Water electrolysis device, gasket, and gasket device

Abstract

A water electrolysis device (5) is provided with gaskets (10). The gaskets (10) are configured to be used in a state where, with respect to one of the gaskets (10), another one of the gaskets (10) is reversed and overlayed. The gaskets (10) seal, in a cell (100), a space (S1) between a separator (101) and an electrolyte membrane (104) of a membrane assembly (103), and a space (S2) between a separator (102) and the electrolyte membrane (104). The gaskets (10) each have: a seal lateral surface (11) and a contact lateral surface (12) which form a pair; a first seal part (3) for sealing the space (S1) or the space (S2); and a second seal part (4) for sealing, on the outer peripheral side of the electrolyte membrane (104), a plurality of flow paths (2) between the separators (101, 102). The first seal part (3) is formed on the seal lateral surface (11) and the contact lateral surface (12), and the second seal part (4) is formed on the seal lateral surface (11) and the contact lateral surface (12).

Description

Water electrolysis device, gasket, and gasket device

[0001] The present invention relates to a water electrolysis device, a gasket, and a gasket device.

[0002] Each cell of a hydrogen generator or fuel cell is provided with a gasket, which is compressed between the anode separator, the cathode separator, and the electrolyte membrane to seal the space between each separator and the electrolyte membrane, preventing leakage of fluids in the spaces inside the cell and preventing mixing of the fluids in the respective spaces (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] JP 2012-117140 A

[0004] In the water electrolysis device of a hydrogen generator, the inside of the cell, which is the space to be sealed, becomes high pressure, which can cause the gasket to deform or move, resulting in a decrease in sealing performance. For this reason, the gasket of the cell of the hydrogen generator is required to have a configuration that can maintain sealing performance even when the inside of the cell becomes high pressure.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a water electrolysis apparatus, a gasket, and a gasket device that can suppress deterioration of sealing performance due to high pressure in the space to be sealed.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a water electrolysis device according to the present invention comprises a pair of opposing separators and an electrolyte membrane opposing each of the pair of separators in the opposing direction, wherein an anode chamber and a cathode chamber are respectively formed between the pair of separators and the electrolyte membrane, and further comprises gaskets for sealing the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, wherein the gaskets are configured such that one gasket is inverted and overlaps the other gasket to seal the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, and the gaskets comprise a pair of annular surfaces facing each other, a sealing side surface and a contact side surface, a first seal portion for sealing the anode chamber or the cathode chamber, and a second seal portion for sealing, between the pair of separators, a plurality of flow paths extending in the opposing direction between the pair of separators on an outer circumferential side of the electrolyte membrane, the first seal portion being formed on the sealing side surface and the contact side surface, and the second seal portion being formed on the sealing side surface and the contact side surface.

[0007] In a water electrolysis device according to one aspect of the present invention, the first seal portion has an annular first inner seal surface, and when one of the gaskets is inverted and stacked on top of another of the gaskets, the first inner seal surface of one of the gaskets faces the first inner seal surface of the other of the gaskets in the direction of inversion, forming an annular gap that is open to the inner circumferential side, and the gap is capable of accommodating the outer circumferential end of the electrolyte membrane.

[0008] In a water electrolysis apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the first seal portion has an annular second inner seal surface, and the second inner seal surface faces away from the first inner seal surface in the direction of inversion.

[0009] In a water electrolysis apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the gasket has at least one pair of penetrating through holes, and the second sealing portion surrounds each of the through holes, so that when one of the gaskets is inverted and stacked on top of another of the gaskets, one of the pair of through holes of one of the gaskets overlaps the other of the pair of through holes of the other of the gaskets in the inverted direction.

[0010] In a water electrolysis apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the second sealing portion has a first outer sealing surface surrounding each of the through holes and a second outer sealing surface facing away from the first outer sealing surface in the direction of inversion and surrounding each of the through holes, such that when one of the gaskets is inverted and placed over another of the gaskets, the first outer sealing surface of one of the gaskets overlaps the first outer sealing surface of the other of the gaskets in the direction of inversion.

[0011] In order to achieve the above object, a water electrolysis apparatus according to the present invention includes a pair of opposing separators and an electrolyte membrane facing each of the pair of separators in the opposing direction, wherein an anode chamber and a cathode chamber are formed between the pair of separators and the electrolyte membrane, respectively. The water electrolysis apparatus further includes a gasket device for sealing the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, the gasket device including an annular first gasket and an annular second gasket, wherein an outer circumferential side of the first gasket and an outer circumferential side of the second gasket are capable of contacting each other, and when the outer circumferential sides of the first gasket and the second gasket are in contact with each other, an annular gap open to the inner circumferential side is formed between the inner circumferential side of the first gasket and the inner circumferential side of the second gasket, and the gap is capable of accommodating an outer circumferential end of the electrolyte membrane.

[0012] In a water electrolysis device according to one aspect of the present invention, the width of the gap in the direction in which the outer circumferential sides of the first gasket and the second gasket come into contact is sized, relative to the width of the electrolyte membrane in the opposing direction, such that contact between the outer circumferential sides of the first gasket and the second gasket is maintained when the outer circumferential end of the electrolyte membrane is accommodated in the gap.

[0013] In the water electrolysis apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the width of the gap is equal to or smaller than the width of the electrolyte membrane.

[0014] In a water electrolysis apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the first gasket has a contact surface that is an annular surface on the outer circumferential side, and the second gasket has a contact surface that is an annular surface on the outer circumferential side, and the contact surface of the first gasket and the contact surface of the second gasket are capable of contacting each other.

[0015] In a water electrolysis device according to one aspect of the present invention, the first gasket has a sealing surface on the inner circumferential side of the contact surface that forms a step between it and the contact surface, and the second gasket has a sealing surface on the inner circumferential side of the contact surface that forms a step between it and the contact surface, and the sealing surface of the first gasket and the sealing surface of the second gasket form the gap.

[0016] In a water electrolysis device according to one aspect of the present invention, the first gasket has a sealing side surface that faces away from the contact surface and the sealing surface, the second gasket has a sealing side surface that faces away from the contact surface and the sealing surface, at least one annular bead is formed on the sealing side surface of the first gasket, and at least one bead is formed on the sealing side surface of the second gasket.

[0017] In a water electrolysis apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the first gasket has at least one annular bead protruding in a direction opposite to the direction of contact, and the second gasket has at least one annular bead protruding in a direction opposite to the direction of contact.

[0018] In a water electrolysis apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the first gasket has a plurality of through holes passing therethrough, and the second gasket has a plurality of through holes passing therethrough, and when the outer periphery of the first gasket comes into contact with the outer periphery of the second gasket, the plurality of through holes of the first gasket and the plurality of through holes of the second gasket are respectively connected to each other.

[0019] In the water electrolysis apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the first gasket and the second gasket are the same.

[0020] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the gasket of the present invention is a gasket for sealing a space between a pair of opposing members and an intermediate member that faces each of the pair of members in the opposing direction, and the gasket is configured so that one of the gaskets is inverted and stacked on top of the other gasket to seal the space, and is provided with a pair of annular surfaces that face each other, a sealing side and a contact side, a first seal portion that seals the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, and a second seal portion that seals, between the pair of members, a plurality of flow paths that extend in the opposing direction between the pair of members on the outer periphery of the intermediate member, and the first seal portion is formed on the sealing side and the contact side, and the second seal portion is formed on the sealing side and the contact side.

[0021] In one embodiment of the gasket of the present invention, the first seal portion has an annular first inner seal surface, and when one of the gaskets is inverted and stacked on top of another of the gaskets, the first inner seal surface of one of the gaskets faces the first inner seal surface of the other of the gaskets in the direction of inversion, forming an annular gap that is open to the inner circumferential side, and the gap is capable of accommodating the outer circumferential end of the intermediate member.

[0022] In a gasket according to one aspect of the present invention, the first seal portion has an annular second inner seal surface, and the second inner seal surface faces away from the first inner seal surface in the direction of inversion.

[0023] A gasket according to one embodiment of the present invention has at least one pair of penetrating through holes, and the second sealing portion surrounds each of the through holes, so that when one of the gaskets is inverted and stacked on top of another of the gaskets, one of the pair of through holes of one of the gaskets overlaps the other of the pair of through holes of the other of the gaskets in the direction of inversion.

[0024] In one embodiment of the gasket of the present invention, the second seal portion has a first outer seal surface surrounding each of the through holes and a second outer seal surface facing away from the first outer seal surface in the direction of inversion and surrounding each of the through holes, so that when one of the gaskets is inverted and stacked on top of another of the gaskets, the first outer seal surface of one of the gaskets overlaps the first outer seal surface of the other of the gaskets in the direction of inversion.

[0025] In order to achieve the above object, the gasket device of the present invention is a gasket device for sealing a space between a pair of opposing members and an intermediate member that faces each of the pair of members in the opposing direction, and comprises an annular first gasket and an annular second gasket, the outer circumferential side of the first gasket and the outer circumferential side of the second gasket are capable of contacting each other, and when the outer circumferential sides of the first gasket and the second gasket come into contact with each other, an annular gap that is open to the inner circumferential side is formed between the inner circumferential side of the first gasket and the inner circumferential side of the second gasket, and the gap is capable of accommodating the outer circumferential end of the intermediate member.

[0026] In one embodiment of the gasket device of the present invention, the width of the gap in the direction in which the outer circumferential sides of the first gasket and the second gasket come into contact is sized relative to the width of the intermediate member in the opposing direction such that contact between the outer circumferential sides of the first gasket and the second gasket is maintained when the outer circumferential end of the intermediate member is accommodated in the gap.

[0027] In a gasket device according to one aspect of the present invention, the width of the gap is equal to or less than the width of the intermediate member.

[0028] In one aspect of the gasket device of the present invention, the first gasket has a contact surface that is an annular surface on the outer periphery, and the second gasket has a contact surface that is an annular surface on the outer periphery, and the contact surface of the first gasket and the contact surface of the second gasket are capable of contacting each other.

[0029] In one embodiment of the gasket device of the present invention, the first gasket has a sealing surface on the inner circumferential side of the contact surface that forms a step between it and the contact surface, and the second gasket has a sealing surface on the inner circumferential side of the contact surface that forms a step between it and the contact surface, and the sealing surface of the first gasket and the sealing surface of the second gasket form the gap.

[0030] In one embodiment of the gasket device of the present invention, the first gasket has a sealing side surface that faces away from the contact surface and the sealing surface, the second gasket has a sealing side surface that faces away from the contact surface and the sealing surface, and at least one annular bead is formed on the sealing side surface of the first gasket, and at least one bead is formed on the sealing side surface of the second gasket.

[0031] In one aspect of the gasket device of the present invention, the first gasket has at least one annular bead protruding in a direction opposite to the contact direction, and the second gasket has at least one annular bead protruding in a direction opposite to the contact direction.

[0032] In a gasket device according to one aspect of the present invention, the first gasket has a plurality of through holes, and the second gasket has a plurality of through holes, and when the outer periphery of the first gasket comes into contact with the outer periphery of the second gasket, the plurality of through holes of the first gasket and the plurality of through holes of the second gasket are each connected to each other.

[0033] In a gasket device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the first gasket has an annular protrusion that can contact one of the pair of members from the outer periphery, and the second gasket has an annular protrusion that can contact the other of the pair of members from the outer periphery.

[0034] In the gasket device according to one aspect of the present invention, the first gasket and the second gasket are identical to each other.

[0035] In order to achieve the above object, a water electrolysis device according to one aspect of the present invention is a water electrolysis device comprising a pair of opposing separators and an electrolyte membrane facing each of the pair of separators in the opposing direction, wherein an anode chamber and a cathode chamber are respectively formed between the pair of separators and the electrolyte membrane, and further comprising gaskets for sealing the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, wherein one of the gaskets is inverted and placed over the other of the gaskets to seal the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, and a sealing side and a contact side that are a pair of annular surfaces facing each other, and a sealing surface that seals the anode chamber or the cathode chamber. and a second seal portion for sealing a plurality of flow paths extending in the opposing directions between the pair of separators on the outer circumferential side of the electrolyte membrane, between the pair of separators, the first seal portion being formed on the sealing side surface and the contact side surface, and the second seal portion being formed on the sealing side surface and the contact side surface. The gasket comprises a gasket member made of an elastic material, and a flow path member forming a flow path communicating with the anode chamber or the cathode chamber, and the flow path member is configured to continue forming the flow path when the gasket is compressed in the opposing directions.

[0036] In a water electrolysis apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the flow path member is configured to continue to form the flow path when the gasket is compressed in the opposing direction by a compression allowance set in the gasket member.

[0037] In the water electrolysis apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the flow path member is harder than the gasket member.

[0038] In a water electrolysis apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the gasket member has a sealing side surface and a contact side surface which are a pair of annular surfaces facing each other, a plurality of through holes included in each of a plurality of flow paths extending in the opposing direction between the pair of members on an outer circumferential side of the intermediate member, a first seal portion which seals the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, and a second seal portion which seals part of the plurality of flow paths from the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, wherein the first seal portion and the second seal portion define communication regions along the sealing side surface which connect the through holes included in each of the other parts of the plurality of flow paths to the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, and the flow path members are provided in each of the communication regions and are configured to come into contact with one of the pair of members when the gasket is compressed in the opposing direction.

[0039] In a water electrolysis apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the flow path of the flow path member is configured to connect the through hole communicating with the communication region to a space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member.

