A method for generating and processing two-phase effluent from one or more pressurized electrolytic cell stacks, and an electrolytic cell system comprising one or more individual pressurized electrolytic cell stacks.

Abstract

A method for generating and processing two-phase effluent from one or more pressurized electrolytic cell stacks adapted to electrolyze water into hydrogen and oxygen, wherein a pump supplies a catholite fluid flow from one first gas-liquid gravity separator container to the electrolytic cell stack, a further pump supplies an anorite fluid flow from one second gas-liquid gravity separator container to the electrolytic cell, at least one cyclone-type gas-liquid separator receives the combined effluent from the catholite chamber and / or receives the combined effluent from each anorite chamber inside the corresponding gravity gas-liquid separator container, and further, at least one cyclone-type gas-liquid separator separates the gas from the liquid along a substantially horizontal cyclone rotation axis inside the gas-liquid gravity separator container. An electrolytic cell system is also provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for generating and treating a two-phase effluent from one or more pressurized electrolyzer stacks, and further, the present invention relates to an electrolyzer system comprising one or more individual pressurized electrolyzer stacks.

Background Art

[0002] In an electrolytic cell adapted to produce hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis of water, the electrolytic cell comprises a stack of cells, each cell comprising a first half-cell having an electrode such as a cathode from which hydrogen is released and which forms bubbles in the electrolyte, also called a catholite; each cell further comprising a second half-cell having an electrode such as an anode (also called an anolite) from which oxygen is released and which forms bubbles in the electrolyte, with each two-phase material stream of electrolyte and hydrogen and oxygen bubbles exiting each half-cell. Internal and external stack manifolds are arranged to capture the material stream from each cathode half-cell and pipe this material stream into a gaseous electrolyte gravity separator, similarly to each anode half-cell. Thus, the system comprises a hydrogen separator vessel and an oxygen separator vessel. When multiple stacks are used, an external stack manifold system is provided to ensure that all material streams exiting the cathode half-cells are piped to the hydrogen separator vessel and all material streams exiting the anode half-cells are piped to the oxygen separator vessel. The volume of the separation vessel required to allow sufficient time for the gas and fluid to separate from each other adds considerable cost to the electrolytic cell system. While the use of further separation elements, such as cyclone gas-liquid separators (US Patent Nos. 4,505,789 and 6,338,786), has been proposed, the results have been unconvincing. This invention seeks to achieve superior performance of a combination of two separation principles by arranging a cyclone separator in combination with a gravity separator, enabling the use of a smaller gravity gas-liquid separator and / or improved separation of two phases: gas and liquid. Further known from the prior art is the use of a number of smaller cyclones arranged in parallel to ensure better liquid-gas separation. Such cyclones are typically arranged along a vertical cyclone axis, maintained in close-proximity arrays, and can, in principle, be placed inside the gravity separator vessel, although this requires further piping to ensure uniform distribution of gas / liquid flow to each of such a number of separators. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 4505789 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 6,338,786 [Overview of the project]

[0004] In a first aspect, the object of the present invention is a method for generating and processing two-phase effluent from one or more pressurized electrolytic cell stacks adapted to electrolyze water into hydrogen and oxygen, I. A catholyte fluid pump supplies a catholyte fluid flow from one first gas-liquid gravity separator vessel to one or more electrolytic cell stacks, and this fluid flow is distributed within each stack to a series of catholyte chambers or half-cells, each equipped with a hydrogen-generating cathode. II. An anorite fluid pump supplies an anorite fluid flow from one second gas-liquid gravity separator vessel to one or more electrolytic cell stacks, and this fluid flow is distributed within each stack to a series of anorite chambers or half-cells, each equipped with an oxygen-generating anode. III. All catholite chambers deliver a portion of the two-phase stream, which is hydrogen-containing catholite, to the first gas-liquid separator container. IV. All anorite chambers deliver a portion of the two-phase stream, which is oxygen-containing anorite, to a second gas-liquid gravity separator vessel. V. a. At least one cyclone-type gas-liquid separator located inside the first gravity-type gas-liquid separator container receives the combined outflow from the cassolite chamber, or b. At least one cyclone-type gas-liquid separator located inside the second gravity-type gas-liquid separator container receives the combined outflow from the anorite chamber, or c. This is achieved by having at least one cyclone-type gas-liquid separator located inside a first gravity-type gas-liquid separator vessel receive the combined outflow from the cassolite chamber, and another at least one cyclone-type gas-liquid separator located inside a second gravity-type gas-liquid separator vessel receive the combined outflow from the anolite chamber.

