JP2003328169A - Gaseous hydrogen producing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gaseous hydrogen producing apparatus for supplying and utilizing gaseous hydrogen. <P>SOLUTION: The gaseous hydrogen producing apparatus is provided with an electrolytic cell 1 in which an electrode plate 2 is housed, a battery 3 for supplying power to the electrode plate 2 and a water supply apparatus 4 for supplying water W to the electrolytic cell 1. The electrolytic cell 1 is composed of a negative potential case 11 having a rectangular cross-section and a positive potential case 12 attached to the negative potential case 11 through an insulation packing 13. The electrode plate 2 is composed of a negative side electrode plate 21 formed rectangular along the shape of the negative potential case 11 and a positive side electrode plate 22 and is constituted of a plurality of unit electrode sets 23 formed by arranging a plurality of the negative side electrode plates 21 across one piece of the positive side electrode plate 22 in the outside and the inside of the positive side electrode plate 2. Each of the negative side electrode plates 21 and the positive side electrode plate 22 is formed rectangular by facing 2 L-shaped electrode plates to each other and the interval S between the electrode plates is controlled to 2.5-3.5 mm. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hydrogen gas generator and a hydrogen gas generator constituting an energy supply / storage system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, although there are many documents concerning hydrogen gas generators that obtain hydrogen gas by electrolyzing water, the hydrogen gas has already been commercialized and facilities and equipment have been prepared. Compared to city gas, LP gas, natural gas, etc., whose distribution channels are established, the usage has not been developed and has not been put into practical use at present.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned hydrogen gas is drawing attention as a clean energy source that does not have an adverse effect on the environment, and it is required to provide the technology and means for enabling the supply and use of the hydrogen gas. It became so.

In view of the above, the present invention has an object to provide a hydrogen gas generator capable of supplying and utilizing hydrogen gas, in which electrical energy for generating hydrogen gas is supplied. An object of the present invention is to provide a hydrogen gas generator that is inexpensive, can be applied to various uses such as nursery beds for houses and agriculture, and can be used as an energy supply / storage system in the event of a disaster.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following technical means. That is, an electrolytic cell 1 containing an electrode plate 2, a storage battery 3 supplying electric power to the electrode plate 2 contained in the electrolytic cell 1, and a water supply device supplying water W electrolyzed to the electrolytic cell 1. 4 is a hydrogen gas generator comprising: a negative potential case 11 having a rectangular cross section and a positive potential case 11 attached to the negative potential case 11 via an insulating packing 13. The electrode plate 2 made up of the potential lid 12 and housed in the electrolytic cell 1 is made up of a minus side electrode plate 21 attached to the minus potential case 11 and a plus side electrode plate 22 attached to the plus potential cover 12, Each of the negative side electrode plate 21 and the positive side electrode plate 22 that form the plate 2 is formed in a rectangular tube shape that follows the shape of the negative potential case 11 that forms the electrolytic cell 1, and one plus plate is formed. It is composed of a plurality of unit electrode sets 23 in which a plurality of negative side electrode plates 21 are arranged inside and outside the electrode plate 22, respectively. Each of the side electrode plates 22 is formed in a rectangular tube shape by facing two L-shaped electrode plates 29, and the gap S between the electrode plates is 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm.
The hydrogen gas generator is characterized in that the hydrogen gas generator has a size of mm.

Further, the storage battery 3 is a DC 12V battery, and each of the minus side electrode plate 21 and the plus side electrode plate 22 constituting the above electrode plate 2 is made into one plus side electrode plate 22. It is characterized in that it is composed of a plurality of unit electrode sets 23 in which four negative electrode plates 21 are arranged on each of the left and right sides.

Furthermore, the surface 26 of each of the minus side electrode plate 21 and the plus side electrode plate 22 constituting the electrode plate 2 is characterized in that irregularities are formed.

Further, the hydrogen gas produced by the hydrogen gas generator is burned by a burner 61 connected through a backfire prevention means 54, and a plurality of gas craters forming the burner 61 are provided. 6
It is characterized in that the nozzle portion 63 provided with No. 5 is formed of a palladium-based metal catalyst.