[0040] In a water electrolysis apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the flow path member has a plurality of grooves recessed on the other side of the pair of members, and the plurality of grooves form the flow path.

[0041] In a water electrolysis apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the flow path member has through holes that communicate with the through holes that communicate with the communication region, and the plurality of grooves communicate with the through holes of the flow path member and also communicate with a space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member.

[0042] In the water electrolysis apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the height of the flow path member is smaller than the height of the first seal portion and the second seal portion.

[0043] In the water electrolysis apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the flow path member is made of a resin material.

[0044] In the water electrolysis apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, the pair of members are separators of cells of the water electrolysis apparatus, and the intermediate member is an electrolyte membrane of the cells.

[0045] In order to achieve the above object, the gasket of the present invention is a gasket for sealing a space between a pair of opposing members and an intermediate member that faces each of the pair of members in the opposing direction, and the gasket is configured so that one of the gaskets is inverted and stacked on top of the other gasket to seal the space, and includes a gasket member made of an elastic material and a flow path member that forms a flow path communicating with the space, and the flow path member is capable of continuing to form the flow path when the gasket is compressed in the opposing direction.

[0046] In a gasket according to one aspect of the present invention, the flow path member is capable of continuing to form the flow path when the gasket is compressed in the opposing direction by an amount equal to the compression allowance set in the gasket member.

[0047] In the gasket according to one aspect of the present invention, the flow path member is harder than the gasket member.

[0048] In one embodiment of the gasket of the present invention, the gasket member has a sealing side and a contact side which are a pair of annular surfaces facing each other, a plurality of through holes respectively included in a plurality of flow paths extending in the opposing directions between the pair of members on the outer circumferential side of the intermediate member, a first sealing portion which seals the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, and a second sealing portion for sealing a portion of the plurality of flow paths from the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion defining a communication region along the sealing side which is a region that connects the through holes included in each other portion of the plurality of flow paths to the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, and the flow path member is provided in each of the communication regions and is configured to contact one of the pair of members when the gasket is compressed in the opposing directions.

[0049] In a gasket according to one embodiment of the present invention, the flow path of the flow path member is configured to connect the through hole communicating with the communication region to the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member.

[0050] In a gasket according to one aspect of the present invention, the flow path member has a plurality of grooves recessed on the other side of the pair of members, and the plurality of grooves form the flow path.

[0051] In a gasket according to one embodiment of the present invention, the flow path member has a through hole that is connected to the through hole that is connected to the communication region, and the multiple grooves are connected to the through hole of the flow path member and are also connected to the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member.

[0052] In a gasket according to one aspect of the present invention, the height of the flow path member is lower than the heights of the first seal portion and the second seal portion.

[0053] In the gasket according to one aspect of the present invention, the flow path member is formed from a resin material.

[0054] In a gasket according to one aspect of the present invention, the pair of members are separators of cells of a water electrolysis device, and the intermediate member is an electrolyte membrane of the cells.

[0055] In order to achieve the above object, the gasket device of the present invention is a gasket device for sealing a space between a pair of opposing members and an intermediate member facing each of the pair of members in the opposing direction, and comprises an annular first gasket and an annular second gasket, the second gasket being the same as the first gasket, the first gasket and the second gasket being stacked on top of each other to seal the space, the first gasket having an annular gasket member made of an elastic material and a flow path member forming a flow path communicating with the space, the flow path member being capable of continuing to form the flow path when the gasket device is compressed in the opposing direction, the gasket member of the first gasket and the gasket member of the second gasket being brought into contact with each other, and the first gasket and the second gasket being stacked on top of each other.

[0056] In a gasket device according to one aspect of the present invention, the flow path member is capable of continuing to form the flow path when the gasket device is compressed in the opposing direction by an amount equal to the compression allowance set in the gasket member.

[0057] In the gasket device according to one aspect of the present invention, the flow path member is harder than the gasket member.

[0058] In one embodiment of the present invention, the gasket member of the first gasket has a sealing side and a contact side, which are a pair of annular surfaces facing each other, a plurality of through holes included in each of a plurality of flow paths extending in the opposing direction between the pair of members on the outer circumferential side of the intermediate member, a first seal portion that seals the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, and a second seal portion for sealing a portion of the plurality of flow paths from the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, and the first seal portion and the second seal portion define communication regions along the sealing side that are regions that connect the through holes included in each of the other portions of the plurality of flow paths to the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, and the flow path members of the first gasket are provided in each of the communication regions and are configured to contact one of the pair of members when the gasket device is compressed in the opposing direction.

[0059] In one embodiment of the gasket device of the present invention, the flow path of the flow path member is configured to connect the through hole communicating with the communication region to the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member.

[0060] In a gasket device according to one aspect of the present invention, the flow path member has a plurality of grooves recessed on the other side of the pair of members, and the plurality of grooves form the flow path.

[0061] In a gasket device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the flow path member has a through hole that is connected to the through hole that is connected to the communication region, and the plurality of grooves are connected to the through hole of the flow path member and are also connected to the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member.

[0062] In the gasket device according to one aspect of the present invention, the height of the flow path member is lower than the heights of the first seal portion and the second seal portion.

[0063] In the gasket device according to one aspect of the present invention, the flow path member is made of a resin material.

[0064] In a gasket device according to one aspect of the present invention, the pair of members are separators of cells of a water electrolysis device, and the intermediate member is an electrolyte membrane of the cells.

[0065] The water electrolysis apparatus, gasket, and gasket device according to the present invention can suppress and maintain the deterioration of sealing performance caused by high pressure in the space to be sealed.

[0066] 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an outline of a water electrolysis apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a front view of a gasket device. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along line A-A in FIG. 2. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged portion of FIG. 3. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a cross section taken along line B1-B1 or line B2-B2 in FIG. 2. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a cross section taken along line C1-C1 or line C2-C2 in FIG. 2. FIG. 14 is a front view of a first gasket provided in the gasket device. FIG. 15 is a rear view of the first gasket. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along line D-D in FIG. 7. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a cross section taken along line E1-E1 or line E2-E2 in FIG. 7. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a cross section taken along line F1-F1 or line F2-F2 in FIG. 16. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged portion of FIG. 10. FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the first gasket showing an enlarged view of the vicinity of an engagement protrusion and an engagement groove provided in the first gasket. FIG. 12 is a front view of an example of a separator of a cell. FIG. 13 is a front view of a gasket provided in a gasket device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 19 is a front view of a flow path member included in a gasket device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 20 is a rear view of the flow path member; 21 is a front view of a gasket to which a flow path member is attached; 22 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of a gasket to which a flow path member is attached, showing a cross section along line G-G in FIG. 18; 23 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a water electrolysis apparatus in which a gasket device is used; 24 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a water electrolysis apparatus in which a gasket device is used; 25 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a water electrolysis apparatus in which a gasket device is used;

[0067] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that in the drawings, not all of the components are labeled with reference numerals, and some of the components may be omitted.

[0068] The gasket according to the present invention is a gasket for sealing a space between a pair of opposing components and an intermediate member facing each of the pair of components in the opposing direction. The gasket device according to the present invention is a gasket device for sealing a space between a pair of opposing components and an intermediate member facing each of the pair of components in the opposing direction. The pair of opposing components and the intermediate member are, for example, a pair of separators and an electrolyte membrane used in a cell of a hydrogen generator, a fuel cell, or the like. As an example, the gasket and gasket device according to the present invention are intended to seal a space between a pair of opposing separators and an electrolyte membrane in a cell of a water electrolysis device of a hydrogen generator. Note that the application of the gasket device according to the present invention is not limited to this and includes other application targets. The water electrolysis device according to the present invention is not limited to a water electrolysis device having a membrane assembly described below, but also includes a so-called zero-gap water electrolysis device.

[0069] 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an outline of a water electrolysis apparatus 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention, including a gasket 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The water electrolysis apparatus 5 includes the gasket 10. The gaskets 10 are used by inverting one gasket 10 and stacking another gasket 10 on top of the other. As shown in FIG. 1 , the gasket 10 seals a space S1 between one separator 101 of a pair of separators and an electrolyte membrane 104 of a membrane assembly 103, which is an intermediate member, and a space S2 between the other separator 102 of the pair of separators and the electrolyte membrane 104. The gasket 10 includes a pair of annular surfaces, a seal side surface 11 and a contact side surface 12, which are opposed to each other, a first seal portion 3 that seals a space S1 or a space S2 between either the separator 101, 102 and the electrolyte membrane 104, and a second seal portion 4 that seals a plurality of flow paths 2 extending in opposing directions between the separators 101, 102 on the outer periphery of the electrolyte membrane 104, between the separators 101, 102. The first seal portion 3 is formed on the seal side surface 11 and the contact side surface 12, and the second seal portion 4 is formed on the seal side surface 11 and the contact side surface 12. The configuration of the gasket 10 will be described in detail below.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 1 , the first seal portion 3 has an annular first inner seal surface 3a. When another gasket 10 is inverted and stacked on top of the gasket 10, the first inner seal surface 3a of the gasket 10 faces the first inner seal surface 3a of the other gasket 10 in the inverted direction, forming an accommodating space 30, which is an annular gap that is open to the inner circumferential side. The accommodating space 30 is capable of accommodating the outer end of the electrolyte membrane 104. The first seal portion 3 also has an annular second inner seal surface 3b. The second inner seal surface 3b faces away from the first inner seal surface 3a in the inverted direction.

[0071] The gasket 10 has at least one pair of through holes 13, and the second seal portion 4 surrounds each of the through holes 13. When the gasket 10 is inverted and stacked on top of another gasket 10, one of the pair of through holes 13 of the gasket 10 overlaps the other of the pair of through holes 13 of the other gasket 10 in the inverted direction. The second seal portion 4 also has a first outer seal surface 4a surrounding each of the through holes 13 and a second outer seal surface 4b facing away from the first outer seal surface 4a in the inverted direction and surrounding each of the through holes 13. When the gasket 10 is inverted and stacked on top of another gasket 10, the first outer seal surface 4a of the gasket 10 overlaps the first outer seal surface 4a of the other gasket 10 in the inverted direction.

[0072] The gasket 10 will be described in more detail below. As shown in Fig. 1 , one of the gaskets 10 and another of the gaskets 10 constitute a gasket device 1. Hereinafter, one of the gaskets 10 will be referred to as a first gasket 10, and the other of the gaskets 10 will be referred to as a second gasket 20.

[0073] 1, the gasket device 1 is provided in a cell 100 between one separator 101 of a pair of separators and an electrolyte membrane 104 of a membrane assembly 103, which is an intermediate member, and between the other separator 102 of the pair of separators and the electrolyte membrane 104, to seal a space S1 between the separator 101 and the electrolyte membrane 104 and a space S2 between the separator 102 and the electrolyte membrane 104. As shown in FIG. 1, the gasket device 1 includes an annular first gasket 10 and an annular second gasket 20. The outer circumferential side of the first gasket 10 (contact surface 17, which will be described later) and the outer circumferential side of the second gasket 20 (contact surface 27, which will be described later) are capable of contacting each other. When the outer periphery of the first gasket 10 and the outer periphery of the second gasket 20 come into contact with each other, an accommodation space 30, which is an annular gap that is open to the inner periphery, is formed between the inner periphery of the first gasket 10 (sealing surface 18a, described later) and the inner periphery of the second gasket 20 (sealing surface 28a, described later). The accommodation space 30 is capable of accommodating the outer periphery end of the electrolyte membrane 104, which is the intermediate member. The configuration of the gasket device 1 will be described in detail below.

[0074] As shown in Fig. 1 , in a cell 100 of a water electrolysis device 5, a membrane assembly 103 includes an electrolyte membrane 104 and a pair of catalyst layers, namely, an anode catalyst layer 105 serving as an anode (anode) electrode and a cathode catalyst layer 106 serving as a cathode (cathode) electrode, provided on both sides of the electrolyte membrane 104. The electrolyte membrane 104 is, for example, an ion exchange membrane, specifically, a solid polymer electrolyte membrane. Gas diffusion layers 107 and 108 are provided on the surfaces of the anode catalyst layer 105 and the cathode catalyst layer 106, respectively. As shown in Fig. 1 , the internal space of the cell 100 is divided into two spaces S1 and S2 by the electrolyte membrane 104. An anode chamber S1 is formed between the separator 101 and the electrolyte membrane 104, and a cathode chamber S2 is formed between the separator 102 and the electrolyte membrane 104. The anode chamber S1 and the cathode chamber S2 are spaces to be sealed by the gasket device 1, and as shown in Fig. 1 , the anode chamber S1 is sealed by a first gasket 10, and the cathode chamber S2 is sealed by a second gasket 20. The anode catalyst layer 105 and the gas diffusion layer 107 are located in the anode chamber S1, and the cathode catalyst layer 106 and the gas diffusion layer 108 are located in the cathode chamber S2. The water electrolysis device 5 includes, for example, a plurality of cells 100, which are stacked. Note that the water electrolysis device 5 may be formed using a single cell 100.

[0075] FIG. 2 is a front view of the gasket device 1, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a perspective cross-sectional view taken along line B1-B1 or line B2-B2 in FIG. 2, and a perspective cross-sectional view taken along line C1-C1 or line C2-C2 in FIG. 6. FIGS. 2 to 4 show the gasket device 1 in an assembled state, in which the first gasket 10 and the second gasket 20 are assembled together. FIGS. 2 and 4 also show the gasket device 1 attached to the electrolyte membrane 104 in an assembled state. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the gasket device 1 has a ring shape along a plane. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the gasket device 1 may have a circular or approximately circular ring shape. The shape of the gasket device 1 is not limited to a circular ring shape and may be other shapes, such as a rectangular ring.

