CN119859810B - Membrane-free water electrolysis hydrogen production electrolytic tank based on chemical chain circulation and operation method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a chemical-chain-circulation-based membraneless electrolytic water hydrogen production electrolytic tank and an operation method thereof, wherein the electrolytic tank comprises a first end plate and a second end plate which are respectively connected with an external power supply, at least one bipolar plate is arranged between the two end plates, and an electrolytic cell is respectively formed between the two end plates and the bipolar plate as well as between the two adjacent bipolar plates; functional components are arranged in each electrolysis cell, each functional component comprises a bifunctional electrode, a porous partition plate and an oxygen carrier electrode which are sequentially attached, when the bifunctional electrode and the oxygen carrier electrode are matched for use, catalytic hydrogen evolution and catalytic oxygen evolution can be carried out under different working conditions, the power fluctuation and intermittence of renewable energy sources are adapted, and the application potential of off-grid hydrogen production is provided. The operation method comprises the step-by-step or continuous production of hydrogen and oxygen under different working conditions through the cooperative energy supply of a temperature field and an electric field.

Description

Membraneless water electrolysis hydrogen production electrolyzer based on chemical loop cycle and operation method

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the technical field of water electrolysis hydrogen production, and in particular to a membraneless water electrolysis hydrogen production electrolyzer based on chemical chain circulation and an operation method thereof.

Background Art

Hydrogen, due to its high energy density and environmentally friendly properties, is widely considered an ideal green energy carrier. However, currently, over 90% of global hydrogen production relies on fossil fuels, resulting in significant carbon dioxide emissions and hindering climate change mitigation. To achieve a carbon-free economy, water electrolysis is crucial for hydrogen production, particularly when utilizing renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy. This hydrogen production method not only effectively stores excess renewable energy but also addresses the spatial and temporal discontinuities of renewable energy, thereby promoting sustainable energy supply and distribution. Conventional membrane water electrolysis technology faces multiple challenges, including safety hazards associated with hydrogen and oxygen mixing, the high cost of membrane materials, and efficiency losses due to membrane resistance. These challenges limit system capacity and hinder the large-scale application of water electrolysis hydrogen production. Despite the recent development of hundreds of new membrane materials by research institutions both domestically and internationally, membrane water electrolysis technology has struggled to overcome the trade-off between safety, high capacity, and low energy consumption due to limitations in membrane ion transport activity and physicochemical stability.

To address this issue, membraneless water electrolysis technology has emerged. It achieves spatiotemporal decoupling of the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions through the redox cycle of oxygen carriers (i.e., chemical chaining), offering advantages such as inherent safety and energy efficiency. However, existing membraneless electrolysis technologies suffer from low electrolyzer structural integration and low hydrogen and oxygen production efficiency.

Summary of the Invention

In view of the shortcomings of the existing technology, the present invention provides a membraneless water electrolysis hydrogen production electrolyzer based on chemical chain circulation and an operation method, the purpose of which is to improve the integration of the electrolyzer structure and improve the hydrogen production efficiency.

The technical solution adopted in the present invention is as follows:

The present invention provides a membraneless water electrolysis hydrogen production electrolyzer based on chemical chaining cycle, the electrolyzer comprising a first end plate and a second end plate respectively connected to an external power supply, the first end plate and the second end plate being integrally connected, at least one bipolar plate being provided therein, and electrolysis chambers being formed between the two end plates and the bipolar plate, and between two adjacent bipolar plates;

Each electrolysis cell is provided with a functional component, comprising a bifunctional electrode, a porous separator, and an oxygen carrier electrode bonded in sequence, wherein the bifunctional electrode is configured to catalyze hydrogen evolution under a first operating condition and catalyze oxygen evolution under a second operating condition; the polarity of the external power supply is opposite in the first and second operating conditions;

A gasket is provided on the outer side of the functional component;

Except for the gasket sleeved on the outer side of the functional component in the electrolysis chamber close to the first end plate, which is not provided with the first upper channel, the upper parts of the remaining gaskets are provided with the first upper channel along the thickness direction;

The lower part of all gaskets is provided with a first lower channel;

The bipolar plate is provided with a first flow channel area on both sides, and the first flow channel areas on both sides are electrically connected to the oxygen carrier electrode and the bifunctional electrode respectively through the conductive columns distributed thereon, so that the multiple electrolysis chambers are connected in series in sequence;

A second upper channel is provided on the upper portion of the bipolar plate along the thickness direction, and a second lower channel is provided on the lower portion along the thickness direction. A first flow guide channel communicating with the second upper channel is provided on the upper portion of the first wave flow channel region, and a second flow guide channel communicating with the second lower channel is provided on the lower portion of the first flow channel region.

