Electrochemical reaction device and method of operating electrochemical reaction device

Abstract

An electrochemical reaction device includes: an electrolytic unit that includes a cathode, an anode, a diaphragm, a cathode and an anode chamber; a first flow path through which a first fluid containing a reducible material flows, and; a second flow path through which a second fluid containing an oxidizable material flows; a third flow path through which a third fluid containing a reduction product flows; a fourth flow path through which a fourth fluid containing an oxidation product flows; a humidifier in the middle of the first flow path to humidify the first fluid; and a condenser in the middle of the first flow path so as to follow the humidifier and to treat the humidified first fluid and thus condenses a part of water vapor in the humidified first fluid to produce a condensed water, and to control a ratio of the condensed water in the humidified first fluid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrochemical reaction device comprising:
 an electrolytic unit comprising a cathode, an anode, a diaphragm between the cathode and the anode, a cathode chamber facing on the cathode, and an anode chamber facing on the anode;   a first flow path through which a first fluid flows, the first flow path being connected to an inlet of the cathode chamber, and the first fluid containing a reducible material to be supplied to the cathode chamber;   a second flow path through which a second fluid flows, the second flow path being connected to an inlet of the anode chamber, and the second fluid containing an oxidizable material to be supplied to the anode chamber;   a third flow path through which a third fluid flows, the third flow path being connected to an outlet of the cathode chamber, the third fluid being discharged from the cathode chamber, and the third fluid containing a reduction product;   a fourth flow path through which a fourth fluid flows, the fourth flow path being connected to an outlet of the anode chamber, the fourth fluid being discharged from the anode chamber, and the fourth fluid containing an oxidation product;   a humidifier provided in the middle of the first flow path and configured to humidify the first fluid; and   a condenser provided in the middle of the first flow path so as to follow the humidifier, the condenser being configured to treat the humidified first fluid and thus condense a part of water vapor in the humidified first fluid to produce a condensed water, and to control a ratio of the condensed water in the humidified first fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the condenser has a temperature controller.   
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the condenser is configured to treat the first fluid so that a temperature of the treated first fluid to be discharged from the condenser is lower than a dew point of the humidified first fluid supplied to the condenser.   
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , comprising
 a plurality of the condensers.   
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the electrolytic unit has the condenser.   
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a liquid supply unit configured to supply a liquid containing water to the first flow path.   
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a liquid removal unit configured to remove a liquid from the first fluid.   
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a controller configured to control the humidifier and the condenser.   
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 8 , further comprising
 at least one detector configured to detect at least one parameter of at least one element selected from the consisting of the humidifier, the condenser, the electrolytic unit, the first flow path, the second flow path, the third flow path, the fourth flow path, the first fluid, the second fluid, the third fluid, and the fourth fluid, wherein   the controller comprises:   a receiving unit configured to receive a detection signal from the at least one detector;   a processing unit configured to perform arithmetic processing depending on the detection signal; and   a controlling unit configured to control at least one of the humidifier and the condenser in response to a result of the arithmetic processing.   
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the at least one detector is selected from the group consisting of a thermometer, a pressure gauge, a dew-point meter, an ammeter, a voltmeter, a gas flowmeter, and a gas composition analyzer.   
     
     
         11 . A method of operating an electrochemical reaction device,
 the device comprising:   an electrolytic unit comprising a cathode, an anode, a diaphragm between the cathode and the anode, a cathode chamber facing on the cathode, and an anode chamber facing on the anode;   a first flow path through which a first fluid flows, the first flow path being connected to an inlet of the cathode chamber, and the first fluid containing a reducible material to be supplied to the cathode chamber;   a second flow path through which a second fluid flows, the second flow path connected to being an inlet of the anode chamber, and the second fluid containing an oxidizable material to be supplied to the anode chamber;   a third flow path through which a third fluid flows, the third flow path being connected to an outlet of the cathode chamber, the third fluid being discharged from the cathode chamber, and the third fluid containing a reduction product; and   a fourth flow path through which a fourth fluid flows, the fourth flow path connected to being an outlet of the anode chamber, the fourth fluid being discharged from the anode chamber, and the fourth fluid containing an oxidation product, and   the method comprising:   humidifying the first fluid flowing through the first flow path; and   treating the humidified first fluid to condense a part of water vapor in the humidified first fluid to produce a condensed water, and controlling a ratio of the condensed water in the humidified first fluid.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the device comprises:   a humidifier provided in the middle of the first flow path and configured to humidify the first fluid; and   a condenser provided in the middle of the first flow path so as to follow the humidifier, configured to treat the humidified first fluid and condenses a part of the water vapor in the humidified first fluid to produce the condensed water, and thus control the ratio of the condensed water in the humidified first fluid.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the condenser has a temperature controller.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the condenser is configured to treat the first fluid so that a temperature of the treated first fluid discharged from the condenser is lower than a dew point of the humidified first fluid supplied to the condenser.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the electrolytic unit has the condenser.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the electrochemical reaction device further comprises a liquid supply unit configured to supply a liquid containing water to the first flow path.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the device further comprises a liquid removal unit configured to remove a liquid from the first fluid.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the device further comprises a controller configured to control the humidifier and the condenser.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 the device further comprises at least one detector configured to detect at least one parameter of at least one element from the group consisting of the humidifier, the condenser, the electrolytic unit, the first flow path, the second flow path, the third flow path, the fourth flow path, the first fluid, the second fluid, the third fluid, and the fourth fluid, and   the controller comprises:   a receiving unit configured to receive a detection signal from the at least one detector;   a processing unit configured to perform arithmetic processing depending on the detection signal; and   a controlling unit configured to control at least one selected from the group consisting of the humidifier and the condenser in response to a result of the arithmetic processing.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein
 the at least one detector is selected from the group consisting of a thermometer, a pressure gauge, a dew-point meter, an ammeter, a voltmeter, a gas flowmeter, and a gas composition analyzer.