[0076] 2, 5, and 6, the gasket device 1 has, for example, four through holes 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d. The through holes 2a to 2d penetrate the first gasket 10 and the second gasket 20, respectively. The through holes 2a to 2d are passages for supplying an electrolytic solution to the anode chamber S1 or the cathode chamber S2 in the cell 100, or for discharging a product generated in the anode chamber S1 or the cathode chamber S2 to the outside of the cell 100. For example, the through hole 2a is a supply path for supplying an electrolytic solution to the anode chamber S1, and the through hole 2b is a supply path for supplying an electrolytic solution to the cathode chamber S2. The through hole 2d is a discharge path for discharging a product generated in the anode chamber S1 to the outside of the cell 100, and the through hole 2c is a discharge path for discharging a product generated in the cathode chamber S2 to the outside of the cell 100. The electrolytes supplied from the through holes 2 a and 2 b may be the same or different. The cell 100 is, for example, an alkaline water electrolysis device, and an alkaline aqueous solution is used as the electrolyte. This alkaline aqueous solution is not limited to a specific one, but examples thereof include a KOH aqueous solution, a NaOH aqueous solution, and a K ２ CO ３ Aqueous solution, KHCO ３ Aqueous solution, Na ２ CO ３ Aqueous solution, NaHCO ３ The electrolyte may be an aqueous solution or the like. The cell 100 may be, for example, a PEM-type water electrolysis device. In this case, pure water is supplied to the anode chamber S1. The gases generated in the anode chamber S1 and the cathode chamber S2 are oxygen and hydrogen, respectively. The electrolyte may be discharged together with the product from the anode chamber S1 and the cathode chamber S2 via the through-holes 2c and 2d, respectively.

[0077] 3 and 4 , in the assembled gasket device 1, the outer circumferential side of the first gasket 10 (contact surface 17 described later) and the outer circumferential side of the second gasket 20 (contact surface 27 described later) are in contact with each other. Note that the assembled gasket device 1 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is in a free state, and no external force is applied to the gasket device 1. In addition, an accommodation space 30 that is open to the inner circumferential side is formed between the inner circumferential side of the first gasket 10 (sealing surface 18 a described later) and the inner circumferential side of the second gasket 20 (sealing surface 28 a described later). As described above, the accommodation space 30 accommodates the outer circumferential end 104 a of the electrolyte membrane 104. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the width H1 of the accommodation space 30 is sized relative to the thickness T1 of the electrolyte membrane 104 so that, when the end 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104 is accommodated in the accommodation space 30, the outer periphery of the first gasket 10 and the outer periphery of the second gasket 20 are maintained in contact with each other. The width H1 of the accommodation space 30 is the width of the accommodation space 30 in the direction in which the outer periphery of the first gasket 10 and the outer periphery of the second gasket 20 contact each other, i.e., in the direction in which the first gasket 10 and the second gasket 20 face each other in the assembled gasket device 1. The thickness T1 of the electrolyte membrane 104 is the width of the electrolyte membrane 104 in the direction in which the electrolyte membrane 104 faces the separators 101 and 102 (see FIG. 4 ). The width H1 of the accommodation space 30 is, for example, equal to or smaller than the thickness T1 of the electrolyte membrane 104. The width H1 of the accommodation space 30 may be greater than the thickness T1 of the electrolyte membrane 104.

[0078] 4 , the outer peripheral edge 31 of the storage space 30 is not in contact with the outer peripheral edge 104b of the electrolyte membrane 104, but faces the outer peripheral edge 104b with an annular gap therebetween. In other words, the diameter of the outer peripheral edge 31 of the storage space 30 is larger than the diameter of the outer peripheral edge 104b of the electrolyte membrane 104. The outer peripheral edge 31 of the storage space 30 and the outer peripheral edge 104b of the electrolyte membrane 104 may be in contact with each other. However, in this case, the contact between the outer peripheral edge 31 of the storage space 30 and the outer peripheral edge 104b of the electrolyte membrane 104 is not eliminated by the contact between the outer peripheral sides of the first gasket 10 and the second gasket 20.

[0079] Next, the configuration of the first gasket 10 will be described. FIG. 7 is a front view of the first gasket 10, FIG. 8 is a rear view of the first gasket 10, FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the first gasket 10 taken along line D-D, FIG. 10 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the first gasket 10 taken along line E1-E1 or line E2-E2, and FIG. 11 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the first gasket 10 taken along line F1-F1 or line F2-F2. FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of FIG. 9. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first gasket 10 has a shape corresponding to the gasket device 1 and has an annular shape along a plane. Specifically, the first gasket 10 has a central axis x, an annular shape along a plane perpendicular to the central axis x, and an annular shape that is symmetrical or approximately symmetrical with respect to a plane of symmetry P, which is a plane including the central axis x. The central axis x is an imaginary line, and the symmetry plane p is an imaginary plane. The first gasket 10 has a circular or approximately circular shape with the central axis x as its central axis, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. The shape of the first gasket 10 is not limited to a circular ring, and may be another shape, such as a rectangular ring.

[0080] As shown in Figures 7 to 9, the first gasket 10 is plate-shaped and has a pair of annular surfaces, a sealing side surface 11 and a contact side surface 12, facing back to back. The sealing side surface 11 is the front surface, and the contact side surface 12 is the back surface. As shown in Figures 7, 8, 10, and 11, the first gasket 10 has four through holes 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d, which respectively form the four through holes 2a to 2d of the gasket device 1 described above. The through holes 13a to 13d are the through holes 13 of the gasket 10 described above. The through holes 13a to 13d pass through between the sealing side surface 11 and the contact side surface 12. The through holes 13a and 13b correspond to the through holes 2a and 2b, respectively, and are openings for supplying the electrolyte to the anode chamber S1 and the cathode chamber S2, as described above. The through holes 13c, 13d correspond to the through holes 2c, 2d, respectively, and are openings for discharging the products generated in the anode chamber S1 and the cathode chamber S2 to the outside of the cell 100, as described above. For example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 , the supply-side through holes 13a, 13b are provided adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the first gasket 10, and the discharge-side through holes 13c, 13d are provided adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, for example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 , the through holes 13a, 13b are provided such that the centers of the through holes 13a, 13b are symmetrical or approximately symmetrical to each other with respect to the plane of symmetry P. Similarly, for example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 , the through holes 13c, 13c are provided such that the centers of the through holes 13c, 13d are symmetrical or approximately symmetrical to each other with respect to the plane of symmetry P. 7 and 8, the supply-side through-holes 13a and 13b and the discharge-side through-holes 13c and 13d face each other in the direction along the plane of symmetry P, respectively.

[0081] 7 and 8, the opening area of ​​through hole 13b is larger than that of through hole 13a. Furthermore, the shapes of through holes 13a and 13b are such that when the outline of through hole 13a is projected onto a virtual projection plane, which is a plane perpendicular to the central axis x, the shape of the projection plane (the inverted projection of the outline of through hole 13a) is rotationally symmetric with respect to the intersection line between the projection plane and the target plane P, and the shape of through holes 13a and 13b is located inside the outline of through hole 13b on the projection plane. Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the opening area of ​​through hole 13d is larger than that of through hole 13c. Furthermore, the shapes of through holes 13c and 13d are such that when the outline of through hole 13c is projected onto a virtual projection plane, which is a plane perpendicular to the central axis x, the shape of the projection plane (the inverted projection of the outline of through hole 13c) is rotationally symmetric with respect to the intersection line between the projection plane and the target plane P, and the shape of the projection plane (the inverted projection of the outline of through hole 13c) is located inside the outline of through hole 13d on the projection plane.

[0082] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9 , the seal side surface 11 has a base surface 14, which is an annular surface that primarily defines the outer shape of the seal side surface 11. The base surface 14 is, for example, a surface extending in a plane or a substantially plane. As shown in FIG. 7 , the through holes 13a to 13d open to the base surface 14. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9 , at least one annular bead 15 is provided on the seal side surface 11. The bead 15 protrudes from the base surface 14 toward the front side and extends, for example, along a circle or a substantially circle. As shown in FIGS. 7 , 10 , and 11 , the bead 15 is provided on the inner circumferential side of the through holes 13a to 13d. As an example, as shown in FIGS. 7 , 10 , and 11 , six beads 15a to 15f are provided on the seal side surface 11. The beads 15a to 15f are formed concentrically, with their diameters increasing in the radial direction. 7, 10, and 11, the beads 15a to 15f are arranged in two groups, with the beads 15a to 15c located close to each other on the inner circumferential side, and the beads 15d to 15f located close to each other at a distance from the beads 15a to 15c on the outer circumferential side. The beads 15a to 15c of the inner circumferential group are arranged back to a sealing surface 18a (described later) that defines an accommodating space 30 that accommodates the electrolyte membrane 104. On the other hand, the beads 15d to 15f of the outer circumferential group are arranged back to a contact surface 17 (described later). The beads 15a to 15c form the second inner sealing surface 3b of the first sealing portion 3 of the gasket 10.

[0083] 7, 10, and 11, beads 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d for sealing the through holes 13a to 13d, respectively, are provided on the seal side surface 11. The beads 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d form the second outer seal surface 4b of the second seal portion 4 of the gasket 10. The beads 16a to 16d each protrude from the base surface 14 toward the front side and surround the through holes 13a to 13d, or are connected to the bead 15 and surround the through holes 13a to 13d together with the bead 15. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, for example, the bead 16a includes a bead surrounding the through hole 13a and a bead connected to the bead 15 on the outside of the bead surrounding the through hole 13a and surrounding the through hole 13a together with a portion of the bead 15. As an example, as shown in Figures 7 and 10, the bead 16a has three beads 16a1, 16a2, and 16a3. The bead 16a1 is a closed annular bead that surrounds the through hole 13a. The beads 16a2 and 16a3 are each connected to the bead 15 and surround the through hole 13a together with the bead 15. The beads 16a2 and 16a3 each have a pair of ends that surround the through hole 13a from the outer periphery, and both ends are connected to the beads 15d to 15f on the inner periphery of the through hole 13a. The beads 16a2 and 16a3 surround the through hole 13a together with the respective beads 16a2 and 16a3 and portions of the beads 15d to 15f that extend between the ends of the respective beads 16a2 and 16a3. The bead 16a2 is located outside the bead 16a1, and the bead 16a3 is located outside the bead 16a2.

[0084] The bead 16b has a similar configuration to the bead 16a. As shown in Figures 7 and 11, for example, the bead 16b has a bead connected to the bead 15 and surrounding the through hole 13b together with a portion of the bead 15. As an example, as shown in Figures 7 and 11, the bead 16b has two beads 16b1 and 16b2. Unlike the bead 16a, the bead 16b does not have a closed annular bead. The beads 16b1 and 16b2 are each connected to the bead 15 and surrounding the through hole 13b together with the bead 15. The beads 16b1 and 16b2 each have a pair of ends that surround the through hole 13b from the outer periphery, and both ends are connected to the beads 15d to 15f on the inner periphery of the through hole 13b. Each of the beads 16b1 and 16b2 and portions of the beads 15d to 15f extending between the ends of the beads 16b1 and 16b2 surround the through hole 13b. The bead 16b2 is located outside the bead 16b1.

[0085] The bead 16c has a similar configuration to the bead 16a. As shown in Figures 7 and 10, for example, the bead 16c includes a bead surrounding the through hole 13c and a bead connected to the bead 15 on the outside of the bead surrounding the through hole 13c and surrounding the through hole 13c together with a portion of the bead 15. As an example, as shown in Figures 7 and 10, the bead 16c includes three beads 16c1, 16c2, and 16c3. The bead 16c1 is a closed annular bead that surrounds the through hole 13c. The beads 16c2 and 16c3 are each connected to the bead 15 and surround the through hole 13c together with the bead 15. Each of the beads 16c2 and 16c3 has a pair of ends that surround the through hole 13c from the outer periphery, with both ends connected to the beads 15d to 15f on the inner periphery of the through hole 13c. Each of the beads 16c2 and 16c3 surrounds the through hole 13c together with the portions of the beads 15d to 15f that extend between the ends of the respective beads 16c2 and 16c3. The bead 16c2 is located outside the bead 16c1, and the bead 16c3 is located outside the bead 16c2.

[0086] Bead 16d has a similar configuration to bead 16b. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 11, for example, bead 16d has a bead connected to bead 15 and surrounding through hole 13d together with a portion of bead 15. As an example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 11, bead 16d has two beads 16d1 and 16d2. Unlike bead 16c, bead 16d does not have a closed annular bead. Beads 16d1 and 16d2 are each connected to bead 15 and surrounding through hole 13d together with bead 15. Beads 16d1 and 16d2 each have a pair of ends that surround through hole 13d from the outer periphery, and both ends are connected to beads 15d to 15f on the inner periphery of through hole 13d. The through hole 13d is surrounded by the beads 16d1 and 16d2 and portions of the beads 15d to 15f extending between the ends of the beads 16d1 and 16d2. The bead 16d2 is located outside the bead 16d1.

[0087] The heights from the base surface 14 to the tips of the beads 15 and 16 are the same or approximately the same. However, the heights from the base surface 14 to the tips of the beads 15 and 16 do not have to be the same.

