US3382167A - High pressure electrolytic cell module - Google Patents

High pressure electrolytic cell module Download PDF

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US3382167A
US3382167A US356469A US35646964A US3382167A US 3382167 A US3382167 A US 3382167A US 356469 A US356469 A US 356469A US 35646964 A US35646964 A US 35646964A US 3382167 A US3382167 A US 3382167A
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gas
electrolytic cell
hydrogen
vessel
electrolyte
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US356469A
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Albert M Lord
Thomas H Hacha
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Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
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TRW Inc
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    • 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
    • C25B9/05—Pressure 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
    • C25B9/00—Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
    • C25B9/17—Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof
    • 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

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention provides in a single housing a complete electrolytic unit provided with means whereby the emitted gas is cooled and recirculated to replenish the electrolyte.
  • This invention generally relates to an electrolytic cell module and more particularly relates to a compact highpressure electrolytic cell module.
  • Prior known electrolytic cell modules utilizing a plurality of electrolytic cells were unable to be effectively used in airborne vehicles because of their excessive weight and size. These modules required continuous recirculation of the electrolyte and replenish and cooled the electrolyte outside of the cell module. Further, the cell module did not contain the entire electrolytic unit in a single housing but required several various large units to provide the means for replenishing the electrolyte, and cooling the module.
  • the present invention provides an improved high-pressure electrolytic cell module having the electrolytic cells therein connected to manifold means to recirculate a portion of the gas emitted thereby to cool and replenish the electrolyte of each electrolytic cell.
  • FIGURE 1 is a partial diagrammatic view with parts in elevation illustrating an electrolytic cell module constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention
  • FIGURE 2 is a partial enlarged longitudinal cross-sec- 3,382,167 Patented May 7, 1968 tional view illustrating the electrolytic cell construction of the electrolytic cell module taken along the line 11 of FIGURE 1;
  • FIGURE 3 is a partial schematic view illustrating the electrolysis system of the electrolytic cell module illustrated in FIGURE 1.
  • the electrolytic cell module of the present invention will be described for a high pressure water electrolytic cell module. It is of course understood that the electrolytic cell module may be used for the electrolysis of materials other than the water.
  • the electrolytic cell module of the present invention has a plurality of electrolytic cells and has its auxiliary equipment packaged in a cylindrical pressure vessel with hemispherical ends.
  • the cells are electrically interconnected and have outlet manifold means for receiving gases evolved therefrom, with means to tap a portion of the gases from said outlet manifold means to direct said tapped gases to a cooling jacket within the module to cool said tapped gases, means to saturate said cooled gases with electrolyte, inlet manifold means connected to said electrolyte saturating means and the electrolytic cells to return the electrolyte saturated hydrogen gas to each of the electrolytic cells, and means to control the cooling and electrolyte saturation of the gas, such that the saturated gases will cool said cells and replenish the electrolyte content thereof.
  • an electrolytic cell module 11 having a cylindrical pressure vessel 12 with hemispherical ends 13 and 14.
  • a plurality of spaced annular fins 16 that act as radiator fins to cool the pressure vessel.
  • a helical conduit 17 extending substantially the length of the pressure vessel.
  • the conduit 17 has an inlet 18 and an outlet 19 and is utilized to conduct heat from the fluid therein to the fins 16.
  • -An electrolytic cell stack 21 i mounted essentially Within the pressure vessel 12 and preferably has low pressure walls although the cell will operate at high-pressure.
  • a high-pressure water pump 22 having high-pressure construction.
  • the water pump 22 has an inlet conduit 26 which is connected to a suitable water supply 27 and an outlet conduit 28.
  • the water pump 22 is connected to a circulating blower 23 having low pressure construction, by an axle 24.
  • the circulating blower 23 is mounted Within the pressure vessel between the water pump and the electrolytic cell stack 21 and 'has an inlet conduit 31 and an outlet conduit 32.
  • the outlet conduit 28 delivers water to a spray nozzle 30 (FIG. 3) which is located within a spray humidifier 29.
  • the spray humidifier 29 has .a gas outlet communicating with the circulating blower conduit 31, a liquid inlet communicating with pump conduit 28, and a gas inlet conduit 3 4, communicating the interior of the humidifier with the helical cooling coil outlet 19.
  • the water pump 22 delivers water to a spray nozzle '30 (FIGURE 3) mounted within the humidifier while cooled gases are delivered to the humidifier by conduit 34.
  • the humidity of the cooled gases is raised and preferably saturated with water vapor by the Water spray from the nozzle 30.
  • the humidified gases are then delivered by conduit 31 to the circulating blower 23.
  • a hydrogen outlet manifold '36, an oxygen outlet manifold 39, and a hydrogen inlet manifold 33 are mounted within the vessel adjacent the cell stack 21.
  • the hydrogen outlet manifold 36 has an outlet 40 for delivering hydrogen gas to a fuel cell (not shown) or other suitable means.
  • the cooling coil also communicates with the hydrogen manifold 36 through a hydrogen take-off conduit '37 to have a portion of the hydrogen gas delivered thereto and a heat exchanger by-pass conduit 35 communicates the manifold 36 with the conduit 34 through a normally closed three-way temperature sensitive valve means 38.
  • the valve means 38 opens to allow the hot hydrogen gas within the manifold 36 to mix within the conduit 34 with the cooled hydrogen gas from the cooling coil 17 when the cooling coil and associated fins 16 cool the hydrogen gas below a predetermined temperature.
  • the hydrogen inlet manifold is connected to the circulating blower 23 by the conduit 32 and receives cooled humidified hydrogen gas therefrom and the oxygen outlet manifold 39 has an outlet 41 for delivering oxygen gas to the fuel cell (not shown) or other suitable means.
  • the cell stack 21 is composed of a plurality of electrically connected electrolytic cells that decompose their aqueous electrolyte into hydrogen and oxygen gases.
  • a plurality of hydrogen outlet conduits 55 (FIGURE 3) connect each electrolytic cell of the cell stack with the hydrogen outlet manifold 36, a plurality of oxygen outlet conduits 56a (FIGURE 3) interconnect each elc trolytic cell in the cell stack 21 with the oxygen outlet manifold 39, and a plurality of hydrogen inlet conduits 64 (FIGURE 3) interconnect each electrolytic cell of the cell stack 21 with the hydrogen inlet manifold 33.
  • a pressure relief valve 42 is mounted on the hydrogen outlet manifold 36 between the hydrogen outlet 40 and the by-pass conduit '37 and an oxygen relief valve 43 is mounted before the oxygen outlet 41.
  • a valve control assembly 44 interlinks the relief valves 42 and 43 by lines 46 and 47 respectively so that the electrolytic cells do not experience a pressure difference greater than 1.0 p.s.i.a. in their respective electrode assemblies.
  • the rate of water spray within the spray humidifier 29 is controlled by a gas temperature depression sensor 48 mounted on the humidifier to sense the temperature therein and connected by line 48a to control a water supply valve 49 and thereby control the amount of water being sprayed to thus control the amount of humidification of the hydrogen gas within the humidifier.
  • FIGURE 2 there is illustrated a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of two adjacent electrolytic cells 51 and 52 in the cell stack 21.
  • the cells are separated by a sheet metal partition 53 and each cell has a hydrogen chamber 54, an oxygen chamber 56 and an aqueous electrolyte 59 positioned between the hydrogen and oxygen chambers.
  • a cathode 57 is positioned between the hydrogen chamber and the electrolyte and an anode 58 is positioned between the oxygen chamber and the electrolyte.
  • the electrolyte 59 is in 'a bed or mat or a matrix of asbestos fibers impregnated with an aqueous electrolyte solution of, for example, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, phosphoric acid or sulfuric acid.
