Description

ELECTROLYTIC CELL AND HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN PRODUCING SYSTEM USING THE SAME

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an electrolytic cell using both a rare-earth particle sheet and an electrode plate made of nickel, and to a hydrogen and oxygen producing system that uses both an electrolytic cell unit, comprising a plurality of electrolytic cells, and a filtering unit connected to the electrolytic cells, thus minimizing internal consumption of the electrolytic cell and maximizing electrolysis efficiency of the cell, and producing highly pure hydrogen and oxygen.

[2] More particularly, the present invention relates to an electrolytic cell which has a laminated structure comprising: a polar plate having a plurality of waterflow holes, a waterproof plate having a geometric pattern on an upper surface thereof to cause easy circulation of electrolyte, an electrode plate having a predetermined mesh fineness at a central area thereof, and a rare-earth particle sheet.

[3] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a hydrogen and oxygen producing system using electrolytic cells which comprises a raw material container having an inlet port on an upper surface thereof, an electrolytic cell unit connected to the raw material container and having a plurality of electrolytic cells therein, a filtering unit having a filtering means to filter hydrogen produced by the electrolytic cell unit, and a power supply unit to automatically supply electric power to the electrolytic cells of the electrolytic cell unit. Background Art

[4] Generally, hydrogen can be produced through electrolysis of elements or molecules of water. During electrolysis to produce hydrogen, a basic electrolyte is used as the electrolyte.

[5] Combustion of hydrogen discharges only water vapor, so that the hydrogen causes no harm to people during combustion and does not generate contaminants, thus its preference as a next-generation energy source.

[6] Furthermore, hydrogen is nontoxic so that, when hydrogen is discharged into the atmosphere, it is harmless to human health. Hydrogen can be continuously produced by supplement of water, so that the hydrogen is preferably used as a fuel in a variety of industrial fields, such as a fuel for hydrogen vehicles, a variety of thermal energy generation appliances, or boilers for home or industrial use.

[7] An example of conventional hydrogen and oxygen producing devices related to the above-mentioned technique is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 468541. As

shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the conventional hydrogen and oxygen producing device comprises a water tank 1 to contain ionized water therein, an electrolytic cell 2 installed in the water tank 1 using a frame 3, and a heat exchanger 7 placed at a predetermined position outside the water tank 7. A water pipe 9a connects an ionized water outlet 10 of the tank 1 to an inlet 7 a formed on the upper end of the heat exchanger 7, while another water pipe 9b connects an ionized water inlet 11 of the tank 1 to an outlet 7b formed on the lower end of the heat exchanger 7.

[8] Furthermore, two gas pipes 5 and 4 extend from the upper end of the tank 1 and from a predetermined lower portion of the sidewall of the tank 1 to discharge oxygen and hydrogen from the tank 1, respectively. An ionized water supply pipe 6 is connected to the lower end of the tank 1 and supplies ionized water to the tank 1. The heat exchanger 7 is provided with a pump 8 to circulate refrigerant for the heat exchanger 7.

[9] Furthermore, the electrolytic cell 2 comprises a plurality of electrolyte membranes

25 placed between two end plates 22a and 22b, respectively, having an oxygen discharging elbow 32 and a hydrogen discharging nipple 33, two porous connectors 26b and 26a provided at the upper and lower sides of each of the electrolyte membranes 25 to form a negative electrode chamber and a positive electrode chamber in the electrolytic cell 2, and an electrode plate 24 placed outside each of the porous connectors 26b and 26a and having an oxygen path 29 and 29a and a hydrogen path 30 and 30a. An inside gasket 3 Ii and an outside gasket 3 Io are placed between each of the electrode plates 24 and an associated one of the porous connectors 26a and 26b. Furthermore, an inside seal seat 28i and an outside seal seat 28o are placed between each of the electrolyte membranes 25 and each of the porous connectors 26a and 26b. An outside gasket 27 is interposed between each of the outside electrode plates 24 and an associated one of the two end plates 22a and 22b.