[0005] To mitigate the above drawbacks, at least one cyclone-type gas-liquid separator separates the gas from the liquid along a nearly horizontal cyclone rotation axis inside the gas-liquid gravity separator vessel.

[0006] A cyclone with a nearly horizontal axis may be used, employing a separator vessel with a tubular structure having a vertical axis and positioned parallel to the cyclone axis. This allows even long cyclone equipment to fit within the separator vessel, while simultaneously providing a large fluid surface area to the gravity separator without excessively increasing the diameter of the vessel. This is particularly important when pressurized alkaline water electrolysis systems are used, because the corrosive nature of the electrolyte necessitates the use of high-quality steel, and the thickness requirements become excessively large along with the maximum diameter of the pressure vessel. While high-pressure water electrolysis systems today use pressures up to approximately 50 bar, higher pressures such as up to 150 bar are already being considered. In such systems, the need to miniaturize the pressure vessel is appropriate, and the use of a combination of gravity separator and cyclone separator helps to achieve the goal of a smaller gravity gas-liquid separator. Regarding the horizontal alignment of the axes of gravity separators and cyclone separators, assuming that gravity separators are cylindrical, it should be further noted that not only long cyclones but also cyclones can have diameters up to the same diameter as the separator vessel.

[0007] The term "approximately horizontal" is understood to mean that the horizontal direction of the cyclone axis does not deviate by more than 5 degrees from the horizontal axis, more preferably more than 10 degrees, or most preferably more than 15 degrees.

[0008] In embodiments of the present invention, at least one cyclone-type gas-liquid separator discharges a stream of liquid material primarily above the liquid-gas interface and directs this stream substantially horizontally toward a deflection plate inside a gravity separator container.

[0009] Gas-liquid cyclone separators are not ideal; some gas is always present in the liquid outlet material stream, and some liquid is always present in the gas outlet material stream. One of the two outlets, the liquid outlet and the gas outlet, may contain little to no gas or fluid, which always leads to the other outlet being more contaminated with undesirable substances. The term "primarily" in relation to the gas content at the liquid outlet reflects this aspect of cyclone-liquid separators. The design choice is whether to focus on pure gas at the expense of impure liquid, or to focus on pure liquid at the expense of a gas containing a higher percentage of liquid. Regardless of whether the liquid exiting the cyclone-type gas-liquid separator contains more or less gas, it is important that the liquid flow into the gravity-type gas-liquid separator body does not disturb this body of liquid and create undesirable turbulence within it. Therefore, deflection plates are positioned to receive the liquid so that the liquid flow is redirected into numerous small, spaced-out liquid flows, each of which does not cause significant disturbance to the liquid body within the separator. Due to their spaced-out nature, they cause only local disturbances to the liquid flow along the longitudinal axis inside the gas-liquid gravity separator.

[0010] In the embodiment, at least one cyclone-type gas-liquid separator discharges a stream of gaseous material primarily along a substantially horizontal axis above the liquid-gas interface inside the gravity separator container.

