JP2006348328A - Electrolytic cell, and gas generation and storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrolytic cell for generating gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen in a state where a PEM (Polymer Electrolytic Membrane) is securely protected, and to provide a gas generation and storage device using the electrolytic cell. <P>SOLUTION: Pure water W1 is stored in a tank 13. An electrolytic cell 101 is installed in the pure water W1 within the tank 14. The pure water W1 within the tank 13 is passed through a first electrode part (the side of an electrode 2-1) of the electrolytic cell 101, and the pure water W1 in the tank 13 is passed through a second electrode part (the side of an electrode 2-2). Then, gaseous oxygen can be obtained from the first electrode part, and gaseous hydrogen can be obtained from the second electrode part. Regarding the structure of the electrolytic cell 101, the passage of the pure water 1 (a porous power feeder 3-1: the first passage) in the first electrode part and a passage of the pure water W2 (a porous power feeder 3-2: the second passage) in the second electrode part, the shape and position in the faces facing each other across a membrane 1 are made the same. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrolytic cell that generates a gas such as hydrogen gas or oxygen gas using a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and a gas generation and storage device using the electrolytic cell.

  Conventionally, as this type of gas generation and storage device, a device called HHEG (high-compressed hydrogen energy generator) that generates hydrogen gas from pure water has been considered (see Non-Patent Document 1). This HHEG has both the function of producing hydrogen by electrolyzing water and the function of compressing the generated hydrogen. The advantage is that the compressed hydrogen can be taken out without using a compressor, so that the equipment cost can be reduced. In addition, the power cost required for boosting can be reduced.

  Note that Non-Patent Document 1 described above describes that high-pressure hydrogen of 100 MPa or more can also be produced by HHEG. In addition, it is suggested that high-pressure hydrogen produced by this HHEG is used for a next-generation fuel cell vehicle.

[Electrolysis cell]
FIG. 13 shows the structure of the electrolytic cell used in this HHEG. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane (perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid membrane) called PEM having a thickness of about 0.1 mm, and Pt (platinum) catalyst electrodes 2-1 and 2 are disposed on both sides of the PEM membrane 1. -2 is formed by electroless plating, and is sandwiched between porous power feeders 3-1 and 3-2. In addition, a cell case 4-1 is provided on the Pt catalyst electrode 2-1 side (first electrode part side) provided with the porous power supply body 3-1, and a Pt catalyst provided with the porous power supply body 3-2. A cell case 4-2 is provided on the electrode 2-2 side (second electrode portion side), the PEM film 1 is sandwiched between the cell cases 4-1 and 4-2, and the space around the sandwiched PEM film 1 The part is filled with a seal 5. The cell case 4-1 is provided with passages L1 and L2 that lead to the Pt catalyst electrode 2-1 through the porous power feeder 3-1, and the cell case 4-2 through the porous power feeder 3-2. A passage L3 communicating with the Pt catalyst electrode 2-2 is provided.

In this electrolytic cell 100, the Pt catalyst electrode 2-1 is used as an anode, the Pt catalyst electrode 2-2 is used as a cathode, and a DC voltage is applied between the Pt catalyst electrodes 2-1 and 2-2 from the passage L1. When pure water is sent to the Pt catalyst electrode 2-1 through the porous power supply 3-1, water is electrolyzed at the Pt catalyst electrode 2-1 catalyst layer, and oxygen (O ₂ ), proton (H ⁺ ), and electrons (2H ₂ O → O ₂ + 4H ⁺ + 4e ⁻ ). Protons permeate the PEM membrane 1 and move to the Pt catalyst electrode 2-2 side. At the anode, pure water is oxidized (electrons are separated) and oxygen is generated. At the cathode, protons are peeled off from the PEM film 1, and electrons from the Pt catalyst electrode 2-2 are obtained to generate hydrogen (H ₂ ) (4H ⁺ + 4e ⁻ → 2H ₂ ). Thereby, pure water containing oxygen gas (O ₂ ) generated by the Pt catalyst electrode 2-1 is discharged from the passage L2, and hydrogen gas (H ₂ ) generated by the Pt catalyst electrode 2-2 is discharged from the passage L3. Discharged.

[HHEG]
FIG. 14 is a configuration diagram of an HHEG using the electrolytic cell 100. In the figure, 6 is a first tank (high pressure vessel), 7 is a second tank (high pressure vessel), an electrolytic cell 100 is provided in the first tank 6, and pure water is supplied to the second tank 7. Reserved. Further, a pump 8 is provided between the first tank 6 and the second tank 7, and pure water stored in the second tank 7 is sent to the passage L 1 of the electrolysis cell 100 in the first tank 6. The pure water and oxygen gas discharged from the passage L2 of the electrolysis cell 100 are returned to the second tank 7.

  Thereby, the pure water which permeate | transmitted the PEM membrane 1 is stored in the 1st tank 6 with the hydrogen gas discharged | emitted from the channel | path L3 of the electrolysis cell 100. FIG. The first tank 6 is provided with a valve 11 for releasing the hydrogen gas stored in the tank 6 as necessary. The second tank 7 is provided with a valve 12 for releasing oxygen gas stored in the tank 7.

