Unitized electrolyzer apparatus

Abstract

A unitized electrolyzer apparatus for generating hydrogen gas at high pressure. According to one embodiment, the apparatus includes a pressure-containment vessel, a water electrolyzer stack, and a water supply. The water electrolyzer stack is mounted on or in the vessel and is used to generate hydrogen gas for containment in the vessel at high pressure. The water supply is contained within the vessel, the water supply being fluidly coupled to the water electrolyzer stack to provide a cathode feeding of water to the water electrolyzer stack.

1 . An electrolyzer apparatus comprising:
 (a) a pressure-containment vessel;   (b) a water electrolyzer stack, said water electrolyzer stack being mounted on or in said vessel, said water electrolyzer stack generating hydrogen gas for containment in said pressure-containment vessel at high pressure; and   (c) a water supply, said water supply being disposed within said pressure-containment vessel, said water supply being fluidly coupled to said water electrolyzer stack in such a way as to provide said water electrolyzer stack with water to be electrolyzed.   
     
     
         2 . The electrolyzer apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said water electrolyzer stack comprises a plurality of proton exchange membrane electrolysis cells arranged in series in a bipolar configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The electrolyzer apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  wherein each of the proton exchange membrane electrolysis cells has an anode side and a cathode side and wherein said water supply is fluidly coupled to said water electrolyzer to feed water to the cathode side of the electrolysis cells. 
     
     
         4 . The electrolyzer apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the water supply comprises a combination separator/water tank disposed within said pressure-containment vessel, said combination separator/water tank holding a quantity of water for supply to the water electrolyzer stack. 
     
     
         5 . The electrolyzer apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the water electrolyzer comprises a cathode output port and wherein said combination separator/water tank is fluidly coupled to the cathode output port of the water electrolyzer stack. 
     
     
         6 . The electrolyzer apparatus as claimed in  claim 5  further comprising a cooling coil disposed within the pressure-containment vessel, the cooling coil having an input end fluidly coupled to the combination separator/water tank so as to receive gas disposed within the combination separator/water tank. 
     
     
         7 . The electrolyzer apparatus as claimed in  claim 5  further comprising a second separator disposed within the pressure-containment vessel, said second separator being fluidly coupled to an outlet end of the cooling coil to separate fluids received from said cooling coil. 
     
     
         8 . The electrolyzer apparatus as claimed in  claim 7  further comprising a desiccant dryer disposed within the pressure-containment vessel, the desiccant dryer being fluidly coupled to the second separator to receive gas disposed within said second separator. 
     
     
         9 . The electrolyzer apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the water supply comprises a quantity of water in direct contact with the pressure-containment vessel. 
     
     
         10 . The electrolyzer apparatus as claimed in  claim 9  further comprising means fluidly interconnecting said water supply and said water electrolyzer stack. 
     
     
         11 . The electrolyzer apparatus as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said fluidly interconnecting means comprise a pump. 
     
     
         12 . The electrolyzer apparatus as claimed in  claim 11  further comprising at least one water level sensor for sensing the water level within the pressure-containment vessel.