Electrocatalytic apparatus for the simultaneous conversion of methane and CO.sub.2 into methanol via an elctrochemical reactor operating at ambient temperature and pressure, said electrochemical reactor simultaneously converts CO.sub.2 to methanol by surficial catalytic reaction on the cathode, and methane to methanol by surficial catalytic reaction on the anode. The electrochemical reactor futher works with an electrolyte consisting of electrolytic complexes of water-soluable transition metals and small molecules as co-catalyst of the electrocatalytic reactions and facilitator of ionic transfer and solubility of CO.sub.2 and CH.sub.4 molecules in the electrolyte. The electrochemical reactor is further equipped with zero-gap membrane electrocatalytic electrode assemlics, the cathode and anode comprising two electrocatalytic mesoporous surfaces and being tubular and coaxial, delineating two regions, which are separated one from the other by an ion exchange membrane (27). The tubular electrodes pack vertically together, the external gaps being filled by an insulating material. The packed electrodes are electronically connected to the power source in a parallel electrical circuit.

An electrolytic reaction system for generating gaseous hydrogen and oxygen includes a reaction chamber for accommodating an electrolyte as well as an electrode arrangement, which is formed of anodic and cathodic electrodes. Between lateral surfaces of electrodes arranged to be spaced apart from one another, at least one flow channel for the electrolyte is formed, which extends between a first axial end for admitting the electrolyte into the electrode arrangement and a second axial end for discharging the electrolyte out of the electrode arrangement. The at least one flow channel has at least one first flow cross-section and at least one second flow cross-section, wherein the second flow cross-section has a smaller size than the first flow channel, and the comparatively smaller second flow cross-section is formed in a partial section of the at least one flow channel closest to the second axial end of the electrode arrangement.

An electrolytic reaction system for generating gaseous hydrogen and oxygen includes a reaction chamber for accommodating an electrolyte as well as an electrode arrangement, which is formed of anodic and cathodic electrodes. Between lateral surfaces of electrodes arranged to be spaced apart from one another, at least one flow channel for the electrolyte is formed, which extends between a first axial end for admitting the electrolyte into the electrode arrangement and a second axial end for discharging the electrolyte out of the electrode arrangement. The at least one flow channel has at least one first flow cross-section and at least one second flow cross-section, wherein the second flow cross-section has a smaller size than the first flow channel, and the comparatively smaller second flow cross-section is formed in a partial section of the at least one flow channel closest to the second axial end of the electrode arrangement.

Herein discussed is an electrochemical reactor comprising a mixed-conducting membrane, wherein the membrane comprises an electronically conducting phase and an ionically conducting phase, wherein the reactor is capable of reforming a hydrocarbon electrochemically, wherein the electrochemical reforming reactions involve the exchange of an ion through the membrane to oxidize the hydrocarbon. Further discussed herein is a method of producing hydrogen comprising providing an electrochemical (EC) reactor having a mixed-conducting membrane, introducing a first stream comprising a hydrocarbon to the reactor, introducing a second stream comprising water to the reactor, and reducing the water in the second stream to produce hydrogen, wherein the first stream and the second stream do not come in contact with each other in the reactor, and wherein the hydrocarbon is reformed electrochemically in the EC reactor.

Herein discussed is an electrochemical reactor comprising a mixed-conducting membrane, wherein the membrane comprises an electronically conducting phase and an ionically conducting phase, wherein the reactor is capable of reforming a hydrocarbon electrochemically, wherein the electrochemical reforming reactions involve the exchange of an ion through the membrane to oxidize the hydrocarbon. Further discussed herein is a method of producing hydrogen comprising providing an electrochemical (EC) reactor having a mixed-conducting membrane, introducing a first stream comprising a hydrocarbon to the reactor, introducing a second stream comprising water to the reactor, and reducing the water in the second stream to produce hydrogen, wherein the first stream and the second stream do not come in contact with each other in the reactor, and wherein the hydrocarbon is reformed electrochemically in the EC reactor.

Herein discussed is a hydrogen production system comprising a first reactor zone and a second reactor zone, wherein both reactor zones comprise an ionically conducting membrane, wherein the first zone is capable of reforming a hydrocarbon electrochemically and the second zone is capable of performing water gas shift reactions electrochemically, wherein the electrochemical reforming reactions involve the exchange of an ion through the membrane to oxidize the hydrocarbon and wherein electrochemical water gas shift reactions involve the exchange of an ion through the membrane and include forward water gas shift reactions, or reverse water gas shift reactions, or both. In an embodiment, the membrane is mixed conducting. In an embodiment, the membrane comprises an electronically conducting phase and an ionically conducting phase.

Electrolyzer for catholyte production comprises an inner hollow cylindrical anode, an outer cylindrical cathode, and a diaphragm interposed between them. The length of the working part of the anode is at most 2 to 6 times the outer diameter of the anode. The inner hollow anode is made of one or two sections, the sections being connected to each other by a flow dielectric cylindrical sleeve having a diameter not larger than the outer diameter of the anode. The inner hollow anode has openings for introduction of water into inner cavity of the anode and openings for discharge of water at opposite ends of diameters of the anode lid. The electrolyzer for catholyte production operates in a horizontal position because outlet openings of the anode lid are located at the ends of the diameter of the anode lid, close to the outlet openings of the electrolyzer lid facing vertically upwards.

Electrolyzer for catholyte production comprises an inner hollow cylindrical anode, an outer cylindrical cathode, and a diaphragm interposed between them. The length of the working part of the anode is at most 2 to 6 times the outer diameter of the anode. The inner hollow anode is made of one or two sections, the sections being connected to each other by a flow dielectric cylindrical sleeve having a diameter not larger than the outer diameter of the anode. The inner hollow anode has openings for introduction of water into inner cavity of the anode and openings for discharge of water at opposite ends of diameters of the anode lid. The electrolyzer for catholyte production operates in a horizontal position because outlet openings of the anode lid are located at the ends of the diameter of the anode lid, close to the outlet openings of the electrolyzer lid facing vertically upwards.

An apparatus and a hydrogen car including the apparatus to generate hydrogen. The apparatus includes a housing, an anode plate, a cathode plate, and a power source. The housing is configured to contain a fluid. The anode plate is installed in the housing and configured to extend into the fluid. The cathode plate is installed in the housing and configured to extend into the fluid, the cathode plate including a plurality of holes. The power source is mounted on the housing and electrically coupled to the anode plate and the cathode plate.

An apparatus and a hydrogen car including the apparatus to generate hydrogen. The apparatus includes a housing, an anode plate, a cathode plate, and a power source. The housing is configured to contain a fluid. The anode plate is installed in the housing and configured to extend into the fluid. The cathode plate is installed in the housing and configured to extend into the fluid, the cathode plate including a plurality of holes. The power source is mounted on the housing and electrically coupled to the anode plate and the cathode plate.