  The bottom of the first tank 6 and the bottom of the second tank 7 are connected via a differential pressure release sensor 9. In the differential pressure elimination sensor 9, the pressure Ph of the hydrogen gas in the tank 6 is given to one pressure introduction path 9-1 through the pure water in the first tank 6, and the other pressure introduction path 9- 2, the pressure Po of the oxygen gas in the tank 7 is given through the pure water in the second tank 7. The differential pressure elimination sensor 9 sends a signal (differential pressure signal) corresponding to the difference between the hydrogen gas pressure Ph and the oxygen gas pressure Po to the open / close control unit 10. The open / close control unit 10 controls the opening / closing of the valve 12 so as to make the differential pressure signal sent from the differential pressure elimination sensor 9 zero, and adjusts the pressure of the oxygen gas in the second tank 7.

  Thereby, the pressure applied to the seal part 5 of the electrolysis cell 100, the pressure applied to the Pt catalyst electrode 2-1 side (first electrode part side) of the PEM film 1, and the Pt catalyst electrode 2-2 side of the PEM film 1 The pressure applied to the (second electrode part side) becomes equal, and the pressure difference applied to the PEM film 1 and the seal part 5 is eliminated. Therefore, even if the hydrogen gas stored in the tank 6 becomes a high pressure, there is no possibility that the electrolytic cell 100 is damaged by pressure. Thus, in the HHEG shown in Non-Patent Document 1, hydrogen gas is generated in a state where the electrolytic cell 100 is protected, and is stored in the tank 6 at a high pressure.

NIKKEI ELECTRONICS 2004.10.11, pp. 129-135, “Manufacturing high-pressure hydrogen only by electrolysis of water”, Hiroyuki Harada, Kensuke Toshima.

  However, according to the gas generation and storage device (HHEG) shown in Non-Patent Document 1 described above, the oxygen gas stored in the second tank 7 is discarded to adjust the pressure, and the oxygen gas is positively It is not configured to store in. In addition, a differential pressure elimination sensor 9 and the like are required to adjust the pressure, resulting in high cost.

  Therefore, the present applicant installs the electrolytic cell in the pure water in the tank, and sends the pure water in the tank not only to the first electrode part of the electrolytic cell but also to the second electrode part, The generated oxygen gas is discharged from the first electrode portion together with the pure water passed through the first electrode portion, and the generated hydrogen gas is discharged together with the pure water passed through the second electrode portion into the second electrode portion. I am thinking of discharging from the In this case, the pressure applied to the sealing portion of the electrolysis cell, the pressure applied to the first electrode portion side of the PEM film, and the pressure applied to the second electrode portion side of the PEM film are inevitably the same. It is possible to eliminate the pressure difference without providing a pressure release sensor or the like.

  FIG. 15 shows the structure of an electrolytic cell in which pure water is also sent to the second electrode portion. In the electrolysis cell 101 ', a passage L4 is provided in the cell case 4-2 as a pure water supply path to the Pt catalyst electrode 2-2. In such a structure, the pure water passage (in this example, the porous power supply 3-1) in the first electrode portion and the pure electrode passage (in this example) facing each other across the PEM film 1 (this In the example, if the shape and position of the facing surfaces of the porous power supply 3-2) are different, the membrane surface of the PEM film 1 facing the pure water passage in the first electrode portion and the pure water in the second electrode portion. An unbalanced pressure between the film surfaces of the PEM film 1 facing the passage is applied, and the PEM film 1 may be damaged. FIG. 15 shows, as an example, a case where the length LG1 of the pure water passage in the first electrode portion is shorter than the length LG2 of the pure water passage in the second electrode portion. In this case, an unbalanced pressure is applied to the portion S1 where the pure water passage in the first electrode portion and the pure water passage in the second electrode portion do not face each other.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and its object is to generate a gas such as hydrogen gas or oxygen gas in a state where the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is reliably protected. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrolysis cell and a gas generation storage device that can perform the above.

  In order to achieve such an object, the present invention includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and a first electrode and a second electrode provided with the solid polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched therebetween. The first gas and the second gas are generated from the liquid passed through the first passage in contact with the first electrode with a DC voltage applied between the first electrode and the second electrode. In the electrolysis cell that discharges gas together with the liquid passed through the first passage and discharges the generated second gas together with liquid passed through the second passage contacting the second electrode, the first passage and the second passage The shape and the position of the surface facing the passage across the solid polymer electrolyte membrane are the same.

  For example, in the present invention, pure water is stored in a tank, and an electrolytic cell is installed in the pure water stored in the tank. Then, in a state where a DC voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode of the electrolytic cell, pure water stored in the tank is passed through the first passage in contact with the first electrode, Pure water stored in the tank is passed through the second passage in contact with the electrode. Then, oxygen gas is obtained from the first electrode part and hydrogen gas is obtained from the second electrode part by electrolysis in the electrolytic cell. The oxygen gas obtained from the first electrode part is discharged together with pure water passed through the first passage, and the hydrogen gas obtained from the second electrode part is discharged together with pure water passed through the second passage. Is done.

