JP2008255409A - Electrolysis apparats - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrolysis apparatus excellent in power consumption efficiency. <P>SOLUTION: The electrolysis apparatus is provided with: four stages of electrolytic circuits E1-E4 which respectively include a linear circuit formed by linearly connecting an electrode pair dipped in an electrolyte and a capacitor for storing current flowing in the electrode pair and a thyristor having a main cable path linearly connected to the linear circuit; and final stage electrolytic circuit E5 which includes an electrode pair dipped in the electrolyte and a thyristor having a main capable path linearly connected to the electrode pair and is connected to the subsequent stage of the four stage electrolytic circuits E1 and E4. A trigger control circuit 19 controls to connect from the thyristor included in the initial stage at first in five electrolytic circuits E1-E5, subsequently to the thyristor 42, 43, 44 included in the electrolytic circuit E2, E3, E4 and finally to the thyristor 45 included in the final stage of the electrolytic circuit 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrolysis apparatus that performs electrolysis of an electrolytic solution, and can be applied to, for example, electrolysis of water and electrolytic refining of metals.

  The phenomenon in which an oxidation-reduction reaction occurs electrochemically when an electrode is brought into contact with an electrolytic solution such as an aqueous solution in which an electrolyte is dissolved and a predetermined voltage is applied, and as a result the current flows is widely known as electrolysis (electrolysis). ing. An example of applying electrolysis to the industrial field is electrolytic refining of metals (for example, Patent Document 1). For example, aluminum is generally produced by electrolysis using bauxite as a raw material.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-197124

  However, the technique of refining metals by electrolysis consumes a large amount of power. For this reason, it has been extremely difficult to mass-produce metals such as aluminum by electrolysis in a location where it is difficult to supply inexpensive power, such as in Japan.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said subject, and aims at providing the electrolyzer excellent in power consumption efficiency.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an invention of claim 1 is an electrolysis apparatus for electrolyzing an electrolytic solution, wherein an electrolytic cell for storing the electrolytic solution, a direct current power source for supplying electric power for electrolysis, and the electrolysis A series circuit in which a pair of electrodes immersed in a liquid and a capacitor for storing current flowing through the electrode pair are connected in series and a thyristor having a main circuit connected in series to the series circuit are respectively connected in cascade. A final electrolytic circuit including a plurality of electrolytic circuits, a thyristor having a pair of electrodes immersed in the electrolytic solution and a main electric circuit connected in series to the electrode pairs, and further connected to a subsequent stage of the plurality of electrolytic circuits; And a trigger control circuit for sequentially conducting the thyristors included in the plurality of electrolysis circuits and the final electrolysis circuit.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electrolysis apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, one end of a capacitor included in each of the plurality of electrolytic circuits and one end of an electrode pair included in the final electrolytic circuit are connected to the DC power source. One end of the main circuit of the thyristor in the first stage electrolysis circuit of the plurality of electrolysis circuits connected in cascade, and connected to the output end of the DC power supply, and of the plurality of electrolysis circuits One end of the main circuit of the thyristor in the remaining electrolysis circuit is connected to a connection point between the electrode pair and the capacitor in the immediately preceding electrolysis circuit, and one end of the main circuit of the thyristor included in the final electrolysis circuit is connected among the plurality of electrolysis circuits The trigger control circuit is connected to the connection point between the electrode pair and the capacitor in the last stage electrolysis circuit, and the first stage electrolysis circuit of the plurality of electrolysis circuits It is conducting thyristor included in sequentially subsequent electrolysis circuit thyristor included, characterized in that for conducting the thyristor included in finally the final electrolysis circuit.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrolysis apparatus that performs electrolysis of an electrolytic solution in which an electrolyte is dissolved, an electrolytic tank that stores the electrolytic solution, a DC power source that supplies power for electrolysis, and the electrolytic solution A first circuit including a first thyristor having a first electrode pair immersed therein and a series circuit in which a capacitor for storing current flowing through the first electrode pair is connected in series; and a main electric circuit connected in series to the series circuit. A second electrolytic circuit including an electrolytic circuit, a second electrode pair immersed in the electrolytic solution, and a second thyristor having a main electric circuit connected in series to the second electrode pair; and from the first thyristor A trigger control circuit for sequentially conducting in order of the second thyristor, one end of the capacitor and one end of the second electrode pair are connected to a return path end of the DC power supply, and a main circuit of the first thyristor Connect the end to the output end of the DC power supply, characterized by connecting a main electrical circuit of the one end of the second thyristor to a connection point between the first the first electrode pair and the capacitor in the electrolytic circuit.

