JP5005898B2 - Steam electrolysis apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a steam electrolysis apparatus and method for obtaining hydrogen and oxygen by electrolyzing high-temperature steam.

  As this type of high-temperature steam electrolysis, a method is known in which high-temperature steam is electrolyzed to obtain hydrogen gas and oxygen gas (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The principle of operation uses the reverse reaction of a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC).

  In order to perform high-temperature steam electrolysis, an electrochemical cell in which a hydrogen electrode and an oxygen electrode are provided with a solid oxide electrolyte material interposed therebetween is generally used. A structure for separating hydrogen and oxygen obtained by electrolysis of the electrochemical cell is required. Normally, the hydrogen electrode side atmosphere is mainly composed of water vapor and hydrogen as fuel, while the oxygen electrode side atmosphere is mainly composed of nitrogen and oxygen when the supply gas is air, and the supply gas is oxygen. When it does, oxygen becomes the main component. In this way, the types of gas supplied to both electrodes are completely different, and a gas supply mechanism is required for each electrode, which complicates this configuration.

  The electrochemical cell structure includes a flat plate type and a cylindrical type. The hydrogen-side atmosphere and the oxygen-side atmosphere of this electrochemical cell are separated by a dense structure of a solid oxide electrolyte, which is a constituent part of the electrochemical cell, and a gas seal at the end of the cell. By isolating in this way, the leakage of the atmospheric gas between the hydrogen electrode side atmosphere and the oxygen side atmosphere is minimized. If the electrochemical cell is used alone, gas sealing at the cell edge is relatively easy. However, when these are stacked and used as an aggregate, it is considered that the gas seal reliability at the end of the cell is lowered.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of a conventional solid electrolyte fuel cell, and FIG. 11 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of a conventional cylindrical electrolytic cell and its peripheral portion.

  In FIG. 10, the solid electrolyte fuel cell includes a cylindrical electrolytic cell 101 and a module housing 110 in which the electrolytic cell 101 is housed. The module housing 110 is divided into a water vapor supply chamber 102, a water vapor and generated hydrogen discharge chamber 103, and an oxygen generation chamber 105. The water vapor from the water vapor supply chamber 102 is supplied into the electrolysis cell 101 via the water vapor injection pipe 104.

  As shown in FIG. 11, a current collecting metal cap 106 is attached to one end of a cylindrical electrolytic cell 101, and the other end has a completely closed structure by a seal cap 107, so that fuel can be supplied and discharged from the electrolytic cell 101. It is possible only from one side. In addition, the electrolytic cell 101 is supported by the taper-type seal portion 108 with the tube plate 111, so that the electrolytic cell 101 can be attached and detached, and can be gas-sealed.

The current lead will be described. The hydrogen electrode side lead portion is taken out via the taper type sealing 108. The oxygen electrode side lead portion is introduced into the electrolysis cell 101 with the cell lead portion 112 at the lower end of the electrolysis cell 101 fixed to the seal cap 107 and taken out from the collecting metal cap 106 through a reducing atmosphere.

  The above-described conventional high-temperature steam electrolysis apparatus electrolyzes high-temperature steam to obtain hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, and its operation principle uses the reverse reaction of a solid electrolyte fuel cell.

  However, each of the atmosphere gas on the hydrogen electrode side and the oxygen electrode side requires a gas introduction part that uses hydrogen and water vapor on the hydrogen electrode side, and a gas introduction part that uses nitrogen and oxygen on the oxygen electrode side. Therefore, there has been a problem that the structure of the gas introduction part is doubled and complicated.

  In addition, the gas seal portions of the hydrogen electrode side atmosphere and the oxygen electrode side atmosphere are required at two locations above and below the electrolysis cell 101, and the gas seal portion includes a cell lead portion in any case. Therefore, there has been a problem that it is difficult to realize a reliable and reliable seal.

