JP4909521B2 - Solid polymer water electrolyzer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a high-pressure hydrogen production apparatus that generates a high-pressure hydrogen gas of several tens of MPa, for example, at least 40 MPa, preferably 70 MPa, by electrolysis of water using a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and more specifically, in a pressure vessel. It is related with the water electrolyzer stored.

Conventionally, in order to install a polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer (72) in a pressure vessel (71), as shown in FIG. 7, a raised portion (74) on the inner surface of the bottom wall (73) of the pressure vessel (71). The water electrolyzer (72) is fixed with bolts and nuts (75) on the top, and the water supply port (75), drainage port (76), hydrogen discharge port (77), oxygen discharge port provided on the bottom wall (72) A water supply pipe (79), a drain pipe (80), a hydrogen discharge pipe (81), and an oxygen discharge pipe (82) were connected to (78), respectively (see FIG. 4 of Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-060002

  However, in the structure as described above, it is necessary to remove and attach many pipes in order to replace the water electrolyzer for maintenance, and the maintenance work becomes very complicated.

  In view of such a situation, an object of the present invention is to provide a solid polymer type water electrolyzer capable of reducing the removal / attachment work of piping during maintenance as much as possible and easily exchanging the water electrolyzer.

The invention according to claim 1
A water electrolysis tank installed in a container,
An anode main electrode and a cathode main electrode arranged at both ends;
A plurality of unit cells arranged in series between these main electrodes, one of which serves as an anode side gas generation chamber and the other serves as a cathode side gas generation chamber,
A top plate and a pedestal sandwiching a combination of an anode main electrode-a plurality of unit cells-cathode main electrodes from above and below;
In the water electrolysis tank composed of a plurality of bolts and nuts that connect the top corners and the four corners of the pedestal and tighten the combination from above and below,
In the water electrolysis tank , an electrolytic cell through hole communicating with the cathode side gas generation chamber is provided and the through hole communicates with a pedestal through hole provided in the pedestal,
A container through hole communicating with the base through hole is provided at the bottom of the container, and a lower gas discharge port is connected to the container through hole,
A convex portion is provided on the lower surface of the pedestal, and a concave portion is provided on the upper surface of the bottom wall of the container.
A seal member is interposed between the bottom wall of the container and its concave portion and the base of the water electrolysis tank and its convex portion ,
Furthermore, a water supply port is provided in the body of the container, a water supply pipe is connected to the water supply port, and a gas discharge port is provided in the upper part of the container.
By the electrolysis of water, oxygen generated at each anode comes out of the water electrolysis tank to the inside of the container, gas-liquid separation is performed in the container, and it reaches the gas outlet at the top of the container,
Hydrogen and entrained water generated at each cathode exits from the water electrolyzer to the electrolyzer through hole, and then reaches the lower gas outlet through the base through hole and the container through hole. It is a solid polymer type water electrolyzer.

The invention according to claim 2
A flanged rod that also serves as a cathode is arranged in the interior from the lower gas discharge port to the pedestal through-hole, and the male screw portion of the rod is screwed to the female screw portion of the cathode main electrode, and the lower end of the lower gas discharge port 2. The polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer according to claim 1, wherein an insulating sealing material is interposed between flange portions of the flanged rod.

The invention according to claim 3
A water electrolysis tank installed in a container,
An anode main electrode disposed at the upper end and a pedestal provided at the lower end and also serving as the cathode main electrode;
A plurality of unit cells arranged between the anode main electrode and the pedestal, and one of which serves as an anode side gas generation chamber and the other serves as a cathode side gas generation chamber;
An anode main electrode-a top plate sandwiching a combination of a plurality of unit cells together with a pedestal from above and below;
In the water electrolysis tank composed of bolts and nuts that connect the top corners and the four corners of the pedestal and tighten the combination from above and below,
An electrolytic cell through-hole communicating with the cathode-side gas generation chamber is provided inside the water electrolysis cell, and the through-hole communicates with a pedestal through-hole provided in the pedestal , and a lower gas discharge port is connected to the pedestal through-hole. Has been
A convex portion is provided on the lower surface of the pedestal, and an opening is provided in the bottom wall of the container.
A seal member is interposed between the bottom wall of the container and its opening and the base of the water electrolysis tank and its convex part ,
Furthermore, a water supply port is provided in the body of the container, a water supply pipe is connected to the water supply port, and a gas discharge port is provided in the upper part of the container.
By the electrolysis of water, oxygen generated at each anode comes out of the water electrolysis tank to the inside of the container, gas-liquid separation is performed in the container, and it reaches the gas outlet at the top of the container ,
Solid polymer type characterized in that hydrogen and entrained water generated at each cathode exit from the water electrolyzer to the electrolyzer through hole, and from here through the pedestal through hole to the lower gas outlet It is a water electrolysis tank.