  According to the present invention, the electric current that has flowed through the electrolysis reaction is temporarily stored in the capacitor, and the electrolysis reaction is caused again by applying the voltage from the storage to a new electrode pair. Thus, electrolysis can be performed, and the power consumption efficiency can be remarkably improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present specification, the “electrolytic solution” is a general term for liquids having electrical conductivity, and in addition to a solution in which an electrolyte is dissolved in a solvent, a so-called molten salt that is a liquid consisting only of ions without containing a solvent. (Or ionic liquid). The solvent of the solution is not limited to water, and may be an organic solvent. The electrolytic solution may be simple water, but the electrolyte is intentionally or inevitably dissolved in the water, and is a kind of solution in which the electrolyte is dissolved in a solvent.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of an electrolyzer 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an electrolysis cell (electrolyzer) in which electrodes are arranged. The electrolysis apparatus 1 includes an electrolytic cell 10, a DC power supply 15, a plurality of electrolytic circuits E1 to E5, and a trigger control circuit 19.

  The electrolytic cell 10 contains an electrolytic solution 11 to be electrolyzed. When the electrolytic solution 11 is a high-temperature molten salt, the electrolytic cell 10 may be provided with a heating mechanism for melting the salt.

  The DC power supply 15 is usually composed of a rectifier circuit connected to an AC power supply and a smoothing circuit that obtains a direct current by smoothing the output of the rectifier circuit, and uses electric power (DC) for electrolyzing the electrolytic solution 11. Supply.

  The five electrolytic circuits E <b> 1 to E <b> 5 are cascade-connected circuits, and each performs electrolysis of the electrolytic solution 11 stored in the electrolytic cell 10. Of these, four electrolytic circuits E1 to E4 include electrode pairs 21 to 24, capacitors 31 to 34, and thyristors 41 to 44, respectively, and form the first to fourth stages of cascade connection. The electrolytic circuit E5 includes the electrode pair 25 and the thyristor 45, and constitutes the final stage of the cascade connection.

  The first-stage electrolytic circuit E1 includes a thyristor 41 having a series circuit in which the electrode pair 21 and the capacitor 31 are connected in series, and a main electric circuit connected in series to the series circuit. One end (anode side) of the main circuit of the thyristor 41 is connected to the plus end (output end) of the DC power supply 15, and the other end (cathode side) is connected to the anode 21 a of the electrode pair 21. One end of the capacitor 31 is connected to the negative end (return path end) of the DC power supply 15, and the other end is connected to the cathode 21 b of the electrode pair 21. An electrode pair 21 composed of an anode 21 a that undergoes an oxidation reaction and a cathode 21 b that undergoes a reduction reaction is immersed in the electrolytic solution 11 of the electrolytic cell 10.

  The electrolysis circuits E2, E3, E4 constituting the second to fourth stages of the cascade connection are a series circuit in which the electrode pairs 22, 23, 24 and the capacitors 32, 33, 34 are connected in series and the series thereof. It has thyristors 42, 43, 44 having a main electric circuit connected in series to the circuit. One end (anode side) of the main electric circuit of the thyristors 42 to 44 is connected to a connection point between the electrode pair and the capacitor in the electrolytic circuit immediately before the cascade connection. That is, one end of the thyristor 42 of the electrolytic circuit E2 is connected to a connection point between the electrode pair 21 and the capacitor 31 in the immediately preceding electrolytic circuit E1, and one end of the thyristor 43 of the electrolytic circuit E3 is connected to the electrode pair 22 in the immediately preceding electrolytic circuit E2. Similarly, one end of the thyristor 44 of the electrolytic circuit E4 is connected to the connection point between the electrode pair 23 and the capacitor 33 in the immediately preceding electrolytic circuit E3. The other end (cathode side) of the main electric circuit of the thyristors 42, 43, 44 is connected to the anodes 22a, 23a, 24a of the electrode pairs 22, 23, 24, respectively. Further, one end of each of the capacitors 32, 33, and 34 is connected to the negative end (return path end) of the DC power supply 15, and the other end is connected to the cathodes 22b, 23b, and 24b of the electrode pairs 22, 23, and 24, respectively. The electrode pairs 22, 23, 24 of the electrolytic circuits E 2, E 3, E 4 are all immersed in the electrolytic solution 11 of the electrolytic cell 10.

