Electrolyzer circuit: rules for making a device with your own hands

An electrolyzer is a device that is used in the industrial field, for example, to obtain certain substances. However, due to the rise in the price of fuel and the increase in gas tariffs, the situation in our country has changed dramatically, and now electrolysis is widely used at home.

An example would be a pool cell circuit or a plasma welder.

Device characteristics

As you know from the school chemistry course, electrolysis is a process in which the constituent elements of dissolved substances are released on the electrodes. For the successful course of such a process, a current source is required, and the electrolyzer apparatus is precisely designed to carry out this very process with its help.

The electrolyser device is a container filled with a special substance - electrolyte. Also, at least two electrodes are placed in this container.

The main characteristic of the device is performance. It is she who is designated by the numbers that are used in the names of the models. For example, if you compare two models - "SEU 20" and "SEU 40", then just the name alone will make it clear that the latter is more powerful. The numbers in this case represent the production of hydrogen. The number "20" means that the device is capable of producing 20 cubic meters. meters of hydrogen per hour.

Electrolyzers also have other characteristics, which usually depend on the type of device, as well as on the area of ​​its application.

For example, when carrying out electrolysis of water, the efficiency is influenced by:

• voltage in the electrodes;
• distance between electrodes;
• the dimensions of these electrodes;
• electrolyte concentration;
• chemical and physical properties of the material used for the manufacture of electrodes;
• the presence or absence of elements accelerating the process.

Principle of operation

The electrolyzer works as follows: electrodes are connected to a direct current source, which are lowered into a container with an aqueous electrolyte solution. The passing current must have a voltage that exceeds the decomposition point of triatomic water molecules.

After a while, oxygen is formed on one of the electrodes, and hydrogen on the other. Since the number of hydrogen molecules in water is exactly 2.5 more than the number of oxygen molecules, 2 times more hydrogen is released. This is how the simplest electrolyzer works.

Varieties of devices

Electrolyzers can be used not only in the industrial field, but also in the home. The hydrogen they produce can be converted into fuel and used to enrich the gas / air mixture, thereby increasing the performance of the car's engine.

There are several types of electrolysers, which differ from each other in design features.

Dry devices

Using them, you can change the number of cells. Connect the device to a current source whose voltage exceeds the lowest electrode potential.

Flow-through electrolyzers

This design consists of a container with electrodes, which is filled to the top with a solution. Another large element of such a device is a tank, which also contains a solution, but there is still an empty space on top. Both containers are connected to each other by a pair of pipes.

The flow cell works as follows: in a container where there is no free space, an electrochemical reaction occurs under the influence of an electric current in the electrodes. The resulting gas, together with the electrolyte, passes through one of the pipes into the second container. There it is separated from the electrolyte solution and exits through a special valve located at the top of the tank. The electrolyte, deprived of gas, returns through the second pipe to the bath with electrodes.

This process is repeated many times until the required volume of gas is obtained: until the device is disconnected from the network.

Membrane devices

They are among the common types of electrolysers. Their work is based on the use of a membrane: that is, not a liquid electrolyte, but a solid one.

Moreover, the membrane performs two functions at once:

1. It carries microparticles.
2. Separates electrodes and electrochemical reaction products.

The simplest diaphragm electrolysis

In the case when it is impossible to allow diffusion between the electrode chambers, a porous diaphragm is used, which can be glass, asbestos or ceramics. Sometimes glass wool or polymer fibers can be used. Accordingly, devices equipped with this element are called diaphragm devices.

Consists of six main elements:

• two tubes (one of which is for oxygen outlet, and the other for hydrogen outlet);
• cathode;
• anode;
• U-shaped container;
• the diaphragm itself, which is located at the bottom of the vessel.

Alkaline types

A variety of electrolyzers, to which most of these devices can be attributed. In almost all of them, a concentrated alkali solution acts as a catalyst.

The use of salt is not recommended as chlorine will be released. Sodium hydroxide is best used as it does not corrode the electrode.

DIY process

Before making an electrolyzer with your own hands, you need to prepare the necessary materials and tools, as well as draw the future device on the diagram.

This will require:

• a piece of steel sheet (steel must be stainless);
• transparent tube;
• plastic container with a volume of 1.5 liters;
• valve for water;
• filter for cleaning it;
• fittings;
• washers;
• bolts;
• nuts.

Work begins with measuring the area of ​​the steel sheet. After, by means of a grinder, it is necessary to divide it into 16 squares of equal area. In each of the resulting squares, you need to cut one of the corners. In the other corner, which is located opposite the sawn one, make a hole into which a bolt will be inserted to fasten it to other plates.

Since during the operation of the finished device, the current must go from one plate to another, you need to make sure that a negative charge accumulates on one plate, and a positive charge on the other. They must be connected in turn: positive, negative, positive, negative, and so on. This increases the current strength.

The plates are connected by means of bolts and washers. 8 plates should be positively charged and 8 negative. If the work is done correctly, then the cuts of the plates should not touch the electrodes. To ensure that the plates do not come into contact with each other, it is necessary to use a tube.

The finished structure of 16 plates is placed in a plastic container in order to determine where the holes should be made. If it turns out that the bolts do not fit in the container, then they should be shortened and tightened with nuts to achieve tightness.

Next, you can make a hole in the lid and insert several fittings there. The resulting seams must be sealed with silicone sealant.

It is recommended to connect the plates as follows: the extreme ones - to the minus, and the one in the middle to the plus. The volume of the evolved gas is directly curled from the area of ​​the plates, as well as from the current strength. A safety valve is needed so that a lot of gas does not accumulate in the device.

After the device is completely assembled, it must be checked. For this, it is connected to a current source. Water is poured into its container to the level at which the bolts are located. Then you need to close the lid, attach a tube to the fitting and lower it into the water. If the current is weak, then it will be immediately noticeable.

To increase the efficiency of the device, it is necessary to pour an alkali solution into the container instead of water. By itself, plain water is not a very good conductor of electricity, since it contains there are no salts and impurities, but if you add alkali to the water, its ability to conduct current immediately will improve. To obtain a high-quality electrolyte consisting of water and alkali, you can take sodium hydroxide. This substance is commonly found in pipe cleaners.

Despite the fact that the simplest electrolyzer consists of a small number of elements, you can try to make many varieties of such devices. To do this, it is not necessary to seek professional help.