Water electrolysis system, and construction method of water electrolysis system

Abstract

To reduce ventilation volume more than before when accommodating a water electrolysis apparatus using a solid polymer water electrolytic cell and peripheral devices thereof in a container.SOLUTION: A tank 52 having a gas-liquid separation function for hydrogen gas and a dehumidifier 62 for dehumidifying the hydrogen gas are arranged at an area H on one side in a container C1, when accommodating a water electrolytic cell stack 13, a tank 21 for performing a gas-liquid separation for oxygen gas, the tank 52 having the gas-liquid separation function for hydrogen gas, and the dehumidifier 62 for dehumidifying the hydrogen gas in the container C1. The area H is surrounded with a partition 81, and the atmosphere in the area H is discharged to the outside of the system by an exhaust fan 83. The lower part of the partition 81 communicates to the space other than the area H in the container C1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a water electrolysis system using a polymer electrolyte water electrolysis cell and a method for constructing the water electrolysis system. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, water electrolysis devices have been used in which multiple solid polymer water electrolysis cells, each having a power supply disposed on both sides of an electrolyte membrane, are stacked. However, in recent years, a technology has emerged in which, instead of individually installing the water electrolysis device and its peripheral devices at the site of use, these devices and devices are housed in a standardized container in advance and then transported together, thereby improving the convenience of transportation and installation.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a hydrogen generation apparatus in which a first stack and a second stack connected in series, a single oxygen separation unit for the two stacks, a hydrogen separation device for the two stacks, a purification unit for the two stacks, a rectifier for the two stacks, and a general-purpose control panel are housed in a 40-foot container. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2019-515126 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the above-mentioned conventional technology, the focus is primarily on housing various pieces of equipment, including the cell stack, inside a 40-foot container, and while the container needs to be constantly ventilated to prevent the risk of hydrogen leakage, no special measures have been taken to address this issue, which increases the amount of ventilation required inside the container, potentially resulting in larger ventilation equipment and increased power consumption.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has an object to reduce the ventilation volume compared to conventional systems when a water electrolysis apparatus using solid polymer water electrolysis cells and its peripheral devices are housed in a container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a system for electrolyzing water using a water electrolysis device, comprising: a raw water supply passage for supplying raw water to the water electrolysis device; a hydrogen gas discharge passage for discharging hydrogen gas generated in the water electrolysis device to the outside of the system; and an oxygen gas discharge passage for discharging oxygen gas generated in the water electrolysis device to the outside of the system, wherein the water electrolysis device and the hydrogen gas discharge passage are installed in an area partitioned by a partition wall within a container, a lower part of the partition wall is connected to a space other than the area within the container, and an exhaust device is provided in the space above the area to exhaust the atmosphere within the area from the area.

[0008] According to the present invention, the water electrolysis device and the hydrogen gas discharge passage are disposed within a region surrounded by a partition wall within the container. The lower portion of the partition wall is connected to the space outside the region within the container, and an exhaust device is provided in the space above the region to exhaust the atmosphere within the region. Therefore, equipment from which hydrogen gas generated during water electrolysis may leak is housed within the region. Moreover, because the atmosphere within the region is exhausted by the exhaust device, there is no need for special safety specifications for the region and the container itself. Furthermore, because the lower portion of the partition wall is connected to the space outside the region within the container, the atmosphere within the container outside the region, such as air, enters the region from the lower portion of the partition wall, replenishes the exhaust, and smooth exhaust is achieved. In other words, because hydrogen gas is lighter than air, the lower intake and upper exhaust configuration allows it to flow from bottom to top, forming an airflow that is exhausted from above, allowing it to be rapidly discharged. Therefore, when the water electrolysis apparatus and its peripheral devices are housed in a container, the amount of ventilation required is limited to the area within the container, making it possible to reduce the amount of ventilation compared to conventional methods in which the entire container is ventilated.

[0009] The exhaust system may be configured to include a hydrogen gas sensor that detects the concentration of hydrogen gas in the area, and the exhaust system may be controlled based on a signal from the hydrogen gas sensor. This allows ventilation and ventilation volume to be controlled based on the concentration of hydrogen gas in the area, resulting in more efficient system operation.

