# US 2006/0131167 A1 · Pressure electrolyser and cell frame for said electrolyser > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2006/0131167 A1 - Document ID: US20060131167A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 10/539,428 - Filed: 2003-12-13 - Published: 2006-06-22 - Earliest claimed: 2002-12-19 - Assignees: Hydrogen Technologies LLC - Inventors: Marko Ramisch; Pietro d'Erasmo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20060131167A1 ## CPC - C25B 9/77: having diaphragms - C25B 1/04: by electrolysis of water - C25B 9/05: Pressure cells - Y02E 60/36: Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis - C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A pressure electrolyzer having an electrolytic cell block that contains a number of electrolytic cells combined to form a stack, each electrolytic cell having an anode and a cathode. The electrolytic cell block has a sealed housing formed by a number of stacked cell frames of the electrolytic cells, the cell frames being composed at least partially of a material that is elastic at least in a longitudinal direction of the electrolytic cell block and seals adjacent cell frames from each other. End plates are provided so as to hold the electrolytic cell block in place between the end plates under compression of the elastic material. Each of the cell frames has a rigid element that runs in a circumferential direction of the frame so as to mechanically stabilize the cell frame. The rigid element being connected with the elastic material and forming a shell-like frame structure, which partially encloses the elastic material so that the elastic material partially protrudes from the rigid element to form a compressible region in the longitudinal direction of the electrolytic cell block. Adjacent cell frames each have projecting parts and recesses that fit into each other for locking the adjacent cell frames in place and/or for sealing the adjacent cell frames. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-19. (canceled) ### Claim 20 A pressure electrolyzer, comprising an electrolytic cell block that contains a number of electrolytic cells combined to form a stack, each electrolytic cell having an anode and a cathode, and the electrolytic cell block having a sealed housing formed by a number of stacked cell frames of the electrolytic cells, the cell frames being composed at least partially of a material that is elastic at least in a longitudinal direction of the electrolytic cell block and seals adjacent cell frames from each other, end plates being provided so as to hold the electrolytic cell block in place between the end plates under compression of the elastic material, each of the cell frames having a rigid element that runs in a circumferential direction of the frame so as to mechanically stabilize the cell frame, the rigid element being connected with the elastic material, the rigid element forming a shell-like frame structure, which partially encloses the elastic material so that the elastic material partially protrudes from the rigid element to form a compressible region in the longitudinal direction of the electrolytic cell block, adjacent cell frames each having projecting parts and recesses that fit into each other for locking the adjacent cell frames in place and/or for sealing the adjacent cell frames. ### Claim 21 A pressure electrolyzer, comprising an electrolytic cell block that contains a number of electrolytic cells combined to form a stack, each electrolytic cell having an anode and a cathode, the electrolytic cell block having a sealed housing formed by a number of stacked cell frames of the electrolytic cells, the cell frames being composed at least partially of a material that is elastic at least in a longitudinal direction of the electrolytic cell block and seals adjacent cell frames from each other, end plates being provided so as to hold the electrolytic cell block in place between the end plates under compression of the elastic material, each of the cell frames having a rigid element that runs in a circumferential direction of the frame so as to mechanically stabilize the cell frames, the rigid element being connected with the elastic material, the rigid element forming a frame-like insert that is at least partially embedded in the elastic material, adjacent cell frames each having projecting parts and recesses that fit into each other for locking the adjacent cell frames in place and/or for sealing the adjacent cell frames. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The pressure electrolyzer in accordance with claim 21, wherein the rigid element is completely embedded in the elastic material. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The pressure electrolyzer in accordance with claim 20, wherein each anode has its own anode cell frame, and each cathode has its own cathode cell frame. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The pressure electrolyzer in accordance with claim 21, wherein each anode has its own anode cell frame, and each cathode has its own cathode cell frame. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The pressure electrolyzer in accordance with claim 20, wherein the elastic material is an elastomer or a soft elastic thermoplastic. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The pressure electrolyzer in accordance with claim 21, wherein the elastic material is an elastomer or a soft elastic thermoplastic. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The pressure electrolyzer in accordance with claim 20, wherein the rigid element is made of a dimensionally stable material. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The pressure electrolyzer in accordance with claim 27, wherein the rigid element is made of metal or plastic. ### Claim 29 (depends on 20) The pressure electrolyzer in accordance with claim 20, wherein the rigid element is made of a dimensionally stable material. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The pressure electrolyzer in accordance with claim 29, wherein the rigid element is made of metal or plastic. ### Claim 31 (depends on 20) The pressure electrolyzer in accordance with claim 20, wherein the rigid element that forms the shell-like frame structure is made of an electrically insulating material. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The pressure electrolyzer in accordance with claim 31, wherein the rigid element is made of plastic. ### Claim 33 (depends on 20) The pressure electrolyzer in accordance with claim 20, wherein the end plates are configured to form a power supply to ends of the electrolytic cell block (3). ### Claim 34 (depends on 21) The pressure electrolyzer in accordance with claim 21, wherein the end plates are configured to form a power supply to ends of the electrolytic cell block (3).