Electrolytic device and method of driving electrolytic device

Abstract

An electrolytic device, includes: an electrolysis cell including: a cathode; an anode; a cathode flow path facing the cathode; and an anode flow path facing the anode; a tank including: a first room; a second room; and an opening connecting the first and second rooms, the first and second rooms store a liquid containing at least one ion, the tank forms a level difference so that the first liquid level of the liquid in the first room is higher to the bottom of the second room than the second liquid level of the liquid in the second room, and thus cause an ion in the liquid to move from the first to the second room through the opening; a first flow path connecting an outlet of the cathode flow path and the first room; and a second flow path connecting the second room and an outlet of the anode flow path.

1 . An electrolytic device, comprising:
 an electrolysis cell comprising: a cathode; an anode; a cathode flow path facing on the cathode; and an anode flow path facing on the anode;   a tank comprising: a first room; a second room; and an opening connecting the first room and the second room, the first room and the second room being configured to store a liquid containing at least one ion, the tank being configured to form a level difference between a first liquid level and a second liquid level so that a height of the first liquid level of the liquid to be stored in the first room relative to a bottom of the second room is higher than a height of the second liquid level of the liquid to be stored in the second room relative to the bottom of the second room, and thus cause an ion contained in the liquid to move from the first room to the second room through the opening;   a first flow path connecting an outlet of the cathode flow path and the first room; and   a second flow path connecting the second room and an outlet of the anode flow path.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the tank comprises a partition provided between the first and second rooms and having the opening.   
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the tank comprises a pipe having the opening.   
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the tank does not comprise any pumps in the middle of the opening.   
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a bottom of the first room is higher than the bottom of the second room.   
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the cathode is configured to reduce carbon dioxide to produce a carbon compound.   
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the cathode is configured to reduce nitrogen to produce ammonia.   
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one ion includes a potassium ion.   
     
     
         9 . A method of driving an electrolytic device,
 the electrolytic device comprising:   an electrolysis cell comprising: a cathode; an anode; a cathode flow path facing on the cathode; and an anode flow path facing on the anode;   a tank comprising: a first room; a second room; and an opening connecting the first room and the second room, the first room and the second room being configured to store a liquid containing at least one ion;   a first flow path connecting an outlet of the cathode flow path and the first room; and   a second flow path connecting the second room and an inlet of the anode flow path, the method comprising:   forming a level difference between a first liquid level and a second liquid level so that a height of the first liquid level of the liquid to be stored in the first room relative to a bottom of the second room is higher than a height of the second liquid level of the liquid to be stored in the second room relative to the bottom of the second room, and thus causes an ion contained in the liquid to move from the first room to the second room through the opening.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the tank comprises a partition provided between the first and second rooms and having the opening.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the tank comprises a pipe having the opening.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the tank does not comprises any pumps in the middle of the opening.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein
 a bottom of the first room is higher than the bottom of the second room.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the cathode reduces carbon dioxide to produce carbon compounds.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the cathode reduces nitrogen to produce ammonia.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the at least one ion includes a potassium ion.