JP2541163Y2 - Hydrogen / oxygen mixed gas generator - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a water electrolysis type hydrogen / oxygen mixed gas generator using a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) cell.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 shows a flow path configuration of a conventional hydrogen / oxygen mixed gas generator using an SPE cell. In the figure, reference numeral 3 denotes an SPE cell having an anode chamber 4 and a cathode chamber 5 therein. Water forcibly supplied to the anode chamber 4 from the water tank 1 via the flow path 13 by the pump 2 is electrolyzed by the electric power supplied from the DC power supply 12, and oxygen gas is supplied in the anode chamber 4 and hydrogen gas is supplied in the cathode chamber 5. Generates gas. At this time, the oxygen gas is sent to the gas-liquid separation tank 6 together with the surplus water that has not been electrolyzed, and the hydrogen gas together with the small amount of water that has moved from the anode to the cathode during the electrolysis. In the gas-liquid separation tank 6, these gases and water are separated by a difference in specific gravity.

The hydrogen separated above the gas-liquid separation tank 6
The oxygen mixed gas is regulated to a predetermined pressure by a pressure regulator 10 and supplied to a burner or the like connected to a gas outlet 11.
On the other hand, the water separated below the gas-liquid separation tank 6 is released to the atmosphere through the electromagnetic valve 9 and the flow path 14 which are opened and closed by signals from the water level detection sensors 7 and 8 using the pressure of the gas inside. It is returned to the water tank 1 intermittently. Here, the operation of the solenoid valve 9 is electrically connected so as to be opened when the water level in the gas-liquid separation tank 6 exceeds the upper limit detection sensor 7 and closed when the water level falls below the lower limit detection sensor 8.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a water electrolysis cell, particularly in an SPE cell, it is extremely important to control the amount of water sent into the cell. This is because water is not only a raw material for electrolysis, but also serves to bring out heat generated by electrolysis to the outside of the cell. Should the water shortage occur, the SPE may increase due to the temperature rise inside the cell.
Not only will large damage be added to cells and electrodes,
There is a risk that both poles will short out and catch fire.

However, the conventional apparatus does not include a mechanism for detecting that the supply of water to the cell has become excessive or insufficient. This is because if it is desired to detect the excess or deficiency state using the conventional channel mechanism, the channel 13 or the channel 14
And because they must attach the complicated machine structure of the electrical processing expensive, such flow sensors, and there is a problem in reliability of the flow sensor.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a highly safe hydrogen / oxygen mixture having a simple structure and an inexpensive water amount detecting function. To provide a gas generator.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve such a problem, a water electrolysis cell, an electrolytic solution storing means, a gas-liquid separating means, a water level detecting means, and a first water recirculating means are provided. And a second water recirculation means. The water electrolysis cell has an SPE cell. The water fed from the electrolyzed water storage means generates hydrogen gas and oxygen gas by electrolysis. The means is for gas-liquid separation of oxygen gas, hydrogen gas, and water sent from the water electrolysis cell and for temporarily storing them, and the water level detecting means is stored in the gas-liquid separation means. The first water recirculation means and the second water recirculation means use the gas pressure of the hydrogen / oxygen mixed gas to store the water in the gas-liquid storage means. The first water recirculation means is a water level detection means. The second water recirculation means is configured to always communicate between the electrolyzed water storage means and the water storage part of the gas-liquid separation means. It is a device of a mixed gas generating device.

[0008]

By providing a second water recirculation means for constantly communicating the electrolyzed water storage means and the water storage section of the gas-liquid separation means,
Water sent with the gas from the PE cell can be returned to the electrolytic water storage means. By setting this reflux amount to the amount of water necessary for cooling the SPE cell, the operation can be continued without abnormal heat generation. When the amount of water supplied to the SPE cell becomes equal to or less than the amount of water required for cooling, the level of the water in the gas-liquid separation tank falls significantly below the lower limit level, so that the lower limit sensor of the gas-liquid separation tank remains undetected. If this is signal processed and an alarm function is provided, the deterioration of the cell due to heat generation can be prevented beforehand.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below using preferred embodiments. FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a hydrogen / oxygen mixed gas generator according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 3 denotes an SPE cell having an anode chamber 4 and a cathode chamber 5 therein.
The water supplied from the water tank 1 to the anode chamber 4 via the flow path 13 is decomposed by the power supplied from the DC power supply 12 so that oxygen gas is supplied in the anode chamber 4 and hydrogen gas is supplied in the cathode chamber 5. Generate gas. At this time, the oxygen gas is sent to the gas-liquid separation tank 6 together with the surplus water that has not been electrolyzed, and the hydrogen gas together with the slight water that has moved from the anode to the cathode during the electrolysis. In the gas-liquid separation tank 6, these gases and water are separated by a difference in specific gravity. The gas separated above the tank is adjusted to a predetermined pressure by a pressure regulator 10 and supplied to a burner or the like connected to a gas outlet 11.

