FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a cyclic electrolysis apparatus for generating electricity and a method thereof.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Small powered devices (such as sensors, routers, gateway, etc.) are deployed on open plantations for profiling environmental parameters, using wireless sensor network (WSN) which is usually off any power supply grid. Normally, these small devices are powered by batteries. However, as batteries have limited capacity and lifetime, there is a need to replace or recharge batteries regularly. However, as a WSN has thousands of devices contained in it, replacing batteries is simply not practical. Thus, for realistic deployment of WSN, it is necessary to produce a WSN component capable of providing a constant supply of energy.

One of the sources for producing energy is from electrolysis reaction between a pair of electrode. Air electrodes are commonly used in electrolysis reactions. However, the drawback with the air-electrode is that it requires a constant supply of oxygen to perform its operation.

Autonomous sensor or sensor like devices (especially deployed in water streams to measure the quality of the water) are able to benefit from electrolysis using air electrode and another conventional electrode. However, these sensors cannot be intregrated with energy producing devices which use air electrode as the devices will suffer from lack of oxygen especially when it is submerged in water.

Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus and method to produce electricity on a constant basis and be able to continuously do so even when submerged in an aquatic environment.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Accordingly there is provided a cyclic electrolysis apparatus for generating electricity using an air electrode and a metal electrode in an ambient fluid containing electrolytes is provided, characterized in that, the apparatus includes a first chamber containing electrolytes in a condensed form to be consumed in electrolysis, a second chamber wherein the second chamber is an electrolysis chamber connectable to the first chamber by means of a first membrane separating the first chamber and the second chamber, a third chamber containing oxygen generating organism connectable to the second chamber by a second membrane separating the second chamber and the third chamber by means of an outlet in fluid communication with the second chamber and the third chamber, wherein the air electrode further encloses the second chamber surrounding the second chamber and the outlet, an electricity storing unit control circuitry connectable to the metal electrode and the air electrode by at least two connectable wires wherein the metal electrode and air electrode is positionable in the second chamber and wherein oxygen generated from the oxygen generating organism is used during cyclic electrolysis.

There is also provided a method of generating electricity by cyclic electrolysis using an air electrode and a metal electrode in an ambient fluid containing electrolytes, characterized in that, the method includes filtering electrolytes into an electrolysis chamber, conducting cyclic electrolysis upon contact of electrolytes with the metal electrode and upon contact of air electrode with water present in the electrolysis chamber to generate electricity, receiving a constant supply of oxygen from oxygen generating organism, wherein the oxygen is used to boost the electrolysis process by the air electrode, and boosting and storing the generated electricity. The present invention consists of several novel features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying description and drawings, it being understood that various changes in the details may be made without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates a basic structure of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a flow diagram describing the steps to generate electricity by cyclic electrolysis in the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram showing components and flow of the preferred embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 4 illustrates a cyclic electrolysis process occurring in the preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention relates to a cyclic electrolysis apparatus for generating electricity and a method thereof. Hereinafter, this specification will describe the present invention according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. However, it is to be understood that limiting the description to the preferred embodiment of the invention is merely to facilitate discussion of the present invention and it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications and equivalents without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

The following detailed description of the preferred embodiment will now be described in accordance with the attached drawings, either individually or in combination.

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a cyclic electrolysis apparatus (100) for generating electricity using an air electrode (111 ) and a metal electrode (109) in an ambient fluid containing electrolytes. The apparatus (100) includes a first chamber (105) containing electrolytes in a condensed form to be consumed in electrolysis. A second chamber (113) is further included wherein the second chamber (113) is an electrolysis chamber. The second chamber (113) is connectable to the first chamber (105) by means of a first membrane (107) which separates the first chamber (105) and the second chamber (113).

A third chamber (117) as seen in Figure 1 and Figure 3 containing oxygen generating organism, such as algae is connectable to the second chamber (113) by a second membrane (115). The second membrane (115) and the third chamber (117) separate the second chamber (113) and the third chamber (117) by means of an outlet. The outlet is also in fluid communication with the second chamber (113) and the third chamber (1 17). Further, the air electrode (1 11 ) further encloses the second chamber (1 13) by surrounding the second chamber (1 13) and the outlet.

By-products from the electrolytes used for electrolysis are also nutrients for the algae as the electrolytes in concentrated form are used for photosynthesis, where oxygen is a result of photosynthesis. The first membrane (107) allows a predetermined quantity of electrolytes and nutrients to flow into the second chamber (1 13) over a period of time. The first chamber (105) is refillable with electrolytes as required after a predetermined period of time after deployment of the apparatus (100). However, it is to be appreciated that algae is an example of oxygen generating organism that is used in this embodiment, but not restricted to algae.

The second chamber (1 13) as seen in Figure 1 and Figure 3, includes the two electrodes (109,1 1 1 ) with some fluid, such as water. With a presence of electrolytes from the first chamber (105), electrical energy is generated from both the electrodes (109, 1 1 1 ) and stored using the electricity storing unit control circuitry (101 ). The generated electricity is stored in a storage unit using the electricity storing unit control circuitry(101 ) by means of at least two wires (103, 127) connectable to the electrodes (1 1 1 , 109). The second chamber (1 13) further includes a base portion that includes a second membrane (1 15) that allows electrolytes and nutrients to flow into the second chamber (1 13) and allows consumed electrolytes and nutrients to flow into the third chamber (1 17).