[0088] As shown in FIGS. 8 to 12 , the contact side surface 12 is formed with a contact surface 17, which is an annular surface on the outer periphery, and a sealing surface 18a, which is an annular surface forming a step portion 18 on the inner periphery. The contact surface 17 is the first outer sealing surface 4a of the second sealing portion 4 of the gasket 10 described above. The sealing surface 18a is the first inner sealing surface 3a of the first sealing portion 3 of the gasket 10 described above. The contact surface 17 is the outer peripheral portion of the first gasket 10 described above, and the step portion 18 or sealing surface 18a is the inner peripheral portion of the first gasket 10 described above. As shown in FIGS. 8 , 9 , and 12 , the sealing surface 18a is provided on the inner periphery of the contact surface 17 and extends toward the sealing side surface 11 than the contact surface 17, forming a step portion 18 recessed toward the sealing side surface 11 on the inner periphery of the contact surface 17. The step portion 18 constitutes the accommodation space 30 of the gasket device 1 described above.

[0089] 8, 9, and 12, the contact surface 17 is a portion of the contact side surface 12 that is more outer than the step portion 18, and is, for example, a surface that extends on a plane or a nearly plane. The contact surface 17 is also an annular surface that has an annular shape that corresponds to the shape of the contact side surface 12, and is, for example, an annular or nearly annular shape. The through holes 13a and 13b open on the contact surface 17. The step portion 18 is, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 12, an inner peripheral portion of the contact side surface 12 that extends inward from the inner peripheral end of the contact surface 17.

[0090] The sealing surface 18a of the step portion 18 is a surface that contacts the electrolyte membrane 104 housed in the housing space 30 in the gasket device 1, and is also a surface that seals the electrolyte membrane 104 in the cell 100. In addition to the sealing surface 18a, the step portion 18 has, for example, a peripheral end surface 18b, which is an annular surface facing the inner periphery. As shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 11, the peripheral end surface 18b extends between the inner periphery edge of the contact surface 17 and the outer periphery edge of the sealing surface 18a. The peripheral end surface 18b is a surface that forms the outer periphery edge 31 of the housing space 30 of the gasket device 1. The diameter of the peripheral end surface 18b is, for example, large enough to face the outer periphery edge 104b of the electrolyte membrane 104 housed in the housing space 30. Specifically, for example, the peripheral end surface 18b of the step portion 18 is a cylindrical or approximately cylindrical surface, and the diameter of the peripheral end surface 18b is the same as or larger than the diameter of the electrolyte membrane 104. Note that the peripheral end surface 18b of the step portion 18 and the outer peripheral edge 104b of the electrolyte membrane 104 may be in contact with each other. In this case, as described above, in the gasket device 1, the diameter of the peripheral end surface 18b is set relative to the diameter of the electrolyte membrane 104 so that the contact between the outer peripheral side of the first gasket 10 and the outer peripheral side of the second gasket 20 is not broken due to contact between the outer peripheral edge 31 of the accommodation space 30 and the outer peripheral edge 104b of the electrolyte membrane 104.

[0091] As shown in FIGS. 8 , 9 , and 12 , the sealing surface 18 a is, for example, a surface extending in a plane or a substantially plane. The sealing surface 18 a is also an annular surface and has an annular shape corresponding to the shape of the contact side surface 12, for example, a circular or substantially circular shape. As shown in FIGS. 8 , 9 , and 12 , the step portion 18 is an inner peripheral portion of the contact side surface 12 that extends from the inner peripheral end of the contact surface 17 toward the inner peripheral side. The sealing surface 18 a extends, for example, parallel or substantially parallel to the contact surface 17. As described above, in the gasket device 1, the sealing surface 18 a is a surface that contacts the electrolyte membrane 104 housed in the housing space 30 to seal the gap between the first gasket 10 and the electrolyte membrane 104. Therefore, the height h1 of the peripheral end surface 18 b of the step portion 18 is set to a height at which the sealing surface 17 contacts the electrolyte membrane 104 housed in the housing space 30. The height h1 of the peripheral end surface 18b is the width of the peripheral end surface 18b in the direction in which the sealing surface 18a faces (see FIG. 12 ). For example, the height h1 of the peripheral end surface 18b is set to a height relative to the thickness T1 of the electrolyte membrane 104 such that the sealing surface 17 contacts the end 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104 accommodated in the accommodation space 30. However, as described above, the height h1 of the peripheral end surface 18b is set to a size such that contact is maintained between the outer circumferential side (contact surface 17) of the first gasket 10 and the outer circumferential side (contact surface 27, described later) of the second gasket 20 when the end 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104 is accommodated in the accommodation space 30. The height h1 of the peripheral end surface 18b is, for example, half or approximately half the thickness T1 of the electrolyte membrane 104. For example, the height h1 of the peripheral end surface 18b may be greater than or less than the thickness T1 of the electrolyte membrane 104.

[0092] 8 and 10, beads 19a and 19c for sealing the through holes 2b and 2d, respectively, are provided on the contact side surface 12 in the cell 100. The beads 19a and 19c are formed on the contact surface 17. The beads 19a and 19c protrude from the contact surface 17 toward the rear surface side and surround the through holes 13a and 13c, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, for example, the bead 19a is an annular bead that surrounds the through hole 13a, and the bead 19c is an annular bead that surrounds the through hole 13c.

[0093] The bead 19a has a shape that allows it to be inserted into the through hole 13b. For example, the bead 19a has an annular shape that, on the inner circumferential side, follows the contour of a wall surface 13ba (see FIG. 11 ) formed on the first gasket 10 that defines the through hole 13b. When inserted into the through hole 13b, the bead 19a contacts the wall surface 13ba. Note that the bead 19a may not contact the wall surface 13ba when inserted into the through hole 13b. Similarly, the bead 19c has a shape that allows it to be inserted into the through hole 13d. For example, the bead 19c has an annular shape that, on the inner circumferential side, follows the contour of a wall surface 13da (see FIG. 12 ) formed on the first gasket 10 that defines the through hole 13d. When inserted into the through hole 13d, the bead 19c contacts the wall surface 13da. The bead 19c may be configured not to come into contact with the wall surface 13da when inserted into the through-hole 13d.

[0094] Furthermore, for example, the beads 19a and 19c protrude from the contact surface 17 in the direction facing the contact surface 17 by a height equal to or approximately equal to the sum of the width H2 between the base surface 14 and the contact surface 17 and the height from the base surface 14 to the tip of the bead 16 (see Figure 6).

[0095] As shown in FIG. 8 , the contact surface 17 is provided with an engagement protrusion 17a and an engagement groove 17b. FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of the first gasket 10, showing the vicinity of the engagement protrusion 17a and the engagement groove 17b. The engagement protrusion 17a protrudes from the contact surface 17, and the engagement groove 17b is recessed from the contact surface 17. The engagement protrusion 17a has a shape that can be received in the engagement groove 17b. The engagement protrusion 17a and the engagement groove 17b are provided in pairs on the contact surface 17, and as shown in FIGS. 8 and 13 , the pair of engagement protrusions 17a and the engagement groove 17b are positioned so that the centers of the engagement protrusions 17a and the engagement grooves 17b are symmetrical or approximately symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry P. As shown in FIG. 8 , the contact surface 17 may have two or more pairs of engagement protrusions 17a and engagement grooves 17b. 8, one pair of engaging protrusions 17a and engaging grooves 17b is paired with another pair of engaging protrusions 17a and engaging grooves 17b. Specifically, the pair of engaging protrusions 17a and engaging grooves 17b and the other pair of engaging protrusions 17a and engaging grooves 17b are provided at positions symmetrical or approximately symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry P, and are also symmetrical or approximately symmetrical about the central axis x.

[0096] The first gasket 10 has the above-described configuration and is integrally formed from an elastic material. The elastic material of the first gasket 10 is, for example, rubber. Specific examples of the elastic material of the first gasket 10 include ethylene propylene rubber (EPM), ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM), fluororubber (FKM), and silicone rubber (VMQ). The first gasket 10 is made from an elastic material and is flexible. In particular, as the first gasket 10 becomes larger, each portion of the first gasket 10 will bend. The above description of the first gasket 10, particularly the description of its shape, describes the first gasket 10 in an undeformed state, for example, in the state at the time of design, such as in the state of the design drawings.

[0097] The second gasket 20 has the same configuration as the first gasket 10 and has the same or similar shape as the first gasket 10. The second gasket 20 is, for example, the same as or substantially the same as the first gasket 10, and the only difference between the first gasket 10 and the second gasket 20 is whether the first gasket 10 is used to seal the anode chamber S1 or, when inverted, to seal the cathode chamber S2 in the cell 100, as shown in FIG.

[0098] As described above, the configuration of the second gasket 20 is the same as the configuration of the first gasket 10, and as shown in Figures 7 to 13, the second gasket 20 has the same configuration as the first gasket 10. Note that in Figures 7 to 13, the reference numerals of the second gasket 20 are shown in parentheses, and the reference numerals of the corresponding components of the second gasket 20 are shown next to the reference numerals of the first gasket 10.

[0099] 7 to 13, the second gasket 20 has a sealing side surface 21 and a contacting side surface 22 that respectively correspond to the sealing side surface 11 and the contacting side surface 12 of the first gasket 10. The second gasket 20 also has through holes 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d that respectively correspond to the through holes 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d of the first gasket 10. The through holes 23b and 23d of the second gasket 20 also have wall surfaces 23ba and 23da that respectively correspond to the wall surfaces 13ba and 13da of the through holes 13b and 13d of the first gasket 10. The sealing side surface 21 of the second gasket 20 is connected to the base surface 14, the beads 15, 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, 15e, 15f, the beads 16, 16a, 16a1, 16a2, 16a3, 16b, 16b1, 16b2, 16c, 16c1, 16c2, 16c3, 16d, 16d1, 16d2, and the bead 19a. , 19c, respectively. The contact side surface 22 of the second gasket 20 has a contact surface 27 and a step portion 28 that correspond to the contact surface 17 and step portion 18, respectively, of the contact side surface 12 of the first gasket 10. The contact surface 27 of the second gasket 20 has an engagement protrusion 27a and an engagement groove 27b that correspond to the engagement protrusion 17a and engagement groove 17b, respectively, of the contact surface 17 of the first gasket 10. The stepped portion 28 of the second gasket 20 has a sealing surface 28a and a peripheral end surface 28b that correspond to the sealing surface 18a and the peripheral end surface 18b of the stepped portion 18 of the first gasket 10, respectively.

[0100] As described above, the second gasket 20 is the same as or substantially the same as the first gasket 10, and therefore the contact surface 27 of the second gasket 20 can be in contact with the contact surface 17 of the first gasket 10, with the surfaces coinciding or approximately coinciding with each other. Also, the stepped portion 28 of the second gasket 20 can face the stepped portion 18 of the first gasket 10, with the surfaces coinciding or approximately coinciding with each other when viewed in the contact direction. In other words, when the contact surface 27 of the second gasket 20 comes into contact with the contact surface 17 of the first gasket 10, the peripheral end surface 28b of the step portion 28 of the second gasket 20 becomes flush or approximately flush with the peripheral end surface 18b of the step portion 18 of the first gasket 10, and the sealing surface 28a of the step portion 28 of the second gasket 20 faces the sealing surface 18a of the step portion 18 of the first gasket 10, coinciding or approximately coinciding in the direction of contact.

[0101] As described above, when the contact surface 17 of the first gasket 10 and the contact surface 27 of the second gasket 20 come into contact with each other, the step portion 18 of the first gasket 10 and the step portion 28 of the second gasket 20 face each other. As a result, the step portion 18 of the first gasket 10 and the step portion 28 of the second gasket 20 form the accommodation space 30 of the gasket device 1. The width H1 of the accommodation space 30 of the gasket device 1 is set to a size that maintains contact between the contact surface 17 of the first gasket 10 and the contact surface 27 of the second gasket 20 when the end portion 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104 is accommodated in the accommodation space 30, for example, as described above. At this time, the first gasket 10 and the second gasket 20 are in a free state, and no external force is applied to the first gasket 10 and the second gasket 20. In other words, in the first gasket 10 and the second gasket 20 in a free state in which the contact surface 17 of the gasket 10 and the contact surface 27 of the second gasket 20 are in contact with each other, the sum of the height h1 of the peripheral end surface 18b of the first gasket 10 and the height h1 of the peripheral end surface 28b of the second gasket 20 is such that, relative to the thickness T1 of the electrolyte membrane 104, contact between the contact surface 17 and the contact surface 27 is maintained when the end 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104 is accommodated in the accommodation space 30.

[0102] In a free state, the sealing surface 18a of the first gasket 10 and the sealing surface 28a of the second gasket 20 are in contact with the electrolyte membrane 104 accommodated in the accommodation space 30 formed by the contact between the contact surface 17 of the first gasket 10 and the contact surface 27 of the second gasket 20. The height h1 of the peripheral end surface 18b of the first gasket 10 and the height h2 of the peripheral end surface 28b of the second gasket 20 are set so as to achieve the width H1 of the accommodation space 30. Note that in the free state, one or both of the sealing surface 18a of the first gasket 10 and the sealing surface 28a of the second gasket 20 do not have to be in contact with the electrolyte membrane 104 accommodated in the accommodation space 30 formed by the contact between the contact surface 17 of the first gasket 10 and the contact surface 27 of the second gasket 20. The height h1 of the peripheral end surface 18b of the first gasket 10 and the height h2 of the peripheral end surface 28b of the second gasket 20 may be set so that the width H1 of the accommodation space 30 is as described above.

