LIQUID ELECTROLYSIS SYSTEM FOR FORMING A GASEOUS MIXTURE OF HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN

Description

The present invention relates to a system for the electrolysis of a liquid

composed of water and a low concentration ionic compound to form a gaseous mixture of hydrogen and oxygen. More particularly, the invention finds application, for example, in the supply of hydrogen and oxygen, to combustion engines, to heat production equipment such as, for example, boilers and welding equipment. The yields, in terms of electrical energy consumption and gaseous mixture production of hydrogen and oxygen, conventional electrolysis systems are low and do not today allow the production of hydrogen and oxygen to large scale. The best yields are of the order of 8 to 15 watts / hour for one liter of gaseous mixture produced. In addition, some conventional electrolysis systems release, in addition to hydrogen and oxygen, residues, for example chlorinated, which deteriorate the devices that use the gas mixture. Other systems, by their high concentration of ionic component, for example 35%, cause the generation of sludge which reduces the performance of these systems. The object of the invention is to solve the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a system which improves the efficiency, in terms of electrical energy consumption, of the production of gas mixture of hydrogen and oxygen. To this end, according to a first aspect, the invention proposes a system for electrolysis of a liquid to form a gaseous mixture of hydrogen and oxygen, the liquid being composed of water and 0.5% to 5%. % of an ionic compound, the electrolysis system comprising an electrolysis device and moiens for forming an electrolysis electric signal of the electrolysis device, characterized in that the electrolysis electric signal consists of a component and a periodic component, said periodic component being at least one damped sinusoid. Thus, the inventors of the present invention have discovered that by using an electrical electrolysis signal comprising inter alia a damped sinusoid repeated periodically, the efficiency of the electrolysis system is greatly improved up to obtain a yield of 1 liter of gas mixture produced for 3 Watts / hour consumed.

In addition, obtaining a damped sinusoid is relatively simple to achieve and does not require the design of complex control circuits. According to one particular embodiment of the invention, the means for forming the electrolysis signal comprise inter alia means for generating at least one pulse, at least one inductive element, and a capacitor formed by the liquid. between the reinforcements of at least one electrolysis cell of the electrolysis device and at least one resistive element. Thus, by adjusting the dimensions of the reinforcements, the concentration of ionic compound and the inductive element, the circuit thus formed forms a pseudo periodic index response. According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the means for generating at least one pulse consist of: - an oscillator delivering a periodic square signal, - means for phase-shifting the periodic square signal forming a phase-shifted signal, - at least a first and a second switch, the first switch being controlled by the periodic square wave signal, the second switch being controlled by the phase-shifted signal, at least a first and a second inductance, a terminal of each inductor being connected to a first predetermined potential, each switch respectively connecting the other terminal of an inductor to a second predetermined potential of the electrolysis system when the switch is closed, - at least two diodes, the anode of each diode being connected to the other terminal of the inductor and the cathode of each diode being connected by ine wired connection to the electrolysis device. Thus, it is possible to form, at low cost, a signal comprising a DC component and at least one pulse, the resistive, inductive and capacitive elements cooperating with the formation of a damped sinusoid. According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the system further comprises means for obtaining a signal representative of at least one damped sinusoid and control means, from the pseudo-pulsation of said signal representative of the sinusoid. damped, the amount of water and / or ionic compound of the liquid and / or control, from the amplitude of said signal representative of the damped sinusoid, the temperature of the electrolysis device.

Thus, all the variations in time of the parameters of the electrolysis system can be compensated. According to one particular embodiment of the invention, the system further comprises means for modifying the periodicity of the periodic component as a function of the amplitude of the signal representative of the damped sinusoid. Thus, by modifying the periodicity of the damped sinusoid, it is possible to choose the periodicity which brings the best performance. According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the electrolysis device comprises a plurality of electrolytic cells, each electrolysis cell consisting of two armatures between which the liquid is placed among other things and an electrolysis cell. placed at a predetermined point of the electrolysis device and the other electrolysis cells are placed in a curve which describes at least one revolution around the electrolysis cell. The inventors have noted that by arranging the electrolysis cells in such an arrangement, the efficiency is improved over a rectilinear type arrangement. According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the periodic component is in the form of two damped sinusoids. Thus, the yield is improved.

