Water-Splitting Gas Generation with Supplemental Light Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas generation systems, such as those described in Japanese Patent No. 3787686 B, face inefficiencies in hydrogen gas production due to insufficient sunlight irradiation at night or in bad weather, leading to inadequate decomposition reactions.
Innovation Solution
A gas generation system that includes a housing with a light-transmission wall, an irradiation device emitting artificial light with peak wavelengths absorbed by a photocatalyst, and a switch to selectively activate the photocatalyst using artificial light when sunlight is insufficient, combined with a circulation system to enhance photocatalyst activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sunlight is used to activate the photocatalyst, then the system can operate with natural energy sources, but the decomposition reaction cannot proceed efficiently at night or in bad weather
Solution Approach 1:
An irradiation device emitting artificial light with peak wavelength matching the photocatalyst's absorption characteristics is introduced as an intermediary energy source. This device supplements natural sunlight when insufficient, enabling continuous photocatalyst activation and water decomposition reaction under various weather conditions and time periods
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the light source parameter from solely natural sunlight to a combination of natural sunlight and artificial light with specific peak wavelength. By controlling the irradiation device's emission wavelength to match the photocatalyst's absorption peak, the system maintains optimal activation conditions regardless of external weather conditions
2Productivity
If artificial light is added to enable continuous operation, then productivity is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing structure serves multiple functions: it contains the water and photocatalyst mixture, provides a light-transmission wall for sunlight entry, and houses the irradiation device. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while enabling continuous operation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables continuous and efficient generation of hydrogen gas by selectively switching to artificial light activation, ensuring consistent water decomposition reactions even in low sunlight conditions.
Implementation Method 1
irradiation device that emits artificial light having a peak wavelength to be absorbed by the photocatalyst
Implementation Method 2
artificial light having a peak wavelength to be absorbed by the photocatalyst
Implementation Method 3
light-transmission wall that transmits the sunlight directly or indirectly reaching a wall portion
Data Source
AI summary
The gas generation system decomposes water in contact with the photocatalyst by sunlight to generate a mixed gas composed of oxygen gas and hydrogen gas. The gas generation system includes a housing having a light-transmission wall in which an accommodation space for accommodating water and a photocatalyst is formed. The light-transmission wall transmits the sunlight S that has directly or indirectly reached at least a part of the wall portion forming the accommodation space. The gas generation system includes an irradiation device that causes an artificial light L having a peak wavelength that is absorbed by the photocatalyst to emit light by supply of electric power, and irradiates the light-transmission wall with the emitted artificial light L, and a switch that selectively switches supply or stop of supply of electric power to the irradiation device.