JP2019166126A - Gas supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a gas supply device in which a time at which hydrogen-containing gas is generated is lengthened.SOLUTION: A gas supply device 1 includes a gas generation device 2, a tank 3, a pump 4, two gas feeding path pipes 60 and 61, a discharge path tube 62, and a water feeding pipe 63. In the gas supply device 1, when electrolysis is performed in the gas generation device 2, water vapor-containing oxygen and water vapor-containing hydrogen are sent to a non-water storage space 32 of the tank 3 through a first gas feeding path pipe 60 and a second gas feeding path pipe 61. However, in the gas supply device 1, the water vapor is condensed by being cooled by water pooled in a water storage space 31 of the tank 3, and becomes water again. This water is pooled in the water storage space 31 of the tank 3, and sent to a first separation space 28 of the gas generation device 2. Thereby, in the gas supply device 1, it is possible to lengthen a time at which the hydrogen-containing gas is generated, since a decrease in the water pooled in the gas generation device 2 can be suppressed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a gas supply device.

  The gas supply device is a device that generates hydrogen-containing gas by mixing generated hydrogen and taken-in air, and supplies the hydrogen-containing gas toward a living inhaler such as a nasal cannula. As this gas supply device, a hydrogen suction device described in Patent Document 1 is known.

As shown in FIG. 2, the hydrogen suction device 100 described in Patent Document 1 includes a gas generation device 110 as a device that generates hydrogen by electrolysis of water and a pump 120 as a device that takes in air.
Further, in the housing 130 that houses the gas generator 110 and the pump 120, a discharge path portion for discharging the mixture MG composed of hydrogen and oxygen generated in the gas generator 110 to the outside of the housing 130 is mainly used. A discharge pipe 111 to be formed is installed. The discharge path part is formed from the gas generator 110 to the connection point β provided in the housing 130.

  A mixing point α is set on the discharge path. In addition to the air-fuel mixture MG, the air A taken in by the pump 120 is sent to the mixing point α via the air-mixing path section. The air-fuel mixture MG and air A sent to the mixing point α are mixed at the mixing point α to become a hydrogen-containing gas G. The hydrogen-containing gas G is sent along the discharge path portion from the mixing point α to the connection point β, and further sent to the nasal cannula 190 connected to the connection point β outside the housing 130.

  In addition to the gas generator 110 and the pump 120, the hydrogen suction device 100 includes a separation tank 140 installed on the discharge path. About half of the water is stored in the separation tank 140. The discharge pipe 111 extending from the gas generator 110 to the separation tank 140 is installed so that one end on the separation tank 140 side is located in the water stored in the separation tank 140. The discharge pipe 111 extending from the separation tank 140 toward the mixing point α is installed so that one end on the separation tank 140 side is located in a portion of the separation tank 140 where water is not stored.

  Therefore, the air-fuel mixture MG is blown into the water stored in the separation tank 140 when it is sent from the gas generator 110 to the separation tank 140. When the air-fuel mixture MG emerges from the water stored in the separation tank 140, the air-fuel mixture MG is further discharged from the portion of the separation tank 140 where no water is stored and sent to the mixing point α side.

JP 2017-12501 A

By the way, the water stored in the gas generator 110 is reduced by electrolysis, but is also reduced by evaporation due to heat generated during electrolysis. The evaporated water is sent to the discharge pipe 111 together with the air-fuel mixture MG.
Therefore, there is a problem that the time for generating the hydrogen-containing gas G is short because the water stored in the gas generator 110 is rapidly reduced.

  An object of this invention is to provide the gas supply apparatus with long time in which hydrogen-containing gas is produced | generated.

(1) The gas supply device of the present invention includes a gas generation unit that electrolyzes stored water to generate hydrogen and oxygen, a water storage space in which water is stored by storing water in a sealed internal space, A non-water storage space in which water is not stored, wherein the hydrogen and the oxygen are sent to the non-water storage space from the gas generation unit via an air supply path unit. The space includes a tank unit that generates a hydrogen-containing gas in which at least the hydrogen and the oxygen are mixed.
Further, the gas supply device of the present invention includes an air supply path section that sends the hydrogen and oxygen generated in the gas generation section to the tank section from the gas generation section, and the hydrogen-containing gas from the non-water storage space. And a water supply path section for sending water stored in the water storage space to the gas generation section.

