Apparatus with Cold Anode for High-Temperature Electrolytic Hydrogen Loading and Hydrogen Generation

Abstract

An apparatus comprising a vessel containing an electrically conductive electrolyte. The electrolyte contains hydrogen. A cathode and anode are disposed in the electrolyte and are connected to a source of electrical power. A portion of the vessel interior is in a hot zone, and a portion is in a cool zone. The cathode is disposed in the hot zone and the anode is disposed in the cool zone. The electrolyte is in contact with both the cathode and anode and is continuous between the cathode and anode such that it conducts an electrical current between the cathode and anode. Because the anode is at a temperature lower than the cathode, anodic corrosion is greatly reduced and the apparatus can be operated continuously for long periods.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for electrolysis and hydrogen loading, comprising:
 a) a hollow vessel with an interior volume, wherein a portion of the interior volume is in a hot zone and a portion of the interior volume is in a cool zone;   b) an electrically conductive electrolyte disposed in the vessel;   c) a cathode disposed inside the vessel in the hot zone, and in contact with the conductive electrolyte;   d) an anode disposed inside the vessel in the cool zone, and in contact with the conductive electrolyte   wherein the hot zone is at a temperature of at least 125 C, and the cool zone is at a temperature of at most 200 C, and the cathode is at least 25 C hotter than the anode; and   wherein the electrolyte is fluidically continuous between the hot zone and the cool zone such that the electrolyte conducts an electrical current between the anode and cathode.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an anode tube that extends between the hot zone and cool zone, wherein the anode tube contains the electrolyte that conducts an electrical current between the anode and cathode. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an anode electrical feedthrough disposed in the cool zone, and a cathode electrical feedthrough disposed in the cool zone. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a porous barrier disposed in the path of the electrical current, wherein the porous barrier is conductive to an ionic current flowing through the electrolyte. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein electrolyte on a cool anode side of the porous barrier contains an ionic solute for increasing electrical conductivity, and electrolyte on a hot cathode side of the porous barrier contains a lower concentration of the ionic solute. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cathode comprises a crucible comprising electrically insulating material with at least one porous sidewall, and and a powder comprising electrically conductive particles disposed in the crucible. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the powder contains boron enriched in boron-10 or lithium. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the hot zone is at a temperature of at least 200 C, and the cool zone is at a temperature of at most 150 C. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for electrolysis and hydrogen loading, comprising:
 a) a hollow vessel with an interior volume, wherein a portion of the interior volume is in a hot zone and a portion of the interior volume is in a cool zone;   b) an electrically conductive electrolyte disposed in the vessel;   c) a cathode disposed inside the vessel in the hot zone, and in contact with the conductive electrolyte, wherein the cathode comprises a crucible with at least one porous wall permeable to the electrolyte and conductive to electrical current in the electrolyte, and a powder comprising electrically conductive particles disposed in the crucible;   d) an anode disposed inside the vessel in the cool zone, and in contact with the conductive electrolyte   wherein the hot zone is at a temperature of at least 125 C, and the cool zone is at a temperature of at most 200 C, and the cathode is at least 50 C hotter than the anode; and   wherein the electrolyte is fluidically continuous between the hot zone and the cool zone such that the electrolyte conducts an electrical current between the anode and cathode.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an anode tube that extends between the hot zone and cool zone, wherein the anode tube contains the electrolyte that conducts an electrical current between the anode and cathode. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising a porous barrier disposed in the path of the electrical current, wherein the porous barrier is conductive to an ionic current flowing through the electrolyte. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein electrolyte on a cool anode side of the porous barrier contains an ionic solute for increasing electrical conductivity, and electrolyte on a hot cathode side of the porous barrier contains a lower concentration of the ionic solute. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the powder comprises a mixture of conductive particles and nonconductive particles. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the powder contains boron enriched in boron-10 or lithium. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the hot zone is at a temperature of at least 200 C, and the cool zone is at a temperature of at most 150 C. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for electrolysis and hydrogen loading, comprising:
 a) a hollow vessel with an interior volume, wherein a portion of the interior volume is in a hot zone and a portion of the interior volume is in a cool zone;   b) a hydrogen-containing, conductive electrolyte disposed in the vessel;   c) a cathode disposed inside the vessel in the hot zone, and in contact with the conductive electrolyte,   d) an anode disposed inside the vessel in the cool zone, and in contact with the conductive electrolyte   wherein the hot zone is at a temperature of at least 125 C, and the cool zone is at a temperature of at most 200 C, and the cathode is at least 25 C hotter than the anode; and   wherein the electrolyte is fluidically continuous between the hot zone and the cool zone such that the electrolyte conducts an electrical current between the anode and cathode;   5) an electrical power supply electrically connected to the cathode and anode.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising an anode tube that extends between the hot zone and cool zone, wherein the anode tube contains the electrolyte that conducts an electrical current between the anode and cathode. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising a porous barrier disposed in the path of the electrical current, wherein the porous barrier is conductive to an ionic current flowing through the electrolyte. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the cathode comprises a crucible comprising electrically insulating material with at least one porous sidewall, and a powder comprising electrically conductive particles disposed in the crucible. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the powder contains boron enriched in boron-10 or lithium.