The present invention comprises the above technical means, can efficiently generate hydrogen gas in the hydrogen gas generator, and uses the electric power stored in the storage battery as the electric power when the hydrogen gas is generated. Therefore, it can be used in various places and applications.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the hydrogen gas generator of the present invention includes an electrolytic cell 1 containing an electrode plate 2, a storage battery 3 for supplying electric power to the electrode plate 2 contained in the electrolytic cell 1, and an electrolytic cell. A water supply device 4 for supplying water W to be electrolyzed to the tank 1, and supply of electric power to the electrode plate 2 housed in the electrolytic tank 1 is performed by a conductive wire connected to the storage battery 3. 31 (minus side), 32 (plus side), the water W is supplied to the electrolytic cell 1
Hydrogen gas (including oxygen gas) generated by the water supply pipe 43 connected to the water supply device 4 and generated in the electrolysis tank 1 passes through the hydrogen gas supply pipe 5 to the hydrogen gas using instrument 6. What is supplied.

The amount of hydrogen gas produced by the electrolytic cell 1 is adjusted by adjusting the electric power supplied from the storage battery 3, and the electric power supplied from the storage battery 3 is controlled by the control panel 33 and the control panel. Three
3 is configured so that it can be controlled by a remote controller 34 connected to the device 3.

Further, in the hydrogen gas supply pipe 5, an adjusting valve 51 for adjusting the supply amount of hydrogen gas, a pressure adjusting means 52, a filter 53, and a backfire preventing means 54.
Is arranged, and the adjustment of the thermal power in the hydrogen gas using instrument 6 is performed by making the adjusting valve 51 and the pressure adjusting means 52 cooperate with each other. Furthermore, the state of the pressure adjusting means 52 is controlled by the control panel 33. It is possible to adjust the heating power of the hydrogen gas appliance 6 more accurately by taking into consideration the control by.

Further, the wind power generator 7 is combined with the above hydrogen gas generator, and the storage battery 3 constituting the hydrogen gas generator is charged with the electric power obtained by the wind power generator 7, whereby the wind direction and the wind power are increased. Of wind power generation device 7 whose amount of power generation depends on fluctuations in temperature (irregularity, intermittentness)
Can be supplemented with a hydrogen gas generator, and at the same time, the power to generate hydrogen gas can be procured without relying on a household power source, etc., and an energy supply that can be used by converting wind power into heat energy / It is possible to configure a storage system.

By combining the hydrogen gas generator with the fuel cell 8, it becomes possible to obtain electric power by utilizing the hydrogen gas generated in the hydrogen gas generator, and moreover, the hydrogen gas generator. Battery 3 that composes
It is also possible to configure an energy supply / storage system that can use the hydrogen gas generated by the hydrogen gas generator without waste by charging the battery with the electric power obtained by the fuel cell 8.

It is also possible to combine both the wind power generator 7 and the fuel cell 8 with a hydrogen gas generator, which constitutes an energy supply / storage system capable of more efficient operation.

As the fuel cell 8, a fuel cell using fullerene (carbon polymer), a fuel cell using carbon nanotubes, and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) are considered. .

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the above hydrogen gas generator includes an electrolytic cell 1 containing an electrode plate 2, and a storage battery 3 for supplying electric power to the electrode plate 2 contained in the electrolytic cell 1.
It is possible to integrally dispose the control panel 33 (including the control panel 33) and the water supply device 4 for supplying the water W to be electrolyzed to the electrolytic cell 1, and thus to integrally integrate the hydrogen gas generator. With such a configuration, the hydrogen gas generator can be used in various places and purposes.

As the storage battery 3, a 12V DC battery, which is generally widely used, is considered, and a hydrogen gas generator can be provided at low cost.
Since the C12V battery has a low voltage, there is no risk of electric shock even if the electrolytic cell 1 or the like is accidentally touched. In addition, since it is small, the hydrogen gas generator can be made compact. Since it can be charged from a car, a hydrogen gas generator that can be used in various places is provided, which can be applied to various purposes such as residential and agricultural nurseries, and as an energy supply / storage system in the event of a disaster. A hydrogen gas generator that can be used is provided.

Next, the details of each part constituting the hydrogen gas generator will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the electrolytic cell 1 is connected to a negative potential case 11 connected to the negative electrode of the storage battery 3 and a positive electrode of the storage battery 3 attached to the negative potential case 11 via an insulating packing 13. The positive potential lid 12 and the electrolytic cell 1 is provided around the negative potential case 11.
Is provided with a water jacket 14 for supplying cooling water C for cooling the positive potential lid 12.
Is a hydrogen gas discharge port 1 for sending hydrogen gas (including oxygen gas) generated in the electrolytic cell 1 to the hydrogen gas supply pipe 5.
5 are provided.