  • the thickness of the electrodes '7 and 58, and the electrolyte matrix 59 have been exaggerated in the drawings for purposes of clarity as the thickness of the electrodes and the electrolyte are quite small i.e. the thickness of the electrolyte layer normally measures as small as 0.030 inch and the thickness of the electrodes being as small as 0.0045 inch.
  • the electrodes 57 and 58 may be sintered nickel porous plates varying from 0.004 to 0.020 inch thick, nickel screen of 0.003 inch wire with 80 wires per inch, nickel screen with a coating of platinum black, silver and tantalum screens, or porous carbon plates.
  • metal screens 61 which may he preferably nickel or copper screening utilized for making electrical contact with the electrodes 57 and 58.
  • the operation of the electrolytic cell module 11 is schematically illustrated by illustrating a series of two electrolytic cells. It is of course understood that the number of electrolytic cells is many times more than two.
  • the electrolytic cells 51 and 52 have their electrolyte impregdated asbestos beds 59 disposed between the cathode 57 and the anode 58.
  • Hydrogen produced at the cathode is delivered from the hydrogen chamber 54 to the hydrogen deliveiy conduits to the hydrogen outlet manifold 36 and the oxygen produced at the anode 58 is delivered from the oxygen chamber 56 to the oxygen outlet manifold 39 by conduits 56a.
  • a portion of the hydrogen from the hydrogen manifold is delivered by conduit 37 to the annular cooling coils 17 and the hydrogen transfers its heat to the fins '16 which has ambient air blown thereover by the fan 63.
  • the cooled hydrogen is then delivered to conduit 34.
  • Conduit 34 is interconnected with the manifold by conduit 35 and at the point of juncture there is located the temperature sensitive three-way valve 38 which will allow hydrogen from the manifold 36 to by-pass the cooling coils 17 and be delivered directly to conduit 34 where it is mixed with cooled hydrogen.
  • the function of the valve 38 is dependent upon the predetermined desired temperature of hydrogen gas to be fed to the spray humidifier 29.
  • the humidifier 29 has a spray nozzle 30 located therein that is fed water by the highpressure pump 22 through the conduit 28.
  • the amount of Water fed by the pump is determined by the temperature within the spray humidifier which is sensed by the temperature sensor 48 interconnected to valve 49 to control the water fed to the pump 22 from the water supply 27.
  • the cooled hydrogen is humidified in the spray chamber and then delivered to the circulating blower 23 by conduit 31.
  • the blower 23 delivers the humidified hydrogen to the hydrogen inlet manifold 33.
  • the hydrogen manifold has inlet conduits 64 communicating with the hydrogen chambers 54 opposite the hydrogen outlet conduits 55.
  • the tapped hydrogen has been cooled and humidified such that the vapor pressure thereof is greater than vapor pressure of the electrolyte. Therefore, when the humidified hydrogen gas enters the hydrogen chambers 54, a portion of its water vapor will dififuse through the cathode 57 and condense on the electrolyte to wet the electrolyte and replenish the water decomposed by the cathode and anode reaction.
  • the production of hydrogen and oxygen gases at the cathodes and anodes of each electrolytic cell and the supply of humidified hydrogen to the hydrogen chambers 54 are such that the hydrogen and oxygen gases being delivered by the hydrogen outlet manifold 36 and the oxygen outlet manifold 39 to the fuel cell or other suitable means are being delivered at 4500 p.s.i.a., with the hydrogen and oxygen pressure relief valves 42 and 43 being interlinked by control 44 such that the hydrogen chambers 54 and the oxygen chambers 56 of each cell do not experience a pressure diiference greater than 1.0 p.s.i.a.
  • the module hemispherical end 14 has an electrical connector 66 mounted thereon with suitable wires 67 (FIG URE 3) suitably electrically connected thereto and to the first and last electrodes of the cell stack 21 (one anode and one cathode).
  • Lines 67 are schematically used to connect the electrolytic cells in electrical series. That is, referring to FIGURE 3, the anode 58 .of the cell 51 is connected to the cathode 57 of the cell 52 by the electrical line 67 and the anode and cathode of the end cells are connected to the electrical connector 66 which may be connected to suitable electrical supply means (not shown).
  • each of the cells is accomplished by the wire spacers 61 and the metal partitions 53 with only the first and last electrodes being connected to an electrical supply means.
  • the cells may be connected in electrical parallel if desired. That is, the cathode 57 of cell 51 being interconnected to the cathode of cell 52 etc. with the cathodes of all the cells being connected by a single electrical line.
  • the anodes of adjacent cells are connected by another electrical line with the cathode and anode electrical lines being suitably connected to the electrical connector 66.
  • the partition 53 may be eliminated between two adjacent electrolytic cells by rearranging the two adjacent cells to have a common gas chamber, such as an oxygen chamber 56, with the anodes 58 facing each other instead of having theanode 58.013 cell 51 facing the cathode 57 of cell 52 as is represented in FIGURE 2.
  • a common gas chamber such as an oxygen chamber 56
  • the module 11 was constructed for electrolyzing pounds per hour of water to deliver hydrogen and oxygen gases at 4500 p.s.i.a.
  • the module was 21 inches in diameter and 60 inches long and contained 100 electrolytic cells, a circulating blower, a water pump, a spray humidifier, associated cooling coils and manifolds, temperature and water controls, and had external cooling fins.
  • the electrolyt-ic cells operated at 300 F. with sintered nickel electrodes and 6N KOH impregnated asbestos electrolytes.
  • the power consumption of the module was 45 kilowatts at 300 volts and water and temperature controls were set to provide saturated hydrogen gas at 277 F. to be delivered to the inlet conduits 64.
  • the polarization data for hydrogen and oxygen gases being delivered at 4500 p.s.i.a. was calculated as follows:
  • Another module 11 was constructed for electrolyzing 10 pounds per hour of water to deliver gases at 4500 p.s.i.a.
  • This module was 21 inches in diameter and 60 inches long and contained 100 electrolytic cells operating at 300 F. with 6N KOH impregnated asbestos electrolytes and sintered nickel electrodes having a platinum catalyst thereon.
  • the power consumption of the module was 30 kilowatts at 200 volts and the water spray and temperature controls were set to provide saturated hydrogen gas at 277 F. to be delivered to the hydrogen chambers 54-.
  • the polarization data for hydrogen and oxygen gases being delivered at 4500 p.s.i.a. was calculated as follows:
  • An electrolytic cell module comprising:
  • said electrolytic cell having a gas chamber with an electrode, an electrolyte,
  • conduit means within said vessel connected to the gas chamber and the housing to tap a portion of the gas produced in the gas chamber and deliver it to the housing,
  • the increased vapor pressure gas entering the electrolytic cell gas chamber has a portion of its electrolyte vapor diffuse through the electrode and condense in the electrolytic cell to mix with and replace the water content of the cell electrolyte which was decomposed to produce the gas.
  • An electrolytic cell module comprising:
  • said electrolytic cell having a gasd chamber with an electrode, an electrolyte,
  • first conduit means within said vessel connected to the gas chamber to tap a portion of the gas produced therein
  • heat exchange means mounted within said vessel connected to said first conduit means to receive gas therefrom and remove heat from said gas by sensible cooling
  • a second conduit means connecting said heat exchanger to said housing to deliver cooled gas to said housing, means connected to the housing to increase the water vapor pressure of the gas within the housing above the water vapor pressure in the electrolytic cell, and
  • an inlet manifold mounted within said vessel and connected to said housing and said electrolytic cell gas chamber to deliver increased vapor pressure gas thereto whereby the increased vapor pressure gas entering the electrolytic cell gas chamber has a portion of its electrolyte vapor diffuse through the electrode and condense in the electrolytic cell to mix with and replace the Water content of the cell electrolyte which was decomposed to produce the gas.
