluting source of energy in special applications in which no conventional energy sources are available. Therefore, for instance in devices using electric current and located in sparsely populated and rough regions photovoltaic modules can be used for producing electric current. Such installations are frequently unmanned and require automatic or remote control operation. Also such installations have to be operated when there is no sunlight. Storing electricity merely in batteries would require a large number of batteries, which are heavy in weight and require maintenance.
  • Using hydrogen for storing energy is one of the means to recover the surplus energy produced by solar cells, whereby water is decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen. Thereby, electricity may, if needed, be produced with the aid of a fuel cell from hydrogen.
  • the hydro ⁇ gen In order to reduce the size of the hydrogen storages required, the hydro ⁇ gen must, however, be pressurized, and additional energy must be used in the pressurization.
  • an electrolysis apparatus for producing hydrogen from water, in which apparatus, an electrolytic cell is placed inside a pressure shell and in which the pressure shell is pressurized by conducting oxygen produced in the electrolysis into the pressure shell.
  • the great compressibility of gas causes, however, that the control of the pressure may be slow because the volume of the mantle can be great, particularly if within the pressure shell also other devices are placed in addition to the electrolytic cell, such as water separators.
  • Oxygen may moreover cause, for instance, electrochemical corrosion in moist spaces, for instance in a space between the mantle and the electrolytic cells.
  • the present invention relates to a pressurized electrolysis apparatus used for producing hydrogen in which drawbacks occurring in the systems as those described above have been solved, and which can be advantageously applied in automatic solar energy applications operating without surveillance and continuous maintenance.
  • the electrolysis apparatus according to the invention for producing hydrogen by decomposing an electrolytic liquid with the aid of electric current into hydrogen and oxygen in a pressurized electrolytic cell is characterized in that a closed electrolytic cell is placed in a pressure shell maintained pressurized with the aid of the pressure of a gas produced in electrolysis.
  • the electrolytic cell is placed within a pressure-resistant pressure shell, and the pressure shell is filled with a liquid.
  • the pressure shell is connected with a pipe or equivalent to the pressure gas source, this being a gas produced in the electrolytic cell.
  • oxygen or hydrogen may be used as pressurizing gas.
  • the pressure shell is preferably entirely filled with a liquid, whereby the inertia of the control caused by the compressibility of the gas can be avoided, which may occur if only gas were used for the pressurization of the pressure shell.
  • any liquid can be used which is non-conducting, inert to hydrogen or oxygen, non-corroding for the materials used, and resistant to working temperature conditions.
  • the price and non-toxicity are also aspects to be considered.
  • silicon oil or fats, fluorized oils, oil-based or synthetic lubricants, distilled or ion-exchanged water, or mixtures of any one mentioned can be used for the pressurization liquid.
  • the problem of the last mentioned substance is, however, its poor frost-resistance and that it may cause electrochemical corrosion, especially in association with oxygen. Conventional hydrocarbon containing oils cannot be used with oxygen, either.
  • pressurization liquids particularly appropriate also for use with oxygen are especially silicon oils and fats, such as "Dow Corning 200 Fluid” manufactured by Company Dow Corning or "Rhodosil” oil by Company Rhone-Poulenc.
  • the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas from the electrolytic cell are first conducted through water separators for separating the water following the gases.
  • the water separators in the apparatus according to the invention can be preferably placed within the pressure shell, whereby the water separators need not be pressure-resistant. However the water separators are preferably placed outside the pressure shell so that the volume of the pressure shell and the volume of the requisite pressurization liquid is as small as possible.
