769 results about "Electrolysis of water" patented technology

Production of synthetic liquid hydrocarbon fuel from carbon containing moieties such as biomass, coal, methane, naphtha as a carbon source and hydrogen from a carbon-free energy source is disclosed. The biomass can be fed to a gasifier along with hydrogen, oxygen, steam and recycled carbon dioxide. The synthesis gas from the gasifier exhaust is sent to a liquid hydrocarbon conversion reactor to form liquid hydrocarbon molecules. Unreacted CO & H₂ can be recycled to the gasifier along with CO₂ from the liquid hydrocarbon conversion reactor system. Hydrogen can be obtained from electrolysis of water, thermo-chemical cycles or directly by using energy from carbon-free energy sources.

In a solid polymer fuel cell series, various circumstances can result in the fuel cell being driven into voltage reversal. For instance, cell voltage reversal can occur if that cell receives an inadequate supply of fuel (for example, fuel starvation). In order to pass current during fuel starvation, reactions other than fuel oxidation may take place at the fuel cell anode, including water electrolysis and oxidation of anode components. The latter may result in significant degradation of the anode. Such fuel cells can be made more tolerant to cell reversal by promoting water electrolysis over anode component oxidation at the anode. This can be accomplished by incorporating a catalyst composition at the anode to promote the water electrolysis reaction, in addition to the typical anode electrocatalyst for promoting fuel oxidation.

A solar electrolysis power co-generation system includes a solar electrolysis source and a control unit. The solar electrolysis source includes a solar panel, an electrolysis unit, a hermetically sealed compressor, a hydrogen tank, and a hydrogen-powered fuel cell and produces, compresses, and stores hydrogen gas that is used to fuel the fuel cell. The control unit includes an inverter, a microprocessor, and a modem. The control unit connects the solar electrolysis power source with a power grid and with an individual consumer having an electrical load. The power co-generation system utilizes the electrolysis of water and solar energy to power a fuel cell. The energy produced with the fuel cell may be provided to an existing power gird as well as to an individual consumer. Further a method for decentralized power co-generation includes the step of providing a plurality of solar electrolysis power co-generation systems.

A generator produces variable output of hydrogen and oxygen from electrolysis of water as a fuel supplement for combustion of hydrocarbon fuel. The generator includes an electrolytic reactor having a sealed cathode chamber partially filled with an electrolyte solution, and an anode immersed within the solution and electrically isolated from the chamber. A level sensor and reservoir maintain solution levels in one or more reactors configured in electrolyte communication. A source of electrical power energizes reactors responsive to changing combustion demand. A cooling system cools the reactors to allow the generator to operate at high amperage. An optional controller shifts reactor duty cycles to equalize reactor service over time. Gases produced in reactor air space above solution level are drawn or pumped to a combustion chamber to combine with hydrocarbon fuel and air. The combination results in greater combustion efficiency and reduces harmful emissions.

A method for optimizing the efficiency of a solar powered hydrogen generation system is disclosed. The system utilizes photovoltaic modules and a proton exchange membrane electrolyzer to split water into hydrogen and oxygen with an efficiency greater than 12%. This high efficiency for the solar powered electrolysis of water was obtained by matching the voltage generated by photovoltaic modules to the operating voltage of the electrolyzer. Optimizing PV-electrolysis systems makes solar generated hydrogen less expensive and more practical for use as an environmentally clean and renewable fuel.

Catalysts, electrodes, devices, kits, and systems for electrolysis which can be used for energy storage, particularly in the area of energy conversion, and/or production of oxygen, hydrogen, and/or oxygen and/or hydrogen containing species. Compositions and methods for forming electrodes and other devices are also provided.

The invention provides a method of partial vulcanization to improve oxygen evolution electrode performance of metal hydroxide and belongs to the field of oxygen evolution catalyzation of electrolysis of water. The method comprises the following steps: firstly, pretreatment is carried out on nickel foam, then, special nano floriform metal hydroxide is formed on the surface of the nickel base after the pretreatment in an in-situ growth manner through the hydrothermal synthesis method, and finally, the prepared metal hydroxide and a sulphur source have hydrothermal reaction to prepare a hydroxyl metal sulfide oxygen evolution electrode. According to the invention, the method is novel, the demanded technology is simple, the production cost is low, requirements to equipment are lower, and industrial production is suitable; in addition, the prepared electrode has excellent oxygen evolution activity and stability, is large in specific surface area, firmly combines with a base, and can be applied to the field of oxygen evolution through industrial electrolysis of water.

