JP2000104191A - Hydrogen and oxygen generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hydrogen and oxygen generating device made compact in the whole device by eliminating a replenishing water tank and making a gaseous hydrogen scrubber small-sized and capable of controlling the water level of a gaseous oxygen separation tank only by a opening and closing switching valve. SOLUTION: The hydrogen and oxygen generation device is equipped with an electrolytic module 1 composed of a solid electrolyte film, a cathode chamber, an anode chamber and the like, a gaseous oxygen separation tank 3 with water level indicator 11 communicating with the anode chamber, a gaseous hydrogen separation tank 3 with a water level indicator 12 communicating with the cathode chamber, a circulation passage 18 between the gaseous oxygen separation tank 2 and the electrolytic module 1, a circulation pump 5 for the circulation passage 18, a replenishment passage 19 between a pure water supply source 14 and the circulation passage 18, a reflux passage 20 between the gaseous hydrogen separation tank 3 and the replenishment passage 19, a water feed pump 6 capable of being intermittently operated to the replenishment passage 19, the opening and closing switching valve 7 in the replenishment passage 19 and the gaseous hydrogen scrubber 4 in the reflux passage 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrolytic module provided with a plurality of solid electrolyte membrane units each having an anode and a cathode separated by a solid electrolyte membrane. The present invention relates to a hydrogen / oxygen generator that produces hydrogen gas and oxygen gas by decomposition.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 shows a general flow chart of a conventional solid electrolyte membrane type hydrogen / oxygen generator which generates a large amount of high-purity hydrogen gas and oxygen gas by electrolyzing water. This apparatus is mainly composed of an electrolysis module 21, an oxygen gas separation tank 2
2, a hydrogen gas separation tank 23, a makeup water tank 24, a hydrogen gas scrubber 25, and other paths 34 to 40 connected between these components, a circulating water pump 2
6, a makeup water pump 27, valves 28, 29, 41, water level gauges 31 to 33, and the like.

[0003] Although not shown, the electrolysis module 21 is generally formed by stacking a large number of solid electrolyte membrane units, and has an end electrode plate for energization at both ends. The solid electrolyte membrane unit includes a) a solid electrolyte membrane such as a solid polymer electrolyte membrane or a ceramic membrane mainly composed of an ion conductive material, and b) a platinum group metal or the like provided on both sides of the solid electrolyte membrane. And c) a bipolar electrode plate disposed outside of the porous power supply and polarized on both sides by energization. In the solid electrolyte membrane unit of the electrolysis module 21, a pair of bipolar electrode plates is partitioned by a solid electrolyte membrane, of which the anode side of the end electrode plate is formed as an anode chamber, and the cathode side is formed as a cathode chamber. Represents a porous power supply. Hereinafter, a hydrogen / oxygen generator using a proton conductive solid polymer electrolyte membrane as the solid electrolyte membrane will be described as an example. In this anode chamber, a reaction of 2H ₂ O → O ₂ + 4H ⁺ + 4e ⁻ occurs in the supplied pure water, and oxygen gas and hydrogen ions are generated.
On the other hand, in the cathode chamber, the reaction of 4H ⁺ + 4e ⁻ → 2H ₂ occurs with the hydrogen ions that have passed through the solid electrolyte membrane, and hydrogen gas is generated. The oxygen gas separation tank 22 and the hydrogen gas separation tank 23 are gas-liquid separation tanks capable of storing a predetermined amount of pure water.
32 are equipped. The makeup water tank 24 is also a tank capable of storing a predetermined amount of pure water, and is provided with a water level gauge 33.

