Electrolyser H2/O2 gas seperation unit

This product is a gas separation unit add-on to the ‘Hydraulic Connection Package for Flow Cells (Fittings, Lids, Tubings, Bottles) 1/8” ‘

It is intended for uses where only one common electrolyte bottle is used for both the H2 and O2 side. I.e. it separates H2 and O2 before it reaches the common electrolyte bottle. This is the typical working principle used in alkaline water electrolysis.

The working principle is shown in the schematic drawing below.

After the cell, the liquid with H2/O2 gases enters into the gas separation unit at the top and exits at the bottom, where after the liquid from the two separators enters into a common electrolyte bottle (typical for alkaline electrolysis with porous separators). The flow rate from the gas separation unit into the bottle is determined by (1) the liquid height difference between the bottle and the height in the gas separation unit (2) length and hydraulic resistance of the tubes between the gas separation unit and the bottle (3) Viscosity/temperature of the liquid and (4) the ‘suction of the pump’, head space of the bottle and how leak tight all fittings are. As an example lower left graph shows the liquid height inside the separation unit vs the flow rate for 1.6 mm ID tubes and 20 cm length (between separation unit and bottle) as function of flow rate. In general a relatively high liquid height is wanted as it ensures efficient gas separation, on the other hand too high levels will lead to an over-flow in the unit.

To ensure that the unit can work in many different configurations (flow rate, temperature etc) it comes with tubes (intended as connection between gas separation unit and bottle) that has both 1.6 mm ID and 2.2 mm ID. Going from 1.6 mm ID to 2.2 mm has a non-linear (exponential) increase of the hydraulic conductivity, while the length of the tube has a linear dependence. I.e. use of this unit requires some experimental work to calibrate the flow rate.

Please note that the gas separation unit if not intended for high flow rate use. E.g. the larger 1/4” OD tube setup (Hydraulic Connection Package for Flow Cells (Fittings, Lids, Tubings, Bottles) 1/4” ). Please contact us for inquiries about solutions for high flow rates.