JP3765076B2

JP3765076B2 - Electrolysis method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: JP3765076B2
Application number: JP2001188047A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 藤一竹間
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-07-13
Filing date: 2001-06-21
Publication date: 2006-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 2021-06-21
Also published as: JP2002097590A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、陽極と陰極を電解液中に浸漬して電気分解を生じさせ、陰極又は／及び陽極に原子又は分子を吸蔵又は付着させる電気分解方法及び装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
図１に示すように、陽極１と陰極２を電解液３中に浸漬して電気分解により陰極２又は／及び陽極１に原子又は分子を吸蔵又は付着させる電気分解方法では、陽極１から陰極２へと電解液３中を流れる主電流及び電離したイオンによるイオン流が生ずる。これを図２に示すように電流束として捉えると、フレミングの左手の法則により円形磁界が発生し、この磁界によって電流束の中心軸方向に直角に向かう電磁力が派生する。ここで、電流の密度をＪ、磁界の密度をＢとすると、電磁力ＦはＦ＝Ｊ×Ｂとなる。
【０００３】
今、電気分解方法を利用して、水素を陰極であるパラジウム等の水素吸蔵体に吸蔵させる場合を想定すると、水素原子核はプラスの電荷を有しているため、電磁力Ｆを受けることになり、陰極であるパラジウム等の水素吸蔵体へ向かおうとする運動が妨げられ、結果として、水素吸蔵体への吸蔵が抑制される。メッキ等の場合も同様のことが言える。
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
本発明は、このような現象に着目し、陽極から陰極へと電解液中を流れる主電流及びイオン流によって生ずる電磁力により、水素吸蔵や原子、分子の付着（メッキ等）が妨げられないようにすることを目的とする。
【０００５】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明は、陽極から陰極へと電解液中を流れる主電流及びイオン流によって生ずる磁界に対して、これを打ち消す逆磁界を加えることを特徴とする。
【０００６】
陽極と陰極との間に、これら両極とは分離した電気回路を設け、この電気回路に、陽極から陰極へと電解液中を流れる主電流及びイオン流とは逆方向の電流を流して、液中を流れる電流及びイオン流に基づく磁界を打ち消す逆磁界を生じさせる。
【０００７】
電解液中を流れる主電流及びイオン流に基づく磁界を打ち消す逆磁界は、永久磁石又は電磁石による磁力により生じさせてもよい。陽極の外側に電気絶縁被覆した補助陽極を配置して、陽極側の電圧を高めることができる。
【０００８】
陰極を水素吸蔵体として、これに水素原子核を吸蔵させることができる。
【０００９】
また、本発明のもう一つの形態では、電気分解槽を、電解液の流通が可能な開口部を有する電気絶縁性及び非磁性の仕切壁にて陽極槽と陰極槽とに区画して、陽極を陽極槽、陰極を陰極槽にそれぞれ配置し、陽極から開口部を通って陰極へと電解液中を流れる主電流及びイオン流が、陽極から開口部までの間と、開口部から陰極までの間とで、陽極と陰極を結ぶ直線に対して垂直方向に関しては、仕切壁を挟んで互いに逆向きの流れになるようにすることにより、互いに打ち消し合う磁界を生じさせる。
【００１０】
【発明の実施の形態】
次に、本発明の実施の形態を図面に基づいて詳細に説明する。
【００１１】
図３において、陽極１と陰極２とは電気分解槽１０の電解液３中に浸漬され、陽極１にプラスの電圧、陰極２に負の電圧が印加され、吸蔵やメッキ等のための電気分解が行われる。このとき、図２に示したような電磁力Ｆが発生する。今、電解液３を重水又は軽水、陰極２をパラジウム等の水素吸蔵体として、陰極２に水素（水素原子核）を吸蔵させる場合を想定すると、前述したように水素原子核はプラスの電荷をもっているため、電磁力Ｆの作用を受け、陰極２に向かおうとする運動が妨げられる。
【００１２】
そこで、陰極２側から陽極１側へ向かって電流を流して、電解液３中で図２とは逆方向の磁界を生じて電磁力Ｆと相殺させるため、陽極１及び陰極２に接触することなくこれらの中央の孔１ａ・２ａを貫通する被覆電線４が電解液３中に配線されている。そして、この被覆電線４にはダイオード５と可変抵抗６とが接続されて、陽極１及び陰極２とは分離した電気回路７が形成されている。この電気回路７の電源は、陽極１及び陰極２のための直流電源と共通で、電解液３中における陽極１と陰極２との間では、被覆電線４に流れる電流の方向は、陰極２側から陽極１側へ向かう方向となる。その電流値は可変抵抗６にて調整できる。また、陽極１については、それに印加する電圧を可変抵抗１１にて調整できるようになっている。
【００１３】
このような構成において、被覆電線４に陰極２側から陽極１側へ向かって電流が流れると、それによって生ずる磁界は、陽極１から陰極２へと電解液３中を流れる主電流及びイオン流によって生ずる磁界と逆向きであるため、後者の磁界による電磁力Ｆは相殺される。従って、この電磁力Ｆが水素原子核に与える力が無くなるので、水素吸蔵体である陰極２への水素原子核の吸蔵は効率よく行われる。
【００１４】
また、陽極１による電界を高めるため、その外側（陰極２側とは反対側）に、電気絶縁被覆された補助陽極８が電解液３中に配置されている。この補助陽極８はスイッチ９を介して直流電源に接続され、このスイッチ９をオンにすることによりプラスの直流電圧を印加される。補助電極８にて陽極１側の電圧を高めることにより、電気分解性能が向上する。
【００１５】
また、陽極１と陰極２との間に、図４に示すように複数の永久磁石１２を、陽極１と陰極２との中心線を中心として環状に配置し、陽極から陰極へと電解液中を流れる主電流及びイオン流に基づく磁界を、永久磁石１２の磁力による磁界によって打ち消してもよい。永久磁石１２に代えて電磁石を用いることもできる。
【００１６】
次に、図５に示す変形例について説明する。この例では、電気分解槽１０が、電気絶縁性及び非磁性の仕切壁１３にて陽極槽１０ａと陰極槽１０ｂとに区画され、陽極１は陽極槽１０ａ内、陰極２は陰極槽１０ｂ内にそれぞれ分けて配置され、これら陽極１と陰極２は仕切壁１３を挟んで互いに対向している。仕切壁１３には、陽極槽１０ａと陰極槽１０ｂとの間で電解液３を流通させる開口部１４が、陽極１と陰極２の対向位置から離れたところに設けられている。
【００１７】
この図５に示す実施例では、陽極１と陰極２との間で行われる電解液３の電気分解は、仕切壁１３の開口部１４を通じて行われので、陽極１から陰極２へと電解液３中を流れる主電流及びイオン流は開口部１４を通り抜ける。その主電流及びイオン流の流れは、陽極１と陰極２を結ぶ直線に対して垂直方向に関しては、陽極１から開口部１４までの間では実線の矢印Ｘで示す向き、開口部１４から陰極２までの間では、破線で矢印Ｙで示す向きとなり、仕切壁１３を挟んで互いに逆向きになる。従って、矢印Ｘで示す向きに流れる主電流及びイオン流によって生ずる磁界と、矢印Ｙで示す向きに流れる主電流及びイオン流によって生ずる磁界とは、互いに逆向きとなって打ち消し合うので、電磁力による影響を回避できる。陽極槽１０ａにて生成されたガスと陰極槽１０ｂにて生成されたガスは、別々に回収される。