  Here, since the first passage and the second passage have the same shape and position of the faces facing each other across the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, the membrane of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane facing the first passage The pressure difference between the membrane surfaces of all of the membrane surfaces of the polymer electrolyte membrane facing the surface and the second passage becomes zero, and an unbalanced pressure is applied between the membrane surfaces of the polymer electrolyte membrane. Absent.

  When gas is generated using this electrolytic cell, the electrolytic cell is placed with the membrane surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane substantially parallel to the direction of gravity, and the membrane surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is set to the direction of gravity. It is conceivable that the electrolytic cell is placed almost vertically. For example, if the electrolytic cell is placed in pure water with the membrane surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane being almost parallel to the direction of gravity (the electrolytic cell is installed vertically), the height of the membrane surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is Since a difference occurs, a pressure difference is generated above and below the membrane surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. In contrast, when the electrolytic cell is installed with the membrane surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane substantially perpendicular to the direction of gravity (installed with the electrolytic cell sideways), there is a difference in height between the membrane surfaces of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. Since it does not occur, the pressure difference between the upper and lower sides (the pressure difference between the left and right sides) as when the electrolytic cell is installed vertically does not occur on the membrane surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane.

Further, in the gas generating and storing apparatus using the electrolytic cell, the first gas (oxygen gas) contained in the liquid discharged from the first passage of the electrolytic cell is separated by the first gas-liquid separation means, and electrolysis is performed. The second gas (hydrogen gas) contained in the liquid discharged from the second passage of the cell is separated by the second gas-liquid separation means, and the first gas separated by the first gas-liquid separation means is separated. The second gas stored by the first storage means and separated by the second gas-liquid separation means is stored by the second storage means. For example, an electrolytic cell is installed in a liquid stored in a tank, and a space surrounded by the liquid level of the tank and the inner wall surface of the tank is partitioned into a first chamber and a second chamber, The first gas is stored in the chamber, and the second gas is stored in the second chamber. Note that the electrolytic cell is not necessarily installed in the liquid, and may be installed in a space, or a tank for storing the first gas and the second gas may be separately provided.
In the present invention, a DC voltage is applied between the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion. The DC voltage may be half-wave rectified or full-wave rectified. It may be.

  According to the present invention, the shape and the position of the first and second passages in contact with the first electrode and the second passage in contact with the second electrode facing each other across the solid polymer electrolyte membrane are the same. In all of the membrane surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane facing the first passage and the membrane surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane facing the second passage, the pressure difference between the membrane surfaces is zero, and the solid polymer electrolyte membrane Thus, a gas such as hydrogen gas or oxygen gas can be generated in a state where the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is reliably protected without applying unbalanced pressure between the membrane surfaces.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a gas generating and storing apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.
In the figure, it is a tank (high pressure vessel), in which pure water W1 is stored in a tank 13, and an electrolytic cell 101 is installed in the pure water W1 of the tank 13. A space 15 surrounded by the liquid surface of the pure water W1 in the tank 13 and the inner wall surface of the tank 13 is divided into a first chamber 17 and a second chamber 18 by a partition plate 16.

  FIG. 2 shows a view of the tank 13 in FIG. As can be seen from this figure, a partition plate 16 that divides the inside of the tank 13 into two in the radial direction is provided, and the level of the pure water W1 is positioned above the lower end surface of the partition plate 16. Therefore, the first chamber 17 and the second chamber are separated so that the liquid level of the pure water W1 is a part of the inner wall surface of the chamber and the gas stored in the chamber is not mixed with the gas in the other chambers. 18 are formed in the tank 13. In the present embodiment, the volume ratio of the first chamber 17 and the second chamber 18 is 1: 2 depending on the position of the partition plate 16.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of the electrolysis cell 101 installed in the pure water W1 of the tank 13. Although this electrolytic cell 101 has the same basic structure as the conventional electrolytic cell 100 shown in FIG. 13, a passage L4 is provided in the cell case 4-2 as a pure water supply path to the Pt catalyst electrode 2-2. Is different. In FIG. 3, the structure of the electrolysis cell 100 shown in FIG. 13 is shown opposite to that of the electrolysis cell 100 according to the arrangement of the electrolysis cell 101 in FIG.

  Further, in this structure, the pure water passage (in this example, the porous power supply 3-1) in the first electrode portion facing the PEM film 1 and the pure water passage (in this example) in the second electrode portion. In the porous power supply 3-2), the shape and position of the facing surfaces are the same. That is, the length LG1 of the porous power feeder 3-1 is the same as the length LG2 of the porous power feeder 3-2, and the porous power feeders 3-1 and 3-2 having the same length are opposed to each other. I am letting. In this example, the porous power feeders 3-1 and 3-2 are rectangular parallelepipeds, but are not necessarily rectangular parallelepipeds.

