JP3169049B2 - Hydrogen / oxygen generator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a composite for producing an oxygen gas from the anode side and a hydrogen gas from the cathode side by electrolysis while supplying pure water to the anode side using a solid electrolyte membrane as a diaphragm. It relates to a polar hydrogen / oxygen generator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When applied to large-scale facilities such as those requiring a large amount of oxygen gas and hydrogen gas, this kind of hydrogen
As the structure of the oxygen generator, the present inventors have
No. 7-40142 proposes a so-called "bipolar hydrogen / oxygen generator" as shown in FIGS.

[0003] This device basically includes a solid electrolyte membrane 11.
0, a plurality of porous feeders 120, 120 attached to both sides thereof, and an electrode plate 130 disposed outside the porous feeders 120, 120 and serving as both an anode and a cathode. Solid electrolyte membrane cells 140, 140 are arranged in a plurality, and each electrode plate 130 is a bipolar electrode plate, and when a current is supplied, the front and rear surfaces of the electrode plate have the opposite potential. A single electrode plate. Specifically, one end plate 16
0, end gasket 170 ′, end electrode plate 130 ′, annular gasket 170, annular protective sheet 180, solid electrolyte membrane 110,
Protection sheet 180, annular gasket 170, middle electrode plate
130 ... End electrode plate 130 'at the other end, end gasket 170'
Each solid electrolyte membrane cell 140 is composed of an end plate 160 ′, and a pure water supply path 152 communicating in the longitudinal (axial) direction.
The hydrogen gas extraction path 154, the oxygen gas extraction path 156, and the drainage drain path 158 are each configured in a manifold manner.

[0004]

However, in such a hydrogen / oxygen generator, when a large amount of oxygen gas and hydrogen gas are required, there is a limit in increasing the area of the solid electrolyte membrane. In order to secure a required gas generation amount, it is necessary to increase the overall membrane area by using a large number of solid electrolyte membranes. For this reason, it is usual to construct a hydrogen / oxygen generator by arranging tens to hundreds of solid electrolyte membrane cells 140, 140 in parallel. In this case, when the oxygen gas containing water generated on the anode side is taken out of the porous power feeder on the anode side via a manifold type oxygen gas taking-out path, the gas and water are converted into a gas-liquid two-phase flow. If the cross-sectional area of the oxygen gas extraction path, the flow gradient, etc. are not appropriate compared to the case where only water or only the gas flows, the pressure fluctuation is large and the pressure control is difficult,
There are problems such as generation of vibrations and the like. In particular, problems are more likely to occur as the number of solid electrolyte membrane cells 140, 140 increases, the amount of generated gas increases, and the distance of the oxygen gas extraction path increases.

[0005] Further, in such a hydrogen / oxygen generator, even when replacing parts, the entire apparatus must be removed and replaced, or a water pressure test and an airtight test must be performed on the entire apparatus. In addition, facilities that require oxygen gas and hydrogen gas are not preferred because they may lead to a decrease in operation.

In order to solve such a problem, the present inventors have already disclosed Japanese Patent Application Nos. 7-283340 and 7-2.
No. 83345, the number of stacked solid electrolyte membrane cells can be reduced to shorten the manifold-type gas extraction path as much as possible, and the pressure fluctuation of the flow of oxygen gas or hydrogen gas containing water generated on the anode side is small and pressure control is easy. Thus, there has been provided a hydrogen / oxygen generator which does not cause problems such as generation of vibrations and the like, and which does not require removing and replacing the entire apparatus even in the case of replacing parts.

However, in these devices,
A plurality of hydrogen / oxygen generating blocks having a structure in which a plurality of solid electrolyte membrane cells are stacked, and end plates are disposed at both ends thereof, and integrated, so that the end plates are brought into contact with each other to electrically conduct. Or a structure in which the hydrogen / oxygen generating blocks are separated from each other and the end electrode plates of the adjacent hydrogen / oxygen generating blocks are electrically connected to each other through the electric communication member. Things.
Therefore, in these devices, end plates are attached to both ends of each block, respectively, and the weight is heavy by the amount of overlapping end plates of adjacent blocks, or the hydrogen / oxygen generating blocks are separated from each other. Because the overall length of the entire device becomes longer
It is inconvenient for carrying in and installing the apparatus, and the equipment becomes large, which is not preferable.