  • the liquid-filled interior space of the pressure shell is connected for instance with a pipe to a gas source provided by a hydrogen or oxygen gas under pressure produced in the electrolytic cell. Therefore, the pressure shell can be in conjunction with any point which is located in the pipes between the gas containers and the electrolytic cell.
  • the pressure shell is by means of a pipe connected with the upper part of the water separator used in the water removal from a gas.
  • the pressurization liquid is prefer- ably used in such quantity that the liquid surface rises at least to some extent into the pipe between the pressure shell and the gas pressure source, however considering a potential thermal expansion of the pressurization liquid.
  • the pressure prevailing within the apparatus according to the invention is controlled directly with the pressure of a gas produced in the electrolytic cell. Since hydrogen and oxygen are produced in the electrolytic cell in volumetric ratio of 2:1, the volumes of the hydrogen storage and the oxygen storage are preferably in the same ratio. It is equally advantageous that the gaseous volumes of the water separators and the hydrogen and oxygen pipes in association therewith are in said ratio.
  • Fig. 1 shows the principal design of an electrolysis apparatus according to the invention in which hydrogen pressure is used for controlling the pressure
  • Fig. 2 presents an alternative embodiment in which oxygen pressure is used for controlling the pressure.
  • Figure 1 presents a pressure container 10 serving as a pressure shell. Inside the pressure shell 10 there is placed an electrolytic cell 11 provided with an inlet con ⁇ nector 12 of the electrolytic liquid, with outlet connectors 14 and 13 for hydrogen and oxygen, and respectively with electricity feeding lines 15. The interior of the pressure shell 10 is moreover filled with a liquid, e.g. silicon oil. Electrolytic liquid, such as water, is conducted by means of gravitation into the electrolytic cell 11. The embodiment according to Figure 1 presents water separators 16 and 17 for separating water from hydrogen and oxygen.
  • a liquid e.g. silicon oil
  • Water is fed into the electrolytic cell 11 from a water pipe 18 and pump 19 through the pressure shell 10 through a water inlet line 20 conducted into the water separator 17 of the oxygen gas and further therefrom through a water inlet line 21 and a back pressure valve 22 positioned therein into an inlet connector 12, and further, into the electrolytic cell 11.
  • the oxygen gas produced in the electrolytic cell 11 is conducted through an oxygen outlet connector 13 and an oxygen outlet line 23 to the water separator 17 of oxygen.
  • the water following the oxygen gas is separated in the water separator 17 and returns into the electrolytic cell 11 through line 21.
  • the hydrogen gas produced in the electrolytic cell 11 is conducted through a hydrogen outlet connector 14 and a hydrogen outlet line 25 to a water separator 16 of the hydrogen gas.
  • a hydrogen outlet line 28 provided with a pressure sensor 26 and a valve 27 leads to a hydrogen gas storage container 29.
  • a pipe 24 transmitting pressure is lead from the water separator 16 to the interior space of the pressure shell 10 for pressurizing thereof.
  • a water pipe 31 provided with a valve 30 is conducted from the water separator 16 of the hydrogen gas to the water separator 17 of the oxygen gas, whereby the water following the hydrogen gas can be returned to the electrolytic cell 11 in the above- described manner.
  • the oxygen gas is conducted from the water separator 17 to the oxygen outlet line 32 and further for instance into an oxygen container (not shown) when also the oxygen is stored for later use.
  • the oxygen outlet line 32 is provided with a pressure sensor 33 and a valve 34.
  • the pressure control in the apparatus as shown in Figure 1 can be accomplished preferably so that a pressure controller 35 has been connected with signal leads 36 and 37 to hydrogen and oxygen pressure sensors 26,33 and according to the signal provided by said pressure sensors 26,33, the pressure controller 35 opens and shuts through signal line 38,39 the valves 34,27 in the oxygen and hydrogen outlet lines 32,28.
  • FIG 2 presents an apparatus according to figure 1 modified so that oxygen is used for pressurizing.
  • the apparatus according to the invention is otherwise similar as in figure 1, except that the oxygen outlet pipe 24 is conducted into the pressure shell 10 from the water separator for oxygen.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Non-Metals, Compounds, Apparatuses Therefor (AREA)
  • Catalysts (AREA)
  • Oxygen, Ozone, And Oxides In General (AREA)
  • Hydrogen, Water And Hydrids (AREA)

