Mitigation of electric short circuit in a polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolyzer
AssigneeElectric Hydrogen Co.
InventorsDavid Eaglesham, Eduard Nasybulin, Tenzin Nanchung, Jigish Trivedi
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Abstract
The following disclosure relates to methods of identifying defects (e.g., short circuits) in a membrane of an electrolytic cell. The following disclosure further relates to methods of repairing such a defect in the membrane of the electrolytic cell, particularly without having to disassemble the membrane from adjacent components of the electrolytic cell.
Claims23
A method of repairing a membrane of an electrolytic cell, the method comprising:
- identifying a defect in the membrane of the electrolytic cell;
- and
- repairing the defect in the membrane without disassembling the membrane from adjacent components of the electrolytic cell,
- wherein the repairing comprises one of the following:
- (1) drying the electrolytic cell;
- providing an inert atmosphere and/or vacuum to the electrolytic cell;
- and operating the electrolytic cell at a specified voltage at which at least a portion of the membrane liquifies and the defect in the membrane is repaired;
- or
- (2) drying the electrolytic cell;
- providing a thermally-activated vapor precursor to the electrolytic cell;
- and operating the electrolytic cell at the specified voltage, wherein the thermally-activated vapor precursor is configured to react or decompose and deposit a composition at a site of the defect in the membrane;
- or
- (3) providing a first reagent to the electrolytic cell on a first side of the membrane;
- and providing a second reagent to the electrolytic cell on a second side of the membrane opposite the first side, wherein the first reagent and the second reagent react at the site of the defect in the membrane to repair the defect in the membrane.
A method of repairing a membrane of an electrolytic cell, the method comprising:
- repairing a defect in the membrane without disassembling the membrane from adjacent components of the electrolytic cell,
- wherein the repairing comprises one of the following:
- (1) drying the electrolytic cell;
- providing an inert atmosphere and/or vacuum to the electrolytic cell;
- and operating the electrolytic cell at a specified voltage at which at least a portion of the membrane liquifies and the defect in the membrane is repaired;
- or
- (2) drying the electrolytic cell;
- providing a thermally-activated vapor precursor to the electrolytic cell;
- and operating the electrolytic cell at the specified voltage, wherein the thermally-activated vapor precursor is configured to react or decompose and deposit a composition at a site of the defect in the membrane;
- or
- (3) providing a first reagent to the electrolytic cell on a first side of the membrane;
- and providing a second reagent to the electrolytic cell on a second side of the membrane opposite the first side, wherein the first reagent and the second reagent react at the site of the defect in the membrane to repair the defect in the membrane.
A method of repairing a membrane of an electrolytic cell, the method comprising:
- repairing a defect in the membrane without disassembling the membrane from adjacent components of the electrolytic cell,
- wherein the repairing comprises:
- adding a compound within water to a cathode side of the membrane;
- and
- providing a pressure differential across the membrane, wherein the pressure differential is at least 1 atm,
- wherein a diameter of the compound is larger than an opening in the membrane, and
- wherein the pressure differential causes the water having the compound to flow across the membrane at which the compound plugs the opening in the membrane and repairs the defect.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.