In view of such circumstances, the present invention can reduce the number of stacked solid electrolyte membrane cells, shorten the manifold type gas extraction path as much as possible, and reduce the oxygen gas or hydrogen gas containing water generated on the anode side. A hydrogen / oxygen generator with small pressure fluctuations in the flow, easy pressure control, no problems such as generation of vibration, and no need to remove and replace the entire device even when replacing parts. ,
Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a compact hydrogen / oxygen generator having a significantly shorter overall length than the conventional one.

[0009]

The present invention SUMMARY OF] is, there is the name of <br/> is to achieve the aim and objects in the prior art as described above, the following (1) to (5) Is the gist of the configuration.

(1) A solid electrolyte membrane, a porous feeder provided on both sides thereof, and a bipolar electrode plate disposed outside the porous feeders and acting as both an anode and a cathode. the configured that a solid electrolyte membrane cell and stacking a plurality, and laminates thereof
Both ends constitute the bipolar type hydrogen-oxygen generating block structure and integrated disposed end plates, a plurality of the
In a hydrogen / oxygen generator in which hydrogen / oxygen generating blocks are arranged in series, an end plate between adjacent hydrogen / oxygen generating blocks is used as one shared end plate, and each hydrogen / oxygen generating block has a longitudinal direction. Communicate with
A hydrogen / oxygen generator, wherein a pure water supply path and a gas extraction path are provided .

(2) Toward the end plate outward
A nozzle for supplying pure water and a nozzle for taking out gas are installed.
And the pure water supply path and the gas extraction path are respectively
Connected to the pure water supply nozzle and the gas extraction nozzle.
The pure water supply nozzles are compatible with the pure water supply nozzles.
All gas outlet nozzles are connected to the
Connected to the header tube for gas extraction
The hydrogen / oxygen generator according to (1). (3) The above-mentioned (1) or (2), wherein each hydrogen / oxygen generating block is fastened by a fastening member via a shared end plate at both ends of each block.
A hydrogen / oxygen generator according to item 1.

[0012] (4) the position of the fastening member, the adjacent hydrogen-oxygen generating block each other, the above-described, characterized in that it is arranged by shifting the position in the other (3), wherein the hydrogen-oxygen generating apparatus.

(5) The electrode plates immediately inside the common end plate of the adjacent hydrogen / oxygen generating block are electrically connected to each other via an electrical communication member, and the end plates of the hydrogen / oxygen generating blocks at both ends are electrically connected to each other. The hydrogen / oxygen generator according to any one of the above (1) to ( 4 ), characterized in that a current is applied to the electrode plate immediately inside.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the hydrogen / oxygen generator according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an end view in the direction A of FIG. 1, and FIG.
3 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the hydrogen / oxygen generator of FIG. 1, and is a cross-sectional view taken along a dashed line D of FIG. 4, and FIG.
It is sectional drawing of the C-line direction.

1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a hydrogen / oxygen generator of the present invention as a whole. Basically, the hydrogen / oxygen generator 1 has seven hydrogen / oxygen generating blocks 2 and 2 arranged in series and separated by a fixed distance, and the support base 3 has hydrogen / oxygen generating units at both ends. Support block 2
It is configured by fixing it to the mounting brackets 3A, 3A with bolts or the like. In this case, although not shown, a voltage and a current are applied from a power supply to the end electrode plates 30 'just inside the end plates on both ends of the hydrogen / oxygen generating blocks 2 and 2 at both ends. ing.

In FIG. 3, each hydrogen / oxygen generating block 2 basically includes a disc-shaped solid electrolyte membrane 10, disc-shaped porous power feeders 20 and 20 provided on both sides thereof, And a plurality of disc-shaped solid electrolyte membrane cells 40 each comprising a disc-shaped electrode plate 30 that functions as both an anode and a cathode disposed outside the power feeders 20 and 20. The cells preferably have a structure in which 11 to 20 cells (12 cells in this embodiment) are juxtaposed.