The invention according to claim 4
The solid body height according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a through hole for power supply is formed in the container body, and a power supply conductor is arranged through the through hole and connected to an electrode of the water electrolysis tank. This is a molecular water electrolyzer.

The invention according to claim 5
The container body is communicated with the anode side gas generating chamber, a solid polymer type water electrolysis cell according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the pressure vessel is filled with pure water

  In order to assemble the container-accommodating water electrolyzer, in the invention according to claims 1 to 3, the water electrolyzer provided with a pedestal is placed in the container, and the electrolyzer through hole, the pedestal through hole, and the flange through the container through hole are provided. Using the rod, the assembling work can be performed outside rather than inside the container. In the inventions according to claims 4 to 6, the water electrolyzer is placed in the container, and the convex portion on the bottom surface of the base is fitted into the opening of the bottom wall of the container, and the assembling work can be performed outside the container.

  In order to replace the water electrolyzer, the water electrolyzer equipped with a pedestal can be taken out of the container as it is, and the number of pipes used in the prior art can be reduced, and complicated removal / removal of the pipes is required. Installation work can be reduced.

  Next, in order to explain the present invention specifically, some examples of the present invention will be given.

Example 1
1 to 3, the polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer (1) is installed in a pressure vessel (2). As shown in FIG. 3, the water electrolyzer (1) is connected in series between the anode main electrode (3) and the cathode main electrode (4) disposed at both ends, and these main electrodes (3) (4). A plurality of unit cells (5) arranged in a stack and having one as an anode side gas generation chamber and the other as a cathode side gas generation chamber, and an anode main electrode (3)-a plurality of unit cells (5)-a cathode A plurality of bolts that connect the top plate (6) and pedestal (7) sandwiching the combination of the main electrode (4) from above and below, and the four corners of the top plate (6) and pedestal (7), and tighten the combination from above and below. -It consists of a nut (8).

  One unit cell (5) consists of the anode side of the bipolar plate (9), the anode feeder (10), the electrode assembly film (11), the cathode feeder (12) and the adjacent bipolar plate (9). It is mainly configured from the cathode side.

  An electrolytic cell through-hole (13) that vertically penetrates a plurality of unit cells (5) at the center of the water electrolyzer (1) is provided, and the through-hole (13) is provided inside the water electrolyzer (1). The gas generation chamber communicates with a pedestal through hole (14) provided in the pedestal (7). A container through hole (15) communicating with the base through hole (14) is provided at the bottom of the container, and a lower gas discharge port (16) is connected to the container through hole (15).

  Insulating sealing materials (18) and (19) are interposed between the anode main electrode (3) and the top plate (6) and between the cathode main electrode (4) and the base (7), respectively.

  A taper-shaped convex part (20) is provided at the center of the lower surface of the base (7), and a taper-shaped concave part (22) is provided at the center of the upper surface of the bottom wall (21) of the container (2). (20) is fitted into the recess (22).

  A titanium flanged rod (23) is arranged in the interior from the lower gas discharge port (16) to the base through hole (14), and the tip male thread portion (24) of the rod (23) is the cathode main electrode (4) The female thread portion (25) is screwed. The flanged rod (23) also serves as a cathode. A plurality of gas passage holes (49) are formed in the cathode main electrode (4) on the outer periphery of the female screw portion (25). A plurality of ring-shaped sealing materials (17) are interposed between the bottom wall (21) of the container (2) and its concave part (22) and the base (7) and its convex part (20). ) Prevents pure water from entering the lower gas discharge port (16) and prevents the generated gas from leaking into the container (2). An insulating sealing material (28) is interposed between the lower end flange portion (26) of the lower gas discharge port (16) and the lower end flange portion (27) of the flanged rod (23), and the lower gas discharge port (16) The flanged rod (23) is insulated and the gas inside the lower gas discharge port (16) is prevented from leaking outside. A lower gas outlet pipe (29) is connected to the side protrusion of the lower gas outlet (16).