[0011] The gas outlet from the gravity separator is provided away from the gas outlet of the cyclone-type gas-liquid separator, allowing the gas to flow slowly towards this outlet inside the gravity separator. As a result, any droplets that may be present in the gas exiting the cyclone-type separator's gas outlet can settle and settle in the fluid before leaving the gravity separator. It is also possible to place a demister at the gas outlet of the cyclone-type gas-liquid separator, which would benefit from the relatively high velocity of the gas exiting the cyclone-type separator. It is also advantageous to provide a combined filter between the cyclone output and the gas outlet of the gravity separator, thereby removing even small droplets from the gas stream passing over the liquid surface inside the gravity separator. When a gas flow exits the cyclone, a conical region of high-speed gaseous effluent is produced along the outlet axis. If high electrolyte levels, such as the level adjacent to the lower inner surface of the gas outlet pipe from the cyclone, exist within the gas-liquid gravity separator container, the gas outlet cone can disturb the liquid surface and cause new mixing between the gas and liquid. To avoid this, it is proposed to position the cyclone with an axis angled 5 degrees from the horizontal, with the liquid output end slightly downward and the gas output end slightly upward relative to the horizontal. Alternatively, a small pipe stub can be added to the gas outlet orifice, which can direct the flow upward at an angle of 5 to 15 degrees from the horizontal.

[0012] In embodiments of the present invention, each pump delivers a predetermined pressure rise between its respective gas-liquid gravity separator vessel and the inlet in the stack, thereby ensuring a minimum flow rate of castholite and anolite through the gas-liquid cyclone separator inside each gravity gas-liquid separator when one or more stacks are electrolyzing water to hydrogen and oxygen.

[0013] The pump must overcome the pressure loss in the electrolyte flow circuit once a predetermined flow velocity is given through each half-cell, and also the pressure loss caused by the presence of the cyclone-type gas-liquid separator. Therefore, if a gas-liquid cyclone-type separator is used and causes an additional pressure drop at a given flow rate, this must be taken into account by the additional pumping power. The specific and detailed structure of the gas-liquid cyclone-type separator determines the required additional delivery pressure and pumping speed capacity of the pump.

[0014] In the embodiment, at least one cyclone-type gas-liquid separator receives the inflow of the combined gas-liquid material stream through a vertically positioned pipe extending from below into the gravity-type gas-liquid separator container.

[0015] This configuration minimizes bends in the pipes supplying the material stream to the cyclone-type gas-liquid separator, thereby ensuring the smallest possible pressure loss.

[0016] In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to an electrolytic cell system having one or more individual pressurized electrolytic cell stacks, -A first single gravity-type gas-liquid separator is in fluid communication with all the anorite process chambers of the stack via at least one pump and corresponding piping. -A second single gravity-type gas-liquid separator is in fluid communication with all the cassolite process chambers of the stack via at least one pump and corresponding piping. The system relates to a system in which a pump draws a gas-free liquid from the bottom of a gravity-type gas-liquid separator container and is inserted into each of pipelines adapted to deliver the liquid at high pressure to one or more stacks of process chambers. Preferably, a. At least one cyclone-type gas-liquid separator (20) is positioned inside the first gravity-type gas-liquid separator container (24) to receive the combined effluent (28) from the cassolite chamber (5), or b. At least one cyclone type gas-liquid separator (20) is disposed inside the second gravity type gas-liquid separator vessel (23) to receive the composite effluent (29) from the anolyte chamber (4), or c. At least one cyclone type gas-liquid separator (20) is disposed inside the first gravity type gas-liquid separator vessel (24) to receive the composite effluent (28) from the catholyte chamber (5), and another at least one cyclone type gas-liquid separator (20) is disposed inside the second gravity type gas-liquid separator vessel (23) to receive the composite effluent (29) from the anolyte chamber (4).

[0017] Preferably, each at least one cyclone type gas-liquid separator is configured to separate gas from liquid along a substantially horizontal cyclone rotation axis inside each gas-liquid gravity separator vessel.

[0018] In one embodiment, at least one horizontal axis cyclone type gas-liquid separator is disposed inside each of the gravity type gas-liquid separators.

[0019] In a further embodiment, each of the at least one cyclones is arranged to mainly exit a liquid stream along a substantially horizontal axis towards a deflector plate above the gas-liquid interface of the gravity type gas-liquid separator, and has a gas outlet opening adapted to mainly exit a gas stream along a substantially horizontal axis inside the gravity separator vessel above the gas-liquid interface.

