JP2001073176A - Electrolytic cell of hydrogen and oxygen generator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrolytic cell which improves a sealing effect, is easy to assemble an is adaptable even to high-pressure use. SOLUTION: This electrolytic cell has a solid electrolyte membrane 3, electrode plates 4 which are respectively disposed on both sides of the solid electrolyte membrane, porous power feeders 5 which are disposed between the electrode plates and the solid electrolyte membrane, annular members 6 which are disposed on the outer peripheral side of the porous power feeders and seal rings which are disposed within seal ring grooves formed on the flanks of the annular members. Passages 13, 14, 15 and 16 for fluid communicating with the bore side from part among routes 8, 9, 10 and 11 for the prescribed fluid on one surface of the annular members 6 are formed. The seal rings are so disposed as to pass the outer side of the routes for fluid formed with the passages for fluid and the inner side of the routes for fluid not formed with the passages for fluid. Further, the seal rings are also disposed on the circumferences of the routes for fluid not formed with the passages for fluid.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrolytic cell of a hydrogen oxygen generator. More specifically, it relates to an electrolytic cell of a hydrogen / oxygen generator for obtaining high-purity hydrogen gas and oxygen gas by electrolyzing water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a hydrogen oxygen generator has been disclosed in
As disclosed in JP-A-239788, an electrolytic cell for performing electrolysis of water, which is a central function thereof, is incorporated. The electrolytic cell is obtained by arranging a predetermined set of solid electrolyte membrane units. The solid electrolyte membrane unit has electrode plates on both sides of the solid electrolyte membrane. One of the spaces sandwiched between them is an anode chamber and the other is a cathode chamber, and a power supply is accommodated in each chamber.

[0003] In the case of a bipolar electrolytic cell, when a DC voltage is applied between the electrode plates at both ends of the aligned solid electrolyte membrane units, those end electrode plates become a monopolar electrode of an anode and a cathode, respectively. And an intermediate electrode plate is a bipolar electrode plate in which one surface is an anode and the other surface is a cathode. That is, the space between each solid electrolyte membrane and the anode side of the electrode plate is an anode chamber, and the space between each solid electrolyte membrane and the cathode side of the electrode plate is a cathode chamber.

For example, in an electrolytic cell 51 shown in FIG. 8, 52 is a bipolar electrode plate (see FIG. 9) arranged in the middle, and 53a and 53b are end electrodes arranged at the ends, respectively. It is a plate, so to speak, a monopolar electrode plate. Reference numeral 54 denotes a solid electrolyte membrane; 55, a porous power supply; 56, a ring-shaped silicone rubber gasket for isolating the porous power supply 55 from the outside; and 57, a circular protection sheet. Reference numeral 58 denotes an oxygen gas take-out path, 58a denotes an oxygen gas flow path, 61 denotes a drain water discharge path for the cathode chamber, and 61a denotes a drain water discharge path. In this drawing, a pure water supply path 60 and a pure water distribution path 60 are shown.
a, the hydrogen gas take-out path 59, and the hydrogen gas flow path 59a are not shown, but as is apparent from FIG. 9 as well, the same as the oxygen gas take-out path 58 and the oxygen gas flow path 58a. It is formed by the configuration.

FIG. 10 shows a cross section of a part of the electrode plate 52 with respect to a method of forming each of the above paths and passages.
It is clear if (a) is also referred to. That is,
An oval shallow two-step groove 6 radially near the periphery of the electrode plate 52.
2 are formed. FIG. 10 (b) is the same as FIG.
It is an XX line arrow view of (a). Step 62 of the two-step groove 62
a is a base seat to which the oval base 63 is mounted (hereinafter, referred to as a base seat 62a). By doing so, an oval passage (represented by the hydrogen gas passage 59a) is formed. The base 63 is also provided with a hydrogen gas extracting passage 64 at a position corresponding to the hydrogen gas extracting passage 59 of the electrode plate 52. Further, a hydrogen gas introduction hole 64b is formed closer to the center of the electrode plate 52 than the hydrogen gas extraction path 64, and communicates between the cathode chamber (the space filled with the porous power supply body) and the hydrogen gas flow passage 59a. . The porous power supply 55, gasket 56, and protective sheet 57 are also shown. FIG. 10 illustrates the hydrogen gas passage 59a, but the oxygen gas passage 58a
The pure water flow passage 60a has the same structure except that the formation position is different. In FIG. 8, both end plates are denoted by reference numeral 65, and the both end plates 65 are penetrated through the electrode plate or the like by fastening bolts (not shown), and electrolysis is performed by tightening them at a portion corresponding to the outer periphery, that is, a gasket portion in this drawing. The cell 51 is assembled.