[0103] The second gasket 20 has the above-described configuration and is integrally formed from the same elastic material as the first gasket 10. The elastic material of the second gasket 20 is, for example, rubber. Specific examples of the elastic material of the second gasket 20 include ethylene propylene rubber (EPM), ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM), fluororubber (FKM), and silicone rubber (VMQ). The second gasket 20 is made from an elastic material and is flexible. In particular, as the second gasket 20 becomes larger, each portion of the second gasket 20 will bend. As with the description of the first gasket 10, the above description of the second gasket 20, particularly the description of its shape, is based on the second gasket 20 in an undeformed state, for example, the second gasket 20 in its design state, such as the state shown in the design drawings.

[0104] Next, the operation of the gasket device 1 having the first gasket 10 and the second gasket 20 configured as described above will be described. To assemble the cell 100, the first gasket 10 and the second gasket 20 are assembled with the electrolyte membrane 104 supported therebetween, as shown in Fig. 1, to assemble the gasket device 1 and the membrane assembly 103. The assembled gasket device 1 and membrane assembly 103 are sandwiched between a pair of separators 101, 102 to assemble the cell 100. Note that the cell 100 in the assembled state shown in Fig. 1 is in a free state, and no external force is applied to the cell 100.

[0105] As described above, the first gasket 10 and the second gasket 20 are the same or substantially the same. Therefore, in the assembled gasket device 1, each component of the first gasket 10 is matched or substantially matched in the direction of the central axis x with the component of the second gasket 20 that corresponds to the component of the first gasket 10 that is symmetrical to the plane of symmetry P. As shown in FIG. 1 , in the assembled gasket device 1, the first gasket 10 and the second gasket 20 face opposite each other in the direction of the central axis x, and the contact surface 17 of the first gasket 10 and the contact surface 27 of the second gasket 20 are in contact with each other. Specifically, the entire or substantially the entire contact surface 17 of the first gasket 10 and the entire or substantially the entire contact surface 27 of the second gasket 20 are in contact with each other. 1 , in the assembled gasket device 1, the stepped portion 18 of the first gasket 10 and the stepped portion 28 of the second gasket 20 face each other in the direction of the central axis x, with their respective regions coinciding or substantially coinciding with each other in the direction of the central axis x. That is, the sealing surface 18 a of the stepped portion 18 of the first gasket 10 and the sealing surface 28 a of the stepped portion 28 of the second gasket 20 face each other in the direction of the central axis x, with their respective regions coinciding or substantially coinciding with each other in the direction of the central axis x. Furthermore, the peripheral end surface 18 b of the stepped portion 18 of the first gasket 10 and the peripheral end surface 28 b of the stepped portion 28 of the second gasket 20 are connected to each other or are connected with a small gap therebetween in the direction of the central axis x, and are flush or substantially flush with each other.

[0106] 1 , in the assembled gasket device 1, an accommodation space 30 is formed between the sealing surface 18a of the first gasket 10 and the sealing surface 28a of the second gasket 20. The height H1 of the accommodation space 30 is uniform or approximately uniform over the entire gasket, and is, for example, the same as or approximately the same as the thickness T1 of the electrolyte membrane 104. In the gasket device 1 in which the gasket device 1 and the membrane assembly 103 are assembled, the end 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104 of the membrane assembly 103 is accommodated in the accommodation space 30 of the gasket device 1. The sealing surface 18a of the first gasket 10 and the sealing surface 28a of the second gasket 20 are each in contact with the electrolyte membrane 104 over the entire periphery. For example, as described above, the width H1 of the accommodation space 30 is sized relative to the thickness T1 of the electrolyte membrane 104 so that contact between the contact surface 17 of the first gasket 10 and the contact surface 27 of the second gasket 20 is maintained when the end 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104 is accommodated in the accommodation space 30. Therefore, in the gasket device 1 in which the gasket device 1 and the membrane assembly 103 are assembled, contact between the contact surface 17 of the first gasket 10 and the contact surface 27 of the second gasket 20 is maintained.

[0107] In the gasket device 1 in which the gasket device 1 and the membrane assembly 103 are assembled, gaps may be formed between the sealing surface 18 a of the step portion 18 of the first gasket 10 and the electrolyte membrane 104, between the sealing surface 28 a of the step portion 28 of the second gasket 20 and the electrolyte membrane 104, or between the sealing surface 18 a of the step portion 18 and the electrolyte membrane 104 and between the sealing surface 28 a of the step portion 28 and the electrolyte membrane 104. In this case, too, for example, similar to the case described above, in the gasket device 1 in which the gasket device 1 and the membrane assembly 103 are assembled, contact between the contact surface 17 of the first gasket 10 and the contact surface 27 of the second gasket 20 is maintained.

[0108] As described above, in the first gasket 10, the positions of the through holes 13a and 13b are symmetrical or approximately symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry P, and in the second gasket 20, the positions of the through holes 23a and 23b are symmetrical or approximately symmetrical with respect to the plane of symmetry P. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 , in the assembled gasket device 1, the through hole 13a of the first gasket 10 faces the through hole 23b of the second gasket 20, and the through holes 13a and 23b communicate with each other. This forms the through hole 2a in the gasket device 1. Also, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 , the bead 19a formed on the contact surface 17 of the first gasket 10 protrudes from the base surface 24 through the through hole 23b of the second gasket 20. The bead 19a protrudes from the base surface 24 to the same or approximately the same height as the tips of the beads 25, 26 of the second gasket 20. The bead 19a also contacts the wall surface 23ba of the through hole 23b. The bead 19a passing through the through hole 23b does not necessarily have to contact the wall surface 23ba of the through hole 23b. Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 , in the assembled gasket device 1, the through hole 23a of the second gasket 10 faces the through hole 13b of the first gasket 10, and the through holes 13b and 23a are connected to each other. This forms the through hole 2b in the gasket device 1. The bead 29a formed on the contact surface 27 of the second gasket 20 protrudes from the base surface 14 through the through hole 13b of the first gasket 10. The bead 29a protrudes from the base surface 14 to the same or approximately the same height as the tips of the beads 15, 16 of the first gasket 10. The bead 29a is in contact with the wall surface 13ba of the through hole 13b. Note that the bead 29a passing through the through hole 13b does not necessarily have to be in contact with the wall surface 13ba of the through hole 13b.

[0109] Similarly, in the first gasket 10, the through holes 13c and 13d are symmetrical or approximately symmetrical to each other with respect to the symmetry plane P, and in the second gasket 20, the through holes 23c and 23d are symmetrical or approximately symmetrical to each other with respect to the symmetry plane P. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 , in the assembled gasket device 1, the through hole 23d of the second gasket 20 faces the through hole 13c of the first gasket 10, and the through holes 13c and 23d are connected to each other. This forms the through hole 2c in the gasket device 1. The bead 19c formed on the contact surface 17 of the first gasket 10 passes through the through hole 23d of the second gasket 20 and protrudes from the base surface 24. The bead 19c protrudes from the base surface 24 to the same or approximately the same height as the tips of the beads 25 and 26 of the second gasket 20. The bead 19c contacts the wall surface 23da of the through hole 23d. The bead 19c passing through the through hole 23d does not necessarily have to contact the wall surface 23da of the through hole 23d. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 , in the assembled gasket device 1, the through hole 23c of the second gasket 20 faces the through hole 13d of the first gasket 10, and the through holes 13d and 23c are connected to each other. This forms a through hole 2d in the gasket device 1. The bead 29c formed on the contact surface 27 of the second gasket 20 passes through the through hole 13d of the first gasket 10 and protrudes from the base surface 14. The bead 29c protrudes from the base surface 14 to the same or approximately the same height as the tips of the beads 15 and 16 of the first gasket 10. The bead 29c contacts the wall surface 13da of the through hole 13d. The bead 29c passing through the through hole 13d does not have to be in contact with the wall surface 13da of the through hole 13d.

[0110] As described above, the first gasket 10 has four pairs of engaging protrusions 17 a and engaging grooves 17 b on the contact surface 17. The second gasket 20 has four pairs of engaging protrusions 27 a and engaging grooves 27 b on the contact surface 27. The engaging protrusions 17 a of the first gasket 10 and the engaging grooves 27 b of the second gasket 20 are paired with each other, and the engaging grooves 17 b of the first gasket 10 and the engaging protrusions 27 a of the second gasket 20 are paired with each other. Therefore, in the gasket device 1 in which the gasket device 1 and the membrane assembly 103 are assembled, the four engaging protrusions 17 a of the first gasket 10 are respectively received in the four corresponding engaging grooves 27 b of the second gasket 20, and the four engaging protrusions 27 a of the second gasket 20 are respectively received in the four corresponding engaging grooves 17 b of the first gasket 10. This positions the first gasket 10 and the second gasket 20. In this manner, the engaging projections 17a, 27a and the engaging grooves 17b, 27b function to position the first gasket 10 and the second gasket 20 when they are assembled.

[0111] 1 , the gasket device 1 assembled with the membrane assembly 103 as described above is sandwiched between separators 101 and 102, thereby assembling the cell 100. Specifically, the separator 101 is placed opposite the sealing side surface 11 of the first gasket 10 of the gasket device 1 and brought into contact with the first gasket 10, and the separator 102 is placed opposite the sealing side surface 21 of the second gasket 20 of the gasket device 1 and brought into contact with the second gasket 20.

[0112] In the assembled cell 100, the separator 101 faces the first gasket 10 and contacts the beads 15 and 16. The separator 102 faces the second gasket 20 and contacts the beads 25 and 26. In the assembled cell 100, a force is applied to the separator 101 in a direction toward the separator 102, and a force is applied to the separator 102 in a direction toward the separator 101, and the cell 100 is ready for use.

[0113] In the cell 100 in use, the beads 15, 16 on the sealing side 11 of the first gasket 10 are pressed against the separator 101, and the sealing surface 18a of the first gasket 10 is pressed against the electrolyte membrane 104, sealing the anode chamber S1. In the cell 100 in use, the beads 25, 26 on the sealing side 21 of the second gasket 20 are pressed against the separator 102, and the sealing surface 28a of the second gasket 20 is pressed against the electrolyte membrane 104, sealing the cathode chamber S2. Contact of the sealing surfaces 18a, 28a in the storage space 30 with the electrolyte membrane 104 establishes communication between the anode chamber S1 and the cathode chamber S2, preventing so-called cross leakage. Furthermore, the contact surface 17 of the first gasket 10 and the contact surface 27 of the second gasket 20 are in contact with each other, which prevents objects to be sealed in the anode chamber S1 from blowing through to the outside of the cell 100, and also prevents objects to be sealed in the cathode chamber S2 from blowing through to the outside of the cell 100. In the cell 100 in use, the contact surface 17 of the first gasket 10 and the contact surface 27 of the second gasket 20 are pressed against each other, which provides a more secure seal between the contact surfaces 17 and 27.

[0114] In addition, in the cell 100 in use, the bead 16 of the first gasket 10 and the beads 29a, 29c of the second gasket 20 are pressed against the separator 101, and the bead 26 of the second gasket 20 and the beads 19a, 19c of the first gasket 10 are pressed against the separator 102. As a result, the through-holes 2a to 2d are sealed against the outside of the bead 16 and the outside of the bead 26, respectively, between the separator 101 and the separator 102.

[0115] In addition, in the first gasket 10, the inner group of beads 15a-15c are provided with their backs to the sealing surface 18a, and similarly, in the second gasket 20, the inner group of beads 25a-25c are provided with their backs to the sealing surface 28a. Therefore, in the cell 100 in use, the beads 15a-15c are pressed against the separator 101, further pressing the sealing surface 18a against the electrolyte membrane 104. Similarly, in the cell 100 in use, the beads 25a-25c are pressed against the separator 102, further pressing the sealing surface 28a against the electrolyte membrane 104. Furthermore, in the first gasket 10, the group of beads 15d to 15f on the outer periphery is provided facing away from the contact surface 17, and similarly, in the second gasket 20, the group of beads 25d to 25f on the outer periphery is provided facing away from the sealing surface 27. Therefore, in the cell 100 in use, the beads 15d to 15f are pressed by the separator 101, further pressing the contact surface 17 against the contact surface 27 of the second gasket 20. Similarly, in the cell 100 in use, the beads 25d to 25f are pressed by the separator 102, further pressing the contact surface 27 against the contact surface 17 of the first gasket 10. In this way, since the multiple beads 15a to 15f, 25a to 25f are formed in groups on the inner periphery and groups on the outer periphery, the anode chamber S1 and the cathode chamber S2 are sealed more tightly, and the sealed objects in the anode chamber S1 are more effectively prevented from blowing out to the outside of the cell 100, and the sealed objects in the cathode chamber S2 are more effectively prevented from blowing out to the outside of the cell 100.

[0116] In the cell 100 in use, the separator 101 is in contact with, specifically, the beads 15 and 16 of the first gasket 10 and the beads 29 a and 29 c of the second gasket 20. As described above, in the cell 100, the through hole 2 a is a supply path for supplying the electrolytic solution to the anode chamber S1, and the through hole 2 d is a discharge path for discharging the product generated in the anode chamber S1 to the outside of the cell 100. Therefore, the separator 101 is configured to communicate the through hole 2 a with the anode chamber S1, and also to communicate the through hole 2 d with the anode chamber S1.

