Development of a Photovoltaic Hydrogen and Hypochlorite Generator

This study examines the combination of electrolytically producing hydrogen and hypochlorite using a photovoltaic module. Hydrogen can be used in a fuel cell to generate electricity and hypochlorite to purify drinking water. Therefore the integrated process may be operated economically because the products from both the anode and the cathode are valuable. The apparatus was designed and constructed so that the photovoltaic module was coupled to the hydrogen and hypochlorite generator. The apparatus could be operating in remote locations. The system characteristics, including the rate of hydrogen and hypochlorite generation and the current/voltage characteristics of both the PV module and the electrolysis cell, were measured and analyzed.