  • An electrolytic cell module comprising:
  • said electrolytic cell stack having a plurality of electrolytic cells
  • each of said electrolytic cells having a gas chamber with an electrode
  • outlet manifold being connected to said electrolytic cell gas chambers to receive gas therefrom, a spray housing mounted within said vessel,
  • rst conduit means within said vessel connected to the gas chambers to tap a portion of the gas from the gas chambers
  • heat exchange means within said vessel connected to said first conduit means to receive gas therefrom and remove heat from said gas by sensible cooling
  • a by-pass conduit means connecting said first conduit means to said outlet conduit means to allow a portion of the tapped gas to by-pass the heat exchanger, means normally closing said by-pass conduit means, means to selectively open said by-pass conduit means to control the amount of sensible cooling of the tapped gas by the heat exchanger,
  • an inlet manifold mounted Within said vessel and con nected to said housing and said electrolytic cell gas chambers to deliver increased vapor pressure gas thereto whereby the increased vapor pressure gas entering the electrolytic cell gas chambers has a portion of its electrolyte vapor diffuse through the electrodes and condense thereon to mix With and replace the Water content of the cell electrolyte which was decomposed to produce the gas.
  • An electrolytic cell module comprising:
  • said vessel having a plurality of fins projecting therefrom
  • said electrolytic cell stack having a plurafity of electrolytic cells
  • each of said electrolytic cells having a gas chamber with an electrode
  • outlet manifold being connected to said electrolytic cell gas chambers to receive gas therefrom,
  • first conduit means within said vessel connected to the gas chambers to tap a portion of the gas from the gas chambers
  • a cooling coil conduit means mounted adjacent the interior wall of the vessel to conduct heat to said vessel
  • said cooling coil being connected to said first conduit to receive gas therefrom
  • a by-pass conduit means connecting said first conduit means to said outlet conduit means to allow a portion of the tapped gas to by-pass the cooling coil
  • bypass conduit means to selectively open said bypass conduit means to control the amount of sensible cooling of the tapped gas by the cooling coil
  • an inlet manifold mounted within said vessel and connected to said housing and said electrolytic cell gas chamber to deliver increased vapor pressure gas thereto
  • the increased vapor pressure gas entering the electrolytic cell gas chamber has a portion of its electrolyte vapor diffuse through the electrode and condense in the electrolytic cell to mix with and replace the water content of the cell electrolyte which was decomposed to produce the gas.
  • An electrolytic cell module comprising:
  • said electrolytic cell stack having a plurality of electrolytic cells
  • each of said electrolytic cells having a gas chamber With an electrode, an electrolyte, and
  • outlet manifold being connected to said electrolytic cell gas chamber to receive gas therefrom
  • first conduit means within said vessel connected to the gas chambers to tap a portion of the gas from the gas chamber
  • a cooling coil conduit means mounted adjacent the interior wall of the vessel to conduct heat to said vessel
  • said cooling coil being connected to said first conduit to receive gas therefrom
  • bypass conduit means connecting said first conduit means to said outlet conduit means to allow a portion of the tapped gas to by-pass the cooling coil
  • an inlet manifold mounted within said vessel and connected to said electrolytic cell gas chambers to deliver increased vapor pressure gas thereto
  • the increased vapor pressure gas entering the electrolytic cell gas chamber has a portion of its electrolyte vapor diffuse through the electrode and condense thereon to mix with and replace the water content of the cell electrolyte which was decomposed to produce the gas.
  • a water electrolytic cell module comprising:
  • said electrolytic cell having a gas chamber with an electrode
  • outlet manifold being connected to said electrolytic cell gas chamber to receive gas therefrom
  • first conduit means within said vessel connected to the gas chamber and the housing to tap a portion of the gas from gas chamber and deliver it to the housing
  • an inlet manifold mounted within said vessel and connected to said housing and said electrolytic cell gas chamber to deliver the humidified gas thereto whereby the increased vapor pressure gas entering the electrolytic cell gas chamber has a portion of its electrolyte vapor diffuse through the electrode and condense thereon to mix with and replace the electrolyte Water which was decomposed to produce the gas.
  • An electrolytic cell module comprising:
  • said electrolytic cell having a gas chamber with an electrode
  • outlet manifold being connected to said electrolytic cell gas chamber to receive gas therefrom
  • first conduit means within said vessel connected to the gas chamber to tap a portion of the gas from the gas chamber
  • heat exchange means connected to said first conduit means to receive gas therefrom and remove heat from said gas by sensible cooling
  • an inlet manifold mounted within said vessel and connected to said housing and said electrolytic cell gas chamber to deliver increased vapor pressure gas thereto whereby the increased vapor pressure gas entering the electrolytic cell gas chamber has a portion of its electrolyte vapor dilfused through the electrode and condense thereon to mix with and replace the electrolyte water which Was decomposed to produce the gas.
  • An electrolytic cell module comprising:
  • said electrolyte cell stack having a plurality of electrolytic cells
  • each of said electrolytic cells having a pair of gas chambers with an electrode in each chamber
  • outlet manifolds being connected to said electrolytic cell gas chambers to receive hydrogen and oxygen gas therefrom,
  • first conduit means Within said vessel connected to at least one gas chamber to tap a portion of the gas from the gas chamber and deliver it to the housing,
  • heat exchange means connected to said first conduit means to receive gas therefrom and remove heat from said gas by sensible cooling
  • an inlet manifold mounted within said vessel and connected to said housing and said electrolytic cell gas chamber to deliver increased vapor pressure gas thereto whereby the increased vapor pressure gas entering the electrolytic cell gas chamber has a portion of its electrolyte vapor diffused through the electrode and condense thereon to mix with and replace the electrolyte water which was decomposed to produce the gas.
  • An eelctrolytic cell module comprising:
  • said electrolytic cell stack having a plurality of electrolytic cells
  • each of said electrolytic cells having a hydrogen chamber with a cathode, an aqueous electrolyte, and means to decompose said electrolyte to produce hydrogen gas at said cathode in said hydrogen gas chamber an outlet manifold mounted in said vessel adjacent said cell stack,
  • outlet manifold being connected to said electrolytic cell hydrogen chambers to receive gas therefrom,
  • first conduit means within said vessel connected to the hydrogen gas chambers to tap a portion of the gas from the hydrogen gas chambers and deliver it to the housing,
  • heat exchange means connected to said first conduit means to receive hydrogen gas therefrom and remove heat from said hydrogen gas by sensible cooling
  • an inlet manifold mounted within said vessel and connected to said housing and said electrolytic cell gas chamber to deliver increased vapor pressure gas thereto whereby the increased vapor pressure gas entering the electrolytic cell gas chamber has a portion of its Water vapor diffused through the cathode and condense thereon to mix with and replace the electrolytic cell water which was decomposed to produce the hydrogen gas.
  • An electrolytic cell module comprising:
  • said electrolytic cell stack having a plurality of electrolytic cells
  • each of said electrolytic cells having a hydrogen gas chamber with a cathode
  • said outlet manifold being connected to said electrolytic cell gas chamber to receive hydrogen gas therefrom,
  • a humidifying spray housing mounted within said vessel, first conduit means Within said vessel connected to the outlet manifold and the housing to tap a portion of the hydrogen gas from the manifold and deliver it to the housing,
  • cooling coil means connected to said first conduit means to receive hydrogen gas therefrom and remove heat from said hydrogen gas by sensible coolan outlet conduit means connecting said cooling coil to said housing to deliver cooled hydrogen gas to said housing,
  • a by-pass conduit means connecting said first conduit means to said outlet conduit means to allow a portion of the tapped hydrogen gas to by-pass the cooling coil, means normally closing said by-pass conduit means,
  • an inlet manifold mounted within said vessel and connected to said housing and said electrolytic cell hydrogen gas chamber to deliver the humidified hydrogen gas thereto whereby the increased vapor pressure gas entering the electrolytic cell gas chamber has a portion of its water vapor diffused through the cathode and condense thereon to mix with and replace the electrolytic cell water which was decomposed to produce the gas.
