Apparatus for producing hydrogen and oxygen

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Drawing sheet — no readable text.

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United States Patent Office 3,433,729 Patented Mar. 18, 1969

3,433,729 with gas delivery tubes and electrodes connected to a APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING HYDROGEN AND source of direct current, wherein, according to the inven OXYGEN tion, the cell which serves as one of the electrodes con

Lev Mikhailovich Proskuryakov, Ul. Pervomaiskaya tains a bell jar communicating with the atmosphere 81/1, kv. 29, and Valentin Grigorievich Zizin, Ul. 5 through a throttling device, the other electrode and a float Kalinina 63, kv. 22, both of Ufa, U.S.S.R. being arranged inside said bell jar, said float controlling Filed Feb. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 527,781 the operation of the throttling device and automatically U.S. C. 204-278 7 Claims adjusting the pressure to equal the resistance in the system at C. CO1b 13/06 consuming the gas.

10 In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus a water reservoir is installed above the cell to insure continuous

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE operation of the apparatus, said reservoir communicating An apparatus for electrolyzing water to produce hy with the inside of the cell and providing automatic addi drogen and oxygen under pressure. The electrolytic cell tion of water to the electrolyte as it is consumed during acts as an electrode and has a bell jar in it which contains 15 electrolysis. The reservoir communicates with the inside a second electrode. Gas delivery tubes are connected to of the cell through the gas delivery tube, the lower end of the cell and to the inside of the bell jar. A valve is located which is arranged slightly above the electrode in the bell in the bell jar gas delivery tube and actuated by a float in jar, insuring maintenance of a preset level of electrolyte the bell jar above the electrode to ensure equalization of in the cell.

gas pressures in the bell jar and a gas consuming system. 20 The throttling device is a valve with its seat fixed in the gas delivery tube communicating with the inside of the bell jar, and with its needle-shaped closing member fixed

This invention relates to apparatus for the production to the float.

of hydrogen and oxygen under pressure by the electrolytic The central electrode is arranged inside the bell jar decomposition of water. 25 so that the edges of the bell jar are slightly below the Said apparatus may find wide application as a source of working part of the electrode, the latter being fixed to carrier gas for chromatographic analysis, as a source of the bottom of the cell through a sealing gasket. oxygen for elementary analysis, and in all cases, especially The cell of the apparatus is one of the electrodes and in laboratory and research practice, where electrolytically is cylindrical in shape, having a radiator on its outer pure hydrogen and oxygen are required under pressure at 30 surface.

a constant rate, the latter depending on the current The proposed apparatus insures continuous production intensity. of electrolytically pure hydrogen and oxygen under a Prior art apparatus for the production of hydrogen and pressure limited by the strength of the material used for oxygen by the electrolysis of water, comprising a cell for making the cell and the reservoir. the electrolyte with gas delivery tubes and electrodes The capacity of the apparatus depends upon the current connected to a source of direct current, cannot insure pro- i intensity used.

duction of gas under pressure for any considerable length Hereinbelow the invention is explained by a detailed of time. Electrolyzers in which advantage is taken of the description and a drawing of a preferred embodiment of phenomenon of hydrogen diffusion and its subsequent the apparatus. The drawing shows the apparatus in longi penetration through a porous cathode enable hydrogen 40 tudinal section.