  The electrolysis circuit E <b> 5 constituting the final stage of the cascade connection includes an electrode pair 25 and a thyristor 45 having a main electric circuit connected in series to the electrode pair 25. One end (anode side) of the main electric circuit of the thyristor 45 is connected to a connection point between the electrode pair 24 and the capacitor 34 in the immediately preceding electrolytic circuit E4 (that is, the last electrolytic circuit of the electrolytic circuits E1 to E4 having a capacitor). . The other end (cathode side) of the main electric circuit of the thyristor 45 is connected to the anode 25 a of the electrode pair 25. The cathode 25b of the electrode pair 25 is directly connected to the negative end (return path end) of the DC power supply 15. The electrode pair 25 of the electrolytic circuit E5 is also immersed in the electrolytic solution 11 of the electrolytic cell 10.

  The output terminals of the trigger control circuit 19 are individually connected to the gates of the thyristors 41, 42, 43, 44, and 45 in the electrolysis circuits E1 to E5. The trigger control circuit 19 can individually apply a trigger signal to each gate of the thyristors 41, 42, 43, 44, 45.

  Next, operation | movement of the electrolyzer 1 which has said structure is demonstrated. With the DC power supply 15 turned on, the trigger control circuit 19 first applies a trigger signal only to the gate of the thyristor 41 included in the electrolytic circuit E1. Then, a predetermined voltage is applied between the anode 21a and the cathode 21b of the electrode pair 21 from the DC power supply 15 via the main electric circuit of the thyristor 41. As a result, an oxidation reaction occurs at the anode 21a, while a reduction reaction occurs at the cathode 21b, and an electric current flows between the anode 21a and the cathode 21b as these electrolysis reactions proceed. Note that the voltage applied between the anode 21a and the cathode 21b is equal to the voltage between the terminals of the DC power supply 15, and a voltage at which electrolysis of the electrolyte 11 occurs (for example, 1.23V if the electrolyte 11 is water). Of course, it is higher.

  The current flowing through the electrode pair 21 is stored in the capacitor 31. When the voltage across the capacitor 31 exceeds a predetermined value, the thyristor 41 stops conducting. At this time, the electric charge is accumulated in the capacitor 31, whereby a voltage is applied to the second stage electrolysis circuit E <b> 2.

  Next, the trigger control circuit 19 applies a trigger signal only to the gate of the thyristor 42 included in the electrolysis circuit E2. Then, the capacitor 31 functions as a power source, and a predetermined voltage is applied from the capacitor 31 via the main electric circuit of the thyristor 42 between the anode 22a and the cathode 22b of the electrode pair 22. As a result, an electrolysis reaction occurs at the anode 22a and the cathode 22b, and a current flows between both electrodes. The current flowing through the electrode pair 22 is stored in the capacitor 32. When the voltage across the capacitor 32 exceeds a predetermined value, the thyristor 42 stops conducting. At this time, the electric charge is accumulated in the capacitor 32, whereby a voltage is applied to the third stage electrolysis circuit E3.

  Subsequently, the trigger control circuit 19 applies a trigger signal only to the gate of the thyristor 43 included in the electrolysis circuit E3. Then, the capacitor 32 functions as a power source, and a predetermined voltage is applied from the capacitor 32 via the main electric circuit of the thyristor 43 between the anode 23a and the cathode 23b of the electrode pair 23. As a result, an electrolysis reaction occurs at the anode 23a and the cathode 23b, and a current flows between both electrodes. The current flowing through the electrode pair 23 is stored in the capacitor 33. When the voltage across the capacitor 33 exceeds a predetermined value, the conduction of the thyristor 43 stops. At this time, the electric charge is accumulated in the capacitor 33, whereby a voltage is applied to the fourth stage electrolysis circuit E4.

  Thereafter, similarly, the trigger control circuit 19 applies a trigger signal only to the gate of the thyristor 44 included in the electrolysis circuit E4. Then, the capacitor 33 functions as a power source, and a predetermined voltage is applied from the capacitor 33 via the main electric circuit of the thyristor 44 between the anode 24a and the cathode 24b of the electrode pair 24. As a result, an electrolysis reaction occurs at the anode 24a and the cathode 24b, and a current flows between both electrodes. The current flowing through the electrode pair 24 is stored in the capacitor 34. When the voltage across the capacitor 34 exceeds a predetermined value, the conduction of the thyristor 44 is stopped. At this time, the electric charge is accumulated in the capacitor 34, whereby a voltage is applied to the final stage electrolytic circuit E5.

