A starting method includes determining whether a depressurizing current was supplied to a water electrolyzer while at least a cathode side of the water electrolyzer was depressurized in an immediately previous stop of a water electrolysis system after electrolyzing water. A first current is supplied to the water electrolyzer at a first supply rate to start the water electrolysis system in a case where it is determined that the depressurizing current was supplied to the water electrolyzer in the immediately previous stop. A second current is supplied to the water electrolyzer at a second supply rate lower than the first supply rate to start the water electrolysis system in a case where it is determined that the depressurizing current was not supplied to the water electrolyzer in the immediately previous stop.

A method is provided for running up/starting up an electrolysis device (10), which device includes a reactor container (3) which is arranged downstream of an electrolyzer (1) and in which oxygen reacts with hydrogen into water, in order to reduce an oxygen share in a hydrogen gas flow coming from the electrolyzer (1). The electrolysis device (10) is operated with a predefined operating pressure. Upon running up/starting up the electrolyzer (1), the hydrogen gas flow coming from the electrolyzer (1) is led past the reactor container (3) via a bypass conduit (11).

A high pressure water electrolysis device includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode power supplying body, a cathode power supplying body, an anode separator, a cathode separator, a cathode chamber, a seal member, and a protective sheet member. The protective sheet member is interposed between the electrolyte membrane and the anode power supplying body and includes a frame part and a through hole formation part. The frame part faces the seal member as a seal receiving part in a stacking direction. The through hole formation part is provided inwardly of the frame part. In the through hole formation part, a plurality of through holes are provided. The through hole formation part has the plurality of through holes from an inner side to outer side of a range that faces an anode catalyst part in the stacking direction.

A water electrolyzer comprising: a membrane having first and second opposed major surfaces, a thickness extending between the first and second major surfaces; a cathode comprising a first catalyst on the first major surface of the membrane; and an anode comprising a second catalyst on the second major surface of the membrane, wherein the membrane, if planar, has a length direction, an average length, a width direction, an average width, a thickness direction, and an average thickness, wherein the average length and the average width are each greater than the average thickness, wherein the average width is no greater than the average length, wherein the average thickness is defined between first and second major surfaces of the membrane, wherein the average length, the average width, and the average thickness define a membrane volume, wherein has the length direction, the width direction, and the thickness direction are each perpendicular to each other, wherein the membrane volume comprises at least one of metallic Pt or Pt oxide, wherein the membrane volume comprises at least 5 of alternating first and second regions across at least one plane in the membrane, wherein the first region has a first concentration within a 100 micrometer.sup.3 cube volume collectively of metallic Pt and Pt oxide that is at least 0.1 microgram/cm3, wherein the second region has a second concentration within a 100 micrometer.sup.3 cube volume collectively of metallic Pt and Pt oxide that is not greater than 0.01 microgram/cm.sup.3, and wherein the first concentration is at least 10 times greater than the second concentration.

A water electrolyzer comprising: a membrane having first and second opposed major surfaces, a thickness extending between the first and second major surfaces; a cathode comprising a first catalyst on the first major surface of the membrane; and an anode comprising a second catalyst on the second major surface of the membrane, wherein the membrane, if planar, has a length direction, an average length, a width direction, an average width, a thickness direction, and an average thickness, wherein the average length and the average width are each greater than the average thickness, wherein the average width is no greater than the average length, wherein the average thickness is defined between first and second major surfaces of the membrane, wherein the average length, the average width, and the average thickness define a membrane volume, wherein has the length direction, the width direction, and the thickness direction are each perpendicular to each other, wherein the membrane volume comprises at least one of metallic Pt or Pt oxide, wherein the membrane volume comprises at least 5 of alternating first and second regions across at least one plane in the membrane, wherein the first region has a first concentration within a 100 micrometer.sup.3 cube volume collectively of metallic Pt and Pt oxide that is at least 0.1 microgram/cm3, wherein the second region has a second concentration within a 100 micrometer.sup.3 cube volume collectively of metallic Pt and Pt oxide that is not greater than 0.01 microgram/cm.sup.3, and wherein the first concentration is at least 10 times greater than the second concentration.