Next, the connection between the components of the oxygen / hydrogen generator will be described with reference to the route diagram of FIG. The electrolysis module 21 is immersed in pure water in the oxygen gas separation tank 22, and the anode chamber is opened in the oxygen gas separation tank 22. The bottom of the oxygen gas separation tank 22 and the pure water supply port of the electrolytic module 21 are connected by a circulation path 34, and a circulation water pump 26 is incorporated in the circulation path 34. Further, the makeup water tank 24 and the circulation path 34 are connected by a makeup path 35, and the makeup path 35 incorporates a makeup water pump 27 and a valve 28 in order from the makeup water tank 24 side. Also, the makeup water circulation path 36 is
And is connected to the upper part of the makeup water tank 24. On the other hand, the cathode chamber of the electrolysis module 21 and the hydrogen gas separation tank 23 are connected by a hydrogen gas path 39. Hydrogen gas separation tank 2
The bottom of 3 and the upper part of the makeup water tank 24 are connected by a recirculation path 37, in which a valve 29 and a hydrogen gas scrubber 25 are incorporated. Further, the makeup water tank 24 is connected to a pure water production apparatus 42 outside the apparatus via a path 40 in which a valve 41 is incorporated. Water is available. Although not shown, the hydrogen / oxygen generator further includes other components such as a rectifier and a control panel.

[0005] The function of the present apparatus will be outlined. First, pure water in the oxygen gas separation tank 22 is always circulated and supplied to the anode chamber of the electrolytic module 21 by the circulating water pump 26, and is subjected to the above-described electrolysis. The oxygen gas generated in the anode chamber flows into the oxygen gas separation tank 22 together with most of the unreacted pure water, and is separated from the pure water. On the other hand, the hydrogen gas in the cathode chamber is supplied to the hydrogen gas path 39 together with the pure water that has passed through the solid electrolyte membrane.
Then, the hydrogen gas flows into the hydrogen gas separation tank 23, is separated from pure water that has passed through the solid electrolyte membrane in the hydrogen gas separation tank 23, and is then taken out as high-purity hydrogen gas through the dehumidifier 30. Further, the pure water in the makeup water tank 24 is constantly circulated from the makeup path 35 to the original makeup water tank 24 through the makeup water circulation path 36 by the makeup water pump 27 performing the continuous operation, and the pure water in the makeup water tank 27 is adjusted according to the opening degree of the valve 28. A predetermined amount of pure water is supplied to the circulation path 34. Pure water is supplied to the make-up water tank 24 from an external pure water production device 42 via a path 40, and the pure water in the hydrogen gas separation tank 23 is also supplied to the circulation path 37.
The water is returned to the makeup water tank 24 via the refrigeration tank 24 and is provided for recirculation. At this time, the hydrogen gas scrubber 2
5 is provided to prevent mixing of hydrogen gas into the makeup water tank 24. This is because when hydrogen gas is mixed into the makeup water tank 24, the hydrogen gas flows into the anode chamber of the electrolytic module 21 via the makeup path 35 and the circulation path 34, and may cause a combustion reaction with the oxygen gas filled in the anode chamber. Because there is. As the hydrogen gas scrubber 25, a gas-liquid separation tank capable of storing a predetermined amount has conventionally been generally used.

In the hydrogen / oxygen generator described above, it is necessary to control the water level of the oxygen gas separation tank 22 to a certain level in order to cool the electrolytic module 21 by immersing it in pure water. In addition, the hydrogen gas separation tank 23 also needs to control the water level within a certain range to make the internal pressure constant, in order to discharge hydrogen gas and pure water in the cathode chamber of the electrolytic module 21. Further, in the makeup water tank 24, it is necessary to control the water level within a certain range in order to smoothly supply pure water to the circulation path 34. The oxygen gas separation tank 22, the hydrogen gas separation tank 23 and the makeup water tank 2
The method of water level control of No. 4 will be described sequentially.

[0007] The opening of the valve 28 is adjusted by the signal of the oxygen gas separation tank water level meter 31,
By adjusting the amount of pure water per unit time supplied to the circulation path 34 according to the water level of the oxygen gas separation tank 2, the water level is kept constant.

