U.S. patent application number 14/720776 was filed with the patent office on 2016-04-28 for membrane-electrode assembly for water electrolysis.
The applicant listed for this patent is HOMYTECH CO., LTD., YUAN ZE UNIVERSITY. Invention is credited to CHIA-HUNG CHEN, YU-CHUN CHIANG, CHIN-LUNG HSIEH, GUO-BIN JUNG, CHI-YUAN LEE, YUN-MIN LIU.
Application Number | 20160115606 14/720776 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55791526 |
Filed Date | 2016-04-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160115606 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; CHI-YUAN ; et
al. |
April 28, 2016 |
MEMBRANE-ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY FOR WATER ELECTROLYSIS
Abstract
A membrane-electrode assembly for water electrolysis including a
proton-exchange membrane, a first catalyst layer, a second catalyst
layer, a first gas diffusion layer, a second gas diffusion layer
and a first sensor chip. The proton-exchange membrane is disposed
between an inner side of the first catalyst layer and an inner side
of the second catalyst layer. The first gas diffusion layer is
disposed on an outer side of the first catalyst layer. The second
gas diffusion layer is disposed on an outer side of the second
catalyst layer. The first sensor chip is sandwiched between the
first catalyst layer and the first gas diffusion layer to sense an
environmental change where water electrolysis takes place.
Inventors: |
LEE; CHI-YUAN; (Taoyuan
City, TW) ; CHEN; CHIA-HUNG; (Taoyuan City, TW)
; JUNG; GUO-BIN; (Taoyuan County, TW) ; CHIANG;
YU-CHUN; (Taoyuan County, TW) ; HSIEH; CHIN-LUNG;
(Taoyuan City, TW) ; LIU; YUN-MIN; (Changhua
County, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
YUAN ZE UNIVERSITY
HOMYTECH CO., LTD. |
Taoyuan City
Taoyuan City |
|
TW
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
55791526 |
Appl. No.: |
14/720776 |
Filed: |
May 23, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
204/252 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C25B 15/02 20130101;
Y02E 60/36 20130101; Y02E 60/366 20130101; C25B 1/10 20130101; C25B
9/10 20130101 |
International
Class: |
C25B 15/02 20060101
C25B015/02; C25B 9/10 20060101 C25B009/10; C25B 1/10 20060101
C25B001/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 24, 2014 |
TW |
103136855 |
Claims
1. A membrane-electrode assembly for water electrolysis,
comprising: a first catalyst layer; a second catalyst layer; a
proton-exchange membrane disposed between an inner side of said
first catalyst layer and an inner side of said second catalyst
layer; a first gas diffusion layer disposed on an outer side of
said first catalyst layer; a second gas diffusion layer disposed on
an outer side of said second catalyst layer; and a first sensor
chip sandwiched between said first catalyst layer and said first
gas diffusion layer so that said first sensor chip senses an
environmental change where water electrolysis takes place.
2. The membrane-electrode assembly of claim 1, further comprising a
second sensor chip sandwiched between said inner side of said
second catalyst layer and an inner side of said second gas
diffusion layer so that said second sensor chip senses said
environmental change where water electrolysis takes place.
3. The membrane-electrode assembly of claim 1, further comprising a
first packaging rim and a second packaging rim, wherein said
proton-exchange membrane, said first sensor chip, said first
catalyst layer, said second catalyst layer, said first gas
diffusion layer and said second gas diffusion layer are sandwiched
between said first packaging rim and said second packaging rim.
4. The membrane-electrode assembly of claim 1, wherein said
environmental change is a variation in temperature, voltage,
current or pressure.
