A compression apparatus includes a stack of electrochemical cells each including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane interposed therebetween, a pair of insulating plates disposed at respective ends of the stack in a stacking direction, a pair of first end plates disposed on outside surfaces of the respective insulating plates, and a voltage applicator that applies a voltage between the anode and the cathode. Upon the voltage applicator applying the voltage, the compression apparatus causes hydrogen included in a hydrogen-containing gas fed to the anode to move to the cathode and produces compressed hydrogen. One of the first end plates have a first channel formed therein, through which the hydrogen-containing gas fed to the anode flows, and a second channel formed therein, through which a heating medium flows. The compression apparatus further includes a heater that heats the heating medium.

A system and methods for electrolysis of saline solutions are provided. An exemplary system provides a tandem electrolysis cell. The tandem electrolysis cell includes a common enclosure that has two chambers. A first chamber is separated from a second chamber by a cation selective membrane. A common anode and a first cathode (cathode A) are disposed in the first chamber. The first cathode and the common anode are configured to electrolyze a saline solution to hydrogen and oxygen. A second cathode (cathode B) is disposed in the second chamber. The second cathode and the common anode are configured to electrolyze a brine solution in the first chamber to form chlorine and water in the second chamber to form hydrogen and hydroxide ions.

A process for preparing ammonia via an electrolysis cell may involve feeding nitrogen as a first reactant into the electrolysis cell and using water or water vapor as a second reactant for electrolysis. In at least one step downstream of the electrolysis, there is a separation of other components from the ammonia, such as an at-least-partial separation of nitrogen, water, argon and/or hydrogen. Recovery of the reactants is connected upstream of the ammonia electrolysis. The nitrogen used as the first reactant may be procured beforehand in an air fractionation plant. The process may further involve removing from the electrolysis cell oxygen formed as a by-product in the electrolysis at an anode.

A process for preparing ammonia via an electrolysis cell may involve feeding nitrogen as a first reactant into the electrolysis cell and using water or water vapor as a second reactant for electrolysis. In at least one step downstream of the electrolysis, there is a separation of other components from the ammonia, such as an at-least-partial separation of nitrogen, water, argon and/or hydrogen. Recovery of the reactants is connected upstream of the ammonia electrolysis. The nitrogen used as the first reactant may be procured beforehand in an air fractionation plant. The process may further involve removing from the electrolysis cell oxygen formed as a by-product in the electrolysis at an anode.

Systems and methods for increasing the concentration of a desired product in gas phase output streams of CO.sub.x electrolyzers are described.

Provided is a synthesis method comprising a first step of producing a carbonate compound from carbon monoxide and an alcohol-based compound at an anode of a first electrochemical cell comprising a cathode and the anode, and a second step of synthesizing a first product by a dealcoholization reaction of the carbonate compound, wherein an alcohol-based compound eliminated in the second step is recycled in the first step.

The present invention relates to a method of cleaning electrolytic cells that includes: (a) directing a base solution comprising water into an array of electrolytic cells; and (b) removing contaminants from at least one of the electrolytic cells with air turbulence provided by an injection of compressed air into the electrolytic cell. The injection of compressed air is provided by an air sparging system in fluid communication with an inlet portion of the at least one electrolytic cell. A self-cleaning electrolytic cell system is further included.

The present invention relates to a method of cleaning electrolytic cells that includes: (a) directing a base solution comprising water into an array of electrolytic cells; and (b) removing contaminants from at least one of the electrolytic cells with air turbulence provided by an injection of compressed air into the electrolytic cell. The injection of compressed air is provided by an air sparging system in fluid communication with an inlet portion of the at least one electrolytic cell. A self-cleaning electrolytic cell system is further included.

This invention relates to a system comprising one or more electrolysis cell(s) and at least one power electronic unit that supplies the cell(s) with a fluctuating voltage, and to a method for operating one or more electrolysis cell(s), comprising providing one or more voltage fluctuations to the electrolysis cell(s) by at least one power electronic unit, enabling the provision of a low-cost electrolysis system which simultaneously allows for fast-response dynamic operation, improved electrolysis efficiency, increased lifetime and high impurity tolerance.

A system for treatment of brines includes one or more membrane-less electrolyzers. An influent flow chamber flows an influent stream to a porous anode and cathode. electrochemical reactions at the anode and cathode result in acidic and alkaline effluent streams respectively, including liquid and gaseous streams. The alkaline effluent can be combined with a brine feed stream, resulting in precipitation of alkali earth metals cations by reaction with hydroxyls to form alkali earth metal hydroxides (M(OH).sub.2, M=Mg.sup.2+, Ca.sup.2+). These M(OH).sub.2 are of interest as a carbon-free feedstock material for cement manufacturing. Additionally, carbon dioxide, such as from flue gas, can be combined with the alkaline effluent to form alkali earth metal carbonates or be concentrated and released upon neutralization of carbon dioxide saturated alkaline effluent with the acidic effluent. Chlorine gas evolved at the anode can also be utilized with hydrogen gas evolved at the cathode as feed streams for a fuel cell for the generation of electricity.