The first lower channel and the second lower channel are alternately connected in sequence to form an electrolyte input channel, and the electrolyte in the electrolyte input channel flows into each electrolytic chamber through the second flow guide channel;

The first upper channel and the second upper channel are alternately connected in sequence to form a gas-liquid output channel, and the electrolysis products and electrolyte in each electrolysis chamber flow out from the first flow guide channel to the gas-liquid output channel;

A second flow channel area is provided on the inner side of the first end plate, which is connected to the dual-function electrode through a conductive column, and an input port is provided on the upper thickness direction of the first end plate;

A third flow channel area is provided on the inner side of the second end plate, which is connected to the oxygen carrier electrode through a conductive column, and an output port is provided on the second end plate in the thickness direction;

The upper portion of the third flow channel area is provided with a first flow guide channel connected to the output port.

A second flow channel communicating with the electrolyte input channel is provided at the lower portion of the third flow channel area;

The inlet end of the electrolyte input channel is connected to the input port, and the outlet end of the gas-liquid output channel is connected to the output port.

Further technical solutions are:

The first flow guide channel and the second flow guide channel are located on the side of the bipolar plate and the second end plate close to the oxygen carrier electrode.

The depth of the first flow guide channel and the second flow guide channel is no more than half the thickness of the bipolar plate.

The material of the bifunctional electrode includes one of metal phosphide, metal sulfide, metal carbide, metal nitride and metal oxide.

The size of the bifunctional electrode is no larger than that of the oxygen carrier electrode.

The oxygen carrier electrode is an electrode with nickel hydroxide as a main component.

The porous partition is a hollow or non-hollow sheet structure and is made of insulating porous material.

The present invention also provides a method for operating the membraneless water electrolysis hydrogen production electrolyzer based on chemical looping cycle, including step-by-step production of hydrogen and oxygen, which comprises:

By controlling an external power switch to switch the operating conditions of the electrolytic cells, at least one of the electrolytic cells is operated alternately in a first operating condition and a second operating condition, thereby realizing step-by-step production of hydrogen and oxygen in the same space;

The first operating condition is as follows: in an electrolyte at 20-50°C, the first end plate and the second end plate are connected to the negative electrode and the positive electrode of an external power supply, respectively. When powered on, the bifunctional electrode promotes the electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen, the active components in the oxygen carrier electrode are oxidized to oxidized oxygen carriers, and hydrogen is output from the gas-liquid output channel.

The second operating condition is: in an electrolyte at 50-100°C, the polarity of the external power supply is reversed, that is, the first end plate and the second end plate are respectively connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the external power supply. After power is turned on, the bifunctional electrode promotes the electrolysis of water to produce oxygen, and the oxidized oxygen carrier in the oxygen carrier electrode is partially spontaneously reduced under the action of the temperature field and is completely reduced under the action of the electric field, and oxygen is output from the gas-liquid output channel.

Further technical solutions are:

The operation method also includes continuous production of hydrogen and oxygen, which includes:

Using at least one of the electrolytic cells to form a first group of electrolytic cells, and using at least one of the electrolytic cells to form a second group of electrolytic cells;

By controlling the external power switch to switch the operating conditions of the electrolytic cells, the first group of electrolytic cells operates alternately under the first operating condition and the second operating condition. At the same time, the second group of electrolytic cells operates alternately under the second operating condition and the first operating condition, thereby realizing continuous production of hydrogen and oxygen in different spaces.

The electrolyte is KOH or NaOH solution.

The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

1. The present invention introduces a bifunctional electrode into the electrolyzer, which catalyzes both the hydrogen evolution reaction and the oxygen evolution reaction, thereby improving the integration of the electrolyzer system. In addition, the use of precious metal materials is avoided, significantly reducing equipment costs.