According to one particular embodiment of the invention, the periodicity of the periodic component is less than two microseconds and at least one damped sinusoid has a pseudo period of less than sixty nanoseconds. Thus, using such values, the hydrogen and oxygen products are in the form of microbubbles in the liquid, thus ensuring high efficiency. According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the amount of ionic compound is between 1 and 2% and the ionic compound is sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. Thus, the electrolysis system does not release residues or form sludge.

According to one particular embodiment of the invention, the system further comprises means for inverting the polarity of the electrolysis electric signal. Thus, the problems related to corrosion of the electrodes are avoided. The features of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will emerge more clearly on reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, said description being made in connection with the attached drawings, among which: FIG. 1 represents an electrolysis cell according to the present invention, FIG. 2 shows a section II II of the electrolytic cell, FIG. 3a shows a water electrolysis system according to the present invention, FIG. 3b shows an arrangement of electrolysis cells in a water electrolysis device, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an electrolysis electrical signal capture device, FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the electrolysis electrical signal generation module, FIG. 6 shows an example of an electrical schematic of the power block of the electrolysis electrical signal generation module, FIG. 7a shows an example of the electrical signals at the input and at the output of the power block, FIG. 7b represents a second example of the electrolysis electric signal delivered by the power block.

FIG. 1 represents an electrolysis cell according to the present invention. The electrolysis cell 10 is composed of a first armature 15, a second armature 12. Preferably, the first armature 15 is a tube or a bar and the second armature 12 is a tube. The first armature 15 is placed in the cavity of the tube 12. The first and second armatures 15 and 12 are preferably made of a stainless material, for example stainless steel. An envelope 17 made of electrically insulating material is disposed around the second armature 12 and is shaped to allow the entry of liquid into the space between the first and second armatures 15 and 12. In a particular embodiment, the cell 10 is 20 centimeters long. FIG. 2 shows a section II II of the electrolysis cell. In FIG. 2, spacers 25a to 25d are placed between the first and second armatures 15 and 12 so as to ensure a predetermined spacing between the first and second armatures 15 and 12. The spacing is, for example and without limitation, between 1.5 and 3mm. The volume between the first and second frames 15 and 12 is occupied by the liquid. According to the invention, the liquid is demineralized water or pure water to which an ionic compound such as, for example, sodium or potassium hydroxide has been added in a percentage of less than 5%, ie less than 50 grams of ionic compound per liter of water. Preferably, the amount of ionic compound is between one and two percent or 10 and 20 grams per liter of water. The spacing 28, the liquid and the first and second armatures 15 and 12 form a capacitor and a certain resistance whose value is related to the amount of ionic compound.

Fig. 3a represents a water electrolysis system according to the present invention. The electrolysis system consists of a water electrolysis device 300, a module for generating the electrolysis electrical signal 320, an outlet connection 303 of the gas mixture, a solenoid valve 304 , an anti-backfire safety device 305 and a filter 306. The water electrolysis device 300 comprises a liquid filling plug 301 and is equipped with a pressure relief device 302. In a particular embodiment, a pump is connected to the filler cap which makes it possible to add water.

The water electrolysis device 300 comprises a device for capturing the electrolysis signal 330. The electrolysis device 300 comprises a cavity 350 filled with liquid. The filling level of the liquid is symbolized by the line 340. At least one electrolysis cell 10 is placed in the cavity 350. In FIG. 3a, two electrolysis cells 10a and 10b are shown but it will be understood that a larger number of cells may also be placed in the cavity 350 as will be described with reference to FIG. 3b. The electrolysis electrical signal generation module 320 is connected to the electrolysis signal capture device 330 via an electrical conductor Capt. The module for generating the electrolysis signal 320 is connected to the electrolysis cells 10 via the conductive wires S1 and S2. It should be noted that, in a particular embodiment of the present invention, the conductive wire S1 is wound around the water electrolysis device 300 so as to create an inductance. SPI to SPK represent the windings of the conductive wire S1 around the water electrolysis device 300. The value of the inductance thus created is adjusted to adjust the pseudo period of the damped sinusoid and to obtain a response. index type pseudoperiodic. Depending on the dimensions of the electrolysis device mentioned above, the inductance is 1.5 micro Henry. Fig. 3b shows an arrangement of electrolysis cells in a water electrolysis device. In the example of FIG. 3b, the first armatures 1 Sa to 15f and the respective second armatures'12a to 12f of six electrolysis cells are shown.