  Furthermore, since it uses at high temperature, the subject that the lifetime improvement of a seal had to be considered occurred.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can suppress gas leakage occurring between the hydrogen electrode side atmosphere and the oxygen electrode side atmosphere, improve safety, and further simplify the device structure. It is an object of the present invention to obtain a high temperature steam electrolysis apparatus and method.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an electrochemical cell comprising an electrolyte having a solid oxide and a hydrogen electrode and an oxygen electrode provided on the basis of the electrolyte and sandwiching the electrolyte. In a steam electrolysis apparatus that is supported and fixed to be stored and electrolyzes water vapor to generate hydrogen, the same gas mainly containing water vapor having the same gas supply pressure is supplied to the hydrogen electrode and the oxygen electrode. A common gas supply means.
In addition, the present invention provides an electrochemical cell having a solid oxide and a hydrogen electrode and an oxygen electrode provided in a shape sandwiching the electrolyte and supported on and fixed to the inner wall of the container. In a steam electrolyzer that is stored and generates hydrogen by electrolyzing water vapor, gas supply means for supplying the same gas mainly containing water vapor with the same gas supply pressure to the hydrogen electrode and the oxygen electrode. And the gas supply means includes means for causing the gas in contact with the hydrogen electrode and the gas in contact with the oxygen electrode to flow in different directions.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an electrochemical cell having an electrolyte having a solid oxide and a hydrogen electrode and an oxygen electrode provided with the electrolyte as a basic body and sandwiching the electrolyte. In the water vapor electrolysis method in which hydrogen is generated by electrolyzing water vapor and supported by being fixedly supported on the inner wall of the gas, the same gas mainly containing water vapor having the same gas supply pressure as the hydrogen electrode and the oxygen electrode. It has a gas supply step of supplying from a common gas supply means .

According to the steam electrolysis apparatus and method of the present invention, by providing a gas supply means for supplying the same gas containing water vapor having the same gas supply pressure to the hydrogen electrode and the oxygen electrode, the atmosphere on the hydrogen electrode side and the oxygen are provided. It is possible to suppress a gas leak that occurs between the pole-side atmosphere, improve safety, and further simplify the device structure.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a steam electrolysis apparatus and method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, the same or similar parts are denoted by common reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a configuration of a water vapor electrolysis apparatus using a flat plate electrochemical cell according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cylinder according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of the water vapor electrolysis apparatus using a type electrochemical cell.

  As shown in this figure, the water vapor electrolysis apparatus is mainly composed of an electrochemical cell 11 and a container 12 for storing the electrochemical cell 11. One end of the container 12 is provided with a gas supply unit 13 which is a gas supply means for supplying a gas mainly composed of water vapor. The other end of the container 12 is provided with a hydrogen electrode side gas discharge portion 14 that discharges gas discharged from the hydrogen electrode side atmosphere 23. The other end of the container 12 is provided with an oxygen electrode side gas discharge unit 15 for discharging gas discharged from the oxygen electrode side atmosphere 24.

  On one surface of the electrochemical cell 11 described above, the hydrogen electrode side current lead portion 16 coupled to the negative electrode of the power source 22 is connected to form a hydrogen electrode side atmosphere 23. Further, the oxygen electrode side current lead portion 17 coupled to the positive electrode of the power source 22 is connected to the other surface of the electrochemical cell 11 to form an oxygen electrode side atmosphere 24.

  In the present embodiment, the structure of the electrochemical cell 11 is not particularly limited. As a structure of this electrochemical cell 11, the flat plate type shown in FIG. 1 and the cylindrical type shown in FIG. 2 are illustrated. In addition to this, an electrochemical cell 11 of a closed-end cylindrical type, a honeycomb type, a pleat type, a wave type or the like can also be applied. In addition, the electrochemical cell 11 may be a single body or an assembly using a plurality. Further, the size of the electrochemical cell 11 is not particularly limited. Further, the configuration of the electrochemical cell 11 is not particularly limited.

As for the configuration of the electrochemical cell 11, in FIG. 1, a flat plate cell in which an electrolyte 11 a is used as a base and a hydrogen electrode 11 b and an oxygen electrode 11 c are provided sandwiching the electrolyte 11 a is employed. In FIG. 2, a cylindrical cell 11 is employed. The cylindrical cell 11, the electrolyte 11a as a base, the hydrogen electrode material 11b on the outer side, the inner side employs a cell constituted by an oxygen electrode material 11c. The material to be the base may be any of a hydrogen electrode material, an electrolyte material, and an oxygen electrode material, or may be composed of other materials.

  Further, the supply conditions of the gas mainly composed of water vapor supplied to the hydrogen electrode and the oxygen electrode, for example, the water supply flow rate, the supply flow rate, etc. may be set as the same conditions, or some or all of the conditions may be set. You may make it different.

  When the supply conditions of the gas mainly composed of water vapor supplied to the hydrogen electrode and the oxygen electrode are set to be different, a mechanism capable of adjusting the supply conditions is incorporated to adjust the gas supply flow rate, the supply flow rate, and the like. For example, in the hydrogen electrode side gas discharge unit 14 and the oxygen electrode side gas discharge unit 15, a gas flow rate adjustment valve (not shown) that is a gas adjusting unit is installed and adjusted by taking measures such as changing the pipe diameter. . There is no particular limitation on the method and mechanism of the mechanism that can adjust the gas supply conditions.

