US 12,221,710 B2
Mitigation of electric short circuit in a polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolyzer
David Eaglesham, Lexington, MA (US); Eduard Nasybulin, Sudbury, MA (US); Tenzin Nanchung, Somerville, MA (US); and Jigish Trivedi, Pleasanton, CA (US)
Assigned to ELECTRIC HYDROGEN CO., Devens, MA (US)
Appl. No. 18/686,596
Filed by ELECTRIC HYDROGEN CO., Natick, MA (US)
PCT Filed Jan. 6, 2023, PCT No. PCT/US2023/010313
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 26, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/133270, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 13, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/296,949, filed on Jan. 6, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0337035 A1, Oct. 10, 2024
Int. Cl. C25B 15/06 (2006.01); C25B 13/08 (2006.01)
CPC C25B 15/06 (2013.01) [C25B 13/08 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of repairing a membrane of an electrolytic cell, the method comprising:
identifying a defect in the membrane of the electrolytic cell; and
repairing the defect in the membrane without disassembling the membrane from adjacent components of the electrolytic cell,
wherein the repairing comprises one of the following:
(1) drying the electrolytic cell; providing an inert atmosphere and/or vacuum to the electrolytic cell; and operating the electrolytic cell at a specified voltage at which at least a portion of the membrane liquifies and the defect in the membrane is repaired; or
(2) drying the electrolytic cell; providing a thermally-activated vapor precursor to the electrolytic cell; and operating the electrolytic cell at the specified voltage, wherein the thermally-activated vapor precursor is configured to react or decompose and deposit a composition at a site of the defect in the membrane; or
(3) providing a first reagent to the electrolytic cell on a first side of the membrane; and providing a second reagent to the electrolytic cell on a second side of the membrane opposite the first side, wherein the first reagent and the second reagent react at the site of the defect in the membrane to repair the defect in the membrane.