Electrochemical reactor and method for producing fuel gas

Abstract

Electrons are introduced to a cathode ( 1 ) side of a cell ( 10 ) to promote the reduction of carbon dioxide. On the other hand, the oxidation of methane is promoted in an anode ( 2 ) side by an oxide ion transported via a porous GDC electrolyte ( 3 ). When carbon monoxide and an oxide ion are generated, they are transported to the anode ( 2 ) together with methane gas to generate carbon monoxide and hydrogen. In addition, Cu and an oxide ion are reacted in the anode ( 2 ) to promote the oxidation of methane gas.

1 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . An electrochemical reactor comprising:
 a cathode electrode that contains nickel, copper or ruthenium, which generates carbon monoxide and an oxide ion from carbon dioxide,   a porous electrolyte that allows methane supplied toward the cathode electrode and the oxide ion generated by the cathode electrode to penetrate therethrough, and   an anode electrode that contains copper, which generates hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the methane and the oxide ion having penetrated through the electrolyte.   
     
     
         8 . The electrochemical reactor according to  claim 7  constituted by a cell that comprises three layers of the cathode electrode, the electrolyte and the anode electrode, each per layer. 
     
     
         9 . The electrochemical reactor according to  claim 7 , wherein the electrolyte comprises gadolinium-doped ceria. 
     
     
         10 . The electrochemical reactor according to  claim 8 , wherein the electrolyte comprises gadolinium-doped ceria. 
     
     
         11 . The electrochemical reactor according to  claim 7 , wherein the cathode electrode comprises nickel, copper or ruthenium, and gadolinium-doped ceria. 
     
     
         12 . The electrochemical reactor according to  claim 8 , wherein the cathode electrode comprises nickel, copper or ruthenium, and gadolinium-doped ceria. 
     
     
         13 . The electrochemical reactor according to  claim 9 , wherein the cathode electrode comprises nickel, copper or ruthenium, and gadolinium-doped ceria. 
     
     
         14 . The electrochemical reactor according to  claim 10 , wherein the cathode electrode comprises nickel, copper or ruthenium, and gadolinium-doped ceria. 
     
     
         15 . The electrochemical reactor according to  claim 7 , wherein the anode electrode comprises copper and gadolinium-doped ceria. 
     
     
         16 . The electrochemical reactor according to  claim 8 , wherein the anode electrode comprises copper and gadolinium-doped ceria. 
     
     
         17 . The electrochemical reactor according to  claim 9 , wherein the anode electrode comprises copper and gadolinium-doped ceria. 
     
     
         18 . The electrochemical reactor according to  claim 10 , wherein the anode electrode comprises copper and gadolinium-doped ceria. 
     
     
         19 . The electrochemical reactor according to  claim 11 , wherein the anode electrode comprises copper and gadolinium-doped ceria. 
     
     
         20 . The electrochemical reactor according to  claim 12 , wherein the anode electrode comprises copper and gadolinium-doped ceria. 
     
     
         21 . The electrochemical reactor according to  claim 13 , wherein the anode electrode comprises copper and gadolinium-doped ceria. 
     
     
         22 . The electrochemical reactor according to  claim 14 , wherein the anode electrode comprises copper and gadolinium-doped ceria.