Water gas electrolyzer apparatus

Apparatus for producing water gas by electrolysis from carbon and water comprising:

• an electrically conductive containment vessel;
• a carbon lining disposed upon lower portions of an inner surface of said containment vessel;
• a supply of pulverized carbon-containing material positioned inside said containment vessel and being surrounded on all but an upper side by said carbon lining;
• a supply of water containing a conductivity-increasing solute covering said supply of carbon-containing material;
• a perforated electrically conductive plate electrode covered by said water and contacting an electrically insulating material separating said conductive plate electrode from said upper side of said supply of carbon-containing material, wherein said conductive plate electrode is copper or contains copper;
• an electrically conductive rod coupled to said conductive plate electrode and extending through an aperture in said containment vessel;
• means for sealably insulating said conductive rod from said containment vessel;
• and
• means for applying an electrical potential between said containment vessel and said conductive rod.

Self-regulating apparatus for producing water gas by electrolysis from carbon and water comprising:

• a containment vessel;
• a supply of water within said vessel containing a conductivity-increasing solute and leaving an open volume at a top portion of said containment vessel;
• at least one rod of carbon-containing material positioned within said containment vessel;
• means for making electrical connection to each said rod;
• an electrically conductive tube surrounding a major portion of each said rod extending above the water level in said containment vessel with a water-containing space around each rod extending to a lower end of each tube above a bottom surface of said containment vessel and having an opening above said water level, wherein said electrically conductive tube is copper or contains copper;
• and
• an outlet pipe coupled to said containment vessel at an upper portion thereof.