5. A membrane-electrode assembly for water electrolysis,
comprising: a first catalyst layer; a second catalyst layer; a
proton-exchange membrane disposed between an inner side of said
first catalyst layer and an inner side of said second catalyst
layer; a first gas diffusion layer disposed on an outer side of
said first catalyst layer, wherein an inner side of said first gas
diffusion layer corresponds to said outer side of said first
catalyst layer; a second gas diffusion layer disposed on an outer
side of said second catalyst layer, wherein an inner side of said
second gas diffusion layer corresponds to said outer side of said
second catalyst layer; a first packaging rim disposed on an outer
side of said first gas diffusion layer, said first packaging rim
comprising first rim portion and a first sensor portion, said first
sensor portion being extended from said first rim portion to said
first gas diffusion layer to sense an environmental change of said
first gas diffusion layer where water electrolysis takes place; and
a second packaging rim disposed on an outer side of said second gas
diffusion layer.
6. The membrane-electrode assembly of claim 5, wherein said second
packaging rim comprises a second rim portion and a second sensor
portion, said second sensor portion being extended from said second
rim portion to said second gas diffusion layer to sense an
environmental change of said second gas diffusion layer where water
electrolysis takes place.
7. The membrane-electrode assembly of claim 5, wherein said
environmental change is a variation in temperature, voltage,
current or pressure.
8. A membrane-electrode assembly for water electrolysis,
comprising: a first catalyst layer; a second catalyst layer; a
proton-exchange membrane disposed between an inner side of said
first catalyst layer and an inner side of said second catalyst
layer; a first sensor chip sandwiched between said first catalyst
layer and said proton-exchange membrane so that said first sensor
chip senses an environmental change where water electrolysis takes
place.
9. The membrane-electrode assembly of claim 8, further comprising a
first gas diffusion layer, a second gas diffusion layer, a first
packaging rim and a second packaging rim, wherein said first
catalyst layer is disposed on a side of said first gas diffusion
layer, said second catalyst layer is disposed on a side of said
second gas diffusion layer, said first packaging rim is disposed on
an other side of said first gas diffusion layer and said second
packaging rim is disposed on an other side of said second gas
diffusion layer to package said proton-exchange membrane, said
first sensor chip, said first catalyst layer, said second catalyst
layer, said first gas diffusion layer and said second gas diffusion
layer.
10. The membrane-electrode assembly of claim 8, further comprising
a second sensor chip sandwiched between said second catalyst layer
and said proton-exchange membrane to sense an environmental change
where water electrolysis takes place.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention generally relates to a
membrane-electrode assembly for water electrolysis and, more
particularly, to a membrane-electrode assembly with a sensor device
disposed therein so as to sense an environmental change where water
electrolysis takes place.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] With the rapid development of industry, people have been
speeding up consumption of fossil energy resources. This results in
critical shortage of fossil energy sources as well as deterioration
of the ecological environment. Therefore, it has been a main
technology trend to develop high-efficiency and low-pollution
renewable energy sources to replace fossil energy sources.
[0005] Among renewable energy sources, a fuel cell is a device that
converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a
chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent. In
addition to electricity, fuel cells produce water and heat and are
thus more environment-friendly. Compared with green energies such
as solar energy and wind power, fuel cells are less
weather-dependent and more stable in providing electricity.
Accordingly, fuel cells have become an indispensable renewable
energy source.
[0006] Among the renewable clean energy sources, hydrogen is viewed
as the most potential energy carrier because it is clean and
harmless to the environment. According to the state-of-the-art
hydrogen preparation technologies, a proton-exchange membrane (PEM)
is often used to prepare hydrogen with high efficiency. In a water
electrolysis apparatus, water is added and a direct current is
conducted between the anode and the cathode so that gaseous oxygen
and hydrogen ions are produced due to electrochemical reactions at
the anode and the hydrogen ions flow through the proton-exchange
membrane to the cathode to acquire electrons and to be reduced to
gaseous hydrogen.
[0007] It should be noted that the water electrolysis efficiency is
affected by the environmental change such as the variations of
temperature, pressure, voltage and current during the
electrochemical reactions in the water electrolysis apparatus.
Accordingly, how the environmental change is measured has become
important.
SUMMARY
[0008] The present invention provides a membrane-electrode assembly
for water electrolysis. The membrane-electrode assembly includes a
sensor device disposed therein so as to sense an environmental
change such as the variation in temperature, pressure, voltage
and/or current where water electrolysis takes place.
