Electrochemical device and gas storage apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to a gas pressure regulator including an electrochemical cell (4) having a first electrode (1) for decomposing gas into ions, a second electrode (2) for converting the ions generated in the first electrode (1) into the gas again and an ion conductor (3) sandwiched in between both the electrodes (1) and (2); and a high pressure vessel (5) disposed in one side of the electrochemical cell (4). In this device, the gas is decomposed into the ions in the first electrode (1). The decomposed ions are allowed to pass through the ion conductor (3) sandwiched in between the first electrode (1) and the second electrode (2) and conducted to the second electrode (2) side. The conducted ions are reconverted into the gas in the second electrode (2).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a pressure reducing device, an electrochemical device, a pressure reducing and pressurizing device, a gas storage device, a gas storage assist system, and a method for driving these devices. [0002] This application claims a priority on the basis of Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-009456 filed on Jan. 18, 2002 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-373798 filed on Dec. 25, 2002, the entireties of which are incorporated by reference herein. BACKGROUND ART [0003] As means for converting high pressure gas into low pressure gas, a mechanical gas regulator has been hitherto widely employed. The usual gas regulator has been a mechanical device as disclosed in, for instance, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H04-244506. [0004] Now, according to the contents described in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H04-244506, the usual gas regulator will be described below. [0005] The usual gas regulator is formed as sh...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide a new pressure reducing device, an electrochemical device, a pressure reducing and pressurizing device, a gas storage device and a gas storage assist system, and a method for driving these devices that can solve problems of the usually proposed device for converting high pressure gas to low pressure gas as described above.

[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide a compact, durable and silent pressure reducing device, an electrochemical device, a pressure reducing and pressurizing device, a gas storage device and a gas storage assist system, and a method for driving these devices.

Problems solved by technology

Further, since the above-described gas regulator has movable parts, an abrasion due to a friction is generated so that the life of a machine is shortened.

Further, noise is undesirably generated during an operation.

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