JP2006342394A - Multiple electrode for electrolysis, and electrolytic cell - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrode for electrolysis composed of an easily obtainable inexpensive material and easily maintainable at low cost, and to provide an electrolytic cell utilizing the electrode. <P>SOLUTION: In the multiple electrode, one electrode for electrolysis is composed of a solid electrode body and an auxiliary electrode part covering the electrode face of the electrode body and including a large quantity of dispersed voids. By forming the electrode body and the auxiliary electrode part of the same kind of material, e.g., charcoal as the main component, the auxiliary electrode part is preferentially worn. To the wear of the auxiliary electrode part, e.g., by replenishing the fine pieces of bamboo charcoal or wood charcoal, its maintenance can be easily performed at low cost. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a composite electrode for electrolysis and an electrolysis tank, and more particularly to an electrolysis tank for sterilizing running water poured into a hot spring bath.

Conventionally, chlorine is generated by electrolyzing water containing chloride ions and used for sterilization. As such an electrode for electrolysis, titanium, which is a bare metal, is plated with platinum (Patent Document 1), but it is expensive because a noble metal is used. In contrast, inexpensive carbon is also used for the electrode for electrolysis (Patent Document 2).
JP 6-33489 JP-A-6-88271 JP2003-62574

  The carbonaceous electrode of Patent Document 2 is worn out with time, and it takes time and money to replace this electrode, and it is difficult to use even in consideration of the fact that maintenance is difficult and the initial cost is low. But there was.

  The present applicant diligently studied these inconveniences and analyzed the causes as follows.

  First, regarding the time taken for maintenance, since the electrode is connected to the electric line, the connection must be released, the electrode must be replaced and reconnected, and the work itself is troublesome. . Moreover, since such an operation is difficult for an amateur, it is necessary to call a repairer, which requires more time.

  Secondly, regarding the cost of maintenance, if a repair agent is requested for repair as described above, the cost for that is generated. Even if carbon materials are inexpensive, if the entire electrode is replaced, it will cost some money.

  By arranging these problems, the present applicant, when forming an electrode with an inexpensive material that is easily available, has a main body part to be connected to a power source and an electrode surface part to be worn (different poles). The idea is that a composite electrode that can be easily separated from the other) is formed, and that the latter should be formed into a shape that tends to wear out (having a large surface area) in order to prevent wear of the former. It was.

  Various types of composite electrodes in which a single electrode is formed of two members have already been proposed, but none of the same ideas as the present invention are found. For example, the electrode of Patent Document 3 is disclosed in which a conductive body having a large number of voids is attached to the electrode surface side of the electrode plate, and minerals for elution are filled in the voids. It is not disclosed that the electrode plate can be separated, and there is no limitation that the conductive material and the electrode plate are made of the same material. For example, when a carbon-based conductive material is attached on a metal electrode plate, the current generally does not easily flow from the metal electrode plate to the conductive material because the metal is more easily eluted, and the conductive material functions as an electrode. It is hard to do. On the other hand, when a metal conductive body is attached on a carbon electrode plate, although a current flows to some extent, the resistance is large and the efficiency of electrolysis is reduced.

  In summary, the object of the present invention is to provide an electrode that can be easily and inexpensively maintained for its wear while using an inexpensive material that is readily available, and an electric device using this electrode. It is to provide a decomposition tank.

  The first means is a composite electrode for electrolysis, wherein a single electrode for electrolysis is covered with a dense electrode body 32 by covering the electrode surface A of the body, and a large amount of dispersed voids. The auxiliary electrode part 34 is included so as to be separable, and the electrode body 32 and the auxiliary electrode part 34 are formed of the same material as the main component.

  In this means, the “composite electrode” means an electrode body and an auxiliary electrode portion that are combined to function as a single electrode. The auxiliary electrode part is provided so as to be separable (preferably detachable) with respect to the electrode body, and the auxiliary electrode part is designed to be more easily worn than the electrode body in order to improve the durability of the electrode body. To that end, first, even if the same material is used, the electrode body is densely configured with respect to the auxiliary electrode part, and secondly, the auxiliary electrode part is provided so as to cover the electrode surface of the electrode body. What is necessary is to design so that an auxiliary electrode part may be worn out preferentially by the difference in distance from other electrodes.

