Electrochemical Element, Electrochemical Module, Electrochemical Device, and Energy System

Abstract

An electrochemical element (Q) has a metal substrate (1) and multiple electrochemical reaction portions. The metal substrate (1) has gas flow allowing regions that allow the flowing of a gas between the upper side (4) and the lower side (5) of the metal substrate (1). The electrochemical reaction portions each have at least an electrode layer (A), an electrolyte layer (B), and a counter electrode layer (C), and are arranged on the upper side (4) of the metal substrate (1). The electrolyte layer (B) is arranged between the electrode layer (A) and the counter electrode layer (C), and the gas flowing through the gas flow allowing regions is supplied to the electrode layer (A).

1 . An electrochemical element unit, comprising:
 a single metal substrate;   a joining member; and   a plurality of electrochemical reaction portions on an upper side of the metal substrate,   wherein:   the metal substrate has a gas flow allowing region that allows flowing of a gas between the upper side and a lower side of the metal substrate,   each electrochemical reaction portion has at least an electrode layer, an electrolyte layer, and a counter electrode layer, and is arranged on/over the upper side of the metal substrate,   the electrolyte layer is arranged at least between the electrode layer and the counter electrode layer,   the joining member has a first gas passage on a upper side thereof,   the electrode layer comes into contact with a first gas flowing through the first gas passage of the joining member and the gas flow allowing region, and   the counter electrode layer at least comes into contact with a second gas different from the first gas.   
     
     
         2 . The electrochemical element unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the joining member does not have gas permeability.   
     
     
         3 . The electrochemical element unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the joining member has electrical conductivity.   
     
     
         4 . The electrochemical element unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the metal substrate has a plurality of the gas flow allowing regions that are separated from each other.   
     
     
         5 . The electrochemical element unit according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the electrode layer is arranged so as to cover at least each of the gas flow allowing regions.   
     
     
         6 . The electrochemical element unit according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the electrode layer is provided for at least one of the gas flow allowing regions, and   wherein the electrolyte layer is arranged so as to cover at least each of the gas flow allowing regions or the electrode layer.   
     
     
         7 . The electrochemical element unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the electrolyte layer is gas-tight.   
     
     
         8 . The electrochemical element unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the electrolyte layer separates the first gas and the second gas from each other.   
     
     
         9 . The electrochemical element unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of electrochemical reaction portions are formed with gaps therebetween.   
     
     
         10 . The electrochemical element unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the plurality of electrochemical reaction portions are electrically connected in parallel.   
     
     
         11 . The electrochemical element unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein on/over the upper side of the metal substrate, a metal oxide film is formed in at least a region where the metal substrate and the electrode layer are in contact.   
     
     
         12 . The electrochemical element unit according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein on/over the upper side of the metal substrate, a metal oxide film is formed in at least a region that is covered by neither the electrode layer, the electrolyte layer, nor the counter electrode layer.   
     
     
         13 . The electrochemical element unit according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the metal oxide film is an oxide that contains at least a metal element included in the metal substrate.   
     
     
         14 . An electrochemical module, wherein a plurality of the electrochemical element units according to  claim 1  are arranged in a grouped state. 
     
     
         15 . The electrochemical module according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the joining member has a second gas passage on a lower side thereof, and   wherein the plurality of the electrochemical element units are arranged such that a gas flowing through the second gas passage of each of the plurality of electrochemical element units comes into contact with the counter electrode layer of an adjacent one of the plurality of the electrochemical element units.   
     
     
         16 . An electrochemical device, comprising:
 the electrochemical element unit according to  claim 1 ; and   a fuel supply unit that supplies a fuel gas containing a reducible component to the electrochemical element unit or the electrochemical module.   
     
     
         17 . An electrochemical device, comprising:
 the electrochemical element unit according to  claim 1 ; and   an inverter that extracts electrical power from the electrochemical element unit or the electrochemical module.   
     
     
         18 . An energy system, comprising:
 the electrochemical device according to  claim 16 ; and   a waste heat management unit that reuses heat discharged from the electrochemical device.   
     
     
         19 . A solid oxide fuel cell unit, comprising:
 the electrochemical element unit according to  claim 1 ,   wherein the electrochemical element unit causes a power generation reaction.   
     
     
         20 . A solid oxide electrolysis cell unit, comprising:
 the electrochemical element unit according to  claim 1 ,   wherein the electrochemical element unit causes an electrolysis reaction.