GB2631491A

GB2631491A - Swarf electrode

Info

Publication number: GB2631491A
Application number: GB2310119.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Francis Geary Paul
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2023-07-03
Filing date: 2023-07-03
Publication date: 2025-01-08
Also published as: WO2025008614A1; GB202310119D0

Abstract

An electrode assembly (100) for the electrolysis of water, said electrode assembly comprising: a first flow-through electrode (102), said first flow-through electrode (102) being permeable to electrolyte water and/or gases produced by the decomposition of electrolyte water; and a first support structure (104), said first support structure (104) located at the first flow-through electrode. The first support structure may comprise multiple layers. The support structure may comprise fiber or filaments (208), where can resin (212) can be used in the processing of the fibre. A second flow through electrode (105) and an associated second support structure can also be provided (106). A larger number of layers can be located on the second support structure than the first support structure.

Description

SWARF ELECTRODE

Description

The present invention relates to an electrode assembly, preferably but not exclusively to an electrode assembly for the electrolysis of water. The present invention further relates to a method of manufacturing an electrode assembly.

The process of using electricity to decompose water into oxygen and hydrogen gas is known as electrolysis of water. Hydrogen gas produced in this way can be used in various applications and has become widely known as an energy dense option for fuelling vehicles. In other applications, electrolysis of water may be used as a decentralised storage solution storing electrical energy as chemical energy, particularly electrical energy obtained via renewable power. In recent years, therefore, demand for hydrogen, inter alia, as a fuel for so-called hydrogen fuel cells has increased rapidly.

Electrolysers can be grouped into proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers, alkaline electrolysers and solid oxide electrolysers. These different types of electrolysers function in slightly different ways depending on the electrolyte material involved. Yet, some of the most prominent drawbacks of most electrolysers include overall inefficiencies and/or failure to supply hydrogen gas at pressures required for further use.

In order to maximize the amount of gas (e.g. oxygen/hydrogen) produced with common electrolysers, it is known to arrange a multitude of electrodes parallel to each other in a device known as an "electrode stack". Such electrode stacks include multiple electrolyte chambers, each between neighbouring electrodes, thereby enabling large electrode surface areas to be in contact with the electrolyte solution without requiring large space envelopes. Although electrode stacks are useful to combine a plurality of electrolysers in the smallest possible space, such known stacks are still of significant size, particularly when trying to generate hydrogen for commercial use. Using electrode stacks for domestic purposes is also not currently feasible due to its size and weight.

A further issue, particularly in terms of domestic use of hydrogen, is the tank volume required to store hydrogen. One solution is reducing hydrogen volume by means of pressurization or liquefaction. Currently, the vast majority of industrial processes produce hydrogen at atmospheric pressure. Such low-pressure hydrogen gas must then be compressed, e.g. by means of compressor pumps, at considerable cost (and environmental impact). To eliminate the compression step, pressurised hydrogen electrolysis systems have been developed, such as described in GB 2 612 067 A, in the name of the same applicant. Pressurised electrolysis systems are able to produce hydrogen gas at elevated pressures, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for separate post electrolysis hydrogen compressors.

Although pressurised electrolysers may significantly reduce the cost for producing pressurised hydrogen, one significant side effect is that the housing of the electrolyser needs to be constructed to resist highly pressurised process fluids, such as the electrolyte water and the hydrogen/oxygen gas produced therefrom.

It is an aim of the present disclosure to solve or at least ameliorate one or more of the problems associated with the prior-art. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved electrode assembly, in particular an electrode stack, that reduces the effective space/weight requirements and, at the same time, is able to withstand large amounts of internal pressure. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrode assembly that fulfils the above requirements and is easy to manufacture, at low cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electrode assembly for the electrolysis of water, and a method of manufacturing such an electrode assembly as claimed in the appended claims.

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to an electrode assembly for the electrolysis of water, said electrode assembly comprising: - a first flow-through electrode, said first flow-through electrode being permeable to electrolyte water and/or gases produced by the decomposition of electrolyte water; - a first support structure, said first support structure being wrapped around the first flow-through electrode, preferably in multiple layers.

It was found that creating a support structure for the electrode that is wrapped around the flow-through electrode allowed for the support structure to be produced efficiently and withstand very high pressures. A variety of strand (e.g. fibers or filaments) or sheet like materials may be used to wrap the flow-through electrode and provide one or more layers of the support structure. This enables continuous materials to be used to provide the support structure, thereby avoiding weakened areas that may occur as a result of other manufacturing processes, such as injection molding or die casting. The support structure of the electrode assembly according to the present disclosure may easily be adjusted by varying the number of layers being wrapped around the first flow-through electrode. Generally, the more layers are wrapped around the electrode, the thicker the first support structure will be and the more pressure it will be able to withstand.

Generally, in this specification, the term "electrolyte water" may encompass any type of fluid that may be used in hydrogen electrolysis. Typically, this may be water including any added electrolyte suitable for water electrolysis. Electrolyte water may contain any type of electrolyte additive, such as sulphuric acid, sulphate, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, etc. However, the term "electrolyte water" also encompasses water with no additional electrolytes. This may be tap water or, indeed, purified or distilled water.

According to another embodiment, the first support structure comprises fibre material, preferably carbon fibres and/or glass fibres. In general, any strand or sheet like material may be used in order to create the first support structure that is wrapped around the first flow-through electrode. However, it was found that carbon fibres and/or glass fibres are particularly suitable for wrapping flow-through electrodes and provide sufficient yield strength to withstand pressures, such as the hydrogen gas pressure produced by pressurised electrolysers. Other suitable fibres may include ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibres (UHMWPE), aramid fibres, polybenzoxazole fibres, polyarylate fibres, or polyaimid fibres.

According to another embodiment, the first support structure comprises a resin binding the fibre material. The first support structure of this embodiment is a mixture of the fibre material and a resin interconnecting the fibres to achieve a leak proof support structure surrounding the first flow-through electrode. The resin may be applied before or after the fibres are spun onto the first flow-through electrode.

According to another embodiment, the electrode assembly comprises a second support structure, which comprises a stainless steel ring arranged around an outer surface of the first support structure. The stainless steel ring may be heat shrunk or pressed onto the outer surface of the first support structure. According to this embodiment, the second support structure is leak proof and provides additional strength to the electrode assembly to withstand ultra-high pressures.

