Oxygen-hydrogen electrolytic gas generation apparatus

Page 1 — bibliographic record

Page 2

Drawing sheet — no readable text.

Page 3

Drawing sheet — no readable text.

Page 4

Drawing sheet — no readable text.

Page 5

OXYGEN-HYDROGEN ELECTROLYTIC GAS to a positive terminal of a power Supply, i.e. an oxygen GENERATION APPARATUS chamber, is designated a starting point. Therefore, the cham ber at the other end of the cell unit will be a hydrogen

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION chamber.

The present invention relates to a generation apparatus for Each gas chamber includes a gas discharge outlet, located generating oxygen and hydrogen gases utilized in metal in an upper portion of the associated chamber, and an welding, processing of quartz glass and hydrogenation in electrolyte circulation port, located in a lower portion of the various chemical reactions such as the synthesis of chamber. Both of the ports are connected with pipes and ammonia, methanol, and fats and oils. form a closed circuit which passes through an oxygen 10 gas-liquid separation tank or a hydrogen gas-liquid separa

In conventional apparatuses for generating oxygen and hydrogen gases by electrolysis of water, the generated tionThetank and a corresponding circulation pump. oxygen and hydrogen gases are collected in a mixed State. equippedrespective with a gas-liquid separation tanks are each gas discharge valve and a safety device

The known apparatuses lack a convenient and simple struc which includes a pressure switch and a solenoid valve. ture which separately generates oxygen and hydrogen for 15 individual use. When the internal pressure in a separation tank exceeds a predetermined level, the pressure switch actuates the sole

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION noid valve which opensin order to release the over-pressure. In addition, the hydrogen gas-liquid separation tank is

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple provided with an oxidation treatment unit which receives apparatus which is capable of generating oxygen and hydro 20 any untreated hydrogen gas which is discharged from the gen gases by electrolysis. The individual gases are to be tank by means of the solenoid valve. collected in order to enable the gases to be used separately. The power supply for the oxygen-hydrogen electrolytic More particularly, the apparatus of the present invention gas generation apparatus of the present invention may provides an oxygen-hydrogen electrolytic gas generation include a solar powered generation device which includes a apparatus in which an ion exchange film is used for sepa storage battery.

rating the oxygen and hydrogen gases thereby preventing the gases from mixing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWENGS A further object of the present invention is to provide an Other features and objects of the invention will become oxygen-hydrogen gas generation apparatus which can safely 30 apparent and individually generate oxygen and hydrogen gases by invention,from the following detailed description of the taken in conjunction with the accompanying means of a simple apparatus which can be substituted for drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the features conventional gas cylinder. of the invention.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an FIG. 1(a) is an exploded perspective view of an embodi oxygen-hydrogen gas generation apparatus which is safer 35 ment of an electrolytic cell of an oxygen-hydrogen gas than the prior art because the surplus hydrogen gas is generation device according to the present invention. oxidized by means of a catalyst.

To achieve the above objects of the present invention, an FIG. 1(a) inisanschematic

FIG. 1(b) view of the electrolytic cell shown assembled state.