This spiral arrangement of the electrolysis cells allows a better distribution of the current exchanges within the liquid. Preferably, the six electrolysis cells are connected in series. The second armature 12a of the first electrolysis cell is connected to the conductor S1, the first armature 1Sa of the first electrolysis cell 15 is connected to the second armature 12b of the second electrolysis cell, the first armature 15b of the second electrolysis cell is connected to the second armature 12c of the third electrolysis cell, and so on. The first armature 15f of the sixth electrolysis cell is connected to the conductor S2. The water electrolysis device forms a capacitor 20 whose value is of the order of tens farads and has a resistance of the order of 600 kilo ohms when fed by a DC voltage. These values are examples. These vary according to the periodicity of the damped sinusoid, the pseudo period of the damped sinusoid, the amount of micro bubbles produced, or even 1 temperature.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a device for capturing the electrolysis electric signal. The electrolysis electrical signal capture device 330 consists of a capacitor C1 placed between the link Se and a first terminal of a thermistor T, for example a CTN of 100 KOhms. The function of the capacitor C1 is to remove the DC component of the signal Se. The thermistor T is used as a temperature sensor of the water electrolysis device. The second terminal of the thermistor is connected to the module for generating the electrolysis electric signal 320 via the link Capt. Fig. 5 shows a block diagram of the electrolysis electric signal generation module.

The module for generating the electrolysis electrical signal 320 consists of a processor 500, an oscillator 505, a phase shifter circuit 510, a power block 515 and an inversion module. signal 520. The processor 500 is able to process the signals received from the electrolysis electrical signal capture device 330. The processor 500 determines the maximum amplitude and the pseudo period of the signal representative of the damped sinusoid received from the capture device The processor 500 determines, from the pseudo period, the concentration of the ionic compound and the level of liquid included in the electrolysis device 300. The processor 500 determines, from the maximum amplitude, the internal temperature of the water electrolysis device 300. In the aforementioned embodiment, when the ionic compound concentration is 1%, the pseudo period is 62 ns, when that the concentration of ionic compound is 1.5%, the pseudo period is 53 ns, when the concentration of ionic compound is 2%, the pseudo period is 50 ns. For example, if the processor 500 determines a pseudo period of 50ns, the processor 500 controls a pump, not shown in FIG. 3a, to increase the amount of water included in the electrolysis device 300 or alternatively generates an alert signal for an upgrade of the amount of water. If the processor 500 determines a pseudo period of 62ns, the processor 500 generates an alert signal for an upgrade of the concentration of the ionic compound. The processor 500 determines, as a function of the maximum amplitude of the signal representative of the damped sinusoid and of a correspondence table, the operating temperature of the electrolysis device 300. From 55 C (+/- 3), the processor 500 controls the activation of a fan not shown in FIG. 3a so as to cool the electrolysis device 300. When the temperature is less than or equal to 60 C, the processor 500 generates a high level PWM signal. When, after several hours of continuous operation, the temperature is between 61 and 65 ° C., the processor 500 generates a PWM signal of 80 Hz and a duty cycle of 20%. When the temperature is between 66 and 70 degrees C, the processor 500 generates a 80 MHz PWM signal and a 50% duty cycle. When the temperature is above 70 degrees C, the processor 500 generates a low level PWM signal. The processor 500, for example during the first minutes of operation of the electrolysis device 300, programs the oscillator 505 so that it delivers signals at various frequencies and determines the one that generates the maximum amplitude of the signal representative of the damped sinusoid. The processor 500 then programs the oscillator 505 at the determined frequency. This thus makes it possible to optimize the efficiency of the electrolysis system. The processor 500 periodically generates, for example every 15 minutes and 10 milliseconds, an inversion control at the signal inversion module 520. The oscillator 505 is an oscillator whose oscillation frequency is programmed by the processor 500. The oscillator 505 delivers a square signal whose frequency may vary preferably from 550 kHz to 1 MHz and a duty cycle of 25%. In a particular embodiment, the electrolysis signal generation module 320 comprises a phase-shifter circuit 510. The phase-shifting circuit forms four signals denoted COM1 to COM4 from the signal delivered by the oscillator 505. The signal COM1 is identical to the signal delivered by the oscillator 505, the signals COM2 to COM4 are the signal delivered by the oscillator 505 phase shifted by 90, 180 and 270 degrees. The power unit 515 generates from the signals COM1 and COM4 the electrical electrolysis signal as will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 6. The signal inversion module 520 reverses the polarity of the processor-controlled electrolysis signal 500. The signal inversion module 520 is, for example, comprised of relays or power transistors. The signal S1 is alternately the SIG electrolysis signal or the GND mass. Conversely, the signal S1 is alternately the GND mass or the SIG electrolysis signal. The reversal of the polarity of the electrolysis signal makes it possible to perform an active surface treatment on the frames 12 and 15 of the electrolysis cells 10. This surface treatment avoids the phenomena of corrosion or unidirectional migration of the metals and guarantees the longevity of the frames 12 and 15. FIG. 6 shows an example of an electrical diagram of the power block of the electrolysis signal generation module.