Hydrogen gas separation tank When the water level of the hydrogen gas separation tank 23 reaches the H level, the valve 29 is opened by the H level detection signal of the water level gauge 32, and the pure water in the hydrogen gas separation tank 23 is supplied to the makeup water tank. Discharge to 24. On the other hand, when the water level of the hydrogen gas separation tank 23 reaches the L level, the valve 29 is closed by the L level detection signal of the water level gauge 32, and the hydrogen gas separation tank 2
Stop discharging the pure water in 3. Since the pressure of the makeup water tank 24 is atmospheric pressure and the hydrogen gas separation tank 23 is in a pressurized state due to the generation of hydrogen gas, pure water is discharged from the hydrogen gas separation tank 23 to the makeup water tank 24 by this pressure difference. You.

When the water level in the makeup water tank 24 has reached the L level, the valve 41 is opened by the L level detection signal of the water level meter 33,
Pure water is supplied from the pure water production device 42 to the makeup water tank 24. On the other hand, when the water level of the makeup water tank 24 has reached the H level, the valve 41 is detected by the H level detection signal of the water level gauge 32.
To stop supplying pure water. Makeup water tank 2
The pressure of 4 is atmospheric pressure, and since the inside of the pure water production device 42 is in a pressurized state, pure water is supplied to the makeup water tank 24 using the pressure difference between the makeup water tank 24 and the pure water production device 42. You.

As the hydrogen / oxygen generator, in addition to the above-described structure, an electrolytic module 21 provided outside the oxygen gas separation tank 22 or pure water is supplied to the cathode chamber of the electrolytic module 21. those, which oxygen gas separation tank 22 with separate dehumidifier in the introduction path of the oxygen gas was equipped, the electrolysis module 21 OH ^- and the like which conductivity type solid polymer electrolyte membrane is used. Thus, even when the electrolytic module 21 is disposed outside the oxygen gas separation tank 22,
It is necessary to keep the internal pressure of the oxygen gas separation tank 22 constant in order to stabilize the inflow and outflow of pure water into the tank, and it is necessary to keep the water level of the oxygen gas separation tank 22 constant.

[0011]

In the above-mentioned conventional hydrogen / oxygen generator, a) the make-up water tank 24 and the hydrogen gas scrubber 25 have large volumes, and the entire device cannot be made compact. B) As described above, The valve 28 must have an opening adjustment function, which is expensive in itself and has disadvantages such as the need for delicate control.

The present invention has been made in view of these inconveniences, has eliminated the need for a make-up water tank, reduced the size of the gas scrubber, and made the entire apparatus more compact. It is an object of the present invention to provide a hydrogen / oxygen generator capable of controlling the water level of an oxygen gas separation tank.

[0013]

According to the present invention, there is provided a hydrogen / oxygen generator comprising: a) an electrolytic module having a cathode chamber and an anode chamber for electrolyzing pure water; b) an oxygen gas separation tank communicating with the anode chamber of the electrolysis module and having a water level gauge; c) a hydrogen gas separation tank communicating with the cathode chamber of the electrolysis module and having a water level gauge; and d) an oxygen gas separation tank. And a circulation path provided between one of the gas separation tanks of the hydrogen gas separation tank and the pure water supply port of the electrolysis module; and e) pure water in the one gas separation tank incorporated in the circulation path. A circulation pump which continuously circulates through the electrolysis module; f)
A replenishment path provided between an external pure water supply source and a circulation path; g) a recirculation path provided between the other gas separation tank and the replenishment path; and h) a recirculation path of the replenishment path. An intermittently operable make-up water pump installed between the connection point and the connection point of the circulation path; and i) an open / close switch incorporated between the connection point of the circulation path and the connection point of the circulation path in the supply path. And a valve of the type (claim 1).