  Pure water W1 in the tank 13 is sent to the passage L1 of the electrolysis cell 101 via a pipe PL1 connected to the pump PM1. Further, the pure water W1 in the tank 13 is sent to the passage L4 of the electrolytic cell 101 through the pipe PL2 connected to the pump PM2. The pump pressure of the pumps PM1 and PM2 only needs to be a flow of pure water that passes through the electrolysis cell 101, and it is desirable that the pump pressure be the minimum pump pressure. If this pump pressure is increased, the balance between the pressure of the pure water W1 applied to the Pt catalyst electrode 2-1 and the pressure of the pure water W1 applied to the Pt catalyst electrode 2-2 may be lost, and a pressure difference may occur in the PEM membrane 1. There is.

  A gas-liquid separator 20 is provided for the passage L2 of the electrolysis cell 101 via a pipe PL3, and oxygen contained in pure water discharged from the passage L2 is separated by the gas-liquid separator 20 and separated. While sending oxygen gas to the 1st chamber 17 via pipe PL5, the pure water from which oxygen gas was separated is returned to pure water W1 in tank 13.

  Further, a gas-liquid separator 21 is provided for the passage L3 of the electrolytic cell 101 via a pipe PL4, and hydrogen gas contained in pure water discharged from the passage L3 is separated by the gas-liquid separator 21. The separated hydrogen gas is sent to the second chamber 18 through the pipe PL6, while the pure water from which the oxygen gas has been separated is returned to the pure water W1 in the tank 13.

  In this gas generation and storage device 200, oxygen gas and hydrogen gas are generated as follows, the generated oxygen gas is stored in the first chamber 17 of the tank 13, and the generated hydrogen gas is stored in the second chamber 13. It is stored in the chamber 18.

  Although not shown, in this embodiment, pure water W1 in the tank 13, oxygen gas stored in the first chamber 17 of the tank 13, and stored in the second chamber 18 of the tank 13. The device is designed to make the temperature of hydrogen gas almost the same.

[Gas generation]
The Pt catalyst electrode 2-1 is used as an anode, the Pt catalyst electrode 2-2 is used as a cathode, and a DC voltage is applied between the Pt catalyst electrodes 2-1 and 2-2. Then, the pumps PM1 and PM2 are driven, and the pure water W1 in the tank 13 is sent from the passage L1 to the Pt catalyst electrode 2-1 through the porous power supply 3-1, and the pure water W1 in the tank 13 is porous from the passage L4. It is sent to the Pt catalyst electrode 2-2 through the power feeder 3-2.

In the electrolytic cell 101, the Pt catalyst electrode 2-1 is used as an anode, the Pt catalyst electrode 2-2 is used as a cathode, and a DC voltage is applied between the Pt catalyst electrodes 2-1 and 2-2 from the passage L1. When pure water is sent to the Pt catalyst electrode 2-1 through the porous power supply 3-1, water is electrolyzed in the catalyst layer of the Pt catalyst electrode 2-1, and oxygen (O ₂ ), proton (H ⁺ ), and Electrons are generated (2H ₂ O → O ₂ + 4H ⁺ + 4e ⁻ ). Protons permeate the PEM membrane 1 and move to the Pt catalyst electrode 2-2 side. At the anode, pure water is oxidized (electrons are separated) and oxygen is generated. At the cathode, protons are peeled off from the PEM film 1, and electrons from the Pt catalyst electrode 2-2 are obtained to generate hydrogen (H ₂ ) (4H ⁺ + 4e ⁻ → 2H ₂ ). Thereby, pure water containing oxygen gas (O ₂ ) produced by the Pt catalyst electrode 2-1 is discharged from the passage L2, and pure water containing hydrogen gas (H ₂ ) produced by the Pt catalyst electrode 2-2. Is discharged from the passage L3.

[Gas storage]
Pure water containing oxygen gas discharged from the passage L2 is sent to the gas-liquid separator 20 via the pipe PL3. The gas-liquid separator 20 separates oxygen gas from the pure water that is sent, and sends the separated oxygen gas to the first chamber 17 via the pipe PL5. The pure water from which the oxygen gas has been separated is returned to the pure water W1 in the tank 13.

  Pure water containing hydrogen gas discharged from the passage L3 is sent to the gas-liquid separator 21 via the pipe PL4. The gas-liquid separator 21 separates hydrogen gas from the pure water, and sends the separated hydrogen gas to the second chamber 18 via the pipe PL6. The pure water from which the hydrogen gas has been separated is returned to the pure water W1 in the tank 13 through the pipe PL7.

When the pure water is electrolyzed, 2 mol of hydrogen gas is generated per 2 mol of oxygen gas (2H ₂ O → 2H ₂ + O ₂ ). In other words, in the present embodiment, when 1 mol of oxygen gas is stored in the first chamber 17 of the tank 13, 2 mol of hydrogen gas is stored in the second chamber 18 of the tank 13.

