PROCESS FOR PRODUCING HYDROGEN AND APPARATUS THEREFOR

摘要

An electrolytic cell of structure suited to a process for producing hydrogen through electrolysis of steam wherein in an electrolytic cell partitioned into an anode side and a cathode side by a diaphragm of solid oxide electrolyte, a reducing gas is fed into the anode side and steam into the cathode side with electric power applied to the anode and cathode electrodes. In one aspect, there is provided a hydrogen production apparatus through high-temperature steam electrolysis technique, comprising an electrolytic cell partitioned into an anode side and a cathode side by a diaphragm of solid oxide electrolyte, a conduit for feeding a reducing gas into the anode side of the electrolytic cell and a conduit for feeding steam into the cathode side of the electrolytic cell, characterized in that a metal cermet being stable in reducing atmosphere is used as the materials of the anode and cathode electrodes. In another aspect, there is provided a process for producing hydrogen through high-temperature steam electrolysis, comprising, with the use of a high-temperature steam electrolyzing apparatus having an electrolytic cell partitioned into an anode side and a cathode side by a diaphragm of solid oxide electrolyte, feeding steam into the cathode side and feeding a hydrocarbon-containing gas into the anode side so as to effect reaction with oxygen ions to thereby reduce the electrolytic voltage, characterized in that a waste gas discharged from the anode side of the electrolyzing apparatus is mixed in the hydrocarbon-containing gas fed into the anode side of the electrolyzing apparatus.