An apparatus for the electrolytic splitting of water into hydrogen and/or oxygen, the apparatus comprising: (i) at least one lithographically-patternable substrate having a surface; (ii) a plurality of microscaled catalytic electrodes embedded in said surface; (iii) at least one counter electrode in proximity to but not on said surface; (iv) means for collecting evolved hydrogen and/or oxygen gas; (v) electrical powering means for applying a voltage across said plurality of microscaled catalytic electrodes and said at least one counter electrode; and (vi) a container for holding an aqueous electrolyte and housing said plurality of microscaled catalytic electrodes and said at least one counter electrode. Electrolytic processes using the above electrolytic apparatus or functional mimics thereof are also described.

The invention provides an electrocatalyst with a cobalt-based multi-stage nano-composite structure for oxygen production by electrolysis of water and a preparation method of the electrocatalyst. The preparation method comprises the following steps: dissolving cobalt nitrate hexahydrate, urea and ammonium fluoride in deionized water to obtain a precursor solution; transferring the precursor solution into a hydrothermal reactor; adding carbon fiber paper; enabling basic cobalt carbonate nanowires to grow on the carbon fiber paper through solvothermal reaction; after finish of reaction, naturally cooling; then taking out a product; washing and drying to obtain a carbon fiver paper loaded basic cobalt carbonate nanowire composite structure; by taking powdered sulfur as the raw material, preparing a carbon fiber paper loaded cobalt sulfide nanowire composite structure through low-temperature sulfuration reaction under the condition of an inert gas; and finally, electroplating the surface of the carbon fiber paper loaded cobalt sulfide nanowire composite structure with a layer of cobalt hydroxide nanosheets by use of the electrochemical deposition method so as to obtain the electrocatalyst with the cobalt-based multi-stage nano-composite structure for oxygen production by electrolysis of water. As the sulfide and the hydroxide of transition metal cobalt are adopted as the catalyst, in comparison with noble metals, the cost of the catalyst is lowered.

Compositions, electrodes, systems, and/or methods for water electrolysis and other electrochemical techniques are provided. In some cases, the compositions, electrodes, systems, and/or methods are for electrolysis which can be used for energy storage, particularly in the area of energy conversion, and/or production of oxygen, hydrogen, and/or oxygen and/or hydrogen containing species. In some embodiments, the water for electrolysis comprises at least one impurity and/or at least one additive which has little or no substantially affect on the performance of the electrode.

A power plant extracts energy from a free flowing motive fluid by means of a turbine mounted on a gimbal. The shroud element of the fluid intake has external rudders, in conjunction with the gimbal mounting, enabling the enclosed turbine to instantaneously respond to changes in the direction of the free flowing motive fluid thus ensuring the face area of the intake is always physically orthogonal to the direction of the motive fluid streamlines. The shroud element may also be buoyant so as to optimally extract energy from an upper non-turbulent and higher velocity layer of the free flowing motive fluid. To function within an inherently unsteady source of energy, the preferred embodiment of the turbine is coupled to a DC generator which may further be coupled to a voltage and current regulating circuit which either charges a battery, performs electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen fuel, or is further coupled to a DC motor coupled to an AC generator. Alternatively an AC induction generator may be coupled to the turbine. Other mechanical, electrical, electronic, or electromechanical features may optionally be implemented to perform such tasks as adaptively locating the turbine in the maximum velocity flow, adapting internal vane and runner blade pitches for various flow rates and loads, keeping the intake free of obstructions, preventing loss of aquatic life, controlling and communicating the state of charge of the battery, or gauging and controlling the electrolysis process and communicating the fullness of the hydrogen gas output tanks.

