System and method for generation of gases

Abstract

Provided are electrochemical cells and methods for generating hydrogen gas and oxygen gas.

1 .- 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . An electrochemical system for generating hydrogen gas and/or oxygen gas, the system comprising:
 at least one stack of two or more electrochemical thermally activated chemical (ETAC) cells, each cell configured for holding an aqueous solution and comprising at least one electrode assembly,   a control unit configured to operate the two or more cells in each stack in a continuous hydrogen or oxygen generation mode,   wherein the continuous mode comprises two or more operation cycles, each independently comprising alternating non-parallel hydrogen gas and oxygen gas generation periods.   
     
     
         45 . The system according to  claim 44 , the system comprising:
 at least one stack of two or more ETAC cells, each of said at least one stack being configured for holding an aqueous solution and comprising at least one electrode assembly, each having a cathode electrode and an anode electrode,   said cathode electrode being configured to affect reduction of water in said aqueous solution in response to an applied electrical bias, to thereby generate hydrogen gas.   
     
     
         46 . The system according to  claim 44 , comprising a heat source or a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         47 . The system according to  claim 44 , wherein the electrode assembly is provided in a form of a roll in said cells. 
     
     
         48 . The system according to  claim 44 , wherein the control unit is further configured to operate the two or more cells in accordance with a predetermined operational pattern, wherein the operational pattern provides for each cell in the two or more cells an output in a form of at least one of mode selector and operational parameter selector. 
     
     
         49 . The system according to  claim 44 , wherein the control unit is further configured to operate the two or more cells in accordance with a predetermined operational pattern, wherein the operational pattern provides an output comprising at least one of (i) applied bias, (ii) timing for operation, and (iii) duration of operation of each of the two or more cells. 
     
     
         50 . The system according to  claim 49 , wherein the operational pattern further provides a temperature value for each of the two or more cells. 
     
     
         51 . A method of generating hydrogen gas and/or oxygen gas, the method comprising:
 in a system comprising at least one stack of two or more electrochemical thermally activated chemical (E-TAC) cells, each cell containing an aqueous solution, and comprising an electrode assembly having a cathode electrode and an anode electrode and at least two of said two or more cells are non-partitioned cells,   wherein the method is operable in a continuous mode comprising two or more operation cycles, such that the continuous mode comprises two or more operation cycles, each independently comprising alternating non-parallel generation of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas generation periods.