[0010] The area partitioned by the partition wall may be set to one side of the container, and the oxygen gas gas-liquid separation tank may be configured to be located on the opposite side of the area, with a space through which people can pass through. This allows for effective use of the limited space inside the container, and also makes it easier to perform maintenance work on various equipment.

[0011] The hydrogen gas gas-liquid separation tank may be located at a higher position than the water electrolysis device, thereby preventing the hydrogen gas gas-liquid separation tank from becoming full with water and preventing gas-liquid separation from occurring due to water permeating through the membrane of the water electrolysis cell from the oxygen side and flowing to the hydrogen side.

[0012] Furthermore, the water level in the hydrogen gas gas-liquid separation tank may be set higher than the water level in the oxygen gas gas-liquid separation tank. More precisely, the water level in the oxygen gas gas-liquid separation tank may be set higher than the water level in the flow path from the water electrolysis device to the hydrogen gas gas-liquid separation tank. This prevents the hydrogen gas gas-liquid separation tank from filling up with water and becoming unable to separate gas and liquid.

[0013] Furthermore, the container may be divided into a first container and a second container, the first container housing a water electrolysis apparatus, a hydrogen gas gas-liquid separation tank, a dehumidification apparatus, and an oxygen gas gas-liquid separation tank, the first container housing a power panel for supplying power to devices other than the water electrolysis apparatus, and the second container housing a power supply device for supplying power to the water electrolysis apparatus. Generally, a power panel for supplying power to devices other than the water electrolysis device is smaller in both volume and mass than a power supply device for supplying power to the electrolysis device. Therefore, by separating the power panel into two containers in this manner, it becomes easier to transport each container and to use standardized containers.

[0014] In this case, the first container and the second container may be transported separately, and the first container and the second container may be connected at a destination to construct a water electrolysis system. Here, connecting the first container and the second container does not only mean that the first container and the second container are physically connected, but also includes the case where the first container and the second container are placed side by side at some distance, but the necessary piping and wiring connections are made.

[0015] Furthermore, before the first container and the second container are transported, the wiring between the power panel and the equipment inside the first container may be completed in advance, allowing the necessary wiring work to be carried out in advance in a location with a good working environment, thereby reducing the amount of work at the destination (site). [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, when a water electrolysis device using a solid polymer water electrolysis cell and its peripheral devices are housed in a container, it is possible to reduce the amount of ventilation required compared to conventional methods. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1]1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a water electrolysis system according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a water electrolysis system according to an embodiment housed in a container. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the interior of the water electrolysis system according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a perspective view of the water electrolysis device and its surroundings in a water electrolysis system according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating an external appearance of an example of a container that accommodates a water electrolysis system according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Referring to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a water electrolysis system 1 according to the embodiment. The water electrolysis system 1 includes a water electrolysis cell stack 13 as a water electrolysis device, which is configured by, for example, horizontally connecting and stacking a plurality of solid polymer water electrolysis cells (unit cells) in series while the cells are vertically upright, and sandwiching the cells between end plates 11 and 12.

[0019] Raw water, for example, pure water, is supplied to the pure water inlet port P1 of the water electrolysis cell stack 13. Specifically, raw water (pure water) is supplied to the pure water inlet port P1, which serves as the raw water inlet of the water electrolysis cell stack 13, from a tank 21 having an oxygen-side gas-liquid separation function, and water electrolysis operation is performed.

[0020] More specifically, a pipe 22 is connected between the bottom of the tank 21 and the pure water inlet port P1 of the water electrolysis cell stack 13. A pump 23 provided on the pipe 22 supplies raw water, such as pure water, from the tank 21 to the pure water inlet port P1 of the water electrolysis cell stack 13.