oxygen-hydrogen electrolytic gas generation apparatus has been developed and includes an electrolytic cell having an FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of an ion exchange film interposed between box-shaped wall electrolytic cell unit which includes a plurality of the elec structures. Each of the box-shaped wall structures has an trolytic cells shown in FIG. 1(a) and FIG. 1(b). internal side coated with a metal, a framework for holding FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the oxygen-hydrogen the ion exchange film, and a gas discharge port in an upper electrolytic gas generation device incorporating a plurality portion of the box-shaped wall structure. Also, the frame 45 of electrolytic cells connected in series. work disposed in the interior of each box-shaped wall DETALED DESCRIPTION OF THE structure forms an irregular surface which is coated with a INVENTION metal film. The metal coated irregular surface provides an increased surface area for each electrode. With reference to FIGS. 10a) and 1(b), an electrolytic cell Gas generation chambers are formed by the ion exchange 50 according to the present invention is illustrated. The cell is film and one of the box-shaped wall structures. Oxygen gas constructed of two mirror image box-shaped wall structures is generated in a chamber which is connected to a positive (1) and an ion exchange film (3) interposed between the pole of a power supply. Hydrogen gas is generated in a box-shaped wall structures. The box-shaped structures (1) chamber which is connected to a negative pole of the power are formed of an electrical insulation material which exhibits Supply. 55 high chemical resistance properties. Each box-shaped wall The oxygen-hydrogen electrolytic gas generation appara structure (1) has an open end and an interior framework (4) tus may include an electrolytic cell unit which may comprise for holding the ion exchange film (3). The interior surface a plurality of electrolytic cells connected in series. A pair of area (2) of the box-shaped wall structures (1) including the adjoining box-shaped wall structures are joined back to back framework (4) is coated with metal. to form a cell unit. The internal surfaces of the wall 60 The framework (4) projects from an interior surface of the structures are coated with metal. The metal-coated surfaces box-shaped wall structures (1) and is formed of a plurality of the box-shaped wall structures are electrically short of intersecting horizontal and vertical members which divide circuited by an electrical conductor which is inserted the interior space of the box-shaped wall structures into a through the back-to-back wall structures. The arrangement series of rectangular spaces. Notches (5) are formed in the results in a plurality of alternately juxtaposed oxygen and 65 horizontal and vertical members. The notches (5) are formed hydrogen gas chambers. For example, the chamber which is in a central portion of an edge of each interior wall forming located at one end of an electrolytic cell unit and connected the rectangular spaces which are formed by the horizontal

Page 6

and vertical members. Each box-shaped wall structure also The respective oxygen and hydrogen communication includes an electrode (7), a gas outlet port (6) provided in an pipes (13a, 13b) form parallel closed fluid circuits which upper portion of the box-shaped wall structure (1), and an pass through respective gas-liquid separation tanks (14.15) electrolyte circulation port (11) provided in a lower portion and respective circulation pumps (16a, 16b). The oxygen of the box-shaped wall structure (1). gas-liquid separation tank (14) and the hydrogen gas-liquid In the assembled state, opposing box-shaped wall struc separation tank (15) are provided with respective discharge tures (1) of an electrolytic cell form a positive pole and a valves (20a, 20b). Also, each separation tank is provided negative pole, respectively.

The ion exchange film (3) partitions the electrolytic cell with a safety device which includes a pressure switch (17) and a solenoid valve (18). The pressure switch (17) serves to into a negative chamber and a positive chamber. The film 10 actuate solenoid valve (18) to discharge gas from the tank allows ions to move from the negative chamber to the positive chamber and prevents movement of an electrolyte when the internal tank pressure exceeds a predetermined and any resultant gas from migrating between the chambers. value. The hydrogen gas-liquid separation tank (15) is provided Therefore, the resulting structure prevents oxygen, hydrogen and the electrolyte from mixing. with an oxidation treatment unit (19) with is equipped with In operation, the chambers of the electrolytic cell are 15 a catalyst (platinum-palladium) for oxidizing hydrogen gas charged, through ports (11), with an electrolyte formed of an which has been discharged from solenoid valve (18). aqueous potassium hydroxide solution or an aqueous The oxygen gas-liquid separation tank (14) is provided sodium hydroxide solution. with an electrolyte (22) which is fed through a cooler (21a) When the positive and negative poles of a D.C. power to the oxygen gas chambers (8) by means of the circulating Supply are respectively connected to metal-coated surface pump (16a). Similarly, the hydrogen gas-liquid separation (2) via the electrodes (7), the solution is electrolyzed. tank (15) is provided with an electrolyte (22) which is Oxygen gas is generated in a chamber (8) which is con pumped by circulating pump (16b) through a cooler (21b) to nected to the positive pole of the power supply. Similarly, the hydrogen gas chambers (9).

