Electrochemical cells (e.g., fuel cells or electrochemical gas extraction cells) supplied with power-to-gas mixtures of dilute hydrogen concentrations may be remarkably improved by the use of porous gas layer electrodes. The electrochemical cells may comprise a first porous gas layer gas diffusion electrode, a second porous gas layer gas diffusion electrode, and a liquid electrolyte in contact with the first and second electrodes. The porous gas layers may each comprise a porous, non-conductive, liquid-impermeable material that dramatically improves cell performance.
An electrode (110) for an electrochemical cell, comprising a conductive, porous, hydrophilic, gas-permeable and liquid-permeable liquid-side layer (111) having a liquid-facing side (116), and a non-conductive, porous, hydrophobic, gas-permeable and liquid-impermeable gas-side layer (112) having a gas-facing side (117). Gas-producing electrochemical reactions are promoted at an interface (115) between the liquid-side layer (111) and the gas-side layer (112) by a beneficial relationship of capillary pressures of the electrode layers. The liquid-side layer (111) exhibits a repulsive capillary pressure in the liquid electrolyte (113) of the cell (110) and the gas-side layer exhibits an attractive capillary pressure in the liquid electrolyte (113).
DC power supply systems and methods are disclosed. A power supply system includes a variable frequency drive (VFD) configured to convert AC power at a VFD input to controlled AC power at a VFD output, and the VFD is configured to control a frequency and voltage of the controlled AC power responsive to a control input. The power supply system also includes a transformer including a primary side coupled to the VFD output and a secondary side and a rectifier coupled to the secondary side of the transformer, and one or more sensors are coupled to the output of the rectifier to monitor the DC power. A controller is coupled to the one or more sensors, and the controller is configured to provide the control input to the VFD to adjust the controlled AC in response to changes to the one or more characteristics of the DC power.
H02M 5/458 - Transformation d'une puissance d'entrée en courant alternatif en une puissance de sortie en courant alternatif, p. ex. pour changement de la tension, pour changement de la fréquence, pour changement du nombre de phases avec transformation intermédiaire en courant continu par convertisseurs statiques utilisant des tubes à décharge ou des dispositifs à semi-conducteurs pour transformer le courant continu intermédiaire en courant alternatif utilisant des dispositifs du type triode ou transistor exigeant l'application continue d'un signal de commande utilisant uniquement des dispositifs à semi-conducteurs
H02M 7/219 - Transformation d'une puissance d'entrée en courant alternatif en une puissance de sortie en courant continu sans possibilité de réversibilité par convertisseurs statiques utilisant des tubes à décharge avec électrode de commande ou des dispositifs à semi-conducteurs avec électrode de commande utilisant des dispositifs du type triode ou transistor exigeant l'application continue d'un signal de commande utilisant uniquement des dispositifs à semi-conducteurs dans une configuration en pont
H02M 1/42 - Circuits ou dispositions pour corriger ou ajuster le facteur de puissance dans les convertisseurs ou les onduleurs
4.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EFFICIENTLY OPERATING ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
Disclosed are electrochemical cells and methods of use or operation. In one aspect there is disclosed a method for management of an electrochemical cell, the method comprising operating the electrochemical cell at an operational voltage that is below or about the thermoneutral voltage for an electrochemical reaction. In another aspect there is disclosed an electrochemical cell comprising electrodes, an electrolyte between the electrodes, and a catalyst applied to at least one of the electrodes to facilitate an electrochemical reaction at an operational voltage of the electrochemical cell that is below or about the thermoneutral voltage for the electrochemical reaction. Also disclosed are various catalysts for the electrochemical cell comprising mixtures of various catalytic materials and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
Disclosed are electrochemical cells and methods of use or operation, in which one or more gas producing electrodes operate in a manner that is bubble-free or substantially bubble-free. It has been identified that it can be energetically more favourable for newly formed or dissolved gas, within a liquid or gel electrolyte, to join a relatively large, pre-existing bubble or gas region than it is for the gas to form an independent new bubble on a surface. An electrochemical cell can be optimised by determining improved settings for different variables of the electrochemical cell. Three main relationships between the variables are defined and are believed to be critical to optimising the performance of a gas-producing electrode, being the Electrolyte Factor (EF), the Power Density Factor (PF) and the Crossover (CO).
C25B 15/02 - Commande ou régulation des opérations
C25B 1/04 - Hydrogène ou oxygène par électrolyse de l'eau
C25B 11/03 - ÉlectrodesLeur fabrication non prévue ailleurs caractérisées par la configuration ou la forme perforées ou foraminées
H01M 10/52 - Enlèvement des gaz situés à l'intérieur de l'élément secondaire, p. ex. par absorption
H01M 8/04186 - Dispositions pour la commande des paramètres des réactifs, p. ex. de la pression ou de la concentration des réactifs chargés en liquide ou en électrolyte
6.