  Here, the volume ratio of the first chamber 17 and the second chamber 18 of the tank 13 is 1: 2, and 1 mol of oxygen gas is contained in the first chamber 17 whose volume ratio is “1”. Each time the gas is stored, 2 moles of hydrogen gas are stored in the second chamber 18 having a volume ratio of “2”. Therefore, the pressure P1o of the oxygen gas stored in the first chamber 17 and the second gas are stored in the second chamber 18. The pressure P1h of the hydrogen gas stored in the chamber 18 becomes equal, and the gas pressure (gas pressure in the tank) P1 acting on the pure water W1 in the tank 13 is P1 = P1o = P1h.

  As a result, oxygen gas is stored in the first chamber 17 while maintaining the level of the pure water W1 in the first chamber 17 and the level of the pure water W1 in the second chamber 18 at the same height. Hydrogen gas is stored in the second chamber 18. Further, the pressure applied to the seal portion 5 of the electrolysis cell 101 installed in the pure water W1 of the tank 13, the pressure applied to the Pt catalyst electrode 2-1 side (first electrode portion side) of the PEM film 1, and the PEM The pressure applied to the Pt catalyst electrode 2-2 side (second electrode portion side) of the membrane 1 becomes equal, and the pressure difference is eliminated. Therefore, even if the gas pressure P1 in the tank 13 becomes high, there is no possibility that the electrolytic cell 101 is damaged by pressure. In this way, in the present embodiment, without providing a differential pressure elimination sensor or the like, and without discarding the generated oxygen gas, hydrogen gas and oxygen gas are generated while the electrolytic cell 101 is protected, It can be stored at high pressure.

  In this configuration, the pressure applied to the seal part 5 of the electrolysis cell 101, the pressure applied to the Pt catalyst electrode 2-1 side (first electrode part side) of the PEM film 1, and the Pt catalyst electrode 2 of the PEM film 1 −2 side (second electrode portion side) is inevitably the same pressure. That is, in this configuration, the installation of the electrolysis cell 101 in the pure water W1 stored in the tank 13 depends on the pressure applied to the seal portion 5 of the electrolysis cell 101 and the Pt catalyst electrode 2-1 side of the PEM membrane 1 (first 1 electrode portion side) and the pressure applied to the Pt catalyst electrode 2-2 side (second electrode portion side) of the PEM membrane 1 are made intentionally. is there.

  In view of this intention, the volume ratio between the first chamber 17 and the second chamber 18 of the tank 13 is not necessarily 1: 2. However, unless the volume ratio is set to 1: 2, as the gas is stored, the liquid in the first chamber 17 is caused by the difference between the gas pressure P1o in the first chamber 17 and the gas pressure P1h in the second chamber 18. The height of the surface and the height of the liquid level in the second chamber 18 may be shifted, and the liquid level may be lower than the lower end of the partition plate 16 that partitions the first chamber 17 and the second chamber 18. Occurs.

  In this configuration, the length LG1 of the porous power supply 3-1 and the length LG2 of the porous power supply 3-2 are the same, and the porous power supplies 3-1 and 3- 2 is directly facing. That is, the path of the pure water W1 in the first electrode part and the path of the pure water W1 in the second electrode part have the same shape and position of the surfaces facing each other with the PEM film 1 in between. Therefore, the film surface of all of the film surface of the PEM film 1 facing the passage of the pure water W1 in the first electrode portion and the film surface of the PEM film 1 facing the passage of the pure water W1 in the second electrode portion. The pressure difference between them becomes zero, and unbalanced pressure is not applied between the film surfaces of the PEM film 1.

  In addition, since the pure water W1 from the pump PM1 reaches the inside of the porous power feeding body 3-1, it becomes a passage for the pure water W1 in the first electrode portion regardless of the positions of the passages L1 and L2. Similarly, since the pure water W1 from the pump PM2 reaches the inside of the porous power supply 3-2, it becomes a passage for the pure water W1 in the second electrode portion regardless of the positions of the passages L3 and L4.

[Removal of stored oxygen gas and hydrogen gas]
When oxygen or hydrogen stored in the tank 13 or 14 is used as a fuel or the like, the oxygen or hydrogen stored in the tank 13 or 14 is taken out. In this case, care is required. That is, in order to take out the gas pressure P1o in the first chamber 17 and the gas pressure P1h in the second chamber 18 at the same value, the molar ratio of hydrogen gas to oxygen gas is kept at a ratio of 2: 1. It must be taken out in a wet state. Under this condition, the gas pressure P1o in the first chamber 17 and the gas pressure P1h in the second chamber 18 have the same value.

  In order to perform such extraction, in the gas generation and storage device 201 shown in FIG. 4, the oxygen gas stored in the first chamber 17 of the tank 13 is extracted via the gas pressure regulating valve 25, and the tank 13 The hydrogen gas stored in the second chamber 18 is taken out through the gas pressure regulating valve 26. In this gas generation and storage device 201, for example, when hydrogen gas and oxygen gas are supplied to the fuel cell, the gas pressure P1o in the first chamber 17 of the tank 13 and the gas pressure P1h in the second chamber 18 are The valve opening degree of the gas pressure regulating valves 25 and 26 is controlled so as to be the same.