[0117] Similarly, in the cell 100 in a used state, the separator 102 is in contact with, specifically, the beads 25 and 26 of the second gasket 20 and the beads 19 a and 19 c of the first gasket 10. As described above, the through hole 2 b is a supply path for supplying the electrolytic solution to the cathode chamber S2, the through hole 2 c is a discharge path for discharging the product produced in the cathode chamber S2 to the outside of the cell 100, and the through hole 2 c is a discharge path for discharging the product produced in the cathode chamber S2 to the outside of the cell 100. For this reason, the separator 102 has a configuration that connects the through hole 2 b with the cathode chamber S2, and also connects the through hole 2 c with the cathode chamber S2.

[0118] FIG. 14 is a front view showing an example of a separator 101. As shown in FIG. 14, the separator 101 is a plate-like member having a shape corresponding to the first gasket 10, for example, a disk-like or approximately disk-like plate shape. The separator 101 has through-holes 101c to 101f formed therein, which communicate with the through-holes 2a to 2d of the gasket device 1 to form the flow path 2. One surface 101a of the separator 101 has a recess 101b formed on the inner circumferential side thereof, which defines an anode chamber S1 that accommodates an anode catalyst layer 105 and a diffusion layer 107 of the membrane assembly 103. The separator 101 also has a structure (not shown) for communicating the through-hole 2a of the gasket device 1 with the anode chamber S1, and a structure (not shown) for communicating the through-hole 2d of the gasket device 1 with the anode chamber S1.

[0119] The opposite surface of the separator 101, facing away from the surface 101a, is also provided with a recess 101b, a structure (not shown) for connecting the through-hole 2b of the gasket device 1 to the cathode chamber S2, and a structure (not shown) for connecting the through-hole 2c of the gasket device 1 to the cathode chamber S2. The opposite surface has a shape obtained by inverting the surface 101a. This allows the separator 101 and the separator 102 to be a common separator. When the separator 101 shown in FIG. 14 is used as the separator 102, the recess 101b of the separator 102 defines the cathode chamber S2 that accommodates the cathode catalyst layer 106 and the diffusion layer 108 of the membrane assembly 103.

[0120] In the water electrolysis apparatus, a plurality of the above-described cells 100 are arranged in series, and the arranged plurality of cells 100 are fixed by being pressed so that the separators 101 and 102 of each cell 100 are pressed in opposing directions. In addition, only one separator is provided between two adjacent cells 100, and the single separator functions as both the separator 101 and the separator 102.

[0121] The gasket device 1, which is formed by overlapping one gasket 10 with another inverted gasket 10, has the above-described configuration. In the gasket device 1 assembled with the membrane assembly 103, the contact surface 17 of the first gasket 10 and the contact surface 27 of the second gasket 20 are in contact with each other, and the sealing surface 18a of the first gasket 10 and the sealing surface 28a of the second gasket 20 are in contact with the electrolyte membrane 104, respectively. Therefore, when the gasket device 1 is pressed in use, stronger contact can be achieved between the electrolyte membrane 104 and the gasket device 1, as well as between the outer peripheries of the anode chamber S1 and the cathode chamber S2, thereby further improving the sealing performance of each of the anode chamber S1 and the cathode chamber S2. Therefore, even when the anode chamber S1 and the cathode chamber S2 become high pressure, blow-through of sealed objects from each of the anode chamber S1 and the cathode chamber S2 can be suppressed. In addition, communication between the anode chamber S1 and the cathode chamber S2 without the electrolyte membrane 104 intervening can be suppressed.

[0122] The gasket device 1 has the above-described configuration, and can be integrated with the membrane assembly 103 when assembling the cell 100. Therefore, when assembling the cell 100, the gasket device 1 and the membrane assembly 103 can be easily handled, and the gasket device 1 and the membrane assembly 103 can be easily assembled with the separators 101, 102. In this way, the gasket device 1 can facilitate the assembly of the cell 100, and the manufacturing efficiency of the cell 100 can be improved.

[0123] Furthermore, the gasket 10 (first gasket 10 and second gasket 20) has a first seal portion 3 (sealing surfaces 18a, 28a and beads 15a to 15c, 25a to 25c) for sealing the anode chamber S1 and the cathode chamber S2, and a second seal portion 4 (beads 16a to 16d, 26a to 26d and contact surfaces 17, 27) for sealing the through-holes 13a to 13d. This makes it possible to easily assemble the gasket 10 and the membrane assembly 103, and also reduces the number of parts.

[0124] As described above, the gasket 10 and gasket device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention can suppress deterioration of sealing performance due to high pressure in the anode chamber S1 and cathode chamber S2, which are the spaces to be sealed.

[0125] Next, a gasket device 6 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The gasket device 6 according to the second embodiment of the present invention differs from the gasket device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention in the configuration in which flow paths between the through holes 2a, 2d and the anode chamber S1 and flow paths between the through holes 2b, 2c and the cathode chamber S2 are formed in the cell 100. Hereinafter, with regard to the configuration of the gasket device 6, the same components as those in the above-described gasket device 1 or components having similar functions will be designated by the same reference numerals and will not be described again, and only the components different from the gasket device 1 will be described.

[0126] The gasket device 6 includes a gasket 40 used as the first gasket 10 and the second gasket 20, and a flow path member 50. In the gasket device 6, the gasket 40, together with the flow path member 50, constitutes a gasket 7 as a gasket member 40. That is, the gasket 7 includes the gasket 40 as a gasket member and the flow path member 50. The flow path member 50 is configured to continue to form a flow path when the gasket device 6 is compressed in a cell 100 in use. FIG. 15 is a front view of the gasket 40 included in the gasket device 6. FIG. 16 is a front view of the flow path member 50, and FIG. 17 is a rear view of the flow path member 50. The gasket device 6 includes two gaskets 40 and a plurality of, for example, four, flow path members 50. Note that in the drawings, the reference numerals in parentheses indicate the components of the gasket 40 serving as the second gasket 20 that correspond to the components of the gasket 40 serving as the first gasket 10. The gasket 40 as the first gasket 10 and the flow path member 50 constitute the first gasket 7, and the gasket 40 as the second gasket 20 and the flow path member 50 constitute the second gasket 7. The second gasket 7 is the same as the first gasket 7, and the first gasket 7 and the second gasket 7 are stacked on top of each other to seal the anode chamber S1 and the cathode chamber S2, respectively. As with the gasket device 1, the gasket 40 as the gasket member 40 of the first gasket 7 and the gasket 40 as the gasket member 40 of the second gasket 7 are brought into contact with each other, and the first gasket 7 and the second gasket 7 are stacked on top of each other.

[0127] 15 , the gasket 40 differs in the configuration of the portion where a flow path for a fluid such as an electrolyte solution is formed in the cell 100. In the gasket 40, the first seal portion 3 and the second seal portion 4 define, along the seal side surface 11 or the seal side surface 21, communication regions 11A, 11D that connect the through holes 13 or the through holes 23 included in some of the multiple flow paths of the cell 100 to the anode chamber S1 or the cathode chamber S2, respectively. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 15 , in the gasket 40, the beads 16a2, 16a3 surrounding the through hole 13a reach the inner circumferential edge 41 of the gasket 40 or the vicinity thereof, and no bead 16a1 is provided surrounding the through hole 13a. Furthermore, the beads 15 (15a to 15f) are connected to the beads 16a2 and 16a3, but the beads 15 (15a to 15f) do not extend into the region (communication region 11A) surrounded by the bead 16a2. As such, the base surface 14 extends to the installation surface 11a, which is the portion of the seal side surface 11 surrounded by the bead 16a2, and the installation surface 11a is flat or approximately flat. The inner peripheral edge 41 of the gasket 40 is the end on the inner peripheral side of the gasket 40 and is the surface that defines the anode chamber S1 or the cathode chamber S2 in the cell 100.

[0128] 15, the beads 16d1 and 16d2 surrounding the through hole 13d reach or are close to the inner peripheral edge 41 of the gasket 40. The beads 15 (15a to 15f) are connected to the beads 16d1 and 16d2, but do not extend into the region (communication region 11D) surrounded by the bead 16d1. In this way, the base surface 14 extends to the mounting surface 11d, which is the portion of the seal side surface 11 surrounded by the bead 16d1, and the mounting surface 11d is flat or substantially flat.

[0129] 15, the gasket 40 is provided with a bead 16b3 similar to the bead 16a1 inside the bead 16b1. The bead 16b3 is a bead included in the bead 16b, is a closed annular bead, and surrounds the through hole 13b. The gasket 40 is also not provided with the beads 19a and 19c. The gasket 40 is provided with the bead 19a, and an annular bead similar to the bead 19c may be provided on the contact surface 17 so as to surround the through hole 13d. In this case, like the bead 19c, this bead can be inserted into the through hole 23c of the gasket 40 serving as the second gasket 20. In this case, the gasket 40 is not provided with the bead 16b3 or the bead 16c1.

[0130] In the gasket 40, the through holes 13a and 13d have the same or approximately the same shape and size, and the installation surface 11a and installation surface 11d have the same or approximately the same shape and size. In the gasket 40, the relative position between the installation surface 11a and the through holes 13a and the relative position between the installation surface 11d and the through holes 13d are the same or approximately the same. Thus, in the gasket 40, the configuration on the installation surface 11a and the configuration on the installation surface 11d are the same or approximately the same. The configuration on the installation surface 11a and the configuration on the installation surface 11d may be different from each other.

[0131] As described above, the gasket 40 is also used as the second gasket 20. As with the second gasket 20 described above, as shown in Fig. 15 , the gasket 40 used as the second gasket 20 has the same or substantially the same configuration as the gasket 40 used as the first gasket 10, and the reference numerals of the opposing configurations are shown in parentheses. The only difference between the gasket 40 used as the first gasket 10 and the gasket 40 used as the second gasket 20 is whether it is used to seal the anode chamber S1 or, by inversion, to seal the cathode chamber S2 in the cell 100.

[0132] The flow path member 50 is provided in each of the communication regions 11A and 11D and is configured to contact the separator 101 or 102 when the gasket 7 is compressed in the cell 100. The flow path member 50 is harder than the gasket 40. Specifically, for example, the hardness of the material forming the flow path member 50 is higher than the hardness of the material forming the gasket 40. For example, the flow path member 50 is formed from a resin material. For example, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 , the flow path member 50 is a plate-shaped member and has a pair of opposing surfaces, a front surface 51 and a back surface 52. The front surface 51 and the back surface 52 have the same or substantially the same contours. The back surface 52 extends along a plane and is, for example, flat or substantially flat. The back surface 52 is shaped so that the back surface 52 contacts the installation surface 11a surrounded by the bead 16a2 of the gasket 40 and the installation surface 11d surrounded by the bead 16d1 of the gasket 40. For example, the shape of the back surface 52 is the same as or approximately the same as the shape of the mounting surface 11a surrounded by the bead 16a2 of the gasket 40 and the shape of the mounting surface 11d surrounded by the bead 16d1 of the gasket 40. Furthermore, the shape of the back surface 52 is configured to fit within the outline of the mounting surface 11a surrounded by the bead 16a2 of the gasket 40 and the outline of the mounting surface 11d surrounded by the bead 16d1 of the gasket 40. The area of ​​the back surface 52 is the same as or approximately the same as the surface areas of the mounting surfaces 11a and 11d, or is smaller than the surface areas of the mounting surfaces 11a and 11d. In this way, the flow path member 50 is accommodated in each of the communication regions 11A and 11D of the gasket 40.

[0133] 16 and 17 , the flow path member 50 has a through-hole 53. The through-hole 53 passes through between the front surface 51 and the back surface 52. The through-hole 53 is configured to communicate with the through-holes 13 a, 13 d when the flow path member 50 is placed on the installation surfaces 11 a, 11 d so that the back surface 52 faces the installation surfaces 11 a, 11 d of the gasket 40.

[0134] 16 , a flow path 54 is formed on the surface 51 of the flow path member 50. The flow path 54 is formed, for example, by a plurality of grooves 55 recessed from the surface 51 toward the back surface. The plurality of grooves 55 extend between the through holes 53 and an inner peripheral end surface 56 of the flow path member 50, form openings in the inner peripheral end surface 56, and connect the through holes 53 to the outside of the inner peripheral end surface 56. The inner peripheral end surface 56 is a side surface of the flow path member 50 and corresponds to the portion of the inner peripheral end 41 that continues to the installation surfaces 11 a, 11 d of the gasket 40. Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 16 , the inner peripheral end surface 56 has an arc-shaped or arc-like contour and extends along the portion of the inner peripheral end 41 that continues to the installation surfaces 11 a, 11 d of the gasket 40, as will be described later.

[0135] As will be described later, the height h3 of the flow path member 50 is set to a predetermined height based on the height h4 of the beads 15, 16 of the gasket 40. The height h3 is the width between the front surface 51 and the back surface 52. The height of the flow path member 50 is set to a height such that the beads 15, 16 of the gasket 40 are compressed with a predetermined compression margin in the cell 100 of the water electrolysis apparatus 5, for example. The height h4 of the beads 15, 16 is the height from the base surface 14 to the tips of the beads 15, 16.

[0136] In addition, if the configuration on installation surface 11a and the configuration on installation surface 11d are not the same, for example, if installation surface 11a and installation surface 11d are not the same shape or size, if through hole 13a and through hole 13d are not the same shape or size, or if the relative position between installation surface 11a and through hole 13a is not the same as the relative position between installation surface 11d and through hole 13d, two types of flow path members 50 may be provided: one corresponding to the configuration on installation surface 11a, and the other corresponding to the configuration on installation surface 11d.