Abstract

In an electrolysis apparatus according to the invention for producing hydrogen by decomposing electrolysis liquid with the aid of electric current into hydrogen and oxygen in a pressurized electrolytic cell (11), an electrolytic cell (11) is placed within a liquid-filled pressure shell (10) maintained pressurized with the pressure of a gas produced in electrolysis. Said liquid can be selected, for instance, among the following group; silicon oils or fats, fluorized oils, crude oil-based or synthetic oils, or water.

Description

Electrolysis apparatus for producing hydrogen
The present invention relates to an electrolysis apparatus for producing hydrogen by decomposing electrolytic liquid into hydrogen and oxygen in a pressurized electroly¬ tic cell.
Hydrogen is an ideal and non-polluting source of energy in special applications in which no conventional energy sources are available. Therefore, for instance in devices using electric current and located in sparsely populated and rough regions photovoltaic modules can be used for producing electric current. Such installations are frequently unmanned and require automatic or remote control operation. Also such installations have to be operated when there is no sunlight. Storing electricity merely in batteries would require a large number of batteries, which are heavy in weight and require maintenance.
Using hydrogen for storing energy is one of the means to recover the surplus energy produced by solar cells, whereby water is decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen. Thereby, electricity may, if needed, be produced with the aid of a fuel cell from hydrogen. In order to reduce the size of the hydrogen storages required, the hydro¬ gen must, however, be pressurized, and additional energy must be used in the pressurization.
It is known in the art to accomplish the decomposition of water into hydrogen and oxygen in electrolytic cells operating under pressure and thus producing hydrogen directly in pressurized form, so that no separate pressurization is needed. However increased leckaging is a drawback of pressurizing electrolytic cells.
It is also known in the art to place an electrolytic cell into a separate pressure shell, whereby the differential pressure between the inside and outside of the electrolytic cell substantially reduces and the leakages decrease. Thus, in an apparatus as for instance in patent publication FR-2466515, the pressure shell is pressurized with the aid of nitrogen gas, and the apparatus comprises members for maintaining the pres¬ sure within the electrolytic cell lower than the pressure of the pressure shell. Use of separate pressurizing gas requires, however, containers for the pressurizing gases and need for supplementing the pressurizing gas. Thus the system disclosed in the patent is not suitable for installations operating e.g. automatically in remote areas.
It is known from GB patent No. 1518234 to place the electrolytic plates inside a pressure shell, whereby the pressure of hydrogen gas prevails inside the pressure shell. However, in the design according to said patent there is not a closed electro¬ lytic cell placed within a pressure shell but the electrodes used in decomposing an electrolytic liquid (HC1) are positioned to be hanging directly inside the pressure shell. The apparatus disclosed in GB patent No. 1518234 is an apparatus intended for large-scale production of hydrogen, having a great need of power, a complicated and expensive design, e.g. due to apparatus needed in purification.
In the Finnish patent application FI-923903 an electrolysis apparatus is disclosed for producing hydrogen from water, in which apparatus, an electrolytic cell is placed inside a pressure shell and in which the pressure shell is pressurized by conducting oxygen produced in the electrolysis into the pressure shell. The great compressibility of gas causes, however, that the control of the pressure may be slow because the volume of the mantle can be great, particularly if within the pressure shell also other devices are placed in addition to the electrolytic cell, such as water separators. Oxygen may moreover cause, for instance, electrochemical corrosion in moist spaces, for instance in a space between the mantle and the electrolytic cells.
The present invention relates to a pressurized electrolysis apparatus used for producing hydrogen in which drawbacks occurring in the systems as those described above have been solved, and which can be advantageously applied in automatic solar energy applications operating without surveillance and continuous maintenance. The electrolysis apparatus according to the invention for producing hydrogen by decomposing an electrolytic liquid with the aid of electric current into hydrogen and oxygen in a pressurized electrolytic cell is characterized in that a closed electrolytic cell is placed in a pressure shell maintained pressurized with the aid of the pressure of a gas produced in electrolysis.
The electrolytic liquid fed into the electrolytic cell contains water but it may contain any auxiliary substances promoting the operation of the electrolytic cell used, such as acids or bases. The term "water" will below refer to any such electrolytic liquid.
In an apparatus according to the invention, normal advantages provided by pressur¬ ization are gained, i.e. the occurrence of leakages from the electrolytic cell can be minimized. In addition, a great number of other advantages are achieved with the aid of the invention. With the aid of the present invention pressurization with variable pressures can be provided without having to use a separate protective gas for the pressurization and the control thereof. The amount of gas required in pressurization is very small. It is to be noted particularly that in the apparatus of the invention, not only hydrogen produced in the electrolytic cell can be used for the pressurization gas but also oxygen without any risk of corrosion.
In the most common embodiment of the invention the electrolytic cell is placed within a pressure-resistant pressure shell, and the pressure shell is filled with a liquid. In addition, the pressure shell is connected with a pipe or equivalent to the pressure gas source, this being a gas produced in the electrolytic cell. Naturally, either oxygen or hydrogen may be used as pressurizing gas. The pressure shell is preferably entirely filled with a liquid, whereby the inertia of the control caused by the compressibility of the gas can be avoided, which may occur if only gas were used for the pressurization of the pressure shell.
