Electrochemical reaction device

Abstract

Proposed is an electrochemical reaction device that generates products by subjecting a mixed solution inside a reactor to an electrochemical reaction using an electrode part. More particularly, proposed is an electrochemical reaction device that can increase the yield of products produced by an electrochemical reaction inside a reactor and prevent an explosion caused by residual gas during maintenance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrochemical reaction device, comprising:
 a reactor;   a first reactant supply passage supplying a first reactant stored in a first reactant tank to the reactor;   a second reactant supply passage supplying a second reactant stored in a second reactant tank to the reactor;   an electrode part applying electricity to a mixed solution inside the reactor to react the mixed solution to produce a product;   a power supply applying power to the electrode part;   a product discharge passage discharging the product produced inside the reactor into a product tank; and   a circulation part circulating the mixed solution by allowing the mixed solution to be discharged to an outside of the reactor and then flow back into the reactor so that the mixed solution inside the reactor does not stagnate inside the reactor.   
     
     
         2 . The electrochemical reaction device of  claim 1 , wherein the circulation part comprises:
 a branch portion located above the reactor;   a first circulation passage communicating a lower portion of the reactor with the branch portion;   a plurality of second circulation passages communicating the branch portion with the reactor; and   a circulation pump provided on the first circulation passage and circulating the mixed solution inside the reactor sequentially through the first circulation passage, the branch portion, and the plurality of second circulation passages to flow into the reactor.   
     
     
         3 . The electrochemical reaction device of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a reactor lid closing an upper surface of the reactor; and   a plurality of circulation inlet ports formed through upper and lower surfaces of the reactor lid,   wherein the plurality of second circulation passages communicate with the plurality of circulation inlet ports, respectively.   
     
     
         4 . The electrochemical reaction device of  claim 3 , wherein the circulation part further comprises: a plurality of spray nozzles disposed at a lower portion of the reactor lid, communicating with the plurality of second circulation passages, and each of which having, on a lower surface thereof, a plurality of spray ports through which the circulated mixed solution is sprayed. 
     
     
         5 . The electrochemical reaction device of  claim 4 , wherein the circulation part further comprises: a pressure regulator controlling a spray pressure of the spray nozzles. 
     
     
         6 . The electrochemical reaction device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode part comprises:
 a plurality of first electrodes;   a plurality of second electrodes arranged alternately with the plurality of first electrodes; and   a plurality of washers interposed between the first electrodes and the second electrodes to prevent contact between the first electrodes and the second electrodes.   
     
     
         7 . The electrochemical reaction device of  claim 6 , wherein the reactor has a circular cross-section, and at least one of the plurality of first electrodes and at least one of the plurality of second electrodes have different widths,
 wherein the widths of the first electrodes and the second electrodes are the longest in a central area of the electrode part, and the widths of the first electrodes and the second electrodes of the electrode part become gradually shorter toward left and right sides of the electrode part.   
     
     
         8 . The electrochemical reaction device of  claim 6 , wherein each of the first electrodes is provided with a central protrusion protruding upwardly at an upper portion thereof, and
 each of the second electrodes is provided with front and rear protrusions protruding upwardly at an upper portion thereof,   wherein the front and rear protrusions are formed in an area where the central protrusion is not formed so that the central protrusion and the front and rear protrusions do not overlap each other,   each of the washers is interposed between the central protrusion and the front and rear protrusions, and   the washer and the first and second electrodes are fastened to each other in such a manner that a first fastening rod is inserted into a central protrusion hole provided at the central protrusion and a central washer hole provided at the washer, a second fastening rod is inserted into a front protrusion hole provided at the front protrusion and a front washer hole provided at the washer, a third fastening rod is inserted into a rear protrusion hole provided at the rear protrusion and a rear washer hole provided at the washer, and a fourth fastening rod is inserted into a first electrode lower hole provided at a lower portion of the first electrode and a second electrode lower hole provided at a lower portion of the second electrode.   
     
     
         9 . The electrochemical reaction device of  claim 8 , wherein the power supply applies a positive (+) polarity voltage to the first electrode through the first fastening rod and applies a negative (−) polarity voltage to the second electrode through the second fastening rod. 
     
     
         10 . The electrochemical reaction device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode part comprises:
 a plurality of first electrodes;   a plurality of second electrodes arranged alternately with the plurality of first electrodes; and   a power supply applying power to the first electrodes and the second electrodes,   wherein the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes are moved relative to each other in an up-and-down direction.   
     
     
         11 . The electrochemical reaction device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode part comprises:
 a plurality of first electrodes;   a plurality of second electrodes arranged alternately with the plurality of first electrodes; and   a power supply applying power to the first electrodes and the second electrodes,   wherein the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes are moved relative to each other in such a manner that at least one of the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes is rotated about a center point of the reactor as an axis.   
     
     
         12 . The electrochemical reaction device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode part comprises:
 a plurality of first electrodes; and   a plurality of second electrodes arranged alternately with the plurality of first electrodes,   wherein each of the first electrodes is provided with a plurality of electrode spray ports, and   the circulation part is connected to the first electrode so that the mixed solution circulated through the circulation part is sprayed into the reactor through the plurality of electrode spray ports.   
     
     
         13 . The electrochemical reaction device of  claim 1 , wherein the circulation part comprises:
 a branch portion located above the reactor;   a first circulation passage communicating a lower portion of the reactor with the branch portion;   a plurality of second circulation passages communicating the branch portion with the reactor; and   a plurality of spray nozzles located above the first and second electrodes of the electrode part, communicating with the plurality of second circulation passages, each of which having, on a lower surface thereof, a plurality of spray ports through which the circulated mixed solution is sprayed, and formed in a plate shape with a lengthwise direction orthogonal to an up-and-down direction.   
     
     
         14 . The electrochemical reaction device of  claim 1 , wherein the circulation part comprises:
 a branch portion located above the reactor;   a first circulation passage communicating a lower portion of the reactor with the branch portion;   a plurality of second circulation passages communicating the branch portion with the reactor; and   a plurality of spray nozzles located between the first electrodes and the second electrodes of the electrode part, communicating with the plurality of second circulation passages, formed in a plate shape with a lengthwise direction in an up-and-down direction, and each of which having a plurality of spray ports on each of opposite surfaces thereof facing each of the first electrodes and each of the second electrodes so that the circulated mixed solution is sprayed onto surfaces of the first electrode and the second electrode.