Proton exchange membrane electrolyzer

Abstract

A proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer for breaking down water to hydrogen and oxygen comprises a titanium anode, a catalyst-coated membrane, a titanium cathode, and a power source. The titanium anode is configured to receive water from a water source. The titanium anode liberates oxygen and protons. The catalyst-coated membrane is operably connected to the titanium anode via gas diffusion layer (titanium frits and titanium mesh). The catalyst-coated membrane is configured to permit protons to permeate from the anode to the cathode. The titanium cathode is configured to receive the protons that have migrated through the membrane. The received protons accept electrons from the power source to form hydrogen. The power source is electrically connected across the titanium anode and the titanium cathode. The power source completes an electric circuit between the cathode and the anode for breaking down the water to hydrogen and oxygen.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention disclosed herein generally relates to a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers. More particularly, the invention relates to a PEM electrolyzer having components fabricated from titanium only.BACKGROUND[0002]Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzers are devices that break down molecules of water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity. Typically, electrolyzers contain an anode for receiving water and producing oxygen, and a cathode where the hydrogen is produced. At the anode, water is oxidized, leaving oxygen, H+-ions, and free electrons. While the oxygen gas can be collected directly at the anode, protons migrate through the proton exchange membrane to the cathode where they are reduced to hydrogen (the electrons for this are provided by the external circuit). The reaction at the cathode is represented as: 4H++4e−→2H2. The reaction at the anode is represented as: 2H2O→4H++4e−+O2.[0003]Typically, expensive materials suc...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]The proton exchange membrane electrolyzer disclosed herein addresses the above-mentioned need for an electrolyzer, which is economical and affordable for daily application. The proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer for breaking down water into hydrogen and oxygen, disclosed herein, comprises a titanium anode, custom catalyst-coated membranes, a titanium neutral plate, a titanium cathode, titanium frits, titanium mesh, rubber gaskets, compression end plates to compress the mentioned components together, and a power source. The titanium anode of the PEM electrolyzer is configured to receive distilled water from a water source. The titanium anode liberates oxygen and protons. The catalyst-coated membrane is operably connected to the titanium anode and the cathode side of the titanium neutral plate via gas diffusion layer (titanium frits and titanium mesh). The catalyst-coated membrane is configured to permit protons to permeate from the titanium anode to the titanium cathode side of the titanium neutral plate. The cathode side is configured to receive the protons that have migrated through the catalyst-coated membrane. The received protons accept electrons from the power source to form hydrogen. The anode side of the titanium neutral plate is configured to receive distilled water from a water source to liberate oxygen and protons. The catalyst-coated membrane is operably connected to the titanium anode side of the titanium neutral plate and titanium cathode plate via a gas diffusion layer (Titanium frits and titanium mesh). The catalyst-coated membrane is configured to permit protons to permeate from the anode side of the titanium neutral plate to the titanium cathode. The power source is electrically connected across the titanium anode and the titanium cathode. The power source completes an electric circuit between the titanium cathode and the titanium anode for breaking down water to hydrogen and oxygen.

Problems solved by technology

Typically, expensive materials such as gold or platinum plating are used to construct or coat the electrode plates and other internal components, for example, wire mesh, screens, carbon cloth with embedded platinum, etc.

The use of materials such as gold or platinum greatly increases the cost of production of an electrolyzer.

Since such electrolyzers are very expensive, and unaffordable, it has resulted in substantial reduction in usage for daily applications, for example, welding, brazing etc.

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