2. This invention achieves step-by-step hydrogen and oxygen production within the same electrolyzer through redox cycling of oxygen-carrier electrodes. Coupled with bifunctional electrodes, hydrogen and oxygen production can be achieved under different voltage conditions, significantly adapting to the power fluctuations and intermittency of renewable energy and demonstrating the potential for off-grid hydrogen production.

3. The present invention supplies energy to the electrolysis system through the coupling of temperature field and electric field. In the hydrogen production stage, the oxygen carrier is oxidized under the action of the low-temperature electric field, which inhibits the occurrence of competitive oxygen evolution reaction. In the oxygen production stage, the oxidized oxygen carrier is reduced under the combined action of the temperature field and the electric field, ensuring the complete regeneration of the oxygen carrier, significantly improving the regeneration rate of the oxygen carrier, solving the rate limitation problem of the oxygen evolution reaction, and greatly improving the hydrogen production cycle efficiency. In addition, due to the effect of the temperature field, the oxygen production voltage is greatly reduced, which significantly reduces the overall hydrogen production cost.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of an electrolytic cell for producing hydrogen by membraneless water electrolysis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of a gasket according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of a bipolar plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the first end plate structure according to an embodiment of the present invention

FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of a second end plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG6 is a cell voltage curve obtained from the single electrolysis chamber test of the comparative example and Example 2 of the present invention.

In the figure: 1. electrolysis chamber; 2. bipolar plate; 3. electrolyte input channel; 4. gas-liquid output channel; 5. first end plate; 6. second end plate; 7. first flow channel; 8. second flow channel; 9. nut; 10. bolt; 101. bifunctional electrode; 102. porous partition; 103. oxygen carrier electrode; 104. gasket; 201. first flow channel area; 301. first lower channel; 302. second lower channel; 401. first upper channel; 402. second upper channel; 501. second flow channel area; 601. third flow channel area; 3011. input port; 4021. output port.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The specific embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Example 1

As shown in FIG1 , a membraneless water electrolysis hydrogen production electrolyzer based on a chemical chaining cycle in this embodiment includes a first end plate 5 and a second end plate 6, each of which is connected to an external power source. The first end plate 5 and the second end plate 6 are connected to form a whole, and one or more bipolar plates 2 are provided therein. Electrolysis chambers 1 are formed between two end plates and adjacent bipolar plates 2, and between two adjacent bipolar plates 2.

Each electrolysis cell is provided with a functional component, which includes a bifunctional electrode 101, a porous separator 102, and an oxygen carrier electrode 103, which are sequentially bonded. The bifunctional electrode 101 is used to catalyze hydrogen evolution under a first operating condition and catalyze oxygen evolution under a second operating condition. The polarity of the external power supply is opposite in the first and second operating conditions.

A gasket 104 is provided on the outside of the functional component;

1 and 2 , except for the gasket 104 sleeved on the outside of the functional component in the electrolysis chamber 1 near the first end plate 5, which does not have the first upper channel 401, the upper portions of the remaining gaskets 104 are provided with the first upper channel 401 along the thickness direction; the lower portions of all gaskets 104 are provided with the first lower channel 301;

Both sides of the bipolar plate 2 are respectively connected to the oxygen carrier electrodes 103 and the bifunctional electrodes 101 of two adjacent electrolysis chambers to form flow channels, so that multiple electrolysis chambers 1 are sequentially connected in series.

Specifically, referring to Figures 1 and 3, a first wavy guide surface 201 is provided on both sides of the bipolar plate 2. The first wavy guide surfaces 201 on both sides are electrically connected to the oxygen carrier electrode 103 and the bifunctional electrode 101 through conductive columns distributed thereon, so that multiple electrolysis chambers 1 are connected in series in sequence.

The bipolar plate 2 has a second upper channel 402 formed on its upper portion along the thickness direction, and a second lower channel 302 formed on its lower portion along the thickness direction. The first wavy guide surface 201 has a first guide channel 7 in communication with the second upper channel 402 formed on its upper portion, and a second guide channel 8 in communication with the second lower channel 302 formed on its lower portion.