According to another embodiment, the electrode assembly comprises a second support structure, which may be wrapped around the first support structure, preferably in multiple layers. The second support structure may be used to reinforce the first support structure to increase the amount of pressure the electrode assembly of the present disclosure is able to endure. The second support structure may be made of the same or different materials to the first support structure, as long as the second support structure is also a wrapping of strand or sheet like materials.

In one embodiment, the second support structure comprises fibre material, preferably carbon fibres and/or glass fibres. Accordingly, the second support structure may be made from the same or different materials compared to the first support structure. Using two separate support structures will enable machining of galleries within and/or between the different support structures, as will be described in more detail below.

In another embodiment, the second support structure comprises a higher number of wrapping layers than the first support structure. According to this embodiment, the first support structure may be mainly a functional structure, for the provision of fluid galleries that act to supply and receive process fluids to and from the first flow-through electrode. The second support structure including more wrapping layers (and thereby usually being thicker) then facilitates most of the pressure resistance of the electrode assembly.

According to another embodiment, the electrode assembly is configured to withstand electrolyte water pressures of up to 1000 bar, when in use. The pressure tolerance of the electrode assembly according to the present disclosure may be adjusted by changing the number of wrapping layers and thus the thickness of the first and/or second support structure. Generally, the more layers of sheet or strand like materials are wrapped around the first flow-through electrode, the higher the pressure resilience of the electrode assembly.

According to another embodiment, the first support structure comprises a first surface and an opposite, second surface, wherein the second support structure comprises a first surface and an opposite, second surface, and wherein the first surface of the first support structure faces the first flow-through electrode and/or wherein the second surface of the first support structure faces the first surface of the second support structure. The first surface of the first support structure may be an inner circumferential surface that is wrapped around an outer surface of a cylindrical flow-through electrode. The second surface of the first support structure may be an outer circumferential surface of the first support structure. The first surface of the second support structure may be an inner circumferential surface that is wrapped around the second (outer) surface of the first support structure.

According to another embodiment, the second surface of the second support structure defines an outermost surface of the electrode assembly. Accordingly, the size of the electrode assembly is determined by a combination of the sizes of the first flow-through electrode, the first support structure and the second support structure. No further housing parts are required to construct the electrode assembly of the present disclosure, thereby reducing the space envelope of the present electrode assembly.

According to another embodiment, the electrode assembly, may be cylindrical.

The first flow-through electrode may be disc-shaped and circumferentially covered by a ring-shaped first support structure.

According to another embodiment, the electrode assembly comprises a first gas collection channel, preferably a blind bore, extending from the first support structure into the first flow-through electrode. If the electrode assembly is a cylinder-shaped structure, then the first gas collection channel extends radially inwards through at least parts of the first support structure and into the first flow-through electrode. In a particularly simple embodiment, the first gas collection channel extends through the entire first support structure, i.e., between the first and second surfaces of the first support structure and into the first flow-through electrode. In some embodiments, the first gas collection channel may thus extend radially through the first support structure and into the first flow-through electrode. The first gas collection channel provides a fluid connection between the first support structure and the first flow-through electrode to allow gases produced by the electrolysis process within the first flow-through electrode to be received via the first gas collection channel and delivered into a gas collection gallery, which will be discussed in more detail below.

According to another embodiment, the electrode assembly comprises a first gas collection gallery, preferably a bore, said first gas collection gallery extending substantially perpendicular to the first gas collection channel and intersecting the first gas collection channel. The first gas collection gallery and the first gas collection channel are in fluid connection with each other. In particular, the first gas collection gallery may intersect the first gas collection channel at a second end, that is opposite to a first end of the gas collection channel that is received within the first flow-through electrode. Gases produced by the electrolysis process may thus be transferred via the gas collection channel into the first gas collection gallery and removed from the electrode assembly, e.g. along front or back faces of the first support structure, as will be described in more detail below.

According to another embodiment, the first gas collection gallery at least partially extends along the second surface of the first support structure. According to this embodiment, the first gas collection gallery may be arranged between the first and second support structure. The first gas collection gallery may thus be introduced once the second support structure has been wrapped around the first support structure, as will be described in more detail below. This particular arrangement facilitates the production process of the present electrode assembly.

According to another embodiment, the electrode assembly comprises a plurality of gas collection galleries extending in parallel with the first gas collection gallery and being arranged equidistantly in a circumferential direction. Using the circumferential space of the electrode assembly for more than one gas collection gallery increases the capacity of the galleries and thus the potential high hydrogen and oxygen yield of the corresponding electrolysis system that uses the electrode assembly.

According to another embodiment, the electrode assembly comprises a first electrolyte supply channel arranged in parallel with the first gas collection gallery, the first electrolyte supply channel being fluidically separated from the first gas collection gallery. The electrolyte supply channel may extend through either the first support structure of the second support structure. Accordingly, the support structures may not only be used to receive process gases of the electrode assembly but also to supply the required electrolyte water within the same space. This will further reduce the space envelope acquired by the present electrode assembly.

According to another embodiment, the electrode assembly comprises a plurality of electrolyte supply channels extending in parallel with the first electrolyte supply channel, said electrolyte supply channels being equidistantly arranged in a circumferential direction.

In another embodiment, each of the electrolyte supply channels is circumferentially interspersed between adjacent gas collection galleries.

Arranging the electrolyte supply channels and the gas collection galleries in an alternating manner provides for a homogeneous distribution of electrolyte water supplied to the electrodes and gases received from the electrodes, thereby assisting flow of process fluids through the electrode assembly.

According to another embodiment, a distance between the first electrolyte supply channel and an outermost surface of the electrode assembly is selected based on a pressure within the first electrolyte supply channel. In high pressure and ultra-high pressure electrolysis applications, electrolyte water is supplied at pressures of up to 1000 bar via the electrolyte supply channels. According to this embodiment, the electrolyte supply channels are arranged at a distance from the outermost surface of the electrode assembly that is sufficient to withstand the pressures within the electrolyte supply channels. In other words, the electrode assembly comprises a number of layers (e.g., made of strand or sheet like materials) outside of the electrolyte supply channel, e.g., in a radial direction. In some embodiments, the number of layers required for a corresponding pressure may be empirically tested and stored in a database for future production purposes. In this way, the amount of fibre or sheet like material used may be determined to be sufficient to withhold the desired pressures but no more, to avoid use of unnecessary layers of wrapping. This will reduce the overall size of the electrode assembly and, at the same time, reduce costs to a minimum.

