Device for Continuous Operation of an Electrolysis Cell Having a Gaseous Substrate and Gas Diffusion Electrode

Abstract

Various embodiments include a method for continuous operation of an electrolysis cell with a gaseous substrate, the method comprising: supplying an electrolyte to the electrolysis cell via an electrolyte feed; flowing the electrolyte out of the electrolysis cell into the gas space through a gas diffusion electrode; collecting the electrolyte from the electrolyte flow into the gas space in a collecting region in the gas space; and sucking the collected electrolyte out of said gas space via a connection between the gas space and electrolyte feed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for continuous operation of an electrolysis cell with a gaseous substrate, the method comprising:
 supplying an electrolyte to the electrolysis cell via an electrolyte feed;   flowing the electrolyte out of the electrolysis cell into the gas space through a gas diffusion electrode;   collecting the electrolyte from the electrolyte flow into the gas space in a collecting region in the gas space; and   sucking the collected electrolyte out of said gas space via a connection between the gas space and electrolyte feed.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte feed exerts a suction effect force on the gas space. 
     
     
         3 . The process as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the connection between the gas space and the electrolyte feed comprises a Venturi nozzle through which the electrolyte is fed to the electrolysis cell. 
     
     
         4 . The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte is sucked out of the gas space periodically. 
     
     
         5 . The process as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the periodic suction is triggered via a closed-loop control mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The process as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the closed-loop control mechanism is mechanical. 
     
     
         7 . The process as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein:
 the closed-loop control mechanism comprises a float in the collecting region in the gas space; and   the control mechanism enables outflow to the connection between the gas space and the electrolyte feed depending on the fill level of the electrolyte in the collecting region in the gas space.   
     
     
         8 . The process as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the suction is actuated by a valve controlling the connection between the gas space and the electrolyte feed. 
     
     
         9 . The process as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein:
 the valve is coupled to a fill level sensor for electrolyte in the gas space via a closed-loop controller; and   the valve is controlled with reference to a measurement by a fill level sensor.   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for continuous operation of an electrolysis cell with a gaseous substrate, the apparatus comprising:
 an anode and   a cathode,   wherein at least one of the anode and cathode takes the form of a gas diffusion electrode;   a cell space configured be filled with an electrolyte and into which the anode and cathode are at least partly disposed;   an electrolyte feed into the cell space;   a gas space to feed the gas diffusion electrode with a gaseous substrate, the gas space disposed on a side of the gas diffusion electrode remote from the cell space;   a feed to feed the gas space with the gaseous substrate;   a collecting region in the gas space configured to collect electrolyte in the gas space; and   a connection between the gas space and the electrolyte feed to remove electrolyte that has collected in the collecting region in the gas space from said gas space.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the connection between the gas space and the feed for electrolyte comprises a Venturi nozzle. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising a closed-loop control mechanism to control the removal of the electrolyte from the collecting region in the gas space. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein:
 the closed-loop control mechanism comprises a float disposed in the collecting region in the gas space; and   the control mechanism periodically breaks the connection between the gas space and the feed for electrolyte.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the float comprises a cone or frustocone, wherein the tip of the cone or the circular face of the frustocone having the smaller size projects into the connection between the gas space and the feed for electrolyte. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein:
 the closed-loop control mechanism comprises a valve in the connection between the gas space and the feed for electrolyte coupled to a fill level sensor in the gas space and a closed-loop controller;   the fill level sensor and the closed-loop controller control the valve in the connection between the gas space and the feed for electrolyte depending on the fill level of the electrolyte in the gas space.