  In the gas supply device of the present invention, water is electrolyzed in the gas generation unit, so that water vapor is generated in the gas generation unit due to heat generated during the electrolysis, and the water vapor is supplied with hydrogen and oxygen along the air supply path unit. Is sent to the non-water storage space.

However, the water vapor sent into the non-water storage space is cooled by the water stored in the water storage space, condensed, returns to water, and stored in the water storage space.
And since the water stored in the water storage space is sent to the gas generation part, even if water vapor is generated by heat generated by electrolysis in the gas generation part, the water forming the water vapor returns to the gas generation part.

Therefore, in the gas supply device of the present invention, even if water vapor is generated in the gas generation unit due to heat generated in the electrolysis, it is possible to suppress a decrease in water stored in the gas generation unit. The time generated can be lengthened.
By the way, the hydrogen suction device 100 described in the background art section has a problem that it is easy to ignite because the air-fuel mixture MG consisting only of hydrogen and oxygen flows in the housing 130.

  However, the problem that the hydrogen suction device 100 is flammable has been dealt with by providing the separation tank 140 in the discharge path portion in the hydrogen suction device 100. That is, in the hydrogen suction device 100, the gas mixture MG is passed through water in the separation tank 140, so that the discharge path portion is located upstream of the separation tank 140 on the gas generator 110 side and on the mixing point α side of the separation tank 140. It was separated into the downstream side. Thereby, in the hydrogen suction device 100, for example, even if the air-fuel mixture MG ignites on the downstream side of the separation tank 140, the upstream side of the separation tank 140 is prevented from starting fire.

  However, since there is no change in the flammable gas mixture MG passing through the discharge path, the provision of the separation tank 140 is a measure that fundamentally solves the problem that the hydrogen suction device 100 is flammable. It was not.

(2) Therefore, the gas supply device of the present invention may include a pump unit that takes in air and an air path unit that is formed to send the air taken in by the pump unit to the non-water storage space. Further, the transfer path section may include a first path section that sends hydrogen generated in the gas generation section to the non-water storage space, and a second path section that sends oxygen generated in the gas generation section to the non-water storage space. Good.
In the gas supply device of the present invention, in the non-reservoir space, at least oxygen sent by the second path part, hydrogen sent by the first path part, and air sent by the air path part. A mixed hydrogen-containing gas may be generated.

  According to the gas supply device of the present invention, hydrogen and oxygen generated in the gas generation unit are sent to the non-water storage space via different path units (first path unit and second path unit). There is no mixture in which only hydrogen and oxygen are mixed up to the non-water storage space.

In addition, since air is sent to the non-water storage space, the hydrogen and oxygen sent from the gas generator do not form an air-fuel mixture consisting only of hydrogen and oxygen even in the non-water storage space.
Therefore, in the gas supply apparatus of the present invention, since an air-fuel mixture consisting only of hydrogen and oxygen does not occur, there is an advantageous effect that it is less flammable than a conventional gas supply apparatus in which an air-fuel mixture is generated.

  (3) Next, the gas supply device of the present invention is viewed from the mixing point and the mixing air path section that sends air from the pump section to the preset mixing point on the discharge path section without passing through the non-water storage space. If the side where the non-reservoir space is located is the upstream side, and the side where the mixing point is located when viewed from the non-reservoir space is the downstream side, it is installed on the discharge path section downstream from the mixing point. You may make it provide the non-return valve part which suppresses that an air flows backward upstream.

  The hydrogen-containing gas, which is obtained by mixing the intake air once with the hydrogen and oxygen sent from the gas generator to the non-water storage space, may have a higher concentration of hydrogen and oxygen in some parts than in other parts. There is sex. However, since the gas supply apparatus of the present invention further mixes air with a hydrogen-containing gas obtained by mixing air with hydrogen and oxygen, the concentration of hydrogen and oxygen in the hydrogen-containing gas becomes uniform.

