IPC분류정보
| 국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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| 국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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| 출원번호 |
US-0328665
(2002-12-24)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Streckert, Holger H.
- Blue, Linden P.
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| 출원인 / 주소 |
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| 대리인 / 주소 |
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| 인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
10 인용 특허 :
25 |
초록
▼
An electrolyzer for generating hydrogen by the electrolytic dissociation of water employs anode and cathode half-cells, separated by a planar polymer-based solid electrolyte, and includes a water reservoir for independently maintaining a desired level of water in the anode and cathode half-cells. A
An electrolyzer for generating hydrogen by the electrolytic dissociation of water employs anode and cathode half-cells, separated by a planar polymer-based solid electrolyte, and includes a water reservoir for independently maintaining a desired level of water in the anode and cathode half-cells. A hydrogen exit chimney extends vertically upward from each cathode half-cell and enters a separation chamber; a gas exit passageway therefrom is closed by a separation membrane that allows the passage of H2 but rejects liquid H2O, while a return water passageway enters near the bottom of the cathode half-cell. The half-cells are preferably formed by molded plastic frames that are arranged as a cell stack containing a plurality of electrolytic cells, with flat metal anodes and cathodes being respectively sandwiched about the solid electrolyte membrane in each cell. A pair of flat crushable metal plates are located at each end of the cell stack adjacent a pair of pressure plates that exert axial squeezing pressure to seal the cells. Specially designed, dual metal-hydride cartridges are used to provide larger quantities of H2 from a single cartridge; a high temperature metal hydride is provided in a rear region of the cartridge that is heated by an electrical resistance heater to a temperature of about 200° C. or above while room temperature metal hydride powder fills a front section of the cartridge.
대표청구항
▼
1. Apparatus for generating hydrogen by the electrolytic dissociation of water, which apparatus comprises:an electrolytic cell having: a plurality of molded plastic frames including two end frames and a plurality of center frames, arranged as a longitudinal stack, each said end frame containing a we
1. Apparatus for generating hydrogen by the electrolytic dissociation of water, which apparatus comprises:an electrolytic cell having: a plurality of molded plastic frames including two end frames and a plurality of center frames, arranged as a longitudinal stack, each said end frame containing a well for receiving either an anode or a cathode, each said center frame containing wells on opposite surfaces thereof for receiving, respectively, an anode and a cathode, and also containing a central barrier separating said wells, a plurality of flat anodes and flat cathodes respectively located in said wells in alternating sequence in said assembly, a flat solid electrolyte membrane disposed between each pair of anodes and cathodes that form one cell, a pair of end plates for applying end-to-end pressure against said end frames in said stack a pair of flat crushable metal plates that are located one outboard of each of said end frames and inboard of each of said end plates in said stack, and means for squeezing said end plates toward each other in said stack, means for supplying electrical power to said cell to apply a voltage thereacross, means for providing a water reservoir for gravity flow independently to said cathode and anode half-cells on opposite sides of said solid electrolyte, a hydrogen outlet chimney extending upward from said cathode half-cell, a separation membrane located above said chimney which allows gaseous H2 to pass through to an exit leading to hydrogen delivery passageway means but rejects liquid H2O carried with said H2, and a return passageway for returning liquid H2O separated from said H2 by said membrane to a location near the bottom of said cathode half-cell. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each said crushable metal plate is made of a stainless steel sheet having a thickness of between about 0.2 mm and about 0.5 mm which is deformed with an overall pattern of indentations to create a shaped plate that has a nominal thickness of at least about three times the thickness of the steel sheet.3. The cell assembly according to claim 2 wherein said indentations are generally prismatic in form having a plurality of wall sections oriented at between about 45° and about 70° to the plane of the plate.4. The cell assembly according to claim 2 wherein said frames are formed with grooves in a peripheral region thereof, which grooves each carry gaskets that seal against said solid electrolyte membrane near the periphery thereof to prevent liquid communication between said anode and said cathode of each cell.5. The cell assembly according to claim 1 wherein each said anode and cathode comprises a first highly conductive flat metal screen having openings of a size less than about 2 mm, which screen is in surface-to-surface contact with said flat solid electrolyte membrane along one surface thereof.6. The cell assembly according to claim 5 wherein each said anode and cathode also comprises a second metal screen having openings at least about 10% larger than said openings in said first screen, which is in contact with an opposite surface of said first screen.7. Apparatus for generating hydrogen by the electrolytic dissociation of water, which apparatus comprises:an electrolytic cell having anode and cathode half-cells that are located in compartments separated by a solid electrolyte, means for supplying electrical power to said cell to apply a voltage thereacross, means for providing a water reservoir for gravity flow independently to said cathode and anode half-cell compartments on opposite sides of said solid electrolyte, a hydrogen outlet chimney extending upward from each said cathode half-cell compartment, a separation membrane located above said chimney which allows gaseous H2 to pass through to an exit leading to hydrogen delivery passageway means but rejects liquid H2O carried with said H2, means for providing a water reservoir for independent flow to each said half-cell compartment which includes separate conduits that serve as independent reservoirs for each half-cell, which conduits communicate with a water supply through a manifold valve member that, in one fill position, allows all said reservoir conduits to be replenished from a single water supply while simultaneously venting upper regions of said half-cell compartments to the atmosphere, and a return passageway for returning liquid H2O separated from said H2 by said membrane to said cathode half-cell compartments. 8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said manifold valve member, in a second operating position, connects upper regions of said conduits leading to each said cathode half-cell to said separation chamber.
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