Organic hydride production apparatus

Abstract

An organic hydride production apparatus includes: a membrane electrode assembly in which an anode electrode and a cathode electrode are laminated with a membrane interposed therebetween; a cathode flow path that overlaps the membrane electrode assembly when viewed from a lamination direction of the cathode electrode, the membrane, and the anode electrode, and feeds and discharges a catholyte to and from the cathode electrode; and a support member that supports the membrane electrode assembly so as to suppress fitting of the membrane electrode assembly into the cathode flow path.

1 . An organic hydride production apparatus comprising:
 a membrane electrode assembly in which an anode electrode that oxidizes water in an anolyte to generate protons and a cathode electrode that hydrogenates a substance to be hydrogenated in a catholyte with the protons to generate an organic hydride are laminated with a membrane that moves the protons from the anode electrode side to the cathode electrode side interposed therebetween;   a cathode flow path overlapping the membrane electrode assembly when viewed from a lamination direction of the cathode electrode, the membrane, and the anode electrode, and structured to feed and discharge the catholyte to and from the cathode electrode; and   a support member structured to support the membrane electrode assembly so as to suppress fitting of the membrane electrode assembly into the cathode flow path.   
     
     
         2 . The organic hydride production apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a plate member laminated on the membrane electrode assembly, wherein   the cathode flow path is formed of a groove provided on a surface of the plate member.   
     
     
         3 . The organic hydride production apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the cathode flow path includes a supply flow path to supply the catholyte to the cathode electrode, and a collection flow path to collect the catholyte from the cathode electrode, and   the support member is disposed at least in the collection flow path.   
     
     
         4 . The organic hydride production apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the support member is disposed in both the supply flow path and the collection flow path.   
     
     
         5 . The organic hydride production apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the support member is an elongated body extending along the cathode flow path in the cathode flow path.   
     
     
         6 . The organic hydride production apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the support member has a curved portion protruding toward the membrane electrode assembly.   
     
     
         7 . The organic hydride production apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the support member is formed of a coil or a stent.   
     
     
         8 . The organic hydride production apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the support member is formed of a porous member disposed in the cathode flow path.   
     
     
         9 . The organic hydride production apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the support member is formed of a plate material interposed between the cathode flow path and the membrane electrode assembly and having a plurality of through holes.