Composite electrolysis device for producing hydrogen and hypochlorous acid water

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composite electrolysis device for producing hydrogen and hypochlorous acid water, having a novel configuration for generating hydrogen and hypochlorous acid water by electrolyzing dilute hydrochloric acid, the device comprising: an electrolytic cell (100) which has + and – electrodes (110, 120) disposed therein so as to electrolyze dilute hydrochloric acid inputted from the outside, and has formed in the upper end thereof a chlorine gas discharge hole (130) and a hydrogen discharge hole (140) for discharging chlorine gas and hydrogen generated from the electrolysis of the dilute hydrochloric acid; a dilution tank (200) which is provided on the upper side of the electrolytic cell (100) so as to communicate with the chlorine gas discharge hole (130), has dilution water flowing thereinto from the outside, and has hypochlorous acid water generated therein by means of the chlorine gas, entering through the chlorine gas discharge hole (130), being dissolved in the dilution water; an auxiliary electrolytic cell (300) which is provided on one side of the electrolytic cell (100) so that the end portions on one side of the + and – electrodes (110, 120) are inserted therein, has hydrochloric acid, contained in the hypochlorous acid water, electrolyzed therein by having a portion of the hypochlorous acid water generated in the dilution tank (200) flowing thereinto through a hypochlorous acid water inflow line (310) of which one end is connected to the dilution tank (200), and has formed in the upper surface thereof a hydrogen discharge hole (320) for discharging hydrogen generated from the electrolysis of the hydrochloric acid; and hydrogen transfer lines (404) which communicate with the hydrogen discharge holes (140, 320) of the electrolytic cell (100) and the auxiliary electrolytic cell (300).

Description

Hydrogen and hypochlorous acid production combined electrolysis device

[0001] The present invention relates to a combined electrolytic device for producing hydrogen and hypochlorous acid water, and more particularly, to a new combined electrolytic device for producing hydrogen and hypochlorous acid water using dilute hydrochloric acid.

[0002] As energy consumption increases along with the development of industrial technology, issues such as the limited reserves of fossil fuels and environmental pollution are becoming more apparent, leading to growing interest in the development of clean fuels. In particular, clean alternative energy using hydrogen as an energy source is attracting attention as a next-generation energy source.

[0003] Common methods for generating hydrogen include reforming reactions of hydrocarbons such as oil, natural gas, and coal, photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation, and alkaline solution or polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis.

[0004] Meanwhile, hypochlorous acid water is harmless to the human body and has excellent sterilizing power, so it is used for various purposes such as sterilizing various equipment including food and medical equipment, as well as sterilizing water in factories, livestock farms, and water play facilities. In particular, it is known to have the best sterilizing power in the slightly acidic range of pH 5 to 6.5.

[0005] A known method for producing hypochlorous acid water involves the electrolysis of dilute hydrochloric acid. When dilute hydrochloric acid is electrolyzed, chlorine gas is generated at the anode, which then dissolves in water to produce hypochlorous acid water. Hydrogen is also produced at the cathode. Previously, however, the hydrogen produced during hypochlorous acid production was simply released into the atmosphere.

[0006] The present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a novel hydrogen and hypochlorous acid water production composite electrolysis device having an improved hydrogen production efficiency by producing hydrogen and hypochlorous acid water using dilute hydrochloric acid and additionally electrolyzing hydrochloric acid regenerated during the production of hypochlorous acid water to produce hydrogen.

[0007] According to a feature of the present invention, an electrolytic cell (100) having + and - electrodes (110, 120) arranged to electrolyze dilute hydrochloric acid supplied from the outside, and having a chlorine gas discharge hole (130) and a hydrogen discharge hole (140) formed at the top through which chlorine gas and hydrogen generated by electrolysis of dilute hydrochloric acid are discharged, respectively; a dilution tank (200) provided on the upper side of the electrolytic cell (100) so as to be in communication with the chlorine gas discharge hole (130), through which dilution water is supplied from the outside, and in which chlorine gas supplied through the chlorine gas discharge hole (130) is dissolved in the dilution water to generate hypochlorous acid; A hydrogen and hypochlorous acid water production composite electrolysis device is provided, characterized by including: an auxiliary electrolytic cell (300) provided on one side of the electrolytic cell (100) so that one end of the above +, - electrodes (110, 120) can be inserted, and a part of the hypochlorous acid water produced in the dilution cell (200) is introduced through a hypochlorous acid water inflow line (310) which is connected at one end to the dilution cell (200) so that hydrochloric acid contained in the hypochlorous acid water is electrolyzed, and a hydrogen discharge hole (320) formed on the upper surface through which hydrogen produced by the electrolysis of hydrochloric acid is discharged; and a hydrogen transfer line (404) which is connected to the hydrogen discharge holes (140, 320) of the electrolytic cell (200) and the auxiliary electrolytic cell (300) so as to discharge hydrogen to the outside.