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL THAT OPERATES EFFICIENTLY WITH FLUCTUATING CURRENTS
Disclosed are electrochemical cells and methods of use or operation, in which one or more gas-producing electrodes operate in a manner that is bubble-free or substantially bubble-free. Disclosed are electrochemical cells and methods of operation or use under conditions of intermittent and/or fluctuating currents. In one aspect there is provided a method for operating an electrochemical cell, and an electrochemical cell, wherein the electrochemical cell comprises: a gas-producing electrode; a counter electrode, the gas- producing electrode and the counter electrode being separated by an electrolyte. Preferably there is also provided one or more void volumes. The method comprises: supplying an intermittent and/or fluctuating current to at least the gas-producing electrode; and producing a gas at the gas-producing electrode as a result of an electrochemical reaction. Preferably the gas is received by the one or more void volumes.
C25B 11/03 - ÉlectrodesLeur fabrication non prévue ailleurs caractérisées par la configuration ou la forme perforées ou foraminées
H01M 10/52 - Enlèvement des gaz situés à l'intérieur de l'élément secondaire, p. ex. par absorption
C25B 1/04 - Hydrogène ou oxygène par électrolyse de l'eau
C25B 1/12 - Production électrolytique de composés inorganiques ou de non-métaux d'hydrogène ou d'oxygène par électrolyse de l'eau dans des cellules sous pression
H01M 8/04186 - Dispositions pour la commande des paramètres des réactifs, p. ex. de la pression ou de la concentration des réactifs chargés en liquide ou en électrolyte
7.
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL AND COMPONENTS THEREOF CAPABLE OF OPERATING AT HIGH VOLTAGE
Disclosed are electrochemical cells and methods of operation. In one aspect is disclosed an electrochemical cell that has a liquid-electrolyte or a gel-electrolyte, the cell comprising: an electrode, preferably a gas diffusion electrode; a busbar attached to a current collector of the electrode; and a second electrode to which the first electrode is connected in electrical series. In another aspect is disclosed a plurality of electrochemical cells, comprising: a first electrochemical cell comprising a first cathode and a first anode, wherein at least one of the first cathode and the first anode is a gas diffusion electrode; a second electrochemical cell comprising a second cathode and a second anode, wherein at least one of the second cathode and the second anode is a gas diffusion electrode; wherein, the first cathode is electrically connected in series to the second anode by an electron conduction pathway.
Disclosed are electrochemical cells and methods of use or operation at high pressure, in which one or more gas-producing electrodes operate in a manner that is bubble-free or substantially bubble-free. Disclosed is a method for producing a gas in an electrochemical cell, and the electrochemical cell itself, wherein the electrochemical cell comprises a gas- producing electrode and a counter electrode being separated by an electrolyte. The method comprises creating an electrolyte pressure greater than or equal to 10 bar during operation of the electrochemical cell, and producing the gas wherein substantially no bubbles of the gas are formed at the gas-producing electrode. Preferably, there is no diaphragm or ion exchange membrane positioned between the gas-producing electrode and the counter electrode. In another example, the electrochemical cell is operated without a gas compressor. The gas- producing electrode and/or the counter electrode is a gas diffusion electrode.
C25B 1/12 - Production électrolytique de composés inorganiques ou de non-métaux d'hydrogène ou d'oxygène par électrolyse de l'eau dans des cellules sous pression
C25B 11/03 - ÉlectrodesLeur fabrication non prévue ailleurs caractérisées par la configuration ou la forme perforées ou foraminées
H01M 4/80 - Plaques poreuses, p. ex. supports frittés
H01M 8/04089 - Dispositions pour la commande des paramètres des réactifs, p. ex. de la pression ou de la concentration des réactifs gazeux
9.
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL AND COMPONENTS THEREOF CAPABLE OF OPERATING AT HIGH CURRENT DENSITY
Disclosed are electrochemical cells and methods of use or operation. In one aspect disclosed is a spiral-wound electrochemical cell for an electrochemical reaction, comprising a wound electrode and a busbar attached to a current collector of the electrode. Preferably, the current collector is spiral-wound. Also disclosed is a a spiral- wound electrochemical cell for forming a chemical reaction product from an electrochemical reaction, the electrochemical cell comprising: an electrode spiral- wound about a central axis; an end cap; and a busbar provided as part of the end cap; wherein the busbar is attached to a current collector of the electrode, and the current collector is spiral-wound.
