Method for manufacturing an alkaline ammonia electrolysis cell with ammonia corrosion resistance and operating the same stably

Abstract

An ammonia electrolysis cell according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an end plate, a collector plate, a separator plate, a porous transport layer support gasket, a porous transport layer electrode, and a membrane, wherein the collector plate is connected to a power source, the power source may be characterized in that it cross-applies a working voltage and a rest voltage of 0.2 V or less. Thus, the present invention can effectively remove* NH x and OH − that poison the oxidation electrode, thereby significantly increasing the efficiency of hydrogen production, and can provide a bulk storage and transportation device for utilizing hydrogen as an energy medium.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ammonia electrolysis cell system comprising:
 end plates; first and second collector plates; a separator plate; a porous transport layer; a membrane, and a voltage drive unit;   wherein the separator plate includes a fluid flow path to supply ammonia and electrolyte and release hydrogen and nitrogen, and   the voltage drive unit applies a driving voltage between the first and second collector plates for a first period and a rest voltage for a second period to remove *NH x  and OH − .   
     
     
         2 . The ammonia electrolysis cell system of  claim 1 , wherein the driving voltage is between 0.6V and 0.9V. 
     
     
         3 . The ammonia electrolysis cell system of  claim 1 , wherein the driving voltage is between 0.7V and 0.8V. 
     
     
         4 . The ammonia electrolysis cell system of  claim 1 , wherein the rest voltage is 0.2V or less. 
     
     
         5 . The ammonia electrolysis cell system of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage drive unit applies the rest voltage inversely to the voltages applied to the first and second collector plates. 
     
     
         6 . The ammonia electrolysis cell system of  claim 1 , operable at a temperature of at least 70° C. 
     
     
         7 . The ammonia electrolysis cell system of  claim 1 , wherein the separator plate includes nickel, and the end plate includes epoxy. 
     
     
         8 . The ammonia electrolysis cell system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a separator plate gasket that accommodates the porous transport layer;   a porous transport layer support gasket, and a membrane support gasket;   wherein the separator plate gasket includes polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), the porous transport layer support gasket includes polyphenylsulfone (PPSU), and the membrane support gasket includes ethylene-propylene diene monomer (EPDM).   
     
     
         9 . The ammonia electrolysis cell system of  claim 1 , wherein the first period is at least one minute, and the second period is between 20% to 100% of the first period. 
     
     
         10 . A method for operating an ammonia electrolysis cell system comprising end plates, a first collector plate, a second collector plate, a separator plate, a porous transport layer, a membrane, and a voltage drive unit; the method comprising:
 supplying ammonia and electrolyte through a fluid flow path in the separator plate;   applying a driving voltage between the first and second collector plates for a first period using the voltage drive unit;   releasing hydrogen and nitrogen through the fluid flow path; and   applying a rest voltage for a second duration to remove *NH x  and OH − .   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the driving voltage is between 0.6V and 0.9V. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the driving voltage is between 0.7V and 0.8V. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the rest voltage is 0.2 volts or less. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the voltage drive unit applies the rest voltage inversely to the voltages applied to the first and second collector plates. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the ammonia electrolysis cell system is operated at a temperature of at least 70° C. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first period is at least one minute, and the second duration is from 20 to 100 of the first period.