Electrochemistry method having improved efficiency and associated electrochemical reactor such as a high temperature electrolyser (eht)

Abstract

An electrochemistry method to produce a reaction gas of a lesser molar mass than that of an initial constituent of gas or vapor, according to which the gas or vapor of the initial constituent is made to flow, and the reaction gas is recovered in the path in which the initial constituent is made to flow. At least one vortex is created in a zone upstream from the reaction gas recovery zone, wherein the vortex can separate the produced reaction gas from the initial constituent still present to subject the initial constituent to an electrochemical process in the upstream zone. In a high-temperature water electrolysis application according to the method, by the vortex, the produced hydrogen is separated from the surplus steam to subject the surplus stream to an electrolytic process within the electrolyser itself.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . An electrochemistry method to produce a reaction gas of lesser molar mass than that of an initial constituent in a form of gas or vapor, the method comprising:
 making the gas or vapor of the initial constituent to flow; and   recovering the reaction gas in the path wherein the initial constituent is made to flow,   wherein at least one vortex is created in a zone upstream from the reaction gas recovery zone, and   wherein the vortex can separate the produced reaction gas from the initial constituent which is still present, to subject the initial constituent to an electrochemical process in the upstream zone.   
     
     
         15 . A method of high-temperature electrolysis of water according to  claim 14 , implemented by at least one elementary electrolysis cell formed of a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte inserted between the cathode and the anode, according to which steam at least, in contact with the cathode, is made to flow from an inlet end to an outlet end, through which end the produced hydrogen is recovered, and according to which at least one vortex is created in a zone upstream from the outlet end, wherein the vortex can separate the produced hydrogen from the steam which is still present to subject the steam to an electrolytic process in the upstream zone. 
     
     
         16 . An electrolysis method according to  claim 15  at temperatures of between 700° C. and 1000° C. 
     
     
         17 . An electrolysis method according to  claim 15 , according to which multiple vortices in parallel with one another are created in the zone upstream from the outlet end. 
     
     
         18 . An electrolysis method according to  claim 15 , according to which multiple vortices in series relative to one another are created in the zone upstream from the outlet end. 
     
     
         19 . An electrolysis method according to  claim 14 , according to which each vortex is created with a tangential speed at least equal to 80 m/s, or greater than 100 m/s. 
     
     
         20 . An electrolysis method according to  claim 14 , according to which each vortex is created to obtain acceleration. 
     
     
         21 . An electrochemical reactor comprising:
 a stack of elementary electrolysis cells, each formed of a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte sandwiched between the cathode and the anode;   at least one interconnecting plate fitted between two adjacent elementary cells, and in electrical contact with an electrode of one of the two elementary cells and an electrode of the other of the two elementary cells, wherein the interconnecting plate delimits at least one cathodic compartment and at least one anodic compartment for fluids to flow respectively in the cathode and in the anode; and   means to create at least one vortex in a zone upstream from the outlet end of the cathodic compartments and/or anodic compartments.   
     
     
         22 . An electrochemical reactor according to  claim 21 , in which the means to create the vortex/vortices includes holes pierced in the at least one interconnecting plate upstream from the outlet end of the cathodic compartments. 
     
     
         23 . A reactor according to  claim 22 , wherein the diameter of the holes is less than 1 mm. 
     
     
         24 . A plate, configured to be used as an interconnecting plate in a reactor according to  claim 21 , comprising:
 an assembly of two partially buckled plates forming dished recesses in a form of grooves, wherein the assembly includes at least one aperture, each of which traverses both assembled metal plates, and made in a zone which is dished in a different manner to the recesses, at an end of the grooves,   wherein holes traverse a single one of both metal plates, the holes also being made in the differently dished zone at the end of the grooves, and being distributed on the periphery of the aperture, and   wherein the diameter of the holes is of order of 1 mm or less, and the assembly of both metal plates in the differently dished zone delimits a passage between the two metal plates, and between the holes and the aperture on the periphery of which they are made.   
     
     
         25 . A plate according to  claim 24 , wherein there is an even number of holes. 
     
     
         26 . A plate according to  claim 24 , wherein the end of the grooves is made such that a gas jet or blend of gas and vapor is created in the end, and wherein the jet also has an outflow tangential to one of the holes.