The electricity storing unit control circuitry(101 ) further includes, but not limited to, a boost-up circuitry, a charging circuitry, a primary storage unit, a secondary storage unit, a charge controller and a distributor circuitry that are connectable through the two wires (103, 127) to the metal electrode (109) and the air electrode (11 1 ). The third chamber (117) as seen in Figure 1 and Figure 3, which includes algae to generate oxygen is surrounded by a third membrane (119) that allows water to flow into the third chamber (1 17) from environment outside the apparatus (100) and allows the consumed nutrients and electrolytes to flow out of the third chamber (117) and into the environment. After electrolysis takes place in chamber 2 (1 13), unconsumed electrolytes flow into the third chamber (1 17). The unconsumed electrolytes from chamber 2 are fully consumed by the algae in the third chamber (117) and the by products (nutrients for plant) produced from the electrolytes are drained out to the environment. Therefore, waste product from the apparatus (100) is water and plant nutrients that are non-hazardous to the environment.

A method of generating electricity by cyclic electrolysis using an air electrode (111 ) and a metal electrode (109) in an ambient fluid containing electrolytes is described as seen in Figure 2. The electrolytes are filtered into an electrolysis chamber, such as the second chamber (113) as described above from the first chamber (105). Cyclic electrolysis is then conducted upon contact of electrolytes with the metal electrode (109) and upon contact of air electrode (111 ) with water present in the electrolysis chamber to generate electricity as seen in Figure 4. The generated electricity is then boosted and stored in an electricity storing unit control circuitry (101 ) which is transferred using two wires (103, 127) connected to the two electrodes (109, 1 11 ).

In order to ensure that the second chamber constantly receives a supply of oxygen as the air electrode (1 11 ) is made of oxygen, an oxygen generating organism, such as algae generates oxygen through photosynthesis by using natural sunlight and water from the environment. The consumed electrolytes are used as nutrients by the algae, where the consumed electrolytes have flowed through a second membrane (1 15) to the third chamber (117) where the algae are stored. After the algae uses the nutrients for photosynthesis, any remaining nutrients is then drained out to the environment through the third membrane (1 19) which also functions to keep the algae within the third chamber (1 19).

The generated oxygen constantly replenishes the air electrode (111 ) in order for the cyclic electrolysis to continue with low maintenance, where the electrolytes are refilled only after a predetermined period after deployment of the apparatus (100) and method.

The membranes (107, 1 15, 1 19) use known methods of filtration such as reverse osmosis, nano filtration, ultra filtration and micro filtration. It is to be appreciated that the membranes may use these or any other known methods of filtration to achieve the purpose of this invention.

The cyclic electrolysis can be shown in the following chemical processes for cathode reactions and anode reactions.

Cathode reactions:

Air electrode:

Acidic medium : 0 ₂ + 4H ⁺ + 4e ^" → 2H ₂ 0 E / V = 1.23 V vs. SHE (standard hydrogen electrode)

Alkaline medium: 0 ₂ + 2H ₂ 0 + 4e~→ 40H E ^e 7 V = 0.40 V vs. SHE

Platinum cathode:

N0 ₃ - + 2H ⁺ + e-→ N0 ₂ + H ₂ 0 E / V = 0.80 V vs. SHE 0 ₃ - + 4H ⁺ + 3e ^" → NO + 2H ₂ 0 E ^e / V = 0.96 V vs. SHE

2H ⁺ + 2e ^" → H ₂ E ^e / V = 0 Anode reactions:

H3PO3 + 2H ⁺ + 2e ^" → H ₃ P0 ₂ + H ₂ 0 E / V = -0.499 V vs. SHE

HPO ₃ ^2" + 2H ₂ 0 +2e ^' → H ₂ P0 ₂ ^" + 30H ^" E ^e / V = -1.65 V vs. SHE

H3PO ₄ + 2H ⁺ +2e ^" → H3PO3 + H ₂ 0 E ^e / V = -0.276 V vs. SHE

PO ₄ ^3" + 2H ₂ 0 +3e ^" → HPO3 ^2" + 30H ^" E ^e / V = -1.05 V vs. SHE

Table 1 shows a summary of the reactions above.

Table 1

The described invention can be used to generate energy for portable sensors and also 10 to store excess energy in primary or secondary storage (battery, capacitor, super capacitor) for use at a critical moment. The apparatus (100) and method is able to be active underwater as it is capable of generating oxygen. The apparatus (100) and method is used in an aquatic environment where the invention solves the problem of increasing percentage of dissolved oxygen in the aquatic environment to values '15 sufficiently high, such that an air electrode may be applied in the aquatic environment.

The problem is solved by using an aquatic organism such as algae to generate ; organism on a constant basis to supply the air electrode.

The apparatus (100) and method produce waste that is non-toxic and non-hazardous ¾20 to the environment, as the waste includes materials such as water and plant nutrients. Therefore, the invention is suitable for use in applications such as, but not restricted to, environmental monitoring and water content monitoring.