  In addition, when air is introduced into the discharge path portion through which the hydrogen-containing gas flows, the hydrogen-containing gas flowing through the discharge path portion is pushed back to the upstream side which is the non-water storage space side, and the hydrogen-containing gas downstream from the mixing point. May be pulled back upstream. However, since the gas supply device of the present invention is provided with the check valve on the downstream side from the mixing point, the occurrence of such pullback can be suppressed.

It is a mimetic diagram showing the whole gas supply device composition of an embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the whole structure of the hydrogen inhalation device described in background art.

<Configuration>
Below, the gas supply apparatus which is embodiment to which this invention is applied is demonstrated.
As shown in FIG. 1, the gas supply device 1 of this embodiment includes a gas generation device 2, a tank 3, a pump 4, a check valve 5, and a plurality of path pipes 6.

  The gas supply device 1 of the present embodiment includes two air supply route tubes 60 and 61, a discharge route tube 62, a water supply route tube 63, an air route tube 64, and a mixed air route tube 65 as the route pipe 6. It has.

  The gas generator 2 includes a water tank 20, an ion exchange membrane 21, and two electrodes 22 and 23. The water tank 20 forms a sealed space in which water can be stored. The ion exchange membrane 21 is stretched in the water tank 20 and divides the sealed space of the water tank 20 into two separation spaces 28 and 29. The ion exchange membrane 21 has an electrode 22 laminated on the separation space 28 side and an electrode 23 laminated on the separation space 29 side. These two electrodes 22 and 23 are formed in a flat plate shape, and the area of the plate surface of the electrodes 22 and 23 is smaller than the area of the portion of the ion exchange membrane 21 located in the water tank 20. For this reason, the electrodes 22 and 23 are laminated on the ion exchange membrane 21 so that a portion where the electrodes 22 and 23 are not laminated is formed around the two electrodes 22 and 23. Further, the ion exchange membrane 21 and the electrodes 22 and 23 can transmit gas.

  Water is stored in one of the two separation spaces divided by the ion exchange membrane 21 that is an internal space of the water tank 20. Hereinafter, the separation space in which water is stored is referred to as a first separation space 28, and the separation space in which water is not stored is referred to as a second separation space 29.

  The tank 3 forms a sealed internal space 30 in which water can be stored. Although not shown, the tank 3 has a water supply hole for supplying water to the internal space 30, and this water supply hole is closed except during water supply. When pure water is supplied to the tank 3, a water storage space 31 in which pure water is stored and a non-water storage space 32 in which pure water is not stored are formed in the tank 3 as the internal space 30.

Between the gas generator 2 and the tank 3, air supply path pipes 60 and 61 and a water supply path pipe 63 are respectively piped.
One end in the longitudinal direction of the air supply path pipe 60 is connected to the gas generator 2 so that the space inside the pipe is continuous with the first separation space 28 of the gas generator 2. In addition, the other end in the longitudinal direction of the air supply path pipe 60 is connected to the tank 3 so that the space inside the pipe is continuous with the non-water storage space 32 of the tank 3. The air supply path pipe 60 is hereinafter referred to as a first air supply path pipe 60.

  One end in the longitudinal direction of the air supply path pipe 61 is connected to the gas generator 2 so that the space inside the pipe is continuous with the second separation space 29 of the gas generator 2. In addition, the other end in the longitudinal direction of the air supply path pipe 61 is connected to the tank 3 so that the space inside the pipe is continuous with the non-water storage space 32 of the tank 3. The air supply path pipe 61 is hereinafter referred to as a second air supply path pipe 61.

  One end in the longitudinal direction of the water supply path pipe 63 is connected to the tank 3 so that the space inside the pipe is continuous with the water storage space 31 of the tank 3. In addition, the water supply path pipe 63 is connected to the gas generator 2 at the other end in the longitudinal direction so that the space in the pipe is continuous with the first separation space 28 of the gas generator 2.

A discharge path pipe 62 is piped between the tank 3 and the connector 11 provided in the housing 10 of the gas supply device 1.
The discharge path pipe 62 is connected to the tank 3 at one end in the longitudinal direction so that the space inside the pipe is continuous with the non-water storage space 32 of the tank 3. Further, the other end in the longitudinal direction of the discharge path pipe 62 is connected to the connector 11 provided in the housing 10 of the gas supply device 1.