The electrode plate 2 housed in the electrolytic cell 1 comprises a negative side electrode plate 21 attached to the negative potential case 11 and a positive side electrode plate 22 attached to the positive potential lid 12, and the electrode plate 2 As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the negative side electrode plate 21 and the positive side electrode plate 22 forming the negative electrode 2 has a square cross section, and the negative potential case 11 constitutes the electrolytic cell 1 described above. Is formed into a rectangular tube shape along the shape of the above, and is configured so that a large area of the electrode plate 2 can be obtained.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, each of the minus side electrode plate 21 and the plus side electrode plate 22 constituting the above electrode plate 2 has one plus side electrode plate 22 inside and outside thereof. Is composed of a plurality of unit electrode sets 23 each having a plurality of negative side electrode plates 21 disposed therein. The negative side electrode plate 21 has its upper end held by an electrode plate holding member 24, and The lower end of the positive electrode plate 22 is held by the electrode plate holding plate 25.
Are held in place by a conductive plate 27 provided on the positive potential lid 12.

Further, in this embodiment, two positive electrode plates 22 are provided inside, and two unit electrode sets 23 each having four negative electrode plates 21 on the left and right sides thereof are provided. This is used as the storage battery 3, which is DC1.
It corresponds to the case of using a 2V battery,
An electrolytic voltage of 2.1 to 2.2 V, which is required when electrolyzing water in consideration of electrolytic solution resistance, is obtained at each negative electrode plate 21 (2.2 × 4 + electrolysis). It is determined in consideration of securing a current value at which the electrolysis is efficiently performed with the liquid resistance <12 V). Further, the auxiliary electrode group 28 constituted by the four negative electrode plates 21 is It is arranged.

The distance S between the negative side electrode plate 21 and the positive side electrode plate 22 forming the electrode plate 2 is:
It is preferably 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm (when the gap between the electrodes is smaller than 2.5 mm, the bubbles generated and grown on the surface of the electrode adhere to both surfaces of the adjacent electrode plates,
The gap between the electrodes is insulated by the layer of hydrogen gas or oxygen gas, and the efficiency of electrolysis is reduced. If the gap is larger than 3.5 mm, the voltage and current between the plates are The efficiency of electrolysis decreases due to the decrease), and further between the unit electrode sets 23 and between the unit electrode sets 2
3 and the auxiliary electrode set 28 are set to be larger than the above-mentioned gap S between the electrodes, and although not shown, between the unit electrode sets 23 and between the unit electrode sets 23 and the auxiliary electrode set 28. It is also conceivable to provide a separator that separates it from 28.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, each of the minus side electrode plate 21 and the plus side electrode plate 22 constituting the electrode plate 2 is formed by facing two L-shaped electrode plates 29. The negative electrode plate 21 and the positive electrode plate 21 which are included in the electrode plate 2 are formed at the same time as the manufacturing cost of the electrode plate 2 is reduced by adopting such a configuration. 22 negative potential case 11
And can be attached to the positive potential lid 12 easily and with high precision, and in addition, the surface 2 of each of the negative side electrode plate 21 and the positive side electrode plate 22 constituting the electrode plate 2
By forming irregularities on 6 (not shown), the electrolysis of water W can be performed more efficiently.

An example of the hydrogen gas using instrument 6 to which the hydrogen gas generated by the hydrogen gas generator is sent is the burner 61 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and the burner 61 is A burner body 62 having a hydrogen gas introduction pipe 64 connected to the hydrogen gas supply pipe 5, and a nozzle portion 63 having a plurality of gas craters 65 attached to the burner body 62 are formed. Nozzle part 63 and burner body 6 in which
2, the hydrogen gas introduction passage 67 of the hydrogen gas introduction pipe 64 and the gas crater 6 formed in the nozzle portion 63
A hydrogen gas passage 66 (FIG. 10) is formed so as to connect with the fuel cell 5.

Further, since the nozzle portion 63 is formed of a palladium-based metal catalyst, the combustion of hydrogen gas is efficiently performed, and the generation of NOx and the like can be suppressed to a very low level, so that it is clean. Combustion can be achieved, and further, as described above, the hydrogen supply pipe 5
Since the backfire prevention means 54 is provided in the above, hydrogen gas can be safely used.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the mixed gas of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas is supplied to the instrument 6 using hydrogen gas, the combustion of hydrogen gas becomes oxygen-enriched combustion, resulting in a high flame. The temperature can be obtained, the efficiency of the hydrogen gas using instrument 6 can be improved, energy can be saved, and the temperature can be adjusted to 400 to 2800 ° C. by providing a flame temperature controller or the like.

In the present embodiment, the case where a mixed gas of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas is supplied to the hydrogen gas using instrument 6 has been described, but it is also considered to supply hydrogen gas and oxygen gas separately. Therefore, it is preferable to properly use the hydrogen gas generator according to the intended use. Further, although not shown, by appropriately disposing a storage means for hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, the hydrogen gas generator can be operated more efficiently.

