Method and apparatus for producing and separating combustible gasses

Abstract

The electrolysing apparatus ( 10 ) produces and separates combustible fluid, particularly combustible fluid containing predominately oxygen and hydrogen, formed during the electrolysis of an electrolytic solution disposed in the apparatus ( 10 ). The apparatus ( 10 ) comprises a first outer electrode ( 12 ), being an anode, a second outer electrode ( 14 ), being a cathode and two spaced apart foraminous members, a first foraminous member ( 16 ) and a second foraminous member ( 18 ), arranged generally parallel to one another and located between the two end electrodes ( 12 and 14 ).

1 . A method for separating combustible fluid produced from an electrolytic solution during a process of electrolysis including the steps of:
 providing an electrolytic solution;   providing an electrolysing apparatus having first and second spaced apart foraminous members, defining a first chamber between them, having at least one inlet, and both foraminous members being located between first and second electrodes so that a first combustible fluid collection chamber, having a first combustible fluid outlet, is defined between the first foraminous member and the first electrode and a second combustible fluid collection chamber, having a second combustible fluid outlet is defined between the second foraminous member and the second electrode;   passing the solution into the first chamber via an inlet, so that the solution passes simultaneously through both foraminous members into the first and second combustible fluid collection chambers; and applying a voltage across the electrodes to electrolyse the solution in the first and second combustible fluid collection chambers, so that a first combustible fluid forms in the first combustible fluid collection chamber and a second combustible fluid forms in the second combustible fluid collection chamber, and the first combustible fluid passes out of the first combustible fluid collection chamber via the first combustible fluid outlet and the second combustible fluid passes out of the second combustible fluid collection chamber via the second combustible fluid outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrodes are a first outer electrode and a second outer electrode and the method includes providing a plurality of intermediate floating electrodes. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first foraminous member and the second foraminous member defining the first chamber and having at least one inlet, are together a set of foraminous members, and the method includes providing a plurality of sets of foraminous members arranged in a back-to-back configuration with one intermediate floating electrode disposed between adjacent sets of foraminous members. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrolysing apparatus defines at least one inlet passage in fluid flow communication with all of the inlets and the method includes passing the solution into the first chambers of all of the sets of foraminous members via the inlet passage. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrolysing apparatus defines at least one first combustible fluid outlet passage in fluid flow communication with all of the first combustible fluid outlets and a second combustible fluid outlet passage in fluid flow communication with all of the second combustible fluid outlets, the arrangement being such that the first combustible fluid formed in the first combustible fluid collection chamber passes out of the apparatus via the first combustible fluid outlet passage and the second combustible fluid formed in the second combustible fluid collection chamber passes out of the apparatus via the second combustible fluid outlet passage. 
     
     
         6 . An electrolysing apparatus in which combustible fluid produced from an electrolytic solution during a process of electrolysis is separated comprising:
 first and second spaced apart electrodes;   first and second spaced apart foraminous members located between the first and second electrodes;   a first chamber defined between the first and second foraminous members;   a first combustible fluid collection chamber defined between the first foraminous member and the first electrode;   a second combustible fluid collection chamber defined between the second foraminous member and the second electrode;   at least one inlet into the first chamber for the electrolytic solution;   a first combustible fluid outlet from the first combustible fluid collection chamber, and   a second combustible fluid outlet from the second combustible fluid collection chamber, the arrangement being such that the electrolytic solution passes into the first chamber via the inlet and passes simultaneously through both foraminous members into the first and second combustible fluid collection chambers respectively where electrolysis takes place; and such that a first combustible fluid forms in the first combustible fluid collection chamber; and such that a second combustible fluid forms in the second combustible fluid collection chamber; and such that the first combustible fluid passes out of the first combustible fluid collection chamber via the first combustible fluid outlet; and such that the second combustible fluid passes out of the second combustible fluid collection chamber via the second combustible fluid outlet.   
     
     
         7 . The electrolysing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the first electrode is a first outer electrode and the second electrode is a second outer electrode, and the apparatus includes a plurality of intermediate floating electrodes. 
     
     
         8 . The electrolysing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the first foraminous member and the second foraminous member defining the first chamber and having the at least one inlet, are a set of foraminous members and the apparatus includes a plurality of sets of foraminous members connected to one another in a back-to-back configuration with one intermediate floating electrode positioned between adjacent sets of foraminous members. 
     
     
         9 . The electrolysing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the apparatus includes a gasket positioned in the peripheral region between the two foraminous members forming the set of foraminous members. 
     
     
         10 . The electrolysing apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the gasket is a first gasket and the electrolysing apparatus includes a plurality of second gaskets, each positioned in the peripheral region between adjacent sets of foraminous members, surrounding the outer periphery of the intermediate floating electrode. 
     
