Electrolysis apparatus

Abstract

An electrolysis apparatus has a number of membrane electrolysis cells. Each of the cells has a membrane formed on both sides with a contact layer. The apparatus, while it is compact in its design, is also suitable for comparatively high hydrogen production rates and can consequently be used particularly flexibly. A contact plate is respectively arranged on each contact layer. Each of the contact plates is formed, on its surface facing the contact layer assigned to it, with a system of ducts for the transport of water and/or gas.

I claim:  
     
       1. An electrolysis apparatus adapted for electrolytical decomposition of a fluid selected from the group consisting of water and gas, comprising: 
       a plurality of membrane electrolysis cells each having a membrane formed with a contact layer on both sides thereof;  
       a contact plate disposed on each of said contact layers and having a surface facing a respective said contact layer; and  
       each said contact plate having a plurality of concentric circular segments of ducts formed in said surface facing said contact layer for transporting the fluid along said ducts.  
     
     
       2. The electrolysis apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said membrane electrolysis cells are electrically connected in series. 
     
     
       3. The electrolysis apparatus according to  claim 1 , which further comprises a porous conductor plate disposed between each said contact layer and a respective said contact plate. 
     
     
       4. The electrolysis apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each said plurality of ducts disposed on the two sides of a respective said membrane are connected to be fed with the fluid independently of one another. 
     
     
       5. The electrolysis apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said membrane electrolysis cells are arranged in a stack, and including a housing receiving said stack, said housing having an end face with a fixing element for bracing said membrane electrolysis cells to one another. 
     
     
       6. An electrolysis apparatus adapted for electrolytical decomposition of a fluid selected from the group consisting of water and gas, comprising: 
       a plurality of membrane electrolysis cells each having a membrane formed with a contact layer on both sides thereof;  
       a contact plate disposed on each of said contact layers and having a surface facing a respective said contact layer;  
       each said contact plate having a system of ducts formed in said surface facing said contact layer for transporting the fluid along said ducts; and  
       an analysis unit electrically connected to at least one of said contact layers, said analysis unit adapted to analyze a voltage signal of said membrane when a power supply to said membrane is switched off.  
     
     
       7. The electrolysis apparatus according to  claim 6 , which further comprises a sensor for determining a purity of a gas connected to said analysis unit.