Further, as the hydrogen gas using instrument 6,
In addition to the burner 61 described above, it is possible to use other gas equipment that can use hydrogen gas, for example, a heater (such as one that allows gas to pass through the inside of high-temperature heat-resistant glass).

Further, by remotely operating the above hydrogen gas generator using the remote controller 34, for example, the operation or stop of the hot water floor heating and gas appliances of the home or the villa can be performed from the outside or at the home or from the home. As described above, since the operation can be performed without being on the spot, the efficiency and the use efficiency can be improved.

Further, in order to more efficiently electrolyze the water W carried out in the electrolyzer 1, that is, in order to save energy in the hydrogen gas generator, the water W to be electrolyzed is preferably electrolyzed. It is preferable to use soft water or caustic soda water having a concentration of 5% to obtain an efficiency, and in particular, the soft water is a disturbance factor at the time of electrolysis contained in water due to granular activated carbon, fibrous activated carbon, barley stone, granular ceramic, etc. It removes chlorine and minerals, which are expected to have the effect of rapidly increasing electrolysis efficiency.

A water purifying / reforming device 9 is considered as a means for producing the soft water.
The water purification / reforming device 9 is arranged between a water supply source such as a water supply or a well and the water supply device 4 constituting the hydrogen gas generator, and is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. As
The water purification device 91 and the water reforming device 92 are combined into a single housing 9
3, the water purifying device 91 and the water reforming device 92 are connected by a connecting pipe 94, and the water purifying device 91 is located upstream of the water purifying device 92.
Are arranged so as to be located on the downstream side thereof, and the water purification device 91 has an inlet end 96 and the water reforming device 92 has an outlet end 97.
Are connected to each other, and the above-mentioned inlet end 9
6, the outlet end 97, the connecting pipe 94, the housing 93
The internal flow path is configured.

The flow path in the housing 93 has a bypass 95 between the inlet end 96 and the outlet end 97 thereof.
The pipes are provided, and the connection pipe 94 and the bypass pipe 95 of the flow passage in the housing 93 are provided with flow passage switching means 98a and 98b for switching the flow passages. The flow path switching means 98a, 98b are composed of valves, and can easily switch the flow path of the water W supplied from a water supply, a well, etc., and although not shown in the drawing, a housing Piping of the connecting pipe 94 and the bypass pipe 95 is performed so that the flow path switching means 98a, 98b can be operated on the front surface of 93.

According to the water purification / reformer 9, the water can be purified and reformed at the same time, and soft water suitable for energy saving of the hydrogen gas generator can be provided at low cost. You can

When using the caustic soda water having a concentration of 5% as described above, water is added to the water container 10 provided in the water supply device 4.
It contains caustic soda water having a concentration of%, and supplies it to the electrolytic cell 1.

The water supply device 4 for supplying the above-mentioned soft water or caustic soda water having a concentration of 5% to the electrolytic cell 1 is the water W (soft water or 5% water) supplied from the water purification / reforming device 9 or the water container 10. Concentrated caustic soda water) and a water level adjusting device 41 for adjusting the amount of water W supplied to the electrolysis tank 1. The water level adjusting device 41 adjusts the water level of the electrolysis tank 1 in the water level adjusting device 41. This is performed by using the head pressure of the stored water W, and the reliability of the water level adjusting device 41 is improved by adopting a simple structure using the head pressure, and further, the water level adjusting device described above. A water level gauge 42 is provided at 41 so that the water level in the electrolytic cell 1 can be easily determined.

In this embodiment, the case where the storage battery 3 is charged by the household power source, the automobile, the wind turbine generator, and the fuel cell is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various power sources (for example, It is also considered to use solar cells, etc., and various power sources can be used, so that the hydrogen gas generator can be operated flexibly and the operating cost of the hydrogen gas generator can be reduced. Can be planned.

[0038]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. That is, the hydrogen gas generator of the present invention can efficiently perform the electrolysis of water that generates hydrogen gas, and uses a storage battery as a power source for performing the electrolysis of water. Hydrogen gas can be supplied and used in places and applications, and a hydrogen gas generator that can be used not only as a nursery bed for houses and agriculture but also as an energy supply / storage system in the event of a disaster can be provided.