[10] However, the above-mentioned conventional hydrogen and oxygen producing device is problematic in that, to form the negative electrode chamber and the positive electrode chamber, the electrolytic cell must have a plurality of connectors, increasing the number of elements of the cell. Furthermore, an electrolyte is supplied through a central hole of the cell, thus causing unnecessary consumption of the electrolyte and increasing the internal consumption of the electrolytic cell.

[11] Another disadvantage of the conventional hydrogen and oxygen producing device resides in that its power supply unit is configured to cope with a maximum load, thus undesirably consuming excessive electric power, and is also configured to execute manual control for the supply of ionized water, thus consuming an excessive amount of ionized water.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[12] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electrolytic cell and a hydrogen and oxygen producing system using the electrolytic cell, which are fabricated using a variety of materials, are easily and conveniently assembled, which minimize internal consumption to maximize electrolysis efficiency, and which reduce the polarization voltage and voltage difference to minimum levels.

[13] Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrolytic cell and a hydrogen and oxygen producing system using the electrolytic cell, which optimally control the supplied voltage according to a pressure difference of produced hydrogen, thus minimizing electric power consumption, and which automatically control the supply of ionized water. Technical Solution

[14] In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides an electrolytic cell comprising a laminated structure having a waterproof plate, a polar plate, an electrode plate, a rare-earth particle sheet, an electrode plate, a polar plate, and a waterproof plate, which are sequentially laminated in a direction of a flow path of an electrolyte.

[15] Furthermore, the present invention provides a hydrogen and oxygen producing system using an electrolytic cell, which comprises:

[16] a raw material container having an inlet port on its upper wall;

[17] an electrolytic cell unit connected to the raw material container and comprising one or more electrolytic cells sequentially laminated and installed in a chamber containing an electrolyte therein, each of the electrolytic cells being fabricated by sequentially laminating a waterproof plate, a polar plate, an electrode plate, a rare-earth particle sheet, an electrode plate, a polar plate, and a waterproof plate in a direction of a flow path of the electrolyte;

[18] a filtering unit provided with a filtering means therein to filter hydrogen discharged from the electrolytic cell unit; and

[19] a power supply unit to automatically supply electricity to the electrolytic cells of the electrolytic cell unit.

Advantageous Effects

[20] As is apparent from the above descriptions, the present invention can use a variety of materials while manufacturing electrolytic cells, easily and conveniently assemble the electrolytic cells, minimize internal consumption to maximize electrolysis efficiency, and reduce the polarization voltage and voltage difference to minimum

levels.

[21] Furthermore, the present invention can optimally control the supplied voltage according to a pressure difference of produced hydrogen, thus minimizing electric power consumption, and automatically control the supply of ionized water. Brief Description of the Drawings

[22] FIGS. 1 and 2 are a sectional view of a conventional hydrogen and oxygen producing system and an enlarged view of an important part of the system, respectively;

[23] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the operation of a hydrogen producing unit according to the present invention;

[24] FIGS. 4 and 5 are a sectional view and an exploded view, respectively, of an electrolytic cell according to the present invention;

[25] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a hydrogen producing unit using the electrolytic cell according to the present invention;

[26] FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the hydrogen producing unit using the electrolytic cell according to the present invention;

[27] FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a hydrogen producing unit according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[28] FIG. 9 a perspective view illustrating a hydrogen and oxygen producing system using the electrolytic cell according to the present invention;

[29] FIG. 10 is a view schematically illustrating the construction of the hydrogen and oxygen producing system using the electrolytic cell according to the present invention;

[30] FIGS. 11 through 13 are views illustrating a filtering unit, an electrolytic cell unit, and a power supply unit of the hydrogen and oxygen producing system according to the present invention; and

[31] FIGS. 14 and 15 are graphs illustrating the hydrogen producing efficiency of the hydrogen producing unit according to the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[32] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[33] The present invention uses a porous polar plate to increase the surface area, thus minimizing internal energy. This invention also minimizes energy consumption while executing an ion exchanging process with an ion exchanging membrane using rare- earth ions. The present invention further minimizes the residence time of oxygen and hydrogen, produced on the polar plates, using a nickel net, thus reducing resistance.