  • An electrolytic cell module comprising:
  • said electrolytic cell stack having a plurality of electrolytic cells
  • each of said electrolytic cells having a pair of gas chambers with an electrode in each
  • outlet manifolds being connected to said electrolytic cell gas chambers to receive hydrogen and oxygen gas therefrom,
  • a spray housing mounted within said vessel, first conduit means within said vessel connected to at least one of the gas chambers to tap a portion of the gas therefrom,
  • cooling coil means connected to said first conduit means to receive gas therefrom and remove heat from said gas by sensible cooling
  • a by-pass conduit means connecting said first conduit of the tapped gas to bypass the cooling coil, means to said outlet conduit means to allow a portion means normally closing said by-pass conduit means, means to selectively open said by-pass conduit means to control the amount of sensible cooling of the tapped gas by the cooling coil,
  • an inlet manifold means connected to the one chamber of each electrolytic cell to deliver the humidified gas thereto
  • An electrolytic cell module comprising:
  • said electrolytic cell stack having a plurality of electrolytic cells
  • each of said electrolytic cells having coil said a hydrogen and oxygen gas chamber with a cathode and an anode respectively,
  • outlet manifolds being connected to said electrolytic cell gas chambers to receive hydrogen and oxygen gas therefrom,
  • a spray housing mounted within said vessel, first conduit means within said vessel connected to the hydrogen gas chambers to tap a portion of the hydrogen gas therefrom,
  • cooling coil means connected to said first conduit means to receive hydrogen gas therefrom and remove heat from said hydrogen gas by sensible cooling
  • a by-pass conduit means connecting said first conduit means to said outlet conduit means to allow a portion of the tapped hydrogen gas to by-pass the cooling coil
  • a hydrogen inlet manifold means connected to the hydrogen chamber of each electrolytic cell to deliver saturated hydrogen gas thereto
  • pump means connected to said spray chamber and said hydrogen inlet manifold to deliver saturated hydro gen gas to the hydrogen inlet manifold whereby the saturated hydrogen gas entering the hydrogen chamber of each electrolytic cell is cooler than the electrolytic cell and cools said cell and also a portion of the water vapor in said hydrogen gas diffuses through the cathode of the electrolytic cell and condenses on said cathode to mix with electrolyte in the electrolytic cell and thereby replace the water content of said electrolyte.

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  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
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Description

y a 1958 A. M. LORD ETAL 3,382,167
HIGH PRESSURE ELECTROLYTIC CELL MODULE I Filed April 1, 1964 00006 IIIIII rllm N\ NH Ill-I I I MI I r H OI! O bm 5% W hm WY IIIIVI In! Wm \rY Wm QN m NN KN y v lm j%ofljaeuyffqzaza 4Z--% V ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,382,167 I-IE-GH PRESSURE ELECTROLYTIC CELL MODULE Albert M. Lord, Lakewood, and Thomas H. Hacha, Willoughhy, Ohio, assiguors to TRW Inc., a corporation of Ohio Filed Apr. 1, 1964, Ser. No. 356,469 12 Claims. (Cl. 204-270) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention provides in a single housing a complete electrolytic unit provided with means whereby the emitted gas is cooled and recirculated to replenish the electrolyte.
This invention generally relates to an electrolytic cell module and more particularly relates to a compact highpressure electrolytic cell module.
Prior known electrolytic cell modules, utilizing a plurality of electrolytic cells were unable to be effectively used in airborne vehicles because of their excessive weight and size. These modules required continuous recirculation of the electrolyte and replenish and cooled the electrolyte outside of the cell module. Further, the cell module did not contain the entire electrolytic unit in a single housing but required several various large units to provide the means for replenishing the electrolyte, and cooling the module. The present invention provides an improved high-pressure electrolytic cell module having the electrolytic cells therein connected to manifold means to recirculate a portion of the gas emitted thereby to cool and replenish the electrolyte of each electrolytic cell.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a high-pressure water electrolytic cell module having means to feed electrolyte to each electrolytic cell by vapor diffusion.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an electrolytic cell module having means to control the electrolyte concentration and temperature by vapor diffusion.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an electrolytic cell module having a plurality of electrolytic cells and means to control the electrolyte concentration and temperature of each electrolytic cell by vapor difiusion.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a high-pressure water electrolytic cell module with a manifold means for receiving gas produced in each cell, means to saturate the gas with electrolyte vapors, and a manifold means for returning a portion of the saturated gas to the electrolytic cells to provide cooling thereof and vapor diffusion therein.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a water electrolysis cell module having manifold means to receive the hydrogen gas produced by a plurality of electrolytic cells, means to humidity a portion of the hydrogen gas and return manifold means for returning the humidified hydrogen gas to each of the electrolytic cells to cool and replenish the electrolyte therein.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after considering the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like and corresponding parts.
In the drawings:
FIGURE 1 is a partial diagrammatic view with parts in elevation illustrating an electrolytic cell module constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a partial enlarged longitudinal cross-sec- 3,382,167 Patented May 7, 1968 tional view illustrating the electrolytic cell construction of the electrolytic cell module taken along the line 11 of FIGURE 1; and
FIGURE 3 is a partial schematic view illustrating the electrolysis system of the electrolytic cell module illustrated in FIGURE 1.
As shown in the drawings:
For exemplary purposes only, the electrolytic cell module of the present invention will be described for a high pressure water electrolytic cell module. It is of course understood that the electrolytic cell module may be used for the electrolysis of materials other than the water.
The electrolytic cell module of the present invention has a plurality of electrolytic cells and has its auxiliary equipment packaged in a cylindrical pressure vessel with hemispherical ends. The cells are electrically interconnected and have outlet manifold means for receiving gases evolved therefrom, with means to tap a portion of the gases from said outlet manifold means to direct said tapped gases to a cooling jacket within the module to cool said tapped gases, means to saturate said cooled gases with electrolyte, inlet manifold means connected to said electrolyte saturating means and the electrolytic cells to return the electrolyte saturated hydrogen gas to each of the electrolytic cells, and means to control the cooling and electrolyte saturation of the gas, such that the saturated gases will cool said cells and replenish the electrolyte content thereof.
Referring to FIGURE 1, there is an electrolytic cell module 11 having a cylindrical pressure vessel 12 with hemispherical ends 13 and 14. Around the outer surface of the vessel 12 and extending substantially the length project a plurality of spaced annular fins 16 that act as radiator fins to cool the pressure vessel. Along the inner circumference of the vessel 12 and opposite the fins 16 is mounted a helical conduit 17 extending substantially the length of the pressure vessel. The conduit 17 has an inlet 18 and an outlet 19 and is utilized to conduct heat from the fluid therein to the fins 16.
