Electrolyzer apparatus and method for hydrogen production

摘要

An electrolyzer cell ( 10 ) for the electrolysis of water comprises a cathode ( 12 ) of generally tubular configuration within which is disposed an anode ( 16 ) separated from the cathode ( 12 ) by a separation membrane ( 14 ) of generally tubular configuration which divides the electrolyte chamber ( 15 ) into an anode sub-chamber 15 a and a cathode sub-chamber ( 15 b). An electrolyzer apparatus ( 36 ) includes an array ( 38 ) of individual cells ( 10 )across each of which an electric potential is imposed by a DC generator ( 40 ) via electrical leads ( 42 a , 42 b). Hydrogen gas generated within cells ( 10 ) from electrolyte ( 18 ) is removed via hydrogen gas take-off lines ( 20 ) and hydrogen manifold line ( 21 ). By-product oxygen is removed from cells ( 10 ) by oxygen gas take-off lines ( 22 ) and oxygen manifold line ( 23 ). The electrolyzer apparatus ( 36 ) may be configured to operate either batchwise or in a continuous electrolyterecycle operation to produce high purity hydrogen at high pressure, e.g., up to about (10,000) psig, without need for gas compressors to compress product hydrogen.