Control device, system and process for operating electrochemical gas generator cells

Abstract

A control device (10, 20), for actuating an electrochemical gas generator cell (11), is configured to output a first control signal (Igen), which brings about the generation of an electrical operating voltage at the electrochemical gas generator cell (11), for an operating phase of the electrochemical gas generator cell (11). The electrical operating voltage is at least equal to an electrolysis voltage (Uele) of the electrochemical gas generator cell (11). The control device (10, 20) is further configured to output a second control signal (IRuhe, Upre), which brings about the generation of an electrical bias voltage (Upre) at the electrochemical gas generator cell (11), for a rest phase of the electrochemical gas generator cell (11). The electrical bias voltage (Upre) is lower than the electrolysis voltage (Uele). Further aspects pertain to systems (40a) and processes (50, 60, 70) for operating electrochemical gas generator cells (110).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrochemical gas generator cell control device for actuating an electrochemical gas generator cell, wherein the control device is configured:
 to output an operating phase control signal, for an operating phase of the electrochemical gas generator cell, which brings about a generation of an electrical operating voltage at the electrochemical gas generator cell, wherein the electrical operating voltage is at least equal to an electrolysis voltage of the electrochemical gas generator cell; and   to output a rest phase control signal, for a rest phase of the electrochemical gas generator cell, which brings about a generation of an electrical bias voltage at the electrochemical gas generator cell, wherein the electrical bias voltage is lower than the electrolysis voltage.   
     
     
         2 . An electrochemical gas generator cell control device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to set the electrical bias voltage at at least 60% of the electrolysis voltage. 
     
     
         3 . An electrochemical gas generator cell control device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to generate the electrical bias voltage at the electrochemical gas generator cell during at least 50% of the rest phase. 
     
     
         4 . An electrochemical gas generator cell control device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the rest phase control signal is constant over time. 
     
     
         5 . An electrochemical gas generator cell control device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the rest phase control signal has an alternating component. 
     
     
         6 . An electrochemical gas generator cell control device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the electrical bias voltage is lower by at least 300 mV and is lower by at most 1.5 V than the electrolysis voltage of the electrochemical gas generator cell. 
     
     
         7 . An electrochemical gas generator cell control device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 the operating phase control signal comprises a first current signal for the electrochemical gas generator cell and the rest phase control signal comprises a second current signal for the electrochemical gas generator cell; and   the second current signal has a current intensity of at most 1% of a current intensity of the first current signal.   
     
     
         8 . An electrochemical gas generator cell control device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the rest phase control signal comprises a current signal, which has a mean value of at least 10 nA and at most 10 μA. 
     
     
         9 . An electrochemical gas generator cell control device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a current source for generating the operating phase control signal as an operating current for the electrochemical gas generator cell;   a voltage source for generating the second control signal as an electrical bias voltage; and   a switch configured for switching an electrical connection from a connection between the current source and the electrochemical gas generator cell to a connection between the voltage source and the electrochemical gas generator cell.   
     
     
         10 . An electrochemical gas generator cell control device in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein a mean output voltage of the voltage source is lower than the electrolysis voltage and equals at least 60% of the electrolysis voltage. 
     
     
         11 . An electrochemical gas generator cell control device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a measuring device for measuring an electrical voltage present at the electrochemical gas generator cell. 
     
     
         12 . An electrochemical gas generator cell control device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a d.c. current source for generating an operating current for the electrochemical gas generator cell; and   a voltage supply of the d.c. current source, wherein the control device is configured to regulate a supply voltage of the voltage supply to a predefined value of at most 125% of a voltage present at the electrochemical gas generator cell.   
     
     
         13 . A system for operating an electrochemical gas generator cell, which is configured to generate a gas when an electrical voltage higher than an electrolysis voltage of the electrochemical gas generator cell is applied, the system comprising:
 a d.c. current source, configured to apply an operating current to the electrochemical gas generator cell;   a voltage supply of the d.c. current source; and   a control device for controlling the voltage supply of the d.c. current source, wherein the control device is configured to regulate a supply voltage provided by the voltage supply during an operation of the electrochemical gas generator cell to a predefined value of at most 125% of the voltage present at the electrochemical gas generator cell.   
     
     
         14 . A system in accordance with  claim 13 , further comprising a measuring device for measuring the electrical voltage present at the electrochemical gas generator cell. 
     
     
         15 . A system in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the control device is configured to adjust the supply voltage on the basis of a voltage measurement provided by the measuring device during an operating phase of the electrochemical gas generator cell. 
     
     
         16 . A system in accordance with  claim 13 , the control device further comprising a memory, on which the predefined value of the supply voltage is stored or is storable. 
     
     
         17 . A system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the system is configured to generate a zero signal current of less than 300 nA and an operating current of at least 1 mA for application to the electrochemical gas generator cell. 
     
     
         18 . A system for generating a gas, the system comprising:
 an electrochemical gas generator cell comprising a number of x generator electrodes and a number of y counterelectrodes, wherein x and y are natural numbers; and   an electrochemical gas generator cell control device for actuating the electrochemical gas generator cell, wherein the control device is configured:   to output an operating phase control signal, for an operating phase of the electrochemical gas generator cell, which brings about a generation of an electrical operating voltage at the electrochemical gas generator cell, wherein the electrical operating voltage is at least equal to an electrolysis voltage of the electrochemical gas generator cell; and   to output a rest phase control signal, for a rest phase of the electrochemical gas generator cell, which brings about a generation of an electrical bias voltage at the electrochemical gas generator cell, wherein the electrical bias voltage is lower than the electrolysis voltage.   
     
     
         19 . A process for operating an electrochemical gas generator cell, which is configured to generate a gas in the presence of an electrical voltage higher than an electrolysis voltage of the electrochemical gas generator cell, the process comprising:
 applying an electrical current to the electrochemical gas generator cell during an operating phase in order to increase a voltage at the electrochemical gas generator cell at least to the electrolysis voltage; and   reducing the electrical current to a zero signal current during a rest phase in order to stop the generation of gas, wherein an electrical bias voltage, which is lower than the electrolysis voltage and amounts to at least 60% of the electrolysis voltage, is obtained on the basis of the zero signal current during the rest phase at the electrochemical gas generator cell.   
     
     
         20 . A process for operating an electrochemical gas generator cell, which is configured to generate a gas in the presence of an electrical voltage higher than an electrolysis voltage of the electrochemical gas generator cell, the process comprising:
 applying an electrical current to the electrochemical gas generator cell by means of a d.c. current source during an operating phase in order to generate the gas; and   the setting of a supply voltage of the d.c. current source to a value of at most 125% of a voltage present at the electrochemical gas generator cell.