-An electrolytic cell stack 21 i mounted essentially Within the pressure vessel 12 and preferably has low pressure walls although the cell will operate at high-pressure. Above the electrolytic cell stack 21 and centrally to the end 13 is mounted a high-pressure water pump 22 having high-pressure construction. The water pump 22 has an inlet conduit 26 which is connected to a suitable water supply 27 and an outlet conduit 28. The water pump 22 is connected to a circulating blower 23 having low pressure construction, by an axle 24. The circulating blower 23 is mounted Within the pressure vessel between the water pump and the electrolytic cell stack 21 and 'has an inlet conduit 31 and an outlet conduit 32. A motor 25, mounted between the stack 21 and the blower 23, simultaneously operates the circulating blower 23 and the water pump 22 through an axle 26. The outlet conduit 28 delivers water to a spray nozzle 30 (FIG. 3) which is located within a spray humidifier 29. The spray humidifier 29 has .a gas outlet communicating with the circulating blower conduit 31, a liquid inlet communicating with pump conduit 28, and a gas inlet conduit 3 4, communicating the interior of the humidifier with the helical cooling coil outlet 19. Thus, the water pump 22 delivers water to a spray nozzle '30 (FIGURE 3) mounted within the humidifier while cooled gases are delivered to the humidifier by conduit 34. Within the humidifier, the humidity of the cooled gases is raised and preferably saturated with water vapor by the Water spray from the nozzle 30. The humidified gases are then delivered by conduit 31 to the circulating blower 23.
A hydrogen outlet manifold '36, an oxygen outlet manifold 39, and a hydrogen inlet manifold 33 are mounted within the vessel adjacent the cell stack 21. The hydrogen outlet manifold 36 has an outlet 40 for delivering hydrogen gas to a fuel cell (not shown) or other suitable means. The cooling coil also communicates with the hydrogen manifold 36 through a hydrogen take-off conduit '37 to have a portion of the hydrogen gas delivered thereto and a heat exchanger by-pass conduit 35 communicates the manifold 36 with the conduit 34 through a normally closed three-way temperature sensitive valve means 38. The valve means 38 opens to allow the hot hydrogen gas within the manifold 36 to mix within the conduit 34 with the cooled hydrogen gas from the cooling coil 17 when the cooling coil and associated fins 16 cool the hydrogen gas below a predetermined temperature.
The hydrogen inlet manifold is connected to the circulating blower 23 by the conduit 32 and receives cooled humidified hydrogen gas therefrom and the oxygen outlet manifold 39 has an outlet 41 for delivering oxygen gas to the fuel cell (not shown) or other suitable means.
The cell stack 21 is composed of a plurality of electrically connected electrolytic cells that decompose their aqueous electrolyte into hydrogen and oxygen gases. A plurality of hydrogen outlet conduits 55 (FIGURE 3) connect each electrolytic cell of the cell stack with the hydrogen outlet manifold 36, a plurality of oxygen outlet conduits 56a (FIGURE 3) interconnect each elc trolytic cell in the cell stack 21 with the oxygen outlet manifold 39, and a plurality of hydrogen inlet conduits 64 (FIGURE 3) interconnect each electrolytic cell of the cell stack 21 with the hydrogen inlet manifold 33. A pressure relief valve 42 is mounted on the hydrogen outlet manifold 36 between the hydrogen outlet 40 and the by-pass conduit '37 and an oxygen relief valve 43 is mounted before the oxygen outlet 41. A valve control assembly 44 interlinks the relief valves 42 and 43 by lines 46 and 47 respectively so that the electrolytic cells do not experience a pressure difference greater than 1.0 p.s.i.a. in their respective electrode assemblies.
The rate of water spray within the spray humidifier 29 is controlled by a gas temperature depression sensor 48 mounted on the humidifier to sense the temperature therein and connected by line 48a to control a water supply valve 49 and thereby control the amount of water being sprayed to thus control the amount of humidification of the hydrogen gas within the humidifier.
Referring to FIGURE 2, there is illustrated a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of two adjacent electrolytic cells 51 and 52 in the cell stack 21. The cells are separated by a sheet metal partition 53 and each cell has a hydrogen chamber 54, an oxygen chamber 56 and an aqueous electrolyte 59 positioned between the hydrogen and oxygen chambers. A cathode 57 is positioned between the hydrogen chamber and the electrolyte and an anode 58 is positioned between the oxygen chamber and the electrolyte. The electrolyte 59 is in 'a bed or mat or a matrix of asbestos fibers impregnated with an aqueous electrolyte solution of, for example, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, phosphoric acid or sulfuric acid. The thickness of the electrodes '7 and 58, and the electrolyte matrix 59 have been exaggerated in the drawings for purposes of clarity as the thickness of the electrodes and the electrolyte are quite small i.e. the thickness of the electrolyte layer normally measures as small as 0.030 inch and the thickness of the electrodes being as small as 0.0045 inch. The electrodes 57 and 58 may be sintered nickel porous plates varying from 0.004 to 0.020 inch thick, nickel screen of 0.003 inch wire with 80 wires per inch, nickel screen with a coating of platinum black, silver and tantalum screens, or porous carbon plates.
Within the hydrogen and oxygen compartments are metal screens 61 which may he preferably nickel or copper screening utilized for making electrical contact with the electrodes 57 and 58.
Referring to FIGURE 3 the operation of the electrolytic cell module 11 is schematically illustrated by illustrating a series of two electrolytic cells. It is of course understood that the number of electrolytic cells is many times more than two.
The electrolytic cells 51 and 52 have their electrolyte impregdated asbestos beds 59 disposed between the cathode 57 and the anode 58. Hydrogen produced at the cathode is delivered from the hydrogen chamber 54 to the hydrogen deliveiy conduits to the hydrogen outlet manifold 36 and the oxygen produced at the anode 58 is delivered from the oxygen chamber 56 to the oxygen outlet manifold 39 by conduits 56a. A portion of the hydrogen from the hydrogen manifold is delivered by conduit 37 to the annular cooling coils 17 and the hydrogen transfers its heat to the fins '16 which has ambient air blown thereover by the fan 63. The cooled hydrogen is then delivered to conduit 34. Conduit 34 is interconnected with the manifold by conduit 35 and at the point of juncture there is located the temperature sensitive three-way valve 38 which will allow hydrogen from the manifold 36 to by-pass the cooling coils 17 and be delivered directly to conduit 34 where it is mixed with cooled hydrogen. The function of the valve 38 is dependent upon the predetermined desired temperature of hydrogen gas to be fed to the spray humidifier 29. The humidifier 29 has a spray nozzle 30 located therein that is fed water by the highpressure pump 22 through the conduit 28. The amount of Water fed by the pump is determined by the temperature within the spray humidifier which is sensed by the temperature sensor 48 interconnected to valve 49 to control the water fed to the pump 22 from the water supply 27. The cooled hydrogen is humidified in the spray chamber and then delivered to the circulating blower 23 by conduit 31. The blower 23 delivers the humidified hydrogen to the hydrogen inlet manifold 33. The hydrogen manifold has inlet conduits 64 communicating with the hydrogen chambers 54 opposite the hydrogen outlet conduits 55.
The tapped hydrogen has been cooled and humidified such that the vapor pressure thereof is greater than vapor pressure of the electrolyte. Therefore, when the humidified hydrogen gas enters the hydrogen chambers 54, a portion of its water vapor will dififuse through the cathode 57 and condense on the electrolyte to wet the electrolyte and replenish the water decomposed by the cathode and anode reaction. The production of hydrogen and oxygen gases at the cathodes and anodes of each electrolytic cell and the supply of humidified hydrogen to the hydrogen chambers 54 are such that the hydrogen and oxygen gases being delivered by the hydrogen outlet manifold 36 and the oxygen outlet manifold 39 to the fuel cell or other suitable means are being delivered at 4500 p.s.i.a., with the hydrogen and oxygen pressure relief valves 42 and 43 being interlinked by control 44 such that the hydrogen chambers 54 and the oxygen chambers 56 of each cell do not experience a pressure diiference greater than 1.0 p.s.i.a.