[0008]

[0009] According to another feature of the present invention, a dilution water inlet (210) into which dilution water flows is formed on one side of the dilution tank (200), a hypochlorous acid outlet (220) through which hypochlorous acid water generated inside the dilution tank (200) is discharged is formed on the other side of the dilution tank (200), and a porous wall (230) is provided inside the dilution tank (200) so as to cross between the dilution water inlet (210) and the hypochlorous acid outlet (220), so that the inside of the dilution tank (200) is divided into a first dilution space (202) where the dilution water inlet (210) and the chlorine gas outlet (130) are located, and a second dilution space (204) where the hypochlorous acid outlet (220) is located by the porous wall (230).

[0010]

[0011] According to another feature of the present invention, the + and - electrodes (110, 120) are arranged in a plate shape and parallel to each other, and the hydrogen discharge holes (140, 320) of the electrolytic cell (200) and the auxiliary electrolytic cell (300) are positioned on the upper surface of the electrolytic cell (100) and the auxiliary electrolytic cell (300) so as to be aligned with the - electrode (120), and a hydrogen transport space (400) is formed between the electrolytic cell (100) and the dilution tank (200) and is connected to the hydrogen discharge holes (140, 320) formed in the electrolytic cell (100) and the auxiliary electrolytic cell (300), so that the hydrogen transport line (404) is connected to the hydrogen transport space (400).

[0012]

[0013] According to another feature of the present invention, the hydrogen transfer space (400) is formed to cover a part of the upper surface of the electrolytic cell (100), so that a part of the upper surface of the electrolytic cell (100) and the hydrogen transfer space (400) come into contact with the dilution tank (200).

[0014] The present invention, having the above-described configuration, can produce hydrogen using dilute hydrochloric acid and use it as fuel for hydrogen fuel cells, hydrogen boilers, etc., and can also produce hypochlorous acid water and use it as a sterilizing and disinfecting agent, thereby achieving the effect of killing two birds with one stone.

[0015] In addition, since the hydrochloric acid produced during the process of dilute hydrochloric acid being electrolyzed in an electrolytic cell and the chlorine gas being dissolved in diluted water to produce hypochlorous acid water is further electrolyzed in an auxiliary electrolytic cell to produce hydrogen, it has the advantage of improving the hydrogen production efficiency.

[0016] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1

[0018] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of Figure 1.

[0019] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of Figure 1.

[0020] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of Figure 1.

[0021] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail by way of examples.

[0022] The present invention comprises, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6, an electrolytic cell (100) in which positive and negative electrodes (110, 120) are arranged and dilute hydrochloric acid supplied from the outside is electrolyzed, a dilution cell (200) provided on the upper side of the electrolytic cell (100) into which chlorine gas generated in the electrolytic cell (100) flows and dilution water is supplied from the outside to generate hypochlorous acid water, an auxiliary electrolytic cell (300) provided on one side of the electrolytic cell (100), and a hydrogen transport line (404) for transporting hydrogen generated in the electrolytic cell (100) and the auxiliary electrolytic cell (300) to the outside.

[0023] In the electrolytic cell (100), a plurality of plate-shaped + and - electrodes (110, 120) are arranged in parallel, and a dilute hydrochloric acid injection hole (102) into which dilute hydrochloric acid is injected is formed at the lower end of the electrolytic cell (100). In addition, on the upper surface of the electrolytic cell (100), chlorine gas discharge holes (130) and hydrogen discharge holes (140) through which chlorine gas and hydrogen, which are electrolysis products of dilute hydrochloric acid, are respectively discharged are formed on the upper side of the + electrode (110) and the - electrode (120), and since the + and - electrodes (110, 120) are arranged in parallel in a plate-shaped manner, the chlorine gas discharge holes (130) and hydrogen discharge holes (140) are arranged in parallel along the + and - electrodes (110, 120), respectively. In this embodiment, the electrode set is provided as a pair with a - electrode (120) positioned on both sides of a + electrode (110) and spaced apart from each other on the left and right.