Further, the storage battery used as an electric power source for electrolyzing water in the hydrogen gas generator of the present invention can be charged from various electric power sources and is necessary for producing hydrogen gas. It is possible to reduce the cost of obtaining the electric power as much as possible, and to provide a hydrogen gas generator that enables the supply and use of hydrogen gas at a lower cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a hydrogen gas generator of the present invention (energy supply /
It is a block diagram which shows the hydrogen gas generator which comprises a storage system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a hydrogen gas generator.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an electrolytic cell in the hydrogen gas generator.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a cathode-side electrode plate housed in an electrolytic cell.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an electrode plate on the anode side housed in an electrolytic cell.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the configurations of a cathode side electrode plate and an anode side electrode plate.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the structures of a cathode-side electrode plate and an anode-side electrode plate.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a burner.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the burner.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX ′ in FIG. 9 showing the structure of the nozzle portion of the burner.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram showing a configuration of a water purification / reformer.

12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line YY 'in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 electrolysis tank 2 electrode plate 3 storage battery 4 Water supply device 5 Hydrogen gas supply pipe 6 Hydrogen gas appliances 7 Wind power generator 8 fuel cells 9 Water purification / reformer 10 water containers 11 Negative potential case 12 Positive potential lid 13 Insulating packing 21 Negative electrode plate 22 Positive side electrode plate 23 unit electrode set 26 Surface of electrode plate 29 L-shaped electrode plate 54 Backfire prevention means 61 burner 62 Burner body 63 Nozzle part 65 gas crater W water

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Sumiko Seki             150 Nagatorizawa, Isogo Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture             Park Heights 10 Building 413 F-term (reference) 4K021 AA01 BA02 BA17 BB01 BC01                       BC04 DC03 EA01                 5H027 AA02 BA11 DD01 DD03

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An electrolytic cell 1 accommodating an electrode plate 2, and a storage battery 3 for supplying electric power to the electrode plate 2 accommodated in the electrolytic cell 1.
And a water supply device 4 for supplying electrolyzed water W to the electrolyzer 1, wherein the electrolyzer 1 is a negative potential case having a rectangular cross section. 11 and a positive potential lid 12 attached to the negative potential case 11 via an insulating packing 13, and the electrode plate 2 housed in the electrolytic cell 1 is a negative electrode plate 21 attached to the negative potential case 11.
And the positive electrode plate 2 attached to the positive potential lid 12
2 and each of the negative side electrode plate 21 and the positive side electrode plate 22 constituting the electrode plate 2 is formed in a rectangular tubular shape along the shape of the negative potential case 11 constituting the electrolytic cell 1. It is composed of a plurality of unit electrode sets 23 in which one plus side electrode plate 22 is placed inside and a plurality of minus side electrode plates 21 are arranged inside and outside the minus side electrode plate 22, respectively. Each of the side electrode plate 21 and the plus side electrode plate 22 is formed in a rectangular tube shape by facing two L-shaped electrode plates 29, and
A hydrogen gas generator characterized in that the gap S between the electrode plates is 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm. 2. The storage battery 3 is a DC12V battery, and the negative electrode plate 2 constituting the electrode plate 2 is used.
Each of the 1 and the plus side electrode plates 22 is composed of a plurality of unit electrode sets 23 in which one minus side electrode plate 22 is arranged and four minus side electrode plates 21 are arranged on the left and right sides thereof. The hydrogen gas generator according to claim 1, which is characterized in that. 3. The surface of each of the minus side electrode plate 21 and the plus side electrode plate 22 forming the electrode plate 2 is provided with irregularities on its surface 26.
The hydrogen gas generator described. 4. The hydrogen gas generated by the hydrogen gas generator is burned by a burner 61 connected through a backfire prevention means 54, and a plurality of gas craters forming the burner 61. The hydrogen gas generator according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 3, wherein the nozzle portion 63 provided with 65 is formed of a palladium-based metal catalyst. 5. The energy supply / storage system according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, which constitutes an energy supply / storage system in which the storage battery 3 is charged by electric power obtained from a wind turbine generator 7. Hydrogen gas generator. 6. The hydrogen gas generated by the hydrogen gas generator is supplied to a fuel cell 8 that stores the hydrogen gas and uses the hydrogen gas to generate electricity, and obtains electric power from the fuel cell 8. The hydrogen according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3 and 4, which constitutes an energy supply / storage system in which the storage battery 3 is charged by the electric power obtained from the fuel cell 8. Gas generator. 7. The hydrogen gas generated by the hydrogen gas generator is supplied to a fuel cell that stores the hydrogen gas and uses the hydrogen gas to generate power, and obtains electric power from the fuel cell, and Any of claim 1, claim 2, claim 3, or claim 4 that constitutes an energy supply / storage system in which the storage battery is charged by electric power obtained from the wind turbine generator 7 and electric power obtained from the fuel cell 8. A hydrogen gas generator according to claim 1.