JP2006111924A - High pressure hydrogen production device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a high pressure hydrogen production device where, even if the thickness of a solid polymer electrolytic membrane is reduced by hydrogen pressure, a gap is not formed between the solid polymer electrolytic membrane and a cathode power feeder. <P>SOLUTION: The high pressure hydrogen production device is equipped with: power feeders 3, 4 provided on both the sides of a solid polymer electrolytic membrane 2; separators 5, 6 stacked on the respective power feeders 3, 4; and liquid passages 7, 8. Water is fed to the liquid passage 8, further, the respective power feeders 3, 4 are energized to electrolyze the water, thus high pressure hydrogen gas is obtained in the fluid passage 7. The cathode power feeder 3 made of an elastic material tightly stuck in accordance with the deformation of the solid polymer electrolytic membrane 2 caused by the hydrogen gas pressure and the anode powder feeder 4 whose shape can be retained against the hydrogen gas pressure are provided. The cathode power feeder 3 is deformed by compressive stress, and is tightly stuck to the solid polymer electrolytic membrane 2 caused by the release of the compressive stress. The cathode powder feeder 3 is composed of expand metal made of titanium, a titanium fiber sintered compact or a stacked body of them and a titanium powder sintered compact, and the anode power feeder 4 is composed of a titanium powder sintered compact. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a high-pressure hydrogen production apparatus.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the polymer electrolyte membrane 2 is laminated on a cathode power supply body 22, an anode power supply body 23, and power supply bodies 22 and 23 provided opposite to each other on both sides thereof. There is known a high-pressure hydrogen production apparatus 21 that includes the separators 5 and 6 and each of the power feeding bodies 22 and 23 is made of a porous member. As the porous member, for example, a member obtained by sintering conductive particles such as titanium powder is used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the high-pressure hydrogen production apparatus 21, for example, the fluid passages 7 and 8 in which the power feeding bodies 22 and 23 are exposed are provided in the separators 5 and 6, and the power feeding bodies 22 and 23 are energized through the separators 5 and 6, respectively. It has become so. Therefore, in the high-pressure hydrogen production device 21, water is supplied to the fluid passage 8 of the anode-side separator 6, and when the cathode power supply 22 and the anode power supply 23 are energized via the separators 5, 6, the fluid is supplied to the fluid passage 8. The water is electrolyzed by the anode power supply 23, and hydrogen ions and oxygen gas are generated.

  At this time, since the anode power supply 23 is made of the porous member, the water supplied to the fluid passage 8 is electrolyzed in the anode power supply 23 as described above, and the generated hydrogen ions are contained in the anode power supply 23. And the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2 is contacted. Further, the hydrogen ions permeate the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2 and move to the cathode power supply 22 side, receive electrons from the cathode power supply 22 and become hydrogen gas.

  In the high-pressure hydrogen production apparatus 21, the cathode power supply 22 is also made of the porous member, so that the hydrogen gas passes through the cathode power supply 22 and reaches the fluid passage 7 of the cathode separator 5. As a result, in the high-pressure hydrogen production device 21, high-pressure hydrogen can be obtained in the fluid passage 7 of the cathode-side separator 5. On the other hand, oxygen generated in the fluid passage 8 of the anode-side separator 6 is discharged from a drain port 15 provided in the fluid passage 8 together with the water.

However, in the high-pressure hydrogen production apparatus 21, when oxygen is discharged as described above, the pressure balance is lost on both sides of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2, and the solid pressure is increased by the pressure of hydrogen generated in the fluid passage 7 of the cathode-side separator 5. There is an inconvenience that the molecular electrolyte membrane 2 and the anode feeder 23 are compressed in the direction of the separator 6 to reduce the thickness. When the thickness of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2 is reduced, a gap 24 is formed between the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2 and the cathode power supply 22 as shown in FIG. The performance of the high-pressure hydrogen production apparatus 21 is degraded.
Special table 2003-515237 gazette

  The present invention eliminates such inconvenience, and even when the thickness of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is reduced by the pressure of hydrogen generated on the cathode side, a gap is formed between the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and the cathode power feeder. It aims at providing the high pressure hydrogen production apparatus which does not arise.

  In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, a cathode power supply provided opposite to both sides of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode power supply, and a laminate on each power supply Each of the separators and a fluid passage provided in each separator and exposing each power supply body. Water is supplied to the fluid passage of the anode separator and energized to each power supply body, whereby the fluid passage of the anode separator is provided. In a high-pressure hydrogen production apparatus that electrolyzes the supplied water to obtain high-pressure hydrogen gas in the fluid passage of the cathode side separator, the solid polymer electrolyte membrane follows the deformation when deformed by the pressure of the hydrogen gas. A cathode feeder made of an elastic material that is in close contact with the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and an anode feeder that can maintain the shape against the pressure of the hydrogen gas. The features.