The power unit 515 of the electrolysis signal generation module 320 generates from the signals COM1 to COM4 a GIS electrolysis signal represented in FIG. 7 which is composed of a DC component and a periodic component, the periodic component having the form of at least one damped sinusoid.

The power unit 515 comprises four switches, for example HEXFET P-channel power circuits denoted Q5 to Q8 whose gate is connected to the PWM control of the processor 500. Q5 to Q8 are for example and in a nonlimiting manner the International Rectifier company known under the reference IRF4905, 10 Lés drains of Q5 to Q8 are connected to the power supply which is for example 12 Volts limited to 20 Amps. The source of each component Q5 to Q8 is respectively connected to a first terminal of an inductance L1 to L4 whose value is for example of the order of a few Henry micro. Depending on the dimensions of the electrolysis device 300, the inductances L1 to L4 may be of the order of one hundred micro Henry's. In normal operation, when the PWM signal is high, the circuits Q5 to Q8 conduct. When the PWM signal is low, the transistors Q5 to Q8 are open and the power block 515 interrupts the generation of the SIG electrolysis signal.

The power block 515 comprises four switches, for example, N-channel HEXFET power circuits denoted Q1 to Q4. Q1 to Q4 are, for example and without limitation, circuits of the International Rectifier company known under the reference IRFZ 48. The gates of Q1 to Q4 are respectively connected to the commands COM1 to COM4. The sources of Q1 to Q4 are connected to the power supply ground. The drain of each component Q5 to Q8 is respectively connected to a second terminal of the inductor L1 to L4. The second terminal of each inductor L1 to L4 is respectively connected to the anode of a diode D1 to D4. The diodes D1 to D4 are, for example and in a nonlimiting manner, diodes of International Rectifier known under the reference MBR 201000T. The cathodes of the diodes D1 to D4 are connected to each other. The signal taken from the cathodes D1 to D4 is the GIS electrolysis electrical signal. It should be noted here that four signals COM 1 to COM 4 are used to generate the electrolysis signal so as to distribute the power consumed and supplied by the power unit 515. Of course, the electrolysis signal can be formed reducing or increasing the number of COM signals. In general, the components Q1, L1, D1; Q1, L1, D1; Q1, L1, D1; Q1, L1, D1 are active at different times and contribute to increasing the amplitude of the DC component 5 of the electrolysis signal and generating periodic pulses. The conducting wire S1, or even the inductances L1 to L4, form the inductive element of a resonator. The parasitic capacitances of the various components of the power block 515 and the condenser formed by the spacings 28, the liquid and the first and second armatures 15 and 12 form a capacitor of a resonator. The parasitic resistances of the components of the power block 515, the liquid whose resistivity is a function of the concentration of ionic compound, form a resistance of a resonator. According to the invention, the inductive element of the resonator, the capacitor of the resonator and the resistance of the resonator are determined so that the RLC circuit thus formed is in a pseudoperiodic regime and the periodic component comprises at least one damped sinusoid. . It should be noted here that if the concentration of ionic compound in the liquid is high as is often used in the state of the art, the resistivity of the liquid is too low to obtain a pseudo periodic regime. Similarly, if the concentration of ionic compound in the liquid is less than 0.5%, the efficiency of the electrolysis system is lower. Thanks to this damped sinusoid, the oxygen and the hydrogen produced by each electrolysis cell are in the form of micro-bubble. The liquid has a milky appearance formed by billions of micro bubbles, favorable to the good efficiency of the electrolytic reaction and the dynamic expulsion of gases and thus contributes to obtaining a high yield. Fig. 7a shows an example of the electrical signals at the input and at the output of the power block.