[34] Due to the above-mentioned construction, the present invention can increase the hydrogen producing efficiency to 92.4% or more, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15.

[35] Furthermore, hydrogen in the present invention can be produced through electrolysis of water, as disclosed in the following reaction formula and illustrated in FIG. 3, which is a view showing the operation of the present invention. Water is decomposed by electrolysis through the following reaction formula, thus producing hydrogen and oxygen.

[36] [Reaction Formula]

[37] 2H 2 O + electric current = 2H 2 T + O 2 T

[38] negative electrode: 4H ⁺ + 4e = 2H T

[39] positive electrode: 4OH ^" = O T + 2H O + 4e

[40] As disclosed in the above reaction formula, during electrolysis, water is decomposed into positively-charged hydrogen ions and negatively-charged oxygen ions. The positively-charged hydrogen ions migrate to the negative electrode to produce hydrogen, while the negatively-charged oxygen ions migrate to the positive electrode to produce oxygen.

[41] In the above case, if a strong acid or a strong alkali is added to water, the electrolysis rate is increased.

[42] As shown in FIGS. 3 through 8, the electrolytic cell 230 of the present invention comprises a unit cell having a laminated structure including a waterproof plate 232, a polar plate 231, an electrode plate 233, a rare-earth particle sheet 234, an electrode plate 233, a polar plate 231, and a waterproof plate 232, which are sequentially laminated in a direction of a flow path of the electrolyte.

[43] In the present invention, each of the polar plates 231 is preferably made of stainless steel having a plurality of waterflow holes. However, it should be understood that the polar plates 231 may be made of another material without affecting the functioning of this invention, as long as the material is electrically conductive and is highly resistant to corrosion.

[44] Furthermore, each of the waterproof plates 232 is made of an insulating material, such as rubber or synthetic resin. A circular flow path 232a, having a predetermined geometric pattern and a nickel electrode layer, is formed on the upper surface of each of the waterproof plates 232.

[45] Each of the waterproof plates 232 also has two discharge holes 260 to discharge oxygen and hydrogen, respectively. The discharge holes 260 of the waterproof plates are electrically connected to the flow paths 232a of the waterproof plates 232 through electrode layers. In the present invention, the material of the electrode layers of the discharge holes 260 is not limited to nickel, but may be selected from a variety of conductive and anticorrosive materials without affecting the functioning of this invention.

[46] Furthermore, each of the electrode plates 233 comprises a body made of an

insulating material, such as rubber or synthetic resin, with a mesh screen 233a made of nickel and provided at the central area of the insulating body. The mesh screen 233a preferably has a predetermined mesh fineness not lower than 200 mesh, so that the screen 233a improves its ionization performance for water.

[47] A reinforcing screen, to increase the strength of the mesh screen, is placed at a side of the mesh screen having a mesh fineness not lower than 200 mesh.

[48] The rare-earth particle sheet 234 is configured in a sheet shape, using a mixture of nano-sized rare-earth particles and a binder, in which the binder is prepared by diluting polyestrol to an appropriate ratio. Thickness of the rare-earth particle sheet 234 is controlled by the pressure of hydrogen.

[49] The electrolytic cell 230 of this invention, having the above-mentioned construction, is preferably provided with a plurality of bolt holes 250, so that a plurality of electrolytic cells 230 may be assembled into an electrolytic cell assembly. To assemble the plurality of electrolytic cells 230 into an electrolytic cell assembly, a plurality of nuts and bolts 220 are used.

[50] Furthermore, to use one or more electrolytic cells 230, an end plate 270 is laminated at a side of each of the waterproof plates 232 of each electrolytic cell 230 to allow the cell 230 to resist pressure and, thereafter, a power supply unit is connected to each of the electrolytic cells 230 through a power cable (not shown).

[51] In the electrolytic cell 230 having the above-mentioned construction, each of the polar plates 231, waterproof plates 232, electrode plates 233, and rare-earth particle sheet 234 is provided with a plurality of bolt holes 250 to assemble the plates and sheet into one electrolytic cell.

