GB2119403A

GB2119403A - Electrolysis apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2119403A
Application number: GB08316442A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ernst Spirig
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-07-31
Filing date: 1983-06-16
Publication date: 1983-11-16
Also published as: GB2119403B; GB8316442D0

Abstract

In an electrolysis apparatus for electrolysing water to produce oxygen and hydrogen at separate outlets, a plurality of electrode plates 10 define cells 14 which are divided by diaphragms 11 into respective oxygen- and hydrogen-generating portions OH: a first duct formed by spacers 15a, b and apertures 20b extends through the cells and connects the oxygen-generating portions together and its opposite ends serve as an electrolyte inlet 16b and the oxygen outlet 18b respectively, and similarly a second duct formed by spacers 13a, b and apertures 20a connects the hydrogen- generating portions together and its opposite ends serve as an electrolyte inlet 16a and the hydrogen outlet 18a. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Electrolysis apparatus This invention relates to an electrolysis for electrolysing water to produce oxygen and hydrogen at separate outlets.

In accordance with this invention there is provided an electrolysis apparatus for electrolysing water to produce oxygen and hydrogen at separate outlets, comprising a plurality of spaced electrode plates defining a cell between each pair of adjacent plates, a gasimpervious diaphragm disposed between each pair of adjacent plates and dividing that cell into oxygen- and hydrogen-generating portions, a first duct extending through the cells and connecting the oxygen-generating portions of the cells together and, at opposite ends, to an electrolyte inlet and an oxygen outlet of the apparatus and a second duct extending through the cells and connecting the hydrogen-generating portions of the cells together and, at opposite ends, to an electrolyte inlet and a hydrogen outlet of the apparatus.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described, by way of example only,. with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, on the line I-I of Figure 2, through an embodiment of electrolysis apparatus for generating oxygen and hydrogen-at separate outlets; Figure 2 is a cross-section through a gas generating cell of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 2a is a cross-section through a special spacer of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 3 is a cross-section through a cooling cell of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an apparatus for electrolysing water to produce hydrogen and oxygen at separate outlets. The apparatus comprises a plurality of parallel metal electrode plates 10 defining gas generating cells 14 (and also some cooling cells as will b,e described in relation to Figure 3). Between each pair of adjacent plates in the gas generating cells, a diaphragm 11 is provided and is spaced from the respective plates by spacers 1 2a, 1 2b. Thus, each gas generating cell 14, formed between a respective pair of adjacent plates, is divided into oxygen and hydrogen-generating sections by the diaphragm 1 The outermost or end electrode plates are thicker and are connected respectively to the positive and negative poles of the d.c.

electricity source. Figure 2 shows square electrode plates and circular spacers, but other shapes may be envisaged.

The outermost electrode plate for connection to the positive pole is provided with inlets 1 6a, 1 6b for electrolyte, and the opposite outermost electrode plate is provided with outlets 1 8a, 1 8b respectively supplying hydrogen and oxygen. The intermediate electrode plates and diaphragms are each provided with a pair of apertures 20a, 20b at the same horizontal level near the top of the cells.

The inlet 1 6a and outlet 1 spa are aligned with the apertures 20a, whilst the inlet 1 6b and outlet T8b are aligned with the apertures 20b. Moreover, a first series of tubular spacers 1 3a, 1 3b is provided in alignment with apertures 20a and a second series of tubular spacers 1 5a, 1 sub is provided in alignment with apertures 20b.

The arrangement is such that, in each gas generating cell, the diaphragm 11 is supported on opposite sides, around its aperture 20a, by spacers 1 3a, 1 3b spacing it from its respective electrode plates in the oxygen and hydrogen sections. Likewise, the diaphargm 11 is supported on its opposite sides, around its aperture 20b, by spacers 1 5a, 1 5b spacing it from its respective electrode plates in the oxygen and hydrogen sections. The tubular spacers 1 3b and 1 5a are each formed with a longitudinal slot 1 9 as shown in Figure 2a. Accordingly, inlet 1 spa and hydrogen outlet 1 8a communicate only with the hydrogen sections of the cells, the communication being effected through the tubular spacers 1 3a, 1 3b and the slots 19 in spacers 1 3b.Similarly, inlet 1 6b and oxygen outlet 1 8b communicate only with the oxygen sections of the cells, the communication being through the tubular spacers 1 spa, 1 sub and the slots 1 9 in the spacers 1 spa.