According to another embodiment, the electrode assembly comprises a second flow-through electrode, said second flow-through electrode being permeable to electrolyte water and/or gases produced by the decomposition of electrolyte water, wherein the first support structure is wrapped around the second electrode, preferably in multiple layers. According to this embodiment, the first support structure may not only be used to support a first electrode (e.g. for the production of hydrogen) but also a second electrode (e.g. for the production of the corresponding oxygen). As mentioned above, the first support structure may then also be used to receive both hydrogen and oxygen gases produced by the two electrodes and supply both electrodes with electrolyte water. This further reduces the size of a corresponding electrode stack described in more detail below.

According to another embodiment, the electrode assembly comprises an electrically conductive, non-permeable divider, sandwiched between the first and second flow-through electrodes. The electrically conductive, non-permeable divider acts to fluidly separate the first and second electrodes from each other, while allowing electricity to flow-through the assembly between the first and second electrodes. The use of this electrode assembly enables production of a compact bi-polar electrode stack, which will be discussed in more detail below.

According to another embodiment, the electrode assembly further comprising: a second flow-through electrode, said second flow-through electrode being permeable to electrolyte water and/or gases produced by the decomposition of electrolyte water; a cell gap arranged between and separating the first and second flow-through electrodes, said cell gap defining an electrolyte water chamber, wherein the first support structure is wrapped around the first flow-through electrode, the second flow-through electrode and the cell gap. It should be understood that this embodiment differs from and may be combined with the embodiment described above, in which two electrodes that are separated by a non-permeable divider are both wrapped by the first support structure. In this embodiment, two electrodes are separated by a cell gap that defines an electrolyte water chamber between the electrodes and both wrapped by the first io support structure. If combined with the above embodiment, the first support structure will be wrapped around at least three flow-through electrodes, e.g. the first and second flow-through electrodes being separated by the non-permeable divider and a third flow-through electrode, which is separated from the first flow-through electrode via the cell gap/electrolyte water chamber. The third flow-through electrode may, in turn, be separated from a fourth flow-through electrode via a second non-permeable, conductive divider. The first support structure may wrap each of the above flow-through electrodes, thereby creating a sealed unit or sealed electrode stack. Advantageously, such a sealed electrode stack does not require a spacer gasket as will be described in more detail below.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of manufacturing an electrode assembly for the electrolysis of water. The method comprises the following steps: -providing, preferably by means of swarf sintering, a first flow-through electrode, said first flow-through electrode being permeable to electrolyte water and/or gases produced by the decomposition of electrolyte water; and -wrapping a fibre or filament around an outer surface of the first flow-through electrode, preferably in multiple layers, to produce a first support structure covering the outer surface of the fist flow-through electrode.

As discussed above, wrapping a flow-through electrode by means of fibres or filaments, or perhaps sheet like materials, provides for an electrode assembly that can withstand high or ultra-high pressures and, at the same time, requires very little space.

According to another embodiment, the method comprises wrapping a fibre or filament around the first support structure to produce a second support structure covering the first support structure, wherein the second support structure preferably comprises a higher number of layers than the first support structure.

In another embodiment, the first support structure comprises a first surface facing the first flow-through electrode and an opposite, second surface, wherein the method comprises introducing a first gas collection channel extending from the second surface of the first support structure through the first surface of the support structure and into the flow-through electrode. The gas collection channel may be a blind bore drilled radially into the second surface of the first support structure, towards the first flow-through electrode. The blind bore for the gas collection channel may only partly protrude into the first flow-through electrode, thereby tapping into the porous structure of the electrode and connecting the porous structure with the first support structure.

According to another embodiment, the method comprises arranging a plug in the first gas collection channel before the second support structure is produced. The plug will cover the open end of the gas collection channel that is preferably created as a blind bore. According to some examples, this open end will be arranged on the second surface of the first support structure and may thus be plugged before the second support structure is wrapped around the second surface of the first support structure. The plug arranged in the first gas collection channel will avoid contamination of the gas collection channel during production of (i.e., wrapping of the fibres or filaments or sheets) the second support structure.

According to another embodiment, the method comprises introducing a first gas collection gallery that extends through and removes the plug from the first gas collection channel, wherein the first gas collection gallery extends substantially perpendicular to the first gas collection channel and intersects the first gas collection channel. According to this method step, a gas collection gallery may be introduced into the electrode assembly and, at the same time, the plug that was previously covering the gas collection channel may be removed. The removal of the plug will enable a fluidic connection between the gas collection channel and the gas collection gallery such that gases (hydrogen or oxygen) mixed with electrolyte water may be removed from the porous structure of the electrode via the gas collection channel and ultimately transferred into the gas collection gallery. In other words, introducing the gas collection gallery via the plug will remove the plug that was covering the gas collection channel.

In another embodiment, the method comprises introducing a first electrolyte supply channel arranged in parallel with the first gas collection gallery, the first electrolyte supply channel being fluidically separated from the first gas collection gallery. The first electrolyte supply channel may be a bore extending between side faces of the electrode assembly. In particular, the electrolyte supply channel may extend through the second support structure and might be interspersed circumferentially between adjacent gas collection channels.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, and the claims and/or the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and all features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned and other features and advantages of this disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the disclosure will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 shows a front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view through a first flow-through electrode of the electrode assembly of FIG. 1, along axis B-B of Fig. 4; FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view along axis A-A of FIG. 2; FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an electrode stack including a plurality of electrode assemblies according to the embodiment of FIGs. 1 to 4; FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a spacer gasket of electrode stack of FIG. 5; FIG. 7 shows an exemplary electrode cake including two flow-through electrodes separated by a non-permeable divider; FIG. 8 shows a schematic system for wrapping the electrode cake shown in FIG. 7; and FIG. 9 shows a schematic flow diagram of a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an electrode assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The electrode assembly 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes one or more (in this case two) flow-through electrodes, which are housed within one or more support structures, as will be described in more detail below.

Although this is not particularly shown in any of the attached drawings, the electrode assembly may be used as part of an electrolysis system for generating hydrogen and/or oxygen from water. The electrode assembly may be included in an electrolyser for producing hydrogen and/or oxygen gases by decomposition of electrolyte water. In particular, the electrode assembly of the present disclosure is a high-pressure electrode assembly, meaning that it may be used within a high pressure electrolyser. In such high-pressure electrolysis processes, the electrolyte water supplied to the flow-through electrodes may be provided at pressures of up to 1000 bar.

