Device for electrochemical generation of gas
AssigneeCeramatec, Inc.
InventorsAshok V. Joshi, John H. Gordon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for generating controlled quantities of gas at predictable rates from an electrochemical cell containing a decomposable metal carbonate, bicarbonate or basic carbonate is disclosed. The cell provides more than one molecule of gas from the anode per 4 electrons passing through the cell circuit. The generated gas is comprised of carbon dioxide or a mixture of carbon dioxide and oxygen.
Claims27
A device for electrochemically generating carbon dioxide gas or a mixture of carbon dioxide and oxygen gases in an adjustable quantity proportional to the cell current, comprising:
- an electrochemical cell having a corrosion resistant container or housing;
- a cathode chamber containing an electronically conductive current collector and adapted to contain a reducible material;
- an anode chamber containing an electronically conductive current collector and adapted to contain an oxidizable material wherein said oxidizable material is a metal carbonate, metal bicarbonate, or combination thereof, and wherein the anode chamber structure has perforations or diffusion pores to permit gas to be released;
- an ionically conductive separator between the anode chamber and cathode chamber structured to maintain physical separation of the materials in each chamber;
- and
- optionally a switch and variable or fixed resistor forming a circuit with said power source and electrochemical cell.
A device for electrochemically generating carbon dioxide gas or a mixture of carbon dioxide and oxygen gases in an adjustable quantity proportional to the cell current, comprising:
- an electrochemical cell having a corrosion-resistant container or housing;
- a cathode which includes as a constituent a reducible metal carbonate or basic carbonate and an electronically conductive current collector:
- an anode with hydrophilic and hydrophobic zones with an electronically conductive current collector therebetween, and where the anode structure has perforations to permit gas to be released;
- an ionically conductive, microporous, separator between the anode and cathode;
- and a direct current (D.C) power source.
A substantially sealed device for electrochemically generating carbon dioxide gas or a mixture of carbon dioxide and oxygen gases in an adjustable quantity proportional to the cell current, comprising:
- an electrochetnical cell having a corrosion resistant container or housing;
- a sealed cathode chamber containing a reducible material and an electronically conductive current collector;
- a substantially sealed anode chamber containing an oxidizable material and an electronically conductive current collector wherein said oxidizable material is a metal carbonate, metal bicarbonate, or combination thereof, and wherein the anode chamber structure has perforations or diffusion pores to permit gas to be released;
- an ionically conductive separator between the anode chamber and cathode chamber structured to maintain physical separation of the materials in each chamber;
- and
- optionally a switch and variable or fixed resistor forming a circuit with said power source and electrochemical cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.