The periodic component of the GIS electrolysis electrical signal has a PER A periodicity of between 1 and 1.8 microseconds. The periodic component is a damped sinusoid SA whose pseudo period Per B is between 32ns and 58ns. A pseudo period is a time separating the peak voltage from two consecutive halfwaves, although the peak voltages are of different values.

The amplitude of the AmpA DC component is of the order of 15 volts and the maximum amplitude of the amped oscillation AmpB is between 35 and 40 volts. The sinusoid is damped over a duration T1, which is preferably between 20 and 40% of the PerA period. Preferentially, T1 is equal to 20% of PerA. Fig. 7b represents a second example of the electrolysis electric signal delivered by the power block. In this example, two damped sinusoids SA1 and SA2 spaced apart by a duration T2 form the periodic signal in place of the signal SA of FIG. 7a. These two damped sinusoids are for example obtained by using components Q1 to Q4 which have an opening time different from that of closing. In this case, T2 is of the order of 200 ns. The first damped sinusoid begins with a negative amplitude and the second damped sinusoid begins with a positive amplitude. According to this configuration, the efficiency of the electrolysis system is improved.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein, but encompasses, quite the contrary, any variation within the skill of the art and particularly the combination of different embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1) System for electrolysis of a liquid to form a gaseous mixture of hydrogen and oxygen, the liquid being composed of water and 0.5% to 5% of an ionic compound, the electrolysis system comprising an electrolysis device and means for forming an electrolysis electric signal of the electrolysis device, characterized in that the electrolysis electric signal consists of a continuous component and a periodic component, said periodic component being at least urged sinusoid damped.

2) System according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for forming the electrolysis signal comprise inter alia means for generating at least one pulse, at least one inductive element, a capacitor formed by the liquid between the reinforcements, at least one electrolysis cell of the electrolysis device and at least one resistive element.

3) System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means for generating at least one pulse consist of: - an oscillator delivering a periodic square signal, - means of phase shift of the periodic square signal forming a signal at least a first and a second switch, the first switch being controlled by the periodic square signal, the second switch being controlled by the phase-shifted signal, - at least a first and a second inductors, a terminal of each inductor being connected to a first predetermined potential, each switch respectively connecting the other terminal of an inductor to a second predetermined potential of the electrolysis system when the switch is closed, - at least two diodes, the anode each diode being connected to the other terminal of the inductor and the cathode of each diode being connected by a wire connection to the electrolysis device.

4) System according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the system further comprises means for obtaining a signal representative of 2906264 13 at least one damped sinusoid and control means, from of the pseudo-pulsation of said signal representative of the damped sinusoid, of the quantity of water and / or of the ionic compound of the liquid and / or of the control, from the amplitude of said signal representative of the damped sinusoid, of the temperature of the electrolysis device.

5) System according to claim 4, characterized in that the system further comprises means for changing the periodicity of the periodic component as a function of the amplitude of the signal representative of the damped sinusoid. 10

6) "System according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the electrolysis device comprises a plurality of electrolysis cells, each electrolysis cell consisting of two frames between which the liquid is inter alia and wherein an electrolysis cell is placed at a predetermined point of the electrolysis device and the other electrolysis cells are placed in a curve which describes at least one revolution around the electrolysis cell.

7) System according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the periodic component is in the form of two sinusoidal damped.

8) System according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the periodicity of the periodic component is less than two microseconds and in that at least one damped sinusoid has a pseudo period less than sixty nanoseconds.

9) System according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the amount of ionic compound is between 1 and 2% and in that the ionic compound is sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide 30

10) System according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the system further comprises means for inverting the polarity of the electrolysis electric signal. 5 20 25