Electrolysis Cell Electrolyte Pumping System

Abstract

A system for pumping electrolyte through an electrolysis cell where the pressure of at least a portion of the gas generated by the electrolysis cell is used as driving force for the pumping. The system may include an electrolyte reservoir and a pumping chamber connected via an inlet conduit to receive electrolyte from the electrolysis cell and connected via an outlet conduit to flow electrolyte to the electrolysis cell. The pumping chamber is connected to the electrolysis cell to receive at least a portion of the gas generated by the electrolysis cell to elevate the pressure of the electrolyte therein and force it into the electrolysis cell.

1 . A system for pumping electrolyte through an electrolysis cell characterized in that the pressure of at least a portion of the gas generated by the electrolysis cell is used as driving force for the pumping. 
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the electrolysis cell includes an electrolyte pressure and wherein the at least a portion of the gas generated includes a pumping gas pressure and wherein the electrolyte pressure is coupled with the pumping gas pressure in such a way that any differential pressure between the electrolyte and the at least a portion of the gas generated is as high as that differential pressure selected for operation of the electrolysis cell. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2  wherein the at least a portion of the gas generated is a first gas and the electrolysis cell generates a second gas and wherein the pressures of both the first gas and the second gas are coupled in such a way that the differential pressure between the two gases is as high as that differential pressure selected for the operation of the electrolysis cell. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the at least a portion of the gas generated is pressure controlled to maintain an operational gas pressure within the electrolysis cell. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the flow of electrolyte through the electrolysis cell has an electrolyte pressure and is pressure controlled to maintain an operational electrolyte pressure within the electrolysis cell. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 5  wherein the at least a portion of the gas generated has a gas pressure and is pressure controlled to maintain an operational gas pressure within the electrolysis cell and the gas pressure of the at least a portion of the gas generated is monitored and adjusted against the electrolyte pressure to maintain an operational pressure differential within the electrolysis cell. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 5  wherein the at least a portion of the gas generated has a gas pressure and the gas pressure is directly coupled to the electrolyte pressure in such a way that any differential pressure between the electrolyte and the at least a portion of the gas generated is as high as that differential pressure selected for operation of the electrolysis cell. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1  further comprising an electrolyte reservoir and a pumping chamber connected via an inlet conduit to receive electrolyte from the electrolysis cell and connected via an outlet conduit to flow electrolyte to the electrolysis cell. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8  further comprising a pressure control in the inlet conduit and a pressure control in the outlet conduit to pressure isolate the electrolyte of the electrolysis cell from the electrolyte reservoir and from the pumping chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 8  wherein the electrolyte reservoir is pressure isolatable from the pumping chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the electrolysis cell generates a second gas portion, which is passed to an application other than pumping the electrolyte. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the electrolysis cell operates at an elevated pressure greater than ambient and the system operates to pump electrolyte while maintaining the elevated pressure in the electrolysis cell. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the system circulates electrolyte from the electrolysis cell to an electrolyte reservoir, then to an electrolyte pumping chamber and then by drive of the at least a portion of the gas generated back to the electrolysis cell. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the at least a portion of the gas generated is applied to an electrolyte pumping chamber to elevate the pressure of the electrolyte therein and force it into the electrolysis cell. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14  further comprising an electrolyte reservoir to receive electrolyte pumped from the electrolysis cell and then pass the electrolyte to the electrolyte pumping chamber when pressures are equalized between the electrolyte pumping chamber and the electrolyte reservoir. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15  wherein the at least a portion of the gas generated has a gas pressure and the gas pressure is communicated to, and regulated to be substantially maintained in, the electrolyte pumping chamber and the electrolyte reservoir to maintain an operational pressure differential between the electrolyte and the at least a portion of the gas generated within the electrolysis cell.