  In the high-pressure hydrogen production apparatus of the present invention, when the pressure of the hydrogen gas generated in the fluid passage of the cathode separator acts on the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and the anode feeder, the anode feeder is the hydrogen gas. The shape can be maintained against this pressure. As a result, the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is not deformed on the anode power supply side, and is compressed only on the cathode power supply side to be thin. At this time, since the cathode power supply body is made of the elastic material, when the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is deformed and becomes thin, the cathode power supply body can follow the deformation and can be deformed itself. The state of being in close contact with the polymer electrolyte membrane can be maintained.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, there is no gap between the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and the cathode power feeder, and the performance deterioration due to the increase in the contact resistance between the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and the cathode power feeder is prevented. be able to.

  The cathode power supply body is deformed by compressive stress, and when the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is deformed by the pressure of the hydrogen gas, the compressive stress is released, so that the solid high electrolyte follows the deformation. It is preferably made of an elastic material that is in close contact with the molecular electrolyte membrane. Examples of such elastic materials include titanium expanded metal, titanium fiber sintered bodies, and laminates of these and titanium powder sintered bodies.

  Examples of the material that can be used for the anode power supply and can maintain the shape against the pressure of hydrogen gas include a titanium powder sintered body.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the high-pressure hydrogen production apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the configuration of the anode feeder used in the high-pressure hydrogen production apparatus of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the high-pressure hydrogen production apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2, a cathode power supply 3, an anode power supply 4 provided opposite to each other, and each power supply. 3 and 4, and separators 5 and 6, and fluid passages 7 and 8 that are provided in the separators 5 and 6 and that expose the power feeding bodies 3 and 4.

  The solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2, the power feeders 3, 4, and the separators 5, 6 are sandwiched between end plates 10, 10 via insulating members 9, 9 stacked on the separators 5, 6. The bolts 11 and the nuts 12 attached to the pins 10 and 10 are pressed to be brought into close contact with each other. The cathode side separator 5 includes a hydrogen outlet 13 that communicates with the fluid passage 7, and the anode side separator 6 includes a water supply port 14 and a drain port 15 that communicate with the fluid passage 8. The power feeders 3 and 4 are energized through the separators 5 and 6, respectively.

In the high-pressure hydrogen production apparatus 1, the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2 is a cation permeable membrane, and for example, Nafion (registered trademark, manufactured by DuPont), Aciplex (trade name, manufactured by Asahi Kasei Co., Ltd.) or the like can be used. The solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2 includes a catalyst layer (not shown) containing, for example, a platinum catalyst on the anode side, and a catalyst layer (not shown) containing, for example, a RuIrFeO _X catalyst on the cathode side.

  The cathode power supply 3 is formed by laminating a plurality of titanium expanded metals and integrating the ends by spot welding. The expanded metal is, for example, a wire mesh mesh formed by stretching and incising a titanium thin plate, and since the intersection of the mesh is raised, it is elastic to expand and contract in the stacking direction by stacking multiple layers. A member can be formed. The expanded metal is rolled so that when the cathode power supply 3 is formed, one of the uppermost layer is in close contact with the separator 5 and one of the lowermost layer is in close contact with the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2. Preferably, the ridge is flattened.

  The expanded metal may be a standard type in which the mesh opening is a rhombus, or may be a grating type in which the opening is a hexagon. Therefore, the size of the openings is preferably in the range of 0.5 mm × 1 mm to 5 mm × 10 mm.

  In the cathode power supply 3, the expanded metal stacked in a plurality of layers as described above is compressed by the compressive stress normally received from the separators 5 and 6.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the anode power feeder 4 includes a porous titanium sintered body 16 and a titanium plate 17 surrounding the porous titanium sintered body 16. The porous titanium sintered body 16 can be obtained, for example, by filling a sintered container having a predetermined shape with a spherical gas atomized titanium powder produced by a gas atomizing method for solidifying molten splashes of titanium during scattering and vacuum sintering. Can be used. The titanium plate 17 is substantially non-porous. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the anode power supply 4 is formed by press-fitting a porous titanium sintered body 16 formed in a disk shape into an inner peripheral portion of a titanium plate 17 formed in a donut shape. Can do.

  The cathode-side separator 5 includes, for example, a fluid passage 7 that exposes the cathode power supply 3 when laminated on the cathode power supply 3 on a non-porous titanium material, and a hydrogen outlet 13 that communicates with the fluid passage 7. What was formed can be used. The anode separator 6 includes, for example, a non-porous titanium material or the like, a fluid passage 8 that exposes the anode feeder 4 when laminated on the anode feeder 4, and a water supply port 14 that communicates with the fluid passage 8. What formed the drain port 15 can be used.