[0020] The horizontal axis outlets of the mainly liquid output and the mainly gas output from the cyclone type liquid-gas separator allow the body of liquid inside the gravity type gas-liquid separator to remain substantially unobstructed by the relatively strong streams of liquid and gas from the cyclone type separator. The provision of a deflector plate adapted to receive the liquid stream exiting the cyclone ensures that the liquid stream exiting the cyclone merges with the liquid stream inside the gas-liquid separator vessel without substantially disturbing the liquid stream inside the gravity separator.

[0021] The pump is adapted to provide a pressure rise and a corresponding flow rate, whereby any pressure losses within the cyclone type separator are compensated by the rise in pump pressure.

[0022] Due to the formation of bubbles in the electrolyte by the released gas, there is a lifting force due to gravity in the fluid exiting the half-cells or chambers of the cathode liquid and the anode liquid. In addition, the fluid may also be heated by the cathode potential difference and the anode potential difference, which again adds a lifting force to the fluid. In some prior art water electrolysis stacks, pumps are not used, but when the fluid flow through the half-cells of the stack is enhanced, several advantages are provided, such as a reduction in the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the half-cell. Therefore, the system according to the present invention includes a pump. To avoid a decrease in the flow rate through the individual half-cells of one or more stacks, the pump flow rate is increased to address a possible increase in flow resistance from the cyclone type separator.

[0023] In an embodiment of the present invention, the gas-liquid inlet pipe to the cyclone is provided vertically along the vertical axis from below. Further, the pipe merges tangentially with the cylindrical inlet portion of the cyclone separator, and the cylindrical inlet portion has a substantially horizontal central axis.

[0024] Due to the lifting force due to gravity of the fluid and gas exiting the stack, it is common to arrange a separator above the stack and pipe the two-phase flow from the electrolyzer stack through the end of the separator container into the separator container and onto a tray separator. The tray separator is arranged in a gravity separator to ensure that the fluid flow extends over a wide area and thins as it passes along the tray. By piping the flow vertically into the container from below, the pipe has fewer bends between the separator and the stack.

[0025] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the frustoconical cyclone flow path of the cyclone is connected to the cylindrical inlet portion and is supported from below by a beam connected to the liquid inlet pipe.

[0026] This structure simplifies the system, as the cyclone-type gas-liquid separator may be supported only by pipes that guide the two-phase material flow to each separator. Furthermore, the cyclone is positioned within the gravity separator vessel without contact with any other surface and is located above the inflow pipe.

[0027] In this embodiment, the deflection plate for the fluid output from the cyclone is an end plate adapted to also function as an openable and closable flanged end plate for inspection of the gravity separator vessel.

[0028] The end plates and deflection plates of the separator container, which are openable and closable flanges for inspection, ensure that the cyclone-type separator and deflection plates can be easily inspected.

[0029] Various exemplary and non-limiting embodiments relating to both the structure and the method of operation, along with their additional purposes and advantages, will be best understood from the following description of specific exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0030] The verbs “to include” and “to have” are used in this document as open limitations that neither exclude nor require the existence of features not listed. Features described in dependent claims can be freely combined with each other unless otherwise specified. Furthermore, throughout this document, the use of “a” or “an,” i.e., the singular form, should be understood as not excluding the plural.

[0031] As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” and “comprised of” are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the described features, integers, steps, or components, but it should be emphasized that they do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof.