  Finally, the trigger control circuit 19 applies a trigger signal only to the gate of the thyristor 45 included in the electrolysis circuit E5. Then, the capacitor 34 functions as a power source, and a predetermined voltage is applied from the capacitor 34 via the main electric circuit of the thyristor 45 between the anode 25a and the cathode 25b of the electrode pair 25. As a result, an electrolysis reaction occurs at the anode 25a and the cathode 25b, and a current flows between both electrodes. Since the final stage electrolytic circuit E5 is not provided with a capacitor, the current flowing through the electrode pair 25 is not stored. Note that the voltage applied to the electrode pair 25 by the capacitor 34 is also higher than the voltage at which the electrolytic solution 11 is electrolyzed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the electrolysis apparatus 1 includes the electrolytic cell 10 that contains the electrolytic solution 11, the DC power supply 15 that supplies power for electrolysis, and the electrode immersed in the electrolytic solution 11. Four stages of electrolysis circuits E1 to E1 that are cascade-connected to each other, each including a series circuit in which a pair and a capacitor that stores current flowing through the electrode pair are connected in series, and a thyristor having a main circuit connected in series to the series circuit E4, a thyristor having a pair of electrodes immersed in the electrolyte solution 11 and a main electric circuit connected in series to the electrode pair, and the final stage electrolysis connected to the subsequent stage of the four-stage electrolytic circuits E1 to E4 A circuit E5, and a trigger control circuit 19 for sequentially conducting the thyristors included in the electrolysis circuits E1 to E4 and the electrolysis circuit E5 are configured. In addition, one end of the capacitor included in each of the four stages of electrolysis circuits E1 to E4 and one end of the electrode pair 25 included in the final electrolysis circuit E5 are connected to the return path end of the DC power supply 15, and cascaded four stages are connected. One end of the main circuit of the thyristor 41 in the first stage electrolysis circuit E1 of the electrolysis circuits E1 to E4 is connected to the output terminal of the DC power supply 15, and one end of the main circuit of the thyristor in the remaining electrolysis circuits E2 to E4 is connected immediately before. One end of the main circuit of the thyristor 45 included in the final electrolytic circuit E5 is connected to the connection point between the electrode pair and the capacitor in the electrolytic circuit, and the electrode pair 24 in the final electrolytic circuit E4 of the four-stage electrolytic circuit. And a capacitor 34 are connected to the connection point.

  Then, the trigger control circuit 19 makes the thyristors 42, 43, 44 included in the subsequent electrolytic circuits E2, E3, E4 sequentially from the thyristor 41 included in the first electrolytic circuit E1 among the five electrolytic circuits E1-E5. Finally, the thyristor 45 included in the final stage electrolytic circuit E5 is made conductive. As a result, the electrolysis circuits E1 to E5 sequentially operate, and the electrolysis reaction proceeds sequentially and intermittently in the electrode pairs 21 to 25. This is because the current flowing by the electrolysis reaction generated in the electrode pair in the previous stage is stored in the capacitor, and the electrolysis reaction occurs again by applying the voltage from the stored electricity to the electrode pair in the subsequent stage through the thyristor. It is nothing but repeating the phenomenon of making it happen. In short, the electric power once used for the electrolysis is reused by repeatedly storing the current flowing through the electrolysis reaction in the capacitor and sending it sequentially to the subsequent electrode pair by the thyristor. Therefore, the power consumption efficiency can be remarkably improved as compared with the conventional electrolysis.

  When the electrolyzer 1 according to the present invention is applied to water electrolysis, hydrogen can be obtained at low cost with low power consumption. Hydrogen can be a fuel for fuel cells, which is expected as a next-generation power source, and the provision of inexpensive hydrogen leads to the popularization of fuel cells. In addition, when the electrolysis apparatus 1 is applied to refining aluminum, titanium, etc., the electrolysis reaction can proceed with low power consumption, and a metal such as aluminum can be used even in a location where inexpensive power supply is difficult. It becomes possible to produce.