In the pressure shell any liquid can be used which is non-conducting, inert to hydrogen or oxygen, non-corroding for the materials used, and resistant to working temperature conditions. The price and non-toxicity are also aspects to be considered. Thus, in the apparatus of the invention, for instance silicon oil or fats, fluorized oils, oil-based or synthetic lubricants, distilled or ion-exchanged water, or mixtures of any one mentioned can be used for the pressurization liquid. The problem of the last mentioned substance is, however, its poor frost-resistance and that it may cause electrochemical corrosion, especially in association with oxygen. Conventional hydrocarbon containing oils cannot be used with oxygen, either.
Examples of pressurization liquids particularly appropriate also for use with oxygen are especially silicon oils and fats, such as "Dow Corning 200 Fluid" manufactured by Company Dow Corning or "Rhodosil" oil by Company Rhone-Poulenc.
It is conventional that the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas from the electrolytic cell are first conducted through water separators for separating the water following the gases. The water separators in the apparatus according to the invention can be preferably placed within the pressure shell, whereby the water separators need not be pressure-resistant. However the water separators are preferably placed outside the pressure shell so that the volume of the pressure shell and the volume of the requisite pressurization liquid is as small as possible.
The water separated in the water separators from the gases is returned into the electrolytic cell. According to one advantageous procedure, the water from the water separator of the hydrogen gas is conducted to the water separator of the oxygen gas, from which the water is returned into the electrolytic cell. Hereby the water separ¬ ator of the hydrogen gas can be provided with a liquid surface height sensor to con- trol the valve placed in the water return line. As the surface rises to the top height, the valve opens, and the water is able to flow from the water separator of the hydrogen gas to the water separator of the oxygen gas. After the surface has gone down into the lower height, the valve shuts down.
As mentioned in the foregoing, the liquid-filled interior space of the pressure shell is connected for instance with a pipe to a gas source provided by a hydrogen or oxygen gas under pressure produced in the electrolytic cell. Therefore, the pressure shell can be in conjunction with any point which is located in the pipes between the gas containers and the electrolytic cell. According to an advantageous alternative, the pressure shell is by means of a pipe connected with the upper part of the water separator used in the water removal from a gas. The pressurization liquid is prefer- ably used in such quantity that the liquid surface rises at least to some extent into the pipe between the pressure shell and the gas pressure source, however considering a potential thermal expansion of the pressurization liquid.
As regards the operation, the pressure prevailing within the apparatus according to the invention is controlled directly with the pressure of a gas produced in the electrolytic cell. Since hydrogen and oxygen are produced in the electrolytic cell in volumetric ratio of 2:1, the volumes of the hydrogen storage and the oxygen storage are preferably in the same ratio. It is equally advantageous that the gaseous volumes of the water separators and the hydrogen and oxygen pipes in association therewith are in said ratio.
The invention is described below in greater detail, referring to the accompanying figures, in which :-
Fig. 1 shows the principal design of an electrolysis apparatus according to the invention in which hydrogen pressure is used for controlling the pressure, and
Fig. 2 presents an alternative embodiment in which oxygen pressure is used for controlling the pressure.
Figure 1 presents a pressure container 10 serving as a pressure shell. Inside the pressure shell 10 there is placed an electrolytic cell 11 provided with an inlet con¬ nector 12 of the electrolytic liquid, with outlet connectors 14 and 13 for hydrogen and oxygen, and respectively with electricity feeding lines 15. The interior of the pressure shell 10 is moreover filled with a liquid, e.g. silicon oil. Electrolytic liquid, such as water, is conducted by means of gravitation into the electrolytic cell 11. The embodiment according to Figure 1 presents water separators 16 and 17 for separating water from hydrogen and oxygen.
Water is fed into the electrolytic cell 11 from a water pipe 18 and pump 19 through the pressure shell 10 through a water inlet line 20 conducted into the water separator 17 of the oxygen gas and further therefrom through a water inlet line 21 and a back pressure valve 22 positioned therein into an inlet connector 12, and further, into the electrolytic cell 11. The oxygen gas produced in the electrolytic cell 11 is conducted through an oxygen outlet connector 13 and an oxygen outlet line 23 to the water separator 17 of oxygen. The water following the oxygen gas is separated in the water separator 17 and returns into the electrolytic cell 11 through line 21.
The hydrogen gas produced in the electrolytic cell 11 is conducted through a hydrogen outlet connector 14 and a hydrogen outlet line 25 to a water separator 16 of the hydrogen gas. From the water separator 16 a hydrogen outlet line 28 provided with a pressure sensor 26 and a valve 27 leads to a hydrogen gas storage container 29. Further a pipe 24 transmitting pressure is lead from the water separator 16 to the interior space of the pressure shell 10 for pressurizing thereof. In addition, a water pipe 31 provided with a valve 30 is conducted from the water separator 16 of the hydrogen gas to the water separator 17 of the oxygen gas, whereby the water following the hydrogen gas can be returned to the electrolytic cell 11 in the above- described manner.
The oxygen gas is conducted from the water separator 17 to the oxygen outlet line 32 and further for instance into an oxygen container (not shown) when also the oxygen is stored for later use. The oxygen outlet line 32 is provided with a pressure sensor 33 and a valve 34.
The pressure control in the apparatus as shown in Figure 1 can be accomplished preferably so that a pressure controller 35 has been connected with signal leads 36 and 37 to hydrogen and oxygen pressure sensors 26,33 and according to the signal provided by said pressure sensors 26,33, the pressure controller 35 opens and shuts through signal line 38,39 the valves 34,27 in the oxygen and hydrogen outlet lines 32,28.
Figure 2 presents an apparatus according to figure 1 modified so that oxygen is used for pressurizing. The apparatus according to the invention is otherwise similar as in figure 1, except that the oxygen outlet pipe 24 is conducted into the pressure shell 10 from the water separator for oxygen.
The above-described embodiments are intended merely to demonstrate, not to limit, the invention.

