Abstract:
An electrolysis cell system includes a compact electrolysis cell comprising gas diffusion electrodes on each side of an aqueous electrolyte retaining matrix. A portion of the hydrogen gas produced by the cell is recirculated through the gas space of the cell and has water vapor added thereto to replenish the water used by the cell. A water metering device senses the amount of current supplied to the cell and adds the appropriate amount of water to the system in precisely the amount needed according to Faraday''s law corrected to reflect water lost in the product gases leaving the system. In a preferred embodiment a separate coolant loop flows through a thermal exchange portion of the cell in a direction opposite the flow of the recirculating product gas through the cell thereby resulting in a temperature gradient across the cell which helps maintain an even concentration of electrolyte across the cell for most efficient cell operation. The subject matter of this application is related to the subject matter of a commonly assigned application titled ''''Electrolysis Cell System Including a Recirculating Product Gas Stream for Cooling the Cell'''' by E. Parenti, D. Bloomfield, P. Grevstad and D. Beal, filed on even date herewith.
Abstract:
A scrubber uses finely ground alkali hydroxide particles mixed with fine particles of a hydrophobic material such as polytetrafluoroethylene, for removing carbon dioxide from a gas stream to a concentration of less than one-quarter of a part per million.
Abstract:
The internal coolant system of a fuel cell power plant utilizes a soluble salt of a metal in the coolant fluid to inhibit the corrosion of those fuel cell components that corrode due to shunt currents flowing through the coolant fluid. In a preferred embodiment a soluble salt of iron is used.
Abstract:
An electrolysis cell system includes a compact electrolysis cell comprising gas diffusion electrodes on each side of an aqueous electrolyte retaining matrix. A portion of the hydrogen gas produced by the cell is recirculated through the gas space of the cell and has water vapor added thereto to replenish the water used by the cell. A water metering device senses the amount of current supplied to the cell and adds the appropriate amount of water to the system in precisely the amount needed according to Faraday's law corrected to reflect water lost in the product gases leaving the system. In a preferred embodiment, a coolant loop runs through a thermal exchange portion of the cell in a direction opposite to the flow of the recirculating product gas through the cell thereby resulting in a temperature gradient across the cell which helps maintain an even concentration of electrolyte across the cell for most efficient cell operation.
Abstract:
The disclosure teaches a process for introducing a soluble, catalyst-containing material into a conducting particle, hydrophobic-bonded electrochemical cell electrode. The process includes the step of dissolving the soluble catalyst-containing material in a liquid solution of dissimilar liquids which liquid solution has the following characteristics: It is capable of wetting the hydrophobic bonding material of the electrode at a first composition range of the liquids. It is incapable of wetting the hydrophobic bonding material at a second composition range of the liquids; and it is capable of changing from the first composition range to the second composition range on evaporation of the solution. The electrode is contacted by the soluble catalyst-containing material dissolved in the liquid solution in the first composition range, whereby the solution enters the hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions of the electrode structure. The solution is evaporated to change its composition from the first composition range to the second composition range whereby the solution withdraws from the hydrophobic bonding material of the electrode structure.
Abstract:
An electrolysis cell system includes a compact electrolysis cell comprising gas diffusion electrodes on each side of an aqueous electrolyte retaining matrix. A portion of the hydrogen gas produced by the cell is recirculated through the gas space of the cell and has water vapor added thereto to replenish the water used by the cell. A water metering device senses the amount of current supplied to the cell and adds the appropriate amount of water to the system in precisely the amount needed according to Faraday's law corrected to reflect water lost in the product gases leaving the system. In a preferred embodiment a separate coolant loop flows through a thermal exchange portion of the cell in a direction opposite the flow of the recirculating product gas through the cell thereby resulting in a temperature gradient across the cell which helps maintain an even concentration of electrolyte across the cell for most efficient cell operation.
Abstract:
Electrolyte lost from a fuelcell, such as by evaporation, is replenished by introducing electrolyte from an external source into a reactant gas stream being delivered into the cell. The fresh electrolyte is vaporized or formed into droplets as it enters the cell such as by spraying the fresh electrolyte into the gas stream. If the electrolyte vapor pressure in the entering gas stream is made high enough, evaporation of the electrolyte from the cell can be halted or electrolyte can even be added to the cell from the gas stream.