Patent ID: 8123916

Claim:
An apparatus for generating gas by electrolysis of a liquid, comprising: an electrolysis cell configured to carry out an electrolysis reaction with liquid that produces (i) a first product containing gaseous hydrogen and liquid, and (ii) a second product containing liquid and gaseous oxygen; a separator device in fluid communication with a first outlet of the electrolysis cell so that the separator device receives the first product containing gaseous hydrogen and liquid, said separator device being configured to separate liquid that is mixed with gaseous hydrogen so as to produce a third product containing liquid and gaseous hydrogen; and a housing configured as a single component, the housing including: i. a supply reservoir configured to store liquid therein and having an outlet that is in fluid communication with an inlet of the electrolysis cell, ii. a first separator reservoir in fluid communication with a second outlet of the electrolysis cell so that the first separator reservoir receives the second product containing liquid and gaseous oxygen, the first separator reservoir having a first gas outlet for controlled release of gaseous oxygen, and iii. a first channel in the housing which fluidly connects the supply reservoir and the first separator reservoir, in which the first channel provides a first trap for liquid which is configured to provide a first barrier to passage of gas between the supply reservoir and the first separator reservoir irrespective of the level to which liquid in the supply reservoir falls during normal operation, and iv. a second separator reservoir in fluid communication with an outlet of the separator device so that the second separator reservoir receives the third product containing liquid and gaseous hydrogen, the second separator reservoir having a second gas outlet for controlled release of gaseous hydrogen, in which the supply reservoir, the first separator reservoir, the first channel, and the second separator reservoir are fixed relative to one another to allow the housing to be manipulated as a single component.