Hydrogen-oxygen gas generator and hydrogen-oxygen gas generating method using the generator

• US 20050011765A1
• Filed: 09/24/2002
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Japan Techno Co.,Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Japan Techno Co.,Ltd.
• Inventors: Omasa, Ryushin
• Granted Patent: US 7,318,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/633
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/00 Operating or servicing cells
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/17 Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis

Abstract

A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator comprises an electrolytic bath (10A), a pair of electrodes composed of an anode member (2x) and cathode member (2y) both disposed in the bath, a power supply (34) for applying voltage between the anode and cathode members, vibratory mixing means (16) for vibratively mixing the electrolyte (14) in the bath, and gas collecting means for collecting the hydrogen-oxygen gas generated by the electrolysis using the electrolyte. The gas collecting means includes a lid member (10B) annexed to the electrolytic bath (10A) and a hydrogen-oxygen gas collecting pipe (10B″) connected to the hydrogen-oxygen gas output port (10B′). The vibratory mixing means (16) includes a vibrating motor (16d) vibrating at 10 Hz to 500 Hz and vibrating blades (16f) attached to a vibrating rod (16e) not rotatably but vibrating in the electrolytic bath interlockingly with the vibrating motor. The vibrating blades of the vibratory mixing member (16) are so arranged as to oppose the surfaces of the anode and cathode members (2x, 2y).

Claims

1. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator comprising:

an electrolytic cell (A);

an electrolysis means (B) containing an electrode pair made up of an anode member and a cathode member installed to contact the electrolytic fluid stored within the electrolytic cell and, a power supply to apply a voltage across the anode and the cathode;

a vibration-stirring means (C) for stirring and agitating the electrolytic fluid stored in the electrolytic cell and comprising at least one vibration generating means and, a vibration stirring member linked to the vibrating generating means and comprised of at least one vibrating blade attached to a vibrating rod for vibrating within the electrolytic cell;

or an insulated vibration stirring means (C′

) for stirring and agitating the electrolytic fluid stored in the electrolytic cell and comprising an insulated vibration stirring member made from an electrically insulated area formed on a connecting section linking the vibration generating means with the vibrating rod and at least one vibrating blade formed on that vibrating rod, or formed on a section nearer to the connecting section than the section where the vibrating blade of the vibrating rod is installed; and

a gas trapping means (D) for collecting separately or as a mixture, the hydrogen gas and oxygen gas generated by electrolysis of the electrolytic fluid stored within the electrolyte cell by the electrolysis means;

wherein

the vibration stirring member of the vibration-stirring means (C) or the insulated vibration stirring member of the insulated vibration-stirring means (C′

) are installed so at least one surface of the node member and cathode member of the electrolysis means (B) are acing each other.

2. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the gap between at least one of the cathode members or anode members of the electrolysis means (B) and the vibration stirring member of the vibration-stirring means (C), or the insulated vibration stirring member of the insulated vibration-stirring means (C′

) is 20 to 400 millimeters.

3. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the insulated vibration stirring member of the insulated vibration-stirring means (C′

) installed to face the surface of the anode member, is connected to the positive electrode of the power supply of electrolysis means (B).

4. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the insulated vibration stirring member of the insulated vibration-stirring means (C′

) installed to face the surface of the cathode member, is connected to the negative electrode of the power supply of electrolysis means (B).

5. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 1, wherein an electrically conductive line is connected on the side of the electrical insulated area where the vibrating blades are installed on the vibrating rod of the insulated vibration stirring member of the insulated vibration-stirring means (C′

), and this electrically conductive line is connected to the power supply of electrolysis means (B).

6. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 5, wherein an anode member or a cathode member is electrically connected to an electrical line installed on the vibrating rod on the side of the electrically insulated area where the vibrating blades are installed on the vibrating rod of the insulated vibration stirring member of the insulated vibration-stirring means (C′

).

7. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the vibrating blades functions as an anode member or as a cathode member.

8. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 5, wherein electrode support blades electrically connected to the electrical line by way of the vibrating rod are installed on the electrical insulation area side on the vibrating rod of the insulated vibration stirring member of the insulated vibration-stirring means (C′

).

9. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 8, wherein the electrode support blades are installed on the vibrating rod so that the electrode support blade positions alternate with the vibrating blade positions.

10. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 8, wherein the surface area of the electrode support blades is larger than the surface area of the vibrating blades, and the tips of the electrode support blades protrude farther than the tips of the vibrating blades.

11. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the power supply for electrolysis means (B) is a direct current pulse power supply.

12. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 1, wherein at least one of either the anode member or cathode member of the electrolysis means (B) is porous (multi-hole).

13. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the vibration generating means of vibration stirring means (C) or the vibration generating means of the insulated vibration-stirring means (C′

) contains a vibration motor, and the vibration stirring means (C) or the insulated vibration-stirring means (C′

) contains an inverter to regulate the motor to rotate at a frequency of 10 to 500 hertz.

14. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the gas trapping means (D) is comprised of a lid member installed on the electrolytic cell, and a hydrogen-oxygen gas extraction tube connecting to the hydrogen-oxygen gas extraction outlet formed on that lid member.

15. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 14, wherein the vibrating rod extends through the lid member, and a sealing means between the lid member and the vibrating rod allows vibration of the vibrating rod and also prevents the passage of hydrogen-oxygen gas.

42. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generating method utilizing the hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 1, and utilizing electrolytic fluid consisting of 5 to 30 percent weight by volume of electrolytic material at pH7 through 10, at a fluid temperature of 20 to 100 degrees centigrade, to perform electrolysis of the electrolytic fluid to reach an electrical current density of 7 A/dM² to 40 A/dm².

43. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generating method according to claim 42,wherein the electrolytic material is a water-soluble alkali metal hydroxide or an alkali rare-earth metal hydroxide.

44. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generating method according to claim 42,wherein the power supply is a direct current pulse power supply.

45. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generating method according to claim 42,wherein the vibrating blades have a vibration width of 0.1 to 30 millimeters and further are made to vibrate at a frequency of 200 to 12, 000 times per minute.

54. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 1, wherein the electrode pair is anode members and cathode members installed at mutually alternating positions.

16. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator comprising:

an electrolytic cell (A);

an electrolysis means (B) formed from a pair of electrodes made up of an anode member and a cathode member mutually installed in contact with the electrolytic fluid stored in the electrolytic cell, and a power supply for applying a voltage across the anode member and the cathode member;

an insulated vibration-stirring means (C′

) for vibration stirring of the electrolytic fluid stored in the electrolytic cell and containing at least one vibration generating means and, formed from at least one vibrating rod for vibrating in the electrolytic cell while linked to the vibration generating means, and at least one vibrating blade installed on that vibrating rod, and an insulated vibration stirring member comprised of an electrically insulated area installed on a link section lining the vibrating rod with the vibrating generating means, or on a section nearer the link section than the section where the vibrating blade is installed on the vibrating rod; and

a gas trapping means (D) for collecting separately or as a mixture the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas generated by electrolyzing the electrolytic fluid stored within the electrolytic cell wherein,

the insulated vibration member of the insulated vibration-stirring means (C′

) contains at least one first insulated vibration stirring member and at least one second insulated vibration stirring member, and at least a portion of the side of the section where the vibrating blade is installed on the electrically insulated area of the first vibration stirring member functions as an anode for the electrolysis means (B), and at least a portion of the side of the section where the vibrating blade is installed on the electrically insulated area of the second vibration stirring member functions as a cathode for the electrolysis means (B).

17. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 16, wherein the gap between the anode member and the cathode member is 5 to 400 millimeters.

18. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 16, wherein an electrical line is connected to the side of the electrical insulation area on the section where the vibrating blades are installed on the vibrating rod of the insulated vibration stirring member of insulated vibration-stirring means (C′

), and the electrical line is connected to the power supply of the electrolysis means (B).

19. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 18, wherein the anode member and the cathode member are electrically connected by an electrical line via the vibrating rod, to the side of the electrical insulation area on the section where the vibrating blades are installed on the vibrating rod of the insulated vibration stirring member of the insulated vibration-stirring means (C′

).

20. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 19, wherein at least one among the vibrating blades functions as the anode member or as the cathode member.

21. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 18, wherein electrode support blades electrically connected to the electrical line by way of the vibrating rod are installed on the electrical insulation area side on the vibrating rod of the insulated vibration stirring member of the insulated vibration-stirring means (C′

).

22. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 21, wherein the electrode support blades are installed on the vibrating rod so that the electrode support blade positions alternate with the vibrating blade positions.

23. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 21, wherein the surface area of the electrode support blades is larger than the surface area of the vibrating blades, and the tips of the electrode support blades protrude farther than the tips of the vibrating blades.

24. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 16, wherein the power source for the electrolysis means (B) is a direct current pulse power supply.

25. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 16, wherein at least one of either the anode member or cathode member of the electrolysis means (B) is porous (multi-hole).

26. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 16, wherein the vibration generating means of the insulated vibration-stirring means (C′

) contains a vibration motor, and the insulated vibration-stirring means (C′

) contains an inverter to regulate the motor to rotate at a frequency of 10 to 500 hertz.

27. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 16, wherein the gas trapping means (D) is comprised of a lid member installed on the electrolytic cell, and a hydrogen-oxygen gas extraction tube connecting to the hydrogen-oxygen gas extraction outlet formed on that lid member.

28. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 27, wherein the vibrating rod extends through the lid member, and a sealing means between the lid member and the vibrating rod allows vibration of the vibrating rod and also prevents the passage of hydrogen-oxygen gas.

46. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generating method utilizing the hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 16, and utilizing electrolytic fluid consisting of 5 to 30 percent weight by volume of electrolytic material at pH7 through 10, at a fluid temperature of 20 to 100 degrees centigrade, to perform electrolysis of the electrolytic fluid to reach an electrical current density of 7 A/dm² to 40 A/dm².

47. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generating method according to claim 46,wherein the electrolytic material is a water-soluble alkali metal hydroxide or an alkali rare-earth metal hydroxide.

48. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generating method according to claim 46, wherein the power supply is a direct current pulse power supply.

49. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generating method according to claim 46, wherein the vibrating blades have a vibration width of 0.1 to 30 millimeters and further are made to vibrate at a frequency of 200 to 12,000 times per minute.

55. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 16, wherein the electrode pair is anode members and cathode members installed at mutually alternating positions.

29. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator comprising:

an electrolytic cell (A);

an electrolysis means (B) formed from a pair of electrodes made up of an anode member and a cathode member mutually installed in contact with the electrolytic fluid stored in the electrolytic cell, and a power supply for applying a voltage across the anode member and the cathode member;

an insulated vibration-stirring means (C′

) for vibration stirring of the electrolytic fluid stored in the electrolytic cell and containing at least one vibration generating means and, formed from at least one vibrating rod for vibrating in the electrolytic cell while linked to the vibration generating means, and at least one vibrating blade installed on that vibrating rod, and an insulated vibration stirring member comprised of an electrically insulated area installed on a link section lining the vibrating rod with the vibrating generating means, or on a section nearer the link section than the section where the vibrating blade is installed on the vibrating rod; and

a gas trapping means (D) for collecting separately or as a mixture the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas generated by electrolyzing the electrolytic fluid stored within the electrolytic cell;

wherein,

an electrical line is connected to the side of the electrical insulation area on the section where the vibrating blades are installed on the vibrating rod of the insulated vibration stirring member of the insulated vibration-stirring means (C′

),the vibrating blades are formed on multiple vibrating rods, the respective cathode members and the anode members of the electrolysis means (B) are respectively connected to the multiple vibrating rods, the anode member is electrically connected to the power supply by way of at least one among the multiple vibrating rods and an electrical line connected to the vibrating rod, and the cathode member is electrically connected to the power supply by way of at least one among the multiple vibrating rods and an electrical line connected to the vibrating rod.

30. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 29, wherein the vibrating blade electrically connected to the power supply by way of the electrical line and the vibrating rod functions as the cathode member or as the anode member.

31. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 29, wherein electrode support blades are installed on the vibrating rods on the side of the electrical insulation area where the vibrating blades are installed, and are electrically connected to the power supply by way of an electrical line and the vibrating rod, and the electrode support blades function as the cathode member or as the anode member.

32. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 29, wherein the vibrating blade electrically connected to the power supply by way of the electrical line and to at least one among the multiple vibrating rods connected to that electrical line functions as the anode member, and/or the vibrating blade electrically connected to the power supply by way of the electrical line and to at least one among the multiple vibrating rods connected to that electrical line functions as the cathode member.

33. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 29, wherein the electrode support blades are installed on the multiple vibrating rods on the side of the electrical insulation area where the vibrating blades are installed, and the electrode support blade connected electrically to the power supply by way of an electrical line connected to at least one among the multiple vibrating rods connected to that electrical line functions as an anode member, and/or the electrode support blade electrically connected to the power supply by way of the electrical line and to at least one among the multiple vibrating rods connected to that electrical line functions as the cathode member.

34. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 29, wherein the gap between the anode member and the cathode member is 5 to 400 millimeters.

35. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 31, wherein the electrode support blades are installed on the vibrating rod so that the electrode support blade positions alternate with the vibrating blade positions.

36. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 31, wherein the surface area of the electrode support blades is larger than the surface area of the vibrating blades, and the tips of the electrode support blades protrude farther than the tips of the vibrating blades.

37. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 29, wherein the power source for the electrolysis means (B) is a direct current pulse power supply.

38. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 29, wherein at least one of either the anode member or cathode member of the electrolysis means (B) is porous (multi-hole).

39. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 29, wherein the vibration generating means of the insulated vibration-stirring means (C′

) contains a vibration motor, and the insulated vibration-stirring means (C′

) contains an inverter to regulate the motor to rotate at a frequency of 10 to 500 hertz.

40. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 29, herein the gas trapping means (D) is comprised of a lid member installed on the electrolytic cell, and a hydrogen-oxygen gas extraction tube connecting to the hydrogen-oxygen gas extraction outlet formed on that lid member.

41. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 40, wherein the vibrating rod extends through the lid member, and a sealing means between the lid member and the vibrating rod allows vibration of the vibrating rod and also prevents the passage of hydrogen-oxygen gas.

50. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generating method utilizing the hydrogen-oxygen gas generator according to claim 29, and utilizing electrolytic fluid consisting of 5 to 30 percent weight by volume of electrolytic material at pH7 through 10, at a fluid temperature of 20 to 100 degrees centigrade, to perform electrolysis of the electrolytic fluid to reach an electrical current density of 7 A/dM² to 40 A/dM².

51. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generating method according to claim 50, wherein the electrolytic material is a water-soluble alkali metal hydroxide or an alkali rare-earth metal hydroxide.

52. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generating method according to claim 50, wherein the power supply is a direct current pulse power supply.

53. A hydrogen-oxygen gas generating method according to claim 50,wherein the vibrating blades have a vibration width of 0.1 to 30 millimeters and further are made to vibrate at a frequency of 200 to 12,000 times per minute.