[0006] The porous power supply body is formed of a gas permeable material such as a mesh or a sintered body, and a fluid can freely flow from the side thereof.

[0007]

During the electrolysis of water, since the solid electrolyte membrane is filled with hydrogen ions, the solid electrolyte membrane is strongly acidic. Is required. However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the silicone rubber gasket 56 has poor acid resistance, so that a thin annular PFA is formed between the gasket 56 and the solid electrolyte membrane.
A protective sheet made of (perfluoroalkoxy vinyl ether) or the like is interposed to prevent direct contact with the solid electrolyte membrane. However, even if the protective sheet is wrinkled or creased even when the silicone gasket is sandwiched and clamped, there is a possibility that leakage will occur from that part. Therefore, it is necessary to select and adopt a high-quality PFA protective sheet free of such defects, which increases labor and cost. On the other hand, if the thickness of the protective sheet is increased, a step is generated between the solid electrolyte membrane and the porous power feeder, resulting in poor contact. If the thickness is reduced, wrinkles and the like occur as described above, and handling becomes inconvenient, and the number of assembling steps increases.

Further, when assembling the electrolytic cell, it is necessary to sufficiently tighten the bolts in order to exert the sealing function of the gasket, to prevent the solid electrolyte membrane from being damaged, and to set the gasket outward and inward. Be careful not to over-tighten. Also,
Since the gasket itself is soft, there is a possibility that the gasket will protrude outward from between the fastening bolts due to the internal pressure when using at a high pressure. As a result, the electrolytic cell is not suitable for high pressure use.

Further, since the gasket has a much higher coefficient of thermal expansion than other parts, it expands during use, and as a result, the tightening force of the bolts may increase, causing various problems.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and eliminates the use of conventional gaskets and protective sheets to improve sealing performance, facilitate assembly, reduce the number of parts, and increase temperature. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrolytic cell in which the accompanying thermal expansion is reduced.

[0011]

An electrolytic cell according to the present invention comprises a solid electrolyte membrane, electrode plates provided on both sides of the solid electrolyte membrane, and an electrode plate provided between the electrode plate and the solid electrolyte membrane. A porous power supply provided, an annular member disposed on the outer peripheral side of the porous power supply, and a seal ring for isolating an inner diameter side of the annular member from the outside. Is disposed in a seal ring groove formed on a side surface of the annular member.

As described above, since the seal ring is provided in the groove, the positioning of the seal ring is easy, and the seal ring is not overtightened even if the parts are pressed together when assembling the electrolytic cell. , And an appropriate sealing force can be obtained. Therefore, it is applicable to high pressure use. In addition, since a flat silicone rubber gasket having a very large coefficient of thermal expansion is not used unlike the related art, there is no fear of a problem due to thermal expansion during operation. Further, a conventional PFA protection sheet for protecting the solid electrolyte membrane from the gasket can be omitted. Further, the high-precision processing required for the conventional thick metal electrode plate is not required, and the processing cost is reduced.

In each of the solid electrolyte membrane, the electrode plate, and the annular member, a plurality of fluid paths are perforated at positions outside the outer periphery of the porous power supply body, and the fluid path in the annular member is radially inward from the fluid path. By forming the fluid passages that communicate with each other, a suitable electrolytic cell is obtained.

Further, a fluid passage communicating from one of the plurality of fluid passages to the inner diameter side is formed on one surface of the annular member, and the seal ring is connected to the annular member. On both sides, the fluid passage is disposed so as to pass outside the fluid passage where the fluid passage is formed and pass inside the fluid passage where the fluid passage is not formed, and further not to form the fluid passage. By arranging the seal ring also around the perimeter, the seal ring is arranged only at the necessary part, so that the compression area is not large like the conventionally used flat gasket, and it is necessary to clamp the entire gasket. There is no need for strong clamping force.

Alternatively, a fluid passage communicating from one of the plurality of fluid passages to the inner diameter side of the plurality of fluid passages is formed on one surface of the annular member.
A gasket is provided in the same manner as in the above electrolytic cell, by arranging so as to pass outside the fluid path on both surfaces of the annular member, and further arranging a seal ring around the fluid path in which the fluid path is not formed. There is no need for a large tightening force for clamping the whole.