[0032] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. It should be emphasized that the embodiments shown are for illustrative purposes only and should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0033] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of one of the two electrolyte circulation systems in an electrolytic cell system. [Figure 2] This figure shows the electrolyte circulation system in the electrolytic cell system, which is not disclosed in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This is an overall flow diagram of the electrolytic cell system. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view of a gravity separator with a cyclone-type separator installed. [Figure 5] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along the DD line. [Figure 6] These are side views (left), front views (center), and cross-sectional views (right) of the cyclone. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0034] Figures 1 and 2 disclose the same system, with Figure 1 showing stack 2 having a catholite fluid flow system, and Figure 2 showing the same stack, but here connected to an anorite fluid flow system. In the complete system, the stack is connected to both catholite and anorite fluid flow systems. Figure 3 shows the essence of both fluid flow systems, but connected to only one of them, cell 22. In this case, this single cell 22 represents a number of single cells in each of the six stacks shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0035] In Figure 1, the gravity separator vessel 24 is shown together with the hydrogen outlet pipe 7, and the product gas exiting the outlet pipe 7 is typically washed and discharged in a receiving container such as a tank facility or distribution system (not shown). The cassolite fluid flow and pipe 26 or the anolite fluid flow and pipe 27 are shown in Figure 4, and it can be seen that this fluid flow and pipe exits the separator at its bottom 32, while the gas outlet pipes 6, 7 are provided at the top of the separator. In Figures 1 and 2, the electrolyte flows 26, 27 from the separators 23, 24 pass through their respective heat exchangers 35, 37, enter their respective pumps 34, 36, and enter stack external manifolds which are discharged in each of several stacks 2. In each stack 2, the stack internal manifold system then distributes the anorite and catholite flows to several semicells arranged adjacent to each other as shown in Figure 3, so that each single cell 22 comprises a catholite process chamber or semicell 5 with a hydrogen-generating cathode 8 and an anorite process chamber of semicell 4 with an oxygen-generating anode 9, and the two semicells are separated from each other by a diaphragm 3 adapted to prevent mixing of the produced gases.

[0036] Between adjacent cells, a bipolar plate (not shown) is provided, electrically coupled to the cathode and anode on both sides. As known in the art, each stack comprises two current injectors, one at each end of the stack, and the current travels alternately through the bipolar plate and electrodes, through the electrolyte between the anode and cathode, and through a range of cells positioned between the current injectors (not shown). The diaphragm is saturated with the electrolyte and thus allows the passage of ions and / or electrons.

[0037] Each anorite and each catholite chamber is to deliver a portion of the electrolyte gas mixture, which is piped to the respective separators 23 and 24, via two-phase catholite / hydrogen and two-phase anorite / oxygen flow pipes 28 and 29 of the stack's external manifold. Inside each separator, a cyclone-type gas-liquid separator 20 receives material streams originating from the respective ranges of half-cells 4 and 5 within the stack 2. In embodiments (not shown), a cyclone-type gas-liquid separator is provided in only one of either the first gas-liquid gravity separator container 24 or the second gas-liquid gravity separator container 23.

[0038] In each stack 2, some heat is generated, and therefore, each of the catholite and anorite streams drawn from separators 23 and 24 passes through heat exchangers 35 and 37.

[0039] The advantage of having such cyclone-type gas-liquid separators 20 inside each separator 23, 24 is that the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the cyclone-type separator 20 inside the gravity-type gas-liquid separator is limited, which makes it possible to fabricate the cyclone with thinner steel plates than in the case of a cyclone outside the gravity-type separation vessel. This is particularly important because there is a movement towards higher pressures in alkaline pressurized electrolytic cell plants, where pressures in the range of 80-150 bar or higher are being considered, although pressures of 30-50 bar are currently common.

[0040] As seen in Figure 4, the cyclone separator 20 has a nearly horizontal axis of rotation 21, and the outlet opening 18 for the liquid material stream L is guided along the horizontal axis of rotation 21, and similarly, the outlet opening 19 for the gaseous material stream G is guided along the horizontal axis of rotation of the cyclone, so that the liquid outflow indicated by arrow L and the gaseous outflow indicated by arrow G enter the gravity separators 23, 24 along this axis 21. However, the two openings 18, 19 face in opposite directions. As seen in Figures 4 and 5, the gravity gas-liquid separator containers 23, 24 have a cylindrical shape with a horizontal central axis 38. Thus, the cylindrical inlet 16 of the cyclone 20 has an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the gravity separator containers 23, 24. In the embodiments presented in Figures 4 and 5, the diameter of the cylindrical inlet 16 is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the gravity separators 23, 24.

