US 2020/0348113 A1 · SELF-REGULATING ELECTROLYTIC GAS GENERATOR AND IMPLANT SYSTEM COMPRISING THE SAME

Abstract

Self-regulating electrolytic gas generator and implant system including the same. In one embodiment, the electrolytic gas generator is a water electrolyzer and includes a polymer electrolyte membrane with an anode on one side and a cathode on the other side. Anode and cathode seals surround the peripheries of the anode and cathode and include inlets for water and outlets for oxygen and hydrogen, respectively. A cathode current collector is placed in contact with the cathode, and an anode current collector, which may be an elastic, electrically-conductive diaphragm, is positioned proximate to the anode. The anode current collector is reversibly deformable between a first state in which it is in direct physical and electrical contact with the anode and a second state in which it distends, due to gas pressure generated at the anode, so that it is not in physical or electrical contact with the anode, causing electrolysis to cease.

Claims30

Dependent claims

An electrolytic gas generator for electrolyzing a reactant to generate at least a first gas, the electrolytic gas generator comprising:

(a) a polymer electrolyte membrane, the polymer electrolyte membrane having opposing first and second faces;
(b) a first electrode, the first electrode being electrically coupled to the first face of the polymer electrolyte membrane;
(c) a second electrode, the second electrode being electrically coupled to the second face of the polymer electrolyte membrane;
(d) a first current collector, the first current collector being electrically-conductive and being reversibly deformable between a first state in which the first current collector is electrically coupled to the first electrode and a second state in which the first current collector is at least partially electrically disconnected from the first electrode;
(e) a second current collector, the second current collector being electrically-conductive and being electrically coupled to the second electrode;
and
(f) a power source, the power source being electrically coupled to the first current collector and to the second current collector;
(g) whereby, when the first current collector is in the first state and the reactant is supplied to the electrolytic gas generator, a first gas is generated at the interface of the first electrode and the polymer electrolyte membrane.

5 more elements

An electrolytic gas generator for electrolyzing water to generate oxygen and hydrogen gases, the electrolytic gas generator comprising:

(a) a polymer electrolyte membrane, the polymer electrolyte membrane having opposing first and second faces;
(b) a first electrode, the first electrode being electrically coupled to the first face of the polymer electrolyte membrane;
(c) a second electrode, the second electrode being electrically coupled to the second face of the polymer electrolyte membrane;
(d) a first current collector, the first current collector being electrically-conductive and being reversibly deformable, when subjected to gas pressure, between a first state in which the first current collector is electrically coupled to the first electrode and a second state in which the first current collector is at least partially electrically disconnected from the first electrode;
(e) a second current collector, the second current collector being electrically-conductive and being electrically coupled to the second electrode;
(f) a first seal, the first seal being disposed around a periphery of the first electrode, the first seal comprising a fluid outlet for discharging one of hydrogen and oxygen generated at the first electrode;
(g) a second seal, the second seal being disposed around a periphery of the second electrode, the second seal comprising a fluid outlet for discharging the other of hydrogen and oxygen generated at the second electrode;
(h) a first endplate, the first current collector being positioned between the first endplate and the polymer electrolyte membrane;
(i) a second endplate, the second current collector being positioned between the second endplate and the polymer electrolyte membrane;
(j) wherein at least one of the first seal, the second seal, the first endplate and the second endplate has at least one inlet for admitting outside water;
and
(k) a power source, the power source being electrically coupled to the first current collector and to the second current collector;
(l) whereby, when the first current collector is in the first state and water is supplied to the electrolytic gas generator, one of hydrogen and oxygen gas is generated at the interface of the first electrode and the polymer electrolyte membrane and the other of hydrogen and oxygen is generated at the interface of the second electrode and the polymer electrolyte membrane.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Self-regulating electrolytic gas generator and implant system comprising the same

Life of this patent

Self-regulating electrolytic gas generator and implant system comprising the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30