hydrogen gas is generated in a chamber (9) which is con 25 As discussed above, in operation, a positive D.C. voltage nected to the negative pole of the power supply. is connected to an electrode (7) inside the oxygen chambers As discussed above, the oxygen gas generated in the (8) and a negative voltage is connected to an electrode (7) oxygen chamber (8) is prevented from migrating into an inside the hydrogen chamber (9). Electrolysis occurs when adjacent chamber by the ion exchange film (3). Therefore, an electric current passes through the electrolyte with sub the generated oxygen is discharged from chamber (8) only 30 sequent migration of positively and negatively charged ions by means of an oxygen discharge outlet (6a). Similarly, the to the negative and positive electrodes. Oxygen gas is ion exchange film (3) prevents hydrogen gas, generated in generated in each of the oxygen gas chambers (8) which the hydrogen chamber (9), from migrating into the adjacent constitute the positive pole. Hydrogen gas is generated in oxygen chamber (8). The generated hydrogen is discharged each of the hydrogen gas chambers (9) which constitute the from the chamber (6a) only by means of a hydrogen 35 negative pole. The oxygen and hydrogen gases are respec discharge outlet (6b). tively fed to the corresponding gas-liquid separation tanks With respect to FIG. 2, an electrolytic cell unit is illus (14,15) along with the electrolyte (22). Each of the mixtures trated. The cell unit is formed of a plurality of the electro of electrolyte and gas are separated in the respective gas lytic cells shown in FIG. 1. In the unit shown in FIG. 2, two liquid separation tank (14, 15).

electrolytic cells are positioned back-to-back and have an 40 The gas-liquid tanks (14, 15) are maintained at a constant integral connection (12). As in the cells shown in FIG. 1, the pressure at all times. If the internal tank pressure rises above interior surface (2) of the box-shaped wall structures (1) are a safe level, discharge valves (18) open in response to the coated with metal. The metal-coated surfaces (2) are elec increased pressure and gas is exhausted to the outside until trically short-circuited by electrical conductors (10) which the over-pressure is relieved. Any hydrogen discharged are inserted through each of the back-to-back connections 45 through the solenoid valve (18) is subjected to an oxidation (12). The conductors (10) are formed of a material such as treatment in the oxidation unit (19).

nickel, platinum or the like. Since the temperature of the electrolytes will increase due As shown in FIG.3, the plurality of oxygen chambers and to the electrolysis process, the coolers (21a, 21b) are pro hydrogen chambers are alternately juxtaposed to each other. vided to lower the temperature of the electrolyte entering the In this manner, if a chamber at one end of the electrolytic cell 50 electrolytic cells to a predetermined level. unit is an oxygen chamber (8), the chamber at the opposite Power can be supplied to the gas generation apparatus of end will be a hydrogen chamber (9). the present invention from various sources. As shown in FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the overall oxygen FIG. 3, it is possible to employ a power supply 23 which hydrogen gas generation apparatus for carrying out the utilizes solar power. The power supply 23 includes a solar process of separating the oxygen and hydrogen gases includ 55 collector (24), a charge controller (25), and a storage battery ing gas-liquid separation tanks (14, 15). In the illustrated (26). Normally, the current from the power supply (23) is fed apparatus, an electrolytic cell unit is formed by a plurality of from the solar battery (24) directly to each of the electrodes electrolytic cells connected in series. by means of a constant current circuit (28). However, when Communication pipes (13a) are connected to the oxygen Sunlight is not available, the current stored in the storage gas outlets (6a) in the upper portion of the electrolytic cell 60 battery (26) is fed from the charge controller 25 to the unit and to corresponding electrolyte circulation ports (11) in electrodes (7).

