RU2153539C2 - Device for production of oxygen and hydrogen - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: welding equipment. SUBSTANCE: device relates to welding equipment and is used in flame machining of materials in industry, at home, in repair of automobiles, etc. Device has an electrolyzer which consists of a row of electrolytic cells formed by dielectric spacers and electrodes communicating in gas and electrolyte. Cells are arranged between two coupling flanges. Flange has a hole for gas communication of the electrolyzer with means for gas discharge. The electrolyzer is communicated in electrolyte with pressure vessel in lower part of structure with the help of make-up branch pipe. Design of the device provides for extension of its working characteristic range and higher safety in its operation. EFFECT: improved design. 2 cl, 1 dwg

Description

 The invention relates to a device for producing oxygen and hydrogen by electrolysis of water for use, for example, in installations for flame treatment of materials.

 A device / 1 / is known that contains a bipolar type electrolyzer and a make-up tank, the gas separation of which is carried out during the natural circulation of the electrolyte through pipelines between the electrolyzer and the make-up tank. The disadvantage of this device is the increased gas filling of the space between the electrodes remote from the input of the electrolyte into the cell, due to the large hydroresistance of the design of the cell.

 Also known electrolyzer / 2 /, including a number of electrolytic cells made in the form of two coaxial electrodes in communication with gas and electrolyte with a feed tank. The disadvantage of this device is the removal of electrolyte through the feed tank to the exhaust path due to the flow of electrolyte from the electrolyzer to the feed tank with increasing pressure in the interelectrode space due to temperature increase or increase in gas productivity.

 The closest in technical essence to the claimed solution is a device for producing oxygen and hydrogen / 3 /, containing a bipolar electrolyzer, the electrolytic cells of which communicate through gas through the holes in the upper part and through the electrolyte in the lower part of the electrodes. The cell is connected to the pressure vessel through a gas outlet means (gas outlet) located at the top of the device and an electrolyte supply means (feed branch) located at the bottom of the device. The disadvantage of this solution, as well as the previous one, is the possibility of electrolyte falling into the exhaust duct through the pressure vessel due to increased pressure in the interelectrode space during operation of the device, which limits the operating range of the device’s operating characteristics (pressure, temperature, gas productivity, etc. ) In addition, increased safety measures are necessary when filling water, since explosive gas accumulates in the pressure vessel.

 The objective of the proposed solution is to expand the range of operating characteristics of the device and increase safety during its operation.

 The problem is solved in that in a device for producing oxygen and hydrogen containing a pressure vessel communicating via an electrolyte with an electrolyzer, consisting of a series of electrolytic cells communicating with each other through gas and an electrolyte, and means for outputting gas communicating with the electrolyzer through gas, the pressure vessel is isolated from the gas outlet means. When connected in series through the electrolyte, the electrolytic cells communicate with each other at a level above the minimum permissible level of electrolyte in the cell.

 The implementation of the pressure vessel, isolated from the electrolyzer by gas, allows you to expand the range of performance characteristics, which exclude the ingress of electrolyte into the exhaust duct, since with increasing pressure the electrolyte flows into the pressure vessel, isolated from the means for gas outlet, until the pressure in the pressure vessel does not equal the pressure in the cell.

 In the case when the cells are connected in series through the electrolyte, the positive effect is enhanced if the channel through which the cells are connected is made at a level higher than the minimum allowable level of electrolyte in the cell, since the buoyancy force will act only on that small part of the electrolyte which is located above this channel. The minimum allowable level of electrolyte is determined by the allowable maximum current density per unit area of the electrode, which depends on the material of the electrodes and the set life of the apparatus.

 During operation of the device, only electrolyte and air are in the pressure vessel, which increases the explosion safety of the device.

 In the general case, the cells can be connected by gas and electrolyte both in series and in parallel.

 The drawing shows a device for producing oxygen and hydrogen with a bipolar electrolyzer, in which the cells are connected in series by gas and electrolyte.

 The device contains an electrolyzer consisting of a series of electrolytic cells formed by dielectric spacers 1 and electrodes 2, which are connected through gas through openings 3 and through electrolyte through openings 4. Cells are located between two dielectric coupling flanges 5 and 6. A hole for connection is made in flange 5 gas electrolyzer with means 7 for the exit of gas. Using the feed pipe 8, the electrolyzer is communicated through the electrolyte with a pressure tank 9 in the lower part of the structure. An opening 10 is made in the pressure vessel 9, which is hermetically closed during operation of the device.

 The device operates as follows.

 Before starting operation of the apparatus, the electrolyzer through the hole 10 in the pressure vessel 9, the pipe 8 and the hole 4 in the electrodes 2 is filled with electrolyte. After applying voltage to the electrolyzer, the process of decomposition of water and gas formation begins. The pressure in the interelectrode space rises, and part of the electrolyte flows through the pipe 8 into the tank 9. The water level in the pressure tank rises, and the pressure becomes equal to the pressure in the cell. After the pressures equalize, the process of displacing the electrolyte from the electrolyzer into the pressure tank will stop. Compressed air is located in the pressure vessel above the water level, and the gas mixture of oxygen and hydrogen enters through the hole in the flange 5 into the gas outlet means. In this case, the electrolyte level in the cells will not drop below the level at which holes 4 are made. After completion of work, the pressure in the electrolyzer will drop, and water from the pressure vessel will return to the electrolyzer. The pressure in the pressure vessel will decrease.

 Between work, distilled water is periodically added to the pressure vessel to compensate for the already decomposed oxygen and hydrogen during electrolysis.

Thus, the claimed technical solution in comparison with the prototype has the following advantages:
- increased operational safety;
- with increasing gas pressure in the electrolyzer, the electrolyte level does not decrease below the minimum allowable due to the displacement of the electrolyte from the electrolyzer;
- the electrolyte is displaced into a pressure vessel that is not connected to the exhaust pipe.

Sources of information
1. RF patent N 2024650, IPC C 25 B 1/04, publ. 12/15/94.

 2. RF patent N 2048609, IPC C 25 B 1/04, publ. 11/20/95.

 3. USSR patent N 1838058, A3 IPC B 23 K 5/00, C 25 B 9/00, publ. 08/30/93 (prototype).

Claims (2)

 1. A device for producing oxygen and hydrogen, containing a pressure vessel communicating through an electrolyte with an electrolyzer consisting of a series of electrolytic cells communicating with each other through gas and an electrolyte, and means for outputting gas communicating with the electrolyzer through gas, characterized in that the pressure the container is isolated from the gas outlet means and a hermetically sealed opening is made in the pressure vessel.  2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrolyte cells connected in series through the electrolyte communicate with the electrolyte at a level above the minimum allowable level of electrolyte in the cell.