[0021] A return pipe 25 is connected to the pipe 22 downstream of the pump 23, returning a portion of the water flowing through the pipe 22 to the tank 21 via a heat exchanger 24. The heat exchanger 24 exchanges heat between the water flowing through the return pipe 25 and cooling water supplied by a pump 27 from a cooling tower 26 installed outside the system, maintaining the water returned to the tank 21 at, for example, 30°C or below. The cooling water from the cooling tower 26 is sent to the heat exchanger 24 via a pipe 41, and the heated cooling water is returned to the cooling tower 26 via a pipe 42. A cooling water tank 44 is connected to the pipe 41, for example, upstream of the pump 27. The cooling water tank 44 absorbs the volumetric expansion of the cooling water. Note that the cooling water tank 44 may be located at a lower position in a closed piping system; however, in a non-closed system, it is preferable to install it at the highest position in the system, as shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the cooling water tank 44 is mounted on a tank stand 45, as shown in FIG. 4 (described later).

[0022] The water quality in the tank 21 can be maintained within a predetermined range by treating the water flowing through the return pipe 25 with purification members and devices such as the ion exchange resin tower 14 and the filter 15. A liquid level sensor 21a that detects the water level in the tank 21 is also provided in the tank 21. Based on a signal from this liquid level sensor 21a, tap water is supplied from an external raw water supply source (not shown) through piping 28, treated into pure water by a water purifier 29, and then replenished to the tank 21 as raw water.

[0023] The steam and oxygen gas remaining in the gas layer in tank 21 are sent through pipe 31 to heat exchanger 32, where the dew point temperature is lowered and the gas is dehumidified, and then sent together with the generated water to tank 33, which has a gas-liquid separation function. The water in tank 33 is returned to tank 21 through pipe 34. The oxygen gas in the gas layer in tank 33 is then released to the outside of the system through pipe 35.

[0024] Raw water is supplied from the pure water inlet port P1 through the pipe 22 to the water electrolysis cell stack 13, and a portion of the raw water is electrolyzed in the water electrolysis cell stack 13. Oxygen and undecomposed water are returned to the tank 21 through the pure water outlet port P2, which serves as the oxygen side outlet, through the pipe 43, and are separated into gas and liquid within the tank 21.

[0025] A pipe 51 is connected to a hydrogen outlet port P3, which serves as a hydrogen-side outlet of the water electrolysis cell stack 13, and this pipe 51 leads to a tank 52 having a gas-liquid separation function on the hydrogen side.

[0026] A pipe 53 is connected between the tank 52 and the gas layer of the tank 21 (the part above the liquid level of the stored water in the tank, which part the liquid level will not reach even if the liquid level rises). A liquid level sensor 52a is provided in the tank 52 to detect the water level in the tank.

[0027] Then, in the water electrolysis cell stack 13, hydrogen generated by water electrolysis is sent together with produced water via piping 51 to tank 52, where gas and liquid are separated. The hydrogen gas after gas-liquid separation in tank 52 is sent via piping 54 to heat exchanger 55, where the dew point temperature is lowered and the hydrogen gas is dehumidified. The dehumidified hydrogen gas is sent together with water generated during the dehumidification to tank 56, which has a gas-liquid separation function. The water in tank 56 is returned to tank 52 via piping 57.

[0028] Both tank 33 located on the oxygen side and tank 56 located on the hydrogen side have a gas-liquid separation function, but are located at a higher position than tanks 21 and 52, respectively, in order to recover water by gravity after dehumidification in heat exchangers 32 and 55, respectively.

[0029] The sizes of tanks 21, 33, and tanks 52, 56 are as follows. Specifically, when the device is started, water is sent to the piping system, causing the water volume in tank 21 to decrease. However, when the device is shut down, some of the water in the system returns, causing the water volume to increase accordingly. Therefore, to accommodate this increase or decrease in water volume, a volume large enough to accommodate this change without functionally interfering is required, necessitating a tank of a suitable size. Furthermore, during electrolysis, a large amount of oxygen is generated and returns to tank 21 mixed with a large amount of water. To ensure gas-liquid separation, the tank's gas volume must be large enough to allow for this separation. For this reason, tank 21 is designed to be relatively large. On the other hand, the tank 33 does not increase or decrease the amount of water when starting or stopping, and the amount of water that separates into gas and liquid is very small, so the tank 33 can have a smaller volume than the tank 21.