  A water supply port (30) is provided in the body of the container (2), a water supply pipe (31) is connected to the same port (30), and an upper gas outlet (32) is provided in the container lid (35). It has been.

  A through-hole (48) for power supply is opened in the body of the container (2) on the opposite side of the water supply port (30), and a power supply lead (33) is arranged through the through-hole (48), and the anode of the water electrolysis tank It is connected to a power feeding terminal (34) attached to the main electrode (3).

  In the polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer having the above-described configuration, pure water is supplied from the tank (36) to the container (2) through the water supply pipe (31) and the water supply pressure control valve (41) by the pump (37), The electrolytic cell (1) is stored in the container (2) so as to be submerged.

  As a result, pure water is supplied into the water electrolysis tank (1), and oxygen generated at each anode by electrolysis of water exits from the water electrolysis tank (1) to the inside of the container (2). Oxygen is gas-liquid separated in the container (2) and taken out from the upper gas outlet (32) by the upper gas outlet pipe (38). The water supply pressure adjustment valve (41) of the water supply pipe (31) and the oxygen flow rate adjustment valve (39) of the upper gas extraction pipe (38) are controlled by the pressure gauge (40) so that the electrode assembly membrane is not broken. .

  Hydrogen and entrained water generated at each cathode of the water electrolysis tank goes out to the electrolyzer through-hole (13) and passes through a plurality of gas passage holes (49) from here through the base through-hole (14) and the container through-hole. Through (15), it reaches the lower gas discharge port (16), and is sent from here through the lower gas extraction pipe (29) to the hydrogen gas-liquid separation chamber (34). The hydrogen separated in the separation chamber (34) is taken out by the hydrogen line (44) through the cooler (42) and the hydrogen flow control valve (43). The hydrogen flow rate control valve (43) is controlled by the pressure gauge (46) so that the electrode assembly membrane is not broken. The separated water is returned to the tank (36) through the water circulation control valve (47) by the water circulation line (45).

  To replace the water electrolyzer during maintenance, first remove the flanged rod (23) from the cathode main electrode (4). Next, remove the lid (35) from the container (2), remove the power supply wire (33) from the feed terminal (34) of the anode main electrode (3), and place the water electrolyzer (1) on the base (7). ) Is removed from the container (2).

  The water electrolysis apparatus using the water electrolysis tank having the above configuration supplies high-pressure hydrogen gas of several tens of MPa, for example, at least 40 MPa, preferably 70 MPa required for a hydrogen station to travel a fuel cell vehicle at the same distance as a gasoline vehicle. can do.

Example 2
4 to 6, the solid polymer type water electrolyzer (1) is installed in the pressure vessel (2). As shown in FIG. 6, the water electrolyzer (1) includes an anode main electrode (3) disposed at the upper end, a pedestal (7) provided at the lower end and also serving as the cathode main electrode, and the anode main electrode. A plurality of unit cells (5) arranged in series between the pedestal (7) and the pedestal (7), one of which serves as an anode side gas generation chamber and the other as a cathode side gas generation chamber, and an anode main electrode (3) − Connect the top plate (6) that sandwiches the combination of multiple unit cells (5) together with the pedestal (7) from above and below, and connect the four corners of the top plate (6) and pedestal (7). It consists of bolts and nuts (8) that are tightened from above and below.

One unit cell (5) consists of the anode side of the bipolar plate (9), the anode feeder (10), the electrode assembly film (11), the cathode feeder (12) and the adjacent bipolar plate (9). It is mainly configured from the cathode side.

  An electrolytic cell through-hole (13) that vertically penetrates a plurality of unit cells (5) at the center of the water electrolyzer (1) is provided, and the through-hole (13) is provided inside the water electrolyzer (1). The gas generation chamber communicates with a pedestal through hole (14) provided in the pedestal (7). A lower gas outlet (16) is connected to the through hole (14), and a lower gas outlet pipe (29) is connected to the lower end of the lower gas outlet (16).