[0009] One embodiment of the present invention provides a
membrane-electrode assembly for water electrolysis, including a
proton-exchange membrane, a first catalyst layer, a second catalyst
layer, a first gas diffusion layer, a second gas diffusion layer
and a first sensor chip. The proton-exchange membrane is disposed
between an inner side of the first catalyst layer and an inner side
of the second catalyst layer. The first gas diffusion layer is
disposed on an outer side of the first catalyst layer. The second
gas diffusion layer is disposed on an outer side of the second
catalyst layer. The first sensor chip is sandwiched between the
first catalyst layer and first gas diffusion layer to sense an
environmental change where water electrolysis takes place.
[0010] One embodiment of the present invention further provides a
membrane-electrode assembly for water electrolysis, including a
proton-exchange membrane, a first catalyst layer, a second catalyst
layer, a first gas diffusion layer, a second gas diffusion layer, a
first packaging rim and a second packaging rim. The proton-exchange
membrane is disposed between an inner side of the first catalyst
layer and an inner side of the second catalyst layer. The first gas
diffusion layer is disposed on an outer side of the first catalyst
layer. An inner side of the first gas diffusion layer corresponds
to the outer side of the first catalyst layer. The second gas
diffusion layer is disposed on an outer side of the second catalyst
layer. An inner side of the second gas diffusion layer corresponds
to the outer side of the second catalyst layer. The first packaging
rim is disposed on an outer side of the first gas diffusion layer.
The first packaging rim includes a first rim portion and a first
sensor portion. The first sensor portion is extended from the first
rim portion to the first gas diffusion layer to sense an
environmental change of the first gas diffusion layer where water
electrolysis takes place. The second packaging rim is disposed on
an outer side of the second gas diffusion layer.
[0011] One embodiment of the present invention further provides a
membrane-electrode assembly for water electrolysis, including a
proton-exchange membrane, a first catalyst layer, a second catalyst
layer and a first sensor chip. The proton-exchange membrane is
disposed between an inner side of the first catalyst layer and an
inner side of the second catalyst layer. The first sensor chip is
sandwiched between the first catalyst layer and the proton-exchange
membrane so that the first sensor chip senses an environmental
change where water electrolysis takes place.
[0012] As stated above, the membrane-electrode assembly for water
electrolysis in one embodiment of the present invention includes at
least one sensor device therein. The sensor device senses an
environmental change where water electrolysis takes place and
transmits the sensed signal to an external surveillance device so
that the surveillance device performs microscopic diagnosis and
analysis on the membrane-electrode assembly.
[0013] In order to further understand the techniques, means and
effects of the present disclosure, the following detailed
descriptions and appended drawings are hereby referred to, such
that, and through which, the purposes, features and aspects of the
present disclosure can be thoroughly and concretely appreciated;
however, the appended drawings are merely provided for reference
and illustration, without any intention to be used for limiting the
present disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in
and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings
illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and,
together with the description, serve to explain the principles of
the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a membrane-electrode
assembly for water electrolysis according to one embodiment of the
present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a membrane-electrode
assembly for water electrolysis according to another embodiment of
the present invention; and
[0017] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a membrane-electrode
assembly for water electrolysis according to still another
embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0018] The detailed description set forth below in connection with
the appended drawings is intended as a description of certain
embodiments of the present disclosure, and is not intended to
represent the only forms that may be developed or utilized. The
description sets forth the various functions in connection with the
illustrated embodiments, but it is to be understood, however, that
the same or equivalent functions may be accomplished by different
embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the
scope of the present disclosure.
[0019] While such terms as "first," "second," etc., may be used to
describe various components, such components must not be limited to
the above terms. The above terms are used only to distinguish one
component from another. For example, a second component may be
referred to as a first component within the scope of the present
invention, and similarly, the first component may be referred to as
the second component. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes
any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed
items.
