Method and device for generating hydrogen and oxygen

Abstract

The electrolysis occurs as a high-pressure electrolyzer, oxygen being produced on one side and hydrogen on the other side, with corresponding pressure. The gases may optionally be stored without additional compression. The PEM fuel cell process is used in reverse for the process. It is advantageous that excess energy may be used by wind power plants. In the associated device, a high-pressure electrolyzer ( 1 ) is present which is operated using environmentally friendly air power. Due to the improved operating point of the high-pressure electrolyzer, improved economy results for the generation process compared to the prior art, in particular for hydrogen as an energy storage.

1 . A method for generating hydrogen and oxygen, comprising:
 performing an electrochemical electrolysis on water, wherein the electrolysis takes place at pressures exceeding atmospheric pressure, wherein polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) high-pressure electrolysis is employed and wherein the high-pressure electrolysis takes place at pressures >10 bar and is operated at a higher current density than that at which saturation of the water with gas bubbles commences at atmospheric pressure.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the high-pressure electrolysis takes place at pressures >100 bar. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the PEM high-pressure electrolysis is operated in the temperature range of 5° C. to 100° C. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the resulting gases are stored in a high-pressure storage facility. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the resulting gases are stored in gas bottles. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen is used as a source of energy. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein excess energy from wind power installations is used to operate the high-pressure electrolysis. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein an overall CO 2  balance is improved by using environmentally friendly energy. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the high-pressure electrolysis generates a precompression of approximately 10 bar and the further compression is done by a mechanical compressor. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the generated gas is purified. 
     
     
         11 . A device for generating hydrogen and oxygen, comprising an electrolysis unit for converting electrical energy into energy in the form of gas, wherein the electrolysis unit is a high-pressure electrolysis unit from which the generated gases are conveyed into the pressure containers, wherein the high-pressure electrolysis unit comprises a fully enclosed polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) high-pressure electrolysis. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein a further compressor is connected in series to the electrolysis unit. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein gas bottles are provided for the immediate transfer of the generated gases. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein units are provided for purification of the generated gases. 
     
     
         15 . A system for generating hydrogen and oxygen, comprising:
 a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) high-pressure electrolysis unit configured to perform an electrochemical electrolysis on water, wherein the electrolysis takes place at pressures >10 bar and is operated at a higher current density than that at which saturation of the water with gas bubbles commences at atmospheric pressure.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the high-pressure electrolysis takes place at pressures >100 bar. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the PEM high-pressure electrolysis is operated in the temperature range of 5° C. to 100° C. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the resulting gases are stored in a high-pressure storage facility. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the resulting gases are stored in gas bottles. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen is used as a source of energy, and wherein excess energy from wind power installations is used to operate the high-pressure electrolysis.