Apparatus for on demand production of hydrogen by electrolysis of water

Abstract

Apparatus for on demand production of hydrogen by electrolysis of water including an elongated, tubular housing with a first open end and second open end, wherein the first end is closed with a first lid and the second end is closed with a second lid; a solid rod anode is arranged centrally within said tubular housing and a electrical connector of the rod anode reaches through the first lid; a plurality of tube shaped cathodes is arranged concentrically with respect to the central anode, wherein the tube shaped cathodes are arranged at a certain pitch within the tubular housing and a connector element is provided within the tubular housing for electrically connecting the tube shaped cathodes, wherein at least one connector which is attached to the connector element reaches through the first lid; at least one neutral conductive tube is placed between two consecutive tube shaped cathodes; and at least one neutral conductive tube is placed between the rod anode and the first tube shaped cathode surrounding the rod anode.

1 . Apparatus for on demand production of hydrogen by electrolysis of water comprising:
 an elongated, tubular housing with a first open end and second open end, wherein the first end is closed by a first lid and the second end is closed by a second lid;   a solid rod anode arranged centrally within said tubular housing and a electrical connector of the rod anode reaches through the first lid;   a plurality of tube shaped cathodes arranged concentrically with respect to the central anode, wherein the tube shaped cathodes are arranged at a certain pitch within the tubular housing and a connector element is provided within the tubular housing for electrically connecting the tube shaped cathodes, wherein at least one connector attached to the connector element reaches through the first lid;   at least one neutral conductive tube located between two consecutive tube shaped cathodes; and   at least one neutral conductive tube located between the rod anode and the first tube shaped cathode surrounding the rod anode.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the tube shaped cathodes has a plurality of extensions which are connected to the connector element. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein a first comb-shaped spacer structure is arranged under the first lid, the first comb-shaped spacer structure has a central opening for the solid rod anode and a plurality of spacers for the concentric arrangement of the tube shaped cathodes and neutral conductive tubes with respect to the central anode and the first comb-shaped spacer structure has plurality of cutouts, which enable passage of the extensions of the tube shaped cathodes to the connector element. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the first comb-shaped spacer structure is formed on a carrier, which has a plurality of passage openings for hydrogen and holds the connector element on the opposite side of the first comb-shaped spacer structure. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the first comb-shaped spacer structure and the carrier are made from electrically isolating material. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the electrically isolating material is polycarbonate. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first lid has an outlet nozzle for the generated hydrogen. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second lid has an inlet nozzle for water. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a second comb-shaped spacer structure is formed on an inward surface of the second lid and the comb-shaped spacer structure has a central seating for the solid rod anode. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the comb-shaped spacer structure provides spacers for the concentric arrangement of the tube shaped cathodes and neutral conductive tubes with respect to the central anode. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular housing, the first lid and the second lid are made from electrically isolating material. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the electrically isolating material is polycarbonate. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first lid has a cylindrical extension surrounding the electrical connector of the rod anode and an outlet for gas produced at the anode is attached to the cylindrical extension. 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the massive rod anode has a diameter of approximately 1 cm. 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein tube shaped cathodes and the neutral conductive tubes have a wall thickness of approximately 1 mm. 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the massive rod anode, the tube shaped cathodes and the neutral conductive tubes are made from steel, stainless steel, aluminum, palladium or titanium. 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus for on demand production of hydrogen by electrolysis of water comprising:
 an elongated, tubular housing with a first open end and second open end, wherein the first end is closed by a first lid and the second end is closed by a second lid and the tubular housing, the first lid and the second lid being made from an electrically isolating material;   a solid rod anode arranged centrally within said tubular housing and a electrical connector of the rod anode reaches through the first lid;   a plurality of tube shaped cathodes arranged concentrically with respect to the central anode, wherein the tube shaped cathodes are arranged at a certain pitch within the tubular housing and a connector element is provided within the tubular housing for electrically connecting the tube shaped cathodes, wherein two connectors which are attached to the connector element reach through the first lid; and   three neutral conductive tubes located between the rod anode and the first tube shaped cathode surrounding the rod anode and three neutral conductive tubes are located between every two of consecutive tube shaped cathodes arranged in the tube shaped housing.   
     
     
         18 . Apparatus for on demand production of hydrogen by electrolysis of water comprising:
 an elongated, tubular housing with a first open end and second open end, wherein the first end is closed with a first lid and the second end is closed with a second lid and the tubular housing, the first lid and the second lid being made from an electrically isolating material;   a solid rod anode is arranged centrally within said tubular housing and a electrical connector of the rod anode reaches through the first lid;   a plurality of tube shaped cathodes arranged concentrically with respect to the central anode, wherein the tube shaped cathodes are arranged at a certain pitch within the tubular housing and a connector element is provided within the tubular housing for electrically connecting the tube shaped cathodes, wherein at least one connector attached to the connector element reaches through the first lid;   three neutral conductive tubes located between the rod anode and the first tube shaped cathode surrounding the rod anode and three neutral conductive tubes are located between every two of consecutive tube shaped cathodes arranged inside the tube shaped housing;   a second comb-shaped spacer structure formed on an inward surface of the second lid and the comb-shaped structure has a central seating for the solid rod anode and a plurality of concentrically arranged notches for holding the tube shaped cathodes and the neutral conductive tubes in place;   a first comb-shaped spacer structure arranged under the first lid, the first comb-shaped spacer structure has a central opening for the solid rod anode and a plurality of notches for holding the tube shaped cathodes and neutral conductive tubes in place; and   the first comb-shaped spacer structure having plurality of cutouts enabling passage of the extensions of the tube shaped cathodes to the connector element.