【００１８】
本発明は電気分解方式にて水素吸蔵させる場合に限らず、メッキ処理などの電気分解を利用する技術にも適用できる。また、本発明によれば、主電流及びイオン流によって生ずる磁界を打ち消すことにより、電気分解効率が向上し、また従来に比べて電圧及び電流を高くすることが可能になるので、多量の水素ガスや酸素ガス等を得ることができるようになる。さらに、陰極に炭素系物質を用いた場合には、炭素の反応により炭素水素系ガスが多量に得られ、電解液として海水（ＮａＣｌの３％水溶液）を用いれば、多量のエチレン系ガスと酸素が得られるので、ガソリンや天然ガスに比べて安価な燃料の生成にも寄与できる、また、陰極にパラジウムを用い、電解液として海水に少量の重水を混入した場合にも、本発明によれば、水素原子核を陰極に十分に吸蔵させることが可能である。
【００１９】
【発明の効果】
本発明によれば、陽極から陰極へと電解液中を流れる主電流及びイオン流によって生ずる磁界に対して、これを打ち消す逆磁界を生じさせて電磁力を打ち消すので、その電磁力により水素吸蔵や分子の付着（メッキ等）が妨げられるようなことがなくなり、従って電気分解効率が向上し、しかも従来に比べて電圧及び電流を高くすることができるので、水素吸蔵効率やメッキ効率や各種ガスの製造効率等が大いに向上する。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】従来の電気分解方法の原理説明図である。
【図２】陽極から陰極へと電解液中を流れる電流によって電磁力が生ずることを示す説明図である。
【図３】本発明の方法の一例を示す説明図である。
【図４】陽極から陰極へと電解液中を流れる主電流及びイオン流に基づく磁界を、永久磁石の磁力による磁界によって打ち消す例において、永久磁石の配置を示す正面図である。
【図５】電気分解槽を仕切壁にて陽極槽と陰極槽とに区画した本発明の変形例の一部破断斜視図である。
【符号の説明】
１陽極
１ａ孔
２陰極
２ａ孔
３電解液
４被覆電線
５ダイオード
６可変抵抗
７電気回路
８補助陽極
９スイッチ
１０電気分解槽
１０ａ陽極槽
１０ｂ陰極槽
１１可変抵抗
１２永久磁石
１３仕切壁
１４開口部[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrolysis method and apparatus in which an anode and a cathode are immersed in an electrolytic solution to cause electrolysis, and atoms or molecules are occluded or attached to the cathode or / and the anode.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 1, in an electrolysis method in which an anode 1 and a cathode 2 are immersed in an electrolytic solution 3 and atoms or molecules are occluded or attached to the cathode 2 and / or the anode 1 by electrolysis, the anode 1 to the cathode 2 The main current flowing through the electrolyte 3 and the ion flow due to the ionized ions are generated. When this is regarded as a current flux as shown in FIG. 2, a circular magnetic field is generated by Fleming's left-hand rule, and an electromagnetic force directed perpendicular to the direction of the central axis of the current flux is derived by this magnetic field. Here, if the current density is J and the magnetic field density is B, the electromagnetic force F is F = J × B.
[0003]
Assuming that hydrogen is stored in a hydrogen storage material such as palladium, which is a cathode, using an electrolysis method, the hydrogen nucleus has a positive charge and therefore receives an electromagnetic force F. Further, the movement toward the hydrogen storage body such as palladium as the cathode is hindered, and as a result, the storage in the hydrogen storage body is suppressed. The same can be said for plating and the like.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention pays attention to such a phenomenon, and does not prevent hydrogen occlusion and adhesion of atoms and molecules (plating, etc.) by the electromagnetic force generated by the main current and ion flow flowing in the electrolyte from the anode to the cathode. The purpose is to.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is characterized in that a reverse magnetic field is applied to cancel the magnetic field generated by the main current and ion flow that flow in the electrolyte from the anode to the cathode.
[0006]