Claims

Claims
1. An electrolysis apparatus for producing hydrogen by decomposing electrolytic liquid with the aid of electricity into hydrogen and oxygen in a pressurized electroly- tic cell (11), characterized in that a closed electrolytic cell (11) is placed within a pressure shell (10) filled with a liquid, said shell being maintained pressurized with a gas produced in electrolysis.
2. Electrolysis apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said liquid is selected among the following group: silicon oils and fats, fluorized oils, crude oil- based or synthetic oils, water and mixtures thereof.
3. Electrolysis apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure shell (10) is communicating with a gas source containing pressurized oxygen or hydrogen produced in the electrolytic cell (11).
4. Electrolysis apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, character¬ ized in that said gas is hydrogen.
5. Electrolysis apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said gas is oxygen.
6. Electrolysis apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characte¬ rized in that the hydrogen and oxygen produced in the electrolytic cell (11) are conducted into liquid separators (16 and 17) for separating the electrolysis liquid from the gases and returning them into the electrolytic cell (11).
7. Electrolysis apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one of said liquid separators (16 and 17) is placed outside the pressure shell (10).
8. Electrolysis apparatus, characterized in that at least one of said liquid separators (16 and 17) is placed inside the pressure shell (10).
PCT/FI1993/000343 1992-08-31 1993-08-31 Electrolysis apparatus for producing hydrogen Ceased WO1994005830A1 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/392,939 US5665211A (en) 1992-08-31 1993-08-31 Electrolysis apparatus for producing hydrogen
AU49611/93A AU4961193A (en) 1992-08-31 1993-08-31 Electrolysis apparatus for producing hydrogen
DE69309937T DE69309937T3 (en) 1992-08-31 1993-08-31 ELECTROLYSIS APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN
CA002143448A CA2143448C (en) 1992-08-31 1993-08-31 Electrolysis apparatus for producing hydrogen
EP93919347A EP0656959B2 (en) 1992-08-31 1993-08-31 Electrolysis apparatus for producing hydrogen

