Natural gas-assisted steam electrolyzer

Patent · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2000

OSTI ID:872953

Pham, Ai-Quoc ^[1]; Wallman, P Henrik ^[2]; Glass, Robert S ^[3]

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1. San Jose, CA
2. Berkeley, CA
3. Livermore, CA

An efficient method of producing hydrogen by high temperature steam electrolysis that will lower the electricity consumption to an estimated 65 percent lower than has been achievable with previous steam electrolyzer systems. This is accomplished with a natural gas-assisted steam electrolyzer, which significantly reduces the electricity consumption. Since this natural gas-assisted steam electrolyzer replaces one unit of electrical energy by one unit of energy content in natural gas at one-quarter the cost, the hydrogen production cost will be significantly reduced. Also, it is possible to vary the ratio between the electricity and the natural gas supplied to the system in response to fluctuations in relative prices for these two energy sources. In one approach an appropriate catalyst on the anode side of the electrolyzer will promote the partial oxidation of natural gas to CO and hydrogen, called Syn-Gas, and the CO can also be shifted to CO.sub.2 to give additional hydrogen. In another approach the natural gas is used in the anode side of the electrolyzer to burn out the oxygen resulting from electrolysis, thus reducing or eliminating the potential difference across the electrolyzer membrane.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 6051125
• OSTI ID: 872953
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

natural
gas-assisted
steam
electrolyzer
efficient
method
producing
hydrogen
temperature
electrolysis
electricity
consumption
estimated
65
percent
achievable
previous
systems
accomplished
significantly
reduces
replaces
unit
electrical
energy
content
gas
one-quarter
cost
production
reduced
vary
ratio
supplied
response
fluctuations
relative
prices
sources
approach
appropriate
catalyst
anode
promote
partial
oxidation
called
syn-gas
shifted
additional
burn
oxygen
resulting
reducing
eliminating
potential
difference
membrane
temperature steam
significantly reduce
efficient method
potential difference
energy sources
natural gas
partial oxidation
electrical energy
energy source
significantly reduced
producing hydrogen
significantly reduces
hydrogen production
energy content
steam electrolyzer
gas supplied
production cost
additional hydrogen
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