[0041] The cylindrical inlet 11 of the cyclone is connected to a frustoconical channel 16 positioned along the horizontal axis of rotation of the cyclone. The frustoconical channel 16, which narrows towards its narrowest point, i.e., the outlet opening 18, forces the circulating liquid inward toward the central axis 21. Due to the conservation of momentum, this results in an increase in the circulation velocity and increases the separation between the gaseous and liquid portions of the flow.

[0042] The frustoconical circulation path 16 is terminated by a cyclone liquid outlet opening 18 oriented toward a deflection plate / openable flanged end plate 30. The deflection plate 30 is intended to spread the outflow L of the predominantly liquid material stream from the outlet opening 18 in numerous small flow segments, ultimately merging with the liquid present below the liquid surface 17 inside the gravity separator 20. This must be done without significantly disturbing the liquid below the surface 17, and preferably flowing undisturbed toward the opposing end of the gravity separator, allowing even small bubbles in the liquid to rise to the surface, so that the gas-depleted electrolyte can be drawn from the bottom 32 of the gravity separator at the distal end from the end plate or deflector plate 30.

[0043] As shown in Figure 6, the gas outlet opening 19 is provided opposite the liquid outlet opening 18 and therefore away from the deflection plate 30, facing the opposing ends of the gas-liquid gravity separators 23, 24. The outlet opening 19 is also the end of a pipe element 15 that extends into the center of the cylindrical inlet 11 of the cyclone 20, as shown on the right side of Figure 6. The pipe element 15 allows the gas separated from the fluid to be discharged without drawing substantial fluid elements out of the cyclone. The pipe element 15 is also called a "vortex finder," and its inner diameter balances the pressure drops experienced by the liquid and gas phases, respectively. It is possible to mount the cyclone slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal axis 21, in particular by inclining the cyclone liquid outlet opening 18 downward and simultaneously inclining the cyclone gas outlet opening 19 slightly upward. The effect of such mounting is that the conical outflow fan of the gas exiting the cyclone gas outlet opening 19 disturbs the gas-liquid interface or electrolyte surface 17 less. This is particularly relevant when the surface 17 is high, especially higher than shown in Figure 5. The gas-liquid interface 17 may be at the same height as the lower part of the bottom of the cyclone gas outlet opening 16.

[0044] As described above, the separation between the fluid and the gas is not perfect, with some liquid elements escaping in the gas flow G and some gas present in the liquid effluent L. Therefore, gravity separators receiving both liquid and gaseous effluents G and L from the cyclone will function further in these flows, with the gas flowing along a nearly horizontal axis above the liquid surface 17 towards the respective effluent openings 6 and 7 of the gravity separators 23 and 24. The length and diameter of the gravity separators 23 and 24 may be somewhat reduced due to the presence of the cyclone separator 20 inside them.

[0045] The cyclone separator 20 provides a pressure increase between the inside of the gravity separators 23 and 24 and the stack inlet opening, and therefore the pumps 34 and 36 are driven to produce a higher pressure increase between their inlet and outlet openings, respectively, in order to drive the anolite and catholite liquids to flow through the stack 2 and the cyclone 20.

[0046] As can be seen in Figures 4, 5, and 6, the inlet pipe 31 to the cyclone 20 enters the gravity separators 23 and 24 from below and along the vertical axis 10. This vertical pipe 31 tangentially merges with the cylindrical inlet 11 of the cyclone 20 on its outer circumference.

[0047] As shown in the representation in Figure 6, a beam 12 is provided to support the frustoconical flow channel 16. The beam 12 may be attached to the vertical inlet pipe 31. The beam 12 adds strength to the structure, relieves the intersection between the cyclone's vertical inlet pipe 31 and the horizontally positioned cylindrical inlet section 11 from unsupportable stresses, and also adds rigidity to the cyclone structure, thereby avoiding undesirable vibrations.

