Hydrogen generator

Abstract

To provide a hydrogen generator that can reduce the operating frequency of a safety mechanism by preventing hydrogen from entering the water tank in the gas-liquid separation section. 【Solution means】A hydrogen generator 10 comprising: a water tank 50 for storing water; an electrolytic cell 52 for generating hydrogen from the water in the water tank 50; a gas-liquid separation section 64 having a space portion 81 into which a gas containing hydrogen and water droplets from the electrolytic cell 52 is injected; and a suction port 42 for sending out hydrogen from which the water droplets have been separated in the gas-liquid separation section 64. The gas-liquid separation section 64 includes a liquid outlet 86 that is disposed at the bottom of the space portion 81 and constitutes a flow path section 65 communicating with the water tank 50, and a float 90 that is movable along the vertical direction of the space portion 81 and floats on water. The float 90 has a closing member 92 that closes the liquid outlet 86 on the lower end surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hydrogen generator that generates hydrogen from water in an electrolytic cell.

Background Art

[0002] For relaxation, inhaling hydrogen from a hydrogen generator is widely practiced. A hydrogen generator generally electrolyzes water stored in a water tank in an electrolytic cell to generate hydrogen. The water tank and the electrolytic cell are housed in a housing having a space inside, and the housing is provided with a water inlet, a hydrogen inlet, and the like. As such a hydrogen generator, there is, for example, one as described in Patent Document 1.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Since the gas containing hydrogen generated in the electrolytic cell contains water droplets, the hydrogen generator performs gas-liquid separation to remove the water droplets and then sends the hydrogen to the hydrogen inlet. For gas-liquid separation, the hydrogen generator is provided with a gas-liquid separation unit. The gas-liquid separation unit has a space portion including a hydrogen inlet, and a flow path communicating with the water tank is provided on the bottom surface of the space portion. The gas that has entered the gas-liquid separation unit from the electrolytic cell has water droplets that fall and are stored on the bottom surface of the space portion, and hydrogen is stored in the upper portion of the space portion. By providing the hydrogen outlet in the upper portion of the space portion, hydrogen containing no water droplets can be sent toward the hydrogen inlet. The water droplets contained in the gas can return to the water tank from the lower portion of the space portion through the flow path by the pressure of the hydrogen.

[0005] A flexible tube is connected to the hydrogen inlet, and hydrogen can be guided to an inhalation part that is worn on the user's nose or the like. However, if the tube bends and kinks, hydrogen may not flow to the inhalation part, and the internal pressure of hydrogen in the gas-liquid separation part may increase. In this case, since the water stored in the gas-liquid separation part is pressed more towards the water tank, the liquid level of water in the gas-liquid separation part drops. If the internal pressure of hydrogen becomes too high, all the water in the gas-liquid separation part may return to the water tank, and hydrogen may enter the water tank.

[0006] To prevent this, when the pressure of hydrogen in the gas-liquid separation part reaches a certain level or higher, the hydrogen generator has a safety mechanism that issues an alarm and stops the generation of hydrogen. The reason for providing the safety mechanism is to notify that a predetermined amount of hydrogen does not come out from the user's inhalation part, and as described above, when hydrogen returns to the water tank, hydrogen and oxygen may mix inside the hydrogen generator, and there is a risk of combustion and explosion, so this is to prevent it. When the alarm occurs, the user needs to perform operations such as restarting the hydrogen generator after eliminating the kink of the tube. In a hydrogen generator for the purpose of relaxation, it is desirable to suppress such operations from occurring frequently.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a hydrogen generator that can prevent hydrogen from entering the water tank in the gas-liquid separation part and reduce the operation frequency of the safety mechanism.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] To solve the above problems, the hydrogen generator according to the present invention includes a water tank for storing water, an electrolytic cell for generating hydrogen from the water in the water tank, a gas-liquid separation unit having a space into which a gas containing hydrogen and water droplets from the electrolytic cell is injected, and a hydrogen inlet for sending out hydrogen from which water droplets have been separated in the gas-liquid separation unit. The gas-liquid separation unit has a liquid outlet disposed at the bottom of the space and constituting a flow path communicating with the water tank, and a float that is movable along the vertical direction of the space and floats on water. The float has a closing member at its lower end surface for closing the liquid outlet.

[0009] Further, in the hydrogen generator according to the present invention, the gas-liquid separation unit may have a convex portion protruding toward the lower end surface of the float at the bottom of the space, and the liquid outlet may be disposed at the top of the convex portion.

[0010] Further, in the hydrogen generator according to the present invention, the gas-liquid separation unit may have the space formed inside a substantially cylindrical tubular portion, and the float may be substantially cylindrical.

