High pressure electrolysis cell for hydrogen production from water

摘要

Exemplary embodiments include a method or apparatus for improving the electrolysis efficiency of high-pressure electrolysis cells by decreasing the current density at the anode and reducing an overvoltage at the anode while decreasing the amount of hydrogen permeation through the cell membrane from the cathode chamber to the anode chamber as the high-pressure electrolysis cell is operated.

主权项

1. A method for increasing the efficiency of a high-pressure electrolysis cell having an anode and a cathode defining an interior portion there between, the method comprising:
providing a high-pressure electrolysis cell configured such that the electrode area of the anode is substantially larger than the electrode area of the cathode; providing a liquid electrolyte comprising water in said interior portion; electrolyzing the water by operating said cell by connecting said anode and cathode to a direct current power source having a positive terminal and a negative terminal; wherein the negative terminal is connected to the cathode and the positive terminal is connected to the anode; and the anode has a substantially larger electrode area than the electrode area of the cathode to produce hydrogen gas at said cathode and oxygen gas at said anode, and wherein said cell further comprises a cell membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode to define an anode chamber between the anode and the membrane, and a cathode chamber between the cathode and the membrane, and wherein the volume of the anode chamber is substantially larger than that of the cathode chamber.