Water-Electrolysis Cells Using Hydrogen-Diffusion Cathodes

Item

Title
Water-Electrolysis Cells Using Hydrogen-Diffusion Cathodes
Date
1967
Index Abstract
Not Available
Photo Quality
Not Needed
Report Number
AMRL TR 67-65
Creator
Kolic, Edwin S.
Clifford, John E.
Corporate Author
Battelle Memorial Institute
Laboratory
Aerospace Medical Research Laboratories
Extent
50
Identifier
AD0664361
Access Rights
Distribution of this document is unlimited. It may be relased to the Clearinghouse, Department of Commerce, for sale to the general public.
Distribution Classification
1
Contract
AF 33(615)-2954
DoD Project
6373
DoD Task
637302
DTIC Record Exists
No
Distribution Change Authority Correspondence
None
Distribution Conflict
No
Abstract
The feasibility of extended operation of palladium-silver alloy hydrogen-diffusion cathodes was demonstrated by essentially 100 percent hydrogen transmission for 486 days of operation at the following experimental conditions: 6.35-mm-OD x 0.013-mm-wall Pd-25Ag cathode tube at 37 ma/sq cm; free electrolyte cell with 22 ml of 60 percent NaOH at 145C; cell voltage of 1.74 +0.03 or -0.03 volts with solid cylindrical platinum anode. The determination of the maximum efficient current density (MECD) as a function of temperature indicated that satisfactory operation in the above run could have been obtained at temperatures as low as 112C; 53C with new cathode-activation treatments; or 30C with rhodium treatment of the cathode. In addition to platinum, platinum-10 rhodium alloy was shown to be a satisfactory anode material, but not gold. The feasibility of producing hydrogen gas at a pressure 15 psi higher than oxygen with only a slight decrease in MECD was demonstrated. New electrolyte preelectrolysis procedures were developed to counteract apparent purity variations in reagent-grade NaOH pellets. Of a number of possible matrix materials investigated, the longest satisfactory operation was obtained with fuel-cell asbestos: 280 hours at 70C and 37 ma/sq cm, but only 15 hours at 135C. The feasibility of using a free electrolyte of phosphoric acid was demonstrated in a 4-hour run at 37 ma/sq cm and 60C.
Report Availability
Full text available
Date Issued
1967-11
Provenance
RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
Type
report
Format
1 online resource
Media
AMRLTR67-065.pdf

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