the lower portion of the electrolytic cell to form a closed The present invention, as described above provides the circuit. Similarly, communication pipes (13b) are connected following advantages:

to the hydrogen gas outlets (6b) in the upper portion of the The ion exchange film (3) prevents oxygen and hydrogen electrolytic cell and to corresponding electrolyte circulation 65 from mixing in the electrolytic cell thereby enhancing the ports (11) in the lower portion of the electrolytic cell to form safety of the apparatus. Also, the entire electrolytic cellis of a closed circuit. a simple construction because each of the box-shaped wall

Page 7

S 6 structures (1) serves as both a partition and an electrode due 5. An electrolytic cell unit including at least one electro to the internal metal coating (2). lytic cell for generating oxygen and hydrogen, said at least The quantity of oxygen or hydrogen gas can be regulated one electrolytic cell comprising:

by connecting a plurality of electrolytic cells in series to an ion exchange film;

form a electrolytic cell unit. The resulting unit is compact 5 a pair of wall structures each having an internal because the intermediate partitions (12) are formed by framework, wherein said ion exchange film is inter connecting two cells back-to-back. posed between said wall structures and is supported by Also, the generated gases, along with the respective said internal framework to form a first gas chamber on electrolytes, are fed through parallel closed fluid circuits one side of said ion exchange film and a second gas which include the gas chambers and the separation tanks. O chamber on the other side of said ion exchange film; Hence, there is no need to uniformly regulate the pressure of an electrode connected to each said wall structure; the oxygen and hydrogen gases in their respective tanks a metal coating provided on internal surface areas defined since the pressure in the tanks can be independently con by interior surfaces of said wall structures including trolled.

Accidents can be prevented with the present invention 15 said internal framework;

because the pressure in each of the separation tanks is a discharge port provided in each wall structure of said maintained at a constant pressure by means of a pressure pair of wall structures; and Switch and a solenoid valve. Also, any discharged hydrogen an inlet port provided in each wall structure of said pair gas is oxidized by a catalyst in order to prevent accidents of wall structures.

Such as combustion of the gas resulting in an explosion or a 20 6. The electrolytic cell unit as claimed in claim.5, wherein fire. said wall structures of said pair of wall structures are mirror The framework (4) forms an irregular internal surface in images of each other.

the box-like wall structures (1), thereby increasing the 7. The electrolytic cell unit as claimed in claim.5, wherein internal surface area of each gas chamber. The interior each wall structure of said pair of wall structures further surface is coated with metal to constitute the electrode and comprises an upper portion and a lower portion and said lower the electrical resistance thereof. Accordingly, it is 25 discharge port is located in said upper portion and said inlet possible to lower the voltage between the positive and port is located in said lower portion.

negative electrodes, thereby improving the electrolytic effi 8. The electrolytic cell as claimed in claim 5, wherein ciency of the electrolysis operation. each wall structure of said pair of wall structures is in the Further, by using solar power as the power source, energy shape of a parallelepiped having an open end. savings are possible and the gas generation apparatus can be 30 9. The electrolytic cell unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein used in locations which are remote from other sources of said at least one electrolytic cell comprises a plurality of electricity. electrolytic cells, and said plurality of electrolytic cells are Although the invention has been fully described by way positioned adjacent each other such that adjacent wall struc of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, 35 tures are integrally connected, and an electrical conductor is various changes and modifications will be apparent to those inserted through said integral connection to short circuit the skilled in the art. Therefore, unless such changes and modi respective metal-coated surfaces of said wall structures. fications otherwise depart from the spirit and scope of the 10. The electrolytic cell unit as claimed in claim 9. present invention, they should be construed as being encom wherein said first and second gas chambers are alternately passed by the following appended claims. juxtaposed.