[0020] [Embodiment of Membrane-Electrode Assembly for Water
Electrolysis]
[0021] With reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a
membrane-electrode assembly for water electrolysis according to one
embodiment of the present invention. The membrane-electrode
assembly for water electrolysis 10 includes a proton-exchange
membrane 100, a first catalyst layer 110, a second catalyst layer
112, a first gas diffusion layer 120, a second gas diffusion layer
122, a first packaging rim 130, a second packaging rim 132 and a
sensor chip S. As shown in FIG. 1, the proton-exchange membrane 100
is disposed between an inner side of the first catalyst layer 110
and an inner side of the second catalyst layer 112. The
proton-exchange membrane 100, the first catalyst layer 110 and the
second catalyst layer 112 are sandwiched between an inner side of
the first gas diffusion layer 120 and an inner side of the second
gas diffusion layer 122. The sensor chip S is sandwiched between an
outer side of the first catalyst layer 110 and the inner side of
the first gas diffusion layer 120. The first packaging rim 130 and
the second packaging rim 132 are disposed, respectively, on an
outer side of the first gas diffusion layer 120 and an outer side
of the second gas diffusion layer 122 so as to package the
proton-exchange membrane 100, the sensor chip S, the first catalyst
layer 110, the second catalyst layer 112, the first gas diffusion
layer 120 and the second gas diffusion layer 122. More
particularly, the sensor chip S is partially exposed outside the
first packaging rim 130 and the second packaging rim 132. The outer
side of the first gas diffusion layer 120 and the outer side of the
second gas diffusion layer 122 are exposed, respectively, through
the empty portion 1301 of the first packaging rim 130 and the empty
portion 1321 of the second packaging rim 132.
[0022] In the present embodiment, the first catalyst layer 110 and
the second catalyst layer 112 may be formed by coating on both
sides of the proton-exchange membrane 100. Also, the size of the
first catalyst layer 110 and the size of the second catalyst layer
112 correspond, respectively, to the size of the first gas
diffusion layer 120 and the size of the second gas diffusion layer
122. The proton-exchange membrane 100 may include solid-state
polymer for transmitting protons (such as hydrogen ions H+). The
first catalyst layer 110 and the second catalyst layer 112 are
catalysts for the cathode and the anode, respectively. The cathode
catalyst may include catalysts such as Pt or Ru, and the anode
catalyst may include catalysts such as IrO2 or RuO2. The first gas
diffusion layer 120 corresponding to the first catalyst layer 110
(i.e., the cathode catalyst) may include porous graphite felt or
carbon felt, and the second gas diffusion layer 122 corresponding
to the second catalyst layer 112 (i.e., the anode catalyst) may
also include porous graphite felt or carbon felt. The first
packaging rim 130 and the second packaging rim 132 may include
thermoplastic polymer such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene
(PP), polytetrafluoroethene (PTFE), PVDF, EPDM, polyester,
polyamide (PA), polyamide (PA), polyimide (PI), polyurethane (PU)
and silicone.
[0023] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited
to the previous examples of the sizes and types of the
proton-exchange membrane 100, the first catalyst layer 110, the
second catalyst layer 112, the first gas diffusion layer 120, the
second gas diffusion layer 122, the first packaging rim 130 and the
second packaging rim 132. The person with ordinary skill in the art
may make modifications according to practical demands.
[0024] The sensor chip S includes a sensor portion S2 and a
connection portion S1. The sensor portion S2 includes a sensor
device (not shown) therein. The sensor device is electrically
coupled to the connection portion S1. The sensor device can sense
an environmental change such as a variation of temperature,
voltage, current or/and pressure where water electrolysis takes
place. The connection portion S1 is exposed outside the first
packaging rim 130 and the second packaging rim 132, and can be
implemented by a conductive output port (such as a conductive pad
made of metal), for connecting an external surveillance device (not
shown). The connection portion S1 transmits the sensed signal from
the sensor portion S2 to the external surveillance device (not
shown) so that the surveillance device can perform real-time
microscopic diagnosis and analysis on the membrane-electrode
assembly according to the sensed signal from the sensor portion
S2.
