Chemical reaction device

Abstract

According to a chemical reaction device of the embodiment, the chemical reaction device includes an electrolytic cell configured to store an electrolyte solution, a stack including a first electrode stored in the electrolytic cell and arranged on a light irradiation side, a second electrode arranged on a side opposite to the light irradiation side, and a photovoltaic layer formed between the first electrode and the second electrode and configured to perform charge separation by light energy, an external power supply electrically connected between the first electrode and the second electrode via a first switching element, and a power demand unit electrically connected between the first electrode and the second electrode via a second switching element.

What is claim is: 
     
         1 . A chemical reaction device comprising:
 an electrolytic cell configured to store an electrolyte solution;   a stack stored in the electrolytic cell, the stack including a first electrode arranged on a light irradiation side, a second electrode arranged on a side opposite to the light irradiation side, and a photovoltaic layer formed between the first electrode and the second electrode and configured to perform charge separation by light energy;   an external power supply electrically connected between the first electrode and the second electrode via a first switching element;   a power demand unit electrically connected between the first electrode and the second electrode via a second switching element and connected in parallel to the external power supply; and   a switching element control unit configured to on/off-control the first switching element and the second switching element.   
     
     
         2 . The chemical reaction device of  claim 1 , wherein in a case without surplus power more than a demand of the power demand unit, the switching element control unit turns off the first switching element and turns on the second switching element, thereby supplying power to the power demand unit by electromotive force generated by the photovoltaic layer. 
     
     
         3 . The chemical reaction device of  claim 2 , wherein the first electrode and/or the second electrode is not immersed in the electrolyte solution. 
     
     
         4 . The chemical reaction device of  claim 1 , wherein in a case with surplus power more than a demand of the power demand unit and without the light energy, the switching element control unit turns off the second switching element and turns on the first switching element, thereby causing electrolysis near the first electrode and the second electrode by electromotive force generated by the external power supply and generating chemical energy. 
     
     
         5 . The chemical reaction device of  claim 4 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are immersed in the electrolyte solution. 
     
     
         6 . The chemical reaction device of  claim 1 , wherein in a case with surplus power more than a demand of the power demand unit and with the light energy, the switching element control unit turns off the first switching element and the second switching element, thereby causing electrolysis near the first electrode and the second electrode by electromotive force generated by the photovoltaic layer and generating chemical energy. 
     
     
         7 . The chemical reaction device of  claim 6 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are immersed in the electrolyte solution. 
     
     
         8 . The chemical reaction device of  claim 1 , further comprising an electrolyte solution control unit configured to control an amount of the electrolyte solution in the electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         9 . A chemical reaction device comprising:
 an electrolytic cell configured to store an electrolyte solution;   a stack stored in the electrolytic cell, the stack including a first electrode arranged on a light irradiation side, a second electrode arranged on a side opposite to the light irradiation side, and a photovoltaic layer formed between the first electrode and the second electrode and configured to perform charge separation by light energy;   a third electrode stored in the electrolytic cell and arranged on the side opposite to the light irradiation side with respect to the second electrode while facing the second electrode;   an external power supply electrically connected between the second electrode and the third electrode via a first switching element;   a power demand unit electrically connected between the first electrode and the second electrode via a second switching element; and   a switching element control unit configured to on/off-control the first switching element and the second switching element.   
     
     
         10 . The chemical reaction device of  claim 9 , wherein in a case without surplus power more than a demand of the power demand unit, the switching element control unit turns off the first switching element and turns on the second switching element, thereby supplying power to the power demand unit by electromotive force generated by the photovoltaic layer. 
     
     
         11 . The chemical reaction device of  claim 10 , wherein the first electrode and/or the second electrode is not immersed in the electrolyte solution. 
     
     
         12 . The chemical reaction device of  claim 9 , wherein in a case with surplus power more than a demand of the power demand unit and without the light energy, the switching element control unit turns off the second switching element and turns on the first switching element, thereby causing electrolysis near the second electrode and the third electrode by electromotive force generated by the external power supply and generating chemical energy. 
     
     
         13 . The chemical reaction device of  claim 13 , wherein the second electrode and the third electrode are immersed in the electrolyte solution. 
     
     
         14 . The chemical reaction device of  claim 9 , wherein in a case with surplus power more than a demand of the power demand unit and with the light energy, the switching element control unit turns off the first switching element and the second switching element, thereby causing electrolysis near the first electrode and the second electrode by electromotive force generated by the photovoltaic layer and generating chemical energy. 
     
     
         15 . The chemical reaction device of  claim 14 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are immersed in the electrolyte solution. 
     
     
         16 . The chemical reaction device of  claim 9 , further comprising an electrolyte solution control unit configured to control an amount of the electrolyte solution in the electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         17 . The chemical reaction device of  claim 1 , wherein the stack further includes a first catalyst formed in contact with the first electrode. 
     
     
         18 . The chemical reaction device of  claim 9 , wherein the stack further includes a first catalyst formed in contact with the first electrode. 
     
     
         19 . The chemical reaction device of  claim 8 , wherein the electrolyte solution control unit injects a substance having a conductivity different from the electrolyte solution into at least part of the electrolytic cell, thereby controlling the conductivity in the electrolytic cell. 
     
     
         20 . The chemical reaction device of  claim 16 , wherein the electrolyte solution control unit injects a substance having a conductivity different from the electrolyte solution into at least part of the electrolytic cell, thereby controlling the conductivity in the electrolytic cell.