Further, a reinforcing ring is fixedly provided around the porous power feeding member, and at least a portion of the surface of the reinforcing ring which is in contact with the solid electrolyte membrane is coated with an acid-resistant resin, whereby the porous power feeding member is provided. The service life is improved.

In addition, by forming the porous power supply so as to have a rectangular shape, the cross-sectional area of the anode chamber (the space occupied by the porous power supply) as an oxygen generation chamber is set in the flow direction of the pure water to be electrolyzed. Along. As a result, since the pure water is uniformly supplied to the anode chamber, the electrolysis is made uniform, and the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas are efficiently produced. Also, the yield during manufacturing is improved.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an electrolytic cell according to the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of an embodiment of the electrolytic cell of the present invention before assembling. FIG. 2 shows a main part of the pre-assembly electrolytic cell of FIG. 1 and is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an electrode plate, a porous feeder, and one annular member in the electrolytic cell of FIG. FIG. 4 shows FIG.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an electrode plate, a porous power supply body, and another annular member in the electrolytic cell of FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a main part of another embodiment of the electrolytic cell of the present invention before assembly. 7 shows a main part of the pre-assembly electrolytic cell of FIG. 6, and is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG.

The electrolytic cell 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is one in which a predetermined set of solid electrolyte membrane units 2 are arranged.
The solid electrolyte membrane unit 2 has electrode plates 4 disposed on both sides of a solid electrolyte membrane 3. As shown, a porous power supply 5 is accommodated on both sides of each electrode plate 4, and one of the accommodating spaces of the porous power supply 5 is an anode chamber A and the other is a cathode chamber C. By applying an electrolytic voltage between electrodes (not shown) at both ends of the electrolytic cell 1, the supplied pure water is electrolyzed, and oxygen gas is generated in the anode chamber A.
Hydrogen gas is generated in the cathode chamber C. Porous feeder 5
An annular member 6 for a seal ring that isolates the porous power supply body 5 from the outside is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the power supply body. Seal rings 7a and 7b are provided on the side surface of the annular member 6 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). 1 and 2 do not show the seal ring. At the center of both side surfaces of the electrode plate 4, a circular convex portion 4a concentric with the outer peripheral edge is formed.

In this embodiment, the electrode plate 4 has a thickness of about 5 m.
m is formed from a titanium plate having a height of about 2 mm on both sides and a peripheral edge of about 1 m.
m. Further, the porous power supply body 5 has a thickness of about 1 mm, and the annular member 6 has a thickness of about 3 mm.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section taken along the line II-II as shown in FIG. 1 without cutting the electrolytic cell 1 of FIG. 1 in a vertical plane for easy understanding.

The electrolytic cell 1 is assembled by arranging a predetermined set of these solid electrolyte membrane units 2, sandwiching them by end plates (not shown) at both ends, and tightening them with tightening bolts (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 1, except for the porous feeder 5 having a smaller diameter than the other parts, each of the parts 3, 4, and 6 has an oxygen gas extraction path at substantially equal angular intervals near the outer periphery. 8, holes forming a hydrogen gas take-out path 9, a pure water supply path 10, and a drain water discharge path 11 for a cathode chamber are provided.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the passages connecting these paths 8, 9, 10, and 11 with the anode chamber A and the cathode chamber C are mainly formed in the annular member 6. 1 and 2, one anode member A is provided with one annular member 6a, and one cathode room C is provided with one annular member 6c. Therefore, the surface of the annular member 6 a for the anode chamber A facing the electrode plate 4 (see FIG. 3) is parallel to each other from the periphery of the oxygen gas extraction path 8 and the pure water supply path 10 to the inner diameter side space of the annular member 6. Two grooves 12
Are formed. These grooves 12 serve as an oxygen gas extraction passage 13 and a pure water circulation passage 15. Similarly, the surface of the annular member 6c for the cathode chamber C facing the electrode plate 4 (see FIG. 4) is similarly provided from the periphery of the hydrogen gas extraction path 9 and the drain water discharge path 11 for the cathode chamber to the inner diameter side space. The book groove 12 is formed. These grooves 12 serve as a hydrogen gas extraction passage 14 and a drain water discharge passage 16.
These grooves 12 are formed in the tunnel-like fluid passage 1 by the surface of the annular member 6 where the grooves 12 are formed abutting the surface of the electrode plate 4.
3, 14, 15, and 16.