[0024] When power is applied to the + and - electrodes (110, 120) of the electrolytic cell (100), dilute hydrochloric acid flowing into the electrolytic cell (100) is electrolyzed, and chlorine gas is generated at the + electrode (110) and hydrogen is generated at the - electrode (120). The chlorine gas and hydrogen are discharged through the chlorine gas discharge hole (130) and the hydrogen discharge hole (140), respectively.

[0025] In this embodiment, it is exemplified that an anion exchange membrane (150) is placed between the + and - electrodes (110, 120), and accordingly, chlorine gas and hydrogen are discharged through the chlorine gas discharge hole (130) and hydrogen discharge hole (140) which are placed close to each other without mixing.

[0026] The above dilution tank (200) is positioned above the electrolytic tank (100) so as to be in communication with the chlorine gas discharge port (130) of the electrolytic tank (100). A dilution water inlet (210) is formed at one end of the dilution tank (200) through which dilution water (water) is introduced from the outside, and a hypochlorous acid water discharge port (220) is formed at the other end. Dilution water is introduced into the dilution tank (200) through the dilution water inlet (210), and chlorine gas generated in the electrolytic tank (100) is introduced through the chlorine gas discharge port (130). When the chlorine gas is introduced into the dilution tank (200), the chlorine gas is dissolved in the dilution water to generate hypochlorous acid water.

[0027] When electrolyzing dilute hydrochloric acid, the electrodes are heated and high-temperature chlorine gas and hydrogen are generated, so the electrolytic cell (100) is heated to a considerable temperature. In the present invention, a dilution tank (200) is formed on the upper side of the electrolytic cell (100), so that the electrolytic cell (100) is in contact with the dilution tank (200), so that the electrolytic cell (100) can have the effect of being cooled by the dilution tank (200).

[0028] Preferably, a porous wall (230) is formed inside the dilution tank (200) between the dilution water inlet (210) and the hypochlorous acid outlet (220), and the inside of the dilution tank (200) is divided into a first dilution space (202) where the dilution water inlet (210) and the chlorine gas outlet (130) are located, and a second dilution space (204) where the hypochlorous acid outlet (220) is located by this porous wall (230). This porous wall (230) acts as a barrier to the dilution water flow, and therefore, the pressure of the first dilution space (202) where the chlorine gas outlet (130) is located increases, and accordingly, the solubility of chlorine gas increases, thereby increasing the production efficiency of hypochlorous acid.

[0029] Meanwhile, the auxiliary electrolytic cell (300) is formed on one side of the electrolytic cell (100) so that one end of the +, - electrodes (110, 120) provided in the electrolytic cell (100) is introduced into the inside. In addition, a hypochlorous acid water inflow line (310) is provided between the auxiliary electrolytic cell (300) and the dilution cell (200) through which a portion of the hypochlorous acid water produced in the dilution cell (200) is introduced into the auxiliary electrolytic cell (300), and a hydrogen discharge hole (320) through which the hydrogen produced in the auxiliary electrolytic cell (300) is discharged is formed on the upper surface of the auxiliary electrolytic cell (300). Preferably, the auxiliary electrolytic cell (300) is provided with a water level sensor for controlling the amount of hypochlorous acid water introduced through the hypochlorous acid water inflow line (310).

[0030] In the process of generating hypochlorous acid by dissolving chlorine gas in diluted water, some of the chlorine gas is regenerated into hydrochloric acid, as shown in the chemical formula below.

[0031] H2O + Cl2→ HOCl + HCl

[0032] Accordingly, the hypochlorous acid water inside the dilution tank (200) contains hydrochloric acid, and when the hypochlorous acid water containing hydrochloric acid is supplied to the auxiliary electrolysis tank (300), the hydrochloric acid contained in the hypochlorous acid water is electrolyzed to additionally generate chlorine gas and hydrogen, and the hydrogen generated at this time is discharged through the hydrogen discharge hole (320). In this way, the hydrochloric acid generated during the hypochlorous acid water generation process is additionally electrolyzed in the auxiliary electrolysis tank (300) to generate hydrogen, thereby increasing the amount of hydrogen generated.

[0033] Meanwhile, a hydrogen transport line (404) is connected to the hydrogen discharge holes (140, 320) of the electrolytic cell (100) and the auxiliary electrolytic cell (300), and hydrogen generated in the electrolytic cell (100) and the auxiliary electrolytic cell (300) is discharged to the outside through the hydrogen transport line (404). The hydrogen transport line (404) is connected to a hydrogen storage tank or an energy device that uses hydrogen gas as fuel, such as a hydrogen fuel cell or a hydrogen boiler. If necessary, a filtering means for removing impurities other than hydrogen may be provided in the hydrogen transport line (404) or the hydrogen transport space (400).