  Furthermore, the sealing method of the edge part of the electrochemical cell 11 is demonstrated. The electrochemical cell 11 and the container 12 can be joined and sealed using a glass material, a ceramic material, or the like.

  For example, when the flat electrochemical cell 11 shown in FIG. 1 is used, the electrochemical cell 11 is supported and fixed to the inner wall of the container 12 described above. The support / fixing portion is formed by, for example, mechanically providing a groove or the like. Simple sealing is possible only by supporting and fixing the electrochemical cell 11 in the groove or the like. Furthermore, the sealing performance can be improved by reinforcing the joint portion with a ceramic material or a glass material.

  When the cylindrical electrochemical cell 11 shown in FIG. 2 is used, it is supported and fixed to the inner wall of the container 12 at the end of the electrochemical cell 11. As described above, the seal portion is provided on the inner wall of the cylindrical electrochemical cell 11, but the position of the support / fixation portion is not particularly limited. For example, the cylindrical electrochemical cell 11 can be provided with a seal portion by lengthening the base material portion 11a of the cylindrical electrochemical cell 11 and supporting and fixing it to the inner wall of the container 12 in the middle of the cell. In this way, by separating the hydrogen electrode side discharge part 14 for discharging the gas discharged from the atmosphere on the hydrogen electrode side 11b from the high temperature reaction part, it becomes possible to make the temperature low, and the sealing material and method The number of options increases, and the sealing performance improves. Thereby, the gas leak to a bipolar atmosphere is reduced.

  In the present embodiment configured as described above, the gas supplied to the hydrogen electrode side 11b and the oxygen electrode side 11c is the same gas supply unit 13 because the same water vapor as a main component is introduced. Supplied from

According to this embodiment, as in the conventional art, and so the hydrogen electrode side supplying air to the oxygen electrode side supplying steam and reducing gas, both for introducing a completely different gas both electrodes A sealing mechanism for isolating the gap is not necessary. For this reason, the structure of the water vapor electrolysis apparatus can be simplified. Moreover, since the gas supply parts are the same, the gas supply pressures of both electrodes are the same, and gas leaks at the cell edge can be minimized.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the configuration of a water vapor electrolysis apparatus using a flat plate electrochemical cell according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the flow of gas supplied to the hydrogen electrode side and the oxygen electrode side in the first embodiment is reversed, and common to the same or similar parts as the first embodiment. The duplicated explanation is omitted by attaching the reference numeral.

  As shown in the figure, the water vapor electrolysis apparatus is mainly composed of a flat plate type electrochemical cell 11 and a container 12 for storing the electrochemical cell 11. One end of the container 12 is provided with a gas supply unit 13 for supplying a gas mainly composed of water vapor into the hydrogen electrode side atmosphere 23. The other end of the container 12 is provided with a hydrogen electrode side discharge portion 14 for discharging gas discharged from the hydrogen electrode side atmosphere 23. In this hydrogen electrode side atmosphere 23, the hydrogen concentration becomes higher from the gas supply unit 13 side toward the gas discharge unit 14 side.

  On the other hand, in the oxygen electrode side atmosphere 24, the gas flow direction is opposite to that of the hydrogen electrode side atmosphere 23. That is, the gas discharge part 14 side (right side in FIG. 3) on the hydrogen electrode 11b side is the gas supply part side on the oxygen electrode 11c side.

  That is, at one end of the container 12, a gas supply unit 13 a that supplies a gas containing water vapor as a main component in the oxygen electrode side atmosphere 24 is provided. The other end of the container 12 is provided with an oxygen electrode side discharge portion 15 that discharges gas discharged from the oxygen electrode side atmosphere 24. In the oxygen electrode side atmosphere 24, the oxygen concentration increases from the gas supply unit 13a side to the gas discharge unit 15 side.

  Moreover, the supply conditions of the gas mainly composed of water vapor supplied to the hydrogen electrode 11b and the oxygen electrode 11c may be set as the same conditions, or some or all of the conditions may be different. It is only necessary to incorporate a mechanism capable of adjusting the gas supply conditions to adjust the gas supply flow rate, the supply flow rate, and the like.