[0137] 18 and 19 are diagrams showing the flow path member 50 in an attached state attached to the gasket 40, with FIG. 18 being a front view of the gasket 40 to which the flow path member 50 is attached, and FIG. 19 being a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the gasket 40 to which the flow path member 50 is attached, showing a cross section along line G-G in FIG.

[0138] 18 , the two flow path members 50 are placed on the mounting surfaces 11 a and 11 d of the gasket 40, respectively, and attached to the gasket 40. In the attached state, the back surfaces 52 of the flow path members 50 are in contact with the mounting surfaces 11 a and 11 d of the gasket 40, respectively. The flow path members 50 may be fixed to the mounting surfaces 11 a and 11 d, respectively. For example, the flow path members 50 may be fixed to the mounting surfaces 11 a and 11 d by adhesive, respectively. Alternatively, the flow path members 50 may be sandwiched between the gaskets 16 a 2 and 16 d 1 and fixed to the mounting surfaces 11 a and 11 d, respectively.

[0139] 18 and 19 , in the attached state, the through holes 53 of the flow path member 50 are respectively in communication with the through holes 13 a and 13 d of the gasket 40. As shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 , for example, the through holes 53 of the flow path member 50 are respectively flush or approximately flush with the through holes 13 a and 13 d of the gasket 40. Also, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 , for example, the inner peripheral end surfaces 56 of the flow path member 50 are respectively flush or approximately flush with the inner peripheral ends 41 of the gasket 40. Also, in each flow path member 50, the plurality of grooves 55 forming the flow paths 54 communicate the through hole 13 a with the space surrounded by the inner peripheral end 41 of the gasket 40 via the through hole 53, and the plurality of grooves 55 forming the flow paths 54 communicate the through hole 13 d with the space surrounded by the inner peripheral end 41 of the gasket 40 via the through hole 53. As a result, in each flow path member 50 attached to the gasket 40, a flow path is formed between the through hole 13a and the space surrounded by the inner end 41 of the gasket 40, and between the through hole 13d and the space surrounded by the inner end 41 of the gasket 40.

[0140] 19 , the height h3 of the flow path member 50 is lower than the height h4 of the bead 16 of the gasket 40. For example, the height h3 of the flow path member 50 is lower than the height h4 of the bead 16 of the gasket 40 by a predetermined amount of compression of the bead 16 or by approximately the predetermined amount of compression of the bead 16.

[0141] Although FIG. 19 shows a cross section of the flow path member 50 attached to the installation surface 11a, a cross section of the flow path member 50 attached to the installation surface 11d is also shown in the same manner.

[0142] The gasket 40 constitutes the gasket device 6, similarly to the above-described gasket 10. That is, the gasket device 6 is assembled by inverting one gasket 40 serving as the first gasket 10 and stacking the other gasket 40 serving as the second gasket 20 on top of the other gasket 40. Similar to the gasket device 1, the gasket device 6 is used by accommodating the outer peripheral end 104a of the electrolyte membrane 104 in the accommodation space 30 and sandwiching the electrolyte membrane 104 between the two gaskets 40.

[0143] 20 and 21 are partial cross-sectional views showing a schematic configuration of a water electrolysis apparatus 5 using the gasket device 6. FIG. 20 shows the vicinity of the through hole 2a, and FIG. 21 shows the vicinity of the through hole 2c. Although not shown, the vicinity of the through holes 2b and 2d are also shown. As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 , in use, the gasket device 6 is sandwiched and compressed between the separators 101 and 102, similar to the gasket device 1. For example, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 , the separators 101 and 102 are pressed in opposing directions so that the surface 101a of the separator 101 contacts the surface 51 of the flow path member 50, and the surface 102a of the separator 102 contacts the surface 51 of the flow path member 50. In the gasket device 6, the separators 101, 102 do not necessarily have to be formed with the above-described structure for connecting the through holes 2a, 2d to the anode chamber S1, and they do not necessarily have to be formed with the structure for connecting the through holes 2b, 2c to the cathode chamber S2.

[0144] As described above, the height h3 of the flow path member 50 is lower than the height h4 of the bead 16 by or approximately the amount of the crushing allowance of the bead 16. Therefore, in the above-described state of use, the bead 16 is compressed by or approximately the amount of the crushing allowance. The height of the bead 15 is the same as or approximately the same as the height h4 of the bead 16, and in the state of use, the other beads 15 are also compressed by or approximately the amount of the crushing allowance, similar to the bead 16. Therefore, each of the beads 15, 16 generates the desired surface pressure and exhibits the desired sealing performance.

[0145] Furthermore, flow path member 50 is formed from a resin material and is not compressively deformed in the pressing direction by the pressure of separators 101, 102, or even if it is compressively deformed in the pressing direction, the amount of deformation is small. Therefore, flow paths 54 of flow path member 50 are not deformed by the pressure of separators 101, 102, or even if they are deformed, they are small, and the flow paths between through holes 2a, 2d and anode chamber S1 and between through holes 2b, 2c and cathode chamber S2 are not reduced, or are suppressed from being reduced.

[0146] Even if the difference between the height h4 of the bead 16 and the height h3 of the flow path member 50 is larger than the set crushing allowance of the bead 16, the separators 101, 102 are supported by the flow path member 50, and the beads 15, 16 are not crushed to an extent greater than the amount of crushing that occurs when the separators 101, 102 each come into contact with the surface 51 of the flow path member 50. This prevents or suppresses damage to the beads 15, 16 due to excessive compression. Also in this case, the flow paths 54 of the flow path member 50 ensure flow paths between the through holes 2a, 2d and the anode chamber S1 and between the through holes 2b, 2c and the cathode chamber S2.

[0147] As described above, the gasket device 6 eliminates the need for strict control of the clamping load of the cell 100 during assembly of the water electrolysis system 5. Furthermore, the gasket 40 can be easily brought into a state in which it exhibits favorable sealing performance. Furthermore, regardless of the magnitude of the clamping load of the cell 100, it is possible to ensure flow paths between the through holes 2a, 2d and the anode chamber S1, and flow paths between the through holes 2b, 2c and the cathode chamber S2. Furthermore, the gasket device 6 eliminates the need for strict control of the spacing between the separators 101, 102 for clamping the cell 100 during assembly of the water electrolysis system 5.

[0148] On the other hand, without the flow path member 50, if the clamping load of the cell 100 becomes excessive, the beads are crushed more than necessary. This may result in damage to the beads. Furthermore, the flow paths between the through-holes 2a, 2d and the anode chamber S1 and the flow paths between the through-holes 2b, 2c and the cathode chamber S2 may be crushed, making it impossible to ensure these flow paths. Furthermore, the separators 101, 102 may come into contact with the diffusion layers 107, 108, damaging the membrane assembly 103 and the diffusion layers 107, 108. Thus, without the flow path member 50, strict control of the clamping load of the cell 100 is required. Furthermore, without the flow path member 50, strict control of the gap between the separators 101, 102 for clamping the cell 100 is required.

[0149] As described above, with the gasket device 6 and gasket 7 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, even if the clamping load of the cell 100 increases due to high pressure in the anode chamber S1 and the cathode chamber S2, the compression allowance of the beads 15, 16, 25, and 26 can be set to a predetermined or approximately predetermined compression allowance. Therefore, even if the anode chamber S1 and the cathode chamber S2 increase in pressure, the beads 15, 16, 25, and 26 can exhibit desired sealing performance. In this way, with the gasket device 6 and gasket 7 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, deterioration in sealing performance due to high pressure in the anode chamber S1 and the cathode chamber S2 can be suppressed.

[0150] Although the present invention has been described above through the above embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is clear from the claims that such modifications and improvements can also be included within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0151] The above-described embodiments are intended to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention, and the present invention may include any and all applications. The components of the above-described embodiments, as well as their arrangement, materials, conditions, shape, size, etc., are not limited to those illustrated and may be modified as appropriate. For example, the present invention includes differences that arise during implementation due to manufacturing tolerances, etc. Furthermore, components illustrated in different embodiments may be partially substituted or combined within the scope of technical inconsistency. Furthermore, the various configurations may be selectively combined as appropriate to achieve at least some of the above-described problems and effects.

[0152] For example, as long as the gasket devices 1, 6 described above are configured and the effects of the gasket devices 1, 6 are achieved, the second gasket 20 does not have to be completely identical to the first gasket 10, but may be, for example, substantially the same.

[0153] In the above description, the gasket device 1 has been described as being applied to a water electrolysis apparatus as an example, but the application of the gasket device 1 is not limited to water electrolysis apparatuses. For example, the gasket device 1 can also be used in a fuel cell.

[0154] 1, 6 Gasket device, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d Through hole, 3 First seal portion, 3a First inner seal surface, 3b Second inner seal surface, 4 Second seal portion, 4a First outer seal surface, 4b Second outer seal surface, 5 Water electrolysis device, 7 First gasket (second gasket), 10 First gasket (gasket), 11 Sealing side, 11A, 11D Communication area, 11a, 11d Installation surface, 12 Contact side, 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d Through hole, 13da, 13db, 13dc, 13dd Wall surface, 14 Base surface, 15, 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, 15e, 15f Bead, 16, 16a, 16a1, 16a2, 16b, 16b1, 16b2, 16b3, 16c, 16c1, 16c2, 16c3, 16d, 16d1, 16d2 Bead, 17 Contact surface, 17a Engagement protrusion, 17b Engagement groove, 18 Step portion, 18a Seal surface, 18b Peripheral end surface, 19a, 19c Bead, 20 Second gasket, 21 Seal side surface, 22 Contact side surface, 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d Through hole, 23ba, 23da Wall surface, 24 Base surface, 25, 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e, 25f Beads, 26, 26a, 26a1, 26a2, 26a3, 26b, 26b1, 26b2, 26c, 26c1, 26c2, 26c3, 26d, 26d1, 26d2 Beads, 27 Contact surface, 27a Engagement protrusion, 27b Engagement groove, 28 Step portion, 28a Sealing surface, 28b Circumferential end surface, 29a, 29c Beads, 30 Storage space (gap), 31 Outer peripheral end, 40 Gasket (gasket member), 41 Inner peripheral end, 50 Flow path member, 51 Surface, 52 Back surface, 53 Through hole, 54 Flow path, 55 Groove, 56 Inner peripheral end surface, 100 Cells, 101, 102 Separators, 101a Surface, 101b Recesses, 101c to 101f Through hole, 103 Membrane assembly, 104 Electrolyte membrane, 104a End, 104b Outer edge, 105 Anode catalyst layer, 106 Cathode catalyst layer, 107, 108 Diffusion layer, H1 Width, h1, h2, h3, h4 Height, P Symmetry plane, S1 Anode chamber, S2 Cathode chamber, T1 Thickness, x Central axis

Claims

1. A water electrolysis device comprising a pair of opposing separators and an electrolyte membrane opposing each of the pair of separators in the opposing direction, wherein an anode chamber and a cathode chamber are respectively formed between the pair of separators and the electrolyte membrane, and further comprising gaskets for sealing the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, wherein the gaskets are configured such that one gasket is inverted and placed over the other gasket to seal the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, a seal side and a contact side which are a pair of annular surfaces facing each other, a first seal portion for sealing the anode chamber or the cathode chamber, and a second seal portion for sealing, between the pair of separators, a plurality of flow paths extending in the opposing direction between the pair of separators on the outer periphery of the electrolyte membrane, wherein the first seal portion is formed on the seal side and the contact side, and the second seal portion is formed on the seal side and the contact side.

2. The water electrolysis device described in claim 1, wherein the first seal portion has an annular first inner seal surface, and when one of the gaskets is inverted and stacked on top of another of the gaskets, the first inner seal surface of one of the gaskets faces the first inner seal surface of the other of the gaskets in the direction of inversion, forming an annular gap that is open to the inner circumferential side, and the gap is capable of accommodating the outer circumferential end of the electrolyte membrane.

3. The water electrolysis device according to claim 2, wherein the first seal portion has an annular second inner seal surface, and the second inner seal surface faces away from the first inner seal surface in the direction of inversion.

4. The water electrolysis device according to claim 1, wherein the gasket has at least one pair of through holes, the second sealing portion surrounds each of the through holes, and when one of the gaskets is inverted and placed over another of the gaskets, one of the pair of through holes of one of the gaskets overlaps the other of the pair of through holes of the other of the gaskets in the inverted direction.

5. The water electrolysis device described in claim 4, wherein the second sealing portion has a first outer sealing surface surrounding each of the through holes and a second outer sealing surface facing away from the first outer sealing surface in the direction of inversion and surrounding each of the through holes, and when one of the gaskets is inverted and placed over another of the gaskets, the first outer sealing surface of one of the gaskets overlaps the first outer sealing surface of the other of the gaskets in the direction of inversion.

6. A water electrolysis device comprising a pair of opposing separators and an electrolyte membrane opposing each of the pair of separators in the opposing direction, wherein an anode chamber and a cathode chamber are respectively formed between the pair of separators and the electrolyte membrane, the water electrolysis device further comprising a gasket device for sealing the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, the gasket device comprising an annular first gasket and an annular second gasket, the outer circumferential side of the first gasket and the outer circumferential side of the second gasket being capable of contacting each other, and when the outer circumferential sides of the first gasket and the second gasket are in contact with each other, an annular gap open to the inner circumferential side is formed between the inner circumferential side of the first gasket and the inner circumferential side of the second gasket, and the gap is capable of accommodating the outer circumferential end of the electrolyte membrane.

