High temperature steam electrolyzing device

Abstract

A high temperature steam electrolyzing device has: an electrolyzing cell section that includes a hydrogen electrode and an oxygen electrode arranged at mutually opposite sides of a solid oxide electrolyte operating as intermediate layer and electrolyzes steam to generate hydrogen; fixing flanges for fixing end sections of the solid oxide electrolyte of the electrolyzing cell section; a unit support member for supporting the fixing flanges; fitting flanges arranged at mutually opposite surfaces of the fixing flanges and the unit support member; gaskets made of metal or a mineral-based material and interposed between the fixing flanges and the fitting flanges and between the unit support member and the fitting flanges; and fastening members for separably fastening the fitting flanges.

1 . A high temperature steam electrolyzing device comprising:
 an electrolyzing cell section that includes a hydrogen electrode and an oxygen electrode arranged at mutually opposite sides of a solid oxide electrolyte operating as intermediate layer and electrolyzes steam to generate hydrogen;   fixing flanges for fixing end sections of the solid oxide electrolyte of the electrolyzing cell section;   a unit support member for supporting the fixing flanges;   fitting flanges arranged at mutually opposite surfaces of the fixing flanges and the unit support member;   gaskets made of metal or a mineral-based material and interposed between the fixing flanges and the fitting flanges and between the unit support member and the fitting flanges; and   fastening members for separably fastening the fitting flanges.   
   
   
       2 . The high temperature steam electrolyzing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the solid oxide electrolyte is disk-shaped, the fixing flanges for fixing the end sections of the solid oxide electrolyte are ring-shaped, and the fixing flanges and the unit support member are connected by way of screw sections.   
   
   
       3 . The high temperature steam electrolyzing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the unit support member has a hydrogen electrode feed layer for feeding electricity to the hydrogen electrode of the electrolyzing cell section, an oxygen electrode collection layer for collecting electricity from the oxygen electrode and an insulation layer for insulating the hydrogen electrode feed layer and the oxygen electrode collection layer, and   the fixing flanges for fixing the end sections of the solid oxide electrolyte and the unit support member are connected by way of a weld section.   
   
   
       4 . The high temperature steam electrolyzing device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the fixing flanges for fixing the end sections of the solid oxide electrolyte and the unit support member are disposed face to face by way of an annular gap.   
   
   
       5 . A high temperature steam electrolyzing device comprising:
 an electrolyzing cell section that includes an oxygen electrode and a hydrogen electrode made of a porous material and having a conical profile with an upwardly increasing horizontal cross-sectional area, the oxygen electrode and the hydrogen electrode being arranged respectively above and below a solid oxide electrolyte extending in a horizontal direction and operating as an intermediate layer and electrolyzes steam to generate hydrogen;   a conical metal-made fixing ring that has an inner surface with an upwardly increasing horizontal cross-sectional area for receiving the conical hydrogen electrode inserted therein;   a unit support member for supporting the fixing ring;   fitting flanges arranged at mutually opposite surfaces of the fixing ring and the unit support member;   gaskets made of metal or a mineral-based material and interposed between the fixing ring and the unit support member; and   fastening members for separably fastening the fitting flanges.   
   
   
       6 . The high temperature steam electrolyzing device according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the hydrogen electrode is disk-shaped and the fixing ring for receiving the solid oxide electrolyte inserted therein and the unit support member are connected by way of screw sections.   
   
   
       7 . The high temperature steam electrolyzing device according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the unit support member has a hydrogen electrode feed layer for feeding electricity to the hydrogen electrode of the electrolyzing cell section, an oxygen electrode collection layer for collecting electricity from the oxygen electrode and an insulation layer for insulating the hydrogen electrode feed layer and the oxygen electrode collection layer, and   the fixing ring for receiving the hydrogen electrode inserted therein and the hydrogen electrode feed layer of the unit support member are connected by way of a weld section.   
   