[52] In the above case, the end plate 270, which is laminated at a side of each waterproof plate 232 of the electrolytic cell 230, is provided with a plurality of electrolyte flow holes and a plurality of oxygen and hydrogen discharge holes 260. The electrolyte flow holes and the oxygen and hydrogen discharge holes 260 are changed according to the arrangement of the electrolytic cells 230 in a chamber housing 700.

[53] Furthermore, the electrolyte C is contained in the chamber housing 700, while the hydrogen discharge hole and the oxygen discharge hole are respectively connected to a hydrogen discharge pipe 320 and an oxygen discharge pipe 380, which are placed through the upper wall of the chamber housing 700.

[54] As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of electrolytic cells 230, each having the above- mentioned construction, is installed in a cover 610 comprising two cover parts, which are electrically isolated from each other by an insulating material 670 interposed between them. The two cover parts of the cover 610 are provided with a plurality of through holes 610a to allow the electrolyte to flow therethrough, with a terminal 640 extending from a predetermined portion of each of the two cover parts of the cover

610, thus supplying individual electric power to each of the cover parts. Furthermore, two connection pipes 630 are provided to extend to the hydrogen and oxygen discharge pipes, respectively.

[55] The present invention having the above-mentioned construction will be described below.

[56] As shown in FIGS. 3 through 8, the electrolytic cell 230 according to the present invention is fabricated by sequentially and outwardly laminating one electrode plate 233, one polar plate 231 and one waterproof plate 232 onto each side of one rare-earth particle sheet 234 and, thereafter, two end plates 270 are respectively placed outside the two waterproof plates 232 of the cell 230. The laminated body is, thereafter, fastened into a cell assembly using a plurality of nuts and bolts 220.

[57] Furthermore, after sequentially and outwardly laminating the electrode plates 233, the polar plates 231 and the waterproof plates 232 on opposite sides of the rare-earth particle sheet 234, the laminated body is installed and compressed in the cover 610. Thus, the waterproof plates, polar plates and electrode plates are electrically connected to each other. When electricity from each power supply unit is applied to the laminated plates on each side of the sheet 234 through an associated waterproof plate, electricity is finally supplied to an associated electrode plate.

[58] In the present invention, the polar plates and the waterproof plates are preferably made of conventional materials, so that production costs of the electrolytic cell can be reduced to a minimum.

[59] Furthermore, the polar plates of the present invention are preferably made of stainless steel and optical metals, thus reducing limitations caused by materials and minimizing corrosion by water.

[60] In addition, each of the waterproof plates 232 of this invention is provided on its rubber body with a circular flow path 232a, which has a predetermined geometric pattern and an electrode layer 235, so that the electrolyte easily passes through the waterproof plates 232. Furthermore, the waterproof plates 232 function as bases for the particle sheets and polar plates, and form a pressure difference between hydrogen and oxygen.

[61] The geometric pattern of the flow path 232a is defined by a plurality of circular paths having different diameters and a plurality of linear paths to connect the circular paths to each other, thus allowing fluid to easily flow therethrough but being prevented from breaking regardless of hydrogen pressure.

[62] Furthermore, the rare-earth particle sheet 234 and the electrode plates 233 are configured in sheet shapes, thus reducing the polarization voltages and voltage difference of the electrolytic terminals to minimum levels. Therefore, electricity consumption and pressure loss of the electrolytic cell are minimized.

[63] Furthermore, the rare-earth particle sheet 234 reduces the internal consumption of the electrolytic terminals, thus increasing the electrolysis efficiency of the electrolytic cell.

[64] After the laminated plates and sheet are assembled into an electrolytic cell 230 using a plurality of nuts and bolts 220, the cell assembly is installed in a chamber housing 700 which contains an electrolyte C therein. Thereafter, electric power is applied to the end plates 270 of the cell 230.

[65] In the above case, due to electricity supplied from different power supply units, the electrode plates 233 define a hydrogen chamber at one side of the electrolytic terminals and an oxygen chamber at the other side of the electrolytic terminals.