[Embodiment 2]
In the first embodiment, oxygen gas is stored in the first chamber 17 and hydrogen gas is stored in the second chamber 18, but when the gas pressure becomes high, the gas dissolves into pure water in the tank. There is a risk of going. In this case, the generated oxygen gas and hydrogen gas are wasted, and when the hydrogen gas dissolves in pure water, problems such as metal corrosion due to hydrogen embrittlement also occur.

  Therefore, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the liquid level of the first chamber 17 is covered with a first lid 27 that moves up and down together with the liquid level, and the liquid level of the second chamber 18 is covered with this liquid. A second lid 28 that moves up and down with the surface is covered. That is, the first lid 27 is floated on the liquid surface of the first chamber 17 so as to cover the entire surface of the liquid surface, and the liquid surface of the second chamber 18 is covered with the entire surface of the liquid surface. Two lids 28 are floated.

  As a result, the liquid level in the first chamber 17 is pushed down via the first lid 27, the liquid level in the second chamber 18 is pushed down via the second lid 28, and the inside of the first chamber 17 Oxygen gas is not in direct contact with the liquid surface of the first chamber 17, and hydrogen gas in the second chamber 18 is not in direct contact with the liquid surface of the second chamber 18, so that the stored pure water W1 enters the pure water W1. Oxygen gas and hydrogen gas are prevented from melting. Note that the first lid 27 and the second lid 28 do not need to pass high-pressure oxygen gas or hydrogen gas, and are not limited to metal but may be made of resin.

  When the lids 27 and 28 are provided, the lid 27 forms a part of the inner wall surface of the first chamber 17 and the lid 28 forms a part of the inner wall surface of the second chamber 18, The definition of the liquid level of the liquid stored in the tank includes a lid that is floated on the liquid level.

[Embodiment 3]
In the second embodiment, the liquid level of the first chamber 17 is covered with the first lid 27, or the liquid level of the second chamber 18 is covered with the second lid 28. As shown in FIG. The first chamber 17 may be provided with a first film 29 covering the inner wall surface of the chamber, or the second chamber 18 may be provided with a second film 30 covering the inner wall surface of the chamber. In the third embodiment, the films 29 and 30 are polyethylene films, and the oxygen gas to the first chamber 17 is stored in the internal space surrounded by the first film 29. Hydrogen gas for the second chamber 18 is stored in the enclosed internal space.

  As a result, the oxygen gas stored in the first chamber 17 is not in direct contact with the inner wall surface (including the liquid level) of the first chamber 17, and the hydrogen gas stored in the second chamber 18 is the second. This prevents direct contact with the inner wall surface (including the liquid level) of the chamber 18 and prevents the oxygen gas and hydrogen gas from being dissolved into the pure water W1 stored in the tank 13. Note that the first film 29 and the second film 30 do not pass high-pressure oxygen gas or hydrogen gas, and need only be stretchable. The first film 29 and the second film 30 are not limited to polyethylene and may be a film of rubber or the like.

[Embodiment 4]
In the first to third embodiments, the electrolysis cell 101 is placed in the pure water W1 stored in the tank 13 with the membrane surface of the PEM membrane 1 being substantially parallel to the direction of gravity. However, as shown in FIG. The electrolytic cell 101 may be placed in the pure water W1 stored in the tank 13 with the membrane surface of the membrane 1 being substantially perpendicular to the direction of gravity. Hereinafter, the type in which the electrolytic cell 101 is placed with the film surface of the PEM film 1 substantially parallel to the gravity direction is the vertical type, and the electrolytic cell 101 is placed with the film surface of the PEM film 1 substantially perpendicular to the gravity direction. The type is called horizontal type,

  In the vertically placed type, a difference in height is generated on the film surface of the PEM film 1 of the electrolytic cell 101, so that a pressure difference is generated above and below the film surface of the PEM film 1. This pressure difference is not a problem when the size of the electrolysis cell 101 is small. However, when the electrolytic cell 101 becomes large, there is a possibility that the PEM film 1 may be damaged due to a pressure difference between the upper and lower surfaces of the PEM film 1.

  On the other hand, in the horizontal installation type, there is no difference in height on the film surface of the PEM film 1, so that a vertical pressure difference (a pressure difference between the left and right) as in the vertical installation type occurs on the film surface of the PEM film 1. There is nothing. Therefore, even if the electrolysis cell 101 becomes large, there is no possibility that the PEM film 1 will be damaged, and it becomes possible to use a larger electrolysis cell 101.

[Embodiment 5]
In Embodiments 1 to 4 described above, only one electrolysis cell 101 is installed in the pure water W1 stored in the tank 13, but a plurality of electrolysis cells 101 may be installed. . For example, in Embodiments 1 to 3, as shown in FIG. 8A, the electrolysis cells 101-1 to 101-n are stacked in the vertical direction (water depth direction), and the electrolysis cells 101-1 to 101-n are stacked. Hydrogen gas and oxygen gas may be obtained. Moreover, in Embodiment 4, as shown to Fig.9 (a), electrolysis cells 101-1 to 101-n are connected in the horizontal direction, and hydrogen gas and oxygen gas are connected from these electrolysis cells 101-1 to 101-n. May be obtained.