[0030] When the device is started, water is sent from the cells of the water electrolysis cell stack 13 to the tank 52, increasing the amount of water. To absorb this increase in water, the tank 52 needs a volume at least larger than the amount of water sent. Furthermore, during electrolysis, a large amount of hydrogen is generated and flows into the tank 52 mixed with a considerable amount of produced water. To ensure gas-liquid separation, it is necessary to ensure a gas layer volume large enough to enable this gas-liquid separation. For this reason, the tank 52 has a reasonable size, although not as large as the tank 21. On the other hand, the volume of tank 56 can be much smaller than that of tank 52 because there is no increase in water during start-up and the amount of water that separates into gas and liquid is very small.

[0031] Cold water (for example, 7°C to 10°C) is sent to heat exchanger 55 via pipe 59 from chiller 58 installed outside the system, and heat is exchanged with the hydrogen gas that has been gas-liquid separated in tank 72.

[0032] After heat exchange with hydrogen gas in heat exchanger 55, the cold water is sent to oxygen-side heat exchanger 32 via pipe 60 and is used for heat exchange with steam and oxygen gas remaining in the gas layer in oxygen-side tank 21. The cold water, whose temperature has been raised by heat exchange, is returned to chiller 58 via pipe 61. A cold water tank 46 is connected to pipe 59, for example, upstream of heat exchanger 55. This cold water tank 46 is used to absorb the volumetric expansion of the cold water. Note that this cold water tank 46 may be located at a lower position in a closed piping system; however, if the system is not closed, it is preferable to install it at the highest position in the system, as with the cooling water tank 44 described above, as shown in Figures 1 and 4.

[0033] The hydrogen gas, whose dew point temperature has been lowered in the heat exchanger 55, is further dehumidified in the dehumidifier 62, and then discharged out of the system through the pipe 63, and then sent to, for example, a consumer or a hydrogen storage tank (high-pressure container, not shown).

[0034] Unnecessary wastewater from the tanks 21, 52 and the dehumidifier 62 is discharged outside the system through a drain pipe 65.

[0035] A DC power supply 2 equipped with a rectifier is connected as a power supply device to the water electrolysis cell stack 13, and pure water for electrolysis supplied from the pure water inlet port P1 is electrolyzed into hydrogen ions and oxygen ions in accordance with the output of the DC power supply 2. The oxygen ions become oxygen molecules on the catalyst inside the water electrolysis cell and, as described above, are discharged to the cell from the pure water outlet port P2 together with the pure water. Meanwhile, the hydrogen ions generated by electrolysis migrate to the hydrogen side of the water electrolysis cell 10 together with the produced water, become hydrogen molecules on the hydrogen-side catalyst, and are discharged to the cell from the hydrogen outlet port P3.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 2 , for example, the DC power supply 2 is provided in a container C2 connected to a container C1 that accommodates and disposes of the electrolysis cell stack 13. In this example, the containers C1 and C2 are standardized containers, such as 20-foot containers. The DC power supply 2 supplies power to the cells of the electrolysis cell stack 13, and therefore requires a large amount of power, and the device itself is large. Therefore, in consideration of the size of the standardized container, separating the container C2 that accommodates and disposes the DC power supply 2 from the container C1 that accommodates the electrolysis cell stack 13 and its peripheral equipment allows the DC power supply 2 to have a large capacity, and by partitioning the area in which the electrolysis cells are installed as described below, the required amount of ventilation can be reduced and a maintenance space for the worker P can be easily secured.

[0037] Furthermore, the amount of power required to supply power to various devices, such as auxiliary equipment such as pumps 23 and 27, the cooling tower 26, and the chiller 58, can be smaller than that required for the DC power source 2, and therefore, as shown in FIG. 2 , power panels 3 and 4, which are significantly smaller in size than the DC power source 2 with a rectifier, can be placed inside the container C1 that houses the water electrolysis cell stack 13. Furthermore, by placing the power panels 3 and 4 inside the container C1, it is possible to lay and connect power supply lines to the various devices that will be placed in the container C1 in large numbers between the power panels 3 and 4 before the containers C1 and C2 are transported separately. Furthermore, signal lines for controlling each device, including the DC power source 2, are also connected from the power panels 3 and 4, and these signal lines can also be connected in advance.

