Gas generation device and gas generation method

Abstract

A control device receives an output signal from a liquid level sensor disposed in an anode chamber. This output signal indicates whether the liquid level of the electrolytic bath in the anode chamber is higher than a reference level. When the liquid level of the electrolytic bath in the anode chamber is higher than the reference level, the control device increases, by a prescribe value, the frequency of a compressor driving voltage that is generated in an inverter circuit. This increases the rotational speed of a motor in the compressor, increases the discharge pressure of hydrogen gas being discharged from the compressor, and decreases the pressure inside the cathode chamber. As a result, the liquid level of the electrolytic bath in the cathode chamber rises, and the liquid level of the electrolytic bath in the anode chamber falls below the reference level.

1 . A gas generation device that generates a first gas and a second gas by electrolysis, comprising:
 an electrolyzer divided into a first chamber and a second chamber and containing therein an electrolytic bath including a compound to be electrolyzed;   a first gas discharge path through which the first gas generated in said first chamber is discharged;   a second gas discharge path through which the second gas generated in said second chamber is discharged;   a liquid level detector that detects a liquid level of the electrolytic bath in said second chamber;   a first pump having a motor and provided on said first gas discharge path;   a first inverter circuit that generates a driving voltage to be applied to the motor of said first pump; and   a controller that controls said first inverter circuit, in the case where the liquid level detected by said liquid level detector is higher than a predetermined reference level, such that at least one of an effective value and a frequency of the driving voltage being applied to the motor of said first pump increases.   
     
     
         2 . The gas generation device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first pressure detector that detects a pressure inside said first chamber, wherein
 in the case where the liquid level detected by said liquid level detector is not higher than said reference level, said controller controls at least one of an effective value and a frequency of the driving voltage generated by said first inverter circuit such that the pressure detected by said first pressure detector approaches a first target value.   
     
     
         3 . The gas generation device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second pump having a motor and provided on said second gas discharge path;   a second inverter circuit that generates a driving voltage to be applied to the motor of said second pump; and   a second pressure detector that detects a pressure inside said second chamber, wherein   said controller controls at least one of an effective value and a frequency of the driving voltage generated by said second inverter circuit such that the pressure detected by said second pressure detector approaches a second target value.   
     
     
         4 . The gas generation device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first pressure detector that detects a pressure inside said first chamber;   a second pump having a motor and provided on said second gas discharge path;   a second inverter circuit that generates a driving voltage to be applied to the motor of said second pump; and   a second pressure detector that detects a pressure inside said second chamber, wherein   in the case where the liquid level detected by said liquid level detector is not higher than said reference level, said controller controls at least one of an effective value and a frequency of the driving voltage generated by said first inverter circuit such that the pressure detected by said first pressure detector approaches a first target value, and also controls at least one of an effective value and a frequency of the driving voltage generated by said second inverter circuit such that the pressure detected by said second pressure detector approaches a second target value that is smaller than said first target value.   
     
     
         5 . The gas generation device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first open/close valve provided on said first gas discharge path; and   a second open/close valve provided on said second gas discharge path, wherein   said controller opens said first and second open/close valves in the case where electrolysis is carried out in said electrolyzer, and closes said first and second open/close valves in the case where no electrolysis is carried out in said electrolyzer.   
     
     
         6 . The gas generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein said first chamber is a cathode chamber, and said second chamber is an anode chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The gas generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein said second gas is fluorine. 
     
     
         8 . A gas generation method for generating a first gas and a second gas by electrolysis by using an electrolyzer divided into a first chamber and a second chamber, the method comprising the steps of:
 generating the first and second gases in said first and second chambers, respectively, by applying a voltage to an electrolytic bath contained in said electrolyzer, and discharging the first and second gases generated in said first and second chambers through first and second gas discharge paths, respectively;   controlling, by a first pump having a motor, the discharge of the first gas through said first gas discharge path;   detecting a liquid level of the electrolytic bath in said second chamber;   applying a driving voltage to the motor of said first pump by a first inverter circuit; and   in the case where said detected liquid level is higher than a predetermined reference level, controlling said first inverter circuit such that at least one of an effective value and a frequency of the driving voltage being applied to the motor of said first pump increases.   
     
     
         9 . The gas generation method according to  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
 detecting a pressure inside said first chamber;   in the case where said detected liquid level is not higher than the predetermined reference level, controlling at least one of an effective value and a frequency of the driving voltage generated by said first inverter circuit such that said detected pressure inside said first chamber approaches a first target value;   controlling, by a second pump having a motor, the discharge of the second gas through said second gas discharge path;   applying a driving voltage to the motor of said second pump by a second inverter circuit;   detecting a pressure inside said second chamber; and   controlling at least one of an effective value and a frequency of the driving voltage generated by said second inverter circuit such that said detected pressure inside said second chamber approaches a second target value that is smaller than said first target value.