An electric circuit separated from these electrodes is provided between the anode and the cathode, and a current in a direction opposite to the main current and ion flow that flows in the electrolyte from the anode to the cathode is supplied to the electric circuit. A reverse magnetic field is generated that cancels the magnetic field based on the current and ion flow flowing therethrough.
[0007]
The reverse magnetic field that cancels the magnetic field based on the main current and ion flow that flows in the electrolytic solution may be generated by a magnetic force generated by a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. An auxiliary anode with an electrically insulating coating can be disposed outside the anode to increase the voltage on the anode side.
[0008]
The cathode can be used as a hydrogen storage material, and hydrogen nuclei can be stored therein.
[0009]
In another embodiment of the present invention, the electrolytic cell is divided into an anode cell and a cathode cell with an electrically insulating and nonmagnetic partition wall having an opening through which an electrolyte can flow, and an anode Are placed in the anode tank and the cathode in the cathode tank, respectively, and the main current and ion flow flowing in the electrolyte from the anode to the cathode through the opening are between the anode and the opening and from the opening to the cathode. In the direction perpendicular to the straight line connecting the anode and the cathode, the magnetic fields cancel each other are generated by causing the flow to be opposite to each other with the partition wall interposed therebetween.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0011]
In FIG. 3, the anode 1 and the cathode 2 are immersed in the electrolytic solution 3 of the electrolysis tank 10, and a positive voltage is applied to the anode 1 and a negative voltage is applied to the cathode 2 for electrolysis for occlusion and plating. Is done. At this time, an electromagnetic force F as shown in FIG. 2 is generated. Assuming that the electrolytic solution 3 is heavy or light water, the cathode 2 is a hydrogen storage material such as palladium, and the cathode 2 stores hydrogen (hydrogen nuclei), the hydrogen nuclei have a positive charge as described above. The movement toward the cathode 2 is hindered by the action of the electromagnetic force F.
[0012]
Therefore, in order to cancel the electromagnetic force F by causing a current to flow from the cathode 2 side toward the anode 1 side to generate a magnetic field in the opposite direction to that in FIG. 2 in the electrolyte 3, contact the anode 1 and the cathode 2. Instead, a covered electric wire 4 penetrating through these central holes 1 a and 2 a is wired in the electrolyte 3. The covered wire 4 is connected to a diode 5 and a variable resistor 6 to form an electric circuit 7 separated from the anode 1 and the cathode 2. The power source of the electric circuit 7 is common to the DC power source for the anode 1 and the cathode 2, and the direction of the current flowing through the covered wire 4 between the anode 1 and the cathode 2 in the electrolyte 3 is on the cathode 2 side. Direction toward the anode 1 side. The current value can be adjusted by the variable resistor 6. Further, the voltage applied to the anode 1 can be adjusted by the variable resistor 11.