[0038] In this way, by separately storing the DC power supply, various devices, piping, and wiring required for the water electrolysis system in the standardized containers C1 and C2, the labor required for installation and connection work required for operation at the site can be reduced even if the containers C1 and C2 are transported separately. Moreover, because the containers C1 and C2 have a standardized size, the transportation work itself can be performed without using special machinery or transport vehicles.

[0039] 2 and 3, within the container C1, the water electrolysis cell stack 13 and various hydrogen-side devices (e.g., tanks 52 and 56 that perform gas-liquid separation, a heat exchanger 55, a dehumidifier 62, etc.) are installed in an area H partitioned by a partition wall 81. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 2, the water electrolysis cell stack 13 and various hydrogen-side devices are arranged close to one side wall within the container C1, and the water electrolysis cell stack 13 and various hydrogen-side devices are further surrounded by a partition wall 81 that reaches from the floor to the ceiling of the container. However, a portion of the partition wall 81 close to the floor is partially or entirely open, and communicates with other spaces within the container C1.

[0040] 4, a ventilation fan 83 is provided near the ceiling of the partition wall 81 as an exhaust device for exhausting the atmosphere in the region H to the outside of the container. The operation of the ventilation fan 83 is configured so that its start / stop and rotation speed are controlled based on a signal from a hydrogen gas sensor 84 that detects the concentration of hydrogen gas in the region H. The ventilation fan 83 is preferably located near the water electrolysis cell stack 13, which is likely to leak hydrogen gas.

[0041] As described above, the water electrolysis cell stack 13 and the various hydrogen-side devices are arranged close to one side wall within the container C1, while the other oxygen-side devices, such as the oxygen-side tanks 21 and 33, the heat exchanger 32, and the demineralizer 29, are arranged close to the other side wall within the container C1, across the aisle space W. Therefore, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 , it is easy for the worker P to perform maintenance, inspection, and other work on the water electrolysis cell stack 13 and the various hydrogen-side devices, as well as the various oxygen-side devices.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 2, containers C1 and C2 are each provided with doors D1 to D8 that can be opened and closed freely to allow access to the inside of the container from outside the container. Here, being able to access the inside of the container from outside the container does not only mean that workers can enter and exit the container from the outside, but also means that work and operation can be performed on equipment installed inside the container from outside the container.

[0043] In the water electrolysis system 1 according to the embodiment, the water electrolysis cell stack 13, the hydrogen gas gas-liquid separation tank 52, and the dehumidifier 62 are disposed in a region H surrounded by a partition wall 81 within the container C1. The lower part of the partition wall 81 is in communication with the space other than region H within the container C1. Meanwhile, a ventilation fan 83 is provided in the space above region H. Therefore, devices that leak hydrogen gas generated during water electrolysis are housed within the region H, and the atmosphere within the region H is exhausted by an exhaust device. Therefore, the region H and the container itself do not need to be specially designed for safety. Furthermore, because the lower part of the partition wall is in communication with the space other than the region H within the container, the atmosphere outside the region, such as air, can enter the region from the lower part of the partition wall, and the exhaust is addressed, allowing for smooth exhaust.

[0044] In this way, even if hydrogen gas leaks from equipment within the region, it moves upward and is discharged to the outside of the system by the ventilation fan 83. Therefore, when the water electrolysis cell stack 13 and its peripheral equipment, such as the hydrogen gas gas-liquid separation tank 52 and the dehumidifier 62, are housed within the container C1, the amount of ventilation required is only ventilation within the region H, and therefore the amount of ventilation can be reduced compared to the conventional method of ventilating the entire container.

[0045] In addition, in the above embodiment, a hydrogen gas sensor 84 is provided to detect the concentration of hydrogen gas in region H, and the ventilation fan 83 is controlled based on a signal from the hydrogen gas sensor 84, making it possible to perform ventilation and control the ventilation volume based on the concentration of hydrogen gas in region H, thereby achieving appropriate ventilation control.

