Metal plate stack for salt water electrolysis

Abstract

This invention uses alternating galvanized steel and perforated aluminum plates to increase the extraction rate of hydrogen from salt water by electrolysis. The galvanized steel plates are wired together to form the anode while the perforated aluminum plates are also wire together to form the cathode around which the hydrogen is extracted. The perforated aluminum also reacts with the sodium hydroxide, produced during electrolysis, to release even more hydrogen from the solution. The myriad of perforations in the aluminum plates creates numerous contact points with the solution so that the electrical current can extract the hydrogen more efficiently from the salt water.

1 . A system for producing hydrogen from salt water by electrolysis using alternating metal plates as the anode and cathode. The anode plates are made from galvanized steel and the cathode plates are made from aluminum with numerous holes perforating them. In the preferred embodiment these plates form a stack of even numbered galvanized plates and an odd number of perforated aluminum plates. The galvanized steel plates are joined together by appropriate gauged wire and couplers and then attached to the positive pole of a direct current power supply in order to form the anode. The perforated aluminum plates are also joined together by wire and couplers and attached to the negative terminal in order to form the cathode around which the hydrogen is extracted. Plastic or rubber washers, bolts and nuts are used to insulate the anode plates from electrical current in the cathode plates in order to prevent a short circuit. The completed series of plates form a stack, held in place by the bolts, washers and nuts, and they are then submerged in the salt water with the electrical current supplied when ready for the electrolysis to begin. The resulting hydrogen and chlorine gases would gather above the water's surface, be separated by filters, collected and safely stored in separate tanks. 
   
   
       2 . A system according to  claim 1 , characterized by using aluminum plates with numerous holes or perforations to form the cathode in an electrolysis stack of alternating metal plates. The numerous perforations provide abundant contact points for the electrolysis of the salt water resulting in a dramatic increase in the extraction of the hydrogen. The aluminum composition of the cathode will also react with the sodium hydroxide produced during electrolysis, to release more hydrogen from the solution that would be possible using another metal for the cathode plate. This chemical reaction between the aluminum plates and the sodium hydroxide will slowly cause the aluminum plates to deteriorate eventually necessitating their replacement as part of routine maintenance. 
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 1 , characterized by using alternating metal plates, the one made from galvanized steel and the other made from aluminum with numerous perforations throughout the plate. These are mounted on plastic bolts to form a stack of plates usable for the electrolysis of salt water. In the preferred embodiment there is a galvanized steel plate at the beginning and end positions of the stack. The perforated aluminum and galvanized steel plates are alternated in position and held in place by non-conductive washers and bolts. Each perforated aluminum plate would thus be sandwiched by a galvanized plate in front of and behind it in the stack. The preferred embodiment would thus require an even number of galvanized steel plates and an odd number of perforated aluminum plates. An electrolysis stack will function with an even number of aluminum plates, but the preferred embodiment contains an extra galvanized steel plate at one end of the stack.