to be obtained at a slightly elevated pressure, but require The apparatus comprises a cell 1 and a water reservoir periodic removal of the oxygen which accumulates in 2 arranged above the cell 1. The cell 1 and the reservoir 2 the unit. Apparatus employing hydrogen diffusion require are cylindrical in shape. A bell jar 3 is arranged inside the the use of expensive and rather critical materials (plati cell 1, fastened in its upper part to a gas delivery tube 4 num, palladium, silver) and involve complex techniques through which the inside of the bell jar 3 communicates for the manufacture of the diffusion cathode. with the atmosphere. A truncated-cone electrode 5 is It is an object of this invention to develop a portable arranged concentrically in the bell jar so that the edges and reliable apparatus for the production of electrolyti of the bell jar 3 are slightly below the working part of the cally pure hydrogen and oxygen under pressure. electrode 5. The electrode 5 is fixed to the cell bottom 6 Another object of this invention is to provide an 50 through sealing gasket 7 by means of a pin 8 insulated apparatus that will automatically maintain the pressure from the bottom 6 by means of a washer 9. The pin 8 of the gas produced depending on the preset capacity and serves as the lead-in for conducting current to the elec resistance of the system consuming the gas, without the trode 5. Above the electrode 5 is a bell-type float 10 with use of special automation and control devices. 55 a needle 11 which passes through the tube 4 and is kept Still another object of the invention is to provide an centered by means of bushings 12 and 13 apparatus insuring continuous operation and not requir The tube 4 has an opening 14 at the top, fitted with ing the use of expensive materials for its manufacture. a valve seat 15 of an elastic material, closed by the needle A further object of the invention is to provide an ap 11. A tube 16 is arranged in the space between the paratus which will stop automatically if its outlet valve 60 wall of the bell jar 3 and the wall of the cell 1, with is clogged. its upper end fastened to the reservoir 2 and its lower Said and other objects are accomplished by employing end slightly above the electrode 5, thus determining the an apparatus for the production of hydrogen and oxygen electrolyte level. Said space communicates with the at by the electrolysis of water, comprising an electrolyte cell mosphere by means of a tube 17 passing through the

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reservoir 2 and closed with a plug 18. In the upper part mosphere; a means of maintaining the gas pressure un of the reservoir 2 is arranged a pipe 19 with a cap 20 der said bell jar equal to the resistance of the gas-con with a hole in it and a rubber gasket 21 which serves suming system and throttling the gas delivery tube com as a safety (rupture) valve, and a union 22 for delivering municating the bell jar with the atmosphere. the resulting gas (hydrogen or oxygen). 5 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the ar The outside surface of the cell 1 and the reservoir 2 rangement of said electrode inside the bell jar is such is encircled with a radiator 23. that the edges of the bell jar are slightly below the work The apparatus is filled with an electrolyte, say, a 25% ing part of said electrode fixed to the bottom of the cell solution of potassium hydroxide to complete displace through a sealing gasket.

ment of the air from the apparatus, through the pipe 10 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said 19 after unscrewing the cap 18. The cap 18 is then screwed cell, being one of the electrodes, is cylindrical in shape. back in place and the apparatus is connected to a source 4. An apparatus for producing hydrogen and oxygen of direct current. If it is desired to obtain hydrogen the under pressure by the electrolysis of water, comprising an positive pole of the source is connected to the electrode 5, electrolyte cell which is one of the electrodes; a second and the negative, to the cell 1, which in this case is the 5 electrode fixed to the bottom of said cell; a bell jar which cathode. is fixed inside said cell and inside which said electrode When the current source is connected hydrogen will is arranged, said bell jar dividing the cell into the anode begin to evolve on the walls of the cell 1, and oxygen and cathode spaces which communicate hydraulically will be liberated at the anode. The liberated hydrogen through the electrolyte; gas delivery tubes one of which raises the pressure inside the cell 1 and displaces the elec 20 is arranged in said cell, and the other connected to the trolyte to the level of the lower end of the tube 16, at inside of said bell jar, communicating it with the at which moment hydrogen will begin to bubble into the mosphere; a float arranged in the bell jar above the reservoir 2. When this takes place the electrolyte is de electrode; a throttling device comprising a valve the canted completely from the reservoir 2 with the aid of seat of which is fixed in said gas delivery tube communi a siphon, and the reservoir 2 is filled with distilled water 25 cating with the inside of the bell jar, while the closing through the pipe 19; the cap 20 is then screwed on to member is a needle fixed to said float, ensuring mainte the pipe 19 and the gas consumer is connected to the nance of the gas pressure under the bell jar equal to the union 22. resistance of the gas-consuming system. When in operation, the pressure in the apparatus is 5. An apparatus for producing hydrogen and oxygen built up automatically to the level of the resistance in 30 under pressure by the electrolysis of water, comprising the gas-consuming system as follows: as the hydrogen an electrolyte cell which is one of the electrodes; a sec pressure increases, the electrolyte level in the bell jar 3 ond electrode fixed to the bottom of said cell; a bell jar rises, lifting the float 10, and the needle 11 closes the which is fixed inside said cell and inside which said elec opening 14, while the accumulating oxygen raises the 35 trode is arranged, said bell jar dividing the cell into the pressure and lowers the level of the electrolyte under the anode and cathode spaces which communicate hydrauli bell jar 3. When electrolyte level drops the float 10 de cally through the electrolyte; gas delivery tubes, one of scends, the needle 11 opens the opening 14 and the excess which is arranged in said cell, and the other connected to oxygen is discharged into the atmosphere. This causes the inside of said bell jar communicating it with the at the level of the electrolyte under the bell jar 3 to rise mosphere; a means of maintaining the gas pressure under and makes the needle 11 reclose the opening 14. The 40 said bell jar equal to the resistance of the gas-consuming pressure of the oxygen under the bell jar 3 is maintained system and throttling the gas delivery tube communicat automatically depending on the hydrogen pressure. ing the bell jar with the atmosphere; a water reservoir ar As the water of the electrolyte is consumed the level ranged above said cell communicating with the inside of of the latter drops, as a result of which the electrolyte said cell and providing automatic feeding of water to surface falls away from the bottom end of the tube 16 45 the6.electrolyte as it is consumed. An apparatus for producing hydrogen and oxygen and water begins to flow from the reservoir 2 into the under pressure by the electrolysis of water, comprising cell 1 until the necessary level of the electrolyte is re stored. an electrolyte cell which is one of the electrodes; a sec Thus, the tube 16 serves for feeding water to the elec ond electrode fixed to the bottom of said cell; a bell jar trolyte and is also a gas delivery tube, guaranteeing main 50 which is fixed inside said cell and inside which said elec tenance of the electrolyte level depending on the posi trode is arranged, said bell jar dividing the cell into the tion of the lower end of the tube 16. anode and cathode spaces which communicate hydrauli If the oxygen discharge opening 14 is clogged the pres cally through the electrolyte; gas delivery tubes one of sure will rise and lower the level of the electrolyte under which is arranged in said cell and the other connected to the inside of said bell jar, communicating it with the the bell jar 3, thus baring the central electrode 5 and 55 atmosphere;

