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US 2002/0153263 A1Published application
Electrochemical oxygen generator and process
AssigneeAeroVironment, Inc.
InventorOmourtag Velev
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The method of producing O2 from water, that includes subjecting water to electrolysis, to produce H2 and O2, returning H2 to a water storage zone, drying the produced O2, using air as a drying agent, flowing a stream of that drying agent air to the cathode side of fuel cell, flowing a stream of produced hydrogen to the anode side of the fuel cell, for reaction with O2 in the agent air to produce water electrical energy and heat, and using electrical energy produced by fuel cell in the electrolysis.
Claims12
The method of producing O2 from water, that includes:
- a) subjecting water to electrolysis, to produce H2 and O2,
- b) returning H2 to a water storage zone,
- c) drying the produced O2, using air as a drying agent,
- d) flowing a stream of that drying agent air to the cathode side of a fuel cell,
- e) flowing a stream of produced hydrogen to the anode side of the fuel cell, for reaction with O2 in the agent air to produce water, electrical energy and heat,
- f) and using electrical energy produced by the fuel cell in said electrolysis.
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Apparatus for producing O2 from water, that comprises, in combination:
- a) an electrolyzer operable to subject water to electrolysis to produce H2 and O2,
- b) a water storage zone operatively connected to the electrolyzer to receive H2 therefrom,
- c) a gas dryer for receiving said produced O2 and for receiving a stream of air serving as a drying agent to dry the O2 in the dryer,
- d) a fuel cell having a cathode side operatively connected with the dryer, to receive drying agent air therefrom, said fuel cell also having an anode side operatively connected with the electrolyser to receive produced H2, for reaction in the fuel cell with oxygen in the drying agent air, to produce water, electrical energy and heat,
- e) removing means for removing a stream of air from the fuel cell, and for removing water from that air stream, for return to the water storage zone,
- f) and other means for supplying electrical energy produced by the fuel cell to said electrolyzer for operation thereof.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.