This means is that pure water in one of the oxygen gas separation tank and the hydrogen gas separation tank is circulated and supplied to the electrolysis module through a circulation path by a circulating water pump, and the electrolysis module performs electrolysis. Oxygen gas generated in the anode chamber and pure water (in the case of proton conduction type, undecomposed pure water, in the case of OH ^- conduction type, pure water permeated through the solid electrolyte membrane) are communicated. The gas and liquid are separated in the oxygen gas separation tank, and the hydrogen gas and pure water generated in the other cathode chamber (as opposed to the pure water, pure water permeated through the solid electrolyte membrane in the case of the proton conduction type, In the case of OH ^- conduction type, it refers to undecomposed pure water.)
It is the same as the oxygen generator. However, the hydrogen / oxygen generator is not equipped with a make-up water tank, and a make-up path extending from an external pure water supply source is directly connected to the circulation path, and either one of the oxygen gas separation tank and the hydrogen gas separation tank It is characterized in that the water level in the separation tank is controlled by a simple operation of a make-up water pump provided in the make-up path and an open / close switching valve. Hereinafter, the water level control method will be specifically described by taking, as an example, a case where the circulation path is connected to the oxygen gas separation tank. First, when a drop in the water level in the oxygen gas separation tank is detected by the water level gauge, pure water is supplied from the external pure water supply source to the circulation path only by opening the valve and operating the make-up water pump, As a result, the water level of the oxygen gas separation tank can be raised. On the other hand, when the rise in the water level in the oxygen gas separation tank is detected by the water level gauge, the valve is closed and the makeup water pump is stopped, so that the water level in the oxygen gas separation tank is reduced by the amount of pure water to be electrolyzed. Can be reduced. Further, the water level of the hydrogen gas separation tank is also controlled by the supply water pump and the valve in the supply path since the supply water pump and the valve are incorporated between the connection points of the circulation path and the circulation path in the supply path. be able to. Specifically, when the rise of the water level in the hydrogen gas separation tank is detected by the attached water level gauge, the valve is opened and the make-up water pump is operated to discharge the pure water in the hydrogen gas separation tank to the circulation path. Then, the water level of the hydrogen gas separation tank can be lowered. At this time, if the diameter of the hydrogen gas separation tank is made smaller than that of the oxygen gas separation tank, even if the water level of the hydrogen gas separation tank is lowered and pure water of the hydrogen gas separation tank is supplied to the circulation path, the water level of the oxygen gas separation tank is reduced. And the water level of the oxygen gas separation tank can be prevented from rising excessively.
On the other hand, if the drop in the water level of the hydrogen gas separation tank is detected by the water level gauge, the valve is closed and the makeup water pump is stopped to prevent the water level of the hydrogen gas separation tank from dropping further. The water level can be raised by the amount that flows in. The selection of whether pure water is supplied from an external pure water supply source through the replenishment path by operating the make-up water pump or whether pure water is recirculated from the hydrogen gas separation tank through the recirculation path is determined by the pure water outside the replenishment path. This can be achieved by providing an opening / closing valve on each of the water supply source side and the circulation path, or by providing a switching valve at the circulation path connection point of the supply path. On the other hand, the water level control method when the circulation path is connected to the hydrogen gas separation tank can be achieved by reversing the oxygen gas separation tank and the hydrogen gas separation tank described above.

Further, if a gas scrubber which is incorporated in the circulation path and separates the gas contained in the pure water in the circulation path is provided (claim 2), the gas scrubber is connected to the anode chamber of the electrolytic module via the supply path and the circulation path. The inflow of hydrogen gas or the inflow of oxygen gas into the cathode chamber can be prevented. Therefore, the danger of causing a combustion reaction with the gas into which the oxygen gas filled in the anode chamber or the hydrogen gas filled in the cathode chamber flows can be prevented.

As the gas scrubber, it is preferable to use an inverted U-shaped pipe having a diameter larger than that of the recirculation path provided with an on-off valve at the top. When a large-diameter inverted U-shaped pipe is incorporated in a part of the circulation path, the flow rate of pure water passing through the inverted U-shaped pipe decreases, and fine bubbles of mixed gas stay at the upper part of the inverted U-shaped pipe. Therefore, the open / close valve at the top of the inverted U-shaped pipe is periodically opened, and the pure water in the upper part is periodically drained out of the apparatus. Gas can be prevented from being mixed in. Conventional gas scrubber (hydrogen gas scrubber)
As a general rule, a gas-liquid separation tank having a predetermined storage amount has been adopted. However, the gas scrubber is an inverted U-shaped tube having a simple structure, and can save space and cost. .