thereby breaking the electric circuit and stopping the ap a means of maintaining the gas pressure paratus. under said bell jar, equal to the resistance of the gas It should be pointed out that only water is consumed consuming system and throttling the gas delivery tube communicating the bell jar with the atmosphere; a water during the operation of the apparatus, so that alkali need be added only once. 60 reservoir communicating with the inside of said cell Both hydrogen and oxygen may be utilized simul through said gas delivery tube arranged in the cell, the taneously under pressure, provided that the gas produced lower end of said tube being placed slightly above the under the bell jar is drawn off at a pressure below the electrode arranged inside the bell bar. 7. An apparatus for producing hydrogen and oxygen pressure of the gas drawn off from inside the cell.

What is claimed is: 65 under pressure by the electrolysis of water, comprising 1. An apparatus for producing hydrogen and oxygen an electrolyte cell which is one of the electrodes; a sec by the electrolysis of water, comprising an electrolyte ond electrode fixed to the bottom of said cell; a bell jar cell which is one of the electrodes; a second electrode which is fixed inside said cell and inside which said elec fixed to the bottom of said cell; a bell jar which is fixed trode fixed to the bottom of the cell is arranged, said inside said cell and inside which said electrode is ar 70 bell jar dividing the cell into the anode and cathode spaces ranged, said bell jar dividing the cell into the anode and which communicate hydraulically through the electrolyte; cathode spaces which communicate hydraulically through gas delivery tubes one of which is arranged inside said the electrolyte; gas delivery tubes one of which is ar cell, and the other connected to the inside of said bell ranged in said cell, and the other connected to the in jar, communicating it with the atmosphere; a means of side of said bell jar, communicating it with the at 5 maintaining the gas pressure under said bell jar, equal

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to the resistance of the gas-consuming system; a water 2,079,950 5/1937 Negus ----------- 204—271 XR reservoir arranged above said cell, communicating with 3,330,755 7/1967 Mahany -------- 204-272 ?R the inside of the cell and providing automatic feeding of water to the electrolyte as it is consumed; a means of FOREIGN PATENTS removing heat from the surface of the cell, arranged on 5 868,314 12/1941 France. the outer surface of said cell.

References Cited D. R. JORDAN, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENTS

1,032,623 7/1912 Reed ----------- 204—278 XR l0 U.S. Cl. X.R. 1,380, 183 5/1921 Boisen -------------- 204-278 204?129,272