[0011] Further, in the hydrogen generator according to the present invention, the closing member may be formed of an elastic material.

[0012] Further, in the hydrogen generator according to the present invention, the gas-liquid separation unit has a through hole communicating with the liquid outlet at the bottom surface, the water tank has a through hole at the bottom surface, and a connecting member is provided that is attached across the bottom surface of the gas-liquid separation unit and the bottom surface of the water tank. The connecting member may have a communication space portion for communicating the through hole of the gas-liquid separation unit and the through hole of the water tank.

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] According to the hydrogen generator of the present invention, when the internal pressure of hydrogen in the gas-liquid separation part increases, the liquid level of water in the gas-liquid separation part drops and the float descends, and the liquid outlet is blocked by the blocking member, so that the hydrogen in the gas-liquid separation part can be prevented from entering the water tank. As a result, the hydrogen generator can set a high internal pressure of hydrogen at which the safety mechanism operates, and can reduce the operation frequency of the safety mechanism.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings may be exaggerated for convenience of explanation and may be different from the actual ratios.

[0016] The hydrogen generator 10 according to this embodiment electrolyzes the stored water in a hydrogen generation part 52 composed of an electrolytic cell to generate hydrogen and oxygen, and takes out hydrogen among these from an intake port 42 and is used for a user to inhale hydrogen.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 1, the hydrogen generator 10 includes a housing 20 that is generally formed in a box shape. The housing 20 has a box-shaped main body portion 30 and a base portion 35 that supports the lower portion of the main body portion 30. The main body portion 30 has an upper surface portion 31, a bottom surface portion 32, and side surface portions 33. The bottom surface portion 32 of the main body portion 30 faces the peripheral portion of the base portion 35 at a distance. Therefore, when the housing 20 is viewed obliquely from above as shown in Fig. 1, a visual effect can be obtained as if the main body portion 30 floats from the base portion 35.

[0018] On the upper surface portion 31 of the main body portion 30, a water supply port 40 serving as an inlet for injecting water into the water tank 50 housed inside the main body portion 30 is provided. In the drawing, the water supply port 40 is closed by a detachable lid member 40a.

[0019] On the upper surface portion 31 of the main body portion 30, a suction port 42 for taking out the generated hydrogen is arranged. The suction port 42 is covered with a cap 42a. By removing the cap 42a and connecting a suction tube (not shown) and attaching the suction tube to the nose, the user can inhale the generated hydrogen. Also, on the upper surface portion 31, an oxygen outlet portion 43 for taking out the generated oxygen is arranged. The oxygen outlet portion 43 is covered with a cap 43a. The user can inhale both the generated hydrogen and oxygen by connecting a dedicated tube (not shown) that can be connected to both the suction port 42 and the oxygen outlet portion 43.

[0020] On the upper surface portion 31 of the main body portion 30, an operation display unit 44 is arranged that displays the state and setting state of the hydrogen generator 10 and can perform setting operations.

[0021] On the side surface portion 33 of the main body portion 30, a front window portion 45 that allows a part of the water tank 50 housed inside the main body portion 30 to be seen through is arranged. Through the front window portion 45, the remaining amount of water in the water tank 50 can be visually recognized. Also, on the front window portion 45, line displays 45a for respectively displaying the lower limit value and the upper limit value of the water volume of the water tank 50 are provided.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a large number of heat dissipation holes 46 are arranged on the side surface and the back surface of the side surface portion 33 of the main body portion 30 when the surface provided with the front window portion 45 is regarded as the front surface. The heat dissipation holes 46 are in the shape of small holes and communicate the inside and outside of the main body portion 30. When the hydrogen generator 10 operates, since the temperature inside the main body portion 30 rises, heat can be dissipated through the heat dissipation holes 46.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 3, the main body portion 30 includes an internal space 100. The internal space 100 houses a water tank 50, a hydrogen generation portion 52 that generates hydrogen and oxygen from the water in the water tank 50, and a hydrogen filter 54 through which the generated hydrogen passes.

[0024] The water tank 50 has a water inlet portion 61 that communicates with the water supply port 40 of the main body portion 30, and an elongated water filter 63 through which the water from the water inlet portion 61 passes. The lid member 40a described above is screwed to the water inlet portion 61. The water filter 63 removes impurities contained in the injected water.