  As described above, the “electrode body” is densely provided so as not to be worn out. Specifically, it is desirable to form an integrated solid material having a lower porosity (or no macroscopic voids) than the auxiliary electrode portion. Also, it is desirable to increase the density compared to the auxiliary electrode. For example, in the case of charcoal or bamboo charcoal, the density can be increased depending on the degree of training. In addition, it is good to provide a connection part with a power supply in a part of electrode main body.

  The “auxiliary electrode portion” is provided so that the gaps are dispersed throughout and the contact area with water is increased. The specific structure may be any structure as long as the surface area can be increased, and may be a conventionally known mesh electrode (or a layered structure of this mesh electrode), a lump or a granular material. In particular, when bamboo charcoal is used as a raw material, it can be made into an aggregate of granular materials for ease of processing. In this case, however, it is necessary to store each granular material in a net or the like so as not to flow out. The auxiliary electrode part is mounted so as to be in contact with the electrode surface of the electrode body.

  The electrode main body and the auxiliary electrode portion can be made of a metal such as platinum or iron as long as they are made of the same material. For example, charcoal, bamboo charcoal, graphite, sintered carbon, activated carbon and the like.

  The composite electrode according to this means is preferably formed in a flat plate shape as a whole, but may be formed in a columnar shape or a cylindrical shape surrounding the column as necessary.

  The second means includes the first means, and the electrode main body 32 and the auxiliary electrode portion 34 are formed mainly of carbon.

  In particular, the electrode body may be formed of flat sintered carbon, and the auxiliary electrode portion may be formed of flake or bamboo charcoal or bamboo charcoal.

  The third means includes the first means or the second means, and the auxiliary electrode portion 34 is formed of a number of granular electrodes, and these granular electrodes are disposed on the electrode surface A side of the electrode body 32. The attached water-permeable container body 18 is housed in electrical contact with the electrode body 32.

  The “container body” is a member for holding at least the auxiliary electrode portion in contact with the electrode body. This container body has a box shape with an opening on the upper surface, and is formed so that the electrode body can be fitted from the upper surface with a gap between the electrode surface of the electrode body and the opposing portion of the container body. can do. The box shape may be rectangular, cubic, or cylindrical depending on the shape of the electrode body. The container body can be formed of a frame body and a mesh bag body attached to the frame body. In the embodiment described later, the container body is formed of a non-conductive material (for example, synthetic resin) as a separate member from the composite electrode. However, the container body may be formed of a conductive material as a part of the composite electrode.

  In this specification, “granular electrode” refers to an electrode material (conductive material) that is separated from each other, and the shape thereof may be any of a chip shape, a spherical shape, a rod shape, and the like. . This is because it is sufficient that the contact area with water can be increased by being dispersible. The size of the particle | grain should just be a grade which does not flow out from the mesh eyes of a container body. These granular electrodes are in electrical contact with the electrode body by contacting each other.

  The fourth means includes the third means, and a movable lid 42 which is placed on the granular electrode and descends due to wear of the granular electrode is provided in the upper part of the container body 18.

  The movable lid is lowered by the wear of the granular electrodes so as to keep the dense state of the granular electrodes.

  The fifth means includes the third means or the fourth means, the electrode body 32 is formed in a flat plate shape having at least one of the front and back surfaces as the electrode surface A, and the container body 18 is opened on the upper surface. Each of the wall portions except for at least the bottom wall of the container body 18 is formed into a mesh shape having a size that can prevent the outflow of the granular electrode, and at least The gap S for inserting the granular electrode is provided between the electrode surface A of the electrode body 32 and the corresponding surface portion of the container body 18.

  In this means, the electrode body has a flat plate shape that is convenient for handling. The container body may be attached to the electrolysis tank in an upright state with the upper surface opening, but it is not always necessary to do so, and the direction can be changed as appropriate.

  The sixth means is an electrolysis tank, and the plurality of composite electrodes 16 described in any one of the first to fifth means are arranged in the water tank 4 with the electrode surfaces A facing each other. Configured.

  The electrolysis tank according to this means is used for electrolyzing water containing chloride ions and sterilizing the water, and is formed by dissimilar electrodes facing each other. Each composite electrode is preferably a substantially flat plate parallel to each other, but may be arranged in a concentric cylinder as is well known as an electrode for an electrolysis apparatus. The water tank may be formed in a box shape or a tubular shape according to the shape of these composite electrodes.