As shown in Figure 1, the first lower channel 301 and the second lower channel 302 are alternately connected in sequence to form an electrolyte input channel 3, and the electrolyte in the electrolyte input channel 3 flows into each electrolysis chamber 1 through the second guide channel 8; the first upper channel 401 and the second upper channel 402 are alternately connected in sequence to form a gas-liquid output channel 4, and the reactants after electrolysis in each electrolysis chamber 1 flow out from the first guide channel 7 to the gas-liquid output channel 4.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5 , a second wavy guide surface 501 is provided on the inner side of the first end plate 5, which is connected to the dual-function electrode 101 via a conductive post. An input port 3011 is provided along the thickness of the first end plate 5. A third wavy guide surface 601 is provided on the inner side of the second end plate 6, which is connected to the oxygen carrier electrode 103 via a conductive post. An output port 4021 is provided along the thickness of the second end plate 6. A first guide channel 7 communicating with the output port 4021 is provided on the upper portion of the third wavy guide surface 601, and a second guide channel 8 communicating with the electrolyte input channel 3 is provided on the lower portion of the third wavy guide surface 601.

The inlet of the electrolyte input channel 3 is connected to the input port 3011 for delivering electrolyte to the electrolytic cell. The outlet of the gas-liquid output channel 4 is connected to the output port 4021 for outputting hydrogen or oxygen products and electrolyte after electrolysis.

Power terminals and bolt holes are also provided on the first and second end plates 5, 6. In a specific embodiment, nuts 9 and bolts 10 can be used to securely connect the first and second end plates 5, 6, thereby compressing the gaskets 104 and bipolar plates 2 to secure the electrolysis cells.

The first flow channel 7 and the second flow channel 8 are located on the side of the bipolar plate 2 and the second end plate 6 close to the oxygen carrier electrode 103 . The depth of the first flow channel 7 and the second flow channel 8 is no more than half the thickness of the bipolar plate 2 .

The material of the dual-function electrode 101 of this embodiment includes one of metal phosphide, metal sulfide, metal carbide, metal nitride, and metal oxide. Specifically, the dual-function electrode 101 is CoFeNiPOx in-situ electrodeposited on nickel foam.

The size of the dual-function electrode 101 in this embodiment is not larger than that of the oxygen carrier electrode 103. Specifically, the size of the dual-function electrode 101 is one-third of that of the oxygen carrier electrode 103.

The porous separator 102 of this embodiment is made of an insulating porous material and is used to prevent short circuit between the dual-function electrode 101 and the oxygen carrier electrode 103. Specifically, the porous separator 102 is a glass fiber separator.

The oxygen carrier electrode 103 of this embodiment uses nickel hydroxide as an active component, specifically Ni _0.9 Co _0.1 (OH) ₂ supported by nickel foam.

As a preferred embodiment, the bifunctional electrode 101 and the oxygen carrier electrode 103 have circular cross-sections, the bipolar plate 2 has a circular cross-section, and the porous separator 102 is a ring, a full-size circle, or a hollow circle.

Example 2

This embodiment provides a method for operating the membraneless water electrolysis hydrogen production electrolyzer based on chemical looping cycle described in Example 1, including step-by-step production of hydrogen and oxygen.

The step-by-step production of hydrogen and oxygen specifically includes:

By controlling an external power switch to switch the operating conditions of the electrolytic cells, at least one electrolytic cell is operated alternately in a first operating condition and a second operating condition, thereby realizing step-by-step production of hydrogen and oxygen in the same space;

The first operating condition is: in a 5M KOH electrolyte at 25°C, the first end plate 5 and the second end plate 6 are connected to the negative and positive electrodes of an external power supply, respectively. After power is applied, the bifunctional electrode 101 promotes the electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen, and the active components in the oxygen carrier electrode 103 are oxidized to oxidized oxygen carriers, and hydrogen is output from the gas-liquid output channel 4.

