Electrolysis Cell or Electrode Plate with a Gas Diffusion Electrode

An electrode plate comprising:

• a gas diffusion electrode;
• and
• an electrolysis cell having a housing with an anode;
• wherein the gas diffusion electrode is connected as a cathode, wherein both the anode and the cathode are brought into contact with an electrolyte in an electrolyte space;
• the gas diffusion electrode having an electrolyte side and a gas side, the gas diffusion electrode separating the electrolyte space from a gas space for a reaction gas;
• a support body disposed in the gas space with a contact surface in contact with the gas side of the gas diffusion electrode;
• wherein the gas space comprises a first channel system and a second channel system;
• wherein the first channel system and the second channel system run separately from one another and thus form two separate volumes of the gas space;
• and
• the first channel system and the second channel system each have openings in the contact surface of the support body.
• wherein the gas diffusion electrode is fastened on the gas side to a contact side of a plate-like support body.

A method for operating an electrolysis cell, the method comprising:

• supplying an electrolyte to a electrolyte side of a gas diffusion electrode;
• and
• supplying a reaction gas to a gas side of the gas diffusion electrode;
• wherein a support body disposed in the gas space has a contact surface in contact with the gas side of the gas diffusion electrode;
• wherein the gas space comprises a first channel system and a second channel system;
• wherein the first channel system and the second channel system run separately from one another and thus form two separate volumes of the gas space;
• and
• wherein the first channel system and the second channel system each have openings in the contact surface of the support body;
• and
• reversing a flow direction of the reaction gas in the first channel system and the second channel system at least once during an electrolysis operation.