[0034] Preferably, as illustrated, a hydrogen transfer space (400) is formed between the electrolytic cell (100) and the dilution cell (200) and is connected to the hydrogen discharge holes (140, 320) of the electrolytic cell (100) and the auxiliary electrolytic cell (300), and the hydrogen transfer line (404) is connected to the hydrogen transfer space (400). When the hydrogen transfer space (400) is formed between the electrolytic cell (100) and the dilution cell (200) in this way, the hydrogen transfer space (400) is cooled by coming into contact with the dilution cell (200), so that the effect of cooling the high-temperature hydrogen flowing into the hydrogen transfer space (400) can be obtained. In particular, when the hydrogen transfer space (400) is formed to be in contact with a part of the upper surface of the electrolytic cell (100), the remaining part of the upper surface of the electrolytic cell (100) is in contact with the dilution space (200), so both the electrolytic cell (100) and the hydrogen transfer space (400) are cooled by the dilution cell (200).

[0035]

[0036] The present invention having such a configuration can produce hypochlorous acid water using dilute hydrochloric acid and use it as a sterilizing and disinfecting agent, and can also produce hydrogen and use it as fuel for hydrogen fuel cells, hydrogen boilers, etc., thereby achieving the effect of killing two birds with one stone.

Claims

1. An electrolytic cell (100) in which + and - electrodes (110, 120) are arranged to electrolyze dilute hydrochloric acid supplied from the outside, and a chlorine gas discharge hole (130) and a hydrogen discharge hole (140) are formed at the top to discharge chlorine gas and hydrogen, respectively, generated by the electrolysis of dilute hydrochloric acid; A dilution tank (200) provided on the upper side of the electrolytic cell (100) so as to be in communication with the chlorine gas discharge port (130), into which dilution water is introduced from the outside, and in which chlorine gas introduced through the chlorine gas discharge port (130) is dissolved in the dilution water to produce hypochlorous acid water; An auxiliary electrolytic cell (300) provided on one side of the electrolytic cell (100) so that one end of the above +, - electrodes (110, 120) can be inserted, and a part of the hypochlorous acid water produced in the dilution tank (200) flows in through the hypochlorous acid water inflow line (310) connected to the dilution tank (200) at one end, so that the hydrochloric acid contained in the hypochlorous acid water is electrolyzed, and a hydrogen discharge hole (320) is formed on the upper surface through which the hydrogen produced by the electrolysis of the hydrochloric acid is discharged; and A combined electrolysis device for producing hydrogen and hypochlorous acid, characterized by including a hydrogen transfer line (404) that is connected to the hydrogen discharge holes (140, 320) of the electrolysis tank (200) and auxiliary electrolysis tank (300) to discharge hydrogen to the outside.

2. In paragraph 1, On one side of the dilution tank (200), a dilution water inlet (210) is formed through which dilution water flows in, and on the other side of the dilution tank (200), a hypochlorous acid discharge port (220) is formed through which hypochlorous acid generated inside the dilution tank (200) is discharged. A hydrogen and hypochlorous acid water production composite electrolysis device characterized in that the inside of the dilution tank (200) is provided with a porous wall (230) crossing between the dilution water inlet (210) and the hypochlorous acid water outlet (220), and the inside of the dilution tank (200) is divided into a first dilution space (202) where the dilution water inlet (210) and the chlorine gas outlet (130) are located and a second dilution space (204) where the hypochlorous acid water outlet (220) is located by the porous wall (230).

3. In paragraph 1 or 2, The above + and - electrodes (110, 120) are arranged in a plate shape and parallel to each other, and the hydrogen discharge holes (140, 320) of the electrolytic cell (200) and the auxiliary electrolytic cell (300) are positioned on the upper surface of the electrolytic cell (100) and the auxiliary electrolytic cell (300) so as to be aligned with the - electrode (120). Between the electrolytic cell (100) and the dilution cell (200), a hydrogen transport space (400) is formed that is connected to the hydrogen discharge holes (140, 320) formed in the electrolytic cell (100) and the auxiliary electrolytic cell (300). A combined electrolysis device for producing hydrogen and hypochlorous acid, characterized in that the hydrogen transport line (404) is connected to the hydrogen transport space (400).

4. In paragraph 3, A hydrogen and hypochlorous acid production complex electrolysis device characterized in that the hydrogen transport space (400) is formed to cover a portion of the upper surface of the electrolytic cell (100), so that a portion of the upper surface of the electrolytic cell (100) and the hydrogen transport space (400) are in contact with the dilution tank (200).

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