     
         11 . The electrolysing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein each foraminous member is provided with a spacer projecting from both faces thereof to space the foraminous member from the adjacent foraminous member and electrode. 
     
     
         12 . The electrolysing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the first and second outer electrodes are each provided with a connector for connecting to a power supply to supply a voltage over the electrolysing apparatus to electrolyse the electrolytic solution. 
     
     
         13 . The electrolysing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the electrodes and foraminous members are all disc shaped, so that the apparatus is cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         14 . The electrolysing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the apparatus includes a circulator to circulate the solution through the apparatus and to force the solution into the first chamber. 
     
     
         15 . The electrolysing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the inlets of the foraminous members are aligned to define an inlet passage, so that electrolytic solution is passed into all of the first chambers of the apparatus via the inlet passage. 
     
     
         16 . The electrolysing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the first combustible fluid outlets are aligned to define a first combustible fluid outlet passage, so that first combustible fluid produced in all of the first combustible fluid collection chambers passes out of the apparatus via the first combustible fluid outlet passage. 
     
     
         17 . The electrolysing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the second combustible fluid outlets are aligned to define a second combustible fluid outlet passage, so that second combustible fluid produced in all of the second combustible fluid collection chambers passes out of the apparatus via the second combustible fluid outlet passage. 
     
     
         18 . The electrolysing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the apparatus includes a first combustible fluid collection container connected to the first combustible fluid outlet passage and a second combustible fluid collection container connected to the second combustible fluid outlet passage. 
     
     
         19 . The electrolysing apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the first and second combustible fluid collection containers each have a second electrolytic solution outlet located towards the operatively bottom end of each container and a first combustible gas and second combustible gas outlet located towards the operatively top end of the first and second combustible fluid collection containers respectively, the arrangement being such that electrolytic solution passes out of the first and second combustible fluid outlets from the first and second combustible fluid collection chambers, together with the respective gases, into the first and second combustible fluid collection containers respectively, where after first and second combustible gasses are passed out of the containers via the first and second combustible gas outlets and the electrolytic solution is passed out of the containers via the second electrolytic solution outlets and is circulated back to the inlets via the circulator. 
     
     
         20 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The electrolysing apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the first foraminous member and the second foraminous member defining the first chamber and having the at least one inlet, are a set of foraminous members and the apparatus includes a plurality of sets of foraminous members connected to one another in a back-to-back configuration with one intermediate floating electrode positioned between adjacent sets of foraminous members;   the apparatus includes a first gasket positioned in the peripheral region between the two foraminous members forming the set of foraminous members;   the apparatus includes a plurality of second gaskets, each positioned in the peripheral region between adjacent sets of foraminous members, surrounding the outer periphery of the intermediate floating electrode;   each foraminous member is provided with a spacer projecting from both faces thereof to space the foraminous member from the adjacent foraminous member and electrode;   the first and second outer electrodes are each provided with a connector for connecting to a power supply to supply a voltage over the electrolysing apparatus to electrolyse the electrolytic solution;   the electrodes and foraminous members are all disc shaped, so that the apparatus is cylindrical in shape;   the apparatus includes a circulator to circulate the solution through the apparatus and to force the solution into the first chamber;   the inlets of the foraminous members are aligned to define an inlet passage, so that electrolytic solution is passed into all of the first chambers of the apparatus via the inlet passage;   the first combustible fluid outlets are aligned to define a first combustible fluid outlet passage, so that first combustible fluid produced in all of the first combustible fluid collection chambers passes out of the apparatus via the first combustible fluid outlet passage;   the second combustible fluid outlets are aligned to define a second combustible fluid outlet passage, so that second combustible fluid produced in all of the second combustible fluid collection chambers passes out of the apparatus via the second combustible fluid outlet passage;   the apparatus includes a first combustible fluid collection container connected to the first combustible fluid outlet passage and a second combustible fluid collection container connected to the second combustible fluid outlet passage; and   the first and second combustible fluid collection containers each have a second electrolytic solution outlet located towards the operatively bottom end of each container and a first combustible gas and second combustible gas outlet located towards the operatively top end of the first and second combustible fluid collection containers respectively, the arrangement being such that electrolytic solution passes out of the first and second combustible fluid outlets from the first and second combustible fluid collection chambers, together with the respective gases, into the first and second combustible fluid collection containers respectively, where after first and second combustible gasses are passed out of the containers via the first and second combustible gas outlets and the electrolytic solution is passed out of the containers via the second electrolytic solution outlets and is circulated back to the inlets via the circulator.