An exemplary, pressurised electrolyser is disclosed in UK patent application GB 2 612 067 Al. Similar to this known pressurised electrolysis system, an electrolyte supply circuit (not shown in the attached FIGs.) may be provided in the system of the present disclosure for supplying pressurised electrolyte water to an electrolyte chamber of an electrode stack discussed with reference to FIG. 5. A control unit may be provided for controlling a pressure drop across the at least one permeable, flow-through electrode, which is arranged between the electrolyte chamber and a gas collection gallery.

Due to the above high-pressure electrolysis process, hydrogen gas can be produced at elevated pressure. Accordingly, when using pressurised electrolysis, additional compressors for increasing the pressure of the hydrogen for storage purposes may no longer be required.

As mentioned before, one issue regarding high pressure electrolysers is maintaining electrolyte water and the process gases within the system in a leakproof manner. At the same time, it is essential to keep a small space envelope to enable the most efficient production of Hydrogen per cm' of space.

The electrode assembly shown in FIGs. 1 to 4 may withstand ultra-high pressures, whilst requiring a minimum of space. Referring back to FIG. 1, the electrode assembly 100 comprises a first flow-through electrode 102, which may be made of various metallic materials. In one embodiment, the first flow-through electrode is made of nickel or titanium. In some embodiments, the first flow-through electrode may be made of nickel or titanium swarf, which is a common waste material produced during manufacture of aerospace parts, for example. In other words, the first flow-through electrodes of the present disclosure may be made from various recycled waste materials and sintered into a porous structure, that allows for electrolyte water and the corresponding process gases to travel through, that is penetrate the porous structure of the electrode (i.e., flow-through).

In FIG. 1, the first flow-through electrode is shown as a disc-shaped electrode. Although this is a particularly beneficial shape, it should be understood that other geometries, such as triangular, rectangular, or any polygonal shapes may also be feasible.

The first flow-through electrode comprises a front face 103, which may be used as an inlet for pressurised electrolyte water. The flow-through electrode 102 further comprises an outer surface 108, extending circumferentially around the first flow-through electrode.

The electrode assembly 100 comprises a first support structure 104 arranged on the outer surface 108 of the first flow-through electrode 102. The first support structure 104 is wrapped around the outer surface 108 of the first flow-through electrode 102. The first support structure 104 comprises one or more layers wrapped around the outer surface 108 of the first flow-through electrode 102, said layer(s) forming the first support structure. The first support structure is substantially ring-shaped.

The layer(s) of the first support structure 104 may be made of various strand or sheet like materials. For example, filaments or fibres, particularly carbon fibres or glass fibres, may be wrapped around the outer surface 108 of the first flow-through electrode 102 until substantially all of the outer surface 108 is covered by at least one layer of the corresponding first support structure 104.

The strand or sheet like materials used to wrap the first flow-through electrode 102 may be continuous, such that the strands or sheets may be applied to the outer surface 108 of the first flow-through electrode in a single spinning process. Alternatively, it is of course also feasible to apply various individual strands and/or sheets to provide the first support structure. In some embodiments, the first support structure may be made of a combination of various strands or sheets, such as a combination of glass and carbon fibres spun in predefined or random patterns into a multi-layer support structure.

The use of fibre or sheet material that is wrapped around the first flow-through electrode 102 provides for an electrode assembly that is particularly resistant to high electrolyte water and gas pressures within the flow-through electrode, due to the yield strength of the individual fibres that may be applied in multiple layers.

In some embodiments, the filaments or fibres may be applied in a criss-cross pattern. Other embodiments utilize a substantially parallel arrangement of the fibres similar to the windings of a sewing thread.

The electrode assembly of FIG. 1 further includes a second support structure 106, which is wrapped around a second, outer surface 112 of the first support structure 104. In particular, the second support structure is shown as another ring-shaped sturcture, which is formed of one or more layers of strand or sheet like material wrapped around the second outer surface of the first support structure 104. In other words, a first inner surface 114 of the second support structure 106 is applied to the second outer surface 112 of the first support structure 104.

The layer(s) of the second support structure 106 may be made of various strand or sheet like materials. For example, filaments or fibres, particularly carbon fibres or glass fibres, may be wrapped around the second surface 112 of the first support structure 104 until substantially all of the second surface 112 is covered by at least one layer of the corresponding second support structure 106.

As schematically shown in FIGs. 1 and 2, for example, the second support structure 106 is thicker/wider than the first support structure 104. To this end, the second support structure may be provided with a higher number of layers of strand or sheet like material than the first support structure 104. Accordingly, the second support structure may be considered to be the primary support in terms of resistance to the highly pressurised electrolyte water and process gases within the electrode assembly.

In general, it will be understood that the separation into first and second support structures is optional. In some embodiments, the electrode assembly may only include a single support structure that is wrapped around the first flow-through electrode to provide the required stability to withstand the high or ultra-high pressures within the system.

As is illustrated in the cross-sectional view along line A-A (FIG. 2) in FIG. 4, the electrode assembly 100 according to the embodiment in FIGs. 1 to 4 includes two flow-through electrodes. The first flow-through electrode 102 is arranged in parallel with a second flow-through electrode 105. The two electrodes 102, 105 are separated from each other by means of a non-permeable divider 132. The non-permeable divider 132 is preferably electrically conductive, to allow arrangement of the electrode assembly in a bi-polar electrode stack, as will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 5. In one example, the non-permeable divider is a stainless steel disc sandwiched between the first disc-shaped flow-through electrode 102 and the second disc-shaped flow-through electrode 105.

The first and second flow-through electrodes 102, 105 may be substantially identical in size and shape. In some embodiments, the first and second flow-through electrodes are made of the same material, such as titanium swarf sintered into a porous electrode structure. In other embodiments, the first and second flow-through electrodes are made from different materials. For example, the first flow-through electrode 102 may be made from a material that is particularly suitable for the production of hydrogen (Cathode), whereas the second flow-through electrode 105 may be made from a material that is particularly suitable for the production of oxygen (Anode).

The electrode assembly 100 shown in FIGs. 1 to 4, includes one or more gas collection channels 128a, 128b, 128c, 128d, 130a, 130b, 130c, 130d, one or more gas collection galleries 122a, 122b, 122c, 122d, 126a, 126b, 126c, 126d, and one or more electrolyte supply channels 124a, 124b, 124c, 124d, 124e, 124f, 124g, 124h.

