Electrolysis: processes – compositions used therein – and methods – Electrolytic synthesis – Preparing nonmetal element
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-14
2002-05-07
Phasge, Arun S. (Department: 1741)
Electrolysis: processes, compositions used therein, and methods
Electrolytic synthesis
Preparing nonmetal element
C205S629000, C205S633000, C205S637000, C204S257000, C204S263000, C204S264000, C210S763000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06383361
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to water electrolysis systems. In particular, this invention relates to a fluid management system for a water electrolysis system which permits the conservation of water during steady state operation and the generation of high purity hydrogen and oxygen gases.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electrolysis systems are energy conversion systems for producing hydrogen and oxygen gases from water. Typical electrolysis systems include a number of individual cells arranged in a stack with fluid, typically water, forced through the cells at high pressures.
Hydrogen or oxygen gases produced through electrolytic methods often contain: appreciable quantities of atmospheric gases, such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and argon due to atmospheric air diffusing into the process water; trace quantities of oxygen and hydrogen, respectively, due to diffusion across the electrolyte membrane; and contaminants, such as iron, sulfur, nickel, chromium, and chlorides, due to leaching from the system components into the water recirculation stream. In systems where these contaminants are not removed, they typically contaminate the electrolyte membrane or catalysts, thereby decreasing the electrolysis cell operation efficiency, and contaminating the product gas stream. Gases produced from the electrolysis cell in this manner must be subsequently purified using expensive filters.
A fluid management system for a typical proton exchange membrane electrolysis system is shown schematically in
FIG. 1. A
water and hydrogen mixture
60
exits the hydrogen side of electrolysis cell stack
61
and enters high pressure hydrogen/water separator
62
. Product hydrogen
63
exits the separator and is directed to further processing (not shown). Hydrogen saturated water
64
passes from high pressure separator
62
to low pressure hydrogen water separator
65
which typically vents low pressure hydrogen gas
66
and collects water
67
in reservoir
68
A drains into reservoir
68
. Meanwhile, an oxygen/water mixture
69
exits the oxygen side of cell stack
61
and enters a cyclonic style phase separator
70
which vents oxygen gas
71
while collecting water
67
in reservoir
68
. Water in reservoir
68
is pumped by pump
72
through deionizer beds
73
,
74
and filter vessel
75
. After deionizing and filtering, the water reenters the cell stack
61
.
What is needed is a fluid management system which provides for contaminant free recirculated water utilizing a minimum amount of equipment, and eliminates the expensive filtering steps of existing fluid management systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above-described drawbacks and disadvantages of the prior art are alleviated by fluid management system, the separation tank and the method of the present invention.
The phase separation tank comprises: an inlet for introducing water containing dissolved oxygen to the tank, a catalyst bed capable of reacting hydrogen and oxygen to form water and of removing cations and anions from the water; a water permeable filter for containing said catalyst bed, and a second inlet for introducing hydrogen to the catalyst bed.
The present invention method for recovering water in an electrochemical system, comprises: introducing an oxygen and water stream to a catalyzed bed within a tank, introducing a hydrogen dissolved in water stream to an interior area of the catalyzed bed, reacting the hydrogen and oxygen to form water, removing any ionic impurities from the water in the tank; and directing the recycle water to an electrochemical cell.
The above discussed and other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and drawings.
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Friedland Robert J.
Molter Trent M.
Moulthrop, Jr. Lawrence C.
Cantor & Colburn LLP
Phasge Arun S,.
Proton Energy Systems
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