JP5827101B2 - Hydrogen generator and fuel cell - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a hydrogen generator and a fuel cell.

  The fuel cell has a power generation unit having an anode and a cathode with a solid polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between them, supplying a fuel fluid such as hydrogen or methanol to the anode side, and an oxidizing fluid such as oxygen or air to the cathode side And generates electric power by an electrochemical reaction.

  As a method of obtaining hydrogen with low energy as a fuel fluid, a method of hydrolyzing a metal hydride called chemical hydride (for example, lithium borohydride, sodium borohydride, lithium aluminum hydride, sodium aluminum hydride) is known. ing.

  When hydrolyzing a metal hydride to obtain hydrogen, the hydrolysis reaction proceeds at a low temperature close to room temperature, so that hydrogen can be obtained efficiently. On the other hand, there was a problem that it was difficult to control the hydrogen generation amount.

  In order to solve this problem, a hydrogen generation technique is known in which the reaction rate of hydrolysis is controlled by adjusting the pH of a metal hydride aqueous solution containing a metal hydride (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This technique uses the fact that the reaction rate increases as the pH of the aqueous metal hydride solution decreases, and the reaction rate decreases as the pH increases. The pH of the metal hydride aqueous solution is changed by controlling the amount of metal hydride in the reaction vessel and the amount of water added to the metal hydride. Thereby, the reaction rate of hydrolysis can be changed, and hydrogen corresponding to the required amount can be generated.

JP 2002-128502 A

  However, according to the technique of Patent Document 1, since the pH is controlled by adding water to the metal hydride in the reaction tank, the pH can be reduced, for example, when hydrogen generation is stopped from a state where hydrogen is generated. It is necessary to add a large amount of water to make a drastic change. A configuration in which water is circulated and reused has been proposed, but complicated mechanisms such as a circulation channel and a pump are required. In addition, since a large amount of water is introduced, it takes time until hydrogen generation is stopped, and there is a problem that followability to the required amount of hydrogen is poor. For this reason, according to the technique of Patent Document 1, an increase in size is inevitable, and the technique is not suitable for application to a device that requires a reduction in size. This is a technology that is not suitable for use in equipment that has a large change in demand for hydrogen and that changes frequently.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hydrogen generator and a fuel cell that can be easily reduced in size and that can easily control the amount of hydrogen generated.

The first feature of the hydrogen generator of the present invention for solving the above problems is that a hydrogen generating solution chamber for storing a hydrogen generating solution and a reaction promoting solution for generating hydrogen by mixing with the hydrogen generating solution are stored. A reaction vessel disposed inside the reaction vessel, and a reaction part for mixing the hydrogen generating solution and the reaction promoting solution, the reaction part being immersed in the reaction promoting solution and having at least two openings in the vertical vertical direction The gist is to provide a reaction flow path having
According to such a feature, since the reaction part including the reaction flow path having at least two openings in the vertical vertical direction is provided by being immersed in the reaction promoting solution, a large-scale mechanism is used to control the amount of hydrogen generated. Therefore, it is possible to provide a hydrogen generator that can be reduced in size.

The second feature of the hydrogen generator of the present invention is summarized in that, in the hydrogen generator of the first feature, the reaction part has an inflow part for allowing the hydrogen generation solution to flow into the reaction channel.
According to this feature, the hydrogen generating solution can be caused to flow into the reaction part through the inflow part, and the hydrogen generation reaction in the reaction part can be performed reliably.

A third feature of the hydrogen generator of the present invention is the hydrogen generator of the first or second feature, wherein the inlet of the inflow portion is positioned relative to the position of the opening arranged vertically in the reaction channel. The gist is that it is provided at substantially the center in the vertical direction.
According to this feature, the inflow port is provided substantially at the center in the vertical direction with respect to the position of the opening arranged vertically in the reaction channel. It is possible to generate a flow upward in the direction, let the reaction promoting solution flow in from the opening in the lower vertical direction, and to stir and circulate the reaction promoting solution stored in the reaction vessel, with a simple structure, stable hydrogen generation The reaction can be maintained.