The gas collection channels 128a, 128b, their gas collection galleries 122a, 122b, 128c, 122c, 128d, 122d, 130a, 126a, 130b, 126b, 130c, 130d and 126c, 126d are configured to receive gases produced by the flow-through electrode. The gas collection channels and galleries also act to receive overflow electrolyte water that is not converted into the process gases within the flow-through electrodes.

The electrolyte supply channels 124a, 124b, 124c, 124d, 124e, 124f, 124g, 124h are configured to supply pressurised electrolyte water from an electrolyte water pump that is arranged outside of the electrode assembly to an electrolyte chamber, which may be arranged between adjacent electrode assemblies in an electrode stack, as will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 5.

Although FIGs. 1 and 2 show a total of eight gas collection channels 128a, 128b, 128c, 128d, 130a, 130b, 130c, 130d, eight gas collection galleries 122a, 122b, 122c, 122d, 126a, 126b, 126c, 126d and eight electrolyte water supply channels 124a, 124b, 124c, 124d, 124e, 124f, 124g, 124h, it should be understood that, in some examples, the electrode assembly may also be operable with a single electrolyte supply channel 124a, 124b, 124c, 124d, 124e, 124f, 124g, 124h and a total of two gas collection channels/galleries. A first of the two gas collection channels/galleries may then be in contact with the first flow-through electrode 102, whereas a second gas collection channel/gallery may be fluidically connected to the second flow-through electrode 105.

A cross-section through the first flow-through electrode 102 of the electrode assembly 100 is shown in FIG. 2. As shown, a first set of gas collection channels 128a, 128b, 128c, 128d and a corresponding first set of gas collection galleries 122a, 122b, 122c, 122d are fluidically connected to the porous structure of the first flow-through electrode 102. FIG. 2 further shows that the first set of gas collection channels 128a, 128b, 128c, 128d and their corresponding first set of gas collection galleries 122a, 122b, 122c, 122d are arranged equidistantly and equiangularly along the circumference of the electrode assembly 100. In particular, the four gas collection channels 128a, 128b, 128c, 128d and the corresponding four gas collection galleries 122a, 122b, 122c, 122d are arranged at 90 degree angles with respect to each other.

The first plurality of gas collection channels 128a, 128b, 128c, 128d and their corresponding gas collection galleries 122a, 122b, 122c, 122d are configured to receive gases produced within the first flow-through electrode 102.

As indicated in FIG. 2, a second set of gas collection channels 130a, 130b, 130c, 130d and their corresponding gas collection galleries 126a, 126b, 126c, 126d are fluidically connected to the second flow-through electrode 105. Accordingly, the second set of gas collection channels 130a, 130b, 130c, 130d, and their corresponding second set of gas collection channels 126a, 126b, 126c, 126d are configured to receive gases produced within the second flow-through electrode.

The first and second sets of gas collection channels/galleries are fluidically separated from each other, such that the gases produced by the first flow-through electrode 103 and the second flow-through electrode 105 can not mix.

In the embodiment shown in FIGs. 1 to 4, the first set of gas collection channels 128a, 128b, 128c, 128d extend from the second outer surface 112 of the first support structure radially inwards through the first surface 110 of the first support structure and the outer surface 108 of the first flow-through electrode, into the flow-through electrode 102. Similarly, the second set of gas collection channels 130a, 130b, 130c, 130d extend from the second surface 112 of the first support structure 104 through the first surface 110 and a corresponding outer surface of the second flow-through electrode 105 into the porous structure of the second flow-through electrode 105. In other words, the first set of gas collection channels 128a, 128b, 128c, 128d is arranged in a different plane to the second set of gas collection channels 130a, 130b, 130c, 130d. In particular, the first plane of the first set of gas collection channels 128a, 128b, 128c, 128d intersects the first flow-through electrode 102, whereas the second plane of the second set of gas collection channels 130a, 130b, 130c, 130d intersects the second gas collection electrode 105.

In the embodiment of FIGs. 1 to 4, the gas collection channels 128a, 128b, 128c, 128d, 130a, 130b, 130c, 130d are blind bores, which are drilled from the second surface 112 of the first support structure 104 radially towards the center of their respective flow-through electrode 102, 105. As will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 9, these blind bores are preferably introduced after the first support structure has been wrapped onto the outer surfaces of the first and second flow-through electrodes 102, 105.

The gas collection galleries 122a, 122b, 122c, 122d, 126a, 126b, 126c, 126d extend perpendicularly to the gas collection channels 128a, 128b, 128c, 128d, 130a, 130b, 130c, 130d and intersect the gas collection channels 128a, 128b, 128c, 128d, 130a, 130b, 130c, 130d at their open end, i.e., along the second surface 112 of the first support structure 104. The gas collection galleries 122a, 122b, 122c, 122d, 126a, 126b, 126c, 126d extend between a first face 140 and an opposite second face 142 of the first support structure 104. The gas collection galleries 122a, 122b, 122c, 122d, 126a, 126b, 126c, 126d are bores extending in parallel with electrolyte supply channels 124a, 124b, 124c, 124d, 124e, 124f, 124g, 124h.

Interspersed between adjacent gas collection galleries 122a, 122b, 122c, 122d, 126a, 126b, 126c, 126d of the first and second sets of gas collection galleries, are the electrolyte supply channels 124a, 124b, 124c, 124d, 124e, 124f, 124g, 124h. In this embodiment, eight electrolyte supply channels 124a, 124b, 124c, 124d, 124e, 124f, 124g, 124h are provided. Each of the electrolyte supply channels 124a, 124b, 124c, 124d, 124e, 124f, 124g, 124h is shown as a bore extending between the front face 103 and a back face of the electrode assembly 100. In particular, each of the electrolyte water supply channels 124a, 124b, 124c, 124d, 124e, 124f, 124g, 124h extends between a front face 144 and a back face 146 (FIG. 4) of the second support structure 106.

With particular reference to FIG. 4, there is shown a cross-section through the electrode assembly according to FIG. 1 along line A-A (see FIG. 2). The cross-section of FIG. 4 shows two of the first set of gas collection channels 128a, 128c and their corresponding gas collection galleries 122a, 122c, which are fluidically connected to the porous structure of the first flow-through electrode 102. In this way, gases produced by the first flow-through electrode 102 may leave the porous structure of the first flow-through electrode 102 via the first set of gas collection channels 128a, 128b, 128c, 128d. Although this is not specifically shown in any of the drawings, a similar layout applies to the second set of gas collection channels 130a, 130b, 130c, 130d and their corresponding gas collection galleries 126a, 126b, 126c, 126d with respect to the second flow-through electrode 105.