By the way, when the number of cells is 11, the flow state becomes
It is known that the boundary between the laminar flow and the plug flow, and the flow state when the number of cells is 20, becomes the boundary between the slag flow and the plug flow, i.e., the plug flow is only in the range of 11 to 20 cells. When the number of cells falls below this range, the flow is laminar, and when the number of cells exceeds this range, a slug flow results. In the case of a slug flow, not only is the pressure fluctuating so high that it is difficult to detect the pressure, but also problems such as vibration due to fluid, noise, and fatigue caused by stress fluctuation due to the pressure fluctuation occur. In this case, the gas and water completely separate and flow, so it cannot be treated as a uniform fluid, and if there is a portion where the cross-sectional area such as a valve or a branch changes in the middle of the flow path, the ratio of water and gas increases there. Since there is a possibility of change, it becomes difficult to control the pressure, and the same problem as the slag flow occurs, which is not preferable. On the other hand, in the case of plug flow, that is, when the solid electrolyte membrane cells 40, 40 are arranged side by side in 11 to 20 cells,
Water and gas flow in a mixed state when viewed as a whole, while being separated, so pressure fluctuations are small, so pressure control is easy, and problems such as the slag flow and laminar flow described above occur. Never do.

Each of the electrode plates 30 is a bipolar electrode plate, and is a single electrode plate in which the surface of the electrode plate and the back surface thereof have the opposite potential when a current is supplied. That is, in this case, by performing electrolysis while supplying water to the anode side, a reaction such as 2H2O → O2 + 4H ++ 4e- occurs on the anode side and oxygen gas is generated, and on the cathode side, 4H ++ 4e- → The reaction of 2H2 occurs and hydrogen gas is generated.

The solid electrolyte membrane 10 is formed by molding a solid polymer electrolyte into a membrane, for example, a cation exchange membrane (fluorine resin sulfonic acid cation exchange membrane, for example, “Nafion 117” manufactured by DuPont). It is preferable to use a “solid polymer electrolyte membrane” having a structure in which a porous anode and cathode made of a noble metal, particularly a platinum group metal, are chemically bonded by electroless plating on both surfaces.

Specifically, the hydrogen / oxygen generating block 2
Is a disk-shaped end plate 60 at one end, a disk-shaped end gasket 70 ′ made of silicon rubber or the like, an end electrode plate 30 ′, an annular gasket 70, an annular protection sheet 80 made up of neophon, etc. , A solid electrolyte membrane 10, a protective sheet 80, an annular gasket 70, an intermediate electrode plate 30, an end electrode plate 30 'at the other end, an end gasket 70', and an end plate 60 '.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the end plate between the adjacent hydrogen / oxygen generating blocks 2 is used as one common end plate 60. Short and compact. That is, at both ends of the hydrogen / oxygen generating block 2,
End plates 60 (left side) and 60 '(right side) are attached, respectively, and these end plates 60 and 60' also serve as end plates of the hydrogen / oxygen generating block 2 which are in contact with each other.

Further, a porous feeder is provided in a sealed compartment composed of the solid electrolyte membrane 10, the electrode plate 30, and the gasket 70.
20 are accommodated, which form an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, respectively. The outer diameters of the end plates 60, 60 'are larger than those of the other components in order to facilitate fastening, as described later.

Further, each solid electrolyte membrane cell 40 has a structure shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, a pure water supply path 52, a hydrogen gas extraction path 54, an oxygen gas extraction path 56, and a drainage drain path 58 communicating in the longitudinal (axial) direction are each formed in a manifold type. ing. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pure water supply path 52 is connected to a pure water supply nozzle 62 provided in each end plate 60 by a flexible hose.
It is connected to the pure water supply header tube 5A via 4A.
Similarly, the hydrogen gas extraction path 54 is connected to the hydrogen gas extraction nozzle 64 via the flexible hose 4B to the hydrogen gas extraction header tube 5B, and the oxygen gas extraction path 56 is connected to the oxygen gas extraction nozzle 66 via the flexible hose. The drain pipe 58 for draining water from the drain nozzle 68 to the flexible hose
The drain pipe 4D is connected to the drain pipe 5D via 4D.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the end electrode plate 30 'just inside the end plate 60 of each hydrogen / oxygen generating block 2 is provided with a protruding side. A portion 30a is provided, and has a substantially U-shape so as to electrically connect the end electrode plates 30 ', 30' on both sides of the shared end plate 60 of the adjacent hydrogen / oxygen generating block 2. The electric communication member 6 is connected by a fastening member 6A such as a screw. A current and a voltage are applied from a power supply (not shown) to the end electrode plates 30 ', 30' immediately inside the end plates 60, 60 'of the hydrogen / oxygen generating block 2 at both ends of the hydrogen / oxygen generating device 1. It has become so.