  An insulating seal material (18) is interposed between the anode main electrode (3) and the top plate (6). An insulating sealing material (19) is interposed between the pedestal (7), which also serves as the cathode main electrode, and the lower gas discharge port (16). The lower gas discharge port (16) is insulated and the generated gas is discharged to the outside. I try not to leak.

  A tapered protrusion (20) is provided at the center of the bottom surface of the base (7), and a tapered opening (51) is provided at the center of the bottom wall (21) of the container (2). 20) is fitted in the opening (51). A plurality of ring-shaped sealing materials (17) are interposed between the bottom wall (21) of the container (2) and its opening (51) and the base (7) and its convex part (20). 2) The internal pure water is prevented from going outside, and the gas inside the lower gas outlet (16) is prevented from leaking into the container (2).

  A water supply port (30) is provided in the body of the container (2), a water supply pipe (31) is connected to the same port (30), and an upper gas outlet (32) is provided in the container lid (35). It has been.

  A through-hole (48) for power supply is opened in the body of the container (2) on the opposite side of the water supply port (30), and a power supply lead (33) is arranged through the through-hole (48), and the anode of the water electrolysis tank It is connected to a power feeding terminal (34) attached to the main electrode (3).

  In the polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer having the above-described configuration, pure water is supplied from the tank (36) to the container (2) through the water supply pipe (31) and the water supply pressure control valve (41) by the pump (37), The electrolytic cell (1) is stored in the container (2) so as to be submerged.

  As a result, pure water is supplied into the water electrolysis tank (1), and oxygen generated at each anode by electrolysis of water exits from the water electrolysis tank (1) to the inside of the container (2). Oxygen is gas-liquid separated in the container (2) and taken out from the upper gas outlet (32) by the upper gas outlet pipe (38). The water supply pressure adjustment valve (41) of the water supply pipe (31) and the oxygen flow rate adjustment valve (39) of the upper gas extraction pipe (38) are controlled by the pressure gauge (40) so that the electrode assembly membrane is not broken. .

  Hydrogen and entrained water generated at each cathode of the water electrolysis tank goes out to the electrolyzer through hole (13), from here through the base through hole (14) to the lower gas discharge port (16), from here to the lower part It is sent to the hydrogen gas-liquid separation chamber (34) through the gas extraction pipe (29). The hydrogen separated in the separation chamber (34) is taken out by the hydrogen line (44) through the cooler (42) and the hydrogen flow control valve (43). The hydrogen flow rate control valve (43) is controlled by the pressure gauge (46) so that the electrode assembly membrane is not broken. The separated water is returned to the tank (36) through the water circulation control valve (47) by the water circulation line (45).

  To replace the water electrolyzer during maintenance, first remove the lower gas outlet pipe (29) connected to the lower gas outlet (16) from the lower gas outlet (16) and place it on the base (7). Remove the connected cathode conductor from the base (7). Next, remove the lid (35) from the container (2), remove the power supply wire (33) from the feed terminal (34) of the anode main electrode (3), and place the water electrolyzer (1) on the base (7). ) Is removed from the container (2).

  The water electrolysis apparatus using the water electrolysis tank having the above configuration supplies high-pressure hydrogen gas of several tens of MPa, for example, at least 40 MPa, preferably 70 MPa required for a hydrogen station to travel a fuel cell vehicle at the same distance as a gasoline vehicle. can do.

1 is a vertical sectional view of a solid polymer type water electrolysis hydrogen generator of Example 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the lower portion of the container of the polymer electrolyte water electrolyzed water generator of Example 1. FIG. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer of Example 1.

It is sectional drawing.
FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the polymer electrolyte water electrolysis hydrogen generator of Example 2. FIG. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the lower portion of the container of the polymer electrolyte water electrolysis hydrogen generator of Example 2. FIG. 6 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the solid highly divided water electrolyzer according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a solid polymer water electrolyzer showing the prior art.

