Patent ID: 7169281

Claim:
A generator of pure pressurized relatively high pressure hydrogen comprising a D.C. power supply, an anodic chamber containing hydrogen at a relatively low pressure, and an electrolytic pressurizing chamber; said anodic chamber being connected to the pressurizing chamber by a hydrogen-selective anode membrane bounding said anodic chamber and connected to the power supply to supply said low pressure hydrogen through said anode membrane to the pressurizing chamber electrolyte; said pressurizing chamber comprising an electrolyte of molten hydroxide or a eutectic mixture containing the same, a cathode connected to the power supply and within the electrolyte and wherein, in response to passing D.C. current between the cathode and anodic membrane, pure hydrogen arriving on the electrolyte bounding with said anodic membrane reacts substantially instantaneously with hydroxyl ions from the electrolyte to form water and electrons and evolves pure pressurized hydrogen gas on the cathode and suction-pumps the low pressure hydrogen through said anodic membrane into the pressurizing chamber; and control means to maintain a moderately elevated temperature in the pressurizing chamber between the melting point of the electrolyte and about 600° C., wherein said pressurizing chamber is bounded by the cathode which comprises a hydrogen-selective otherwise gas impermeable cathodic membrane having a face in contact with and bounding said electrolyte.