  The seventh means has sixth means, and each of the composite electrodes 16 is used as the composite electrode 16 described in the fifth means, and these composite electrodes 16 are placed vertically in the water tank 4 formed in the upper end opening. In addition, the top plate 10 is provided in parallel with each other at a certain position and the top surface 10 of the peripheral wall 9 of the water tank 4 is liquid-tightly closed, and the electrode body 32 corresponding to each electrode body 32 is provided on the peripheral wall 9 or top plate 10. The connection port 12 is formed.

  This means has shown the preferable structure for mounting | wearing the water tank with the composite electrode which concerns on each said means.

    The `` connection port '' may be an insertion hole for liquid-tightly inserting a connection terminal protruding outward from the side surface or upper surface of each electrode body, or a connector that penetrates the top plate, The internal terminal of the connector may be provided so as to be electrically connectable to the electrode body, and the external terminal of the connector may be electrically connected to the power cord.

  The eighth means includes the sixth means or the seventh means, and the water tank 4 is a flowing water tank having an inlet / outlet of flowing water, and water containing chloride ions is supplied to the water tank 4 for electricity. By decomposing, it is possible to generate chlorine gas.

The invention according to the first means has the following effects.
○ Since the single electrode is formed on the electrode body 32 with the auxiliary electrode part covering the body electrode surface being separable, it can be easily replaced when the auxiliary electrode part is worn out. It is easy to use.
○ Because the electrode body 32 is formed densely and the auxiliary electrode part 34 is formed so as to include a large amount of voids, the contact area of the auxiliary electrode part 34 with water becomes large, and the auxiliary electrode part is preferentially worn out. Thus, the electrode body 32 is prevented from being worn, which is more economical than replacing all the electrodes.

    According to the second aspect of the invention, the electrode main body 32 and the auxiliary electrode portion 34 are formed with carbon as a main component, so that they can be manufactured and supplemented at a low cost.

The invention according to the third means has the following effects.
○ Since the electrode portion of the auxiliary electrode portion is formed in a granular shape, a sufficient contact area with water can be secured, and current is easily transmitted.
○ Since it can be replenished by pouring the granular electrode into the container according to the amount of wear, the electrode material is less wasteful and economical.
○ No special molding technique is required compared to the case of using a mesh wire mesh for the electrode, and it can be easily formed even with cheap bamboo charcoal.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the movable lid 42 is provided on the granular electrode and descends due to wear of the granular electrode, the function as an electrode is maintained while maintaining a dense state between the granular electrodes. Can be secured.

   According to the fifth aspect of the invention, since the electrode main body 32 has a flat plate shape and is inserted into the box-shaped container body 18, even a person who is not familiar with the structure of the electrolysis tank can easily handle it.

  According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the above-described composite electrode is housed in the water tank 4, so that the maintenance of the electrolysis tank is facilitated.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, the following effects are obtained.
○ At the time of maintenance, at least the top plate 10 of the electrolysis tank 2 is removed from the water tank 4, and the electrode surface A of the electrode body 32 faces the container body while the electrode body 32 is inserted into the container body 18. It is only necessary to replenish a new granular electrode between the parts, and it is not necessary to take out the electrode body 32 from the water tank 4 or to reconnect the electrode body and the power cord, so that anyone can easily perform maintenance. Can do.
・ In addition, since it has a simple configuration as a whole, it can be easily installed even in small-scale facilities.
According to the invention relating to the eighth means, the water tank 4 generates chlorine gas by electrolyzing flowing water containing chloride ions in the water tank 4 and is therefore attached to a water channel that supplies a bathing area such as a hot spring resort. Can be sterilized effectively.

    1 to 7 show an electrolysis tank 2 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This electrolysis tank is attached to, for example, a midway part of a circulation path that takes water from a hot spring bathtub (not shown) and returns to the bathtub to electrolyze and sterilize running water containing chloride ions. belongs to.

    As shown in FIGS. 2 and 1, the electrolysis tank 2 includes a water tank 4, a top plate 10, a composite electrode 16, a container body 18, and a water permeable case 38.

    The water tank 4 has a rectangular shape with a bottom and an upper end opening and is long in the flow path direction, and is provided with different-diameter pipes 6 and 6 for connecting to the circulation path at opposing portions of the peripheral wall.

    The top plate 10 is placed on the upper end surface of the peripheral wall 9 of the water tank 4 via a packing, and its upper surface opening is liquid-tightly closed. The top plate 10 is provided with a through-hole as a connection port 12 so as to be positioned above an electrode body described later.

