Differential pressure water electrolysis apparatus

摘要

A differential pressure water electrolysis apparatus includes a cell unit, a first end plate, a second end plate, and a pressing mechanism. The pressing mechanism is provided between the first end plate and a first end of the cell unit to press the cell unit in a stacking direction and includes a first corrosion-resistant member, a second corrosion-resistant member, a third corrosion-resistant member, and a pressure-resistant member. The first corrosion-resistant member is connected to the first end plate. The second corrosion-resistant member is engaged with the first end of the cell unit and is movable in the stacking direction. The third corrosion-resistant member is connected to the first corrosion-resistant member or the second corrosion-resistant member and covers an outer peripheral part of the first corrosion-resistant member and an outer peripheral part of the second corrosion-resistant member to provide a fluid introduction chamber communicating with a cathode side.

主权项

1. A differential pressure water electrolysis apparatus comprising:
a plurality of unit cells stacked to form a cell unit, each unit cell including an electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly and separators stacked on one another, the electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane provided with an anode current collector on one side thereof and a cathode current collector on the other side thereof; first and second end plates disposed at both ends in a stacking direction of the cell unit; and a pressing mechanism provided between the first end plate and the cell unit and pressing the whole cell unit in the stacking direction, the differential pressure water electrolysis apparatus electrolyzing water to produce oxygen on an anode side and hydrogen at a pressure higher than the pressure of the oxygen on a cathode side, wherein the pressing mechanism includes a first corrosion-resistant member fixed to the first end plate, a second corrosion-resistant member that is disposed opposite the first corrosion-resistant member movably back and forth in the stacking direction and that functions as a piston, a third corrosion-resistant member that is fixed to the first corrosion-resistant member or the second corrosion-resistant member and that integrally covers the outer peripheral part of the first corrosion-resistant member and the outer peripheral part of the second corrosion-resistant member to form a fluid introduction chamber communicating with the cathode side, and a pressure-resistant member provided on the outer peripheral part of the third corrosion-resistant member and holding the pressure in the fluid introduction chamber.