  Furthermore, the gas flow direction is not limited. FIG. 3 illustrates the case where the gas flows supplied to the hydrogen electrode 11b side and the oxygen electrode 11c side are in opposite directions. For example, the gas flows may be in directions orthogonal to each other, or the same. If it is not a direction, it may be set in other directions.

  In the present embodiment, the atmosphere having a high hydrogen concentration on the hydrogen electrode 11b side is an atmosphere having a low oxygen concentration on the oxygen electrode 11c side. For this reason, even when a small amount of hydrogen leaks, the amount of oxygen is small, so that the combustion reaction can be minimized. On the other hand, the same applies when a small amount of oxygen leaks to the hydrogen electrode side.

According to the present embodiment, since the gas is introduced from different directions in both electrodes, a sealing mechanism for isolating the two becomes unnecessary, so that the structure of the water vapor electrolysis apparatus can be simplified. Moreover, gas leakage at the cell ends occurring between the hydrogen electrode side atmosphere 23 and a hydrogen electrode side atmosphere 24 also can be minimized.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of a steam electrolysis apparatus using a flat plate electrochemical cell according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the steam electrolysis apparatus of FIG. FIG. 6 is a top view seen from the hydrogen electrode side, and FIG. 6 is a side view seen from the XX direction of the steam electrolyzer of FIG. In this embodiment, a seal wall 18 is newly provided in the steam electrolysis apparatus shown in the first embodiment, and the same or similar parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by common reference numerals. Therefore, the duplicate description is omitted.

  As shown in the figure, the water vapor electrolysis apparatus is mainly composed of a flat plate type electrochemical cell 11 and a container 12 for storing the electrochemical cell 11. One end of the container 12 is provided with a gas supply unit 13 which is a gas supply means for supplying a gas mainly composed of water vapor. The other end of the container 12 is provided with a hydrogen electrode side gas discharge portion 14 that discharges gas discharged from the hydrogen electrode side atmosphere 23. The other end of the container 12 is provided with an oxygen electrode side gas discharge unit 15 for discharging gas discharged from the oxygen electrode side atmosphere 24.

  Seal walls 18 are joined to both sides between the electrochemical cell 11 and the inner wall of the container 12. Further, an isolation wall 19 is provided for isolating the gas flow part 25 which is a space constituted by the seal wall 18 into the hydrogen electrode side atmosphere 23a and the oxygen electrode side atmosphere 24a.

  In the gas circulation part 25 formed by the sealing wall 18, the isolation wall 19, the electrochemical cell 11 and the inner wall of the container 12, gas is supplied from the gas supply part 20 and the gas circulation part 25. A gas discharge unit 21 for discharging is provided.

  As an example of the structure and configuration of the electrochemical cell 11, a flat cell is used, and an electrolyte 11 a is used as a base, and a hydrogen electrode 11 b and an oxygen electrode 11 c are provided so as to sandwich it.

  By configuring as described above, the hydrogen-side atmosphere 23a and the oxygen-side atmosphere 24a have a dense structure of the solid oxide electrolyte 11a, which is a constituent part of the electrochemical cell 11, the isolation wall 19, and the seal wall 18 at the end of the cell. Isolated by

  In addition, an inert gas other than hydrogen and oxygen is supplied to the gas flow part 25 formed by the seal wall 18 to suppress gas leakage to the atmosphere to each other and reduce the contact between hydrogen and oxygen. It is also possible. Moreover, it is desirable that the gas pressure supplied to the seal portion is equal to or higher than the gas pressure of the hydrogen electrode side atmosphere 23 and the oxygen electrode side atmosphere 24. In this way, the inflow of hydrogen or oxygen into the gas seal portion is minimized or minimized, and the gas leakage of hydrogen or oxygen into the mutual atmosphere of the hydrogen electrode side atmosphere 23 and the oxygen side atmosphere 24 is minimized or minimized. It is possible to suppress.

  Further, by applying water vapor instead of inert gas other than hydrogen and oxygen to the gas flow part 25 formed by the seal wall 18, when combined with the first embodiment, the supplied gas is: All are the same, and a simple device structure can be configured.

  In the present embodiment configured as described above, the hydrogen electrode side atmosphere 23 and the oxygen electrode side atmosphere 24 are composed of a dense structure of the solid oxide electrolyte 11a, which is a constituent part of the electrochemical cell 11, and a gas seal wall at the end of the cell. 18 to isolate. By isolating in this way, leakage of atmospheric gas between the hydrogen electrode side atmosphere 23 and the oxygen side atmosphere 24 can be minimized.