The cross-sectional dimension of the groove 12 is the width b in this embodiment.
(FIG. 5) is about 6 mm, and the depth h (FIG. 5) is about 1 mm.
Has been. This dimension is an example. The electrode plate 4 having a diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter side space is provided in the inner diameter side space of the annular member 6.
The circular convex portion 4a and the porous power supply body 5 are fitted. The porous feeder 5 is formed of a titanium mesh, and an annular reinforcing ring 5a is attached to the outer periphery thereof. Since this reinforcing ring 5a is in direct contact with the solid electrolyte membrane 3, PFA or PTFE
An acid-resistant resin such as (polytetrafluoroethylene) is coated. Therefore, there is no need to use a thin protective sheet made of PFA which is conventionally inconvenient for handling. The main body portion (the mesh portion) of the porous power supply body 5 is provided with acid resistance by applying a noble metal plating such as a platinum plating.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.
Is provided with a step S of about 0.1 mm in which the depth to which the reinforcing ring 5a is to be engaged is substantially the same as the thickness of the reinforcing ring 5a. . When the annular member 6 is brought into contact with the electrode plate 4 during the assembly of the electrolytic cell, the fluid passages 13, 1,
Passage notches 17 are formed at the portions of the circular projections 4a of the electrode plate 4 facing the inner ends of the electrodes 4, 15, and 16 (see FIGS. 2 and 4). The passage notch 17 allows the predetermined fluid to smoothly communicate with the fluid passages 13, 14, 15, 16 and the anode chamber A and the cathode chamber C.

As described above, pure water is supplied from the pure water supply path 10 to the anode chamber A formed on one surface side of the electrode plate 4 through the pure water circulation path 15, and The generated oxygen gas is taken out from the oxygen gas take-out passage 13 through the oxygen gas take-out passage 8 together with the pure water. The hydrogen gas generated in the cathode chamber C formed on the other surface side of the electrode plate 4 is supplied to the hydrogen gas extraction passage 1.
4 through a hydrogen gas extraction path 9.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, on the side surface of the annular member 6, seal ring grooves 18a and 18b into which the seal rings 7a and 7b are fitted are formed. As the seal ring, a small circular seal ring 7a for sealing each of the fluid paths 8, 9, 10, and 11 from the outside, and a fluid path 8 in which fluid passages 13, 14, 15, and 16 are formed. , 9, 10, 11 through the fluid passages 13,
Fluid path 8, in which 14, 15, 16 are not formed,
Anode chamber A and cathode chamber C passing through the inside of 9, 10, 11
And a large-diameter seal ring 7b for sealing the seal from the outside.

The annular member 6a for the anode chamber A and the annular member 6c for the cathode chamber C differ in the arrangement range of the seal rings 7a and 7b and the formation range of the seal ring grooves 18a and 18b. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the annular member 6a for the anode chamber A is provided with seal rings 7a and 7b having the same shape on both surfaces thereof, and seal ring grooves 18a and 18b having the same shape are formed respectively. However, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the annular members 6c for the cathode chamber C are provided with seal rings 7a and 7b only on one surface, and formed with seal ring grooves 18a and 18b. This is because, when a soft solid electrolyte membrane 3 is used, it is not preferable for the solid electrolyte membrane 3 to be pressed from both sides of the solid electrolyte membrane 3 by the seal rings 7a and 7b. Seal ring 7a,
This is because if the 7b is arranged to face, the certainty of the reaction force when tightening cannot be expected. Therefore, the solid electrolyte membrane 3 is pressed between the seal rings 7a and 7b and the plane of the annular member 6 to achieve a sealing effect. If the solid electrolyte membrane is formed from a hard material such as ceramics, there is no problem even if pressure is applied between both sides by the seal rings 7a and 7b.

Thus, the fluid passages 13, 14,
Each of the fluid paths 8, 9, 1 in which 15, 16 are formed
Regarding the fluid passages 0 and 11, no seal is made between the corresponding anode compartment A (or the cathode compartment C), but the seal is well sealed from the outside and the fluid passages where no fluid passages are formed. The fluid path will be sealed from its surroundings.