[0025] In the present embodiment, the sensor device included in the
sensor portion S2 may be implemented by a flexible micro sensor for
sensing temperature, current, voltage and/or pressure or an
all-in-one micro sensor for sensing all of the above. The present
invention is not limited to the number and the types of micro
sensors included in the sensor portion S2. It should be noted that
the micro sensor is implemented by a metal sensor circuit
fabricated by microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology to
exhibit compactness and thinness. The sensor circuit may employ a
stainless steel sheet as a flexible substrate and high temperature
resistant polyimide (PI) as a protection layer, to which the
present invention is not limited.
[0026] It should be also noted that the present invention is not
limited to the number of sensor chips S included in the
membrane-electrode assembly 10. In other words, there may be a
plurality of sensor chips S disposed between the first catalyst
layer 110 and the first gas diffusion layer 120 so as to sense
various environmental changes where water electrolysis takes place
between the first catalyst layer 110 and the first gas diffusion
layer 120.
[0027] In another embodiment, there may further be at least one
sensor chip S disposed between the second catalyst layer 112 and
the second gas diffusion layer 122 so as to sense at least one
environmental change where water electrolysis takes place between
the second catalyst layer 112 and the second gas diffusion layer
122.
[0028] Accordingly, by providing a plurality of sensor chips S
between catalyst layers and gas diffusion layers, the surveillance
device may perform real-time microscopic diagnosis and analysis on
the environmental change such as variations of temperature,
pressure, voltage and/or current on the membrane-electrode assembly
10 according to the sensed signal from the sensor chips S during
electrochemical reactions.
[0029] [Another Embodiment of Membrane-Electrode Assembly for Water
Electrolysis]
[0030] With reference to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a
membrane-electrode assembly for water electrolysis according to
another embodiment of the present invention. The membrane-electrode
assembly for water electrolysis 20 includes a proton-exchange
membrane 200, a first catalyst layer 210, a second catalyst layer
212, a first gas diffusion layer 220, a second gas diffusion layer
222, a first packaging rim 230 and a second packaging rim 232. As
shown in FIG. 2, the proton-exchange membrane 200 is disposed
between an inner side of the first catalyst layer 210 and an inner
side of the second catalyst layer 212. The proton-exchange membrane
200, the first catalyst layer 210 and the second catalyst layer 212
are sandwiched between an inner side of the first gas diffusion
layer 220 and an inner side of the second gas diffusion layer 222.
The first packaging rim 230 and the second packaging rim 232 are
disposed, respectively, on an outer side of the first gas diffusion
layer 220 and an outer side of the first gas diffusion layer 222 so
as to package the proton-exchange membrane 200, the first catalyst
layer 210, the second catalyst layer 212, the first gas diffusion
layer 220 and the second gas diffusion layer 222. The outer side of
the first gas diffusion layer 220 and the outer side of the second
gas diffusion layer 222 are exposed, respectively, through the
empty portion 2301 of the first packaging rim 230 and the empty
portion 2321 of the second packaging rim 232.
[0031] The present embodiment is different from the previous
embodiment in FIG. 1 in that the membrane-electrode assembly 20
does not include a sensor chip S. Instead, the membrane-electrode
assembly 20 includes a sensor portion 2303 extended from the rim
portion 2302 of the first packaging rim 230. The sensor portion
2303 extended from the rim portion 2302 to the first gas diffusion
layer 220 senses an environmental change where water electrolysis
takes place. In other words, the sensor portion 2303 can sense the
environmental change of the first gas diffusion layer 220.
Moreover, the second packaging rim 232, like the first packaging
rim 230, may also include a sensor portion 2323 extended from the
rim portion 2322. The sensor portion 2323 extended from the rim
portion 2322 to the second gas diffusion layer 220 senses an
environmental change of the second gas diffusion layer 222 where
water electrolysis takes place.
[0032] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited
to the number of the sensor portions 2303 included in the first
packaging rim 230 or the number of the sensor portions 2323
included in the second packaging rim 232. In other words, a
plurality of sensor portions 2303 may be extended from the rim
portion 2302 or a plurality of sensor portions 2323 may be extended
from the rim portion 2322 so as to sense the environmental changes
of the first gas diffusion layer 220 or the second gas diffusion
layer 222 where water electrolysis takes place. In another
embodiment, the second packaging rim 232 does not necessarily
include the sensor portion 2323. The present invention is not
limited to the previous examples of the membrane-electrode assembly
20.