The second operating condition is: in a 5M KOH electrolyte at 90°C, the polarity of the external power supply is reversed, that is, the first end plate 5 and the second end plate 6 are connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the external power supply respectively. After power is turned on, the bifunctional electrode 101 promotes the electrolysis of water to produce oxygen, and the oxidized oxygen carrier in the oxygen carrier electrode 103 is partially spontaneously reduced under the action of the temperature field and is completely reduced under the action of the electric field, and oxygen is output from the gas-liquid output channel 4.

Comparative Example

This comparative example provides an operating method of the membraneless water electrolysis hydrogen production electrolyzer based on chemical chain circulation described in Example 1. The difference from Example 2 is that the electrolyte temperature is 25°C, that is, the electrolysis process relies solely on electric field energy supply.

At a hydrogen production current density of 100 mA cm ⁻² , the single electrolysis cells of the comparative example and Example 2 were tested, and the cell voltage data obtained are shown in FIG6 (a) and (b) respectively.

Compared to the comparative example relying solely on electric field power supply, the combined effects of the temperature field and electric field in Example 2 significantly reduced the oxygen production voltage. Furthermore, the temperature field activated the spontaneous reduction of the oxygen carrier, accelerating its regeneration rate, resulting in significantly higher hydrogen production efficiency than the electric field alone. Therefore, the coupled energy supply of the temperature field and electric field significantly improved the efficiency of the hydrogen production cycle.

Example 3

This embodiment provides a method for operating the membraneless water electrolysis hydrogen production electrolyzer based on chemical looping cycle described in Example 1, including continuous production of hydrogen and oxygen.

The continuous production of hydrogen and oxygen includes:

forming a first group of electrolytic cells using at least one electrolytic cell and forming a second group of electrolytic cells using at least one electrolytic cell;

By controlling the external power switch to switch the operating conditions of the electrolytic cells, the first group of electrolytic cells operates alternately under the first operating condition and the second operating condition. At the same time, the second group of electrolytic cells operates alternately under the second operating condition and the first operating condition, thereby realizing the continuous production of hydrogen and oxygen in different spaces.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the foregoing descriptions are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art will be able to modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or substitute equivalents for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention shall be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims (8)

1. The membrane-free water electrolysis hydrogen production electrolytic tank based on chemical chain circulation is characterized by comprising a first end plate (5) and a second end plate (6) which are respectively connected with an external power supply, wherein the first end plate (5) and the second end plate (6) are connected into a whole, at least one bipolar plate (2) is arranged in the electrolytic tank, and an electrolysis cell (1) is respectively formed between the two end plates and the bipolar plate (2) and between the two adjacent bipolar plates (2);

Each electrolysis cell (1) is internally provided with a functional component, the functional component comprises a double-functional electrode (101), a porous partition plate (102) and an oxygen carrier electrode (103) which are sequentially attached, the double-functional electrode (101) is used for carrying out catalytic hydrogen evolution under a first working condition and carrying out catalytic oxygen evolution under a second working condition, the temperature of electrolyte under the first working condition and the second working condition is respectively 20-50 ℃ and 50-100 ℃, and the polarities of external power supplies under the two working conditions are opposite;

A gasket (104) is sleeved outside the functional component;

Except for gaskets (104) sleeved outside the functional components in the electrolysis small chamber (1) close to the first end plate (5), a first upper channel (401) is not formed, and the upper parts of the rest gaskets (104) are provided with first upper channels (401) along the thickness direction;

the lower parts of all gaskets (104) are provided with first lower channels (301);

The bipolar plate (2) is provided with first runner areas (201) at two sides, and the first runner areas (201) at two sides are respectively and electrically connected with the oxygen carrier electrode (103) and the double-function electrode (101) through conductive columns distributed on the first runner areas, so that a plurality of electrolysis cells (1) are sequentially connected in series;

The upper part of the bipolar plate (2) is provided with a second upper channel (402) along the thickness direction, the lower part of the bipolar plate is provided with a second lower channel (302) along the thickness direction, the upper part of the first flow channel region (201) is provided with a first flow guide channel (7) communicated with the second upper channel (402), and the lower part of the first flow channel region (201) is provided with a second flow guide channel (8) communicated with the second lower channel (302);

the first lower channels (301) and the second lower channels (302) are sequentially and alternately communicated to form electrolyte input channels (3), and electrolyte in the electrolyte input channels (3) flows into the electrolysis cells (1) through the second guide channels (8);