As described above, the large-diameter seal ring 7
b is configured to pass through the inside of the fluid paths 8, 9, 10, 11 where the fluid paths 13, 14, 15, 16 are not formed, but all the fluid paths 8, 9, 10, 1
One may be configured to pass through the outside.

The seal ring grooves 18a and 18b have a width w (FIG. 5) of about 2.1 mm and a depth k of about 1 mm.
The seal rings 7a and 7b have a sectional diameter of about 1.5 mm. This dimension is an example.

As described above, the sealing member 7 is formed by the annular member 6a for the anode chamber A and the annular member 6c for the cathode chamber C.
a, 7b and seal ring grooves 18a, 18
Although the formation range of b is different, the annular member 6a for the anode chamber A may be used for the cathode chamber C, and the annular member 6c for the cathode chamber C may be used as the annular member 6a for the anode chamber A.
As a material of the annular member 6, a fiber reinforced plastic,
Non-conductive and high-strength materials such as fluororesins and ceramics are suitably employed. Further, as a material of the seal rings 7a and 7b, an acid-resistant rubber such as a fluororubber or a perfluoroelastomer, a double structure rubber having an acid-resistant layer on the surface, or the like is adopted.

In the above-mentioned electrolytic cell 1, the oxygen gas take-out path 8, the hydrogen gas take-out path 9, the pure water supply path 10, and the drain water discharge path 11 for the cathode chamber have been described. May be used as a fluid path,
In addition, it is not necessary to pierce when unnecessary.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show another electrolytic cell 21. The electrolytic cell 21 has a rectangular shape as a whole. That is, the solid electrolyte membrane 23 and the electrode plates 2 on both sides thereof
4. The porous power supply 25 and the annular member 26 are all rectangular. The arrangement of these components 23, 24, 25, 26 is the same as that of the aforementioned electrolytic cell 1 (FIGS. 1 to 4).

However, a reinforcing ring 5a is provided around the porous power supply body 5 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and a step S for the reinforcing ring 5a is formed in the annular member 6. Has neither a reinforcing ring nor a step S. In the present electrolysis cell 21, a rectangular window 26b having substantially the same outer shape as the porous power supply 25 is opened in the annular member 26, and the porous power supply 25 is fitted into the window 26b. That portion becomes the anode chamber A or the cathode chamber C. The porous power supply 25 is formed slightly thicker than the annular member 26. By doing so, it is not necessary to form the electrode plate 24, particularly the central convex portion 4 a like the electrode plate 4 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and when the electrolytic cell 21 is assembled, the porous power feeder 25 becomes a solid electrolyte membrane. 23 and the electrode plate 24 are satisfactorily brought into contact with each other to prevent an increase in the current-carrying resistance. Of course, the porous feeder 25
And a reinforcing ring may be provided on the outer periphery thereof. In this case, it is necessary to form a step for the reinforcing ring around the window 26b in the annular member 26. Also, the electrode plate 24
In the same manner as the electrode plate 4 of FIGS. 1 to 4, a central convex portion, that is, a central convex portion having the same outer shape as the rectangular window portion 26b must be formed.

Solid electrolyte membrane 2 excluding porous feeder 25
3. A rectangular pure water supply path 30 is perforated at one end of the electrode plate 24 and the annular member 26, that is, at a portion corresponding to one outer side of the window 26b in the annular member 26. The pure water supply path 30 is formed to have a length close to the width of the window 26b. On the other hand, these parts 23, 24, 26
On the other end side of the annular member 26, that is, at a portion corresponding to the other outer side of the window portion 26b, an oxygen gas take-out path 28 and a hydrogen gas take-out path 29 are pierced apart from each other.

As described above, both the window 26b of the annular member 26 and the porous power supply 25 have a rectangular shape. That is, the anode chamber A in which oxygen is generated has a rectangular shape, and the pure water flow passage 3 formed on one side of the rectangle is formed.
4, pure water for electrolysis is supplied and flows toward an oxygen gas extraction passage 35 formed on the other side. As a result, the flow path cross-sectional area of the pure water in the anode chamber A becomes constant. More specifically, the cross-sectional area of the anode chamber A from the pure water supply side to the generated oxygen extraction path side is constant. Therefore, pure water is uniformly supplied at each position of the anode chamber A. As a result, the electrolysis is performed uniformly, and efficient production of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas is achieved.

