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US 2026/0092380 A1Published application
Electrolyzer and method of use
AssigneeTwelve Benefit Corporation
InventorsSichao Ma, Sara Hunegnaw, Ziyang Huo, Kendra P. Kuhl, Etosha R. Cave, Ashley D. Mishra, Edward Izett, Alvin Leung, Timothy A. Bekkedahl
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided herein are methods for operating carbon oxide (COx) reduction reactors (CRR) and related apparatus. In some embodiments, the methods involve shutting off, reducing, or otherwise controlling current during various operation stages including hydration, break-in, normal operation, planned shut-offs, and extended shutoff or storage periods.
Claims15
A system comprising:
- a COx reduction reactor comprising one or more membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) arranged in a stack, each MEA comprising a (i) cathode comprising a COx reduction catalyst that promotes reduction of a carbon oxide, (ii) an anode comprising a catalyst that promotes oxidation, and (iii) a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) layer disposed between the cathode and the anode;
- and
- a power source controller configured to control current applied to COx reduction reactor, wherein the power source controller is configured to, at intervals, reduce the applied current density from a first current density to a reduced level, wherein the applied current density is reduced from the first current density in multiple steps.
A system comprising:
- a COx reduction reactor comprising one or more membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) arranged in a stack, each MEA comprising a (i) cathode comprising a COx reduction catalyst that promotes reduction of a carbon oxide, (ii) an anode comprising a catalyst that promotes oxidation, and (iii) a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) layer disposed between the cathode and the anode;
- and
- a power source controller configured to control current applied to COx reduction reactor, wherein the power source controller is configured to, at intervals, reduce the applied current density from a first current density to a reduced level, maintain the applied current density at the reduced level for a duration of time, and increase the applied current density from the reduced level to the first current density after the duration of time has elapsed, wherein reducing the applied current density from the first current density to the reduced level is characterized by a first current density vs. time profile, increasing the applied current density from the reduced level to the first current density is characterized by a second current density vs. time profile, and wherein the first current density vs. time profile and the second current density vs. time profile are asymmetric relative to one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.