Turning to FIG. 5, there is shown an electrode stack 170 comprising four of the electrode assemblies 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d according to the embodiment shown in FIGs. 1 to 4. As shown, the electrode assemblies 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d are stacked on top of each other to create the electrode stack 170. In other words, each of the electrode assemblies 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d is stacked, such that a vertical stack of horizontally oriented electrode assemblies is achieved.

Of course, electrode stacks using the electrode assembly according to the embodiment of FIGs. 1 to 4 may include any number of electrode assemblies, depending on the amount of electrolyte water to be converted into hydrogen and/or oxygen.

Each of the electrode assemblies 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d is separated from adjacent electrode assemblies by means of spacer gaskets 150a, 150b, 150c. In particular, a first ring-shaped spacer gasket 150a is arranged between the first electrode assembly 100a and the second electrode assembly 100b and defines a gap that acts as a first electrolyte cell gap/water chamber 152a. The second electrode assembly 100b is connected to the third electrode assembly 100c via a second ring-shaped spacer gasket 150b, thereby creating a gap that acts as a second electrolyte cell gap/water chamber 152b. A third electrolyte cell gap/water chamber 150c is created between the third and fourth electrode assemblies 100c, 100d by means of a third ring-shaped spacer gasket 150c.

As illustrated, the spacer gaskets 150a, 150b, 150c connect adjacent gas collection galleries 122a, 122c of the electrode assemblies with each other in order to create gas collection galleries of the electrode stack. Each of the gas collection galleries of the electrode stack is provided with a gas outlet 156a, 156c which may be used to selectively remove gases produced within the respective flow-through electrode (here the first flow-through electrodes) of each of the electrode assemblies from the stack. Since the gases removed from the electrode stack are pressurised, they may be directly stored in a hydrogen tank under pressure.

Each of the gas collection galleries of the electrode stack 170 also includes one or more drain ports 158a, 158c. The drain ports 158a, 158c of the gas collection galleries of the electrode stack 170 may be used to selectively drain overflow electrolyte water that permeated the flow-through electrode and was not converted into hydrogen and/or oxygen. Such overflow electrolyte water will collect at the bottom end of the gas collection galleries of the electrode stack 170 and may thus be drained separately from the process gases, which are removed via the gas outlets 156a, 156c on top of the stack 170. To facilitate collection of overflow electrolyte water at the bottom of the electrode stack 170, it is preferred to arranged the electrode stack in such a manner that the gas collection galleries 122a, 122c are arranged substantially vertically.

Depending on the polarity of the electric current applied to the bottom and top end of the electrode stack (e.g., via terminals arranged on cover plates not shown), the function of the first flow-through electrode and the second flow-through electrode of each stack may be defined/reversed. If the first electrode acts as a cathode-electrode the respective second flow-through electrode will then act as an anode-electrode and vice versa. This is due to the electrically conductive nature of the non-permeable dividers arranged between the first and second flow-through electrodes of the electrode stack 170. The electrode stack 170 is a bi-polar electrolysis stack. In an advantageous embodiment, the cathode electrode is arranged above the cell gap/electrolyte water chamber, as Hydrogen is lighter than Oxygen.

Although the cross-section of FIG. 5 does not show the electrolyte water supply channels 124a, 124b, 124c, 124d, 124e, 124f, 124g, 124h of the electrode stack 170, it should be noted that each of the electrode supply channels 124a, 124b, 124c, 124d, 124e, 124f, 124g, 124h is connected to each of the electrolyte water chambers 152a, 152b, 152c of the stack. To this end, the ring-shaped spacer gaskets 150a, 150b, 150c may be provided with radial channels connecting the electrolyte supply channels 124a, 124b, 124c, 124d, 124e, 124f, 124g, 124h to each of the electrolyte water chambers 152a, 152b, 152c.

A cross-sectional view of a ring-shaped spacer gasket 150a, 150b, 150c is shown in FIG. 6. The cross section of the ring-shaped spacer gasket 150a, 150b, 150c shows the above radial channels 224a, 224b, 224c, 224d, 224e, 224f, 224g, 224h. When the ring-shaped spacer gaskets 150a, 150b, 150c are arranged between electrode assemblies 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d as shown in FIG. 5, the radial channels 224a, 224b, 224c, 224d, 224e, 224f, 224g, 224h are aligned with the electrolyte supply channels 124a, 124b, 124c, 124d, 124e, 124f, 124g, 124h of the adjacent electrode assemblies 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d. The radial channels 224a, 224b, 224c, 224d, 224e, 224f, 224g, 224h open into a circular, inner space of the spacer gasket 150a, 150b, 150c, which defines the cell gaps/electrolyte water chambers 152a, 152b, 152c as shown in FIG. 5, for example.

Interspersed between the radial channels 224a, 224b, 224c, 224d, 224e, 224f, 224g, 224h, there are first and second sets of gas collection gallery openings 222a, 222b, 222c, 222d, 226a, 226b, 226c, 226d. A first set of gas collection gallery openings 222a, 222b, 222c, 222d of the spacer gasket 150a, 150b, 150c connects the first set of gas collection galleries 122a, 122b, 122c, 122d of adjacent electrode assemblies. The second set of gas collection gallery openings 226a, 226b, 226c, 226d of the spacer gasket 150a, 150b, 150c connects the second set of gas collection galleries 126a, 126b, 126c, 126d of adjacent electrode assemblies.

The spacer gasket 150a, 150b, 150c of FIG. 6 serves various purposes. Firstly, the spacer gasket defines the cell gap between adjacent electrode assemblies.

Secondly, the spacer gasket connects the electrolyte supply channels 124a, 124b, 124c, 124d, 124e, 124f, 124g, 124h with the electrolyte water chamber/cell gap.

Finally, the spacer gasket connects electrode collection galleries of adjacent electrode assemblies. At the same time, the spacer gasket 150a, 150b, 150c fluidically separates the gas collection galleries from the cell gaps/electrolyte water chambers 152a, 152b, 152c.