As shown in FIG. 6, a rectangular outer shape is formed so as to surround the window 26b, the pure water supply path 30, the oxygen gas extraction path 28 and the hydrogen gas extraction path 29 on both sides of each annular member 26. A seal ring groove 27 is formed, and a rectangular seal ring (hereinafter, referred to as a rectangular seal ring) 31 is fitted therein.

A seal ring groove 32 is formed on both surfaces of an annular member (anode chamber annular member) 26a having an opening 26b for the anode chamber A so as to surround the hydrogen gas extraction path 29. There seal ring 33
Is fitted. A pure water flow passage 34 is formed on one surface of the anode chamber annular member 26a from the pure water supply path 30 to the window 26b. The pure water flow passage 34 is formed by a plurality of grooves so as to extend over the entire length of the pure water supply path 30. Further, the annular member 26a for the anode chamber A
A groove-shaped oxygen gas take-out passage 35 is formed on one side from the oxygen gas take-out passage 28 to the window 26b.

On the other hand, a seal ring groove 36 is formed on both sides of an annular member (cathode chamber annular member) 26c having an opening 26b for the cathode chamber C so as to surround the oxygen gas extraction path 28. There seal ring 37
Is fitted. A seal ring groove 38 is also formed at a position surrounding the pure water supply path 30 on both sides, and a seal ring 39 is fitted therein. One side of the annular member 26c for the cathode chamber C is provided with a hydrogen gas extraction path 29.
A groove-shaped hydrogen gas take-out passage 40 is formed from the opening to the window 26b.

With the above arrangement, the anode chamber A is well sealed to the outside, the pure water supply path 30 is well sealed to the outside and the cathode chamber C, and the oxygen gas extraction path 28 is the outside and cathode chamber. Well sealed against C,
The hydrogen extraction path 29 is well sealed to the outside and the anode chamber A.

As described above, the rectangular seal ring 3
1 is configured to pass outside of all the fluid paths 28, 29, 30, but the fluid paths 28, 29, 30 in which the fluid paths 34, 35, 40 are not formed are provided. You may comprise so that it may pass inside.

In FIG. 7, the above-mentioned seal rings 31, 33, 37, 39 are indicated by two-dot chain lines for easy understanding. As shown in FIG. 7, the rectangular seal rings 31 (reference numerals 31a, 3a, 3b)
1b) are different in size. This is because it is not preferable for the solid electrolyte membrane 23 to sandwich the solid electrolyte membrane 23 between the rectangular seal rings 31a and 31b. The reason why the sizes of the seal ring grooves (including the corresponding seal rings) formed on both surfaces of the annular member 26 are different from each other is that the annular member 26 is not unnecessarily thick.

As the solid electrolyte membrane 3, a solid polymer electrolyte membrane in which a solid polymer electrolyte is formed in a film shape and a porous layer made of a platinum group metal is chemically formed on both surfaces by electroless plating is used. Is preferred. As the solid polymer electrolyte, a cation exchange membrane (a fluororesin sulfonic acid cation exchange membrane, for example, “Nafion 117” manufactured by DuPont) is preferable.

The electrolytic cell may be placed horizontally or vertically. The electrode plate of the present invention can be applied not only to a high-pressure hydrogen oxygen generator in which an electrolytic cell is disposed inside an electrolytic tank, but also to a low-pressure hydrogen oxygen generator that does not use an electrolytic tank.

[0048]

According to the present invention, since the seal ring is provided in the groove, the positioning of the seal ring is easy,
Even when the components are pressed together when assembling the electrolytic cell, the seal ring is not overtightened, and a proper sealing force can be obtained. In addition, since a flat gasket is not used unlike the related art, there is no fear of problems such as protrusion due to thermal expansion during operation. Further, a conventional PFA protective sheet for preventing the solid electrolyte membrane from directly contacting the gasket can be omitted. Further, the high-precision processing required for the conventional thick metal electrode plate is not required, and the processing cost is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of an embodiment of an electrolytic cell according to the present invention before assembly.

2 shows a main part of the pre-assembly electrolytic cell of FIG. 1, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an electrode plate, a porous feeder, and one annular member in the electrolytic cell of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an electrode plate, a porous feeder, and another annular member in the electrolytic cell of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a main part of another embodiment of the electrolytic cell of the present invention before assembly.

7 shows a main part of the pre-assembled electrolytic cell of FIG. 6, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing an example of a conventional electrolytic cell before assembly.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional intermediate bipolar electrode plate.