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI923904 1992-08-31
FI923904A FI90569C (en) 1992-08-31 1992-08-31 Electrolysis equipment for the production of hydrogen

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1994005830A1 true WO1994005830A1 (en) 1994-03-17

Family

ID=8535790

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/FI1993/000343 Ceased WO1994005830A1 (en) 1992-08-31 1993-08-31 Electrolysis apparatus for producing hydrogen

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US5665211A (en)
EP (1) EP0656959B2 (en)
AT (1) ATE151820T1 (en)
AU (1) AU4961193A (en)
CA (1) CA2143448C (en)
DE (1) DE69309937T3 (en)
FI (1) FI90569C (en)
WO (1) WO1994005830A1 (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070215485A1 (en) * 2006-03-17 2007-09-20 Lawrence Curtin Hydrogen absorption rod
DE102018213404A1 (en) * 2018-08-09 2020-02-13 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Electrolyser and method for operating an electrolyzer
WO2023066723A3 (en) * 2021-10-20 2023-06-15 Paul Francis Geary Pressurised electrolyser
WO2024175690A1 (en) * 2023-02-22 2024-08-29 Green Hydrogen Systems A/S Gas pressure balance method in an electrolyser system and electrolyser system with a pressure balance valve system

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA2329672C (en) 2000-12-27 2009-12-22 Donald W. Kirk Bifurcated electrode of use in electrolytic cells
CA2333859A1 (en) 2001-02-01 2002-08-01 Donald W. Kirk Electrochemical cell stacks
US7559978B2 (en) * 2005-09-19 2009-07-14 General Electric Company Gas-liquid separator and method of operation
US20070215201A1 (en) * 2006-03-17 2007-09-20 Lawrence Curtin Photovoltaic cell with integral light transmitting waveguide in a ceramic sleeve
DE102007051230B4 (en) * 2006-10-23 2010-04-08 SETT Solare Energietechnologien Thüringen GmbH electrolyzer
EP2060661A1 (en) * 2007-11-16 2009-05-20 AccaGen SA Electrolyser for producing substances
US9011651B2 (en) 2010-12-09 2015-04-21 Ut-Battelle, Llc Apparatus and method for the electrolysis of water
TWI465301B (en) * 2012-09-25 2014-12-21 南臺科技大學 Porous alumina template manufacturing device

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE529068C (en) * 1928-10-02 1933-02-01 Karl Hoffmann Decomposers, in particular for the electrolysis of water under pressure
DE755942C (en) * 1940-09-06 1954-02-01 Siemens & Halske A G Electrolytic production of hydrogen and oxygen in the pressure decomposer
GB1518234A (en) * 1975-10-30 1978-07-19 Linde Ag Apparatus for the electrolysis of liquids under pressure
FR2608715A1 (en) * 1986-12-19 1988-06-24 Srti Soc Rech Tech Ind Method for preventing leaks of liquid, and device fitted with means for implementing this method
EP0478980A1 (en) * 1990-09-19 1992-04-08 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Process for operating a pressure electrolysis plant

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3382167A (en) * 1964-04-01 1968-05-07 Trw Inc High pressure electrolytic cell module
FR2448583A1 (en) * 1979-02-09 1980-09-05 Creusot Loire IMPROVEMENTS ON A WATER ELECTROLYSIS APPARATUS