The module hemispherical end 14 has an electrical connector 66 mounted thereon with suitable wires 67 (FIG URE 3) suitably electrically connected thereto and to the first and last electrodes of the cell stack 21 (one anode and one cathode). Lines 67 are schematically used to connect the electrolytic cells in electrical series. That is, referring to FIGURE 3, the anode 58 .of the cell 51 is connected to the cathode 57 of the cell 52 by the electrical line 67 and the anode and cathode of the end cells are connected to the electrical connector 66 which may be connected to suitable electrical supply means (not shown). However, in actual practice, referring to FIG- URE 2, electrical continuity across each of the cells is accomplished by the wire spacers 61 and the metal partitions 53 with only the first and last electrodes being connected to an electrical supply means. Also, the cells may be connected in electrical parallel if desired. That is, the cathode 57 of cell 51 being interconnected to the cathode of cell 52 etc. with the cathodes of all the cells being connected by a single electrical line. Likewise, the anodes of adjacent cells are connected by another electrical line with the cathode and anode electrical lines being suitably connected to the electrical connector 66. However, in the electrical parallel arrangement, the partition 53 may be eliminated between two adjacent electrolytic cells by rearranging the two adjacent cells to have a common gas chamber, such as an oxygen chamber 56, with the anodes 58 facing each other instead of having theanode 58.013 cell 51 facing the cathode 57 of cell 52 as is represented in FIGURE 2.
The module 11 was constructed for electrolyzing pounds per hour of water to deliver hydrogen and oxygen gases at 4500 p.s.i.a. The module was 21 inches in diameter and 60 inches long and contained 100 electrolytic cells, a circulating blower, a water pump, a spray humidifier, associated cooling coils and manifolds, temperature and water controls, and had external cooling fins. The electrolyt-ic cells operated at 300 F. with sintered nickel electrodes and 6N KOH impregnated asbestos electrolytes. The power consumption of the module was 45 kilowatts at 300 volts and water and temperature controls were set to provide saturated hydrogen gas at 277 F. to be delivered to the inlet conduits 64. The polarization data for hydrogen and oxygen gases being delivered at 4500 p.s.i.a. was calculated as follows:
Current density Volts: (amps/ft?) Another module 11 was constructed for electrolyzing 10 pounds per hour of water to deliver gases at 4500 p.s.i.a. This module was 21 inches in diameter and 60 inches long and contained 100 electrolytic cells operating at 300 F. with 6N KOH impregnated asbestos electrolytes and sintered nickel electrodes having a platinum catalyst thereon. The power consumption of the module was 30 kilowatts at 200 volts and the water spray and temperature controls were set to provide saturated hydrogen gas at 277 F. to be delivered to the hydrogen chambers 54-. The polarization data for hydrogen and oxygen gases being delivered at 4500 p.s.i.a. was calculated as follows:
Volts 2.0 Current density (amps/ft?) 100 It is of course understood that although the above module was described with means to recirculate cool, and humidity a portion of the hydrogen gases, the module would operate in a similar manner if means were provided to recirculate, cool and humidity a portion of the hydrogen gas and/or the oxygen gas produced in the cells. Also a similar module may be constructed for electrolysis of materials other than water, with the gas produced by the cells being recirculated and saturated with the desired electrolyte vapor so that the gas electrolyte vapor pressure is greater than the vapor pressure of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cells. It is understood that these and other modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention as defined by the following claims.
We claim as our invention:
1. An electrolytic cell module comprising:
a vessel,
an electrolytic cell mounted within said vessel,
said electrolytic cell having a gas chamber with an electrode, an electrolyte,
and
means to decompose an aqueous solution of said electrolyte to produce a gas at said electrode in said gas chamber,
a spray housing mounted within said vessel, conduit means within said vessel connected to the gas chamber and the housing to tap a portion of the gas produced in the gas chamber and deliver it to the housing,
means connected to the housing to increase the water vapor pressure of the gas within the housing above the water vapor pressure in the electrolytic cell, and
an outlet conduit means mounted within said vessel and connected to said housing and said electrolytic cell gas chamber to deliver increased vapor pressure gas thereto,
whereby the increased vapor pressure gas entering the electrolytic cell gas chamber has a portion of its electrolyte vapor diffuse through the electrode and condense in the electrolytic cell to mix with and replace the water content of the cell electrolyte which was decomposed to produce the gas.
2. An electrolytic cell module comprising:
a vessel,
an electrolytic cell mounted within said vessel,
said electrolytic cell having a gasd chamber with an electrode, an electrolyte,
means to decompose an aqueous solution of said electrolyte to produce a gas at said electrode in said gas chamber,
a spray housing mounted within said vessel,
first conduit means within said vessel connected to the gas chamber to tap a portion of the gas produced therein,
heat exchange means mounted within said vessel connected to said first conduit means to receive gas therefrom and remove heat from said gas by sensible cooling,
a second conduit means connecting said heat exchanger to said housing to deliver cooled gas to said housing, means connected to the housing to increase the water vapor pressure of the gas within the housing above the water vapor pressure in the electrolytic cell, and
an inlet manifold mounted within said vessel and connected to said housing and said electrolytic cell gas chamber to deliver increased vapor pressure gas thereto whereby the increased vapor pressure gas entering the electrolytic cell gas chamber has a portion of its electrolyte vapor diffuse through the electrode and condense in the electrolytic cell to mix with and replace the Water content of the cell electrolyte which was decomposed to produce the gas.
3. An electrolytic cell module comprising:
a vessel,
an electrolytic cell stack mounted within said vessel,
said electrolytic cell stack having a plurality of electrolytic cells,
each of said electrolytic cells having a gas chamber with an electrode,
an electrolyte, and
means to decompose an aqueous solution of said electrolyte to produce a gas at said electrode in said gas chamber,
an outlet manifold mounted in said vessel adjacent said cell stack,
said outlet manifold being connected to said electrolytic cell gas chambers to receive gas therefrom, a spray housing mounted within said vessel,
rst conduit means within said vessel connected to the gas chambers to tap a portion of the gas from the gas chambers,
heat exchange means within said vessel, connected to said first conduit means to receive gas therefrom and remove heat from said gas by sensible cooling,
an outlet conduit means connecting said heat exchanger to said housing to deliver cooled gas to said housing,
a by-pass conduit means connecting said first conduit means to said outlet conduit means to allow a portion of the tapped gas to by-pass the heat exchanger, means normally closing said by-pass conduit means, means to selectively open said by-pass conduit means to control the amount of sensible cooling of the tapped gas by the heat exchanger,
means connected to the housing to increase the water vapor pressure of the gas within the housing above the water vapor pressure in the electrolytic cell, and
an inlet manifold mounted Within said vessel and con nected to said housing and said electrolytic cell gas chambers to deliver increased vapor pressure gas thereto whereby the increased vapor pressure gas entering the electrolytic cell gas chambers has a portion of its electrolyte vapor diffuse through the electrodes and condense thereon to mix With and replace the Water content of the cell electrolyte which was decomposed to produce the gas.
4. An electrolytic cell module comprising:
a high pressure vessel,
said vessel having a plurality of fins projecting therefrom,
an electrolytic cell stack mounted within said vessel,
said electrolytic cell stack having a plurafity of electrolytic cells,
each of said electrolytic cells having a gas chamber with an electrode,
an electrolyte, and
means to decompose said electrolyte to produce a gas at said electrode in said gas chamber,
an outlet manifold mounted in said vessel adjacent said cell stack,
said outlet manifold being connected to said electrolytic cell gas chambers to receive gas therefrom,
a spray housing mounted within said vessel,
first conduit means within said vessel connected to the gas chambers to tap a portion of the gas from the gas chambers,
a cooling coil conduit means mounted adjacent the interior wall of the vessel to conduct heat to said vessel,
said cooling coil being connected to said first conduit to receive gas therefrom,
an outlet conduit means connecting said cooing coil to said housing to deliver cooled gas to said housing,
a by-pass conduit means connecting said first conduit means to said outlet conduit means to allow a portion of the tapped gas to by-pass the cooling coil,
means normally closing said by-pass conduit means,
means to selectively open said bypass conduit means to control the amount of sensible cooling of the tapped gas by the cooling coil,
means connected to the housing to increase the water Vapor pressure of the gas within the housing above the water vapor pressure in the electrolytic cell, and
an inlet manifold mounted within said vessel and connected to said housing and said electrolytic cell gas chamber to deliver increased vapor pressure gas thereto,
whereby the increased vapor pressure gas entering the electrolytic cell gas chamber has a portion of its electrolyte vapor diffuse through the electrode and condense in the electrolytic cell to mix with and replace the water content of the cell electrolyte which was decomposed to produce the gas.