10 (a) is a sectional view showing a main part of the electrode plate of FIG. 9, and FIG. 10 (b) is a view taken along line XX of FIG. 10 (a).

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electrolysis cell 2 ... Solid electrolyte membrane unit 3 ... Solid electrolyte membrane 4 ... Electrode plate 4a ... Circular convex part 5 ... Porous feeder 5a ... Reinforcement ring 6, 6a , 6c ... annular member 7a, 7b ... seal ring 8 ... oxygen gas take-out path 9 ... hydrogen gas take-out path 10 ... pure water supply path 11 ... drain water discharge path 12 ...・ Groove 13 ・ ・ ・ Oxygen gas take-out passage 14 ・ ・ ・ Hydrogen gas take-out passage 15 ・ ・ ・ Pure water flow passage 16 ・ ・ ・ Drain water discharge passage 17 ・ ・ ・ Cut cutout 18a, 18b ・ ・ ・ Seal ring groove DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 ... Electrolysis cell 23 ... Solid electrolyte membrane 24 ... Electrode plate 25 ... Porous feeder 26,26a, 26c ... Circular member 26b ... Window 27 ... Seal ring groove 28 ... ..Oxygen gas extraction path 2 9 ... Hydrogen gas extraction path 30 ... Pure water supply path 31 ... Rectangular seal ring 32 ... Seal ring groove 33 ... Seal ring 34 ... Pure water circulation path 35 ... Oxygen gas Take-out passage 36 ・ ・ ・ Seal ring groove 37 ・ ・ ・ Seal ring 38 ・ ・ ・ Seal ring groove 39 ・ ・ ・ Seal ring 40 ・ ・ ・ Hydrogen gas take-out passage A ・ ・ ・ Anode chamber C ・ ・ ・ Cathode chamber S ・··· Step b: Groove width h: Groove depth w: Seal ring groove width k: Seal ring groove depth d: Cross-sectional diameter of seal ring

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Akiko Miyake 1-18-716, Shimizudai, Suma-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo (72) Inventor Yutaka Ishii 1-13-8-283 Minami-Ochiai, Suma-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo 72) Inventor Tsutomu TAI 658F, Nishioka, Uozumi-cho, Akashi-shi, Hyogo 4F021 AA01 BA02 CA02 CA04 CA08 DB04 DB12 DB15 DB31 DB49 DB50 DB53 DC01 DC03

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A solid electrolyte membrane, electrode plates disposed on both sides of the solid electrolyte membrane, a porous power supply disposed between the electrode plate and the solid electrolyte membrane, An annular member disposed on the outer peripheral side of the power feeder, and a seal ring for isolating the inner diameter side of the annular member from the outside, the seal ring being formed on a side surface of the annular member. An electrolytic cell of a hydrogen oxygen generator arranged in a groove. 2. A plurality of fluid paths are perforated in portions of the solid electrolyte membrane, the electrode plate, and the annular member that are outside the outer periphery of the porous feeder, and the fluid path in the annular member has an inner diameter. The electrolytic cell of the hydrogen oxygen generator according to claim 1, wherein a fluid passage communicating with the side is formed. 3. A fluid passage communicating from one of the plurality of fluid passages to the inner diameter side of the plurality of fluid passages is formed on one surface of the annular member. A fluid that is disposed on both sides of the member so as to pass outside the fluid path in which the fluid path is formed and pass inward of the fluid path in which the fluid path is not formed. 3. The electrolytic cell of the hydrogen-oxygen generator according to claim 2, wherein a seal ring is also provided around the use path. 4. A fluid passage communicating from one of the plurality of fluid passages to the inner diameter side of the plurality of fluid passages is formed on one surface of the annular member. 3. The hydrogen oxygen generator according to claim 2, wherein a seal ring is provided so as to pass outside the fluid path on both surfaces of the member, and further around the fluid path where no fluid path is formed. Electrolytic cell. 5. A reinforcing ring is fixed around the porous power supply body, and at least a portion of the surface of the reinforcing ring that contacts the solid electrolyte membrane is coated with an acid-resistant resin. The electrolytic cell of the hydrogen oxygen generator according to any one of Items 4 to 4. 6. The electrolytic cell for a hydrogen oxygen generator according to claim 1, wherein the porous power supply body has a rectangular shape.