When assembling the hydrogen / oxygen generating block 2, the end plate 60 is attached to the end plate 60 as shown in FIG.
A total of 16 fastening bolt holes 7 are provided, of which eight fastening holes consisting of bolts 7A and nuts 7B are screwed into corresponding bolt holes provided in the end plate 60. By doing so, the hydrogen / oxygen generating block 2 is assembled by fastening the end plates 60, 60 '. In this case, in the adjacent hydrogen / oxygen generating block 2, a fastening member including a bolt 8 </ b> A and a nut is provided on the end plate 60 by using the remaining eight bolt holes 7 (shown by dotted lines) whose positions are shifted. The end plates 60, 60 'are fastened by screwing into the corresponding bolt holes, and the hydrogen / oxygen generating block 2 is tightened.
Is to be assembled.

That is, the positions of the fastening members are shifted from each other between the adjacent hydrogen / oxygen generating blocks 2, so that when assembling the entire apparatus,
The fastening members do not interfere with each other, which facilitates assembly.

The hydrogen / oxygen generator 1 of the present invention configured as described above is capable of generating hydrogen / oxygen from a pure water supply system (not shown) via a pure water supply header tube 5A and a flexible hose 4A. From the pure water supply nozzle 62 provided on the end plate 60 of the block 2, pure water is supplied from the pure water supply path 52 to the porous power supply 20 housed in the anode chamber. Then, the pure water supplied to the anode chamber is electrolyzed on the anode side of the solid electrolyte membrane 10, and a reaction such as 2H2O → O2 + 4H ++ 4e- occurs, and oxygen gas is generated. Pure water is supplied from an oxygen gas extraction nozzle 66 provided on an end plate 60 of each hydrogen / oxygen generating block 2 via a oxygen gas extraction path 56 to a flexible hose 4C.
Water and the generated oxygen gas are taken out from the oxygen gas taking-out header tube 5C through the, and oxygen gas is taken out in a gas-liquid separation device (not shown).

On the other hand, on the cathode side, the solid electrolyte membrane 10
Pass through, and is electrolyzed on the cathode side of the solid electrolyte membrane 10, a reaction of 4H ++ 4e− → 2H2 occurs to generate hydrogen gas, and each hydrogen / oxygen is generated through a hydrogen gas extraction path 54. From the nozzle 64 for extracting hydrogen gas provided on the end plate 60 of the block 2 via the flexible hose 4B. Hydrogen gas is extracted from the hydrogen gas extraction header tube 5B in a gas-liquid separator (not shown).

Further, pure water collected in the cathode chamber of each hydrogen / oxygen generating block 2 is drained through a drain path 58 for draining and provided on the end plate 60 of each hydrogen / oxygen generating block 2. Pure water is taken out from the drain nozzle 68 through the drain tube 5D via the flexible hose 4D.

[0031]

According to the hydrogen / oxygen generator of the present invention,
A solid electrolyte membrane, a porous feeder attached to both sides thereof,
A plurality of solid electrolyte membrane cells composed of a bipolar electrode plate that functions as both an anode and a cathode disposed outside the porous power feeder are stacked, and end plates are provided at both ends. In a hydrogen / oxygen generator in which a plurality of bipolar hydrogen / oxygen generating blocks having an integrated structure are arranged in series at a distance from each other, an end plate between adjacent hydrogen / oxygen generating blocks is Since the common end plate is used, the present invention is an excellent invention having the following unique and remarkable effects.

(1) Since the number of solid electrolyte membrane cells is reduced by dividing into a plurality of hydrogen / oxygen generating blocks, the manifold type gas extraction path of each block is shortened, and Since the distance between the gas and water flow paths becomes shorter, the flow state of the oxygen gas containing water generated on the anode side becomes a plug flow, resulting in small pressure fluctuations, easy pressure control, and problems such as vibration. Does not occur.

(2) It is not necessary to remove and replace the entire apparatus even in the case of parts replacement, etc.
It is sufficient to remove only the oxygen generation block, and a water pressure test and an airtight test can be individually performed for each block.

(3) It is possible to provide a compact hydrogen / oxygen generator that is much shorter in total length and lighter in weight than the conventional one.

