PREVENTING FLUIDS IN LEAKABLE ENCLOSURES FROM INTERMIXING ELECTROLYTICALLY DISSOCIATING STEAM

摘要

A solid oxide water electrolyzer (1) having a multiplicity of electrically interconnected vertical tubes (5) sealed at one end where each tube (5) comprises a solid oxide oxygen ion conducting electrolyte (8) sandwiched between an oxygen permeable anode (7) on the inside of the tube (5) and an oxygen permeable cathode (10) on the outside of the tube (5), a first plenum (19) leakably sealed to the outside of the tubes (5) into which steam can be admitted, a second plenum (16) leakably sealed to the outside of the tubes (5) in gaseous communication with the inside of the tubes (5) from which oxygen can be taken, and a third plenum (26) inbetween the first plenum (19) and the second plenum (16) into which pressurized steam can be admitted.