[0046] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the area H partitioned by the partition wall 81 is located toward one side of the container C1, and the tank 21 functioning as a gas-liquid separator for oxygen gas is located on the opposite side of the area H across the passage space W. This allows the worker P to easily access and operate the so-called hydrogen-side equipment in the area H, including the water electrolysis cell stack 13, and the oxygen-side equipment, including the tank 21, and also facilitates maintenance of both types of equipment. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 2, the containers C1 and C2 are each provided with openable and closable doors D1 to D8 that allow access to the inside of the container from the outside. This also facilitates maintenance, operation, and servicing of the various devices.

[0047] In the example of the arrangement of the equipment shown in Fig. 4, the tank 52 for performing gas-liquid separation of hydrogen gas is located at a position lower than the water electrolysis cell stack 13, but it is more preferable to set it at a position higher than the water electrolysis cell stack 13. This prevents water from permeating the membrane of the water electrolysis cell from the oxygen side and flowing to the hydrogen side, causing the hydrogen gas gas-liquid separation tank to become full of water and making gas-liquid separation impossible.

[0048] In such a case, it is more preferable to set the water level in tank 52 higher than the water level in tank 21 where gas-liquid separation for oxygen gas is performed, as shown in Fig. 1. Alternatively, the flow path from water electrolysis cell stack 13 to tank 52 may be set higher than the water level in tank 21. This prevents the hydrogen gas gas-liquid separation tank from becoming full of water and preventing gas-liquid separation.

[0049] The ion-exchange resin towers 14 shown in Fig. 4 are vertically long and have a certain size and mass. Therefore, the ion-exchange resin towers 14 are installed on the floor of the container in consideration of ease of maintenance, such as replacement. The cooling water tank 44, which must be installed above the ion-exchange resin towers 14, is installed in the space above the ion-exchange resin towers 14 installed on the floor of the container. Therefore, the water electrolysis system 1 according to the above-described embodiment makes extremely effective use of the limited space within the container in accordance with the sizes, masses, and characteristics of the various devices.

[0050] 3 and 4, the hydrogen-side tanks 52, 56 and heat exchanger 55 are arranged in approximately the same position in a plan view, that is, arranged in approximately a straight line in the vertical direction, thereby making effective use of the space within region H surrounded by partition wall 81. This makes it possible to reduce the space of hydrogen-side region H surrounded by partition wall 81, and also in this respect makes it possible to reduce the ventilation volume of region H.

[0051] The water electrolysis cell stack 13 used in the embodiment has a hydrogen production capacity of 100 Nm 3 / h or more, and a large rectifier is also required to supply the electrolysis power. For example, the rectifier used must be capable of supplying DC power with a voltage of several hundred volts (e.g., 100 V to 800 V) and a current of several thousand amperes (e.g., 1000 A to 8000 A). In such cases, the rectifier must be large, occupying, for example, more than 30% of the volume of a 20-foot container. Furthermore, as described above, the water electrolysis cell stack 13 is large, and the flow rate of electrolyzed water is correspondingly large, so the ion exchange resin tower 14 that purifies the electrolyzed water must also be large. Specifically, for example, if the flow rate of electrolyzed water is 100 L / min or more (approximately several hundred L / min), the ion exchange resin tower 14 large enough to purify the electrolyzed water must be 500 mm or more in height, or 1000 mm or more.

[0052] In this embodiment, the various large devices and equipment, including the water electrolysis cell stack 13 and ion exchange resin towers 14, as well as the rectifiers, are all housed in standardized 20-foot containers C1 and C2. Therefore, the water electrolysis system according to this embodiment is easy to transport and install. Furthermore, since smooth exhaust is achieved within the containers as described above, special containers are not required, and the amount of ventilation is also reduced. Furthermore, as can be seen in Figure 3 , the layout, including the aisle space W, allows easy access for the worker P to the various devices, resulting in excellent maintainability.

[0053] For reference, Fig. 5 shows an example of the appearance of 20-foot containers C1 and C2 when water electrolysis systems according to the embodiments are housed in the containers C1 and C2. In Fig. 5, in order to make it easier to understand the arrangement of various devices in the containers, only the ventilation fan 83 and door D2 are shown, and the other doors D1 and D3 to D6 are not shown. The height, width, number, etc. of the doors D1 to D8 can be set as desired.

