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

摘要

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.