   
       8 . The high temperature steam electrolyzing device according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the fixing ring for receiving the hydrogen electrode inserted therein and the unit support member are disposed face to face by way of an annular gap.   
   
   
       9 . A high temperature steam electrolyzing device comprising:
 an electrolyzing cell section that includes a hydrogen electrode and an oxygen electrode made of a porous material and having a conical profile with an upwardly increasing horizontal cross-sectional area, the oxygen electrode and the hydrogen electrode being arranged respectively above and below a solid oxide electrolyte extending in a horizontal direction and operating as an intermediate layer and electrolyzes steam to generate hydrogen;   a conical metal-made fixing ring that has an inner surface with an upwardly increasing horizontal cross-sectional area for receiving the conical electrode inserted therein;   a unit support member for supporting the fixing ring;   fitting flanges arranged at mutually opposite surfaces of the fixing ring and the unit support member;   gaskets made of metal or a mineral-based material and interposed between the fixing ring and the unit support member; and   fastening members for separably fastening the fitting flanges.   
   
   
       10 . The high temperature steam electrolyzing device according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the oxygen electrode is disk-shaped, and the annular fixing ring for receiving the solid oxide electrolyte inserted therein and the unit support member are connected by way of screw sections.   
   
   
       11 . The high temperature steam electrolyzing device according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the unit support member has a hydrogen electrode feed layer for feeding electricity to the hydrogen electrode of the electrolyzing cell section, an oxygen electrode collection layer for collecting electricity from the oxygen electrode and an insulation layer for insulating the hydrogen electrode feed layer and the oxygen electrode collection layer, and   the fixing ring for receiving the oxygen electrode inserted therein and the oxygen electrode feed layer of the unit support member are connected by way of a weld section.   
   
   
       12 . The high temperature steam electrolyzing device according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the fixing ring for receiving the oxygen electrode inserted therein and the unit support member are disposed face to face by way of an annular gap.   
   
   
       13 . A high temperature steam electrolyzing device comprising:
 an electrolyzing cell section that includes a hydrogen electrode and an oxygen electrode arranged at mutually opposite sides of a solid oxide electrolyte operating as intermediate layer and electrolyzes steam to generate hydrogen;   a porous metal-made support member for supporting lower surface of the hydrogen electrode of the electrolyzing cell section;   a metal-made fixing ring arranged outside the porous metal-made support member and connected to end surface of the porous metal-made support member by way of a weld section; and   a unit support member for support end section of the metal-made fixing ring.   
   
   
       14 . The high temperature steam electrolyzing device according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the device includes fitting flanges arranged at mutually opposite surfaces of the metal-made fixing ring and the unit support member, gaskets made of metal or a mineral-based material and interposed between the electrolyzing cell section and the fitting flanges and between the unit support member and the fitting flanges, and fastening members for separably fastening the fitting flanges, and   the metal-made fixing ring is annular and the fixing ring and the unit support member are connected by way of a screw section.   
   
   
       15 . The high temperature steam electrolyzing device according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the unit support member has a hydrogen electrode feed layer for feeding electricity to the hydrogen electrode of the electrolyzing cell section, an oxygen electrode collection layer for collecting electricity from the oxygen electrode, and an insulation layer for insulating the hydrogen electrode feed layer and the oxygen electrode collection layer; and   the metal-made fixing ring and the hydrogen electrode feed layer of the unit support member are connected by way of a weld section.   
   
   
       16 . The high temperature steam electrolyzing device according to  claim 13 , further comprising
 fitting flanges arranged at mutually opposite surfaces of the metal-made fixing ring and the unit support member, gaskets made of metal or a mineral-based material and interposed between the electrolyzing cell section and the fitting flanges and between the unit support member and the fitting flanges, and fastening members for separably fastening the fitting flanges, wherein   the metal-made fixing ring and the unit support member are disposed face to face by way of an annular gap.