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE529068C (en) * 1928-10-02 1933-02-01 Karl Hoffmann Decomposers, in particular for the electrolysis of water under pressure
DE755942C (en) * 1940-09-06 1954-02-01 Siemens & Halske A G Electrolytic production of hydrogen and oxygen in the pressure decomposer
GB1518234A (en) * 1975-10-30 1978-07-19 Linde Ag Apparatus for the electrolysis of liquids under pressure
FR2608715A1 (en) * 1986-12-19 1988-06-24 Srti Soc Rech Tech Ind Method for preventing leaks of liquid, and device fitted with means for implementing this method
EP0478980A1 (en) * 1990-09-19 1992-04-08 Linde Aktiengesellschaft Process for operating a pressure electrolysis plant

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070215485A1 (en) * 2006-03-17 2007-09-20 Lawrence Curtin Hydrogen absorption rod
DE102018213404A1 (en) * 2018-08-09 2020-02-13 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Electrolyser and method for operating an electrolyzer
WO2023066723A3 (en) * 2021-10-20 2023-06-15 Paul Francis Geary Pressurised electrolyser
GB2612067B (en) * 2021-10-20 2025-07-30 Francis Geary Paul Pressurised electrolyser
WO2024175690A1 (en) * 2023-02-22 2024-08-29 Green Hydrogen Systems A/S Gas pressure balance method in an electrolyser system and electrolyser system with a pressure balance valve system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FI90569B (en) 1993-11-15
EP0656959B2 (en) 2004-11-10
CA2143448A1 (en) 1994-03-17
EP0656959A1 (en) 1995-06-14
ATE151820T1 (en) 1997-05-15
DE69309937T2 (en) 1997-10-16
US5665211A (en) 1997-09-09
DE69309937D1 (en) 1997-05-22
FI923904A0 (en) 1992-08-31
EP0656959B1 (en) 1997-04-16
DE69309937T3 (en) 2005-04-07
FI90569C (en) 1994-02-25
CA2143448C (en) 2000-02-01
AU4961193A (en) 1994-03-29

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0659218B1 (en) Procedure for controlling pressure in electrolysis apparatus and electrolysis apparatus for producing hydrogen and oxygen
EP0656959B1 (en) Electrolysis apparatus for producing hydrogen
US3652431A (en) Method of operating an electrolysis cell for the production of gases under hydrostatic pressure
EP1597414B1 (en) Electrolyzer apparatus and method for hydrogen production
JP2001130901A (en) Hydrogen energy supply device
KR20040080332A (en) High-pressure hydrogen producing apparatus and producing method
MX2011008710A (en) Electrolytic cell and method of use thereof.
AU758684B2 (en) Pressure control system in a water electrolytic cell
CN216107236U (en) A fully immersed vertical unit water electrolysis hydrogen production system
RU2095474C1 (en) Electrolytic liquid-supply system in pressure electrolysis plant
WO1994005829A1 (en) Electrolysis apparatus for producing hydrogen
JP2017002345A (en) Water electrolyzer
CN113755856A (en) A fully immersed vertical unit water electrolysis hydrogen production system and using method thereof
EP4484612A1 (en) Device for generating hydrogen gas and oxygen gas from water, and system for the same purpose, which includes the device
CA1199668A (en) Energy conversion system
CN1384224A (en) Hydrogen energy generator
KR20250051447A (en) liquid Gas liquid namu.wiki Change namu.wiki exploit energy path creation method
EA051037B1 (en) A DEVICE FOR GENERATING HYDROGEN GAS AND OXYGEN GAS FROM WATER, AS WELL AS A SYSTEM FOR THE SAME PURPOSE INCLUDING THE DEVICE
Bowen The production of hydrogen and oxygen by the electrolysis of water
Christiansen Technology, Experience and Application
CN101054676A (en) Household hydrogen gas generation system by electrolyzing water

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT AU BB BG BR BY CA CH CZ DE DK ES FI GB HU JP KP KR KZ LK LU MG MN MW NL NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SK UA US VN

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN ML MR NE SN TD TG

DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 2143448

Country of ref document: CA

Ref document number: 1993919347

Country of ref document: EP

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 08392939

Country of ref document: US

REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 1993919347

Country of ref document: EP

WWG Wipo information: grant in national office

Ref document number: 1993919347

Country of ref document: EP