What is claimed is: 11. The electrolytic cell unit as claimed in claim 10, 1. An electrolytic cell for generating oxygen and further comprising:

hydrogen, said electrolytic cell comprising: a first conduit communicating with each of said first gas an ion exchange film; chambers via said discharge ports and said inlet ports; a pair of wall structures each having an internal 45 and framework, wherein said ion exchange film is inter a second conduit communicating with each of said second posed between said wall structures and is supported by gas chambers via said discharge ports and said inlet said internal framework to form a first gas chamber on ports, one side of said ion exchange film and a second gas wherein said plurality of first gas chambers are connected in chamber on the other side of said ion exchange film; 50 series by said first conduit and said plurality of second gas an electrode connected to each said wall structure; chambers are connected in series by said second conduit. 12. An oxygen-hydrogen gas generation apparatus com a metal coating provided on internal surface areas defined prising by interior surfaces of said wall structures including an electrolytic cell unit having a plurality of elec said internal framework; trolytic cells, each said cell comprising: a discharge port provided in each of said wall structures; 55 an ion exchange film, and a pair of wall structures each having an internal an inlet port provided in each of said wall structures. framework, wherein said ion exchange film is inter 2. The electrolytic cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein posed between said wall structures and is supported by each of said wall structures further comprise an upper said internal framework to forman oxygen chamber on portion and a lower portion, and said discharge port is 60 one side of said ion exchange film and a hydrogen located in said upper portion and said inlet port is located in chamber on the other side of said ion exchange film, said lower portion. an electrode connected to each wall structure, 3. The electrolytic cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein said a metal coating provided on internal surface areas defined wall structures are mirror images of each other. by interior surfaces of said wall structures including 4. The electrolytic cell as claimed in claim3, wherein said 65 said internal framework, wall structures are in the shape of a parallelepiped having an a gas discharge port provided in each of said wall struc open end. tures; and

Page 8

an electrolyte inlet port provided in each of said wall said wall structures, including said framework, is coated structures, wherein said plurality of electrolytic cells with metal and forms a positive electrode in said oxygen are positioned adjacent each other such that adjacent chamber and a negative electrode in said hydrogen chamber. cells are integrally connected, and an electrical con 16. The oxygen-hydrogen gas generation apparatus as ductor is inserted through said integrally connected claimed in claim 12, further comprising a power supply portions to short circuit the respective metal-coated operably connected to said electrolytic cell unit, said power surfaces of said wall structures;

a first conduit fluidly communicating with each of said supply including a solar powered device having a storage oxygen chambers at said discharge ports and said inlet battery.

ports; 10 17. The oxygen-hydrogen gas generation apparatus as a second conduitfluidly communicating with each of said claimed in claim 12, further comprising: hydrogen chambers at said discharge ports and said a first circulation pump connected in fluid communication inlet ports; in said first closed fluid circuit; and an oxygen gas-liquid separation tank connected in fluid 15 a second circulation pump connected in fluid communi communication with said first conduit, wherein said cation in said second closed fluid circuit. first conduit forms a first closed fluid circuit which 18. The oxygen-hydrogen gas generation apparatus as includes said oxygen gas-liquid separation tank; and claimed in claim 17, further comprising: a hydrogen gas-liquid separation tank connected in fluid a gas discharge valve mounted on each of said gas-liquid communication with said second conduit, wherein said 20 separation tanks;

second conduit forms a second closed fluid circuit which includes said hydrogen gas-liquid separation a solenoid valve having an outlet and connected to each tank. of said gas-liquid separation tanks; and 13. The oxygen-hydrogen gas generation apparatus as a pressure switch operably connected to each of said claimed in claim 12, wherein said wall structures of each 25 gas-liquid separation tanks and said solenoid valve. said pair of wall structures are mirror images of each other. 19. The oxygen-hydrogen gas generation apparatus as 14. The electrolytic cell as claimed in claim 12, wherein claimed in claim 18, further comprising an oxidation treat said wall structures are in the shape of a parallelepiped ment unit connected to said outlet of said hydrogen Solenoid having an open end. valve.

15. The oxygen-hydrogen gas generation apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said interior surface of each of