  In this case, pure water may be supplied and oxygen gas and hydrogen gas may be taken out independently for each of the electrolysis cells 101-1 to 101-n. As shown in FIG. 5, the uppermost electrolytic cell 101- is connected by connecting the passages L1 and L2 and the passages L3 and L4 of the adjacent electrolytic cells 101 and supplying pure water from the passage L1 of the lowermost electrolytic cell 101-1. The oxygen gas is taken out from the passage L2 of n, and the hydrogen gas is taken out from the passage L3 of the uppermost electrolytic cell 101-n by supplying pure water from the passage L4 of the lowermost electrolytic cell 101-1. Also good.

  Similarly, in the case of the horizontal installation type, as shown in FIG. 9B, the passages L1 and L2 and the passages L3 and L4 of the adjacent electrolysis cell 101 are connected, and the passage L1 of the leftmost electrolysis 101-1 is pure. By supplying water, oxygen gas is extracted from the passage L2 of the rightmost electrolysis cell 101-n, and by supplying pure water from the passage L4 of the leftmost electrolysis cell 101-1, the rightmost electrolysis cell 101 is obtained. You may make it take out hydrogen gas from the channel | path L3 of -n. In this case, since there is no difference in height between the film surfaces of the PEM film 1 of the electrolytic cells 101-1 to 101-n, there is a pressure difference between the right and left of the film surface of the PEM film 1 in all the electrolytic cells 101. It is also possible to integrate the PEM films 1 of the electrolytic cells 101-1 to 101-n.

  Moreover, in Embodiment 1-5 mentioned above, although the electrolysis cell 101 was installed in the pure water W1, the electrolysis cell 101 does not necessarily need to be installed in the pure water W1. For example, the electrolytic cell 101 may be installed in a space having the same pressure as the pure water supplied, or a tank for storing oxygen gas or hydrogen gas may be separately provided.

  Also, a cylindrical electrolytic cell as shown in FIG. 10 (a), a semi-cylindrical electrolytic cell as shown in FIG. 10 (b), or a semi-cylindrical electrolytic cell as shown in FIG. 10 (c). It is good also as stacking electrolysis cells. In FIG. 10, a thick line indicates a PEM film.

  Moreover, in Embodiment 1-5 mentioned above, although hydrogen gas and oxygen gas were produced | generated from the pure water using the electrolysis cell 101, other gas can be produced | generated from another liquid on the same principle. It can also be applied to cases. That is, in the present invention, the liquid is not limited to pure water, and the generated gas is not limited to hydrogen gas or oxygen gas. In this case, the volume ratio between the first chamber 17 and the second chamber 18 of the tank 13 is set to 1: n according to the molar ratio of the generated gas. Further, the extracted hydrogen gas and oxygen gas are not limited to use for fuel cells, and the generated oxygen may be used for medical purposes.

[Application examples of gas generation and storage equipment]
Hybridization with new energy (air flow power generation or solar power generation) can be considered as an application of the gas generation and storage device according to the present invention.

[Application Example 1: Parallel hybridization]
Since wind power generation depends on the air volume, steady power generation cannot be expected. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, surplus electricity generated by the wind power generator 303 (surplus power generation amount) is supplied to the gas generation and storage device 200 according to the present invention and stored at high pressure as oxygen gas and hydrogen gas. The fuel cell 400 is connected to the subsequent stage of the gas generation and storage device 200. When the amount of wind power generation decreases, the power generation by the fuel cell is added to the power generation by the wind power generation by the adder 500, thereby stabilizing the wind power generation. Plan.

[Application Example 2: Serial hybridization]
Since wind power generation depends on the air volume, steady power generation cannot be expected. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, electricity generated by the wind power generator 300 is supplied to the gas generating and storing apparatus 200 according to the present invention, and stored at high pressure as oxygen gas and hydrogen gas. A fuel cell 400 is connected to the subsequent stage of the gas generation and storage device 200, and hydrogen and oxygen are supplied from the gas generation and storage device 200 to the fuel cell 500 as necessary to generate power.

  In this configuration, wind power generation is not the main, but power generation by the fuel cell 500 is the main. From the viewpoint of wind power generation, it is not a parallel hybrid but a serial hybrid. The exhaust heat generated in the fuel cell 500 can be used for hot water supply or the like. Moreover, in addition to the electric power from the wind power generator 300, you may make it utilize night electric power for the storage of oxygen gas and hydrogen gas in the gas generation storage apparatus 200. FIG.

