Electrolytic gas converter and electric equipment using the same

Abstract

In an electrolytic gas converter for converting atmospheric moisture into ozone gas, oxygen gas or hydrogen gas, the electrolytic gas converter is provided with a unit for making control so that an electric current is supplied to the electrochemical device conjunctive body during a predetermined period of time after the start of the operation of gas conversion, the electric current being larger than that after the predetermined period of time passes. In addition, the control unit controls the current to flow periodically. Further, the electrolytic gas converter is provided with a unit for making control so that a predetermined constant current is supplied to the electrochemical device conjunctive body after the predetermined period of time passes since the operation of gas conversion is started.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An electrolytic gas converter comprising: 
 an electrochemical device conjunctive body having an anode and a cathode each having a catalyst layer provided on a substrate made of a conductive porous base material, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane disposed between said anode and said cathode, a DC voltage being applied to said electrochemical device conjunctive body so as to convert atmospheric moisture into ozone gas, oxygen gas or hydrogen gas; and    a unit for controlling so that an electric current flows into said electrochemical device conjunctive body during a predetermined period of time after start of operation of gas conversion, the electric current being larger than that after the predetermined period of time passes.    
     
     
         2 . The electrolytic gas converter according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a unit for controlling so that an electric current flows into said electrochemical device conjunctive body periodically during a predetermined period of time after start of operation of gas conversion, the electric current being larger than that after the predetermined period of time passes.    
     
     
         3 . The electrolytic gas converter according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a unit for controlling so that a predetermined constant electric current flows into said electrochemical device conjunctive body after the predetermined period of time passes since the start of operation of gas conversion.    
     
     
         4 . An electrolytic gas converter comprising: 
 an electrochemical device conjunctive body having an anode and a cathode each having a catalyst layer provided on a substrate made of a conductive porous base material, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane disposed between said anode and said cathode, a DC voltage being applied to said electrochemical device conjunctive body so as to convert atmospheric moisture into ozone gas, oxygen gas or hydrogen gas; and    a unit for controlling so that a voltage low enough or an electric current small enough not to convert the moisture into the gas is applied or conducted to said electrochemical device conjunctive body during suspension of operation of gas conversion.    
     
     
         5 . The electrolytic gas converter according to  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a unit for controlling so that a predetermined constant electric current flows into said electrochemical device conjunctive body during the operation of gas conversion.    
     
     
         6 . An electrolytic gas converter comprising: 
 an electrochemical device conjunctive body having an anode and a cathode each having a catalyst layer provided on a substrate made of a conductive porous base material, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane disposed between said anode and said cathode, a DC voltage being applied to said electrochemical device conjunctive body so as to convert atmospheric moisture into ozone gas, oxygen gas or hydrogen gas; and    a unit for controlling so that an electric current flows into said electrochemical device conjunctive body in a case where a voltage applied to said electrochemical device conjunctive body is lower than a predetermined voltage, the electric current being larger than in another case where the voltage is higher than the predetermined voltage.    
     
     
         7 . The electrolytic gas converter according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a unit for controlling so that a predetermined constant electric current flows into said electrochemical device conjunctive body when a voltage applied to said electrochemical device conjunctive body is not lower than a predetermined voltage.    
     
     
         8 . The electrolytic gas converter according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a unit for controlling so that a circuit connected to said electrochemical device conjunctive body is released during suspension of operation of gas conversion.    
     
     
         9 . The electrolytic gas converter according to  claim 1 , wherein said electrochemical device conjunctive body is used as an ozone generating device, an oxygen generating device, a hydrogen generating device, or a dehumidifying device.  
     
     
         10 . Electric equipment comprising an electrolytic gas converter according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         11 . The electrolytic gas converter according to  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a unit for controlling so that a circuit connected to said electrochemical device conjunctive body is released during suspension of operation of gas conversion.    
     
     
         12 . The electrolytic gas converter according to  claim 4 , wherein 
 said electrochemical device conjunctive body is used as an ozone generating device, an oxygen generating device, a hydrogen generating device, or a dehumidifying device.    
     
     
         13 . Electric equipment comprising an electrolytic gas converter according to  claim 4 .  
     
     
         14 . The electrolytic gas converter according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a unit for controlling so that a circuit connected to said electrochemical device conjunctive body is released during suspension of operation of gas conversion.    
     
     
         15 . The electrolytic gas converter according to  claim 6 , wherein 
 said electrochemical device conjunctive body is used as an ozone generating device, an oxygen generating device, a hydrogen generating device, or a dehumidifying device.    
     
     
         16 . Electric equipment comprising an electrolytic gas converter according to claim  8 .