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  Solid polymer membrane-type water-electrolysis apparatusRelated Patent Categories: Chemistry: Electrical And Wave Energy, Apparatus, Electrolytic, Cells, Diaphragm TypeThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060231386. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a water-electrolysis apparatus for producing hydrogen and oxygen gasses, and particularly, to a solid polymer membrane-type water-electrolysis apparatus having a compact structure and convenient for transportation and storage. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART [0002] There is a water-electrolysis apparatus using a solid polymer membrane to produce hydrogen and oxygen gasses, including an apparatus as shown in FIG. 3, which is intended for education and demonstration. This electrolysis apparatus includes a solid polymer membrane-type electrolytic cell 100 which comprises a solid polymer electrolyte membrane 1 interposed between an oxygen electrode 2 and a hydrogen electrode 3, separator plates 4 mounted outside the oxygen electrode 2 and the hydrogen electrode 3 and having passages for permitting generated gasses to pass therethrough, and fixing plates mounted outside the separator plates 4, so that these members are integrated together. A plurality of through-passages 62 are provided in each of the fixing plates 6 to communicate with the passages in each of the separators 4. An oxygen storage tank 20 adapted to store water from a water tank 22 and to store oxygen gas to discharge the latter through a discharge port 24 is mounted on the side of the oxygen electrode 2 in such a manner that it is connected in communication to the through-passages 62 through hoses 26, and a hydrogen storage tank 30 adapted to store water from a water tank 32 and to store hydrogen gas to discharge the latter through a discharge port 34 is mounted on the side of the hydrogen electrode in such a manner that it is connected in communication to the through-passages 62 through hoses 36. [0003] There is also an apparatus for generating oxygen and hydrogen gasses by the electrolysis of water, including an apparatus using an ion-exchange membrane as described in JP-A-09-143778. This apparatus is formed as an electrolytic cell in which box-shaped partition walls are provided on opposite sides of the ion-exchange membrane; crosspieces for retaining a metal-coated surface formed by a metal coating treatment and the ion-exchange membrane are mounted inside the box-shaped partition walls, and gas outlets are provided above the crosspieces. In this apparatus, oxygen gas is generated in a chamber defined by the ion-exchange membrane and the partition wall connected to an anode of a power source device, and hydrogen gas is generated in a chamber defined by the ion-exchange membrane and the partition wall connected to a cathode of the power source device, and these gasses are removed from top portions of the partition walls. [0004] There is further a conventionally proposed water-electrolysis apparatus also serving as a fuel cell, which uses a water-electrolyzing membrane-electrode assembly comprising a solid polymer electrolyte membrane and an oxygen electrode and a hydrogen electrode bonded on opposite sides of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, as described in JP-A-2004-353033. An oxygen flow passage plate, a separator plate and an end plate are disposed in piles on the side of the oxygen electrode of the membrane-electrode assembly, and a separator plate and an end plate are disposed in piles on the side of the hydrogen electrode. These components are bonded together into an integral structure, which is immersed in water in a water tank. [0005] In the water-electrolysis apparatus as shown in FIG. 3, the pressures of hydrogen and oxygen produced by this apparatus are ensured only up to substantially the atmospheric pressure, even if the discharge ports in the gas storage tanks 20 and 30 have been closed. Therefore, the amounts of hydrogen and oxygen stored are limited to the volume of the tanks. Even if these gasses are continuously generated, they are discharged through center pipes leading to the water tanks 22 and 32. For this reason, water in the water tanks 22 and 32 is overflowed and released into the atmosphere, and thus, it is substantially impossible to store these gasses in the storage tanks 20 and 30. [0006] It is conceived that high-pressure gas cylinders are used for the storage of the oxygen and hydrogen gasses produced in the above manner. In this case, however, it is necessary to mount a regulator, resulting in increases in size and weight of the entire apparatus. Thus, the transportation and storage of the apparatus are limited. [0007] The water-electrolysis apparatus described in JP-A-09-143778 suffers from the following problems: The oxygen and hydrogen gas chambers each divided into a number of sections are formed into an integral structure and for this reason, it is not only difficult to provide a force of close contact between the crosspiece and the ion-exchange membrane which are members defining such gas chamber, but also it is not easy to smoothly remove the gasses, because the gas chambers are divided into the sections. [0008] Further, in water-electrolysis apparatus described in JP-A-2004-353033, essential portions of the apparatus are immersed in water and for this reason, the size of the apparatus itself is limited, but also the efficient removal, pressures and the like of the produced oxygen and hydrogen gasses are not taken into consideration, and it is necessary to mount other tanks for the storage of the gasses, as in the above-described prior art apparatus. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] The present invention has been accomplished with the above problems in view, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a solid polymer membrane-type water-electrolysis apparatus, wherein tanks for storage of oxygen and hydrogen gasses produced are formed integrally to provide a compact structure for the entire apparatus, thereby facilitating the transportation or storage of the apparatus. [0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a solid polymer membrane-type water-electrolysis apparatus, wherein the stored oxygen and hydrogen gasses can be brought into a pressure equal to or higher than the atmospheric pressure, and supplied to a remote place. [0011] To achieve the above objects, according to the present invention, there is provided a solid polymer membrane-type water-electrolysis apparatus comprising a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an oxygen electrode mounted in contact with one side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, a hydrogen electrode mounted in contact with the other side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, separator plates mounted adjacent the outsides of the oxygen electrode and the hydrogen electrode and serving as current collector plates having passages for water and generated gasses, fixing plates disposed outside the separator plates and made of a non-conductive material, and reservoirs disposed outside the fixing plates for storing water and the generated gasses, wherein [0012] the fixing plates include pressing members build therein for pressing the oxygen electrode and the hydrogen electrode against the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, flow passages being included in the pressing members, [0013] the reservoirs are fixed integrally by tie bolts by clamping the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, the oxygen electrode, the hydrogen electrode, the separator plates and the fixing plates together from outside the fixing plates, and [0014] the reservoirs have water supply bores provided at locations higher in level than the position of the water electrolysis level, and release bores for releasing the generated gasses. [0015] In the solid polymer membrane-type water-electrolysis apparatus, the oxygen electrode is formed by coating a solid polymer electrolyte membrane resin onto a porous sheet-shaped carbon material plated with iridium. [0016] In the solid polymer membrane-type water-electrolysis apparatus, the hydrogen electrode is formed by coating a mixture including carbon and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane resin onto a porous sheet-shaped carbon material, and further coating a mixture including Pt (alloy) and Pt (alloy)-carrying carbon and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane resin onto the coated layer. [0017] In the solid polymer membrane-type water-electrolysis apparatus, each of the separator plates is formed from a metal plate material coated with Pt or Au and provided with a plurality of through-bores. [0018] In the solid polymer membrane-type water-electrolysis apparatus, each of the pressing members build in the fixing plates in contact with the separator plates is formed of a porous plastic material such as nylon having an elasticity. [0019] In the solid polymer membrane-type water-electrolysis apparatus, the fixing plates are provided with through-bores serving as flow passages for water or the generated gasses. [0020] In the solid polymer membrane-type water-electrolysis apparatus, the reservoirs have maintenance bores for drainage of water provided in their bottoms or in near their bottoms, in addition to the water supply bores and the generated-gas passages. [0021] The solid polymer membrane-type water-electrolysis apparatus as described above according to the present invention comprises the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, the oxygen electrode mounted in contact with one side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, the hydrogen electrode mounted in contact with the other side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, the separator plates mounted adjacent the outsides of the oxygen electrode and the hydrogen electrode and serving as current collector plates having passages for water and generated gasses, the fixing plates disposed outside the separator plates and made of the non-conductive material, and the reservoirs disposed outside the fixing plates for storing water and the generated gasses, wherein the fixing plates include pressing members build therein for pressing the oxygen electrode and the hydrogen electrode against the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, the flow passages being included in the pressing members, and further, the reservoirs are fixed integrally by tie bolts by clamping the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, the oxygen electrode, the hydrogen electrode, the separator plates and the fixing plates together from outside the fixing plates. Therefore, the tanks of a pressure-resistant structure for storing oxygen and hydrogen can be mounted, thereby providing the water-electrolysis apparatus having a compact entire structure and convenient for movement and preservation. Continue reading... Full patent description for Solid polymer membrane-type water-electrolysis apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Solid polymer membrane-type water-electrolysis apparatus patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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