Cassette for electrolyzer with gas barrier

Abstract

A cassette (1) for an electrolyzer includes a cooling plate (2) and an electrolyte plate (3a, 3c) defining an electrolyte flow path (6a, 6c) between them. The electrolyte plate (3a, 3c) is formed with at least one electrolyte fluid inlet (8in, 9in) at a first end section and at least one gas outlet (8out, 9out) at a second, opposite end section and defines an active area between the first end section and the second end section. An inner gas barrier (26) is formed between the second end section with the at least one gas outlet (8out, 9out) and the active area, and the inner gas barrier (26) is formed with a drain (27).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cassette for an electrolyzer, the cassette comprising a cooling plate and an electrolyte plate, the cooling plate and the electrolyte plate defining an electrolyte flow path between them, and where the electrolyte plate is formed with at least one electrolyte fluid inlet at a first end section and at least one gas outlet at a second, opposite end section and defines an active area between the first end section and the second end section, where an inner gas barrier is formed between the second end section with the at least one gas outlet and the active area, where the inner gas barrier is formed with a drain. 
     
     
         2 . The cassette for an electrolyzer according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte plate is formed with at least two gas outlets, and wherein one of the gas outlets is open to the respective electrolyte flow path, whereas the other gas outlet is closed. 
     
     
         3 . The cassette for an electrolyzer according to  claim 1 , wherein the drain in the inner gas barrier is arranged at or near a centre line (L) of the electrolyte plate, and wherein the inner gas barrier comprises two halves, each sloping towards the centre line (L) and the drain in the inner gas barrier, allowing fluids in the second end section to drip back towards the active area for further processing. 
     
     
         4 . The cassette for an electrolyzer according to  claim 1 , wherein a lower inner gas barrier is positioned adjacent to the drain in the inner gas barrier, at a side of the inner gas barrier which faces the active area. 
     
     
         5 . The cassette for an electrolyzer according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner gas barrier is formed in the electrolyte plate and/or in the connected cooling plate, and wherein the inner gas barrier is adapted to contact the neighbouring plate. 
     
     
         6 . The cassette for an electrolyzer according to  claim 5 , wherein the inner gas barrier is formed by one or more projections on the electrolyte plate and/or on the cooling plate. 
     
     
         7 . The cassette for an electrolyzer according to  claim 1 , wherein the second end section further includes gas barriers formed as corrugations and/or dimples. 
     
     
         8 . The cassette for an electrolyzer according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one gas outlet is partly surrounded by an outlet blockade with an opening formed therein, allowing gas only to leave the second end section towards the at least one gas outlet via the opening in the outlet blockade. 
     
     
         9 . The cassette for an electrolyzer according to  claim 8 , wherein the outlet blockade is further formed with an outlet blockade drain arranged substantially opposite to the opening. 
     
     
         10 . The cassette for an electrolyzer according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one gas outlet is provided with an outer gasket, and wherein the outer gasket is formed with beads reaching into the gas outlet, where the beads extend into the gas outlet of the cassette as well as into the gas outlet of a neighbouring cassette. 
     
     
         11 . The cassette for an electrolyzer according to  claim 2 , wherein the drain in the inner gas barrier is arranged at or near a centre line (L) of the electrolyte plate, and wherein the inner gas barrier comprises two halves, each sloping towards the centre line (L) and the drain in the inner gas barrier, allowing fluids in the second end section to drip back towards the active area for further processing. 
     
     
         12 . The cassette for an electrolyzer according to  claim 2 , wherein a lower inner gas barrier is positioned adjacent to the drain in the inner gas barrier, at a side of the inner gas barrier which faces the active area. 
     
     
         13 . The cassette for an electrolyzer according to  claim 3 , wherein a lower inner gas barrier is positioned adjacent to the drain in the inner gas barrier, at a side of the inner gas barrier which faces the active area. 
     
     
         14 . The cassette for an electrolyzer according to  claim 2 , wherein the inner gas barrier is formed in the electrolyte plate and/or in the connected cooling plate, and wherein the inner gas barrier is adapted to contact the neighbouring plate. 
     
     
         15 . The cassette for an electrolyzer according to  claim 3 , wherein the inner gas barrier is formed in the electrolyte plate and/or in the connected cooling plate, and wherein the inner gas barrier is adapted to contact the neighbouring plate. 
     
     
         16 . The cassette for an electrolyzer according to  claim 4 , wherein the inner gas barrier is formed in the electrolyte plate and/or in the connected cooling plate, and wherein the inner gas barrier is adapted to contact the neighbouring plate.