The gist of the fourth feature of the hydrogen generator of the present invention is that, in the hydrogen generator of any one of the first to third features, the reaction channel is cylindrical.
According to this feature, the reaction channel can be easily manufactured by making the reaction channel cylindrical, and the size can be reduced.

According to a fifth feature of the hydrogen generator of the present invention, in the hydrogen generator of the third or fourth feature, the cross-sectional area of the reaction channel increases from the position where the inflow port is provided toward the opening. The gist is to do.
According to such a feature, the reaction promoting solution flows more reliably into the reaction section and the reaction container is introduced into the reaction vessel by making the cross-sectional area a reaction flow path that expands from the position where the inflow port is provided toward the opening. The stored reaction promoting solution can be circulated with stirring.

The sixth feature of the hydrogen generator of the present invention is summarized in that, in the hydrogen generator of any one of the first to fifth features, the reaction vessel includes a plurality of reaction units.
According to this feature, delicate control is possible by having a plurality of reaction parts. In addition, the hydrogen generation capacity can be increased.

A seventh feature of the hydrogen generator of the present invention is that, in the hydrogen generator of any one of the first to sixth features, the reaction vessel includes an expansion / contraction part, and the volume changes.
According to this feature, the reaction part can be reliably maintained immersed in the reaction promoting solution, so that stable hydrogen supply is possible.

An eighth feature of the hydrogen generator of the present invention is the hydrogen generator of any one of the first to seventh features, wherein the hydrogen generating solution is a strong alkaline aqueous solution containing a metal hydride, and the reaction promoting solution is an acidic solution. It is a summary.
According to such a feature, hydrogen generation of the hydrogen generation solution before being used for hydrogen generation can be suppressed, storage stability can be improved, and rapid hydrogen generation can be performed by mixing with the reaction promoting solution. Can be controlled.

  According to a ninth feature of the hydrogen generator of the present invention, in the hydrogen generator of any one of the first to eighth features, the amount of the hydrogen generating solution stored in the hydrogen generating solution chamber and the reaction promoting solution stored in the reaction vessel This ratio is characterized in that the pH of the mixed solution in which the hydrogen generating solution and the reaction promoting solution are mixed in the reaction vessel is 7 or less.

According to a ninth feature of the hydrogen generator of the present invention, in the hydrogen generator according to any one of the first to eighth features, the hydrogen generator has a control unit that controls the amount of hydrogen generation solution introduced into the reaction unit. The gist is to control the introduction amount so that the pH of the mixed solution obtained by mixing the hydrogen generating solution and the reaction promoting solution in the reaction vessel is 7 or less.
According to this feature, the hydrogen generation reaction can be reliably controlled by setting the pH of the mixed solution in which the hydrogen generation solution and the reaction promoting solution are mixed in the reaction vessel to 7 or less.

The gist of the first feature of the fuel cell of the present invention is that the power generation unit is connected to the hydrogen generator having any one of the first to tenth features.
According to this feature, it is possible to provide a fuel cell including a hydrogen generator that can be downsized and can easily control the amount of hydrogen generated without requiring a large-scale mechanism.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to provide the hydrogen generator which can generate a required quantity of hydrogen, without requiring a large-scale mechanism.

  In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a fuel cell that includes a hydrogen generator that can generate a necessary amount of hydrogen without requiring a large-scale mechanism and that has less fuel loss.

It is a schematic block diagram of the whole hydrogen generator of this invention. It is a block diagram showing the reaction part of a hydrogen generator. It is a block diagram showing the reaction part of a hydrogen generator. It is a block diagram showing the reaction container containing the reaction part of a hydrogen generator. It is a block diagram showing the reaction container containing the reaction part of a hydrogen generator. It is a block diagram showing the reaction container containing the reaction part of a hydrogen generator. It is a block diagram showing the reaction part of a hydrogen generator. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a fuel cell of the present invention.

(Embodiment 1)
An embodiment of the hydrogen generator will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 shows an overall schematic configuration of a hydrogen generator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a reaction unit 4.
As shown in FIG. 1, the hydrogen generator 1 includes a reaction vessel 3 in which a reaction unit 4 is stored in a case 7, and a hydrogen generation solution chamber 2 that stores a hydrogen generation solution. The reaction vessel 3 stores a reaction promoting solution that promotes a hydrogen generating reaction by mixing with the hydrogen generating solution. The hydrogen generating solution chamber 2 and the reaction unit 4 stored in the reaction vessel 3 are connected by a liquid feeding pipe 5. The reaction unit 4 is disposed so as to be immersed in the reaction promoting solution stored in the reaction chamber 3.

  In addition, the reaction vessel 3 includes a discharge channel 10 that discharges hydrogen generated in the reaction unit 4 from the reaction vessel 3. The discharge flow path 10 is connected to a device 12 that consumes hydrogen via a connection unit 11, and hydrogen generated by the hydrogen generator 1 is supplied to the device 12. By making the connecting portion 11 detachable, the hydrogen generator 1 can be configured as a replaceable cartridge.

  Further, in order to prevent the contents of the reaction vessel 3 such as the reaction promoting solution and the by-product generated by the reaction, and the droplets of the solution accompanying the reaction in the reaction unit 4 from flowing out from the reaction vessel 3, the discharge path 10 A gas-liquid separation membrane 13 may be provided in the reaction chamber 3 leading to.

  In the hydrogen generating apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, the liquid supply system from the hydrogen generating solution chamber 2 to the reaction unit 4 is pressurized with the pressurizing spring 9 through the plunger 8 and supplied to the reaction unit 4. It is a method to do. Furthermore, by arranging a check valve 6 in the liquid feeding pipe 5, hydrogen is generated in the reaction section 4 when the pressure inside the reaction vessel 3 is lower than the pressure in the hydrogen generating solution chamber 2 due to the load of the pressure spring 9. When the solution is sent and the pressure inside the reaction vessel 3 is lower than the pressure in the hydrogen generating solution chamber 2 due to the load of the pressure spring 9, an operation of stopping is obtained. That is, the pressure inside the reaction vessel 3 can be maintained by a mechanism that does not use a liquid delivery device such as a pump. Further, since the pressure inside the reaction vessel 3 is set by the pressure of the hydrogen generating solution, the pressure of the reaction vessel 3 can be arbitrarily adjusted by changing the spring force of the pressurizing spring 9, that is, from the hydrogen generator 1. The output hydrogen pressure can be set. In this example, a method that does not use a liquid-feeding device such as a liquid-feeding pump has been shown. However, the method for feeding the hydrogen generating solution is not limited, and a liquid-feeding device such as a liquid-feeding pump is used to It is also possible to control the amount of the hydrogen generating solution fed by the pressure and flow rate. As the liquid feed pump, a positive displacement pump such as a diaphragm type or a plunger type having a quantitative property is preferable, and a diaphragm type having high resistance to liquid leakage or chemicals is preferable.

  In addition, the reaction vessel 3 and the hydrogen generating solution chamber 2 are not arranged in the case 7, but the liquid feeding tube 5 is detachable, and the reaction vessel 3 and the hydrogen generating solution chamber 2 are separated. It is also possible. It is also possible to arrange the hydrogen generating solution chamber 2 in the reaction chamber 4, and further, by forming the hydrogen generating solution chamber 2 from a flexible material that shrinks as the hydrogen generating solution is consumed, The volume of the chamber 4 can be used effectively, and the volume of the hydrogen generator 1 can be reduced.

  As the hydrogen generation solution, an aqueous solution of hydrolyzed metal hydride is used. Examples of the metal hydride include a borohydride salt, an aluminum hydride salt, sodium borohydride, lithium borohydride, lithium aluminum hydride, and the like. In particular, sodium borohydride is preferable. The reaction rate of metal hydride hydrolysis is pH-dependent, and the higher the pH, the lower the reaction rate. In order to store it as an aqueous solution, by using a strong alkaline solution having a high pH, generation of hydrogen due to a hydrolysis reaction can be suppressed and storage can be performed safely.

  In this example, an aqueous solution of 12% sodium borohydride and 40% sodium hydroxide was used. Further, the pH of this solution is 14, which is a strong alkaline solution having a high pH at which hydrolysis of the metal hydride in the aqueous solution is suppressed. An acidic aqueous solution is used as the reaction promoting solution.

For example, by using an acidic aqueous solution of an inorganic acid such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid, or an organic acid such as acetic acid, succinic acid or malic acid, the reaction rate is controlled by changing the pH of the strong alkali metal hydride aqueous solution. be able to. The acidic aqueous solution is preferably a strong acid. Thereby, pH of metal hydride aqueous solution can be changed rapidly and controllability of hydrogen generation can be improved.
In this embodiment, phosphoric acid is used which is relatively easy to select and handle components such as storage and liquid feeding.

  In order to supply hydrogen following the hydrogen consumption flow rate of the device 12 that consumes hydrogen, it is necessary to increase the reactivity of the hydrolysis reaction between the hydrogen generating solution and the reaction promoting solution and complete the reaction in a short time. It is. In particular, when the consumption of hydrogen suddenly decreases, the rapid termination of the hydrolysis reaction can suppress the generation of excess hydrogen, eliminating the need for the reaction vessel to have a pressure-resistant structure, and the hydrogen generator. It is important because it can reduce the weight and size of the equipment that uses it.

  The hydrogen generator 1 of the present embodiment introduces the hydrogen generating solution into the reaction promoting solution stored in the reaction vessel 3. That is, a hydrogen generation solution that is an aqueous solution of a small amount of metal hydride is introduced into an acidic aqueous solution that is an excessive amount of the reaction promoting solution. As a result, the pH of the hydrogen generating solution introduced into the reaction section 4 of the reaction vessel 3 quickly decreases, and the hydrolysis reaction of the metal hydride contained in the hydrogen generating solution can be completed quickly.

  The amount of the reaction promoting solution stored in the reaction vessel 3 is such that the ratio of the stored reaction promoting solution to the hydrogen generating solution is such that the pH of the mixed solution after introducing the desired hydrogen generating solution is 7 or less. Is set. Further, the amount of the hydrogen generating solution introduced is adjusted so that the pH of the mixed solution after introducing the desired hydrogen generating solution is 7 or less without particularly defining the amount of the reaction promoting solution stored in the reaction vessel 3. A control unit may be provided. Further, an amount that makes the pH 6 or less is desirable. When an aqueous solution of sodium borohydride or sodium hydroxide is used for the hydrogen generating solution and an aqueous phosphoric acid solution is used for the reaction promoting solution, the ratio of the hydrogen generating solution to the reaction promoting solution after introducing the desired hydrogen generating solution is determined by hydrogenation. When the sum of the number of moles of sodium boron and sodium hydroxide and the number of moles of phosphoric acid are equal, the pH of the solution after introduction (after reaction) is about pH 4, and it is possible to maintain a fast reaction rate. is there. Based on this ratio, when an aqueous solution of 12% sodium borohydride and 40% sodium hydroxide is used for the hydrogen generating solution and an 85% aqueous phosphoric acid solution is used for the reaction promoting solution, the volume ratio is 1: 1.26. The weight ratio is 1: 1.52.

  Thus, by defining the ratio of the hydrogen generating solution to be introduced to the reaction promoting solution stored in the reaction vessel 3, the reaction can be continued until the introduction of the desired hydrogen generating solution is completed. Further, generation of surplus hydrogen can be suppressed, and hydrogen can be supplied following the hydrogen consumption flow rate of the device 12 that consumes hydrogen. Further, the water contained in the hydrogen generation solution is 8.4 times (mol) with respect to sodium borohydride, which is an amount sufficient for hydrolysis of sodium borohydride.

  In addition, the reaction promoting solution contains water, the amount of water is sufficient for hydrolysis of sodium borohydride, and a strong alkaline solution having a high pH that can suppress hydrolysis of metal hydride in an aqueous solution. It is also possible to further increase the concentration of sodium borohydride in the hydrogen generation solution to increase the amount of hydrogen generation per weight (volume).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the reaction unit 4 has a reaction flow path 14, to which a liquid feeding pipe 5 is connected, and an inlet 15 into which the hydrogen generating solution flows into the reaction flow path 14 from the liquid feeding pipe 5 With respect to the position of the opening of the flow path 14, it is arranged at the substantially vertical center. The reaction channel 14 has a cylindrical shape with an open pipe-shaped end, and circulates the reaction promoting solution and the generated hydrogen. Although the cylindrical reaction flow path 14 is shown in FIG. 2, the shape is not limited to this, and a polygonal shape may be used, and a cylindrical shape in which the reaction promoting solution and generated hydrogen are circulated can be applied.

  A hydrogen generating solution is introduced into the reaction channel 14 from the inlet 15. At this time, since the reaction unit 4 is immersed in the reaction promoting solution in the reaction vessel 3, the reaction channel 14 is filled with the reaction promoting solution, so that the reaction channel 14 is introduced into the reaction channel 14 from the inlet 15. The hydrogen generating solution comes into contact with the reaction promoting solution to generate hydrogen.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the reaction part 4 is arrange | positioned at the reaction container 3 so that the opening of the reaction flow path 14 may be in the vertical position. As a result, hydrogen generated by the contact between the hydrogen generating solution and the reaction promoting solution in the reaction channel 14 moves upward in the vertical direction of the reaction channel 14 and enters the reaction vessel 3 from the opening in the vertical direction of the reaction channel 14. Discharged. At this time, an upward flow in the vertical direction is generated in the reaction flow path 14, the solution after the reaction is discharged together with hydrogen, and the reaction promoting solution flows from the opening in the lower side in the vertical direction. Thereby, since the solution after the reaction does not stay in the reaction channel 14, the increase in pH of the reaction promoting solution in the reaction channel 14 is suppressed, and the hydrogen generation reaction is performed without decreasing the hydrogen generation rate. Can be maintained.

  By this operation, the reaction promoting solution stored in the reaction vessel 3 is stirred and circulated. Thereby, since the bias of the solution pH in the reaction vessel 3 can be suppressed, the reaction can be continued until the introduction of the desired hydrogen generation solution is completed, and the generation of excess hydrogen is suppressed, Hydrogen supply can be performed following the hydrogen consumption flow rate of the device 12 that consumes hydrogen.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, it is generated by reducing the channel cross-sectional area of the reaction channel 14 at the center in the channel direction of the reaction channel 14 where the inflow port 15 is arranged and increasing toward both ends. Hydrogen can be transferred from the reaction channel 14 to the reaction vessel 3 more smoothly.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a partition 114 can be provided in a part of the reaction vessel 3 for storing the reaction promoting solution, and a space between the inner wall of the reaction vessel 3 can be used as the reaction channel 14. The same effect can be obtained with a simpler structure without using a cylindrical flow path member.

Further, although an example in which one reaction unit 4 is arranged in the reaction vessel 3 has been described, a plurality of reaction units 4 can be arranged in the reaction vessel 3. A liquid feeding pipe 5 is arranged in each of the plurality of reaction units 4 to introduce a hydrogen generating solution. By controlling the supply of each hydrogen generating solution, the amount of each of the plurality of reaction units 4 can be controlled, so that it is easy to follow the fluctuation of the hydrogen consumption flow rate. Moreover, since the reaction amount per reaction part 4 can be reduced, more delicate control of the generation amount is possible, and hydrogen can be generated in accordance with the hydrogen consumption flow rate of the device that consumes hydrogen. Moreover, since the hydrogen generation capability can be increased by providing the plurality of reaction units 4, it can be applied to a device having a large hydrogen consumption flow rate.
In the above configuration, the above-described hydrogen generator 1 can reliably generate a necessary amount of hydrogen without requiring a large mechanism.

(First modification of the first embodiment)
FIG. 5 shows a modified example of the structure of the reaction vessel 3.
The reaction container 3 shown in FIG. 5 includes an expansion / contraction part 21 that makes the volume of the reaction container 3 variable. Moreover, the discharge flow path 10 is provided with a structure which can be expanded-contracted so that the movement of the expansion / contraction part 21 may be followed. Moreover, the structure of the reaction part 4 is the same structure as the reaction part 4 of above-mentioned Embodiment 1, and is immersed and arrange | positioned at the reaction promotion solution stored in the reaction container 3. FIG. FIG. 5A shows a state before the hydrogen generating solution is introduced into the reaction vessel 3. FIG. 5B shows a state where the hydrogen generating solution is introduced into the reaction vessel 3 or a state after the introduction. By changing the volume space of the reaction vessel 3 according to the solution volume of the reaction vessel 3, the reaction unit 4 is reliably immersed in the reaction promoting solution at the initial stage of the hydrogen generation reaction with a small amount of solution in the reaction vessel 3. The hydrogen generation reaction and the reaction accelerating solution can be reliably agitated to stably supply hydrogen. In addition, in the middle and later stages of the hydrogen generation reaction with a large amount of solution in the reaction vessel 3, a sufficient volume space of the reaction vessel 3 can be secured, and a continuous hydrogen generation reaction can be realized.

(Second modification of the first embodiment)
FIG. 6 shows a modified example of the structure of the reaction vessel 3.
The reaction container 3 shown in FIG. 6 includes the expansion / contraction part 21 that makes the volume of the reaction container 3 variable, similar to the first modification of the first embodiment. This example differs from the first modification of the first embodiment in that the reaction vessel 3 is accommodated in the hydrogen discharge chamber 22.

  Hydrogen generated in the reaction vessel 3 is discharged to the hydrogen discharge chamber 22 through the gas-liquid separation membrane 13 that discharges only hydrogen (gas). The hydrogen discharge chamber 22 has a space for receiving hydrogen discharged from the reaction vessel 3 and is connected to the discharge flow path 10. As a result, the discharge flow path 10 and the reaction vessel 3 can be made independent structures, the degree of freedom of the arrangement of the reaction vessel 3 and the discharge flow path 10 is improved, and the shape of the connecting device of the hydrogen generator 1 is adjusted. The shape of the hydrogen generator 1 can be designed. Moreover, the structure which arrange | positions the gas-liquid separation film | membrane 13 which discharge | releases only hydrogen which is gas in the reaction container 3 up and down is attained. Thereby, hydrogen can be discharged from the reaction container 3 to the hydrogen discharge chamber 22 and discharged from the discharge flow path 10 regardless of the posture of the reaction container 3.

(Third modification of the first embodiment)
FIG. 7 shows a modified example of the reaction unit 4 and the reaction vessel 3.
The reaction unit 4 shown in FIG. 7A has a plurality of reaction channels 14. It is desirable that the plurality of reaction channels 14 be arranged substantially radially around the inlet 15. FIG. 7 shows an example in which three reaction channels 14 are arranged. FIG. 7 (b) shows the reaction vessel 3 containing the reaction section 4. The reaction vessel 3 shown in FIG. 7B is provided with a gas-liquid separation membrane 13 that discharges hydrogen on four sides, and the reaction vessel 3 is stored regardless of the posture of the reaction vessel 3 in a state where the reaction promoting solution is stored inside. Hydrogen can be discharged from At this time, similarly to the structure of the reaction vessel 3 shown in FIG. 6, it is desirable to provide a hydrogen discharge chamber 22 to receive the hydrogen discharged from the reaction vessel 3 and discharge it to the discharge channel 10. Thereby, hydrogen generation and supply can be stably performed regardless of the posture of the reaction vessel 3.