[0048] It should be noted that the drawings and the above description illustrate exemplary embodiments in a simple and schematic manner. Those skilled in the art should be familiar with these details, and many specific mechanical details are omitted as they would only unnecessarily complicate this description. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 2 Pressurized electrolytic cell stack 3 diaphragm 4. Anolite process chamber or half-cell 5. Half-cell catholite process chamber 6. Oxygen leachate 7. Hydrogen spills 8. Hydrogen-generating cathode 9. Oxygen-producing anode 10 vertical axis 11 Cylindrical inlet 12 beams 13. Outlet external piping for two-phase hydrogen cassolite 14. Two-phase oxygen anolite outflow external piping 15 Pipe elements 16. Truncated cone-shaped circulation pathways 17. Gas-liquid interface or electrolyte surface 18 Cyclone liquid outlet opening 19 Cyclone gas outlet opening 20 Cyclone-type gas-liquid separator 21 Cyclone Rotating Shaft 22 single cells 23. Second gas-liquid gravity separator container (anode liquid + O2) 24. First gas-liquid gravity separator container (cathode liquid + H2) 26. Catholite Fluid Flow and Piping 27 Anolite Fluid Flow and Piping 28. Two-phase catholite / hydrogen flow pipes and outflow material streams 29. Two-phase anolite / oxygen flow pipes and outflow material streams 30 Deflection plate or end plate with openable flange 31 Inlet pipe 32. Bottom of the gas-liquid gravity separator container (anode liquid + O2 or castholite + H2) 34 Cassolite Liquid Pump 35 Heat exchanger cassolite flow 36 Anolite Fluid Pump 37 Heat exchanger cassolite flow 38. The central axis of the gas-liquid gravity separator container.

[0050] L Primarily liquid material stream G Primarily gaseous materials stream

Claims

1. A method for generating and processing two-phase effluent from one or more pressurized electrolytic cell stacks (2), wherein the pressurized electrolytic cell stacks (2) are adapted to electrolyze water into hydrogen and oxygen. II. A catholyte fluid pump (34) supplies a catholyte fluid flow (26) from one first gas-liquid gravity separator container (24) to one or more electrolytic cell stacks (2), and this fluid flow (26) is distributed within each stack to a series of catholyte chambers (5) or half-cells, each of which is equipped with a hydrogen-generating cathode (8). III. An anolite fluid pump (36) supplies an anolite fluid flow (27) from one second gas-liquid gravity separator container (23) to one or more electrolytic cell stacks (2), and this fluid flow is distributed within each stack to a series of anolite chambers (4) or half-cells, each of which is equipped with an oxygen-generating anode (9). IV. All cassolite chambers (5) deliver a portion of the two-phase stream (13), which is hydrogen-containing cassolite, to the first gas-liquid separator container (24). V. All anorite chambers (4) deliver a portion of the two-phase stream (14), which is oxygen-containing anorite, to the second gas-liquid gravity separator container (23). VI. a. At least one cyclone-type gas-liquid separator (20) located inside the first gravity-type gas-liquid separator container (24) receives the combined effluent (28) from the cassolite chamber (5), or b. At least one cyclone-type gas-liquid separator (20) located inside the second gravity-type gas-liquid separator container (23) receives the combined effluent (29) from the anolite chamber (4), or c. At least one cyclone-type gas-liquid separator (20) located inside the first gravity-type gas-liquid separator container (24) receives the combined effluent (28) from the cassolite chamber (5), and at least one other cyclone-type gas-liquid separator (20) located inside the second gravity-type gas-liquid separator container (23) receives the combined effluent (29) from the anolite chamber (4), VII. A method in which at least one cyclone-type gas-liquid separator (20) separates the gas from the liquid along a substantially horizontal cyclone rotation axis (21) inside each gas-liquid gravity separator container (23, 24).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cyclone-type gas-liquid separator (20) mainly discharges a liquid material stream (L) above the liquid-gas interface and directs the stream substantially horizontally toward a deflection plate (30) inside the gravity separator containers (23, 24).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one cyclone-type gas-liquid separator (20) primarily emits a gaseous material stream (G) along a substantially horizontal axis (21) above the liquid-gas interface inside the gravity separator containers (23, 24).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each pump (34, 36) delivers a predetermined pressure rise between the respective gas-liquid gravity separator containers (23, 24) and the inflow in the stack (2), so that when one or more of the stacks (2) electrolyze water into hydrogen and oxygen, this pressure rise is adapted to ensure a minimum flow rate of cassolite and anolite through the gas-liquid cyclone separator (20) inside the respective gravity gas-liquid separators (23, 24).

