US 12,404,595 B2
Electrochemical method, apparatus and system with improved production efficiency and CO2 sequestration
Sadaf Tahmasebi, Halifax (CA); and Gregory Hudson Rau, Castro Valley, CA (US)
Assigned to Planetary Technologies Inc., Gatineau (CA)
Filed by Planetary Hydrogen Inc., Dartmouth (CA)
Filed on Dec. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/541,172.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/120,368, filed on Dec. 2, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0170171 A1, Jun. 2, 2022
Int. Cl. C25B 15/08 (2006.01); B01D 53/32 (2006.01); C25B 1/14 (2006.01); C25B 9/19 (2021.01); C25B 15/023 (2021.01); C25B 15/029 (2021.01); C25B 15/031 (2021.01)
CPC C25B 15/08 (2013.01) [B01D 53/323 (2013.01); C25B 1/14 (2013.01); C25B 9/19 (2021.01); C25B 15/023 (2021.01); C25B 15/029 (2021.01); C25B 15/031 (2021.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of controlling an operation of an electrolysis cell to achieve an improved production efficiency of the electrolysis cell, the method comprising:
defining a production efficiency of the electrolysis cell as a quantity of a product produced per unit of time per watt of power used by the electrolysis cell, the product being selected from the group consisting of a gas formed at the cathode, a gas formed at the anode, acid, a carbonate, and a bicarbonate;
determining a dependence of the production efficiency as a function of a control variable of the electrolysis cell;
controlling the operation of the electrolysis cell, comprising:
introducing a CO2 gas into an electrolyte of the electrolysis cell containing OH− ions at a rate resulting in a reduced pH level of the electrolyte, but not exceeding a rate leading to a total consumption of the OH− ions, the CO2 gas reacting with the OH− ions to form one or more of the bicarbonate and carbonate;
varying the rate of introducing the CO2 gas so as to achieve a value of the control variable corresponding to an improved predetermined production efficiency in accordance with said dependence;
and
operating the electrolysis cell under the improved predetermined production efficiency until an exit condition is met;
thereby improving the production efficiency of the electrolysis cell while sequestering the CO2 gas.