Zero-gap electrochemical cell architectures that employ molecular-level capillary and/or diffusion and/or osmotic effects to minimize the need for macroscopic external management of the electrochemical cell. Preferably, these effects intrinsically respond to the electrochemical cell conditions, making them self-regulating. In one example is disclosed an electro-synthetic or electro-energy cell, and method of operation, including a reservoir for containing a liquid electrolyte, a first gas diffusion electrode positioned outside of the reservoir, and a second electrode positioned outside of the reservoir. A porous capillary spacer is positioned between the first gas diffusion electrode and the second electrode, the porous capillary spacer having an end that extends into the reservoir. Preferably, the porous capillary spacer is able to fill itself with the liquid electrolyte when the end of the porous capillary spacer is in liquid contact with the liquid electrolyte in the reservoir.

An electro-synthetic or electro-energy cell, and method of operation, including a first gas diffusion electrode configured to generate a first gas and be in contact with and adjacent to a first gas body including the first gas, and a second gas diffusion electrode configured to generate a second gas and be in contact with and adjacent to a second gas body including the second gas. A porous capillary spacer is positioned between the first gas diffusion electrode and the second gas diffusion electrode. The porous capillary spacer is configured to be filled with a liquid electrolyte and to confine the liquid electrolyte in the porous capillary spacer by a capillary effect and whereby the liquid electrolyte has a maximum column height of more than 0.4 cm.

The present invention relates to a downhole power supply device for supplying power in situ to a power consuming device arranged in a well, comprising a fuel cell producing electricity and water and having a fuel inlet, an oxidising inlet, an electric output and a water outlet, a fuel container fluidly connected to the fuel inlet, and an oxidising agent container fluidly connected to the oxidising inlet, wherein the fuel cell has an internal pressure which is at least 1.0 bar for increasing a boiling temperature of the water produced in the fuel cell. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a downhole system.

A method includes providing steam to the solid oxide fuel cell stack, splitting exhaust gas from the cell stack into two portions, a first portion directed to a superheater and a second portion directed to an ejector and to a hydrogen separator. At least part of the first portion of the exhaust gas that is directed to the superheater is subsequently boiled in a boiler and then returned to the superheater. After being returned to the superheater, this part is directed to the ejector as high pressure steam so as to drive the ejector.

The invention essentially consists of proposing a novel reactor or fuel cell architecture having an active section of the catalytic material for methanation or reforming reaction integrated into the electrode which varies with the composition of the gases, as they are distributed in accordance with the electrochemistry on said electrode.

A method for starting an electrolysis system is disclosed. A supply circuit has an AC terminal connected to an AC grid, a DC terminal connected to an electrolyzer, and an AC/DC converter arranged between the AC terminal and the DC terminal. The method includes charging an output capacitor connected to a DC converter terminal of the AC/DC converter, by operating the electrolyzer in a reverse mode, while the AC/DC converter is connected to the electrolyzer and disconnected from the AC grid, connecting the AC/DC converter to the AC grid, reversing the operation of the electrolyzer from the reverse mode to a normal mode as a DC load, to suppress a power flow between the AC grid and the electrolyzer, and operating the electrolyzer in the normal mode with electrical power drawn from the AC grid which is rectified by the AC/DC converter.

Power plant system and method of operating the same, the power plant system having a solid oxide fuel cell and a gas turbine, wherein the fuel cell and the gas turbine are set up such that compressed charge air of a compressor of the gas turbine can be provided to the fuel cell and/or an exhaust gas of the fuel cell can be provided to a combustion chamber of the gas turbine, wherein the system is configured such that the solid oxide fuel cell can be operated in a cell mode as well as in an electrolysis mode and wherein the solid oxide fuel cell is set up such that an excess grid energy is used for executing an electrolysis in the electrolysis mode of the fuel cell and thereby to chemically reduce water and/or carbon dioxide into hydrogen and/or syngas.

A polymer film comprising anionic groups and 0.008 to 25 mg/g of each of components (a) and (b): (a) a crosslinking agent which is free from fluoro groups and comprises a group of Formula (I); and (b) a non-ionic crosslinking agent; Formula (I) wherein M.sup.+ is a cation and * indicates the attachment points to other elements of the crosslinking agent.

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According to one aspect, an electrochemical cell may include a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte separating the positive electrode and the negative electrode from one another. The positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the electrolyte may collectively store and discharge energy by an electrode reaction of chlorine dioxide (ClO.sub.2).

A catalyst of an embodiment includes a porous structure including aggregates of particles containing Ru and metal atoms M different from Ru. The particles are a metal oxide. A metal atom ratio of the metal atom M in a surface region of the porous structure is higher than that of the metal atom M in the porous structure as a whole.