It is a block diagram of the gas generation storage apparatus which shows one embodiment (Embodiment 1) of the present invention. It is the figure which looked at the tank in FIG. 1 from the A direction. It is a structural diagram of the electrolysis cell used for this gas generation storage device. It is a block diagram of the gas generation storage apparatus which added the device to how to take out oxygen gas and hydrogen gas. It is a block diagram of the gas generation storage apparatus which shows other embodiment (Embodiment 2) of this invention. It is a block diagram of the gas generation storage apparatus which shows other embodiment (Embodiment 3) of this invention. It is a block diagram of the gas generation storage apparatus which shows other embodiment (Embodiment 4) of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example which piled up the electrolysis cell in the vertical direction (water depth direction). It is a figure which shows the example which connected the electrolysis cell to the horizontal direction. It is a figure which shows the other example of an electrolysis cell. It is a figure which shows the application example 1 of the gas generation storage apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the application example 2 of the gas generation storage apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a structural diagram of the electrolysis cell used for the conventional gas generation storage device (HHEG). It is a block diagram of the conventional gas generation storage apparatus (HHEG). It is a figure which shows the structure of the electrolytic cell which sent pure water also to the 2nd electrode part which this applicant thinks.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... PEM membrane (solid polymer electrolyte membrane), 2-1, 2-2 ... Pt catalyst electrode, 3-1, 3-2 ... Porous power feeder, 4-1, 4-2 ... Cell case, 5 ... Seal, L1-L4 ... passage, 13 ... tank, 16 ... partition plate, 17 ... first chamber, 18 ... second chamber, PL1-PL6 ... pipe, 20, 21 ... gas-liquid separator, 25, 26 ... Gas pressure regulating valve, 27 ... first lid, 28 ... second lid, 29 ... first membrane, 30 ... second membrane, 101 (101-1 to 101-n) ... electrolysis cell, 200 to 204 ... gas generation storage device.

Claims (6)

A solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and a first electrode and a second electrode provided with the solid polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched therebetween, and a DC voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode The first gas and the second gas are generated from the liquid passed through the first passage in contact with the first electrode in a state where the first electrode is applied, and the generated first gas is passed through the first passage. An electrolysis cell that discharges with the liquid and discharges the generated second gas together with the liquid passed through the second passage in contact with the second electrode,
The electrolytic cell according to claim 1, wherein the first passage and the second passage have the same shape and position of faces facing each other across the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The electrolytic cell according to claim 1, wherein the membrane surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is placed substantially parallel to the direction of gravity;
Means for passing a liquid through the first passage of the electrolysis cell;
Means for passing a liquid through the second passage of the electrolysis cell;
First gas-liquid separation means for separating a first gas contained in the liquid discharged from the first passage of the electrolysis cell;
Second gas-liquid separation means for separating a second gas contained in the liquid discharged from the second passage of the electrolysis cell;
First storage means for storing the first gas separated by the first gas-liquid separation means;
And a second storage means for storing the second gas separated by the second gas-liquid separation means. The electrolytic cell according to claim 1, wherein the membrane surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is placed so as to be substantially perpendicular to the direction of gravity.
Means for passing a liquid through the first passage of the electrolysis cell;
Means for passing a liquid through the second passage of the electrolysis cell;
First gas-liquid separation means for separating a first gas contained in the liquid discharged from the first passage of the electrolysis cell;
A second gas-liquid separation means for separating a second gas contained in the liquid discharged from the second passage of the electrolysis cell; and the first gas separated by the first gas-liquid separation means is stored. A first storage means;
And a second storage means for storing the second gas separated by the second gas-liquid separation means. A solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and a first electrode and a second electrode provided with the solid polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched therebetween, and a DC voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode The oxygen gas and the hydrogen gas are generated from the pure water that is passed through the first passage in contact with the first electrode in a state where the first electrode is applied, and the generated oxygen gas is discharged together with the pure water that is passed through the first passage. An electrolytic cell that discharges the generated hydrogen gas together with pure water that has passed through a second passage in contact with the second electrode,
The electrolytic cell according to claim 1, wherein the first passage and the second passage have the same shape and position of faces facing each other across the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. The electrolytic cell according to claim 1, wherein the membrane surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is placed substantially parallel to the direction of gravity;
Means for passing pure water through the first passage of the electrolysis cell;
Means for passing pure water through the second passage of the electrolysis cell;
First gas-liquid separation means for separating oxygen gas contained in pure water discharged from the first passage of the electrolysis cell;
Second gas-liquid separation means for separating hydrogen gas contained in pure water discharged from the second passage of the electrolysis cell;
First storage means for storing oxygen gas separated by the first gas-liquid separation means;
And a second storage means for storing the hydrogen gas separated by the second gas-liquid separation means. The electrolytic cell according to claim 1, wherein the membrane surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane is placed so as to be substantially perpendicular to the direction of gravity.
Means for passing pure water through the first passage of the electrolysis cell;
Means for passing pure water through the second passage of the electrolysis cell;
First gas-liquid separation means for separating oxygen gas contained in pure water discharged from the first passage of the electrolysis cell;
A second gas-liquid separation means for separating hydrogen gas contained in pure water discharged from the second passage of the electrolysis cell; and a first gas for storing oxygen gas separated by the first gas-liquid separation means Storage means;
And a second storage means for storing the hydrogen gas separated by the second gas-liquid separation means.

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