The first upper channels (401) and the second upper channels (402) are sequentially and alternately communicated to form gas-liquid output channels (4), and electrolysis products and electrolyte in the electrolysis cells (1) flow out from the first guide channels (7) to the gas-liquid output channels (4);

the inner side of the first end plate (5) is provided with a second flow passage area (501) which is connected with the dual-function electrode (101) through a conductive column, and the first end plate (5) is provided with an input port (3011) along the thickness direction;

A third flow passage area (601) is arranged on the inner side of the second end plate (6), and is connected with the oxygen carrier electrode (103) through a conductive column, and an output port (4021) is arranged on the second end plate (6) along the thickness direction;

the upper part of the third flow passage area (601) is provided with a first flow guide passage (7) communicated with the output port (4021),

A second flow guide channel (8) communicated with the electrolyte input channel (3) is arranged at the lower part of the third flow channel region (601);

the inlet end of the electrolyte input channel (3) is connected with the input port (3011), and the outlet end of the gas-liquid output channel (4) is connected with the output port (4021);

the first flow guide channel (7) and the second flow guide channel (8) are positioned on the sides of the bipolar plate (2) and the second end plate (6) close to the oxygen carrier electrode (103);

The depth of the first flow guide channel (7) and the second flow guide channel (8) is not more than one half of the thickness of the bipolar plate (2).

2. The membrane-free water electrolysis hydrogen production electrolyzer based on chemical looping circulation according to claim 1 wherein the material of the bifunctional electrode (101) comprises one of metal phosphide, metal sulfide, metal carbide, metal nitride, metal oxide.

3. The membrane-free water electrolysis hydrogen production electrolyzer based on chemical looping circulation according to claim 1 wherein the bi-functional electrode (101) size is no larger than the oxygen carrier electrode (103) size.

4. The membrane-less electrolytic water hydrogen production electrolyzer based on chemical looping circulation according to claim 1, characterized in that the oxygen carrier electrode (103) is an electrode based on nickel hydroxide.

5. The chemical-looping-based membraneless electrolytic water hydrogen production electrolytic tank of claim 1, wherein the porous separator (102) is of a hollowed-out or non-hollowed-out sheet structure and is made of an insulating porous material.

6. A method of operating a chemical looping circulation-based membraneless water electrolysis hydrogen production electrolyzer of any one of claims 1 to 5 comprising a step-wise production of hydrogen, oxygen comprising:

the operation working conditions of the electrolytic cells are switched by controlling an external power switch, so that at least one electrolytic cell can sequentially and alternately operate under the first working condition and the second working condition, and the step-by-step production of hydrogen and oxygen in the same space is realized;

In the electrolyte at 20-50 ℃, the first end plate (5) and the second end plate (6) are respectively connected with an anode and a cathode of an external power supply, after the power is on, the double-function electrode (101) promotes electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen, active components in the oxygen carrier electrode (103) are oxidized into an oxidized oxygen carrier, and the hydrogen is output from the gas-liquid output channel (4);

The second working condition is that in the electrolyte at 50-100 ℃, the polarity of an external power supply is reversed, namely the first end plate (5) and the second end plate (6) are respectively connected with the anode and the cathode of the external power supply, after the power is applied, the difunctional electrode (101) promotes the electrolysis of water to produce oxygen, the oxidation state oxygen carrier in the oxygen carrier electrode (103) is partially and spontaneously reduced under the action of a temperature field and is simultaneously completely reduced under the action of an electric field, and oxygen is output from the gas-liquid output channel (4).

7. The method of operation of claim 6, further comprising a continuous production of hydrogen and oxygen comprising:

forming a first set of cells using at least one of the cells, and forming a second set of cells using at least one of the cells;

the operation working conditions of the electrolytic cells are switched by controlling the external power switch, so that the first group of electrolytic cells are sequentially and alternately operated under the first working condition and the second working condition, and simultaneously, the second group of electrolytic cells are sequentially and alternately operated under the second working condition and the first working condition, so that continuous production of hydrogen and oxygen under different spaces is realized.

8. The method of operation of claim 6 wherein the electrolyte is a KOH or NaOH solution.