Explanation of symbols

(1) Polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer
(2) Pressure vessel
(3) Anode main electrode
(4) Cathode main electrode
(5) Unit cell
(6) Top plate
(7) Pedestal
(8) Bolt / Nut
(13) Electrolyzer through hole
(14) Pedestal through hole
(15) Container through hole
(16) Lower gas outlet
(17) Ring-shaped sealing material
(18) (19) Insulating seal material
(20) Convex
(21) Bottom wall
(22) Recess
(23) Rod with flange
(28) Insulating seal material
(51) Opening

Claims (5)

A water electrolysis tank installed in a container,
An anode main electrode and a cathode main electrode arranged at both ends;
A plurality of unit cells arranged in series between these main electrodes, one of which serves as an anode side gas generation chamber and the other serves as a cathode side gas generation chamber,
A top plate and a pedestal sandwiching a combination of an anode main electrode-a plurality of unit cells-cathode main electrodes from above and below;
In the water electrolysis tank composed of a plurality of bolts and nuts that connect the top corners and the four corners of the pedestal and tighten the combination from above and below,
In the water electrolysis tank , an electrolytic cell through hole communicating with the cathode side gas generation chamber is provided and the through hole communicates with a pedestal through hole provided in the pedestal,
A container through hole communicating with the base through hole is provided at the bottom of the container, and a lower gas discharge port is connected to the container through hole,
A convex portion is provided on the lower surface of the pedestal, and a concave portion is provided on the upper surface of the bottom wall of the container.
A seal member is interposed between the bottom wall of the container and its concave portion and the base of the water electrolysis tank and its convex portion ,
Furthermore, a water supply port is provided in the body of the container, a water supply pipe is connected to the water supply port, and a gas discharge port is provided in the upper part of the container.
By the electrolysis of water, oxygen generated at each anode comes out of the water electrolysis tank to the inside of the container, gas-liquid separation is performed in the container, and it reaches the gas outlet at the top of the container,
Hydrogen and entrained water generated at each cathode exits from the water electrolyzer to the electrolyzer through hole, and then reaches the lower gas outlet through the base through hole and the container through hole. Solid polymer water electrolyzer.   A flanged rod that also serves as a cathode is arranged inside the pedestal through-hole from the lower gas discharge port, and the male screw portion of the rod is screwed to the female screw portion of the cathode main electrode, and the lower end of the lower gas discharge port 2. The polymer electrolyte water electrolyzer according to claim 1, wherein an insulating sealing material is interposed between the flange portions of the flanged rod. A water electrolysis tank installed in a container,
An anode main electrode disposed at the upper end and a pedestal provided at the lower end and also serving as the cathode main electrode;
A plurality of unit cells arranged between the anode main electrode and the pedestal, and one of which serves as an anode side gas generation chamber and the other serves as a cathode side gas generation chamber;
An anode main electrode-a top plate sandwiching a combination of a plurality of unit cells together with a pedestal from above and below;
In the water electrolysis tank composed of bolts and nuts that connect the top corners and the four corners of the pedestal and tighten the combination from above and below,
An electrolytic cell through-hole communicating with the cathode-side gas generation chamber is provided inside the water electrolysis cell, and the through-hole communicates with a pedestal through-hole provided in the pedestal , and a lower gas discharge port is connected to the pedestal through-hole. Has been
A convex portion is provided on the lower surface of the pedestal, and an opening is provided in the bottom wall of the container.
A seal member is interposed between the bottom wall of the container and its opening and the base of the water electrolysis tank and its convex part ,
Furthermore, a water supply port is provided in the body of the container, a water supply pipe is connected to the water supply port, and a gas discharge port is provided in the upper part of the container.
By the electrolysis of water, oxygen generated at each anode comes out of the water electrolysis tank to the inside of the container, gas-liquid separation is performed in the container, and it reaches the gas outlet at the top of the container ,
Solid polymer type characterized in that hydrogen and entrained water generated at each cathode exit from the water electrolyzer to the electrolyzer through hole, and from here through the pedestal through hole to the lower gas outlet Water electrolysis tank. The solid body height according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a through hole for power supply is formed in the container body, and a power supply conductor is arranged through the through hole and connected to an electrode of the water electrolysis tank. Molecular water electrolyzer. The solid polymer type water electrolyzer according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the container main body communicates with the anode side gas generation chamber, and the pressure container is filled with pure water.

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