(4) Adjacent hydrogen / oxygen generating block 2
Mutually, in a structure in which the positions of the fastening members are arranged so as to be shifted from each other, when assembling the entire device,
Since the fastening members do not interfere with each other, assembly is easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of a hydrogen / oxygen generator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view in the direction A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the hydrogen / oxygen generator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional hydrogen / oxygen generator.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a conventional hydrogen / oxygen generator.

[Explanation of Signs] 1 ... Hydrogen / Oxygen generator 2 ... Hydrogen / Oxygen generation block 3 ... Support base 3A, 3B ... Mounting bracket 4A-4C ... Flexible hose 5A ... Pure Header tube for water supply 5B ・ ・ ・ Header tube for taking out hydrogen gas 5C ・ ・ ・ Header tube for taking out oxygen gas 5D ・ ・ ・ Header tube for draining 6 ・ ・ ・ Electric communication member 6A ・ ・ ・ Fastening member 7 ・ ・・ Bolt hole for fastening 7A ・ ・ ・ Bolt 7B ・ ・ ・ Nut 10 ・ ・ ・ Solid electrolyte membrane 20 ・ ・ ・ Porous feeder 30 ・ ・ ・ Electrode plate 30 '・ ・ ・ End electrode plate 40 ・ ・ ・ Solid Electrolyte membrane cell 52 ・ ・ ・ Pure water supply path 54 ・ ・ ・ Hydrogen gas extraction path 56 ・ ・ ・ Oxygen gas extraction path 58 ・ ・ ・ Drain path 60,60 '・ ・ ・ End plate 62 ・ ・ ・ Pure Nozzle for water supply 64 ・ ・ ・ Nozzle for taking out hydrogen gas 66 ・ ・ ・ Nozzle for taking out oxygen gas 68 ・ ・Nozzle for drainage 70 ・ ・ ・ Gasket 70 ′ ・ ・ ・ Gasket at end 80 ・ ・ ・ Protective sheet 110 ・ ・ ・ Solid electrolyte membrane 120 ・ ・ ・ Porous feeder 130 ・ ・ ・ Electrode plate 140 ・ ・ ・ Solid electrolyte Membrane cell

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI C25B 9/18 C25B 9/00 L (72) Inventor Hiromichi Oda 129-46 C-502 Noguchi-cho, Noguchi-cho C-502 (72) Inventor Mamoru Nagao 2-7-18-102 Idano, Higashi-Yodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka (72) Inventor Akira Asari 4-10-20 Motoyamanakacho, Higashinada-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Harada Tokyo 2-25-43 Nishi-Oizumi, Nerima-ku (56) References JP-A-61-44189 (JP, A) JP-A-63-58607 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB) Name) C25B 1/00-15/08

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A solid electrolyte membrane, comprising: a porous feeder provided on both sides of the solid electrolyte membrane; and a bipolar electrode plate disposed outside the porous feeders and serving as both an anode and a cathode. Ru is
The solid electrolyte membrane cell and stacking a plurality, and constitute the double pole type hydrogen-oxygen generating blocks of both <br/> end integrated by disposing the end plates to the structure of the stack, a plurality Pieces of the hydrogen
・ In a hydrogen / oxygen generator in which oxygen generation blocks are arranged in series, the end plate between adjacent hydrogen / oxygen generation blocks is used as one shared end plate, and each hydrogen / oxygen
A pure water supply path communicating with the generation block in the longitudinal direction
Hydrogen and gas extraction routes
Oxygen generator. 2. The end plate is provided with pure water toward the outside.
Supply nozzles and gas extraction nozzles are
The pure water supply path and the gas extraction path
Connected to the pure water supply nozzle and the gas extraction nozzle
And a pure water supply header compatible with all pure water supply nozzles
-All gas outlet nozzles are connected to
The gas extraction header tube is connected to the gas extraction header tube.
Hydrogen and oxygen generator. 3. A via a shared end plate at both ends of each block of each hydrogen-oxygen generating block, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that fastened by a fastening member
The hydrogen / oxygen generator as described. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the position of the fastening member is such that adjacent hydrogen
4. The hydrogen / oxygen generator according to claim 3 , wherein the oxygen generating blocks are disposed at positions shifted from each other. 5. An electrode plate immediately inside a shared end plate of an adjacent hydrogen / oxygen generating block is electrically connected to each other via an electrical communication member, and hydrogen / oxygen at both ends is connected.
The hydrogen / oxygen generator according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein a current is supplied to an electrode plate immediately inside an end plate of the oxygen generation block.