  While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention can be modified in various ways other than those described above without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the electrolysis circuits E1 to E5 are cascaded in five stages, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of stages of the electrolysis circuit to be cascaded may be two or more. However, the last stage of the electrolysis circuit to be connected in cascade is the same as the electrolysis circuit E5 not provided with a capacitor. Accordingly, a two-stage configuration in which the electrolytic circuit E5 is directly connected to the first-stage electrolytic circuit E1 of the above embodiment may be employed. In this case, one end of the main electric circuit of the thyristor 45 included in the electrolytic circuit E5 is connected to a connection point between the electrode pair 21 and the capacitor 31 in the electrolytic circuit E1. When the electrolytic circuits are cascaded in multiple stages, the applied voltage decreases as the electrode pair in the subsequent electrolytic circuit decreases, but at least the applied voltage of the electrode pair in the final stage is higher than the voltage at which the electrolytic solution 11 is electrolyzed. It is necessary to select the number of stages and the DC power supply 15.

  In the above embodiment, the electrode pairs 21 to 25 of the electrolysis circuits E1 to E5 are different from each other. However, this may be one electrode pair common to the electrolysis circuits E1 to E5. The shape of the electrode can be any shape such as a flat plate shape or a rod shape.

  In the above embodiment, a voltage is applied to the electrode pairs 21 to 25 by the conduction of the thyristors 41 to 45. However, instead of the thyristors, other switching elements that can turn on / off a part of the circuit are used. It may be used. In this case, the conduction control circuit for controlling each switching element sequentially turns on the switching element included in the subsequent electrolytic circuit from the switching element included in the previous electrolytic circuit, and the voltage of the capacitor included in each electrolytic circuit is a predetermined value. The continuity is cut off when exceeding.

It is a figure which shows the circuit structure of the electrolyzer which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the electrolytic cell which has arrange | positioned the electrode.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrolyzer 10 Electrolytic cell 11 Electrolytic solution 15 DC power supply 19 Trigger control circuit 21-25 Electrode pair 21a-25a Anode 21b-25b Cathode 31-34 Capacitor 41-45 Thyristor E1-E5 Electrolytic circuit

Claims (3)

An electrolysis apparatus for electrolyzing an electrolyte solution,
An electrolytic cell containing an electrolytic solution;
A direct current power source for supplying power for electrolysis;
Each includes a series circuit in which an electrode pair immersed in the electrolytic solution and a capacitor for storing current flowing through the electrode pair are connected in series, and a thyristor having a main circuit connected in series to the series circuit. A plurality of electrolytic circuits,
A final electrolytic circuit including a thyristor having an electrode pair immersed in the electrolytic solution and a main electric circuit connected in series to the electrode pair, and further connected to a subsequent stage of the plurality of electrolytic circuits;
A trigger control circuit for sequentially conducting thyristors included in the plurality of electrolytic circuits and the final electrolytic circuit;
An electrolysis apparatus comprising: The electrolyzer according to claim 1.
Connecting one end of a capacitor included in each of the plurality of electrolytic circuits and one end of an electrode pair included in the final electrolytic circuit to a return path end of the DC power supply;
One end of the main circuit of the thyristor in the first stage electrolysis circuit among the plurality of electrolysis circuits connected in cascade is connected to the output end of the DC power supply, and the thyristor in the remaining electrolysis circuit of the plurality of electrolysis circuits Connect one end of the main circuit to the connection point between the electrode pair and the capacitor in the previous electrolytic circuit,
One end of the main circuit of the thyristor included in the final electrolytic circuit is connected to a connection point between the electrode pair and the capacitor in the last electrolytic circuit of the plurality of electrolytic circuits,
The trigger control circuit sequentially turns on a thyristor included in a subsequent electrolytic circuit from a thyristor included in the first electrolytic circuit among the plurality of electrolytic circuits, and finally causes a thyristor included in the final electrolytic circuit to conduct. An electrolyzer characterized by that. An electrolysis apparatus for electrolyzing an electrolytic solution in which an electrolyte is dissolved,
An electrolytic cell containing an electrolytic solution;
A direct current power source for supplying power for electrolysis;
A first circuit pair connected in series with a first electrode pair immersed in the electrolyte and a capacitor for storing current flowing through the first electrode pair; and a first thyristor having a main electric circuit connected in series to the series circuit. A first electrolytic circuit;
A second electrolytic circuit including a second electrode pair immersed in the electrolyte and a second thyristor having a main circuit connected in series to the second electrode pair;
A trigger control circuit for sequentially conducting the first thyristor to the second thyristor;
With
One end of the capacitor and one end of the second electrode pair are connected to a return end of the DC power supply;
One end of the main circuit of the first thyristor is connected to the output end of the DC power supply;
One end of the main electric circuit of the second thyristor is connected to a connection point between the first electrode pair and the capacitor in the first electrolysis circuit.

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