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one cyclone-type gas-liquid separator (20) receives the inflow of a composite gas-liquid material stream (28, 29) through a vertically positioned pipe (31) extending from below into the gravity-type gas-liquid separator containers (23, 24).

6. An electrolytic cell system comprising one or more individual pressurized electrolytic cell stacks (2), - A first single gravity-type gas-liquid separator (24) is in fluid communication with all of the catholite process chambers (5) of the stack (2) via at least one pump (34) and corresponding piping (26), - A second single gravity-type gas-liquid separator (23) is in fluid communication with all of the anolite process chambers (4) of the stack (2) via at least one pump (36) and corresponding piping (27), The pumps (34, 36) are positioned within their respective pipelines (26, 27) and are adapted to draw a liquid that is essentially gas-free from the bottom (32) of the gravity gas-liquid separator containers (23, 24) and to deliver the liquid under high pressure to the process chambers (4, 5) of one or more stacks (2). a. At least one cyclone-type gas-liquid separator (20) is positioned inside the first gravity-type gas-liquid separator container (24) to receive the combined effluent (28) from the cassolite chamber (5), or b. At least one cyclone-type gas-liquid separator (20) is positioned inside the second gravity-type gas-liquid separator container (23) to receive the combined effluent (29) from the anolite chamber (4), or c. An electrolytic cell system in which at least one cyclone-type gas-liquid separator (20) is located inside the first gravity-type gas-liquid separator container (24) to receive the combined effluent (28) from the cassolite chamber (5), and at least one other cyclone-type gas-liquid separator (20) is located inside the second gravity-type gas-liquid separator container (23) to receive the combined effluent (29) from the anolite chamber (4).

7. The electrolytic cell system according to claim 6, wherein at least one cyclone-type gas-liquid separator (20) separates the gas from the liquid along a substantially horizontal cyclone rotation axis (21) inside each of the gas-liquid gravity separator containers (23, 24).

8. The at least one cyclone-type gas-liquid separator (20) I. The gravity-type gas-liquid separators (23, 24) have a liquid outlet opening (18) adapted to discharge a stream of mainly liquid (L) along a cyclone rotation axis (21) that is substantially horizontal toward the deflection plate (30) above the gas-liquid interface, II. An electrolytic cell system according to claim 6 or 7, having a gas outlet opening (19) adapted to discharge a stream of gas (G) mainly along a substantially horizontal cyclone rotation axis (21) into the gravity separator containers (23, 24) above the gas-liquid interface (17).

9. The electrolytic cell system according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the pumps (34, 36) are adapted to provide a pressure increase and a corresponding flow rate, thereby compensating for any pressure loss in the cyclone separator (20) by the increase in pump pressure.

10. The electrolytic cell system according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the gas-liquid inlet pipe (31) to the cyclone (21) is provided from below along a vertical axis (10), the pipe tangentially merges with the cylindrical inlet (11) of the cyclone separator (20), and the cylindrical inlet (11) has a substantially horizontal central axis (21).

11. The electrolytic cell system according to claim 10, characterized in that the frustoconical cyclone channel (15) of the cyclone (20) is connected to the cylindrical inlet (11) and supported from below by a beam (12) connected to the liquid inlet pipe (31).

12. The electrolytic cell system according to any one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that the deflection plate (30) for the fluid output from the cyclone (20) is an end plate (30) adapted to also function as an openable and closable flanged end plate for inspecting the gravity separator containers (23, 24).

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