By using the one gas separation tank connected to the circulation path as an oxygen gas separation tank and the other gas separation tank as a hydrogen gas separation tank (claim 4), the proton conductive solid electrolyte membrane is formed. The present invention can be applied to the hydrogen / oxygen generator used.

The above means is most suitable for a hydrogen / oxygen generator in which an electrolysis module is housed in an oxygen gas separation tank (claim 5). The proton-conductive hydrogen / oxygen generator, in which the electrolysis module is housed in an oxygen gas separation tank to make the device more compact, must be constantly immersed in pure water to cool the electrolysis module. It is necessary to strictly control the water level of the oxygen gas separation tank to a certain width. Due to such demands, the conventional hydrogen / oxygen generator is equipped with a relatively large makeup water tank as described above,
The result was contrary to the demand for compactness. Also,
Conventional hydrogen / oxygen generators are provided with a valve with an opening adjustment function between a path in which makeup water is circulated and a circulation path, and the valve is opened in response to a signal from a water level gauge in the oxygen gas separation tank. Although the flow rate of pure water to the circulation path was adjusted by adjusting the degree, the water level of the oxygen gas separation tank was controlled to a constant width, but the hydrogen / oxygen generator of the present invention is a make-up water pump capable of intermittent operation. The opening and closing switching valve is provided, and the water level of the oxygen gas separation tank is controlled to a constant width only by controlling the opening and closing of the valve and the intermittent operation of the makeup water pump. Therefore, the control and the structure are simple, and the economy is excellent.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. 1, 2 and 3 are all schematic diagrams showing a hydrogen / oxygen generator according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a case where a proton conductive solid electrolyte membrane is used and an electrolytic module and an oxygen gas separation tank are used. It is of isolated form, FIG. 2 are also intended proton-conducting solid electrolyte membrane is used electrolysis module is disposed forms an oxygen gas separation tank, Fig 3 is OH ^- conducting solid electrolyte In this embodiment, a membrane is used, and an electrolysis module is provided in a hydrogen gas separation tank. In the hydrogen / oxygen generator according to the present invention, the structure and function of the electrolysis module 1, the oxygen gas separation tank 2, and the hydrogen gas separation tank 3, which are the main components, and the anode and cathode chambers of the electrolysis module 1 are each used for oxygen gas separation Connected to the tank 2 and the hydrogen gas separation tank 3;
The point that the water supply port of the electrolysis module 1 is connected to the pure water supply port by the circulation path 18 in which the circulating water pump 5 is incorporated is the same as the above-described conventional hydrogen / oxygen generator. The description is omitted.

In the hydrogen / oxygen generator shown in FIG. 1, the electrolysis module 1 is disposed outside the oxygen gas separation tank 2, and the anode chamber of the electrolysis module 1 is connected to the oxygen gas separation tank by an oxygen gas path 16. The cathode chamber is connected to the hydrogen gas separation tank 3 by a hydrogen gas path 17. Further, a supply path 19 extending from an external pure water production apparatus 14 is connected to the circulation path 18, and the supply path 19 is connected to the valve 15,
A makeup water pump 6 and a valve 7 are incorporated. On the other hand, a recirculation path 20 extending from the hydrogen gas separation tank 3 is connected between the valve 15 of the replenishment path 19 and the replenishing water pump 6. A gas scrubber 4 is incorporated.

In the hydrogen / oxygen generator configured as described above, oxygen gas and hydrogen gas generated in the anode chamber and the cathode chamber of the electrolysis module 1 are separated from pure water in the oxygen gas separation tank 2 and the hydrogen gas separation tank 3. It is the same as in the prior art, but is characterized by a method of controlling the water levels of the oxygen gas separation tank 2 and the hydrogen gas separation tank 3 to a fixed width. Hereinafter, description will be given for each tank.