[0033] It should be noted that the membrane-electrode assembly 20
has been described in details with reference to FIG. 1 and is not
repeated herein.
[0034] [Still Another Embodiment for Membrane-Electrode Assembly
for Water Electrolysis]
[0035] With reference to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a
membrane-electrode assembly for water electrolysis according to
still another embodiment of the present invention. The
membrane-electrode assembly for water electrolysis 30 includes a
proton-exchange membrane 300, a first catalyst layer 310, a second
catalyst layer 312, a first gas diffusion layer 320, a second gas
diffusion layer 322, a first packaging rim 330, a second packaging
rim 332 and a sensor chip S. As shown in FIG. 3, the
proton-exchange membrane 300 is disposed between the first catalyst
layer 310 and the second catalyst layer 312. The proton-exchange
membrane 300, the first catalyst layer 310 and the second catalyst
layer 312 are sandwiched between an inner side of the first gas
diffusion layer 320 and an inner side of the second gas diffusion
layer 322. The first packaging rim 330 and the second packaging rim
332 are disposed, respectively, on an outer side of the first gas
diffusion layer 320 and an outer side of the second gas diffusion
layer 322 so as to package the proton-exchange membrane 300, the
sensor chip S, the first catalyst layer 310, the second catalyst
layer 312, the first gas diffusion layer 320 and the second gas
diffusion layer 322. The sensor chip S is partially exposed outside
the first packaging rim 330 and the second packaging rim 332. The
outer side of the first gas diffusion layer 320 and the outer side
of the second gas diffusion layer 322 are exposed, respectively,
through the empty portion 3301 of the first packaging rim 330 and
the empty portion 3321 of the second packaging rim 332.
[0036] The present embodiment is different from the previous
embodiment in FIG. 1 in that the sensor chip S is sandwiched
between the proton-exchange membrane 300 and the first catalyst
layer 310 and that the first catalyst layer 310 and the second
catalyst layer 312 are formed by filtering printing, respectively,
on a side of the first gas diffusion layer 320 and on a side of the
second gas diffusion layer 322. The sensor chip S can sense an
environmental change where water electrolysis takes place. In other
words, the sensor chip S can sense an environmental change between
the proton-exchange membrane 300 and the first catalyst layer
310.
[0037] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited
to the number of sensor chips S included in the membrane-electrode
assembly 30. In other words, there may be a plurality of sensor
chips S provided between the proton-exchange membrane 300 and the
first catalyst layer 310 so as to sense the environmental change
where water electrolysis takes place between the proton-exchange
membrane 300 and the first catalyst layer 31.
[0038] In another embodiment, there may further be at least one
sensor chip S between the proton-exchange membrane 300 and the
second catalyst layer 312 so as to sense an environmental change
where water electrolysis takes place between the proton-exchange
membrane 300 and the second catalyst layer 312.
[0039] As stated above, by providing a plurality of sensor chips S
between catalyst layers and gas diffusion layers, the surveillance
device may perform real-time microscopic diagnosis and analysis on
the environmental change such as variations of temperature,
pressure, voltage and/or current on the membrane-electrode assembly
30 according to the sensed signal from the sensor chips S during
electrochemical reactions.
[0040] [Functions of Embodiments]
[0041] Accordingly, the membrane-electrode assembly for water
electrolysis in one embodiment of the present invention includes at
least one sensor device therein. The sensor device senses an
environmental change during water electrolysis and transmits the
sensed signal to an external surveillance device so that the
surveillance device performs microscopic diagnosis and analysis on
the membrane-electrode assembly.
[0042] The above-mentioned descriptions represent merely the
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, without any
intention to limit the scope of the present disclosure thereto.
Various equivalent changes, alterations or modifications based on
the claims of present disclosure are all consequently viewed as
being embraced by the scope of the present disclosure.
* * * * *