  According to the present embodiment, the conventional method for sealing the end portion of the electrochemical cell 11 is operated at a high temperature, so there is a possibility that a gas containing hydrogen or oxygen at a high concentration directly contacts the seal portion. Even a slight leak is dangerous. Even for such a slight leak, the sealing performance is sufficiently ensured and the safety of the apparatus can be improved. Furthermore, a simple device structure can be configured and the reliability can be improved.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing the structure of a water vapor electrolysis apparatus using a flat plate electrochemical cell according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the water vapor electrolysis apparatus shown in FIG. 9 is a top view seen from the hydrogen electrode side, and FIG. 9 is a side view seen from the YY direction of the steam electrolyzer of FIG. In the present embodiment, a gas containing water vapor as a main component is supplied to the space formed by the seal wall 18 of the third embodiment, and the same or similar part as the third embodiment A common reference numeral is assigned to each to omit redundant description.

  As shown in the figure, the water vapor electrolysis apparatus is mainly composed of a flat plate type electrochemical cell 11 and a container 12 for storing the electrochemical cell 11. The other end of the container 12 is provided with a hydrogen electrode side gas discharge unit 14 for discharging gas discharged from the hydrogen electrode side atmosphere 23. The other end of the container 12 is provided with an oxygen electrode side gas discharge unit 15 for discharging gas discharged from the oxygen electrode side atmosphere 24.

  Seal walls 18 are joined to both sides between the electrochemical cell 11 and the inner wall of the container 12. Further, an isolation wall 19 is provided for isolating the gas flow part 25 formed by the seal wall 18 into the hydrogen electrode side atmosphere 23 and the oxygen electrode side atmosphere 24.

  In the gas circulation part 25 secured by the sealing wall 18, the isolation wall 19, the electrochemical cell 11, and the container 12, a gas supply part 20 to which a gas mainly composed of water vapor is supplied is provided.

  As for the configuration of the electrochemical cell 11, an example is shown in which an electrolyte 11a using a flat plate cell is used as a basic body, and a hydrogen electrode 11b and an oxygen electrode 11b are provided in a sandwiched manner. The hydrogen electrode side atmosphere 23 and the oxygen side atmosphere 24 are isolated by the dense structure of the solid oxide electrolyte 11a, which is a constituent part of the electrochemical cell 11, the seal wall 18 and the isolation wall 19 at the end of the cell. And the oxygen-side atmosphere 24 are prevented from leaking to each other.

  In the present embodiment configured as described above, a gas containing water vapor as a main component is supplied from the gas circulation part 25 configured by the seal wall 18. Further, the gas mainly composed of water vapor that has passed through the gas flow part 25 is supplied to the hydrogen electrode 11 b side and the oxygen electrode 11 c of the electrochemical cell 11 through the gas supply part 26.

  In addition, the gas mainly composed of water vapor supplied to the gas circulation part 25 constituted by the seal wall 18 can be preheated by the gas that has passed through the electrochemical cell 11 in advance. Further, the gas mainly composed of water vapor supplied to the gas circulation part 25 constituted by the seal wall 18 can be preheated by the gas passing through the cell even when passing near the seal wall 18 part. is there. Thereby, the residual heat mechanism is simplified, a simple apparatus configuration is possible, and effective residual heat of the gas is also possible.

  In addition, the gas that has passed through the gas flow part 25 constituted by the seal wall 18 in the container 12 that stores the electrochemical cell 11 is turned back and supplied in the gas supply part 26. For example, it may be supplied via a gas rectifying plate (not shown). This gas supply method is not particularly limited. For example, after passing through the seal portion, it may be supplied to a heat source and further heated, and the heated gas may be supplied to the electrochemical cell.

  According to the present embodiment, gas leakage to the hydrogen electrode 11b and the oxygen electrode 11c in the hydrogen electrode side atmosphere 23 and the oxygen electrode side atmosphere 24 can be suppressed to the minimum, and the contact between hydrogen and oxygen can be reduced. Further, it is desirable that the gas pressure supplied to the space formed by the seal wall 18 is equal to or higher than the gas pressure of the hydrogen electrode side atmosphere 23 and the oxygen electrode side atmosphere 24. Thereby, the inflow of hydrogen or oxygen into the vicinity of the seal wall 18 is reduced or reduced to a minimum, and gas leakage of hydrogen or oxygen into the mutual atmosphere of the hydrogen electrode side atmosphere 23 and the oxygen electrode side atmosphere 24 is reduced or minimized. Can be suppressed. Further, the gases to be supplied are of the same type, and the gas supply means can be combined into at least one, and a simple device structure can be configured. In this way, it is possible to reduce the influence of the gas leak generated between the hydrogen electrode side atmosphere 23 and the hydrogen electrode side atmosphere 24, and it is possible to configure a simple device structure.

  Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be configured as a composite in which a plurality of electrochemical cells are installed. Various modifications may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Can be implemented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the structure of the water vapor electrolysis apparatus using the flat plate type electrochemical cell of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the structure of the water vapor electrolysis apparatus using the cylindrical electrochemical cell of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the structure of the water vapor electrolysis apparatus using the flat plate type electrochemical cell of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the structure of the water vapor electrolysis apparatus using the flat plate type electrochemical cell of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The top view which cut | disconnected the steam electrolysis apparatus of FIG. 4 and was seen from the hydrogen-electrode side. The side view seen from the XX direction of the water vapor electrolysis apparatus of FIG. The schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the structure of the water vapor electrolysis apparatus using the flat plate type electrochemical cell of the 4th Embodiment of this invention. The top view which cut | disconnected the water vapor electrolysis apparatus of FIG. 7 and was seen from the hydrogen-electrode side. The side view seen from the YY direction of the steam electrolysis apparatus of FIG. The schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the structure of the conventional high temperature steam electrolysis apparatus. The schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the structure of the cylindrical electrolytic cell of FIG. 10, and this peripheral part.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Electrochemical cell, 11a ... Electrolyte, 11b ... Hydrogen electrode, 11c ... Oxygen electrode, 12 ... Container, 13, 13a ... Gas supply part, 14 ... Hydrogen electrode side gas discharge part, 15 ... Oxygen electrode side gas discharge part, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 16 ... Hydrogen electrode side current lead wire, 17 ... Oxygen electrode side current lead wire, 18 ... Seal part, 19 ... Isolation wall, 20 ... Gas supply part, 21 ... Gas discharge part, 22 ... Power supply, 23 ... Hydrogen electrode side atmosphere 24 ... oxygen electrode side atmosphere, 25 ... gas circulation part.

Claims (8)

An electrochemical cell having an electrolyte having a solid oxide and a hydrogen electrode and an oxygen electrode provided with the electrolyte as a basic body and sandwiching the electrolyte is supported and fixed on the inner wall of the container, and water is stored in the container. In a steam electrolyzer that decomposes to produce hydrogen,
A steam electrolysis apparatus comprising a common gas supply means for supplying the same gas mainly composed of water vapor having the same gas supply pressure to the hydrogen electrode and the oxygen electrode.   The steam electrolysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gas supply means includes means for allowing the gas in contact with the hydrogen electrode and the gas in contact with the oxygen electrode to flow in the same direction. An electrochemical cell having an electrolyte having a solid oxide and a hydrogen electrode and an oxygen electrode provided with the electrolyte as a basic body and sandwiching the electrolyte is supported and fixed on the inner wall of the container, and water is stored in the container. In a steam electrolyzer that decomposes to produce hydrogen,
Gas supply means for supplying the same gas mainly composed of water vapor having the same gas supply pressure to the hydrogen electrode and the oxygen electrode;
The gas supply means, steam electrolytic apparatus you characterized in that the gas in contact with the gas and the oxygen electrode in contact with said hydrogen electrode is provided with a means for flowing in different directions.   A gas flow part formed by a seal wall provided between the inner wall of the electrochemical cell and the hydrogen electrode and the oxygen electrode to separate the gas on the hydrogen electrode side and the gas on the oxygen electrode side; The steam electrolyzer according to claim 1.   The steam electrolysis apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the gas circulation unit includes means for supplying an inert gas.   The steam electrolysis apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the gas circulation unit includes means for supplying a gas having water vapor.   The steam electrolysis apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the gas circulation unit further includes means for supplying a gas containing water vapor to the hydrogen electrode and the oxygen electrode. An electrochemical cell having an electrolyte having a solid oxide and a hydrogen electrode and an oxygen electrode provided with the electrolyte as a basic body and sandwiching the electrolyte is supported and fixed on the inner wall of the container, and water is stored in the container. In the steam electrolysis method that decomposes to produce hydrogen,
A steam electrolysis method comprising a gas supply step of supplying, from a common gas supply means , the same gas mainly containing water vapor having the same gas supply pressure as the hydrogen electrode and the oxygen electrode.

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