Oxygen gas separation tank When the water level of the oxygen gas separation tank 2 reaches the L level,
The valve 7 and the valve 15 are opened by the L level detection signal of the water level gauge 11, and the make-up water pump 6 is operated, so that pure water flows from the pure water producing apparatus 14 into the circulation path 18 via the make-up path 19. As a result, the water level in the oxygen gas separation tank 2 is raised. On the other hand, when the water level of the oxygen gas separation tank 2 reaches the H level, the valves 7 and 15 are closed by the H level detection signal of the water level gauge 11,
By stopping the make-up water pump 6, the supply of pure water to the oxygen gas separation tank 2 is stopped, thereby preventing the water level of the oxygen gas separation tank 2 from rising.

Hydrogen gas separation tank When the water level of the hydrogen gas separation tank 3 reaches the H level,
By opening the valves 7 and 8 by the H level detection signal of the water level gauge 12 and operating the makeup water pump 6,
The pure water in the hydrogen gas separation tank 3 flows into the circulation path 18 via the circulation path 20 and the supply path 19 to lower the water level in the hydrogen gas separation tank 3. On the other hand, when the water level of the hydrogen gas separation tank 3 reaches the L level, the valves 7 and 8 are closed by the L level detection signal of the water level gauge 12,
By stopping the makeup water pump 6, the discharge of pure water from the hydrogen gas separation tank 3 is prevented.

In addition, the hydrogen gas scrubber 4 of the present embodiment has an inverted U-shaped tube 9
On the top of the inverted U-shaped tube 9, an on-off valve 10
Is provided. In the inverted U-shaped tube 9, the flow velocity of pure water passing through the circulation path 20 decreases, and fine bubbles of hydrogen gas mixed during the flow at a low speed collect above the inverted U-shaped tube 9. Therefore, the on-off valve 10 provided at the uppermost part of the inverted U-shaped pipe 9 is periodically opened by a timer or the like, and the pure water on the upper part of the inverted U-shaped pipe 9 is drained to the outside, so that the circulation path 20
Hydrogen gas can be removed from the pure water flowing through the electrolysis module 1, and as a result, mixing of the hydrogen gas into the electrolytic module 1 can be prevented. Since the hydrogen gas scrubber 4 is composed of an inverted U-shaped tube 9 having a simple structure, the hydrogen gas scrubber 4 is more compact than a gas-liquid separation tank or the like used as a conventional hydrogen gas scrubber, and saves space in the entire apparatus. be able to.

The hydrogen / oxygen generator shown in FIG. 2 is the same as the hydrogen / oxygen generator shown in FIG. 1 except that the electrolysis module 1 and the oxygen gas separation tank 2 are not disposed separately. The same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. In the hydrogen / oxygen generator, an electrolysis module 1 is disposed in an oxygen gas separation tank 2 for compactness and the like, and a cathode chamber is opened in the oxygen gas separation tank 2.
Also in this case, the supply path 19 is directly connected to the circulation path 18 and the conventional supply water tank is omitted. The elimination of a relatively large makeup water tank is in line with the demand for compactness, which is the purpose of the hydrogen / oxygen generator of this embodiment.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the proton conducting type in which hydrogen ions are conducted in the membrane is used as the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
An OH ^- conduction type in which H ^- ions conduct in the film may be used. Such OH ^- hydrogen-oxygen generating apparatus using a conductive solid electrolyte membrane, in FIG. 1 in that as the component electrolysis module 1, the oxygen gas separation tank 2, a hydrogen gas separation tank 3 or the like as shown in FIG. 3 Since it is the same as the hydrogen / oxygen generator, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. The hydrogen / oxygen generator is an electrolysis module 1
Pure water is supplied to the cathode chamber of the first chamber to generate hydrogen gas and OH ^- ions. In the anode chamber, the permeated OH ^- ions react to generate oxygen gas. Therefore, a circulation path 18 is provided between the electrolysis module 1 and the hydrogen gas separation tank 3, and the electrolysis module 1 is disposed in the hydrogen gas separation tank 3 for downsizing the apparatus. That is, the hydrogen
The flow is such that the oxygen gas separation tank 2 and the hydrogen gas separation tank 3 of the oxygen generator are interchanged.

