Solid polymer membrane-type water-electrolysis apparatus

Abstract

A solid polymer membrane-type water-electrolysis apparatus according to the present invention includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an oxygen electrode mounted in contact with one side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, a hydrogen electrode mounted in contact with the other side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, separator plates mounted adjacent the outsides of the oxygen electrode and the hydrogen electrode and serving as current collector plates having passages for water and generated gasses, fixing plates disposed outside the separator plates and made of a non-conductive material, and reservoirs disposed outside said fixing plates for storing water and the generated gasses. The fixing plates include pressing members build therein for pressing the oxygen electrode and the hydrogen electrode against the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and flow passages are included in the pressing members. The reservoirs are fixed integrally by tie bolts by clamping the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, the oxygen electrode, the hydrogen electrode, the separator plates and the fixing plates together from outside the fixing plates. Further, the reservoirs have water supply bores provided at locations higher in level than the position of the water electrolysis level, and discharge bores for discharging the generated gasses. In this apparatus, storage tanks for the produced oxygen and hydrogen gasses are formed integrally into a compact structure. Thus, the apparatus is convenient for movement and preservation, and the oxygen and hydrogen gasses stored can be brought into a pressure equal to or higher than the atmospheric pressure and supplied to a remote place.

1 . A solid polymer membrane-type water-electrolysis apparatus comprising a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an oxygen electrode mounted in contact with one side of said solid polymer electrolyte membrane, a hydrogen electrode mounted in contact with the other side of said solid polymer electrolyte membrane, separator plates mounted adjacent the outsides of said oxygen electrode and the hydrogen electrode and serving as current collector plates having passages for water and generated gasses, fixing plates disposed outside said separator plates and made of a non-conductive material, and reservoirs disposed outside said fixing plates for storing water and the generated gasses, wherein 
 said fixing plates include pressing members build therein for pressing said oxygen electrode and said hydrogen electrode against said solid polymer electrolyte membrane, said pressing members including flow passages,    said reservoirs are fixed integrally by tie bolts by clamping the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, said oxygen electrode, said hydrogen electrode, said separator plates and the fixing plates together from outside said fixing plates, and    said reservoirs have water supply bores provided at locations higher in level than the position of the water electrolysis level, and release bores for releasing the generated gasses.    
   
   
       2 . A solid polymer membrane-type water-electrolysis apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said oxygen electrode is formed by coating a solid polymer electrolyte membrane resin onto a porous sheet-shaped carbon material plated with iridium.  
   
   
       3 . A solid polymer membrane-type water-electrolysis apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said hydrogen electrode is formed by coating a mixture including carbon and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane resin onto a porous sheet-shaped carbon material, and further coating a mixture including Pt (alloy) and Pt (alloy)-carrying carbon and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane resin onto the coated layer.  
   
   
       4 . A solid polymer membrane-type water-electrolysis apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said separator plates is formed of a metal plate material coated with Pt or Au and provided with a plurality of through-bores.  
   
   
       5 . A solid polymer membrane-type water-electrolysis apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said pressing members build in said fixing plates in contact with said separator plates is formed of a porous plastic material such as nylon having an elasticity.  
   
   
       6 . A solid polymer membrane-type water-electrolysis apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said fixing plates are provided with through-bores serving as flow passages for water or the generated gasses.  
   
   
       7 . A solid polymer membrane-type water-electrolysis apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said reservoirs have maintenance bores for drainage of water provided in their bottoms or in near their bottoms, in addition to the water supply bores and the generated-gas passages.