Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110180416 | METHOD FOR OPERATING WATER ELECTROLYSIS SYSTEM - A method for operating a water electrolysis system includes determining whether or not a water electrolysis apparatus is shut down. The water electrolysis system includes the water electrolysis apparatus, a water circulation apparatus, and a gas-liquid separation apparatus. The water electrolysis apparatus includes power feeders provided on an anode side and a cathode side of an electrolyte membrane. The water electrolysis apparatus generates oxygen on the anode side and generates hydrogen on the cathode side at a higher pressure than a pressure of the oxygen by electrolysis of water. Pressure on the cathode side is released when it is determined that the water electrolysis apparatus is shut down. The water circulation apparatus is operated until a concentration of hydrogen remaining on the anode side is a specified value or less under a condition in which a release of pressure on the cathode side is completed. | 07-28-2011 |
20110198235 | WATER ELECTROLYSIS SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHUTTING DOWN THE SAME - A water electrolysis system includes a water electrolysis apparatus including an electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane is provided between an anode and a cathode. The water electrolysis apparatus is configured to generate oxygen on a side of the anode and hydrogen on a side of the cathode at a pressure higher than a pressure of the oxygen through electrolysis of water. A gas-liquid separation apparatus separates unreacted water and produced gas discharged from a water outlet of the water electrolysis apparatus. A water circulation apparatus circulates the water between the water electrolysis apparatus and the gas-liquid separation apparatus. The water circulation apparatus includes a return pipe having an on-off valve and connecting the water outlet and the gas-liquid separation apparatus. A hydrogen exhaust pipe is connected to the return pipe between the water outlet and the on-off value and extends upward from the water electrolysis apparatus. | 08-18-2011 |
20120018033 | HYDROGEN FILLING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - A hydrogen filling system to fill a hydrogen fuel tank with hydrogen includes a high-pressure water electrolysis device capable of electrolyzing water to produce oxygen and the hydrogen. A hydrogen pipe connects the high-pressure water electrolysis device and a filling mechanism to fill the hydrogen fuel tank with the hydrogen. At least one hydrogen storage tank is provided to the hydrogen pipe to store the hydrogen produced by the high-pressure water electrolysis device at substantially a same pressure as a maximum filling pressure of the hydrogen fuel tank. A first valve mechanism is arranged downstream of the at least one hydrogen storage tank. A bypass pipe is provided to the hydrogen pipe and connects the high-pressure water electrolysis device and the filling mechanism to bypass the at least one hydrogen storage tank and the first valve mechanism. A second valve mechanism is arranged on the bypass pipe. | 01-26-2012 |
20120209434 | METHOD FOR OPERATING DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE WATER ELECTROLYSIS APPARATUS - A method for operating a differential pressure water electrolysis apparatus includes calculating in advance values of an electric current required for an electrolysis of water in response to pressures of a cathode-side electrolysis chamber, detecting a pressure of the cathode-side electrolysis chamber when the electrolysis of water is not carried out, determining whether or not the electrolysis of water is to be started, and starting the electrolysis of water with an electric current having a value equal to or higher than a value which is calculated in advance in the calculating of the values of the electric current and which corresponds to a detected pressure of the cathode-side electrolysis chamber when it is determined that the electrolysis of water is to be started. | 08-16-2012 |
20120222955 | HIGH-PRESSURE HYDROGEN PRODUCING APPARATUS - A high-pressure hydrogen producing apparatus includes a first cell device and a second cell device. The first cell device includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode electrode catalyst layer and an anode current collector provided on a first surface of the electrolyte membrane, and a cathode electrode catalyst layer and a cathode current collector provided on a second surface of the electrolyte membrane. The second cell device includes an electrolyte membrane, an anode current collector provided on a first surface of the electrolyte membrane of the second cell device, and a cathode current collector provided on a second surface of the electrolyte membrane of the second cell device. | 09-06-2012 |
20120255867 | WATER ELECTROLYSIS SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING WATER ELECTROLYSIS SYSTEM - A water electrolysis system includes a water electrolysis apparatus, a gas-liquid separating apparatus, a hydrogen supply line, a water level detector, and a current regulator. The water electrolysis apparatus is to electrolyze water to generate oxygen and high-pressure hydrogen having a higher pressure than a pressure of the oxygen. The gas-liquid separating apparatus is disposed upstream of the water electrolysis apparatus in a gravitational direction to separate moisture contained in the high-pressure hydrogen. The hydrogen supply line is to supply the high-pressure hydrogen discharged from the water electrolysis apparatus to the gas-liquid separating apparatus. The water level detector is configured to detect a water level in the gas-liquid separating apparatus. The current regulator is configured to regulate a current to be applied to the water electrolysis apparatus based on the water level detected by the water level detector in the gas-liquid separating apparatus. | 10-11-2012 |
20120298520 | WATER ELECTROLYSIS SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING WATER ELECTROLYSIS SYSTEM - A water electrolysis system includes a water electrolysis device, a gas-liquid separator, a water-amount detector, a hydrogen storage device, a hydrogen storage device, a decompressing device, and a control device. The control device includes a residual capacity calculator, a hydrogen production amount calculator, and an electrolysis termination determiner. The residual capacity calculator is configured to calculate a residual capacity of the hydrogen storage device. The hydrogen production amount calculator is configured to calculate an amount of hydrogen produced by the water electrolysis device in a drainage period in which the amount of water in the gas-liquid separator increases to an upper limit from a lower limit. The electrolysis termination determiner is configured to terminate the water electrolysis process when the amount of hydrogen calculated by the hydrogen production amount calculator is greater than the residual capacity calculated by the residual capacity calculator. | 11-29-2012 |
20140102911 | HIGH PRESSURE WATER ELECTROLYSIS SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACTIVATING SAME - A high pressure water electrolysis system includes a high pressure water electrolysis device, a hydrogen storage device, a high pressure hydrogen pipe, a branch pipe, a non-return valve, a pressure detector, and a controller. The controller includes a threshold storage device, a threshold determination device, and a solenoid valve opening/closing operation device. The threshold storage device is configured to store a first threshold of a pressure value detected by the pressure detector and a second threshold lower than the first threshold. The threshold determination device is configured to determine whether or not the pressure value detected by the pressure detector has reached the second threshold. The solenoid valve opening/closing operation device is configured to open and close a solenoid valve if it is determined that the pressure value detected by the pressure detector has reached the second threshold. | 04-17-2014 |
20150060293 | CONTROL METHOD OF DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE WATER ELECTROLYSIS SYSTEM - In a control method of a differential pressure water electrolysis system, a reference water level of a gas-liquid separator for normal operations is set to discharge a liquid water stored in the gas-liquid separator to a discharge tube. A depressurization reference water level which is a lower water level than the reference water level is set to discharge the liquid water stored in the gas-liquid separator to the discharge tube upon depressurizing. A depressurization valve is opened to reduce pressure at a cathode side after operation of a differential pressure water electrolysis device has been stopped, in a state with voltage applied. A permissible water level upper limit value at which an open/close valve is opened is switched from the reference water level to the depressurization reference water level when the depressurization valve is opened. | 03-05-2015 |