  When the gas supply device 1 of this embodiment connects a hydrogen-containing gas suction tool such as a nasal cannula to the connection tool 11, the gas supplied from the tank 3 to the connection tool 11 via the discharge path pipe 62 is converted into a hydrogen-containing gas. Can be sent to a gas suction tool.

  When the pump 4 is operated, the pump 4 is a so-called air pump that takes in the air around the pump 4 and can send out the taken-in air at a predetermined pressure. In this embodiment, the pump 4 has two outlets for sending out air.

  An air path pipe 64 is provided between the pump 4 and the tank 3. A mixed air path pipe 65 is piped between the pump 4 and the mixing point 7 set on the discharge path pipe 62.

  The air path pipe 64 is connected to the tank 3 at one end in the longitudinal direction so that the space inside the pipe is continuous with the non-water storage space 32 of the tank 3. Further, the air path pipe 64 is connected at its other end in the longitudinal direction to one delivery port provided in the pump 4 so that the air sent out by the pump 4 can be taken into the pipe.

  One end in the longitudinal direction of the mixed air path pipe 65 is connected to the discharge path pipe 62 at the mixing point 7 so that the inner space of the mixed air path pipe 65 is continuous with the inner space of the discharge path pipe 62. In addition, the mixed air path pipe 65 has another longitudinal outlet at the other end in the longitudinal direction so that the air sent out by the pump 4 can be taken into the pipe (the feed path to which the air path pipe 64 is connected). Connected to another outlet different from the outlet).

  The check valve 5 is installed on the discharge path pipe 62 between the mixing point 7 and the connector 11. The check valve 5 prevents the gas flowing in the discharge path pipe 62 from flowing from the connection tool 11 side to the mixing point 7 side, and makes a constant flow so as to flow from the mixing point 7 side to the connection tool 11 side. is there.

<Operation>
Next, operation | movement of the gas supply apparatus 1 of this embodiment is demonstrated.
The gas supply apparatus 1 of this embodiment operates by supplying general household AC power (not shown). However, the gas generator 2 is supplied with electric power converted into general household AC power DC, and the pump 4 is supplied with general household AC power. Further, the gas generator 2 is supplied with direct current power so that the electrode located on the first separation space 28 side of the ion exchange membrane 21 serves as an anode and the electrode located on the second separation space 29 side serves as a cathode. Supplied.

  When DC power is supplied to the gas generator 2, the stored water is electrolyzed in the first separation space 28 to generate oxygen and hydrogen. Among these, hydrogen is sent to the second separation space 29 through the ion exchange membrane.

  In the first separation space 28, oxygen is stored above the stored water. More precisely, the above-described first air supply path pipe 60 is connected to the gas generator 2 at a position where the pipe space is continuous with the space of the first separation space 28 where oxygen is stored. Therefore, when oxygen is generated one after another in the first separation space 28, the oxygen generated in the first separation space 28 is sent to the non-water storage space 32 of the tank 3 through the first air supply path pipe 60.

  In the second separation space 29, hydrogen that has passed through the ion exchange membrane 21 is stored. The second air supply path pipe 61 described above is connected to the gas generator 2 so that the inner space of the pipe is continuous with the second separation space 29. Therefore, when hydrogen passes through the ion exchange membrane 21 and is successively supplied to the second separation space 29, the hydrogen supplied to the second separation space 29 is transferred to the tank 3 via the second air supply path pipe 61. Is sent to the non-water storage space 32.

  When electrolysis is performed in the gas generator 2, the electrode 22 and the electrode 23 are heated. For this reason, water vapor is generated in the first separation space 28, and the oxygen stored in the first separation space 28 is mixed with water vapor. Some of the water vapor also reaches the second separation space 29 via the ion exchange membrane 21. Therefore, water vapor is also mixed with the hydrogen stored in the second separation space 29.

  That is, when electrolysis is performed in the gas generator 2, oxygen containing water vapor and hydrogen containing water vapor are converted into the non-water storage space of the tank 3 through the first air supply path pipe 60 and the second air supply path pipe 61. 32.

