Electrolysis Cell and Electrode

Abstract

The present proposals relate to electrolysis cells, electrodes for such cells and methods of using them. In particular the electrodes comprise a planar electrically conductive plate with at least part of one face of the plate is covered with a plurality of electrically conductive wires each of which is in electrically conductive contact with the surface of the plate along at least part of its length. The methods of the proposals relate to methods of generating oxyhydrogen gas using an electrolytic cell incorporating these electrodes.

1 . An electrode for an electrolysis apparatus comprising a planar electrically conductive plate wherein at least part of one face of the plate is covered with a plurality of electrically conductive wires each of which is in electrically conductive contact with the surface of the plate along at least part of its length. 
     
     
         2 . An electrode according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrically conductive wires form part of an electrically conductive mesh covering at least part of one face of the plate. 
     
     
         3 . An electrode according to  claim 2 , wherein the wires in the mesh have a diameter of 0.1-0.5 mm and the wires define quadrilateral spaces between them with side lengths of about 0.2-0.8 mm. 
     
     
         4 . An electrode according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive plate has an aperture therethrough. 
     
     
         5 . An electrode array comprising a plurality of electrodes as defined in  claim 1  aligned with the faces of the plates opposed. 
     
     
         6 . An electrode array according to  claim 5 , wherein at least two of the electrodes comprise a connector to connect the electrode to a power source, and wherein one of these electrodes forms an anode and one of these electrodes forms an anode hen connected to an external power source. 
     
     
         7 . An electrode array according to  claim 6 , wherein the electrodes comprising a connector are interspersed with one or more passive electrodes. 
     
     
         8 . An electrode array according to  claim 7 , wherein the array comprises two electrodes that form cathodes alternating along the array with two electrodes that form anodes when connected to an external power source, and wherein five passive plates are interspersed between each cathode and anode. 
     
     
         9 . An electrode array according to  claim 5 , wherein the spacing between adjacent electrode plates is between 5 mm and 10 mm. 
     
     
         10 . An electrode array according to  claim 9 , wherein the spacing between the electrode plates is about 9 mm, 
     
     
         11 . An electrolytic cell comprising an electrode according to  claim 1  or comprising an electrode array having a plurality of electrodes aligned with the faces of the plates opposed. 
     
     
         12 . An electrolytic cell according to  claim 11 , further comprising a housing which encases electrode or electrode array, wherein the housing contains an electrolyte in which the electrode or electrode array is at least partially immersed, and wherein at least part of the edge of the electrode or of each electrode in the electrode array forms a fluid-tight seal with the housing so providing a barrier to fluid flow from one side of the electrode to the other within the housing around the seal. 
     
     
         13 . A method of generating oxyhydrogen gas using an electrolytic cell according to  claim 11 , the method comprising passing an electric current via the electrode or electrode array through an electrolyte comprising water. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein the electric current is a DC current; the potential difference across the electrolytic cell is between 10 and 20 volts and the current is between 10 and 30 Amperes. 
     
     
         15 . A method of  claim 13 , further comprising supplying the oxyhydrogen gas to an internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled)