KR20100110758A - Electrolysis module and oxygen generator with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An electrolyzing module and an oxygen generator including the same, which can produce oxygen at low costs by omitting peripheral devices, are provided to improve performance and durability by electrolyzing pure water for oxygen production using electrolytic cell. CONSTITUTION: An electrolyzing module comprises an ion exchange film(320), electro catalyst layers(310,330), first and second current supply boards(340,350). Cation selectively transmits the ion exchange film. The electro catalyst layer is arranged in both sides of the ion exchange film. The first and second current supply boards are arranged in the electro catalyst layer, respectively. The first and second current supply boards supply the current of the other polarity.

Description

Electrolysis Module and Oxygen Generator with the Same {Electrolysis Module and Oxygen Generator with the Same}

The present invention relates to a system for generating oxygen by electrolyzing water electrochemically, and in particular, a device for generating oxygen by easily electrolyzing pure water without adding chemicals such as caustic soda or caustic carry, and It relates to an oxygen supply system including the same.

Oxygen generators are widely used for medical, industrial, domestic, and automotive applications, and require high oxygen generation concentration, simple installation, and small power consumption. For example, exhaustion of oxygen and increase of carbon dioxide in the interior enclosed spaces, which are difficult to ventilate in a vehicle, cause the driver to feel fatigued, and thus need to supply insufficient oxygen effectively.

The pressure swing adsorption (PSA) method is a method of generating and purifying oxygen by changing the pressure of a supplied gas and repeating adsorption and desorption to separate and purify a desired gas. Techniques related to such a PSA method include Korean Patent Application No. 2002-001596, Patent Application No. 2001-002633, and Patent Application No. 2000-0036256. This technique allows the separation of oxygen in the air, but has a complex system of compressor noise when raising the relative size of the device and the air pressure and also the process of generating oxygen from the outside and entering it inside. There is a disadvantage that the consumption is made.

Another method for generating oxygen is to generate oxygen by electrolyzing water through an electrochemical method, and there is no noise when operating the oxygen generator. Although it is not an oxygen generator applied to a vehicle, a technique related to an electrochemically oxygen generating system includes Korean Patent Application No. 2004-0027381 (Invention name: Oxygen water generator, Applicant: Bae Joo-Ju), Patent Application 2004-0025213 No. (name of the invention: oxygen water purifier, Applicant: Baekju), and patent application 2005-0031092 (name of the invention: Oxygen water maker capable of rapid dissolution of oxygen, Applicant: Baekju). However, since these technologies use KOH as an electrolyte, KOH is accompanied when oxygen is generated and supplied, and a person can breathe KOH simultaneously when breathing oxygen, which can be exposed to a very dangerous situation.

[Document 1] Korean Patent Application No. 2002-001596 (Invention name: Oxygen generator for automobile, Applicant: Digital Automobile)

[Patent 2] Korean Patent Application No. 2001-002633 (Invention: Automobile Oxygen Generator Combined Air Purifier, Applicant: Sung-Il Cho)

[Document 3] Korean Patent Application No. 2000-0036256 (Name of the invention: Oxycure)

[Patent 4] Korean Patent Application No. 2004-0027381 (Invention name: Oxygen water maker, Applicant: Bae Ju Joo)

[Patent 5] Korean Patent Application No. 2004-0025213 (Invention name: Oxygen water purifier, Applicant: Bae Ju Joo)

[Patent 6] Korean Patent Application No. 2005-0031092 (Invention name: Oxygen water maker capable of rapid dissolution of oxygen, Applicant: Bae Joo Joo)

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, it is possible to electrolyze pure water to generate oxygen, high current density operation (meaning miniaturization, light weight), vehicle or indoor It can be easily installed with the power supplied to the body, and aims to provide adequate oxygen concentration to the human body. It is also an object to provide an oxygen generator having a low energy consumption.

According to the present invention, the oxygen generator system receives and stores water for electrolysis, and has a storage tank having a means for discharging the gas generated by electrolysis, and the oxygen gas (and Hydrogen gas) is characterized in that it consists of an electrolysis cell formed with a discharge port for discharging the generated gas.

In addition, the electrolysis cell of the present invention is characterized by consisting of an electrolysis cell having an electrode catalyst layer on both sides of the hydrogen ion exchange membrane and the hydrogen ion exchange membrane.

In addition, another electrolysis cell of the present invention is characterized in that a hydrogen ion exchange membrane and an electrode catalyst layer are formed on a current supply plate.

In addition, another electrolysis cell of the present invention is characterized by having a hydrogen ion exchange membrane and a gas reaction electrode. More specifically, it is characterized in that it has a gas reaction electrode for supplying air to the cathode to react with hydrogen ions moving the hydrogen ion exchange membrane and oxygen in the air supplied to the cathode to suppress the generation of hydrogen.

Oxygen generator of the present invention is excellent in its performance and durability by electrolyzing only pure water for producing oxygen through an electrolysis cell composed of a metal-membrane, and it is harmless to humans because it does not use harmful substances KOH (caustic carry). . In addition, the oxygen generator of the present invention eliminates the need for miniaturization and peripheral devices, which have been shown to be limited in technology and so far, and enables efficient production of oxygen at low cost.

In addition, the oxygen generator system of the present invention miniaturized and simplified the product, there is no noise, it is simply filled with water to generate oxygen.

1 is a structural diagram related to the vehicle oxygen generator 100.
2 is a principle diagram of the electrolysis cell 200 for oxygen generation to be installed in the lower means of the water reservoir of FIG.
3 is a conceptual diagram of the EMC electrolysis module 300 of the present invention.
4 is a conceptual diagram of an ECC type electrolysis module 400 of the present invention.
5 is a structural diagram of an electrolysis module 500 having a gas reaction electrode 530 of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a structural diagram related to an electrolytic means 600 (106 of FIG. 1) to which an electrolytic module according to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 is applied.
7 is a comparative graph measuring a current-voltage relationship according to a catalyst of an electrode in Example 1;
8 is a comparison graph measuring the current-voltage relationship between Examples and Comparative Examples.
9 is a comparison graph of measuring a current-voltage relationship according to a catalyst of an electrode in Example 2. FIG.

Hereinafter, an oxygen generator system and an electrolysis cell according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. For reference, the structural diagram used in the drawings is for understanding, and the relative size or positional relationship of each element is not necessarily accurate.

1 is a structural diagram related to the oxygen generator 100 system. As shown in FIG. 1, the oxygen generator 100 includes an outer case 102, water storage means 104 for storing water, electrolysis means 106 for generating oxygen by electrolyzing water, and a power source. It consists of a supply means 108. In addition to the function of storing water, the water storage means 104 supplies water when water is insufficient, a hole 112 for discharging oxygen generated by electrolysis, and a hole 112 for water supply and oxygen discharge. There is a cap 110 in which an oxygen outlet of a comb-shaped pattern (not shown) is formed to discharge the generated oxygen in all directions. In addition, the lower portion of the water storage unit 104 is composed of a connecting portion 114 for installing the electrolysis means 106 for the purpose of oxygen generation.

Power supplied to the electrolysis means 106 is supplied from a direct current supply device 108. For example, in the case of supplying oxygen to the interior of a vehicle, a direct current (DC) -direct current converter which converts a direct current supplied from a cigar jack, which is the power inside the vehicle, into a current and voltage suitable for the electrolysis means 106 (Direct Current) supply unit 108 is installed, when the purpose of supplying oxygen to the indoors of the home is to perform the AC-DC conversion to convert the AC power source of the home to the current and voltage suitable for the electrolysis means 106 Direct current supply 108 is installed.

Water storage means 104 is preferably a material suitable for drinking water treatment, transparent polycarbonate is preferred. The outer case 102 of the vehicle oxygen generator 100 is provided with a transparent window 118 to monitor the water storage state of the water storage means 104.

2 is a principle diagram of the oxygen generating electrolysis cell 200 to be installed in the water storage tank bottom electrolysis means 106 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the electrolysis cell 200 of this embodiment produces oxygen gas by electrochemically decomposing water, and does not use a poison such as caustic carry (KOH) as an electrolyte, and an anode catalyst layer ( 210, the ion exchange membrane 220, and the cathode catalyst layer 230 is characterized in that.

As shown in FIG. 2, water is decomposed into oxygen (O 2), electrons (e −), and hydrogen ions (H + / proton) in the anode catalyst layer 210, and the decomposed hydrogen ions are hydrated to form an ion exchange membrane 220. The electrons move to the cathode catalyst layer 230, and the electrons move from the anode catalyst layer 210 to the cathode catalyst layer 230 along the external circuit 240. Hydrogen ions (H +) moved to the cathode catalyst layer 230 through the ion exchange membrane 220 reacts with electrons (e-) moved along the external circuit 240 to become hydrogen gas (H2). At this time, the electrochemical formulas that occur in the electrode (anode, cathode) catalyst layer (210, 230) is as follows.

Scheme 1

^{_{2H 2 O → 4H + + 4e}} - + O 2 (Cathode catalyst layer 210)

Scheme 2

4H + 4e ^- → 2H ₂ (cathode catalyst layer 230)

Ion exchange membrane 220 is a solid polymer electrolyte (Solid Polymer Electrolyte) has a thickness of 50 ~ 200μm. In the ion exchange membrane 220, the movement of the anion is impossible, while the cation, that is, the hydrogen ion, is movable, and has to be heat-resistant to temperature and durable in an electrochemical redox atmosphere. Therefore, the ion exchange membrane 220 is ion transfer to allow the cation (Cation) to selectively move to the polymer of the hydrocarbon-based material or fluorocarbon-based material to satisfy such a function and requirements It is preferable to construct a polymer structure having sulfonic groups (sulfonic, ˜SO 3), carboxylic (˜COO), and phosphoric acid groups. More preferably, the polymer has a film structure having a strong acidity of sulfonic groups in a fluorocarbon-based polymer having excellent heat resistance and oxidation resistance. Representative ion exchange membranes of this series include "trade name NAFION" by DuPont (E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del.).

The electrode catalyst layers 210 and 230 of the electrolysis cell 200 have catalysts suitable for oxidation (anode) and reduction (cathode) reactions, respectively, and may include a polymer in addition to the catalyst. At this time, the polymer contained in the catalyst layer may be the same as or different from the ion exchange resin constituting the ion exchange membrane 220. Four also catalysts for the electrode catalyst layer (210 230) is a metal of the platinum group (platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium), gold, silver, chromium, iron, titanium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, tungsten, aluminum 1 type, an alloy with 1 or more types of metals chosen from the group which consists of a silicon | silicone, zinc, and circumferential speed, or these oxides are preferable.

The thicknesses of the electrode catalyst layers 210 and 230 and the ion exchange membrane 220 are not limited, respectively. However, in the case of the ion exchange membrane 220, if the thickness is too thin (50 μm or less), a short may occur. Is 200 μm or more, so the resistance becomes large and the voltage rises rapidly. Therefore, it is preferably 50 to 200 μm. As the thickness of the electrode catalyst layers 210 and 230 becomes thicker, water and hydrogen or oxygen can be easily diffused to improve the characteristics of the electrolysis cell. However, when the thickness of the electrode catalyst layer is 20 μm or more, the amount of catalyst present per unit area increases, and thus loss of the catalyst occurs, and the reaction activity may be lowered at 1 μm or less. Therefore, the thickness of the catalyst layer is preferably 1 to 15 μm.

The operating current density of the electrolysis cell is preferably operated at a DC voltage of 2 to 5 Volt at 0.01 to 2.0 A / cm 2. If the current density is 0.01A / cm ² or less, the amount of current supplied per unit area is small, and the device becomes large.If the current density is 2.0A / cm ² or more, the voltage is increased to 5V or more, and the amount of ozone generated in addition to oxygen is increased. Its suitability is poor. More preferably, the current density is 0.1 to 1.0 A / cm ² and the DC voltage is 2 to 4 Volt.

3, 4 and 5 relate to an electrolysis module according to the position and structure of the electrode catalyst. Here, the electrolysis module means having a current supply plate which is a means for supplying current to the electrolysis cell and the electrolysis cell.

3 and 4 are related to the electrolysis module according to the position of the electrode catalyst layer.

The electrolysis module according to the position of the electrode catalyst layer has an electrode membrane integrated type (hereinafter referred to as "EMC") in which the electrode catalyst is applied to the ion exchange membrane and an electrode current plate integrated type when the electrode catalyst is formed on the current distribution plate. distributor Composite, hereinafter referred to as "ECC").

3 is a conceptual diagram of the EMC electrolysis module 300 of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the EMC type electrolysis module 300 applies electrode catalysts 310 and 330 on the ion exchange membrane 320. The method of forming the electrode catalysts 310 and 330 on the ion exchange membrane 320 of the EMC type electrolysis cell is not limited to a specific method, but specifically, for example, a method of directly depositing the catalyst on the ion exchange membrane and ionizing the catalyst layer After manufacturing two sets of half cells formed on the exchange membrane, the surface of each ion exchange membrane is faced and crimped. The electrolysis module 300 of this embodiment includes an EMC type electrolysis cell 302, a first current supply plate 340 having a polarity on one side, and a second current supply plate 350 having a polarity on the other side. . In this case, terminals 360 and 370 for connecting to an external power source are connected to the first and second current supply plates 340 and 350, respectively.

At this time, the movement path of the current is as follows. When a current is applied from the external power source to the terminal 360 of the first current supply plate 340 having one side polarity, the current is transmitted to the first current supply plate 340, the EMC type electrolysis cell 302, and the opposite polarity. It moves to an external power source via the second current supply plate 350 and the terminal 370 of the second current supply plate.

4 is a conceptual diagram of an ECC type electrolysis module 400 of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ECC type has a structure in which the electrode catalyst layers 410 and 430 are formed on the current supply plates 440 and 450, and the distance between the ion exchange membrane 420 and the current supply plates 440 and 450 is zero (0 mm). It has a close feature.

Possible materials for current supply plates 440, 450 are oxides comprising carbon, nickel and nickel alloys, cobalt and cobalt alloys, titanium, zirconium, niobium, tungsten, carbon, hafnium, iron and iron alloys, and at least one of the aforementioned materials. , Mixtures, alloys and the like.

The shape of the current supply plates 440 and 450 may be two-dimensional or three-dimensional. In the two-dimensional form, the plate of the possible material may have punctured, expanded, mesh and diamond holes. As the three-dimensional form, it is possible to have a form in which two-dimensional electrodes are laminated or have a constant thickness composed of a fibrous form, granule form, or particulate powder.

The current supply plates 440 and 450 have a liquid (eg water) or a gaseous fluid (eg oxygen or hydrogen) involved in the electrolysis reaction in both directions of the ion exchange membrane 420 and the electrolyte chamber 480 and 490. Proper porosity and pore size must be provided for the flow to occur. The appropriate porosity is determined by considering the movement and current load of the water and oxygen, water and hydrogen mixtures. If the porosity is less than 10%, it is difficult to diffuse the mixture of water and oxygen, water and hydrogen, and the electrolysis efficiency is reduced.If the porosity is more than 80%, the diffusion of the mixture of water and oxygen, water and hydrogen is easy, There is a drawback that the smaller the current value, the larger the area required for electrolysis and the larger the device. Preferred porosity for this is about 10 to about 80% by volume.

In addition, suitable pore sizes are preferably from about 5 μm to about 13 μm. When the pore size is 5 μm or less, a lot of external power (energy) is required for the electrolyte to pass through, and when the pore is 13 μm or more, the ion exchange membrane may be recessed into the pore.

There are various methods for forming the electrode catalysts 410 and 430 on the current supply plates 440 and 450. For example, electrode catalysts 410 and 430 may be mixed with an organic solvent to form a slurry, and the slurry is coated on a current supply plate by painting, spraying, dipping, absorbing, or depositing, and then sintering them. A catalyst can be formed. Alternatively, it is possible to form the electrode catalyst by the electroplating method.

5 is an electrolysis module 500 having a gas reaction electrode 530 of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5, the electrolysis module having the gas reaction electrode 530 of the present invention generates water instead of generating hydrogen at the cathode as in the conventional electrolysis module. The electrolysis module is removed.

The electrolysis module 500 having the gas reaction electrode 530 may include a current supply plate 540 having an anode catalyst layer 510 (or an anode catalyst layer 510 formed on the ion exchange membrane 520), and The gas reaction electrode 530 is configured.

Oxygen (anode) side of the oxygen generation of the electrolysis module 500 is composed of the anode catalyst layer 510, the current supply plate 540, the current supply terminal 560, as described above in Figures 3 and 4 It has the same function, configuration and same operation characteristics.

When oxygen-containing gas (oxygen content 20-100 vol%) is supplied to the gas reaction electrode 530 on the cathode side of the electrolysis module 500 and an electric current is applied, the anode catalyst 510 causes water decomposition reaction. The air containing the moved hydrogen ions and the oxygen supplied from the outside react in the cathode catalyst layer 532, thereby suppressing the generation of hydrogen in Scheme 1 and generating water. The reaction scheme at this time is as follows.

Scheme 3

_{^{4H + + O 2 + 4e -}} → 2H 2 O ( cathode catalyst layer 532)

The gas reaction electrode 530 faces the ion exchange membrane 520 at an electrolyte moving part 532 to which hydrogen ions move, a gas moving part 534 to move air containing oxygen, and hydrogen ions and oxygen in the air. It consists of a reaction unit 536 to react. As described above, in the gas reaction electrode 530, a three-phase system in which a liquid (for example, an electrolyte), a gas (for example, air) and a solid (for example, a catalyst) is in contact with each other has a property of contacting.

A method of manufacturing the gas reaction electrode 530 is possible by way of the following example, but is not limited to this example. (I) coating carbon powder and water repellent material (e.g. PTFE) on both sides of the conductive porous material, wherein the amount of conductive carbon material is about 1 5 wt%, and (ii) the coating layer is sintered to form a gas reaction layer. (iii) A platinum or silver catalyst is coated on the surface of the gas reaction layer on one side in contact with the ion exchange membrane and then sintered to form a reaction layer to obtain a gas reaction electrode.

The conductive porous body is preferably an alkali resistant material such as stainless steel, nickel, carbon material or carbon fiber. The shape of the conductive porous body is expanded mesh, woven mesh, punching metal, metallic fiber web, cloth, sintered metal. metal and foamed metal can also be used. The pore size is preferably about 1 to 100 μm.

FIG. 6 is a structural diagram related to an electrolytic means 600 (106 of FIG. 1) to which an electrolytic module according to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 is applied.

As shown in FIG. 5, the electrolysis means 600 is composed of an electrolysis module 602 and its related components, an upper module 604, a lower module 606, and the like. The upper module 604 is a part for supplying water and generating oxygen by contacting the water storage unit 104 of FIG. 1 in the vehicle oxygen generator 100 of FIG. 1. On the outside of the upper module 604 is a connection 608 for connection to the electrolytic means connection (114 in FIG. 1) located below the water reservoir (104 in FIG. 1) in the vehicular oxygen generator 100 of FIG. There is, there is an upper fixing hole 610 and the like formed for the purpose of close contact with the lower module 606.

The lower module 606 has a discharge line (S690) for discharging the gas generated during electrolysis. In addition, an upper fixing hole 610 is formed in the lower module 606 to fix the upper module 604, the electrolysis module 602, and the gasket 612 for sealing purposes.

The electrolysis means 600 has terminals 614 and 616 connected to the first and second current supply plates (not shown), thereby receiving current from an external power source (not shown).

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Example 1

Example 1 evaluated an electrolysis module composed of an EMC electrolysis cell fabricated by fabricating two half-cells in which a catalyst layer was formed on a hydrogen ion exchange membrane, and pressing each other to face each side of the hydrogen ion exchange membrane. will be.

1. Electrolysis Module

(1) EMC type electrolysis cell

Pt black was used as the cathode catalyst, and Pt black, IrO 2 and Pt-IrO 2 were used as the cathode catalyst. The electrode catalyst layer was made by mixing an electrode catalyst, Nafion ionomer (Aldrich, USA), and PTFE binder (Aldrich, USA) in iso-propyl-alchol solution. The mixed slurry was uniformly mixed for 30 minutes under ultrasonic conditions, and then poured into a mold of 5 X 5 cm and dried in a forced convective oven at 30 ° C. for 4 hours to form an anode and a cathode electrode catalyst layer. Nafion 117 (Dupont. USA) was used. 3 wt% H ₂ O ₂ It was boiled in solution for 1 hour and immediately boiled in 0.5MH ₂ SO ₄ solution for 1 hour. It was then stored in boiling pure water for 1 hour, and this was repeated twice to completely remove H ₂ SO ₄ . In order to prepare the EMC type electrolysis cell, the positive electrode catalyst layer, the solid polymer electrolyte, and the negative electrode catalyst layer were hot-pressed together at 120 ° C. under a pressure of 100 kgf / cm ^{2 for} 7 minutes. MEA was measured by swelling in DI water for 24 hours prior to electrochemical measurements.

(2) first and second current supply plate

After coating the iridium oxide on the titanium substrate in the form of a perforated plate, the positive current of the current source is connected to the first current supply plate, and the negative electrode of the current source is connected to the second current supply plate.

2. Performance measurement

In the electrolysis module (600 in Figure 6), measure the flow rate of the flow voltage (CV, cell voltage, unit is Voltage) and oxygen according to the amount of current.

3. Results

7 is a comparative graph measuring a current-voltage relationship according to a catalyst of an electrode in Example 1; In Fig. 7, the symbol (+) represents the catalyst component of the anode catalyst layer, and (-) represents the catalyst component of the cathode catalyst layer. 8 is a comparison graph measuring the current-voltage relationship between Examples and Comparative Examples. 8 shows an example of experimental data having the best performance among the embodiments of FIG. 7.

Table 1 shows the results of measuring the voltage and oxygen generation amount according to the current as the data of Example 1.

[Example 2]

Example 2 evaluates an electrolysis module composed of an EMC-type electrolysis cell produced by depositing a catalyst directly on a hydrogen ion exchange membrane.

1. Configuration and Operation of Experiment Device

(1) EMC type electrolysis cell

Pt was used as the cathodic catalyst and Pt, Pt-Ru and Pt-Ir were used as the anode catalyst. First, the hydrogen ion exchange membrane was pretreated as in Inventive Example 1. The pretreated hydrogen ion exchange membrane was placed in a mixed solution of methanol and water containing 5 mM Pt (NH3) 4CL2 (tetra-amineplatinum chloride hydrate, 98%) for 40 minutes in a volume ratio of 1: 3. It is allowed to diffuse and adsorb into the membrane. Then, NaBH4 was added to the solution of PH13 preheated to 50 ° C. to form a 1 mM reducing solution. After removing the platinum solution in the adsorption process, 60 ml of reducing solution was filled instead. After 2 hours of reduction through this process, the hydrogen ion exchange membrane is impregnated with 0.5M H ₂ SO ₄ for 2 hours and ultrapure water for 1 hour and then stored. After the reduction process, an EMC type electrolysis cell (hereinafter referred to as Pt-M-Pt) having a Pt electrode catalyst layer is manufactured. Again, Pt-M-Pt masks one side and then coats Ir or Ru on the other side. Methanol containing 5mM IrCl4 (Iridium chloride) or 5mM RuCl4 (Ruthenium chloride) and water were mixed in a volume ratio of 1: 3. Allow diffusion adsorption into the interior. Then, NaBH4 was added to a solution of PH13 preheated to 50 ° C. to form a 1 mM reducing solution, followed by removing the platinum solution from the adsorption process, followed by filling with 60 ml of reducing solution. After 2 hours of reduction, the membrane is immersed in 0.5M H ₂ SO ₄ for 2 hours and ultrapure water for 1 hour and then stored.

(B) First and second current supply plates

After platinum-plating the titanium base material in the form of a perforated plate, the positive pole of the current source is connected to the first current supply plate, and the negative pole of the current source is connected to the second current supply plate.

2. Performance measurement

Insert the electrolysis module into the electrolysis module (600 in Fig. 6) and measure the flow rate of the flow voltage (CV, cell voltage, unit is Voltage) and oxygen according to the current amount.

3. Experimental Results

9 is a comparison graph of measuring a current-voltage relationship according to a catalyst of an electrode in Example 2. FIG. In Fig. 9, the symbol (+) represents the catalyst component of the anode catalyst layer, and (-) represents the catalyst component of the cathode catalyst layer. 8 shows experimental data having the best performance among the embodiments of FIG. 9.

Table 1 shows the results of measuring the voltage and oxygen generation according to the current as the data of Example 2.

Example 3

Example 3 relates to an oxygen generator using an ECC module.

1. Configuration and Operation of Experiment Device

(1) electrolysis module

(A) Hydrogen ion exchange membrane: US Dupont Nafion 117

(B) First and second current supply plates

The porosity was 50% and the pore size was 10 µm. The sintered titanium fiber sintered 0.5 mm thick titanium fiber was used as the base material of the first second current supply plate. H ₂ IrCl ₆ was used as an Ir precursor in order to make the catalyst IrO ₂ become about 4 mg / cm ² . H ₂ IrCl ₆ was mixed in an organic solvent at a rate of 5 wt% to form a slurry, and the slurry was coated on a current supply plate by painting. The coated current supply plate was dried at room temperature and then sintered in an electric furnace of 700C or higher to form an electrode catalyst. An ECC type electrolysis module was constructed by connecting a positive pole of a current source to a manufactured first current supply plate and connecting a negative pole of a current source to another second current supply plate.

2. Performance measurement

Measure the voltage (CV, Cell Voltage, Unit is Voltage) according to the amount of current in the electrolysis module (600 in Figure 6).

3. Experimental Results

Experimental results are shown in Example 3 in FIG.

In addition, Table 1 shows the results of measuring the voltage and oxygen generation amount according to the current as the data of Example 3.

Example 4

Example 4 relates to an oxygen generator by an electrolysis module having a gas reaction electrode.

1. Electrolysis Module

(A) Hydrogen ion exchange membrane: US Dupont Nafion 117

(B) First current supply plate

A sintered titanium fiber was produced by the same method as inventive example 3 as a first current plate, and a positive electrode of a current source was connected to the manufactured first current supply plate.

(C) second current supply plate

(i) Carbon fiber (PWB-3, Zoltek Co.tk) by mixing carbon powder XC-72 (manufactured by Cabot GL Inc) and Teflon emulsion 30J (manufactured by Du Pont-Mitsui Fluorochemicals Co.) in a 2: 1 weight ratio. After coating on the substrate, it is hot-pressed. (ii) Spraying a solution of silver ion compound AgNO ₃ dissolved in allyl alcohol at 100 gr / liter on one side of the carbon fiber obtained in step (i), and sintering at 300C to obtain an electrode catalyst layer. The manufactured second current supply plate connected the negative electrode of the current source.

2. Performance measurement

Water is supplied to the anode side of the electrolysis module, and air is supplied to the cathode side, and the crude voltage (CV, cell voltage, unit is voltage) is measured according to the amount of current.

3. Experimental Results

Experimental results are shown in Example 4 of FIG.

In addition, Table 1 shows the results of measuring the voltage and oxygen generation amount according to the current as the data of Example 4.

[Comparative Example]

end. Configuration and operation of the experimental device

(1) electrolysis module

(A) Hydrogen ion exchange membrane: US Dupont Nafion 117

(B) First and second current supply plates

After coating the iridium oxide on the titanium substrate in the form of a perforated plate, the positive current of the current source is connected to the first current supply plate, and the negative electrode of the current source is connected to the second current supply plate.

(C) Distance between the hydrogen ion exchange membrane and the first and second current supply plates: 2 mm

I. Performance measurement

Put the electrolysis module in pure water and measure the coarse voltage (CV, Cell Voltage, unit is Voltage) according to the amount of current.

All. Experiment result

Experimental results are shown as a comparative example of FIG.

In addition, Table 1 shows the results of measuring the voltage and oxygen generation amount according to the current as data of the comparative example.

Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4 Comparative example  One Electrolytic cell type EMC by hot press EMC by catalytic precipitation directly on hydrogen ion exchange membrane ECC
Zero gap type
(ZERO-GAP) Gas Reaction Electrode Type 2 mm gap between electrodes At 3A
Oxygen generation 3ml / min 3ml / min 2.9ml / min 2.9ml / min 2.9ml / min Voltage 3.2 3.1 3.5 2.7 20

As can be seen from FIG. 8 and Table 1, when the EMC type, ECC type, or gas reaction electrode is applied to the electrolysis cell constituting the vehicle oxygen generator according to the present invention, it can be seen that the electrolysis is possible using only pure water. Can be. Therefore, by applying this invention, it is possible to solve all the problems arising from the electrolysis of alkali, which is a problem of the prior art.

Although the technical details of the oxygen generator for a vehicle of the present invention have been described together with the accompanying drawings, this is illustrative of the best embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention.

Claims (13)

In the electrolysis module for generating oxygen by electrolysis of the water supplied,
Ion exchange membranes for selectively permeating cations;
Electrode catalyst layers respectively disposed on both surfaces of the ion exchange membrane; And
And a first current supply plate and a second current supply plate disposed on the electrode catalyst layer to supply currents having different polarities, respectively. The method of claim 1,
The electrode catalyst layer is electrolytic module, characterized in that formed in close contact with both sides of the ion exchange membrane. The method of claim 1,
And the ion exchange membrane and the electrode catalyst layer are integrally formed. The method of claim 1,
And the electrode catalyst layer is formed in close contact with the first current supply plate and the second current supply plate, respectively. The method of claim 1,
The first current supply plate and the second current supply plate, the porosity is 10 to 80% by volume, the pore size of the electrolysis module, characterized in that 5㎛ to 13㎛. The method of claim 1,
The first current supply plate and the second current supply plate may include one or more alloys of one or more metals selected from the group consisting of carbon, nickel, cobalt, titanium, zirconium, niobium, tungsten, carbon, hafnium, and iron. Electrolysis module, characterized in that made of oxide. The method of claim 1,
The electrode catalyst layer is a metal of platinum group (platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium), gold, silver, chromium, iron, titanium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, molybdenum, tungsten, aluminum, silicon, zinc and tin An electrolysis module comprising one or more selected from the group consisting of, alloys with one or more metals, or oxides thereof. In the electrolysis module for generating oxygen by electrolysis of the water supplied,
Ion exchange membranes for selectively permeating cations;
An electrode catalyst layer disposed on one surface of the ion exchange membrane;
A first current supply plate disposed on the electrode catalyst layer to supply a current having one polarity; And
A gas reaction electrode disposed on the other surface of the ion exchange membrane,
The gas reaction electrode may include a second current supply plate for supplying a current having a polarity opposite to the first current supply plate, a gas reaction layer disposed on one or both surfaces of the second current supply plate, and the gas reaction layer. Electrolysis module comprising an electrode catalyst layer disposed on the surface facing the ion exchange membrane. The method according to claim 1 or 8,
The ion exchange membrane is a hydrocarbon-based or fluorocarbon-based polymer, the acid group of any one of sulfonic, carboxylic or phosphoric (phosphoric) Electrolysis module characterized in that it has. The method of claim 8,
The electrode catalyst layer is electrolytic module, characterized in that it comprises a platinum group of metal (platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium) or silver (Ag). The method of claim 8,
And the second current supply plate is a porous conductor. The method of claim 8,
The gas reaction layer is characterized in that it comprises carbon powder (carbon powder) and a water repellent material. Outer case;
Water storage means housed in the outer case;
Electrolysis means for generating oxygen by electrolyzing water stored in the water storage means; And
A power supply means for supplying power to the electrolysis means;
Oxygen generator, characterized in that the electrolysis means comprises an electrolysis module according to claim 1.

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