[66] In other words, when electricity from the power supply units is applied to the respective electrode plates 233, water is decomposed by electrolysis into negatively- charged oxygen ions and positively-charged hydrogen ions. The negatively-charged oxygen ions and the positively-charged hydrogen ions migrate to the positive and negative electrodes through the solid electrolyte of the rare-earth particle sheet 234, respectively. Thus, hydrogen can be actively produced by the electrolysis of water.

[67] The hydrogen produced by the electrolysis of water is discharged through the hydrogen discharge pipe 320 of the chamber housing 700.

[68] In the electrolytic cell of this invention, which comprises the electrode plates, polar plates and waterproof plates sequentially and outwardly laminated on opposite sides of the rare-earth particle sheet, the porous electrode plates define a hydrogen chamber and an oxygen chamber.

[69] Furthermore, the waterproof plates divide the hydrogen chamber and the oxygen chamber and apply positive(+) polarity and negative(-) polarity to the porous electrode plates, respectively.

[70] Thus, when the electrolyte is supplied through the waterproof plates, the electrolyte flows into the electrolytic cell through the electrolyte inlets of the end plates and, thereafter, flows to the positive(+) polar plates through the flow lines formed in the contact surfaces between the polar plates and the waterproof plates.

[71] In the above case, part of the electrolyte is decomposed by electrolysis with the electric current into positively-charged hydrogen ions and negatively-charged oxygen ions. The negatively-charged oxygen ions produce oxygen and the produced oxygen flows along with the remaining electrolyte into a raw material container through the flow lines of the waterproof plates. Part of the oxygen, which has flowed into the container, is discharged to the atmosphere.

[72] The positively-charged hydrogen ions migrate through the rare-earth particle sheet to the negative(-) polar plate and produce hydrogen at the negative(-) polar plate. The hydrogen flows through the hydrogen path and is discharged from the electrolytic cell

through the hydrogen discharge pipe 320 connected to the end plate.

[73] The present invention also provides a hydrogen and oxygen producing system using the electrolytic cell 230 having the above-mentioned construction, as shown in FIGS. 9 through 15. The hydrogen and oxygen producing system of this invention comprises a raw material container 100, an electrolytic cell unit 200, a filtering unit 300 and a power supply unit 400.

[74] The raw material container 100 is installed in a housing 500, with an inlet port 510 formed through a predetermined portion of the housing 500 such that the port is exposed outside the housing 500.

[75] Furthermore, a display unit 560 is provided on a sidewall of the housing 500 to display the level of the electrolyte contained in the housing 500. The housing 500 further includes a power switch 550, an ampere meter 530 and a power lamp 540, which are connected to the power supply unit 400.

[76] Furthermore, a hydrogen pressure gauge 520 is provided on the housing 500 and is connected to the filtering unit 300.

[77] An electrolyte supply pipe 360 extends from the raw material container 100 to a predetermined portion of the chamber housing 700 of the electrolytic cell unit 200, so that electrolyte 240 is supplied from the raw material container 100 to the electrolytic cell unit 200. A plurality of electrolytic cells 230 is installed in the electrolytic cell unit 200 such that the cells 230 are sunk in the electrolyte.

[78] Each of the electrolytic cells 230 comprises: a porous polar plate 231 made of stainless steel and having a plurality of waterflow holes; a waterproof plate 232 made of an insulating material, with a circular flow path 232a having a nickel electrode layer and formed on a surface of the waterproof plate 232; an electrode plate 233 having a nickel mesh on a central area of an insulating body; and a rare-earth particle sheet 234. Described in detail, in each of the electrolytic cells 230, one electrode plate 233, one polar plate 231 and one waterproof plate 232 are sequentially and outwardly laminated on each side of the rare-earth particle sheet 234.

[79] Furthermore, an end plate 270 made of stainless steel is laminated outside each of the waterproof plates 232.

[80] Each of the electrolytic cells 230 further includes two discharge holes 260 to discharge oxygen and hydrogen, respectively.

[81] The filtering unit 300 is configured such that a filtering body 350, made of a fine porous body, is placed in a housing body 310 which is connected to the chamber housing 700 through a hydrogen discharge pipe 320. A filtering material 370 is contained in the space around the filtering body 350 in the housing body 310.