[0054] In the above example, the ventilation fan 83 is provided on one side wall of the container C1, but this is not limiting and a ventilation fan can also be provided in the container C2, for example, on the wall on the same side as the ventilation fan 83 is provided. Furthermore, in either container C1 or C2, a ventilation opening (not shown) may be provided, for example, on the wall opposite the side on which the ventilation fan is provided, so that air from outside the container can be taken in. In such a case, a ventilation hood may be provided at the ventilation opening to prevent the intrusion of rainwater, etc. Of course, a ventilation hood may also be provided at the location where the ventilation fan 83 is installed. Furthermore, a filter to prevent the intrusion of dust, etc. may be provided at the ventilation opening.

[0055] Container C2, which houses and arranges DC power supplies 2 that generate more heat than the devices and equipment housed and arranged in container C1, may be provided with more ventilation holes than container C1. In such a case, the total area of ​​the ventilation holes in container C2 should be larger than the total area of ​​the ventilation holes in container C1. Furthermore, container C2 may be provided with more ventilation fans or fans with larger capacities than container C1. [Industrial Applicability]

[0056] The present invention is useful for a system in which a water electrolysis system using a polymer electrolyte water electrolysis cell is housed in a container. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 1. Water electrolysis system 2 DC power supply 13 Water electrolysis cell stack 21 Tank 23, 27 Pump 24, 32, 55 heat exchanger 26 Cooling Tower 52 Tank 58 Chiller 62 Dehumidifier 81 Partition Wall 83 Ventilation fan 84 Hydrogen gas sensor C1, C2 containers H area P1 Pure water inlet port P2 Pure water outlet port P3 Hydrogen Outlet Port W aisle space

Claims

1. A system for electrolyzing water using a water electrolysis device, a raw water supply channel for supplying raw water to the water electrolysis device; a hydrogen gas release path for releasing the hydrogen gas generated in the water electrolysis device to the outside of the system; an oxygen gas release path that releases the oxygen gas generated in the water electrolysis device to the outside of the system; the water electrolysis device and the hydrogen gas release channel are installed in an area defined by a partition wall within the container; a lower portion of the partition wall communicates with a space other than the region within the container; a space above the region, provided with an exhaust device that exhausts the atmosphere in the region from the region.

2. 2. The water electrolysis system according to claim 1, further comprising a hydrogen gas sensor for detecting a concentration of hydrogen gas in the region, wherein the exhaust device is controlled based on a signal from the hydrogen gas sensor.

3. the oxygen gas release path includes a gas-liquid separation tank for oxygen gas, 3. The water electrolysis system according to claim 1, wherein the area partitioned by the partition wall is located toward one side of the container, and the oxygen gas gas-liquid separation tank is located on an opposite side of the area with a space for people to pass through between them.

4. the hydrogen gas discharge path includes a gas-liquid separation tank for hydrogen gas; 4. The water electrolysis system according to claim 3, wherein the hydrogen gas gas-liquid separation tank is disposed at a higher position than the water electrolysis device.

5. the hydrogen gas discharge path includes a gas-liquid separation tank for hydrogen gas; 4. The water electrolysis system according to claim 3, wherein the water level in the hydrogen gas gas-liquid separation tank is higher than the water level in the oxygen gas gas-liquid separation tank.

6. 4. The water electrolysis system according to claim 3, wherein a flow path from the water electrolysis device to the hydrogen gas gas-liquid separation tank is located at a position higher than a water level in the oxygen gas gas-liquid separation tank.

7. The container is divided into a first container and a second container, the first container accommodates the water electrolysis apparatus, a hydrogen gas gas-liquid separation tank, and the oxygen gas gas-liquid separation tank; a power panel for supplying power to devices other than the water electrolysis device is accommodated in the first container; 4. The water electrolysis system according to claim 3, wherein the second container accommodates a power supply device that supplies power to the water electrolysis device.

8. A method for constructing the water electrolysis system according to claim 7 at a destination location, comprising: a method for constructing a water electrolysis system, comprising: transporting the first container and the second container separately; and connecting the first container and the second container at the destination location to construct a water electrolysis system.

9. 9. The method for constructing a water electrolysis system according to claim 8, further comprising the step of: wiring between the power panel and the devices in the first container before the transport.

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