  In the high-pressure hydrogen production apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration, when water is supplied from the water supply port 14 to the fluid passage 8 and the cathode power supply 3 and the anode power supply 4 are energized through the separators 5 and 6, the water is electrolyzed. As a result, hydrogen ions, electrons, and oxygen gas are generated in the fluid passage 8. Next, the hydrogen ions permeate through the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2, which is a cation permeable membrane, with some water molecules due to the potential difference between the cathode feeder 3 and the anode feeder 4, and the cathode feeder 3. Move to the side. Then, the hydrogen ions receive electrons from the cathode power supply 3 and are molecularized, whereby high-pressure hydrogen gas is obtained in the fluid passage 7.

  On the other hand, the oxygen gas generated in the fluid passage 8 is discharged from the drain port 15 together with most of the water. However, in this way, the balance of pressure is lost between the cathode side and the anode side. As a result, the high-pressure hydrogen gas obtained in the fluid passage 7 of the cathode separator 5 presses the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2 and the porous titanium sintered body 16 of the anode power feeder 4 in the direction of the anode separator 6. Will be.

  At this time, in the high-pressure hydrogen production apparatus 1, the anode separator 6 is made of a non-porous titanium material or the like as described above, and has a sufficient thickness because the fluid passage 8 is formed. Rigidity capable of maintaining the shape without being deformed against the pressure. In addition, since the porous titanium sintered body 16 integrally formed with the titanium plate 17 is supported by the separator 6 together with the titanium plate 17, the anode power supply body 4 is deformed against the pressure of the hydrogen gas. The shape can be maintained.

  On the other hand, the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2 is deformed in the thickness direction by the pressure of the hydrogen gas, and its thickness becomes thinner than usual, so that the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2 and the cathode power supply 3 There is a concern that a gap may be formed between them and the contact resistance between the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2 and the cathode power supply 3 may increase. However, the cathode power supply 3 is an elastic member in which a plurality of titanium expanded metals are laminated as described above, and is usually compressed by receiving compressive stress from the separators 5 and 6. Therefore, when the thickness of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2 becomes thinner than usual, the compressive stress is released and the cathode power supply 3 tries to recover its original shape.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 1B, the cathode power supply 3 expands in the direction of the solid polymer 2 following the deformation of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2, and is in close contact with the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2. And a gap can be prevented from occurring between the polymer electrolyte membrane 2 and the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2.

  In the present embodiment, the cathode power supply 3 is formed by laminating a plurality of titanium expanded metals, but instead of this, a plurality of titanium fiber sintered bodies are laminated, or these are sintered with titanium powder. A laminated body with a bonded body may be used.

  Further, in this embodiment, when the anode power supply 4 is an elastic member similar to the cathode power supply 3, when the pressure of the hydrogen gas acts, the cathode power supply 3 expands as described above, while the anode power supply 4 expands as described above. The power feeder 4 is compressed. As a result, a step is formed between the portion of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane 2 sandwiched between the cathode feeder 3 and the anode feeder 4 and the portion sandwiched between the separators 5 and 6, and the solid polymer electrolyte There is a possibility that the membrane 2 is broken. Therefore, the anode power supply 4 needs to be able to maintain its shape without being deformed against the pressure of the hydrogen gas.

Explanatory sectional drawing which shows the example of 1 structure of the high pressure hydrogen production apparatus of this invention. The top view which shows the structure of the anode electric power feeding body used for the high pressure hydrogen production apparatus of FIG. Explanatory sectional drawing which shows the example of 1 structure of the conventional high pressure hydrogen production apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... High pressure hydrogen production apparatus, 2 ... Solid polymer electrolyte membrane, 3 ... Cathode feeder, 4 ... Anode feeder, 5 ... Cathode side separator, 6 ... Anode side separator, 7, 8 ... Fluid passage.

Claims (3)

Solid polymer electrolyte membrane, cathode power supply provided opposite to both sides of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, anode power supply, separator laminated on each power supply, and each power supply provided on each separator A fluid passage exposing the body, and supplying water to the fluid passage of the anode side separator and energizing each power feeding body to electrolyze the water supplied to the fluid passage of the anode side separator, In the high-pressure hydrogen production apparatus for obtaining high-pressure hydrogen gas in the fluid passage of
When the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is deformed by the pressure of the hydrogen gas, a cathode feeder made of an elastic material that follows the deformation and adheres to the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and against the pressure of the hydrogen gas A high-pressure hydrogen production apparatus comprising an anode power supply body capable of maintaining a shape.   The cathode power supply body is deformed by compressive stress, and when the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is deformed by the pressure of the hydrogen gas, the compressive stress is released, so that the solid high electrolyte follows the deformation. 2. The high-pressure hydrogen production apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the high-pressure hydrogen production apparatus is made of an elastic material that is in close contact with the molecular electrolyte membrane.   3. The cathode power supply body is made of a titanium expanded metal, a titanium fiber sintered body or a laminate of these and a titanium powder sintered body, and the anode power supply body is made of a titanium powder sintered body. The high-pressure hydrogen production apparatus described.

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