Electrolysis system and method of driving electrolysis system

Abstract

An electrolysis system includes: an electrolysis cell having an anode to oxidize an oxidizable material to produce an anode product, a cathode to reduce a reducible material to produce a cathode product, a diaphragm between the anode and the cathode, a first flow path plate having an anode flow path facing on the anode and through which an anode fluid containing the oxidizable material flows, and a second flow path plate having a cathode flow path facing on the cathode and through which a cathode fluid containing the reducible material flows, the anode, the cathode, the diaphragm, the first flow path, and the second flow path being stacked in a first direction; a rotary shaft disposed on the opposite side of the cathode from the diaphragm and extending along a second direction; and a driving device to rotate the electrolysis cell around the rotary shaft.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrolysis system comprising:
 an electrolysis cell comprising
 an anode configured to oxidize an oxidizable material to produce an anode product, 
 a cathode configured to reduce a reducible material to produce a cathode product, 
 a diaphragm provided between the anode and the cathode, 
 a first flow path plate having an anode flow path facing on the anode and through which an anode fluid containing the oxidizable material flows, and 
 a second flow path plate having a cathode flow path facing on the cathode and through which a cathode fluid containing the reducible material flows, and 
   the anode, the cathode, the diaphragm, the first flow path plate, and the second flow path plate being stacked in a first direction;   a rotary shaft disposed on the opposite side of the cathode from the diaphragm and extending along a second direction intersecting with the first direction; and   a driving device configured to rotate the electrolysis cell around the rotary shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the oxidizable material includes water, and   wherein the anode product includes oxygen.   
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the reducible material includes carbon dioxide, and   wherein the cathode product includes a carbon compound.   
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the reducible material includes nitrogen, and   wherein the cathode product includes a nitrogen compound.   
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the system comprises a plurality of the electrolysis cells.   
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the cathode fluid contains a gaseous substance involved in neither the oxidation nor the reduction, and   wherein the cathode product is soluble in the gaseous substance.   
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second direction is along the direction of gravitational force.   
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the electrolysis cell is cylindrical.   
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 at least one collector selected from the group consisting of a cathode fluid collector and a anode fluid collector, the cathode fluid collector being connected to an outlet of the cathode flow path and being configured to collect the cathode fluid containing the cathode product, and the anode fluid collector being connected to an outlet of the anode flow path and being configured to collect the anode fluid containing the anode product.   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 at least one circulation flow path selected from the group consisting of a cathode circulation flow path and an anode circulation flow path, the cathode circulation flow path being connected to an outlet of the cathode flow path and being configured to re-supply an unreacted residue of the reducible material to an inlet of the cathode flow path, and the anode circulation flow path being connected to an outlet of the anode flow path and being configured to re-supply an unreacted residue of the oxidizable material to an inlet of the anode flow path.   
     
     
         11 . A method of driving an electrolysis system comprising an electrolysis cell,
 the electrolysis cell comprising:   an anode;   a cathode;   a diaphragm provided between the anode and the cathode;   a first flow path plate having an anode flow path facing on the anode and through which an anode fluid containing an oxidizable material flows; and   a second flow path plate having a cathode flow path facing on the cathode and through which cathode fluid containing a reducible material flows,   the anode, the cathode, the diaphragm, the first flow path plate, and the second flow path plate being stacked in a first direction, and   the method comprising:   supplying the oxidizable material to the anode, supplying the reducible material to the cathode, and applying a voltage between the anode and the cathode, to oxidize the oxidizable material and thus produce an anode product and to reduce the reducible material and thus produce a cathode product; and   rotating the electrolysis cell around a rotary shaft disposed on the opposite side of the cathode from the diaphragm and extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the electrolysis cell is rotated after the electrolysis cell stops producing the anode product and the cathode product.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the electrolysis cell is rotated while the electrolysis cell producing the anode product and the cathode product.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the reducible material includes carbon dioxide, and   wherein the cathode product includes a carbon compound.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the reducible material includes nitrogen, and   wherein the cathode product includes a nitrogen compound.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the cathode fluid contains a gaseous substance involved in neither the oxidation nor the reduction, and   wherein the cathode product is soluble in the gaseous substance.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the second direction is along the direction of gravitational force.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the electrolysis cell is cylindrical.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the system further comprises   at least one collector selected from the group consisting of a cathode fluid collector and an anode fluid collector, the cathode fluid collector being connected to an outlet of the cathode flow path and being configured to collect the cathode fluid containing the cathode product, and the anode fluid collector being connected to an outlet of the anode flow path and being configured to collect the anode fluid containing the anode product.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the system further comprises   at least one circulation flow path selected from the group consisting of a cathode circulation flow path and an anode circulation flow path, the cathode circulation flow path being connected to an outlet of the cathode flow path and being configured to re-supply an unreacted residue of the reducible material to an inlet of the cathode flow path, and the anode circulation flow path being connected to an outlet of the anode flow path and being configured to re-supply an unreacted residue of the oxidizable material to an inlet of the anode flow path.