    An appropriate number (three in the illustrated example) of the composite electrodes 16 are arranged in parallel in the water tank 4 via the water-permeable case 38. First, the central one of the three composite electrodes 16 arranged in the left-right direction in FIG. 1 will be described. The composite electrode is formed of an electrode body 32 and an auxiliary electrode portion 34.

    The electrode body 32 and the auxiliary electrode portion 34 are accommodated in the container body 18 and are bound together so as to function as one electrode.

    The container body 18 is composed of a rectangular frame body 20 which is long in the flow path direction, and a bag body 28 attached to the frame body as shown by a broken line in FIG. The frame 20 has four vertical bars 22 erected from four corners of a rectangular bottom plate, and a horizontal bar 24 is installed between upper ends of adjacent vertical bars. The bag body 28 has an opening on the upper surface, and is formed in a mesh or net shape that is large enough to prevent outflow of granular electrodes described later.

    The electrode main body 32 is a flat plate having both front and back electrode surfaces A, and is inserted into the container body 18 in parallel to the longitudinal direction thereof as shown in FIG. A gap S for storing the granular electrode is provided between each electrode surface A of the electrode body 32 and a corresponding side portion of the container body 18. A connection terminal 33 is erected from the top surface of each electrode body 32. Since this connection terminal may come into contact with the liquid, it is desirable to use platinum-plated titanium. Since the electrode body of the composite electrode 16 can be reused many times, a noble metal such as platinum may be used.

    The auxiliary electrode portion 34 has a number of chip shapes made of bamboo charcoal, and is filled in the gap S.

    In the composite electrode on both the left and right sides of FIG. 1, only the inner surface of the electrode body 32 is used as the electrode surface A, and a gap S for inserting the auxiliary electrode portion 34 is formed between this electrode surface and the inner side portion of the container body 18. ing. Further, the outer side surface of the frame body 20 of the container body 18 may be closed by the side plate 26. The other structure is basically the same as that of the central composite electrode. The distance between the adjacent auxiliary electrode portions 34 is preferably about 10 mm.

    The water permeable case 38 also serves as a spacer for preventing the facing composite electrode 16 from contacting. As shown in FIG. 3 with the water tank 4 omitted, three composite electrodes 16 are inserted into the water tank 4 through the water-permeable case 38 so that each composite electrode is positioned at a fixed position. To be positioned. The water permeable case 38 allows water to pass through at least both end faces in the flow path direction and side faces facing the composite electrode. The water permeable case 38 can be formed of a synthetic resin.

    In the above configuration, when electrolysis is performed, the first and second composite electrodes 16 in the left-right direction in FIG. Then, the electrode body 32 and the auxiliary electrode portion 34 of each composite electrode 16 function as one electrode, and electrolyze water containing chloride ions mainly in the water permeable case 38 to generate chlorine. As the electrolysis progresses, the auxiliary electrode portions 34 of the adjacent composite electrodes are worn out. However, since the electrode body 32 is covered with the auxiliary electrode portions 34, it is not worn out. Further, as the wear of the auxiliary electrode part 34 progresses, the upper part of the electrode body 32 is exposed, but the distance between the electrode bodies is larger than the distance between the auxiliary electrodes, so that the electrode body 32 is hardly consumed even in this state. . However, since the function as an electrode is lowered, it is desirable to periodically replenish the granular electrode as the auxiliary electrode portion 34.

    When performing this replenishment, from the state shown in FIG. 1, water flow in the electrolysis tank 2 is stopped, and then the top plate 10 is removed and pulled up to fill each gap between the composite electrodes 16 with granular electrodes. . When filling is completed, the top plate 10 may be attached to the upper part of the peripheral wall 9 of the water tank 4 again. By doing so, the granular electrode can be replenished without having to extract the composite electrode 16 from the container body 18. Of course, for example, when the granular electrode is contaminated due to long-term use, the electrode body 32 is removed from the container body 18 and the container body 18 from the water tank 4 is removed as needed with the top plate 10 removed. The granular electrode in the container body 18 can be taken out and washed.

    8 to 9 show a second embodiment of the present invention.