On the other hand, the water separated below the tank 6
Utilizing the upper gas pressure, it is opened and closed by signals from the always open channel 16 and the water level detection sensors 7 and 8 appropriately adjusted by the needle valve 15 so that only the amount of water necessary for cooling the cell flows in advance. It returns continuously or intermittently to the water tank 1 opened to the atmosphere via a flow path 14 provided with a solenoid valve 9 in the middle. Here, the operation of the solenoid valve 9 is connected to each sensor so as to be opened when the water level of the gas-liquid separation tank 6 exceeds the detection level of the upper limit sensor 7 and closed when the water level falls below the detection level of the lower limit sensor 8. ing. Further, the lower limit sensor is provided with an alarm circuit that stops the entire apparatus unless water is continuously detected for a predetermined time or more.

[0011] The device of the present invention configured as described above,
Of the water sent from the SPE cell 3 to the gas-liquid separation tank 6 together with the gas, the amount of water necessary for cooling the SPE cell 3 is continuously returned to the water tank 1 through the flow path 16. Is intermittently returned to the water tank via a flow path 14 provided with an electromagnetic valve 9 which opens and closes in response to signals from the liquid level sensors 7 and 8. Here, if the amount of water sent to the SPE cell 3 becomes insufficient and the amount of water sent to the gas-liquid separation tank 6 becomes equal to or less than the amount of water necessary for cooling the SPE cell 3,
Even when the solenoid valve 9 is closed, the water surface of the gas-liquid separation tank 6 continues to drop, falls below the detection level of the lower limit sensor 8, and the sensor 8 remains undetected. If the condition continues for more than the set time, the device stops due to the alarm circuit operation,
Deterioration of the SPE, electrodes, etc. due to heat generation inside the SPE cell 3 can be avoided beforehand.

[0012]

The present invention provides a highly safe hydrogen / oxygen mixed gas generator having a simple and inexpensive water amount detection function by providing a new flow path that is always in communication with the conventional flow path mechanism. It is very important to contribute to industrial development.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a hydrogen / oxygen mixed gas generator according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a conventional device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 electrolyzed water storage tank 2 pump 3 SPE cell 6 gas-liquid separation tank 7, 8 liquid level sensor 9 solenoid valve 10 pressure regulator 12 DC power supply

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-63-250481 (JP, A) JP-A-2-51263 (JP, U) JP-A 64-7267 (JP, U) JP-A-63-267 69162 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model 3-74670 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model 4-64569 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A water electrolysis cell (3), an electrolyzed water storage means (1), a gas-liquid separation means (6), and a water level detection means (7,
8), a first water reflux means (14) and a second water reflux means (16), the water splitting cell (3) has a solid polymer electrolyte, Hydrogen gas and oxygen gas are generated by electrolyzing the supplied water. The gas-liquid separation means (6) separates the oxygen gas, hydrogen gas, and water sent from the water electrolysis cell into gas and liquid. The water level detecting means (7, 8) is for detecting the water level stored in the gas-liquid separating means (6) while separating and temporarily storing them. The first water recirculation means (14) and the second water recirculation means (16) convert the water in the gas-liquid storage means (6) into an electrolyzed water storage means (1) by utilizing the gas pressure of a hydrogen / oxygen mixed gas. To return to
The first water recirculation means (14) is a water level detection means (7, 8)
The second water recirculation means (16) constantly communicates the electrolyzed water storage means (1) with the water storage part of the gas-liquid separation means (6). A hydrogen / oxygen mixed gas generator configured to perform