Hydrogen-Oxygen Generation System with Elastic Membrane Accumulator
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing hydrogen-oxygen generation systems face inefficiencies due to hydrogen bubbles accumulating on the cathode surface, reverse electrolysis reactions, and the need for large circulation and centrifugal separation facilities, leading to unstable water supply and increased system size.
Innovation Solution
A hydrogen-oxygen generation system that includes an electrolytic cell, an accumulator with a water storage chamber and gas chamber separated by an elastic membrane, and a gas supply unit that utilizes generated gases as pressurized gas to reduce bubble accumulation and eliminate the need for circulation and centrifugal separation facilities, while controlling water transfer pressure to stabilize water supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water is circulated to generate flow for hydrogen separation, then hydrogen bubbles are removed from the cathode surface, but the system size increases due to circulation facilities
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the circulation facility from the system by adopting a static electrolytic cell design where water is supplied directly to the cathode chamber without requiring external circulation loops. This removes the harmful circulation infrastructure while maintaining electrolyzation efficiency through direct water supply and natural convection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes natural convection currents generated within the electrolytic cell itself to achieve hydrogen bubble removal and water circulation, eliminating the need for external pumps and circulation facilities. The water supply unit provides water that naturally circulates through the cell, serving its own separation needs without external assistance.
2Reliability
If centrifugal separation facility is added for hydrogen-water separation, then reverse electrolysis reaction is prevented, but system size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention completely removes the centrifugal separation facility from the system by designing an electrolytic cell where hydrogen bubbles naturally separate from water through buoyancy and convection currents. The cell structure and water supply method enable effective hydrogen-water separation without requiring external centrifugal equipment, thus preventing reverse reactions without increasing system size.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes hydraulic principles where water is supplied under controlled pressure directly to the cathode chamber, creating flow patterns that naturally carry hydrogen bubbles away from the cathode surface. This hydraulic approach replaces mechanical centrifugal separation with fluid dynamics-based separation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If pump operates with small water amounts, then water supply matches low gas generation, but pulsation occurs and water supply becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The water supply unit is designed to pre-regulate water flow characteristics before water enters the electrolytic cell, ensuring stable supply conditions even at low flow rates. By controlling water supply parameters in advance, the system avoids pulsation and maintains stability during low-generation operations without requiring complex active control of pump operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical pump system with a water supply unit that uses pressure-regulated flow control mechanisms, eliminating the pulsation inherent in pump-based systems. This substitution of mechanical pumping with pressure-controlled supply provides smoother, more stable water delivery across all flow rates.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces system size, stabilizes water supply, and effectively utilizes generated gases, minimizing energy consumption and degradation of the electrolytic cell.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic body membrane, the accumulator being configured to transfer the water stored in the water storage chamber toward the electrolytic cell at transfer pressure in accordance with a pressure of the pressurized gas in the gas chamber
Implementation Method 2
an electrolytic cell configured to generate hydrogen and oxygen by electrolyzing supplied water and discharge the generated hydrogen and oxygen as separate generated gasses
Implementation Method 3
the accumulator being configured to transfer the water stored in the water storage chamber toward the electrolytic cell at transfer pressure in accordance with a pressure of the pressurized gas in the gas chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrogen-oxygen generation system includes an electrolytic cell configured to generate hydrogen and oxygen by electrolyzing water, and discharge the hydrogen and the oxygen as separate generated gasses. An accumulator includes a water storage chamber configured to store the water, and a gas chamber configured to receive a pressurized gas, and the water storage chamber and the gas chamber are separated from each other by an elastic body membrane. The accumulator is configured to transfer the water stored in the water storage chamber toward the electrolytic cell at a transfer pressure in accordance with a pressure of the pressurized gas in the gas chamber. A water supply unit is configured to supply the water to the water storage chamber, and a gas supply unit is configured to supply the pressurized gas to the gas chamber.