PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION The present invention refers to an electric power supply for electrolytic cells used in various industrial sectors in which splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen gases is useful. The power supply aims to reduce energy consumption by at least 10% compared to the current commercial values (250-280 watts per LPM), thereby approaching the theoretical Faraday limit of 146 watts per liter minute and overcoming weight problems compared to electric power supplies equipped with transformers that have coils with copper winding and metal dielectric, called steel sheet, and which, being substantially of iron, considerably increase weight.

STATE OF THE ART

The known electric power supplies used for this type of electrolytic cells are divided into two main categories.

A first category concerns electronic power supplies which operate in a way similar to an electric motor in PWM mode. In more detail, these power supplies are configured with electronics that use the known Pulse width modulation (PWM) method. The second category concerns single-phase or three-phase alternating current transformers connecting the cell downstream of diodes either on a single phase or on all phases or through a diode bridge. In more detail, these power supplies are configured as a normal transformer in the sense of a static electric machine with reversible alternating current. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention consists in using a magnetic induction to power an electrolytic cell by transforming the cell side into an equivalent RLC circuit with the possibility of being brought into resonance, thereby reducing energy consumption with the same gain ranges as may be observed between a resonant circuit and a non-resonant circuit, the gain depending on the physical dimensions and on the frequency and current parameters; although in principle it cannot be calculated, the phenomenon is well known: in our case the cell that has combined characteristics equivalent to an RLC circuit, if brought into resonance, will need only the additional energy necessary to split the water, overcoming the cell overvoltage problem. The circuit is neither closed nor without losses, but suitable cell resonance minimizes the amount of energy to be introduced to maintain water splitting.

The problems of the known electric power supplies for electrolytic cells are that they are also of considerable weight which constitutes a disadvantage in mobile applications, by way of example the maneuverability of electrolytic cells is impeded by weights of 400 kg and more for industrial cells.

The above energy saving advantages and the aforementioned drawbacks are advantageously consequential from the electric power supply object of this invention. The invention relates to a power supply for an electrolytic cell composed of 3 basic elements. A first element is an electronic that creates a magnetic induction through a primary winding substantially equivalent to that of a 20-50 kHz induction stove, called “setting electronics”, which also has the control and safety function for regulatory purposes. The setting electronics of the power supply object of the present invention is galvanically separated from the electrolytic cell itself, the electronics thus being protected from galvanic interactions with the cell.

A second element is an electromagnetic inductor connected to the aforementioned setting electronics, coupled by induction to a first and a second flat coil, which constitute the third element, and which are suitable for being connected to the electrolytic cell.

Each of the two flat coils has at least 11 coplanar windings of a two-wire cable while the inductor device is positioned between the two coils The two-wire cable of each of the two flat coils has one end connected to a first foil and the other end to a second foil, kept in contact only by the electrolyte solution of the electrolytic cell

The end of the two-wire cable of the coils, which we will call the first end of each of the two flat coils, is suitable for being connected to a first foil and the other end of the two-wire cable of each of the two flat coils is suitable for being connected to a second foil In a preferred embodiment, at least one passive foil is placed between the first and second foils to obtain the voltage drop necessary to maintain the difference of potential between the first and second foils with one face of each foil preferably parallel to the face of the other foil to produce the electrolysis process. As is known, the decomposition of water into hydrogen and oxygen under standard conditions is a disadvantaged reaction in thermodynamic terms since both the intervening semi-reactions have negative potentials. Anode (oxidation): 2H20(1) 02(g) + 4H+(aq) + 4e- E0ox= 1.229 V. Cathode (reduction): 4H20 + 4e- 2H2 + 40H- EOrid = -0.830 V. The Gibbs free energy for the process under standard conditions is 474.4 kJ/mol, which results in non-spontaneity of the reaction. The theoretical potential difference to be applied to dissociate water is 1.229 V at 25 °C but, in concrete terms, these conditions make the process impossible in the absence of externally supplied energy with the application of an electric potential on the electrodes.

The electric power supply according to the present invention allows that the overvoltage to be applied to the cell to overcome losses can be kept to a minimum, bringing it to the indicated voltages of between 1.75 and 2.5 volts of potential difference between the faces of the first and second foil. The distance of the two coils from the inductor device was experimentally determined as being between 0.5 and 30 mm.

In a similarly experimental way, it has been determined that each wire of the two- wire cable must be of minimum dimensions 2x0.35 mm ² and maximum dimensions 2x3 mm ² .

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 shows the assembly of the electric power supply for an electrolytic cell object of the present invention and the setting electronics (1) of the electrolytic cell which is galvanically separated from the electrolytic cell itself and the electromagnetic inductor (2) connected to the setting electronics (1) which is coupled by induction to a first flat coil (3 ¹ ) and a second flat coil (3 ² ), each connected to the electrolytic cell, not shown in the graphics. Figure 2 shows the two flat coils (3 ¹ and 3 ² ) and both show 11 coplanar windings of a two-wire cable (4) connected to a first foil (6 ¹ ) having the function of anode and a second foil (6 ² ) having the function of cathode and a passive foil (7) between the first foil (6 ¹ ) and the second foil (6 ² ) suitable for obtaining the voltage drop necessary to maintain the potential difference between the first foil (6 ¹ ) and the second foil (6 ² ). A first end (A) of the two-wire cable (4), of minimum dimensions 2x0.35 mm ² and maximum dimensions 2x3 mm ² . Each of the two flat coils (3 ¹ and 3 ² ) is connected to the first foil (6 ¹ ) and the other end (B) of the two- wire cable (4) of each of the two flat coils (3 ¹ and 3 ² ) is connected to the second foil (6 ² ). Said figure 2 also shows an inductor device (5) positioned between the two flat coils (3 ¹ and 3 ² ). The distance of each of the two flat coils (3 ¹ and 3 ² ) from the inductor device (2) is between 0.5 and 10 mm.