  When AC power is supplied to the pump 4, air is supplied to the tank 3 and the discharge path pipe 62 via the air path pipe 64 and the mixed air path pipe 65. As for the air supplied at this time, when the flow rate of the hydrogen-containing gas discharged from the connector 11 is 1, the flow rate of the air passing through the air path pipe 64 and the mixed air path pipe 65 is approximately ½. It is supplied from the pump 4 so that The air supplied to the tank 3 is sent to the non-water storage space 32 of the tank 3.

  Thus, since hydrogen and oxygen are sent from the gas generator 2 to the non-water storage space 32 of the tank 3 and air is sent from the pump 4, hydrogen, oxygen, and air are mixed in the non-water storage space 32. Is done. The hydrogen-containing gas in which hydrogen, oxygen, and air are mixed is discharged from the non-water storage space 32 of the tank 3 toward the connector 11 through the discharge path pipe 62. The hydrogen-containing gas discharged from the tank 3 is mixed with air sent from the pump 4 through the mixed air path pipe 65 at the mixing point 7. Further, the hydrogen-containing gas mixed with the air sent from the pump 4 at the mixing point 7 is supplied to the connector 11 via the check valve 5.

  Therefore, when a biological inhaler such as a nasal cannula is connected to the connector 11 provided in the housing 10 of the gas supply device 1 of the present embodiment, a hydrogen-containing gas is supplied to the biological inhaler.

<Characteristic effect of the gas supply apparatus 1 of this embodiment>
The characteristic operation and effects of the gas supply device 1 operating as described above will be described below.
In the gas supply device 1 of the present embodiment, the pure water stored in the first separation space 28 is reduced by electrolysis. Moreover, the pure water stored in the first separation space 28 is evaporated by the heat generated by the electrodes 22 and 23, and together with the hydrogen and oxygen generated by electrolysis, the first air supply path pipe 60 and the second air supply path. It will come out of the gas generator 2 through the pipe 61.

  However, in the gas supply device 1 of the present embodiment, the water vapor that has flowed out of the gas generator 2 through the first air supply path pipe 60 and the second air supply path pipe 61 is sent to the mixing space of the tank 3. The water stored in the water storage space 31 of the tank 3 is cooled and condensed to return to the water. The returned water is stored in the water storage space 31 of the tank 3 and then sent to the first separation space 28 of the gas generator 2.

  Therefore, in the gas supply device 1 of the present embodiment, even if water vapor is generated in the gas generator 2 due to heat generated during electrolysis, it is possible to suppress a decrease in water stored in the gas generator 2. The time for generating the hydrogen-containing gas can be lengthened.

  Next, according to the gas supply device 1 of the present embodiment, the hydrogen and oxygen generated in the gas generation unit are not passed through different path parts (the first air supply path pipe 60 and the second air supply path pipe 61). Since it is sent to the water storage space, there is no air-fuel mixture in which only hydrogen and oxygen are mixed between the gas generator 2 and the non-water storage space 32 of the tank 3.

Further, since air is sent from the pump 4 to the non-water storage space 32 of the tank 3, the hydrogen and oxygen sent from the gas generator 2 are composed only of hydrogen and oxygen in the non-water storage space 32. Does not form a mixture.
Therefore, in the gas supply device 1 of the present embodiment, since an air-fuel mixture consisting only of hydrogen and oxygen is less likely to be generated, there is an advantageous effect that it is less likely to be ignited compared to a conventional gas supply device that generates air-fuel mixture.

  By the way, the hydrogen-containing gas obtained by mixing the air taken in by the pump 4 once with the hydrogen and oxygen sent from the gas generator 2 to the non-water storage space 32 of the tank 3 includes a part of hydrogen and oxygen. The concentration of can be higher than other parts.

  However, since the gas supply apparatus 1 of the present embodiment further mixes air with the hydrogen-containing gas obtained by mixing air with hydrogen and oxygen at the mixing point 7, the concentration of hydrogen and oxygen in the hydrogen-containing gas is uniform. become.

  Further, when air is introduced into the discharge path pipe 62 through which the hydrogen-containing gas flows, at the mixing point 7, the hydrogen-containing gas flowing through the discharge path pipe 62 is pushed back to the upstream side, which is the non-water storage space 32 side, and downstream from the mixing point 7. The hydrogen-containing gas on the side may be drawn back upstream.