Cooling cells may be provided: the construction of such a cooling cell is illustrated in Figure 3, and differs from a gas generating cell in that the diaphragm 11 and the spacers 1 2a, 1 2b are dispensed with: instead, two spacers 21 (for example circular) are provided between the two electrode plates of the cell, respectively encircling the apertures 20a, 20b and defining hydrogen and oxygen cooling cell sections, and further spacers 23 are provided near the bottom to retain the stability of the structure. The outermost electrode plates of the cooling cell or cells are electrically short circuited so that the cells are inactive and instead effect cooling.

The stack of electrode plates and spacers are clamped together, for example by a central bolt (not shown) inserted through apertures 24 in the plates (Figure 3).

In operation of the apparatus, electrolyte is fed through inlets 1 spa and 1 6b into the hydrogen and oxygen sections of the first cell, and from this first cell it proceeds to the respective hydrogen and oxygen sections of the other cells in succession.

Oxygen is generated at the positive plate of each cell and hydrogen is generated at the negative plate of each cell: the oxygen and hydrogen flow through the cells in succession to the respective oxygen and hydrogen outlets 1 8b, 1 8a. The diaphragms 11 prevent the flow of gas from one gas section to the other within the individual cells, but permit electrical current flow. Preferably, the hydrogen section of each cell is twice the volume of the oxygen section (for example by a difference in width of the sections, as shown), to take account of the fact that twice as much hydrogen as oxygen is generated, and tending to equalise the pressures on the opposite sides of the diaphragm.

The electrolyte is preferably fed to the inlets 1 Sa, 1 6b through one-way valves to prevent the back-flow of oxygen and hydrogen. Preferably a differential pressure sensor is coupled to the outlets 1 8a, lBb, controlling electrical valves causing the venting of one gas volume should the other gas volume drop in pressure (for example owing to consumption by the user), again in order to reduce the difference in the pressures on opposite sides of each diaphragm.

The apparatus shown differs from prior art apparatus, also arranged to produce oxygen and hydrogen at separate outlets, by the feature (amongst others) that it is not necessary to provide two connections to the exterior for teach cell section (one for electrolyte and one for the generated gas).

Reference is drawn to my British patent application 80.25021 from which this application is divided.

Claims

1. An electrolysis apparatus for electrolysing water to produce oxygen and hydrogen at separate outlets, comprising a plurality of spaced electrode plates defining a cell between each pair of adjacent plates, a gas impervious diaphragm disposed between each pair of adjacent plates and dividing that cell into oxygen- and hydrogengenerating portions, a first duct extending through the cells and connecting the oxygen-generating portions of the cells together and at opposite ends, to an electrolyte inlet and an oxygen outlet of the apparatus and a second duct extending through the cells and connecting the hydrogen-generating portions of the cells together and, at opposite ends, to an electrolyte inlet and a hydrogen outlet of the apparatus.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which each gas generating cell comprises a first closedloop spacer disposed between one electrode plate and the diaphragm and a second closed-lqop spacer disposed between the other electrode plate of the cell and the diaphragm, the electrode plates, diaphragm and spacers being clamped together.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which each of the hydrogen and oxygen ducts comprises aligned apertures through the electrode plates and diaphragms of the successive gas generating cells, with a spacer in each of the oxygen- and hydrogen-generating portions disposed between the diaphragm and the respective electrode plate and formed with an aperture for the flow of the respective gas, the spacers affording communication between the oxygen and hydrogen ducts and the respective portions of the gas generating cells.

4. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a differential pressure sensor coupled to the two gas outlets and controlling venting of one gas volume should it exceed a threshold pressure in excess of the other gas volume.