SOLID POLYMER ELECTROLYTIC MEMBRANE TYPE WATER ELECTROLYZER AND METHOD FOR DETECTING PINHOLE IN SOLID POLYMER ELECTROLYTIC MEMBRANE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a solid polymer electrolytic membrane type water electrolyzer and a method for detecting pinholes in a solid polymer electrolytic membrane which enable the occurrence of pinholes in the solid polymer electrolytic membrane to be effectively detected. SOLUTION: The solid polymer electrolytic membrane type water electrolyzer is provided with: an electrolytic cell in which the internal space is partitioned by the solid polymer electrolytic membrane held by an anode and a cathode, and water to be electrolyzed is fed to the anode side; a main power unit for applying voltage between the anode and the cathode and generating gas for feeding at the anode side; an auxiliary power unit connected in parallel with the main power unit; a voltage detecting means for detecting the voltage between the anode and the cathode; and a pinhole detecting means for detecting pinholes which has occurred in the solid polymer electrolytic membrane based on the voltage detected by the voltage detecting means. The pinhole detecting means compares the voltage detected by the voltage detecting means and detected when the auxiliary power unit applies the voltage for pinhole detection between the anode and the cathode with preset threshold voltage, thus determines whether pinholes occurs or not. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI