Electrolysis tube Electrolyzer

Electrolysis is carried out at a temperature of 70 to 75° C which is maintained by a suitable cooling of the electrolyte. This is done by allowing the electrolyte to circulate through an annular space between the outer electron pipe and an inner nickel pipe through which water flows. The circulation is actuated by a propeller revolving near the opening which connects the electrolyzer to the outer tube. At the other end of the vessel where the electrolyte returns to the electrolyzer, a nickel cooler is suspended, which helps the melt to cool and maintains the desired temperature. 

Electrolyzers are today commercially viable only in selected industrial gas applications (excepting various noncommercial military and aerospace applications). Commercial applications include the previously mentioned remote fertilizer market in which natural gas feedstock is not available. The other major commercial market for electrolysis today is the distributed, or merchant, industrial hydrogen market. This merchant market involves hydrogen delivered by truck in various containers. Large containers are referred to as tube trailers. An industrial gas company will deliver a full tube trailer to a customer and take the empty trailer back for refilling. Customers with smaller-scale requirements are served by cylinders that are delivered by truck and literally installed by hand. 

The electrolytic cell contains a U-shaped tube, with two parallel, helically wound, platinum electrodes. A thin film of P205 is deposited between the electrodes this substance readily absorbs the water from the carrier gas. The absorbed water transforms the P2Os to H3P04, a conductor. A voltage on the platinum electrodes then electrolyzes the absorbed water to H2 and 02. The current required for this electrolysis is integrated, scaled, and displayed on a digital readout device. Water levels as low as 1 ppm or as high as 10,000 ppm can be determined. 

Based on that, a large scale electrolysis system with 100 MW will then need approx. 36,000 1 of tap water per hour or 600 1 per min. The corresponding water flow rate is comparable with the water flow of two big fire brigade tubes under peak load. Water pumps with these dimensions are certainly available on the market, but a puffer for deionized water will be necessary to compensate the dynamical operation of the PEM electrolyzer, respectively to balance possible pressure fluctuations. 

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