Contamination mitigation system for use in an electrolysis system

Abstract

An electrolysis system includes an electrolyzer stack and a contamination mitigation system. The electrolyzer stack includes an injection port fluidly connected with a cathode compartment of the electrolyzer stack. The contamination mitigation system is configured to remove ions from the electrolyzer stack to mitigate ion contamination in the electrolyzer stack. The contamination mitigation system includes a storage tank including formic acid therein and an injection line fluidly coupled between the storage tank and the injection port. The injection line is configured to direct the formic acid from the storage tank to the injection port for injection into the cathode compartment of the electrolyzer stack.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrolysis system comprising:
 an electrolyzer stack including an injection port fluidly connected with a cathode compartment of the electrolyzer stack, and   a contamination mitigation system configured to remove ions from the electrolyzer stack to mitigate ion contamination in the electrolyzer stack, the contamination mitigation system including a storage tank including formic acid therein, an injection line fluidly coupled between the storage tank and the injection port, and a pump coupled to the injection line and configured to direct the formic acid to the injection port from the storage tank for injection into the cathode compartment of the electrolyzer stack.   
     
     
         2 . The electrolysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the contamination mitigation system further includes a mixer located downstream of the storage tank and configured to receive the formic acid from the storage tank and water from a water tank included in the electrolysis system to dilute the formic acid in the mixer and create a formic acid solution. 
     
     
         3 . The electrolysis system of  claim 2 , wherein the contamination mitigation system further includes a bypass valve located between the storage tank and the mixer, and wherein the injection line includes a first branched injection line configured to direct the formic acid from the storage tank, through the bypass valve, and directly to the injection port without passing through the mixer and a second branched injection line configured to direct the formic acid from the storage tank, through the bypass valve, through the mixer, and to the injection port. 
     
     
         4 . The electrolysis system of  claim 2 , further comprising a control system in communication with the contamination mitigation system and configured to adjust a concentration of the formic acid solution and a sensor in fluid communication with the electrolyzer stack to measure water conductivity data related to water entering the electrolyzer stack. 
     
     
         5 . The electrolysis system of  claim 4 , wherein the control system is in communication with the sensor to receive the water conductivity data therefrom, and wherein the control system is configured to adjust the concentration of the formic acid solution based, at least in part, on the water conductivity data. 
     
     
         6 . The electrolysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the contamination mitigation system further includes a recirculation line extending between an outlet port of the electrolyzer stack and the storage tank and a three-way valve coupled to the recirculation line between the outlet port and the storage tank. 
     
     
         7 . The electrolysis system of  claim 6 , wherein the three-way valve is configured to direct the formic acid from the outlet port to the storage tank via the recirculation line while the three-way valve is in a first position, and the three-way valve is configured to direct the formic acid from the outlet port to a high pressure water separator included in the electrolysis system while the three-way valve is in a second position different than the first position. 
     
     
         8 . The electrolysis system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control system in communication with the contamination mitigation system and configured to control injection of the formic acid into the cathode compartment of the electrolyzer stack and a sensor in fluid communication with the electrolyzer stack to measure water conductivity data related to water entering the electrolyzer stack. 
     
     
         9 . The electrolysis system of  claim 8 , wherein the control system is in communication with the sensor to receive the water conductivity data therefrom, and wherein the control system is configured to adjust the injection of the formic acid into the cathode compartment based, at least in part, on the water conductivity data. 
     
     
         10 . The electrolysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the contamination mitigation system further includes a filter located upstream of the storage tank and configured to filter the formic acid. 
     
     
         11 . The electrolysis system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage tank includes a relief valve configured to manage pressure buildup due to decomposition of the formic acid in the storage tank. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 providing an electrolyzer stack including an injection port fluidly connected with a cathode compartment of the electrolyzer stack,   injecting formic acid into the cathode compartment of the electrolyzer stack via the injection port, and   removing ions from the electrolyzer stack via the formic acid to mitigate ion contamination in the electrolyzer stack.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising, before the step of injecting, directing the formic acid from a storage tank toward the cathode compartment of the electrolyzer stack. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, while a bypass valve located between the storage tank and the injection port is in a first position, directing the formic acid from the storage tank, through the bypass valve, and directly into the cathode compartment of the electrolyzer stack. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising, while the bypass valve is in a second position different than the first position, directing the formic acid from the storage tank, through the bypass valve, and into a mixer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising directing water from a water tank into the mixer and diluting the formic acid with the water in the mixer to create a formic acid solution that is injected into the cathode compartment. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising receiving water conductivity data related to water entering the electrolyzer stack and adjusting a concentration of the formic acid solution being injected into the cathode compartment of the electrolyzer stack based, at least in part, on the water conductivity data. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising receiving water conductivity data related to water entering the electrolyzer stack and adjusting the injection of the formic acid into the cathode compartment of the electrolyzer stack based, at least in part, on the water conductivity data. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of injecting formic acid includes manually injecting the formic acid into the cathode compartment of the electrolyzer stack via the injection port. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising directing the formic acid toward the cathode compartment of the electrolyzer stack via a pump.