An alkaline water electrolyzer includes at least two outer frames, a gasket, and a diaphragm. The at least two outer frames are stacked so as to overlap at least in part in a circumferential direction. The gasket is sandwiched between the two outer frames. The gasket can be in contact with the outer frames over the entire circumferential direction. In an inner peripheral surface of the gasket, a slit is formed along the circumferential direction. The gasket has a first protrusion portion. The first protrusion portion protrudes over the entire circumferential direction at a position overlapping the slit when viewed from a thickness direction of the slit. A diaphragm is caught in the slit of the gasket. A volume ratio of volume of the first protrusion portion, to volume between a bottom of the slit and an end of the diaphragm, is between 0.5 and 100 inclusive.

An alkaline water electrolyzer includes at least two outer frames, a gasket, and a diaphragm. The at least two outer frames are stacked so as to overlap at least in part in a circumferential direction. The gasket is sandwiched between the two outer frames. The gasket can be in contact with the outer frames over the entire circumferential direction. In an inner peripheral surface of the gasket, a slit is formed along the circumferential direction. The gasket has a first protrusion portion. The first protrusion portion protrudes over the entire circumferential direction at a position overlapping the slit when viewed from a thickness direction of the slit. A diaphragm is caught in the slit of the gasket. A volume ratio of volume of the first protrusion portion, to volume between a bottom of the slit and an end of the diaphragm, is between 0.5 and 100 inclusive.

An orientation independent delivery device. The delivery device includes a gas chamber, a delivery chamber, a gas cell, and a delivery aperture. The gas chamber includes a gas-side rigid portion and a gas-side flexible barrier. The gas-side flexible barrier is sealed to the gas-side rigid portion. The delivery chamber includes a delivery-side rigid portion and a delivery-side flexible barrier. The delivery-side flexible barrier is sealed to the delivery-side rigid portion and is oriented adjacent to the gas-side flexible barrier. The gas cell is coupled to the gas-side rigid portion of the gas chamber. The gas cell increases a gas pressure within the gas chamber to expand the gas-side flexible barrier. Expansion of the gas-side flexible barrier applies a compressive force to the delivery-side flexible barrier allowing a delivery material to escape from the delivery chamber.

A method is provided for carbon-dioxide-neutral compensation for current level fluctuations in an electrical power supply system as a result of peaks and troughs in the generation of electrical energy. When a generation peak occurs, electrical energy produced from a regenerative energy source is used in an electrolysis unit for hydrogen generation. A hydrogen flow generated in the electrolysis unit is supplied to a reactor unit that catalytically generates an energy-carrier flow containing hydrocarbon. In a generation trough, the produced energy-carrier flow is burned in a combustion chamber. The thermal energy of the flue-gas flow formed by the combustion is used to generate electrical energy in a turbine process. The generated electrical energy is fed into the electrical power supply system. The flue-gas flow is supplied to the reactor unit as a carbon source for generation of the energy-carrier flow.

The present invention describes an electrochemical system (1) to electrochemically reduce carbon monoxide (CO) into liquid methanol and gaseous H.sub.2, comprising an electrochemical cell with an anodic compartment with an anode (2) with a current collector (2A), at least a catalyst to electrochemically oxidize H.sub.2O, and a cathodic compartment with a cathodic electrolyte solution comprising the solvent (3), and a cathodic supporting electrolyte, the solvent (3) being water at basic pH of between 10.5 and 13.5, the reagent CO; a cathode (4) which comprises, on a current collector (4A) which is electrochemically inert, at least a cobalt molecular catalyst (4B) to electrochemically reduce CO into liquid methanol and the gas H.sub.2, a power supply (5) providing the energy necessary to trigger the electrochemical reactions involving the reagent.