New Low to Medium Temperature Electrolyte Separation Method and System for Alkaline Water Electrolysis

Abstract

A new electrolysis method of maintaining product gas separation by using fluid flow perpendicularly through porous electrodes rather than using a gas impermeable membrane has been developed. This eliminates the need for any type of membrane. Eliminating the need for a membrane in alkaline electrolysis allows the device to operate at temperatures above 120°C, where most ion conducting membranes would degrade and fail. Operating at higher temperatures reduces the anode and cathode overpotentials substantially. The reduction in overpotentials allows non-platinum group metals to be used, while increasing the electrical efficiency at comparable current densities.

Meeting Name

14th International Symposium on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, SOFC 2015, held as part of the Electrochemical Society, ECS Conference on Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage (2015: Jul. 26-31, Glasgow, UK)

Department(s)

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Second Department

Materials Science and Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Electrodes; Electrolysis; Electrolytes; Energy conversion; Flow of fluids; Fuel storage; Hydrogen; Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC); Temperature; Alkaline electrolysis; Alkaline water electrolysis; Electrical efficiency; Ion-conducting membranes; Medium temperature; Over potential; Porous electrodes; Separation methods; Gas permeable membranes

International Standard Book Number (ISBN)

978-1607685395

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

1938-5862

Document Type

Article - Conference proceedings

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2015 The Electrochemical Society (ECS), All rights reserved.

Publication Date

31 Jul 2015

Link to Full Text

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