Electronic edition ISSN 1574-0579

Self-driving chracteristics of a pumpless water electrolyzer using water-based ferrofluid

R. Somiya¹ , Y. Iwamoto¹ , Y. Ido¹ , A. Mitani²

¹ Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8555, Japan
² Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., 1-1-1 Koyakita, Itami, Hyogo, 664-0016, Japan

Abstract
The implementation of water electrolysis from lunar water sources facilitates the direct generation of hydrogen for rocket fuel and oxygen, which is essential for sustaining human life in space. Given the considerable costs associated with launching equipment into space, water electrolysis devices that operate in this environment must be smaller and lighter in order to be economically viable. This study proposes a pumpless water electrolysis device utilizing water-based ferrofluid. When non-magnetic hydrogen and oxygen bubbles are generated in a water-based magnetic fluid during water electrolysis under a non-uniform magnetic field, the balance of magnetic body force is disrupted, causing a driving force to act on the fluid. In this study, the driving force was experimentally verified using the PEM-type water electrolysis method. The findings have revealed that the proposed system can effectively function as a pump in removing the generated bubbles and self-supply water to the electrode. Tables 1, Figs 9, Refs 11.