    In this embodiment, a movable lid 42 is placed on the auxiliary electrode portion in the gap S of each composite electrode 16, and the movable lid is lowered due to wear of the auxiliary electrode portion. Thereby, the dense state of the granular electrodes constituting the auxiliary electrode portion 34 can be maintained. Since the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted by attaching the same reference numerals.

    FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a part of the connection port 12 to each electrode body 32 is provided on the peripheral wall 9 of the water tank 4.

    In the illustrated example, the connection ports 12 to the electrode main bodies 32 on both sides as viewed from the flow path direction are provided on the side wall portion of the peripheral wall 9 of the water tank 4. However, it is not necessary to limit to this structure, and the peripheral wall 9 may be perforated in the upstream or downstream wall portion.

    A connection terminal 33 that penetrates the side plate 26 of the frame 20 and contacts the electrode body 32 is attached to each connection port 12 in a liquid-tight manner. In the vicinity of the connection port, for example, a connection terminal insertion port is provided at a corresponding position of the bag body 28 described above so that the connection terminal and the electrode body 32 are in contact with each other.

    Also in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the granular electrode can be filled simply by removing the top plate 10 of the water tank 4 without releasing the connection with the electric cord or the like.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electrolysis tank according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the electrolysis tank of FIG. It is a perspective view of the composite electrode and water permeable case used for FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of the electrolytic electrode tank of FIG. It is an enlarged view of the electrode part of the electrolysis tank of FIG. It is a use state figure of the electrode part in the electrolysis tank of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the electrode replenishment operation | work in the electrolysis tank of FIG. It is a principal part enlarged view of the electrolysis tank concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the principal part in embodiment of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the electrolysis tank which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

2 ... Electrolysis tank 4 ... Water tank 6 ... Different diameter pipe 9 ... Peripheral wall 10 ... Top plate 12 ... Connection port
16 ... Composite electrode 18 ... Container body 20 ... Frame body 22 ... Vertical bar 24 ... Horizontal bar 26 ... Side plate
28 ... Bag 32 ... Electrode body 33 ... Connection terminal 34 ... Auxiliary electrode 38 ... Water permeable case
42 ... Moveable lid A ... Electrode surface S ... Gap

Claims (8)

  A single electrode for electrolysis is formed on a dense electrode body 32 by covering the electrode surface A of the body and detachably attaching an auxiliary electrode portion 34 including a large amount of dispersed voids. The composite electrode for electrolysis, wherein the electrode body 32 and the auxiliary electrode part 34 are formed of the same material as a main component.   2. The composite electrode for electrolysis according to claim 1, wherein the electrode main body and the auxiliary electrode portion are formed mainly of carbon.   The auxiliary electrode portion 34 is formed of a large number of granular electrodes, and these granular electrodes are brought into electrical contact with the electrode body 32 in a water-permeable container body 18 attached to the electrode surface A side of the electrode body 32. The composite electrode for electrolysis according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the composite electrode is stored.   The composite electrode for electrolysis according to claim 3, wherein a movable lid (42) which is placed on the granular electrode and descends due to wear of the granular electrode is built in the upper part of the container body (18).   The electrode body 32 is formed in a flat plate shape having at least one of the front and back surfaces as an electrode surface A, and the container body 18 is formed in a box shape having an open top and a bottom so that the electrode body can be accommodated. Each wall portion excluding at least the bottom wall of the body 18 is formed in a mesh shape having a size that can prevent the granular electrode from flowing out, and at least between the electrode surface A of the electrode body 32 and the corresponding surface portion of the container body 18. The composite electrode for electrolysis according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a gap S for inserting a granular electrode is provided.   An electrolysis tank comprising a plurality of composite electrodes 16 according to any one of claims 1 to 5 arranged in a water tank 4 with the electrode surfaces A facing each other.   Each of the composite electrodes 16 is used as the composite electrode 16 described in claim 5, and the composite electrodes 16 are juxtaposed in fixed positions in a vertical state in the water tank 4 formed in the upper end opening. 7. A top plate 10 for liquid-tightly closing the upper surface of the peripheral wall 9 is provided, and a connection port 12 to the electrode main body 32 corresponding to each electrode main body 32 is formed on the peripheral wall 9 or the top plate 10. Electrolysis tank.   The water tank 4 is a flowing water tank having an inlet / outlet of flowing water, and is provided so as to be able to generate chlorine gas by flowing water containing chloride ions into the water tank 4 for electrolysis. The electrolysis tank according to claim 6 or 7.

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