In another embodiment, not specifically shown in any of the FIGs., the first support structure may be wrapped around two adjacent electrode assemblies of an electrode stack. In such an embodiment, the spacer gaskets shown in FIGs. 5 and 6 may not be required. Rather, a simple/small spacer ring with no channels or galleries may be arranged between adjacent electrodes to define the cell gap between them. Next, the first support structure is wrapped around the adjacent electrodes and the spacer ring to produce an electrode stack with adjacent electrode assemblies by means of a single strand or sheet-type wrap. This embodiment is particularly advantageous, as it enables the removal of the spacer gaskets of FIGs. 5 and 6, facilitates quicker production methods (fewer wrapping processes) and reduces the chance of leaks between adjacent electrode assemblies.

In the above embodiment, the first support structure of adjacent electrode assemblies is an integral structure, which not only acts to support the porous flow-through electrodes but also surrounds the cell gap between adjacent electrode assemblies. As will be appreciated, the gas collection galleries and the electrolyte water supply channels may then be drilled in one production step for each of the electrode assemblies of the stack, i.e. between the front face and a back face of the stack, rather than drilling between front and back faces of each of the electrode assemblies.

In the above embodiment, the radial channels for supplying electrolyte water from the electrolyte supply channels to the cell gap may be radial bores extending through the first support structure, similar to the gas collection channels described with reference to FIGs. 1 to 4. However, for the radial channels of the electrolyte supply channels, the radial bores of this embodiment will extend between the second surface and the first surface of the first support structure and into the cell gap. Once the radial electrolyte water supply channels have been introduced, their second end, at the second surface of the first support structure, may be plugged, similar to the gas collection channels described above. In a next step, a second support structure may be arranged on an outer surface of the first support structure. The electrolyte water supply channels may be drilled through the second and/or first support structure in such a way that the plug of the radial electrolyte water supply channels is removed, thereby connecting the electrolyte water supply channels fluidically with the radial channels.

According to the above embodiment, a whole stack or parts of a stack could be assembled without any gaskets between the electrodes. In one example, a stack of five adjacent electrode assemblies could be produced in a single wrapping process. As will be appreciated, the material used to produce the first and second support structures of this embodiment should be a non-conductive material, such as glass fibre, to ensure that the electrodes of adjacent electrode assemblies are insulated from each other.

If, according to the above embodiment, a full stack is wrapped with a first and second support structure, then the stack can be wrapped end to end, such that external tie rods will not be required, as the structure will be similar to a high-pressure type 5 cylinder.

FIGs. 7 to 9 relate to a method of manufacturing an electrode assembly according to the present disclosure. Referring in particular to FIG. 7, there is shown an electrode cake 101 comprising the first flow-through electrode 102, the second flow-through electrode 105 and the non-permeable divider 132 sandwiched between the first and second flow-through electrodes 102, 105. As mentioned above, the first and second flow-through electrodes 102, 105 are made from metal swarf (e.g., titanium), which is sintered into the disc-shaped structures shown in FIG. 7. In order to aid adhesion between the non-permeable divider 132 and the flow-through electrodes 102, 105, the non-permeable divider 132 may be primed with a suitable metal coating, such as a titanium coating, particularly when titanium is used to produce the porous structure of the flow-through electrodes 102, 105. The primer may be applied to the non-permeable divider by means of chemical vapor disposition or any other suitable coating process known in the art. The Anode is preferably manufactured from Nickel Swarf.

As shown schematically in FIG. 8, the present disclosure suggests wrapping the electrode cake 101 with strand or sheet like materials, preferably in multiple layers. To this end, a suitable wrapping material may be provided at a stage 202. In some examples, the wrapping material may be carbon or glass fiber, which is provided on a spindle and wrapped around the electrode cake 101. To this end, the electrode cake may be rotated on a spindle 216 at stage 206.

In an optional embodiment, the fibre or filament 208 provided at stage 202 is coated with a resin 212 by means of a resin bath 210 at a second stage 204. The so-coated fibres or filaments 214 are then wrapped around the outer surface of the electrode cake 101 at the third stage 206. The resin 212 applied to the fibre or filament 214 may be cured once sufficient fibre or filament has been spun around electrode cake 101, to provide a solid support structure. In other words, the resin will fill any gaps that may be present between the individual layers of fibre or filament to provide a leak-proof support structure.

In other embodiments not shown in the attached Figures, resin may be applied after the fibres or filaments have been spun onto the outer surface of the electrode cake 101, thus not requiring the resin bath 210.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic flow chart of a method for manufacturing an electrode assembly for the electrolysis of water. In a first step 5302, the method 300 comprises providing an electrode, particularly a flow-through electrode, which is permeable to electrolyte water and/or gases produced by the decomposition of electrolyte water. Although FIGs. 7 shows an electrode cake including two flow-through electrodes separated by a non-permeable divider, it is generally within the scope of this invention to apply the wrapping to a single flow-through electrode.

In a second step S304, the first flow-through electrode is wrapped by means of strand or sheet like materials, such as fibres or filaments, to produce a first support structure covering an outer surface of the first flow-through electrode. As mentioned before, the fibres or filaments are wrapped around the outer surface of the first flow-through electrode in multiple layers to achieve the pressure resistance required by high-pressure electrolysis systems (e.g., pressures up to 1000 bar).

As mentioned above, in some embodiments, the method may include wrapping more than one flow-through electrode with the strand or sheet like material at the same time.

In optional steps S306 to 5312 discussed below, various fluid channels may be introduced into the electrode assembly produced by steps 302 and 304.

In a first optional step S306, one or more gas collection channels may be introduced into the electrode assembly. To this end, one or more blind bores may be drilled through an outer surface of the first support structure and into the porous structure of the flow-through electrode. The so-manufactured gas collection channels provide a fluidic connection between the first support structure and the flow-through electrode.

In a second optional step 5308, the gas collection channels are plugged to prevent the gas collection channels from being blocked during further manufacturing steps disclosed below. The plug may be introduced at the open end of the blind bore introduced during step 5306 and thus be arranged at the outer surface of the first support structure.

In another optional step S310, the first support structure is wrapped. In particular, further layers of strand or sheet like materials are wrapped around the outer surface of the first support structure, thereby also covering the gas collection channels and the corresponding plug introduced in steps 5306 and 5308. The second support structure made of the second wrapping layers may have a different, preferably greater, thickness and may use different strand or sheet like materials compared to the layers of the first support structure.

In another step S312, gas collection galleries and electrolyte supply channels may be introduced into the first and second support structures.