5. An electrolytic cell module comprising:
a vessel,
said vessel having cooling fins projecting therefrom,
an electrolytic cell stack mounted within said vessel,
said electrolytic cell stack having a plurality of electrolytic cells,
each of said electrolytic cells having a gas chamber With an electrode, an electrolyte, and
means to decompose said electrolyte to produce a gas at said electrode in said gas chamber,
an outlet manifold mounted in said vessel adjacent said cell stack,
said outlet manifold being connected to said electrolytic cell gas chamber to receive gas therefrom,
a spray housing mounted within said vessel,
first conduit means within said vessel connected to the gas chambers to tap a portion of the gas from the gas chamber,
a cooling coil conduit means mounted adjacent the interior wall of the vessel to conduct heat to said vessel,
said cooling coil being connected to said first conduit to receive gas therefrom,
an outlet conduit means connecting said cooling coil to said housing to deliver cooled gas to said housing,
a bypass conduit means connecting said first conduit means to said outlet conduit means to allow a portion of the tapped gas to by-pass the cooling coil,
means normally closing said by-pass conduit means,
means to selectively open said by-pass conduit means to control the amount of sensible cooling of the tapped gas by the cooling coil,
spray nozzle means connected to the interior of said housing,
pump means connected to said nozzle to deliver electrolyte thereto,
means to control the electrolyte spray in said spray chamber to provide the tapped gas with increased water vapor pressure greater than the water vapor pressure in the electrolytic cells,
an inlet manifold mounted within said vessel and connected to said electrolytic cell gas chambers to deliver increased vapor pressure gas thereto, and
pump means connected to said housing and said inlet manifold to deliver increased vapor pressure gas to the inlet manifold,
whereby the increased vapor pressure gas entering the electrolytic cell gas chamber has a portion of its electrolyte vapor diffuse through the electrode and condense thereon to mix with and replace the water content of the cell electrolyte which was decomposed to produce the gas.
6. A water electrolytic cell module comprising:
a vessel,
an electrolytic cell mounted Within said vessel,
said electrolytic cell having a gas chamber with an electrode,
an electrolyte, and
means to decompose said electrolyte to produce a gas at said electrode in said gas chamber,
an outlet manifold mounted in said vessel adjacent said cell stack,
said outlet manifold being connected to said electrolytic cell gas chamber to receive gas therefrom,
a spray housing mounted within said vessel,
first conduit means within said vessel connected to the gas chamber and the housing to tap a portion of the gas from gas chamber and deliver it to the housing,
means connected to the housing to increase the humidity of the gas within the housing above the water vapor pressure in the electrolytic cell, and
an inlet manifold mounted within said vessel and connected to said housing and said electrolytic cell gas chamber to deliver the humidified gas thereto whereby the increased vapor pressure gas entering the electrolytic cell gas chamber has a portion of its electrolyte vapor diffuse through the electrode and condense thereon to mix with and replace the electrolyte Water which was decomposed to produce the gas.
7. An electrolytic cell module comprising:
a vessel,
an electrolytic cell mounted within said vessel,
said electrolytic cell having a gas chamber with an electrode,
an electrolyte, and
means to decompose said electrolyte to produce a gas at said electrode in said gas chamber,
an outlet manifold mounted in said vessel adjacent said cell stack,
said outlet manifold being connected to said electrolytic cell gas chamber to receive gas therefrom,
a spray housing mounted within said vessel,
first conduit means within said vessel connected to the gas chamber to tap a portion of the gas from the gas chamber,
heat exchange means connected to said first conduit means to receive gas therefrom and remove heat from said gas by sensible cooling,
an outlet conduit means connecting said heat exchanger to said housing to deliver cooled gas to said housing,
means connected to the housing to increase the humidity of the gas within the housing above the Water vapor pressure in the electrolytic cell, and
an inlet manifold mounted within said vessel and connected to said housing and said electrolytic cell gas chamber to deliver increased vapor pressure gas thereto whereby the increased vapor pressure gas entering the electrolytic cell gas chamber has a portion of its electrolyte vapor dilfused through the electrode and condense thereon to mix with and replace the electrolyte water which Was decomposed to produce the gas.
8. An electrolytic cell module comprising:
a vessel,
an electrolytic cell stack mounted within said vessel,
said electrolyte cell stack having a plurality of electrolytic cells,
each of said electrolytic cells having a pair of gas chambers with an electrode in each chamber,
an electrolyte, and
means to decompose said electrolyte to produce hydrogen and oxygen gas in said gas chambers,
a pair of outlet manifolds mounted in said vessel adjacent said cell stack,
said outlet manifolds being connected to said electrolytic cell gas chambers to receive hydrogen and oxygen gas therefrom,
a spray housing mounted within said vessel,
first conduit means Within said vessel connected to at least one gas chamber to tap a portion of the gas from the gas chamber and deliver it to the housing,
heat exchange means connected to said first conduit means to receive gas therefrom and remove heat from said gas by sensible cooling,
an outlet conduit means connecting said heat exchanger to said housing to deliver cooled gas to said spray chamber,
:means connected to the housing to increase the humidity of the gas within the housing above the water vapor pressure in the electrolytic cell, and
an inlet manifold mounted within said vessel and connected to said housing and said electrolytic cell gas chamber to deliver increased vapor pressure gas thereto whereby the increased vapor pressure gas entering the electrolytic cell gas chamber has a portion of its electrolyte vapor diffused through the electrode and condense thereon to mix with and replace the electrolyte water which was decomposed to produce the gas.
9. An eelctrolytic cell module comprising:
a vessel,
an electrolytic cell stack mounted within said vessel,
said electrolytic cell stack having a plurality of electrolytic cells,
each of said electrolytic cells having a hydrogen chamber with a cathode, an aqueous electrolyte, and means to decompose said electrolyte to produce hydrogen gas at said cathode in said hydrogen gas chamber an outlet manifold mounted in said vessel adjacent said cell stack,
said outlet manifold being connected to said electrolytic cell hydrogen chambers to receive gas therefrom,
a spray housing mounted within said vessel,
first conduit means within said vessel connected to the hydrogen gas chambers to tap a portion of the gas from the hydrogen gas chambers and deliver it to the housing,
heat exchange means connected to said first conduit means to receive hydrogen gas therefrom and remove heat from said hydrogen gas by sensible cooling,
an outlet conduit means connecting said heat exchanger to said housing to deliver cooled hydrogen gas to said housing,
means connected to the housing to increase the Water vapor pressure of the gas within the housing above the Water Vapor pressure in the electrolytic cell, and
an inlet manifold mounted within said vessel and connected to said housing and said electrolytic cell gas chamber to deliver increased vapor pressure gas thereto whereby the increased vapor pressure gas entering the electrolytic cell gas chamber has a portion of its Water vapor diffused through the cathode and condense thereon to mix with and replace the electrolytic cell water which was decomposed to produce the hydrogen gas.