[0025] The water tank 50 has a water storage portion 62 that is a space for storing water. The water tank 50 is formed of a resin material such as acrylic having translucency. Water is sent from the water storage portion 62 to the hydrogen generation portion 52. The hydrogen generation portion 52 is an electrolytic cell that electrolyzes water. The hydrogen generated in the hydrogen generation portion 52 is sent to a gas-liquid separation portion 64 provided integrally with the water tank 50. The gas from the hydrogen generation portion 52 also contains water droplets, and these can be separated by the gas-liquid separation portion 64 and only hydrogen can be sent to the hydrogen filter 54.

[0026] The oxygen generated in the hydrogen generation portion is returned to the water storage portion 62 of the water tank 50. For this reason, oxygen accumulates in the upper part of the water storage portion 62. This oxygen can be taken out from the oxygen outlet portion 43 described above.

[0027] The gas-liquid separation section 64 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 3, the gas-liquid separation section 64 includes a vertically long space section 81, and a float 90 that is movable in the vertical direction is disposed in the space section 81. The float 90 has a specific gravity that allows it to float in water and can move up and down in accordance with the liquid level of the water in the space section 81.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 4(a), at the upper part of the gas-liquid separation section 64, a gas inlet 82 communicating with the hydrogen generation section 52 and a gas outlet 83 communicating with the hydrogen filter 54 are provided. These are respectively connected to the hydrogen generation section 52 and the hydrogen filter 54 by connection tubes 59.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 4(b), on the bottom surface 84 of the gas-liquid separation section 64, which is the bottom of the space section 81, a convex portion 85 protruding toward the lower end surface of the float 90 is formed. At the top of the convex portion 85, a liquid outlet 86 opening toward the space section 81 is provided. A through hole 84a communicating with the liquid outlet 86 is formed in the bottom surface 84 of the gas-liquid separation section 64. A connecting member 87 disposed across the bottom surface 51 of the water tank 50 is provided on the bottom surface 84 of the gas-liquid separation section 64. The connecting member 87 has a communication space section 88 communicating with the through hole 84a. A through hole 51a is formed in the bottom surface 51 of the water tank 50, and the through hole 51a communicates with the communication space section 88 of the connecting member 87. Thereby, a continuous flow path section 65 from the liquid outlet 86 of the gas-liquid separation section 64 to the through hole 51a of the water tank 50 is formed.

[0030] A closing member 92 is provided on the lower end surface of the float 90. The closing member 92 is provided at a position where it abuts against and closes the liquid outlet 86 of the convex portion 85 when the float 90 moves to the lowermost position. The closing member 92 is formed of an elastic material such as rubber or silicone resin. Thereby, the closing member 92 can prevent the water in the space section 81 from flowing into the flow path section 65 by abutting against the liquid outlet 86. Since the liquid outlet 86 is provided with the convex portion 85, the liquid outlet 86 can be surely closed when the closing member 92 abuts against the top of the convex portion 85.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 5, two gas-liquid separation parts 64 are provided integrally with the water tank 50. The gas-liquid separation part 64 has a substantially cylindrical tubular part 80, and the inside of the tubular part 80 is a space part 81. The float 90 includes a column part 91 having a substantially cylindrical shape. Since there is a certain clearance between the outer peripheral surface of the column part 91 and the inner peripheral surface of the space part 81, the water that has entered the space part 81 can drip down to the lower part of the space part 81 from the gap between the float 90 and the tubular part 80. Further, since the float 90 has an outer shape along the inner peripheral surface of the tubular part 80, it can move in the vertical direction in accordance with the rise and fall of the liquid level of water in the tubular part 80.

[0032] The operation of the gas-liquid separation part 64 will be described. In FIG. 6, the liquid level 64a of water in the gas-liquid separation part 64 and the liquid level 50a of water in the water tank 50 are shown by solid lines respectively. As shown in FIG. 6(a), when a gas containing hydrogen and water droplets enters the space part 81 of the gas-liquid separation part 64 from the gas inlet 82, the water droplets contained in the gas are stored in the lower part of the space part 81, and hydrogen is stored in the upper part of the space part 81. Hydrogen is discharged from the gas outlet 83 for use by the user's inhalation. When a certain amount of hydrogen is generated per unit time in the hydrogen generation part 52 and the hydrogen flows smoothly to the inhalation part of the user, the internal pressure of hydrogen in the gas-liquid separation part 64 is kept constant. At this time, the float 90 floats on the water, and the closing member 92 at the lower end of the float 90 is separated from the liquid outlet 86 on the bottom surface 84, and the liquid outlet 86 is in an open state. Due to the internal pressure of hydrogen, the liquid level 64a of water in the gas-liquid separation part 64 is lower than the liquid level 50a of water in the water tank 50.