(Embodiment 2)
The fuel cell of the present invention will be described based on FIG. FIG. 8 shows the entire fuel cell in the case where one embodiment of the hydrogen generation measure of the present invention is configured as a part of the fuel cell.
In the overall view of the fuel cell in FIG. 8, the hydrogen generator 1 shown in FIG. The power generation unit 30 includes a fuel electrode chamber 32, and the fuel electrode chamber 32 forms a space in contact with the fuel electrode 35 of the fuel cell 31. A discharge passage 10 of the hydrogen generator 1 is connected to the fuel electrode chamber 32. Hydrogen generated in the hydrogen generator 1 is sent from the discharge channel 10 to the fuel electrode chamber 32 and consumed by the fuel cell reaction at the fuel electrode 35.

  The above-described fuel cell includes a hydrogen generator that can generate a necessary amount of hydrogen without requiring a large-scale mechanism, and is a fuel cell with little fuel loss.

The present invention can be used in the industrial field of hydrogen generators.
The present invention can also be used in the industrial field of fuel cells equipped with a hydrogen generator.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hydrogen generator 2 Hydrogen generating solution chamber 3 Reaction container 4 Reaction part 5 Liquid supply pipe 6 Check valve 7 Case 8 Plunger 9 Pressurization spring 10 Discharge flow path 11 Connection part 12 Hydrogen consumption apparatus 13 Gas-liquid separation membrane 14 Reaction flow Path 15 Inflow portion 21 Expansion / contraction portion 22 Hydrogen discharge chamber 30 Fuel cell 31 Battery cell 32 Fuel electrode chamber 33 Oxidant electrode 34 Solid polymer electrolyte membrane 35 Fuel electrode 114 Partition

Claims (9)

A hydrogen generation solution chamber for storing a hydrogen generation solution which is a strong alkaline aqueous solution containing a metal hydride ;
A reaction vessel that stores a reaction promoting solution that is an acidic solution that generates hydrogen by mixing with the hydrogen generating solution;
A reaction part disposed inside the reaction vessel and mixing the hydrogen generating solution and the reaction promoting solution;
The reaction section is immersed in the reaction promoting solution and includes a reaction flow path having at least two openings in the vertical vertical direction ,
The said reaction container is equipped with an expansion / contraction part, and the volume changes, The hydrogen generator characterized by the above-mentioned .   The hydrogen generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reaction unit includes an inflow unit through which the hydrogen generation solution flows into the reaction channel.   3. The hydrogen generation according to claim 1, wherein an inflow port of the inflow portion is provided at a substantially vertical center with respect to a position of the opening portion arranged vertically in the reaction flow path. apparatus.   The hydrogen generating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the reaction channel is cylindrical.   5. The hydrogen generation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a cross-sectional area of the reaction flow channel is enlarged toward the opening from a position where the inflow port is provided. 6.   The hydrogen generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reaction vessel includes a plurality of the reaction units. The ratio of the amount of the hydrogen generating solution stored in the hydrogen generating solution chamber and the reaction promoting solution stored in the reaction vessel is:
The hydrogen generation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the pH of the mixed solution obtained by mixing the hydrogen generating solution and the reaction promoting solution in the reaction vessel is 7 or less. . A control unit for controlling the amount of the hydrogen generating solution introduced into the reaction unit;
Wherein the control unit is configured such that the pH of the hydrogen generating solution and the reaction accelerator solution and is mixed with the mixed solution in the reaction vessel becomes 7 or less, of claims 1 to 6 which controls said introduction amount The hydrogen generator as described in any one of Claims. A fuel cell, wherein a power generation unit is connected to the hydrogen generator according to any one of claims 1 to 8 .

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