Referring to the gas collection galleries, the method may comprise introducing bores extending between a front and back face of the electrode assembly, said bores extending perpendicularly to the gas collection channels of step 5306. The bores providing the gas collection galleries will also intersect the gas collection channels, preferably along the second surface of the first support structure, where the plug has previously been inserted. Accordingly, this step may introduce a gas collection gallery and at the same time remove the superfluous plug of the gas collection channels.

The electrolyte supply channels may be provided by introducing bores that run in parallel with the gas collection galleries, i.e., between a front face and a rear face of the electrode assembly. The electrolyte supply channels may extend through the first or second support structure and are configured to provide pressurised electrolyte water to the cell gap via cut channels in the spacer gasket. Then from the cell gap to the electrolyte storage tank via one or more flow-through electrodes of the electrode assembly.

Preferences and options for a given aspect, feature or parameter of the disclosure should, unless the context indicates otherwise, be regarded as having been disclosed in combination with any and all preferences and options for all other aspects, features and parameters of the disclosure. In particular, this disclosure is not limited to the use of the electrodes and electrode stack for water electrolysis. Rather, various other process fluids may be decomposed by means of the electrodes and electrode stack disclosed hereinbefore.

Claims

SWARF ELECTRODEClaims 1. An electrode assembly for the electrolysis of water, said electrode assembly comprising: - a first flow-through electrode, said first flow-through electrode being permeable to electrolyte water and/or gases produced by the decomposition of electrolyte water; - a first support structure, said first support structure being wrapped around the first flow-through electrode, preferably in multiple layers.
2. The electrode assembly of Claim 1, wherein the first support structure comprises fibre material, preferably carbon fibres and/or glass fibres.
3. The electrode assembly of Claim 2, wherein the first support structure comprises a resin binding the fibre material.
4. The electrode assembly of any one of Claim 1 to 3, wherein the electrode assembly comprises a second support structure.
5. The electrode assembly of Claim 4, wherein the second support structure comprises a stainless steel ring arranged, preferably pressed or heat shrunk, on an outer surface of the first support structure.
6. The electrode assembly of Claim 4, wherein the second support structure is wrapped around the first support structure, preferably in multiple layers.
7. The electrode assembly of Claim 6, wherein the second support structure comprises fibre material, preferably carbon fibres and/or glass fibres.
8. The electrode assembly of Claim 6 or 7, wherein the second support structure comprises a higher number of wrapping layers than the first support structure
9. The electrode assembly of any one of Claims 4 to 8, wherein the first support structure comprises a first surface and an opposite, second surface, wherein the second support structure comprises a first surface and an opposite, second surface, and wherein the first surface of the first support structure faces the first flow-through electrode and/or wherein the second surface of the first support structure faces the first surface of the second support structure, and wherein the second surface of the second support structure preferably defines an outermost surface of the electrode assembly.
10. The electrode assembly of Claim 9, comprising a first gas collection channel, preferably a blind bore, said first gas collection channel extending from the second surface of the first support structure through the first surface of the support structure and into the first flow-through electrode.
11. The electrode assembly of Claim 10, comprising a first gas collection gallery, preferably a bore, said first gas collection gallery extending substantially perpendicular to the first gas collection channel and intersects the first gas collection channel.
12. The electrode assembly of Claim 11, wherein the first gas collection gallery at least partially extends along the second surface of the first support structure.
13. The electrode assembly of any one of Claims 10 to 12, comprising a plurality of gas collection galleries extending in parallel with the first gas collection gallery and being arranged equidistantly in a circumferential direction.
14. The electrode assembly of any one of Claims 10 to 13, comprising a first electrolyte supply channel arranged in parallel with the first gas collection gallery, the first electrolyte supply channel being fluidically separated from the first gas collection gallery.
15. The electrode assembly of Claim 14, comprising a plurality of electrolyte supply channels extending in parallel with the first electrolyte supply channel, said electrolyte supply channels being equidistantly arranged in a circumferential direction.
16. The electrode assembly of Claim 15, when dependant on Claim 13, wherein each of the electrolyte supply channels is circumferentially interspersed between adjacent gas collection galleries.
17. The electrode assembly of any one of Claims 14 to 16, wherein a distance between the first electrolyte supply channel and an outermost surface of the electrode assembly is selected based on a pressure within the first electrolyte supply channel.
18. The electrode assembly of any one of Claims 1 to 17, comprising a second flow-through electrode, said second flow-through electrode being permeable to electrolyte water and/or gases produced by the decomposition of electrolyte water, and wherein the first support structure is wrapped around the second electrode, preferably in multiple layers.
19. The electrode assembly of Claim 18, comprising an electrically conductive, non-permeable divider sandwiched between the first and second flow-through electrodes.
20. The electrode assembly of any one of Claims 1 to 19, further comprising: a second flow-through electrode, said second flow-through electrode being permeable to electrolyte water and/or gases produced by the decomposition of electrolyte water; a cell gap arranged between and separating the first and second flow-through electrodes, said cell gap defining an electrolyte water chamber, wherein the first support structure is wrapped around the first flow-through electrode, the second flow-through electrode and the cell gap.
21. A method for manufacturing an electrode assembly for the electrolysis of water comprising: 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27.- providing, preferably by means of swarf sintering, a first flow-through electrode, said first flow-through electrode being permeable to electrolyte water and/or gases produced by the decomposition of electrolyte water; and - wrapping a fibre or filament around an outer surface of the first flow-through electrode, preferably in multiple layers, to produce a first support structure covering the outer surface of the fist flow-through electrode.The method of Claim 21, comprising wrapping a fibre or filament around the first support structure to produce a second support structure covering the first support structure, wherein the second support structure preferably comprises a higher number of layers than the first support structure.The method of Claim 21 or 22, comprising coating the fibres or filaments with a resin before wrapping the outer surface of the first-flow-through electrode with the fibres or filaments.The method of any one of Claims 21 to 23, wherein the first support structure comprises first surface facing the first flow through electrode an opposite, second surface, wherein the method comprises introducing a first gas collection channel extending from the second surface of the first support structure through the first surface of the support structure and into the electrode.The method of Claim 24, comprising arranging a plug in the first gas collection channel before the second support structure is produced.The method of Claim 25, comprising introducing a first gas collection gallery that extends through and removes the plug from the first gas collection channel, wherein the first gas collection gallery extends substantially perpendicular to the first gas collection channel and intersects the first gas collection channel.The method of Claim 26, comprising introducing a first electrolyte supply channel arranged in parallel with the first gas collection gallery, the first electrolyte supply channel being fluidically separated from the first gas collection gallery.