[0033] When the amount of water flowing in from the gas inlet 82 and stored in the space part 81 increases, the liquid level 64a of water rises and the internal pressure of hydrogen in the gas-liquid separation part 64 increases. When the internal pressure of hydrogen increases, water flows into the water tank 50 through the flow path part 65 by that pressure, and the liquid level 64a of water in the gas-liquid separation part 64 decreases. By this action, when the generation and inhalation of hydrogen are in a steady state, the liquid level 64a of water in the gas-liquid separation part 64 is maintained at a certain level.

[0034] If the internal pressure of hydrogen in the gas-liquid separation unit 64 rises due to some cause such as blockage in the inhalation tube, as shown in Fig. 6(b), water moves through the flow path portion 65 to the water tank 50 by the pressure of hydrogen, and the liquid level 64a of water in the gas-liquid separation unit 64 drops. When the liquid level 64a of water drops, the float 90 also drops in the space portion 81 accordingly. In the state of Fig. 6(b), since the blocking member 92 of the float 90 is separated from the liquid outlet 86, the water stored in the gas-liquid separation unit 64 can flow toward the water tank 50.

[0035] When the internal pressure of hydrogen becomes even higher, as shown in Fig. 6(c), the liquid level 64a of water drops further, and the blocking member 92 of the float 90 closes the liquid outlet 86. In this state, since the water in the gas-liquid separation unit 64 cannot flow toward the water tank 50, the liquid level 64a of water no longer drops further. Therefore, even when the internal pressure of hydrogen increases, since water remains in the lower part of the gas-liquid separation unit 64, it is possible to prevent hydrogen from entering the water tank 50. When the user changes their posture or the like, the blockage state of the tube is eliminated, and when the internal pressure of hydrogen in the gas-liquid separation unit 64 drops, the liquid level 64a of water in the gas-liquid separation unit 64 rises, and the float 90 rises and can return to the state of Fig. 6(b) or Fig. 6(a).

[0036] In order to prevent the equipment from being damaged due to the internal pressure of hydrogen becoming too high, the hydrogen generator 10 is provided with a pressure sensor (not shown), and when the internal pressure of hydrogen becomes a certain level or higher, a safety mechanism for stopping the operation is provided. However, as described above, since hydrogen does not enter the water tank 50 from the gas-liquid separation unit 64, the internal pressure of hydrogen for stopping the operation can be set high. Also, the increase in the internal pressure of hydrogen can be easily eliminated in many cases, for example, when the user changes their posture. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the safety mechanism from operating frequently and bothering the hands of the relaxed user.

[0037] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been explained, but the application of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and it can be applied in various ways within the scope of the technical idea.

Description of Symbols

[0038] 10 Hydrogen generator 20 Housing 30 Main body 40 Water inlet 42 Suction port 50 Water tank 51 Bottom surface 51a Through-hole 52 Hydrogen generation section 54 Hydrogen filter 56 Communication hole 59 Connection tube 61 Water inlet section 62 Water storage section 63 Water filter 64 Gas-liquid separation section 65 Flow path section 80 Cylindrical section 81 Space section 82 Gas inlet 83 Gas outlet 84 Bottom surface 84a Through-hole 85 Protrusion 86 Liquid outlet 87 Connecting member 88 Communication space section 90 Float 91 Cylindrical portion 92 Closing member 100 Internal space

Claims

1. A hydrogen generator comprising: a water tank for storing water; an electrolytic cell for generating hydrogen from the water in the water tank; a gas-liquid separation unit having a space into which gas containing hydrogen and water droplets from the electrolytic cell is injected; and an intake port for delivering hydrogen from which water droplets have been separated in the gas-liquid separation unit, the gas-liquid separation unit has a liquid outlet that is disposed at the bottom of the space and that constitutes a flow path that communicates with the water tank, and a float that is movable in the vertical direction of the space and floats on the water, The float has a closing member at its lower end surface for closing the liquid outlet.

2. the gas-liquid separation section has a convex portion at a bottom of the space section, the convex portion protruding toward a lower end surface of the float, The hydrogen generator according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid outlet is disposed at the top of the protrusion.

3. The gas-liquid separation unit has a substantially cylindrical tubular portion inside which the space is formed, 3. The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the float is substantially cylindrical.

4. 3. The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the blocking member is made of an elastic material.

5. the gas-liquid separation unit has a through hole in a bottom surface thereof that communicates with the liquid outlet, The water tank has a through hole on a bottom surface, a connecting member is provided that is attached across a bottom surface of the gas-liquid separation unit and a bottom surface of the water tank; 3. The hydrogen generator according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member has a communication space portion that communicates the through hole of the gas-liquid separator with the through hole of the water tank.

Images