10. An electrolytic cell module comprising:
a vessel,
an electrolytic cell stack mounted within said vessel,
said electrolytic cell stack having a plurality of electrolytic cells,
each of said electrolytic cells having a hydrogen gas chamber with a cathode,
an electrolyte, and
means to decompose said electrolyte to produce hydrogen gas at said cathode in said hydrogen gas chamber an outlet manifold mounted in said vessel adjacent said cell stack,
said outlet manifold being connected to said electrolytic cell gas chamber to receive hydrogen gas therefrom,
a humidifying spray housing mounted within said vessel, first conduit means Within said vessel connected to the outlet manifold and the housing to tap a portion of the hydrogen gas from the manifold and deliver it to the housing,
cooling coil means connected to said first conduit means to receive hydrogen gas therefrom and remove heat from said hydrogen gas by sensible coolan outlet conduit means connecting said cooling coil to said housing to deliver cooled hydrogen gas to said housing,
a by-pass conduit means connecting said first conduit means to said outlet conduit means to allow a portion of the tapped hydrogen gas to by-pass the cooling coil, means normally closing said by-pass conduit means,
means to selectively open said by-pass conduit means to control the amount of sensible cooling of the tapped hydrogen gas by the cooling coil,
means connected to the housing to increase the humidity of the gas within the housing above the water vapor pressure in the electrolytic cell, and
an inlet manifold mounted within said vessel and connected to said housing and said electrolytic cell hydrogen gas chamber to deliver the humidified hydrogen gas thereto whereby the increased vapor pressure gas entering the electrolytic cell gas chamber has a portion of its water vapor diffused through the cathode and condense thereon to mix with and replace the electrolytic cell water which was decomposed to produce the gas.
11. An electrolytic cell module comprising:
a vessel having cooling fins projecting therefrom,
an electrolytic cell stack mounted Within said vessel,
said electrolytic cell stack having a plurality of electrolytic cells,
each of said electrolytic cells having a pair of gas chambers with an electrode in each,
an alkali electrolyte, and
means to decompose said electrolyte to produce hydrogen and oxygen gas at said electrodes in said gas chambers,
21 pair of outlet manifolds mounted in said vessel adjacent said cell stack,
said outlet manifolds being connected to said electrolytic cell gas chambers to receive hydrogen and oxygen gas therefrom,
a spray housing mounted within said vessel, first conduit means within said vessel connected to at least one of the gas chambers to tap a portion of the gas therefrom,
cooling coil means connected to said first conduit means to receive gas therefrom and remove heat from said gas by sensible cooling,
an outlet conduit means connecting said cooling to said spray housing to deliver cooled gas to spray housing,
a by-pass conduit means connecting said first conduit of the tapped gas to bypass the cooling coil, means to said outlet conduit means to allow a portion means normally closing said by-pass conduit means, means to selectively open said by-pass conduit means to control the amount of sensible cooling of the tapped gas by the cooling coil,
spray nozzle means connected to the interior of said spray housing,
pump means connected to said nozzle to deliver Water thereto,
means to control the water spray in said spray housing to increase the humidity of the tapped cooled gas such that its vapor pressure is greater than the vapor pressure of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell,
an inlet manifold means connected to the one chamber of each electrolytic cell to deliver the humidified gas thereto, and
pump means connected to said spray housing and said inlet manifold to deliver the humidified gas to the inlet manifold whereby the increased humidified gas entering the one electrolytic cell gas chambers has a portion of its water vapor diffused through the electrode and condense thereon to mix with and replace the electrolytic cell water which was decomposed to produce the gas.
12. An electrolytic cell module comprising:
a vessel having cooling fins projecting therefrom,
an electrolytic cell stack mounted within said vessel,
said electrolytic cell stack having a plurality of electrolytic cells,
each of said electrolytic cells having coil said a hydrogen and oxygen gas chamber with a cathode and an anode respectively,
an alkali electrolyte positioned between the cathode and anode, and
means to decompose said electrolyte to produce hydrogen and oxygen gas at said cathode and anode in said respective hydrogen and oxygen gas chambers,
a pair of outlet manifolds mounted in said vessel adjacent said cell stack,
said outlet manifolds being connected to said electrolytic cell gas chambers to receive hydrogen and oxygen gas therefrom,
a spray housing mounted within said vessel, first conduit means within said vessel connected to the hydrogen gas chambers to tap a portion of the hydrogen gas therefrom,
cooling coil means connected to said first conduit means to receive hydrogen gas therefrom and remove heat from said hydrogen gas by sensible cooling,
an outlet conduit means connecting said cooling coil to said spray housing to deliver cooled hydrogen gas to said spray housing,
a by-pass conduit means connecting said first conduit means to said outlet conduit means to allow a portion of the tapped hydrogen gas to by-pass the cooling coil,
means normally closing said by-pass conduit means to control the amount of sensible cooling of the tapped hydrogen gas by the cooling coil,
spray nozzle means connected to the interior of said spray housing,
pump means connected to said nozzle to deliver water thereto,
means to control the water spray in said spray chamber to provide saturated hydrogen gas,
a hydrogen inlet manifold means connected to the hydrogen chamber of each electrolytic cell to deliver saturated hydrogen gas thereto, and
pump means connected to said spray chamber and said hydrogen inlet manifold to deliver saturated hydro gen gas to the hydrogen inlet manifold whereby the saturated hydrogen gas entering the hydrogen chamber of each electrolytic cell is cooler than the electrolytic cell and cools said cell and also a portion of the water vapor in said hydrogen gas diffuses through the cathode of the electrolytic cell and condenses on said cathode to mix with electrolyte in the electrolytic cell and thereby replace the water content of said electrolyte.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,35 6,541 8 194-4 Sledzianowski 204-23 6 2,365,330 12/1944 Carmichael 204278 2,816,067 12/1957 Keidel 204- HOWARD S. WILLIAMS, Primary Examiner.
D. R. JORDAN, Assistant Examiner.
US356469A 1964-04-01 1964-04-01 High pressure electrolytic cell module Expired - Lifetime US3382167A (en)

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3446725A (en) * 1966-02-25 1969-05-27 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Electrolysis cell
FR2329769A1 (en) * 1975-10-30 1977-05-27 Linde Ag DEVICE FOR ELECTROLYSIS UNDER PRESSURE OF LIQUIDS
JPS534796A (en) * 1976-07-05 1978-01-17 Asahi Chem Ind Co Ltd Electrolysis of pressurized alkali halide
US5665211A (en) * 1992-08-31 1997-09-09 Neste Oy Electrolysis apparatus for producing hydrogen

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2356541A (en) * 1939-04-29 1944-08-22 Sledzianowski Franz Apparatus for electrolytic production of hydrogen
US2365330A (en) * 1941-10-11 1944-12-19 Asa B Carmichael Apparatus for electrolytically producing oxygen and hydrogen
US2816067A (en) * 1955-05-03 1957-12-10 Du Pont Electrolytic drying method

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2356541A (en) * 1939-04-29 1944-08-22 Sledzianowski Franz Apparatus for electrolytic production of hydrogen
US2365330A (en) * 1941-10-11 1944-12-19 Asa B Carmichael Apparatus for electrolytically producing oxygen and hydrogen
US2816067A (en) * 1955-05-03 1957-12-10 Du Pont Electrolytic drying method

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3446725A (en) * 1966-02-25 1969-05-27 Allis Chalmers Mfg Co Electrolysis cell
FR2329769A1 (en) * 1975-10-30 1977-05-27 Linde Ag DEVICE FOR ELECTROLYSIS UNDER PRESSURE OF LIQUIDS
JPS534796A (en) * 1976-07-05 1978-01-17 Asahi Chem Ind Co Ltd Electrolysis of pressurized alkali halide
JPS5643116B2 (en) * 1976-07-05 1981-10-09
US5665211A (en) * 1992-08-31 1997-09-09 Neste Oy Electrolysis apparatus for producing hydrogen

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