Cassette for electrolyzer with porous electrolyte plate

Abstract

An electrolyte plate (3a, 3c) for an electrolyzer cassette (1), the electrolyzer cassette (1) includes at least one cooling plate (2). The electrolyte plate (3a, 3c) is formed with at least one opening (7in, 7out) for a cooling fluid to pass the electrolyte plate (3a, 3c), at least one electrolyte fluid inlet (8in, 9in) for an electrolytic fluid to pass the electrolyte plate (3a, 3c), and at least one gas outlet (8out, 9out) for a gas to pass the electrolyte plate (3a, 3c). A porous area is formed between the at least one electrolyte fluid inlet (8in, 9in) and the at least one gas outlet (8out, 9out), the porous area being formed with openings (11) adapted to pass gas across the electrolyte plate (3a, 3c) between a membrane (4) to be positioned at the one side of the electrolyte plate (3a, 3c), and an electrolyte fluid path (6a, 6c) positioned at the other side of the electrolyte plate (3a, 3c).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrolyte plate for an electrolyzer cassette, the electrolyzer cassette further comprising at least one cooling plate, where the electrolyte plate is formed with at least one opening for a cooling fluid to pass the electrolyte plate, at least one electrolyte fluid inlet for an electrolytic fluid to pass the electrolyte plate, and at least one gas outlet for a gas to pass the electrolyte plate, and where a porous area is formed between the at least one electrolyte fluid inlet and the at least one gas outlet, the porous area being formed with openings adapted to pass gas across the electrolyte plate between a membrane to be positioned at the one side of the electrolyte plate, and an electrolyte fluid path positioned at the other side of the electrolyte plate. 
     
     
         2 . The electrolyte plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte plate is porous at least in an area adapted to match with a membrane, allowing the diffusion of product gases and ions. 
     
     
         3 . The electrolyte plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the openings formed in the porous area are formed by a semi-cut allowing cut-out portions to form flaps being bend outwards. 
     
     
         4 . The electrolyte plate according to  claim 3 , wherein the opposite surface of the electrolyte plate to the one in the bending direction of the flaps is essentially flat. 
     
     
         5 . The electrolyte plate according to  claim 1 , wherein a recess is formed around the openings formed in the porous area. 
     
     
         6 . The electrolyte plate according to  claim 5 , wherein the recess extends in a length direction of the electrolyte plate. 
     
     
         7 . The electrolyte plate according to  claim 5 , wherein the recess covers a plural of the openings formed in the porous area. 
     
     
         8 . The electrolyte plate according to  claim 5 , wherein the recess is formed at a surface of the electrolyte plate adapted to face the membrane. 
     
     
         9 . The electrolyte plate according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the openings formed in the porous area are formed by two cuts, and where the section between the two cuts forms a pushed outwards section, which contacts the rest of the electrolyte plate at two positions. 
     
     
         10 . The electrolyte plate according to  claim 9 , wherein the pushed outwards section is positioned such that at least one of the two openings defined by the two cuts and the pushed outwards section points in the direction of the respective electrolyte gas outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The electrolyte plate according to  claim 9 , wherein the opposite surface of the electrolyte plate to the one in the bending direction of the pushed outwards sections is essentially flat. 
     
     
         12 . The electrolyte plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the openings formed in the porous area are formed by pushed down flanges. 
     
     
         13 . The electrolyte plate according to  claim 12 , wherein the pushed down flanges are positioned such that free ends of the flanges point in the direction of the respective electrolyte gas outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The electrolyte plate according to  claim 12 , wherein the opposite surface of the electrolyte plate to the one in the bending direction of the flanges is essentially flat. 
     
     
         15 . The electrolyte plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the openings formed in the porous area are formed with a larger length than width. 
     
     
         16 . The electrolyte plate according to  claim 15 , wherein at least some of the openings formed in the porous area extend in a direction parallel to a length direction L of the electrolyte plate. 
     
     
         17 . The electrolyte plate according to  claim 15 , wherein at least some of the openings formed in the porous area extend in a direction perpendicular to a length direction L of the electrolyte plate. 
     
     
         18 . The electrolyte plate according to  claim 15 , wherein at least some of the openings formed in the porous area are positioned with their length direction at an angle relative to a length direction L of the electrolyte plate. 
     
     
         19 . The electrolyte plate according to  claim 15 , wherein the openings formed in the porous area have curving shapes being ‘meat bone’-shaped. 
     
     
         20 . The electrolyte plate according to  claim 15 , wherein the openings formed in the porous area have concave sections as well as convex sections. 
     
     
         21 . The electrolyte plate according to  claim 20 , wherein the two opposing ends the openings formed in the porous area are concave seen from the inside of the respective opening, and formed with convex sections at the centre, seen from the inside of the respective opening. 
     
     
         22 . The electrolyte plate according to  claim 15 , wherein the openings formed in the porous area are symmetric with two halves mirroring each other. 
     
     
         23 . The electrolyte plate according to  claim 15 , wherein the openings formed in the porous area have a width at a centre portion, which is smaller than an upper width or diameter of a contact column formed in a neighbouring cooling plate when the electrolyte plate and the cooling plate are connected to each other in an electrolyzer cassette.