Question

3. (a). The H2 will be generated by the electrochemical splitting of water into H2 and O2. What minimum voltage will need to be applied across the electrodes to accomplish this? (Ch. 11)

(b). What minimum current will need to flow between these electrodes to accomplish this? (Ch. 11.)

(c). How much power will be needed, as a minimum? (requires answers to (a) and (b) above.)

(d). The pure water needed for this will be generated by reverse osmosis of the sea water. What minimum pressure will be needed to be exerted on the salt water side to accomplish this? Assume sea water is 0.5 M NaCl + 0.04 M MgS fully dissociated. (Ch. 9)

(e). What volumetric flow rate of liquid water will be needed through the semipermeable membrane into the electrochemical cell to provide the needed H2? (Just logic)

(f). This water flow will require PV type work. What minimum power would be needed to keep this flow going at the pressure needed? (Just logic)

(g). What power could potentially be harvested from the PV work associated with the O2(g) that is liberated by this process? (Note that the schematic shows no attempt to do this, so this is wasted energy.)

Answer 1