A catalyst for the photo-electrolysis of water molecules, the catalyst including catalytic groups comprising tetra-manganese-oxo clusters. A plurality of the catalytic groups are supported on a conductive support substrate capable of incorporating water molecules. At least some of the catalytic groups, supported by the support substrate, are able to catalytically interact with water molecules incorporated into the support substrate. The catalyst can be used as part of photo-electrochemical cell for the generation of electrical energy.

The manufacturing apparatus for producing alkaline ionized water and acidic water by electrolysis of water has an electrolytic bath including a cathode cell, an intermediate cell, and an anode cell, separated by diaphragms; an electrolysis solution bath connected to the intermediate cell via an electrolysis solution circulating line and an electrolysis solution circulating pump; a circulation container bath for alkaline ionized water connected to the cathode cell via an alkaline ionized water circulating line and an alkaline ionized water circulating pump; a supplying line for raw material water for producing acidic water connected to an inlet of the anode cell; a withdrawing line for acidic water connected to an outlet of the anode cell; a supplying system for raw material water for making the alkaline ionized water connected to the circulation container bath and a withdrawing line with a water collecting device for withdrawing alkaline ionized water.

The invention discloses a water electrolysis device, comprising an electrolysis unit, a water tank, a gas-liquid mixer, a gas-liquid separator and a power supply. The electrolysis unit comprises a shell, top of the shell is provided with a water intake, and an anode titanium electrifying pore plate, a beta-PbO2 anode catalytic plate, a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, a Pt/C cathode catalytic plate and a cathode titanium electrifying pore plate are arranged under the water intake; the bottom of the water tank is provided with an engaging interface while the top thereof is movably provided with a top cover, the top cover is provided with an ozone outlet pipe and a water supply port, and the water tank is provided with an ozone outlet; the gas-liquid mixer comprises a mixer container on which an ozone inlet, the water intake and an ozone water outlet are arranged; the gas-liquid separator comprises a separator container on which a hydrogen water intake, a hydrogen outlet pipe and a water outlet are arranged; an anode of the power supply is connected with the anode of the electrolysis unit, and the cathode of the power supply is connected with the cathode of the electrolysis unit.The water electrolysis device can electrolyze water into ozone, ozone water, hydrogen and hydrogen-contained water, is simple in structure, less in energy consumption and lower in cost, and can be widely used.

The invention relates to methods and systems of converting electrical energy to chemical energy and optionally reconverting it to produce electricity as required. In preferred embodiments the source of electrical energy is at least partially from renewable source. The present invention allows for convenient energy conversion and generation without the atmospheric release of CO2. One method for producing methane comprises electrolysis of water to form hydrogen and oxygen, and using the hydrogen to hydrogenate carbon dioxide to form methane. It preferred to use the heat produced in the hydrogenation reaction to heat the water prior to electrolysis. The preferred electrical energy source for the electrolysis is a renewable energy source such as solar, wind, tidal, wave, hydro or geothermal energy. The method allows to store the energy gained at times of low demand in the form of methane which can be stored and used to generate more energy during times of high energy demand. A system comprising an electrolysis apparatus and a hydrogenation apparatus, and a pipeline for the transportation of two fluids, is also described.

The invention relates to a method of making a nanotubular titania substrate having a titanium dioxide surface comprised of a plurality of vertically oriented titanium dioxide nanotubes containing oxygen vacancies. The method generally comprises the steps of anodizing a titanium metal substrate in an acidified fluoride electrolyte under conditions sufficient to form a titanium oxide surface comprised of self-ordered titanium oxide nanotubes, dispersing gold nanoparticles onto the titanium oxide surface, annealing the titanium oxide surface with the gold nanoparticles thereon in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, and depositing carbon onto the annealed titanium oxide surface. The invention also relates to a hybrid gold/carbon electrode formed by the method. The invention further relates to a photo-electrolysis method for generating H₂ comprising the step of irradiating a photo-anode and a photo-cathode with light under conditions suitable to generate H₂, wherein the photo-anode is a nanotubular titania substrate having gold and carbon deposits.

The invention provides a method of making a photoelectrode and also provides a photoelectrode comprising a semiconductor layer having a first and second opposite major surfaces, with the first major surface overlaid with a layer of indium tin oxide having a thickness, crystal structure, and composition sufficient for robust operation in an electrochemical cell for electrolysis of water.