In one aspect there is provided an electrochemical cell without an electrolyte- impermeable barrier. In another aspect there is provided an electrochemical cell comprising a liquid electrolyte, a cathode and at least one cathode product able to be produced at the cathode, and an anode and at least one anode product able to be produced at the anode. The at least one anode product and the at least one cathode product are substantially separated, and the cell is without an electrolyte-impermeable barrier positioned between the cathode and the anode.. There is a relatively low ratio of electrolyte volume to electrode geometric surface area of the cathode or the anode (electrolyte volume (m3) / electrode surface area (m2)). The cell can be operated at a relatively low current density. Optionally, an electrolyte-permeable separator may be employed.
An electrochemical cell for the treatment of water, the electrochemical cell able to generate, preferably on-site and/or in-situ, one or more chemicals for the5 treatment of water. Preferably, the electrochemical cell is a spiral-wound arrangement of one or more gas diffusion electrodes, for example a multi- electrode array. Preferably, the cell includes one or more gas diffusion electrodes that are permeable to a gas but impermeable to water.
There is disclosed a spiral-wound electrochemical cell and components thereof, and aspiral-wound electrochemical cell for forming a chemical reaction product, comprising at least one electrode pair wound about a central axis. The present invention generally relates to configurations, arrangements or designs for gas, liquid and/or electrical conduits, pathways, connections, channels, arrangements or the like, in electrochemical cells that are spiral-wound or have a spiral configuration, arrangement or design, and methods for their fabrication. More specifically, in various forms, the present invention relates to a core element, end cap(s), an external element containing or providing gas/liquid plumbing and/or electrical connections that provide improved functionality and reduced cost electrochemical cells.
ABSTRACT A method and/or electrochemical cell for utilising one or more gas diffusion5 electrodes (GDEs) in an electrochemical cell, the one or more gas diffusion electrodes have a wetting pressure and/or a bubble point exceeding 0.2 bar. The one or more gas diffusion electrodes can be subjected to a pressure differential between a liquid side and a gas side. A pressure on the liquid side of the GDE over the gas side does not exceed the wetting pressure of the GDE during10 operation (in cases where a liquid electrolyte side has higher pressure), and/or a pressure on the gas side of the GDE over the liquid side, does not exceeds the bubble point of the GDE (in cases where the gas side has the higher pressure).
There is provided a new type of electro-synthetic (electrochemical) or electro-energy cell, such as a fuel cell. The cell includes a liquid electrolyte and at least one gas diffusion electrode (GDE). The GDE operates as a gas depolarized electrode and includes a gas permeable material that is substantially impermeable to the liquid electrolyte, as well as a porous conductive material provided on a liquid electrolyte facing side of the gas diffusion electrode. The porous conductive material can be attached to the gas permeable material by being laminated. Alternatively, the porous conductive material is deposited or coated on at least part of the gas permeable material. A depolarizing gas can be received by the at least one gas diffusion electrode to gas depolarize the electrode. The depolarizing gas changes a half-reaction that would occur at the gas diffusion electrode to a half-reaction that is energetically more favourable.
H01M 8/02 - Éléments à combustibleLeur fabrication Détails
C25B 11/03 - ÉlectrodesLeur fabrication non prévue ailleurs caractérisées par la configuration ou la forme perforées ou foraminées
C25B 9/00 - Cellules ou assemblages de cellulesÉléments de structure des cellulesAssemblages d'éléments de structure, p. ex. assemblages d'électrode-diaphragmeCaractéristiques des cellules relatives aux procédés
H01M 4/86 - Électrodes inertes ayant une activité catalytique, p. ex. pour piles à combustible
15.
COMPOSITE THREE-DIMENSIONAL ELECTRODES AND METHODS OF FABRICATION
Disclosed are gas permeable 3D electrodes, preferably that have practical utility in, particularly, electro-energy and electro-synthetic applications. Gas permeable materials, such as non-conductive porous polymer membranes, are attached to one or more porous conductive materials. In another aspect there is provided a method for the fabrication of gas permeable 3D electrodes, for example gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs). The 3D electrodes can be utilised in electrochemical cells or devices.
A gas diffusion electrode for an electro-synthetic or electro-energy cell, for example a fuel cell, including one or more gas permeable layers, a first conductive layer provided on a first side of the gas diffusion electrode, and a second layer, which may be a second conductive layer, provided on a second side of the gas diffusion electrode. The one or more gas permeable layers are positioned between the first conductive layer and the second layer, which may be a second conductive layer, and the one or more gas permeable layers provide a gas channel. The one or more gas permeable layers are gas permeable and substantially impermeable to the liquid electrolyte. The porous conductive material is gas permeable and liquid electrolyte permeable. The gas diffusion electrode can be one of a plurality of alternating anode/cathode sets.
brevets