System and methods of water electrolysis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025389039-A1
Application number	US-202519248508-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 water electrolysis systems and methods. The systems include a first electrode set with 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 electrode is disposed adjacent to a first side of a diaphragm. The systems include a second electrode set with a second bipolar plate and a second electrode. The second electrode is disposed adjacent to a second side of the diaphragm that is opposite the first side. A first electromagnetic conductive loop is embedded within the first electrode set. The first electromagnetic conductive loop is oriented horizontally along a vertical stand electrode plane. The Lorentz force associated with the generated electromagnetic field and the electric field of water electrolysis facilitates gas bubble expulsion from the electrolyzer system, thereby improving 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 power source, and
a first electrode disposed adjacent to the first bipolar plate and in electrical contact with the first bipolar plate,
a diaphragm, wherein the first electrode is disposed adjacent to a first side of the diaphragm; 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; and
at least a first electromagnetic conductive loop embedded within the first electrode set, wherein the first electromagnetic conductive loop is oriented horizontally along a vertical stand electrode plane.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first electromagnetic conductive loop is embedded in the first bipolar plate.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the first electromagnetic conductive loop is proximal to a first channel fluidly coupled to the first electrode set.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the first electromagnetic conductive loop is embedded within the first channel of the first electrode set.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first electromagnetic conductive loop is embedded in the first electrode.

6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second electromagnetic conductive loop embedded within the second electrode set.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the second electromagnetic conductive loop is embedded in the second bipolar plate, and the second electromagnetic conductive loop is embedded within a second channel fluidly coupled to the second electrode set.

8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the second electromagnetic conductive loop is embedded in the second electrode.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first electromagnetic conductive loop comprises a coil.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode set comprises a third electromagnetic conductive loop, wherein the third electromagnetic conductive loop is disposed in a substantially horizontal direction and parallel to the first electromagnetic conductive loop.

11 . 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.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the second bipolar plate comprises a second coating material disposed over a 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 fluoropolymer or a silicone polymer.

13 . The system of claim 11 , 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.

14 . The system of claim 1 , further comprises a third electrode set and a fourth electrode set, wherein:
the third electrode set comprises:
a third bipolar plate electrically coupled to the power source, and
a third electrode disposed adjacent to the third bipolar plate and in electrical contact with the third bipolar plate,
a second diaphragm, wherein the third electrode is disposed adjacent to a first side of the second diaphragm; and
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 opposite the first side.

15 . 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 Lorentz force oriented substantially towards a first channel, in the first electrode set using a first electromagnetic conductive loop; and directing a first product of the electrolysis reaction to a first channel fluidly coupled to the first electrode set using a diaphragm and the first Lorentz force.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein generating the first Lorentz force in the first electrode set further comprises introducing a first current through the first electromagnetic conductive loop.

17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising directing a second product of the electrolysis reaction to a second channel fluidly coupled to a second electrode set using the diaphragm and the first Lorentz force.

18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
generating a second Lorentz force in the second electrode set, wherein the second electrode set further comprises a second electromagnetic conductive loop; 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 Lorentz force.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein generating the second Lorentz force in the second electrode set further comprises introducing a second current through the second electromagnetic conductive loop.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the second Lorentz force is oriented substantially towards the channel.

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

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

Classifications

• C25B9/77

  having diaphragms · CPC title

• C25B9/60

  Constructional parts of cells · CPC title

• C25B9/21

  two or more diaphragms · CPC title

• C25B1/04

  by electrolysis of water · CPC title

• C25B11/036

  Bipolar electrodes · CPC title