However, since the gas supply device 1 of the present embodiment is provided with the check valve 5 on the downstream side from the mixing point 7, the occurrence of such pullback can be suppressed.
<Correspondence between this embodiment and the present invention>
The gas generator 2 of this embodiment is corresponded to the gas generation part of this invention.
The tank 3 of the present embodiment corresponds to the tank unit of the present invention.
The first air supply path pipe 60 of the present embodiment corresponds to the air supply path part and the second path part of the present invention, and the second air supply path pipe 61 is the air supply path part and the first path part of the present invention. It corresponds to.

The pump 4 of this embodiment corresponds to the pump unit of the present invention.
The discharge path pipe 62 of the present embodiment corresponds to the discharge path portion of the present invention.
The water supply path pipe 63 of the present embodiment corresponds to the water supply path part of the present invention.

The air path pipe 64 of the present embodiment corresponds to the air path portion of the present invention.
The mixed air path pipe 65 of the present embodiment corresponds to the mixed air path portion of the present invention.
The check valve 5 of the present embodiment corresponds to the check valve portion of the present invention.

[Other Embodiments]
The embodiments have been described above, but the invention described in the claims is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can take various forms.
(1) In the above embodiment, an example in which an ion exchange membrane is provided as the gas generation device 2 has been shown. However, the gas generation device 2 is not limited to the one having an ion exchange membrane, and hydrogen and oxygen are obtained by electrolysis. Any device can be used as long as it can be generated.

(2) Each component of the present invention is conceptual and is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the functions of one component may be distributed to a plurality of components, or the functions of a plurality of components may be integrated into one component. Further, at least a part of the configuration of the above embodiment may be replaced with a known configuration having the same function. In addition, at least a part of the configuration of the above embodiment may be added to or replaced with the configuration of the other embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Gas supply apparatus, 2 ... Gas generator, 3 ... Tank, 4 ... Pump, 5 ... Check valve,
6 ... path pipe, 7 ... mixing point, 10 ... housing, 11 ... connector, 20 ... water tank,
21 ... Ion exchange membrane, 22 ... Electrode, 23 ... Electrode, 28 ... First separation space,
29 ... second separation space, 30 ... internal space, 31 ... water storage space, 32 ... non-water storage space,
60 ... 1st air supply path pipe, 61 ... 2nd air supply path pipe, 62 ... Discharge path pipe, 63 ... Water supply path pipe,
64: Air path pipe, 65 ... Mixed air path pipe.

Claims (3)

A gas generator that electrolyzes the stored water to generate hydrogen and oxygen;
A tank portion in which water is stored in a sealed internal space to form a water storage space in which water is stored and a non-water storage space in which water is not stored is formed, and the non-water storage space includes the gas generation unit. The tank through which the hydrogen and the oxygen are sent from an air supply path, and in the non-water storage space, a hydrogen-containing gas in which at least the hydrogen and the oxygen are mixed is generated;
A discharge path for discharging the hydrogen-containing gas from the non-water storage space;
A gas supply device comprising: a water supply path section that sends water stored in the water storage space to the gas generation section. The gas supply device according to claim 1,
A pump section for taking in air;
An air path section for sending the air taken in by the pump section to the non-water storage space,
The air supply path part is
A first path section for sending hydrogen generated in the gas generation section from the gas generation section to the non-water storage space of the tank section;
A second path section that sends oxygen generated in the gas generation section from the gas generation section to the non-water storage space of the tank section, and is sent by at least the second path section in the non-water storage space. A gas supply device in which the hydrogen-containing gas is generated by mixing the oxygen, the hydrogen sent by the first path part, and the air sent by the air path part. In the gas supply device according to claim 1 or 2,
A mixed air path section for sending air from the pump section without passing through the non-water storage space to a preset mixing point on the discharge path section;
When the side where the non-water storage space is located when viewed from the mixing point is the upstream side, and the side where the mixing point is located when viewed from the non-water storage space is the downstream side, the downstream side of the mixing point is the downstream side. A gas supply device, comprising: a check valve portion that is installed on the discharge path portion and prevents air from flowing backward from the downstream side to the upstream side.