[82] A hydrogen pipe 330, to discharge filtered hydrogen from the filtering unit 300, and an impurity discharge pipe 340, to discharge impurities from the filtering unit 300,

extend from predetermined portions of the lower part of the housing body 310.

[83] The power supply unit 400 comprises a current converter 410 connected to a controller 420, a current detector 440 to detect an electric current, and a hydrogen pressure gauge 430 to detect hydrogen pressure.

[84] The current detector 440 further includes a current display 450.

[85] The hydrogen and oxygen producing system of the invention having the above- mentioned construction will be described herein below.

[86] As shown in FIGS. 9 through 15, to minimize the internal energy, the electrolytic cell unit 200 of the present invention increases the surface area by using porous polar plates, minimizing energy consumption while executing an ion exchanging process with an ion exchanging membrane using rare-earth ions. The present invention further minimizes the residence time of oxygen and hydrogen produced on the polar plates using a nickel net, thus reducing resistance.

[87] Furthermore, after the electrolytic cells 230 are installed in the chamber housing

700, the electrolyte 240 is supplied from the raw material container 100 into the housing 700 through the electrolyte supply pipe 360 connected to a predetermined portion of the housing 700.

[88] Due to the display unit 560 of the raw material container 100, it is possible to maintain the level of electrolyte stored in the container 100 at a predetermined level.

[89] When the power switch 550 is turned on, electricity of the power supply unit 400 is applied to the porous electrode plates 233 of the electrolytic cell unit 200.

[90] Thus, the electrolyte supplied to the electrolytic cell 230 is decomposed by electrolysis into positively-charged hydrogen ions and negatively-charged oxygen ions. Only the positively-charged hydrogen ions pass through the rare-earth particle sheet 234, thus being separated from the negatively-charged oxygen ions and producing hydrogen. The produced hydrogen is discharged from the chamber housing 700 through the hydrogen discharge pipe 320 extending through the housing 700.

[91] Furthermore, oxygen ions produced by the electrolytic cell 230 flow to the raw material container 100 along with the remaining electrolyte. Thereafter, the oxygen ions are discharged from the raw material container 100 through an oxygen discharge pipe. Due to this discharge of oxygen, the system of this invention collaterally acts as an air cleaner.

[92] Furthermore, each of the electrolytic cells 230 is fabricated by laminating the porous polar plates 231 made of stainless steel and having the plurality of waterflow holes; the waterproof plates 232 made of an insulating material, with a circular flow path 232a having a nickel electrode layer and formed on a surface of each of the waterproof plates 232; the electrode plates 233, each having a nickel mesh on a central area of an insulating body; and the rare-earth particle sheet 234, such that one electrode

plate 233, one polar plate 231 and one waterproof plate 232 are sequentially and outwardly laminated on each side of the rare-earth particle sheet 234. Thus, when the electrolytic cells 230 of this invention produce high pressure hydrogen and high pressure oxygen, the circular flow paths can prevent breakage of the polar plates and can allow smooth flow of the electrolyte, thus reducing consumption of electrolytic terminals and improving electrolysis efficiency.

[93] In addition, the filtering unit 300 is configured such that the filtering material 370, made of silica gel, is contained in the space around the fine porous filtering body 350 in the housing body 310. Thus, the present invention can produce highly pure hydrogen gas by removing impurities from the hydrogen gas and maintaining the pressure of the hydrogen gas at a predetermined constant pressure.

[94] To cause the filtering unit 300 to efficiently filter hydrogen supplied from the electrolytic cell unit 200, the hydrogen discharge pipe 320 is placed above the uppermost surface of the electrolytic cell unit 200. Thus, water laden with the hydrogen gas is dropped down by gravity along the inner surface of the housing body 310.

[95] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claim. Industrial Applicability

[96] The present invention provides a hydrogen producing system that minimizes internal consumption, thus maximizing electrolysis efficiency, and can be embodied as systems having high operational efficiency and a variety of capacities.