System and methods of water electrolysis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025389031-A1
Application number	US-202519248515-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 25, 2025
Priority date	Jun 25, 2024
Publication date	Dec 25, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure generally provides systems and methods of water electrolysis. The systems include a first electrode set. The first electrode set includes a first bipolar plate electrically coupled to a power source. A first electrode is disposed adjacent to the first bipolar plate and in electrical contact with the first bipolar plate. The first actuator is electrically coupled to a second power source. The systems include a diaphragm. The first electrode is disposed adjacent to a first side of the diaphragm. The systems include a second electrode set. The second electrode set includes a second bipolar plate and a second electrode. The second electrode is disposed adjacent to a second side of the diaphragm. The second side is opposite the first side. The system include actuators embedded in the system to facilitate gas bubble expulsion to enhance electrolysis efficiency.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for electrolyzing water, the system comprising:
a first electrode set comprising:
a first bipolar plate electrically coupled to a first power source;
a first electrode disposed adjacent to the first bipolar plate and in electrical contact with the first bipolar plate; and
a first actuator embedded in the first electrode set, wherein the first actuator is electrically coupled to a second power source;
a diaphragm, wherein the first electrode is disposed adjacent to a first side of the diaphragm; and a second electrode set comprising:
a second bipolar plate and a second electrode, wherein the second electrode is disposed adjacent to a second side of the diaphragm, the second side opposite the first side.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first actuator is proximal to the first bipolar plate.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first actuator is proximal to the diaphragm.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first actuator is proximal to a first channel fluidly coupled to the first electrode set.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second electrode set further comprises a second actuator embedded in the second electrode set.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the second actuator is proximal to the second bipolar plate or the diaphragm.

7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the second actuator is proximal to a second channel fluidly coupled to the second electrode set.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first actuator comprises a piezo actuator that oscillates at a frequency of about 1 Hz to about 250,000 Hz.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first bipolar plate comprises a first coating material disposed over a first portion of the first bipolar plate.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the second bipolar plate comprises a second coating material disposed over a second portion of the second bipolar plate, wherein the first coating material and the second coating material independently comprises an aerophobic material, and the aerophobic material comprises a fluropolymer or a silicone polymer.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the first bipolar plate comprises a first uncoated portion in contact with the first electrode, and the second bipolar plate comprises a second uncoated portion in contact with the second electrode.

12 . The system of claim 1 , the system comprising a first electrode stack comprising:
a first cell having the first electrode set, the diaphragm and the second electrode set, at least a second cell comprising:
a third electrode set, wherein the third electrode set comprises a third bipolar plate and a third electrode,
a second diaphragm, wherein the second electrode set is disposed adjacent to a first side of the second diaphragm; and
a fourth electrode set, wherein the fourth electrode set comprises a fourth bipolar plate and a fourth electrode, wherein the fourth electrode is disposed adjacent to a second side of the second diaphragm, the second side of the second diaphragm opposite the first side of the second diaphragm.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein:
the first bipolar plate comprises a first coating material disposed over a portion of the first bipolar plate; the second bipolar plate comprises a second coating material disposed over a portion of the second bipolar plate; the third bipolar plate comprises a third coating material disposed over a portion of the third bipolar plate; and the fourth bipolar plate comprises a fourth coating material disposed over a portion of the fourth bipolar plate.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the first coating material, the second coating material, the third coating material, and the fourth coating material independently comprises an aerophobic material, wherein the aerophobic material comprises a fluoropolymer or a silicone polymer.

15 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a third actuator embedded in the first electrode.

16 . A method for electrolyzing water, the method comprising:
generating a current between a first electrode set and a second electrode set separated by a diaphragm, and circulating water within one of the first electrode set or the second electrode set,
wherein the first electrode set comprises a first bipolar plate electrically coupled to a power source, and a first electrode disposed adjacent to the first bipolar plate and to a first side of the diaphragm and in electrical contact with the first bipolar plate,
wherein the second electrode set comprises a second bipolar plate and a second electrode, the second electrode is disposed adjacent to a second side of the diaphragm, the second side opposite the first side, and in electrical contact with the second bipolar plate, and
wherein the current, in the presence of water, produces an electrolysis reaction generating a first oscillation force in the first electrode set using a first actuator; and
directing a first product of the electrolysis reaction to a first channel fluidly coupled to the first electrode set using the diaphragm and the first oscillation force.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising directing a second product of the electrolysis reaction to a second channel fluidly coupled to the second electrode set using the diaphragm and the first oscillation force.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein generating the first oscillation force in the first electrode set further comprises:
providing a current to the first actuator, wherein the first actuator comprises a piezo actuator; and oscillating the first actuator, using the current, at a frequency of about 1 Hz to about 250,000 Hz.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
generating a second oscillation force in the second electrode set, wherein the second electrode set further comprises a second actuator, wherein generating the second oscillation force in the second electrode set further comprises:
providing a current to the second actuator; and
oscillating the second actuator, using the current, at a frequency of about 1 Hz to about 250,000 Hz; and
directing the second product of the electrolysis reaction to the second channel fluidly coupled to the second electrode set using the diaphragm and the second oscillation force.

20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein generating the first oscillation force further comprises generating a turbulence in the first electrode set.

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Zhang Wenlin
• Nelson Alan
• Lavrut Eric
• Fejervary Rafael

Classifications

• C25B9/65

  Means for supplying current; Electrode connections; Electric inter-cell connections · CPC title

• C25B1/04 Primary

  by electrolysis of water · CPC title

• C25B9/77

  having diaphragms · CPC title

• C25B13/08 Primary

  based on organic materials · CPC title

• Y02E60/36

  Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis · CPC title