[0027]

As described above, the hydrogen / oxygen generator of the present invention does not require a make-up water tank, which was conventionally required, so that the entire apparatus can be made compact and simple, and as a result, it is easy to manufacture and economical. Can be promoted. Further, since only the open / close switching type valve is used, and the valve having the opening adjustment function used in the conventional device is not required, the operation is simple and the cost is low. Furthermore, since the hydrogen gas scrubber is a simple U-shaped tube, the overall size of the apparatus can be further reduced as compared with a conventional gas-liquid separation tank type.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a path diagram of a hydrogen / oxygen generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a path diagram showing a hydrogen / oxygen generator according to a mode different from that of the hydrogen / oxygen generator of FIG. 1, that is, a mode in which an electrolytic module is disposed in an oxygen gas separation tank.

The [3] Hydrogen and oxygen generator of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 different forms, i.e. OH in electrolysis module ^- is a path diagram showing a hydrogen-oxygen generating apparatus using a conductivity type solid polymer electrolyte membrane.

FIG. 4 is a path diagram showing a conventional hydrogen / oxygen generator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrolysis module 2 Oxygen gas separation tank 3 Hydrogen gas separation tank 4 Hydrogen gas scrubber 5 Circulating water pump 6 Make-up water pump 7 Valve 8 Valve 9 Inverted U-shaped tube 10 On-off valve 11 Water level gauge 12 Water level gauge 13 Dehumidifier 14 Pure water Manufacturing apparatus 15 Valve 16 Oxygen gas path 17 Hydrogen gas path 18 Circulation path 19 Supply path 20 Recirculation path

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Teruyuki Morioka 934-4 Tsuchiyama, Hiraoka-cho, Kakogawa-shi, Hyogo F-term (reference) 4K021 AA01 BA02 BC01 BC04 CA08 DC01 DC03

Claims (5)

[Claims] An electrolysis module having a cathode chamber and an anode chamber for electrolyzing pure water, an oxygen gas separation tank communicating with the anode chamber of the electrolysis module and having a water level gauge, and a cathode chamber of the electrolysis module. A hydrogen gas separation tank having communication and a water level gauge, and a circulation path provided between one of the oxygen gas separation tank and the hydrogen gas separation tank and the pure water supply port of the electrolysis module; A circulation pump incorporated in the circulation path to continuously circulate the pure water in the one gas separation tank to the electrolysis module; a supply path provided between an external pure water supply source and the circulation path; A recirculation path provided between the gas separation tank and the replenishment path, and an intermittently operable make-up water pump incorporated between the recirculation path connection point and the circulation path connection point of the replenishment path; Equipped with hydrogen-oxygen generator and a closing switching type valve incorporated between the connection point of the ring flow path and the connecting point of the circulation path of the road. 2. The hydrogen / oxygen generator according to claim 1, further comprising a gas scrubber incorporated in the circulation path to separate gas contained in pure water in the circulation path. 3. The hydrogen according to claim 2, wherein the gas scrubber includes an inverted U-shaped pipe having a diameter larger than that of the reflux path, and an on-off valve provided at an uppermost portion of the inverted U-shaped pipe.・ Oxygen generator. 4. The hydrogen / oxygen generator according to claim 1, wherein the one gas separation tank is an oxygen gas separation tank, and the other gas separation tank is a hydrogen gas separation tank. 5. The hydrogen / oxygen generator according to claim 1, wherein the electrolysis module is provided in an oxygen gas separation tank.