BR-102020010912-B1 - LOW-COST COMPACT ELECTROLYSIS DEVICE

BR102020010912B1BR 102020010912 B1BR102020010912 B1BR 102020010912B1BR-102020010912-B1

Abstract

COMPACT, LOW-COST ELECTROLYSIS APPARATUS. The present invention describes a compact electrolysis apparatus that is easy to construct and maintain, low-cost, simple to operate, requiring no special training, with readily available spare parts at reduced prices, capable of supplying small or medium quantities of hydrogen and oxygen independently, on demand, in high purity. It has outlet ducts for the gases with constant flow, at a maximum pressure that can be easily regulated and maintained, automatically shutting off if the value is exceeded or consumption is interrupted.

Inventors

LUIZ CEZAR RODRIGUES
JOSÉ MARIA BARBOSA FILHO
FLÁVIO VALADARES PEREIRA BORGES
LUIZ ANDRÉ DE ARAÚJO SILVA
FERNANDO FERREIRA LEITE
BRUNO HANRRY MELO DE OLIVEIRA
GABRIELLY DINIZ DUARTE
JOSÉ CARLOS BRIZOLA
MARIA EDUARDA DE SOUZA MAIA

Assignees

UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DA PARAIBA

Dates

Publication Date: 20260317
Application Date: 20200529

Claims (1)

1. “Compact low-cost electrolysis apparatus” suitable for the production of gases by the dissociation of electrolytes characterized by a gas outlet duct from the outer tube (1), a gas outlet duct from the outer tube (2), a negative conduit (3), a positive conduit (4), an upper cap of the outer tube (5), an outer tube (6), a central tube (14), an lower cap of the outer tube (7), an inner tube (8), a negative pole electrode (9), an equilibrium orifice (10), a fixing point between the electrode and the positive conduit (11), a positive pole electrode (12), a fitting adapter (13), an upper cap of the central tube (14), electrodes positioned above the lower mouth of the inner tube (15), and a connection contact of the electrode with the negative conduit (16).

Description

[001] The present invention relates to the electrolytic production of inorganic or non-metallic compounds of hydrogen, oxygen, halogenated compounds and their derivatives by electrolysis of aqueous solutions in cells with flat or plate-like electrodes. [002] Several devices with various types of electrodes and designs have already been patented, some of which are commercially available. The innovations focus on efficiency and low power consumption. Among the inventions is patent TWI465610B, entitled "Method and apparatus for efficient on-demand production of H2 and O2 from water using waste heat and environmentally safe metals," which describes a device that stores the gases in separate chambers that communicate through ducts and devices, requiring computerized control, as well as catalysts that need to be regenerated. Patent WO2019073404A1, entitled "Water splitting system for hydrogen and oxygen separation in the absence of an ion exchange membrane," has a design that seeks to prioritize the elimination of traces of hydrogen gas in the production of oxygen gas and vice versa. The device presents a different design that includes a system for circulating electrolytes separated by semipermeable membranes. Patent US3410770A, entitled "Electrolytic method for producing oxygen and hydrogen," describes a hydrogen production apparatus and Oxygen: This device has containers for storing oxygen and hydrogen that are connected by ducts; the electrolyte is circulated by a pump, and there is a reservoir for replenishing it. [003] This invention patent presents innovation not only due to its low energy consumption, since the efficiency of the process for small and medium productions is already sufficiently acceptable, but also due to the technological advancement of a practical, compact, low-cost, demountable device that is easy to maintain and operate, producing a hydrogen pressure that can exceed 2 psi, and can be sized and adjusted for high pressure, offering the functionality of maintaining constant pressure and flow, switching off when consumption decreases without reducing the output pressure, that is, characteristics not found in equipment available on the market, which are generally expensive, with spare parts and maintenance exclusive to the manufacturer. [004] The description of the equipment in the present patent is merely illustrative and should not limit the invention, where the electrolysis apparatus consists of two tubes, to produce and store gases, such as oxygen, hydrogen, chlorine, nitrogen and others, comprising a tube of smaller diameter installed inside the tube of smaller diameter, a central tube, slightly shorter, containing the positive electrode, which is suitable for example to produce and store oxygen gas, a space between the central tube and the outer tube which constitutes a chamber containing the negative electrode, where, for example, it is suitable to produce and store hydrogen gas. [005] Since the slightly shorter central tube is attached to the top cover of the device and does not reach the bottom, a continuous space is formed between the contents of the inner and outer tubes. [006] One detail of the invention is that when an electrolytic solution is added to the assembly, as the inner tube communicates with the outer tube, the electrodes contained in both tubes become submerged in this solution, the volume of electrolyte to be added being based on the internal volume of the central cylinder, thus for the proper functioning of the equipment, the electrolytic solution must occupy approximately 50% of the interior of the device. [007] One advantage of the invention relates to the type and shapes of the electrodes, which can have varied shapes, spiral, flat or ring-shaped, solid or porous, consisting of small segments of materials inert to the electrolytic solution, such as stainless steel or equivalents. [008] The electrodes, supported by conductive wires made of preferably stainless steel, are positioned near the bottom of the tubes, arranged inside their respective tubular chambers, fixed slightly above the lower end of the central tube, thus preventing the gases formed from mixing. [009] One detail of the operation of the patented equipment lies in the fact that the gases that form on the surfaces of the electrodes, in the form of bubbles, detach and rise to the upper part of the respective tubes, where they are stored independently and to avoid contamination between the gases, the electrodes must be in positions away from the electrolyte communication area. [010] One advantage of the equipment is that the generated gases can be collected independently through outlets positioned on the top cover of the tubes. [011] As gases are produced, they accumulate inside the tubes and exert pressure on the liquid electrolyte column, thus, an imbalance can occur between the electrolyte levels inside the storage chambers, this imbalance is reflected as an external pressure gradient at the gas outle