7. A water electrolysis device as described in claim 6, wherein the width of the gap in the direction in which the outer periphery of the first gasket and the outer periphery of the second gasket come into contact is sized relative to the width of the electrolyte membrane in the opposing direction such that contact between the outer periphery of the first gasket and the outer periphery of the second gasket is maintained when the outer periphery end of the electrolyte membrane is accommodated in the gap.

8. The water electrolysis device according to claim 7, wherein the width of the gap is equal to or less than the width of the electrolyte membrane.

9. The water electrolysis apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first gasket has a contact surface that is an annular surface on the outer periphery, and the second gasket has a contact surface that is an annular surface on the outer periphery, and the contact surface of the first gasket and the contact surface of the second gasket are capable of contacting each other.

10. The water electrolysis device according to claim 9, wherein the first gasket has a sealing surface on the inner circumferential side of the contact surface that forms a step between it and the contact surface, and the second gasket has a sealing surface on the inner circumferential side of the contact surface that forms a step between it and the contact surface, and the sealing surface of the first gasket and the sealing surface of the second gasket form the gap.

11. The water electrolysis device according to claim 10, wherein the first gasket has a sealing side surface that faces away from the contact surface and the sealing surface, the second gasket has a sealing side surface that faces away from the contact surface and the sealing surface, at least one annular bead is formed on the sealing side surface of the first gasket, and at least one bead is formed on the sealing side surface of the second gasket.

12. The water electrolysis apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first gasket has at least one annular bead protruding in a direction opposite to the contact direction, and the second gasket has at least one annular bead protruding in a direction opposite to the contact direction.

13. The water electrolysis device according to claim 6, wherein the first gasket has a plurality of through holes, and the second gasket has a plurality of through holes, and when the outer periphery of the first gasket comes into contact with the outer periphery of the second gasket, the plurality of through holes of the first gasket and the plurality of through holes of the second gasket are respectively connected to each other.

14. The water electrolysis apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first gasket and the second gasket are identical to each other.

15. A gasket for sealing a space between a pair of opposing members and an intermediate member opposing each of the pair of members in the opposing direction, wherein the gasket is configured so that one of the gaskets is inverted and stacked on top of the other gasket to seal the space, and the gasket comprises: a sealing side surface and a contacting side surface which are a pair of annular surfaces facing each other; a first sealing portion which seals the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member; and a second sealing portion which is located on the outer periphery of the intermediate member and seals, between the pair of members, a plurality of flow paths which extend in the opposing direction between the pair of members, wherein the first sealing portion is formed on the sealing side surface and the contacting side surface, and the second sealing portion is formed on the sealing side surface and the contacting side surface.

16. A gasket as described in claim 15, wherein the first seal portion has an annular first inner seal surface, and when one of the gaskets is inverted and stacked on top of another of the gaskets, the first inner seal surface of one of the gaskets faces the first inner seal surface of the other of the gaskets in the direction of inversion, forming an annular gap that is open to the inner circumferential side, and the gap is capable of accommodating the outer circumferential end of the intermediate member.

17. A gasket as set forth in claim 16, wherein the first seal portion has an annular second inner seal surface, and the second inner seal surface faces away from the first inner seal surface in the direction of inversion.

18. A gasket as claimed in claim 15, which has at least one pair of through holes, the second seal portion surrounding each of the through holes, and when one of the gaskets is inverted and placed over another of the gaskets, one of the pair of through holes of one of the gaskets overlaps the other of the pair of through holes of the other of the gaskets in the direction of inversion.

19. A gasket as described in claim 18, wherein the second sealing portion has a first outer sealing surface surrounding each of the through holes and a second outer sealing surface facing away from the first outer sealing surface in the direction of inversion and surrounding each of the through holes, and when one of the gaskets is inverted and placed over another of the gaskets, the first outer sealing surface of one of the gaskets overlaps the first outer sealing surface of the other of the gaskets in the direction of inversion.

20. A gasket device for sealing a space between a pair of opposing members and an intermediate member opposing each of the pair of members in the opposing direction, comprising: an annular first gasket; and an annular second gasket; the outer circumferential side of the first gasket and the outer circumferential side of the second gasket are capable of contacting each other; when the outer circumferential sides of the first gasket and the second gasket come into contact with each other, an annular gap that is open to the inner circumferential side is formed between the inner circumferential side of the first gasket and the inner circumferential side of the second gasket; and the gap is capable of accommodating the outer circumferential end of the intermediate member.

21. A gasket device as described in claim 20, wherein the width of the gap in the direction in which the outer circumferential sides of the first gasket and the second gasket come into contact is sized relative to the width of the intermediate member in the opposing direction such that contact between the outer circumferential sides of the first gasket and the second gasket is maintained when the outer circumferential end of the intermediate member is accommodated in the gap.

22. A gasket device according to claim 21, wherein the width of the gap is equal to or less than the width of the intermediate member.

23. A gasket device according to claim 20, wherein the first gasket has a contact surface that is an annular surface on the outer periphery, and the second gasket has a contact surface that is an annular surface on the outer periphery, and the contact surface of the first gasket and the contact surface of the second gasket are capable of contacting each other.

24. A gasket device as described in claim 23, wherein the first gasket has a sealing surface on the inner circumferential side of the contact surface that forms a step between it and the contact surface, and the second gasket has a sealing surface on the inner circumferential side of the contact surface that forms a step between it and the contact surface, and the sealing surface of the first gasket and the sealing surface of the second gasket form the gap.

25. A gasket device as described in claim 24, wherein the first gasket has a sealing side surface that faces away from the contact surface and the sealing surface, the second gasket has a sealing side surface that faces away from the contact surface and the sealing surface, at least one annular bead is formed on the sealing side surface of the first gasket, and at least one bead is formed on the sealing side surface of the second gasket.

26. The gasket device of claim 20, wherein the first gasket has at least one annular bead projecting in a direction opposite to the direction of contact, and the second gasket has at least one annular bead projecting in a direction opposite to the direction of contact.

27. A gasket device as described in claim 20, wherein the first gasket has a plurality of through holes passing therethrough, and the second gasket has a plurality of through holes passing therethrough, and when the outer periphery of the first gasket comes into contact with the outer periphery of the second gasket, the plurality of through holes of the first gasket and the plurality of through holes of the second gasket are respectively connected to each other.

28. The gasket arrangement of claim 20, wherein the first gasket and the second gasket are identical to each other.

29. A water electrolysis device comprising a pair of opposing separators and an electrolyte membrane opposing each of the pair of separators in the opposing direction, wherein an anode chamber and a cathode chamber are respectively formed between the pair of separators and the electrolyte membrane, and further comprising gaskets for sealing the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, wherein the gaskets are configured such that one gasket is inverted and placed over the other gasket to seal the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, and comprising a seal side and a contact side which are a pair of annular surfaces facing each other, a first seal portion for sealing the anode chamber or the cathode chamber, and a second seal portion for sealing a plurality of flow paths extending in the opposing direction between the pair of separators on the outer periphery of the electrolyte membrane, between the pair of separators, wherein the first seal portion is formed on the seal side and the contact side, and the second seal portion is formed on the seal side and the contact side, the gasket comprises a gasket member made of an elastic material and a flow path member that forms a flow path that communicates with the anode chamber or the cathode chamber, and the flow path member is configured to continue to form the flow path when the gasket is compressed in the opposing direction.

30. The water electrolysis apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the flow path member is configured to continue to form the flow path when the gasket is compressed in the opposing direction by a compression allowance set in the gasket member.

31. The water electrolysis apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the flow path member is harder than the gasket member.

32. The water electrolysis apparatus according to any one of claims 29 to 31, wherein the gasket member has a sealing side surface and a contact side surface which are a pair of annular surfaces facing each other, a plurality of through holes included in each of a plurality of flow paths extending in the opposing direction between the pair of members on the outer circumferential side of the intermediate member, a first sealing portion which seals the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, and a second sealing portion for sealing part of the plurality of flow paths from the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, wherein the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion define, along the sealing side surface, a communication region which is a region which connects the through holes included in each other part of the plurality of flow paths with the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, and wherein the flow path members are provided in each of the communication regions and are configured to come into contact with one of the pair of members when the gasket is compressed in the opposing direction.

33. The water electrolysis apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the flow path of the flow path member is configured to connect the through hole communicating with the communication region to the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member.

34. The water electrolysis apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the flow path member has a plurality of grooves recessed on the other side of the pair of members, and the plurality of grooves form the flow path.

35. The water electrolysis apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the flow path member has a through hole that communicates with the through hole that communicates with the communication region, and the plurality of grooves communicate with the through hole of the flow path member and also communicate with a space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member.

36. The water electrolysis apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the height of the flow path member is lower than the height of the first seal portion and the second seal portion.

37. The water electrolysis apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the flow path member is made of a resin material.

38. The water electrolysis device according to claim 29, wherein the pair of members are separators of cells of the water electrolysis device, and the intermediate member is an electrolyte membrane of the cells.

39. A gasket for sealing a space between each of a pair of opposing members and an intermediate member opposing each of the pair of members in the opposing direction, wherein the gasket is configured so that one of the gaskets is inverted and placed over the other to seal the space, and the gasket comprises: a gasket member made of an elastic material; and a flow path member that forms a flow path communicating with the space, wherein the flow path member is capable of continuing to form the flow path when the gasket is compressed in the opposing direction.

40. A gasket according to claim 39, wherein the flow path member is adapted to continue forming the flow path when the gasket is compressed in the opposing direction by a compression allowance set for the gasket member.

41. A gasket as set forth in claim 39, wherein the flow path member is harder than the gasket member.

42. A gasket according to any one of claims 39 to 41, wherein the gasket member has a sealing side and a contact side which are a pair of annular surfaces facing each other, a plurality of through holes respectively included in a plurality of flow paths extending in the opposing directions between the pair of members on the outer circumferential side of the intermediate member, a first seal portion which seals the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, and a second seal portion for sealing a portion of the plurality of flow paths from the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, wherein the first seal portion and the second seal portion define, along the sealing side, a communication region which is a region which connects the through holes included in each other portion of the plurality of flow paths with the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, and wherein the flow path members are provided in each of the communication regions and are adapted to come into contact with one of the pair of members when the gasket is compressed in the opposing directions.

43. A gasket as set forth in claim 42, wherein the flow path of the flow path member is configured to communicate the through hole communicating with the communication region with the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member.

44. A gasket as set forth in claim 42, wherein the flow path member has a plurality of grooves recessed into the other side of the pair of members, and the plurality of grooves form the flow paths.

45. A gasket as set forth in claim 44, wherein the flow path member has a through hole that communicates with the through hole that communicates with the communication region, and the plurality of grooves communicate with the through hole of the flow path member and also communicate with the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member.

46. ​​A gasket according to claim 42, wherein the height of the flow path member is lower than the height of the first seal portion and the second seal portion.

47. A gasket according to claim 42, wherein the flow path member is made of a resin material.

48. A gasket according to claim 39, wherein the pair of members are separators of cells in a water electrolysis device, and the intermediate member is an electrolyte membrane of the cells.

49. A gasket device for sealing a space between each of a pair of opposing members and an intermediate member opposing each of the pair of members in the opposing direction, comprising: an annular first gasket; and an annular second gasket, wherein the second gasket is the same as the first gasket; the first gasket and the second gasket are overlapped with each other to seal the space; the first gasket has an annular gasket member made of an elastic material and a flow path member forming a flow path communicating with the space, wherein the flow path member is capable of continuing to form the flow path when the gasket device is compressed in the opposing direction; and the gasket member of the first gasket and the gasket member of the second gasket are brought into contact with each other, and the first gasket and the second gasket are overlapped.

50. A gasket device according to claim 49, wherein the flow path member is adapted to continue to form the flow path when the gasket device is compressed in the opposing direction by a compression allowance set for the gasket member.

51. A gasket device according to claim 49, wherein the flow path member is harder than the gasket member.

52. A gasket device according to any one of claims 49 to 51, wherein the gasket member of the first gasket has a sealing side and a contact side which are a pair of annular surfaces facing each other, a plurality of through holes respectively included in a plurality of flow paths extending in the opposing directions between the pair of members on the outer circumferential side of the intermediate member, a first seal portion which seals the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, and a second seal portion for sealing a portion of the plurality of flow paths from the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, wherein the first seal portion and the second seal portion define, along the sealing side, communication regions which are regions which connect the through holes included in each other portion of the plurality of flow paths to the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member, and wherein the flow path members of the first gasket are provided in each of the communication regions and are adapted to come into contact with one of the pair of members when the gasket device is compressed in the opposing directions.

53. A gasket device according to claim 52, wherein the flow path of the flow path member is configured to communicate the through hole communicating with the communication region with the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member.

54. A gasket device according to claim 52, wherein the flow path member has a plurality of grooves recessed into the other side of the pair of members, the plurality of grooves forming the flow path.

55. A gasket device as set forth in claim 54, wherein the flow path member has a through hole that communicates with the through hole that communicates with the communication region, and the plurality of grooves communicate with the through hole of the flow path member and also communicate with the space between one of the pair of members and the intermediate member.

56. A gasket device according to claim 52, wherein the height of the flow path member is lower than the height of the first seal portion and the second seal portion.

57. A gasket device according to claim 52, wherein the flow path member is made of a resin material.

58. A gasket device according to claim 49, wherein the pair of members are separators of a cell of a water electrolysis device, and the intermediate member is an electrolyte membrane of the cell.

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