Hydrogen production system

Abstract

Hydrogen production apparatus including an electrode pair including hydrogen electrode and oxygen electrode, a partition wall interposed between the hydrogen electrode and the oxygen electrode, and a tank containing the electrode pair, the partition wall, and an aqueous electrolyte solution, the hydrogen production apparatus generating hydrogen by electrolysis of the aqueous electrolyte solution by the electrode pair, in which the oxygen electrode includes an oxide or a hydroxide of a metal, and the specific surface area of the oxygen electrode is larger than that of the hydrogen electrode. Deterioration of the electrode caused by oxidation-reduction can be suppressed and the response to the fluctuation of an inputted power by the renewable energy, and reliability can be improved since a potential at the oxygen electrode can be kept at a predetermined level or higher in the hydrogen production apparatus.

1 . A hydrogen production apparatus comprising:
 an elect rode pair including a hydrogen electrode and an oxygen electrode;   a partition wall interposed between the hydrogen electrode and the oxygen electrode; and   a tank containing the electrode pair, the partition wall, and an aqueous electrolyte solution,   the hydrogen production apparatus generating hydrogen by electrolysis of the aqueous electrolyte solution by the electrode pair,   wherein the charge/discharge capacitance of the oxygen electrode is 10 to 10,000 times as large as that of the hydrogen electrode.   
     
     
         2 . A hydrogen production system comprising:
 a configuration having a plurality of the hydrogen production apparatuses according to  claim 1  connected in parallel; and   a power generation unit,   wherein charge/discharge capacitance of a part or all of the oxygen electrodes of the hydrogen production apparatuses is the hydrogen production apparatus.   
     
     
         3 . The hydrogen production apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein hydrogen is generated by electrolysis of water by the electrode pair,   the hydrogen production apparatus utilizing power which fluctuates at input.   
     
     
         4 . The hydrogen production system according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the charge/discharge capacitance of the part of the oxygen electrode is from 10 to 10,000 times as large as that of the hydrogen electrode, and   wherein the voltage on the oxygen electrode is kept at a predetermined level or higher when the input voltage from the power generation unit is lowered.   
     
     
         5 . The hydrogen production apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 having a hydrogen storing unit for storing generated hydrogen.   
     
     
         6 . The hydrogen production apparatus according to  claim 5 ,
 having a pipe for releasing hydrogen stored in the hydrogen storing unit to the tank.   
     
     
         7 . The hydrogen production apparatus according to  claim 6 ,
 being capable of generating power by a reduction reaction at the oxygen electrode in the charged state and an oxidation reaction of hydrogen in contact with the hydrogen electrode.   
     
     
         8 . The hydrogen production apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the oxygen electrode includes an oxide or a hydroxide of a metal, and the metal includes one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Ni, Ru, Ir, Ti, Sn, Mo, Ta, Nb, V, Fe and Mn.   
     
     
         9 . A hydrogen production apparatus comprising:
 an electrode pair including a hydrogen electrode and an oxygen electrode;   a partition wall interposed between the hydrogen electrode and the oxygen electrode; and a tank containing the electrode pair, the partition wall, and an aqueous electrolyte solution,   the hydrogen production apparatus generating hydrogen by electrolysis of the aqueous electrolyte solution by the electrode pair,   wherein the oxygen electrode includes an oxide or a hydroxide of a metal, and the specific surface area thereof is 2 to 10 times as large as that of the hydrogen electrode.   
     
     
         10 . The hydrogen production apparatus according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the metal includes one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Ni, Ru, Ir, Ti, Sn, Mo, Ta, Nb, V, Fe and Mn.