[0013]
In such a configuration, when a current flows through the coated wire 4 from the cathode 2 side to the anode 1 side, the magnetic field generated thereby is caused by the main current and ion flow flowing through the electrolyte 3 from the anode 1 to the cathode 2. Since the direction is opposite to the generated magnetic field, the electromagnetic force F caused by the latter magnetic field is canceled out. Accordingly, since the electromagnetic force F exerts no force on the hydrogen nuclei, the hydrogen nuclei are efficiently stored in the cathode 2 which is a hydrogen occluding material.
[0014]
Further, in order to increase the electric field by the anode 1, an auxiliary anode 8 with an electrically insulating coating is disposed in the electrolytic solution 3 on the outer side (the side opposite to the cathode 2 side). The auxiliary anode 8 is connected to a DC power source via a switch 9, and a positive DC voltage is applied by turning on the switch 9. By increasing the voltage on the anode 1 side with the auxiliary electrode 8, the electrolysis performance is improved.
[0015]
A plurality of permanent magnets 12 are arranged between the anode 1 and the cathode 2 in an annular shape around the center line of the anode 1 and the cathode 2 as shown in FIG. The magnetic field based on the main current and ion flow flowing through the magnetic field may be canceled out by the magnetic field generated by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 12. An electromagnet can be used instead of the permanent magnet 12.
[0016]
Next, a modification shown in FIG. 5 will be described. In this example, the electrolysis tank 10 is partitioned into an anode tank 10a and a cathode tank 10b by an electrically insulating and nonmagnetic partition wall 13, and the anode 1 is in the anode tank 10a and the cathode 2 is in the cathode tank 10b. The anode 1 and the cathode 2 face each other across the partition wall 13. The partition wall 13 is provided with an opening 14 through which the electrolytic solution 3 flows between the anode cell 10 a and the cathode cell 10 b, away from the facing position of the anode 1 and the cathode 2.
[0017]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the electrolysis of the electrolytic solution 3 performed between the anode 1 and the cathode 2 is performed through the opening 14 of the partition wall 13, so that the electrolytic solution 3 is transferred from the anode 1 to the cathode 2. The main current and ion flow through it pass through the opening 14. The main current and ion flow are in the direction perpendicular to the straight line connecting the anode 1 and the cathode 2 between the anode 1 and the opening 14 as indicated by the solid arrow X, and from the opening 14 to the cathode 2. Up to the direction indicated by the broken line and indicated by the arrow Y, the directions are opposite to each other across the partition wall 13. Accordingly, the magnetic field generated by the main current and ion flow flowing in the direction indicated by the arrow X and the magnetic field generated by the main current and ion flow flowing in the direction indicated by the arrow Y cancel each other in opposite directions. The impact can be avoided. The gas generated in the anode tank 10a and the gas generated in the cathode tank 10b are collected separately.
[0018]
The present invention is not limited to the case where hydrogen is occluded by an electrolysis method, but can also be applied to a technique using electrolysis such as plating. Further, according to the present invention, by canceling the magnetic field generated by the main current and ion flow, the electrolysis efficiency can be improved and the voltage and current can be increased as compared with the prior art. And oxygen gas can be obtained. Further, when a carbon-based material is used for the cathode, a large amount of carbon-hydrogen gas is obtained by the reaction of carbon, and when seawater (a 3% aqueous solution of NaCl) is used as the electrolyte, a large amount of ethylene-based gas and oxygen According to the present invention, it is possible to contribute to the production of an inexpensive fuel compared to gasoline and natural gas, and also when palladium is used for the cathode and a small amount of heavy water is mixed in seawater as the electrolyte. It is possible to sufficiently store the hydrogen nuclei in the cathode.
[0019]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the electromagnetic force is canceled by generating a reverse magnetic field that cancels out the magnetic field generated by the main current and ion flow that flows in the electrolyte from the anode to the cathode. This prevents the adhesion of molecules (such as plating) from being hindered, thus improving the electrolysis efficiency and increasing the voltage and current compared to the conventional method. Manufacturing efficiency is greatly improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the principle of a conventional electrolysis method.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing that an electromagnetic force is generated by a current flowing in an electrolytic solution from an anode to a cathode.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the method of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a front view showing the arrangement of permanent magnets in an example in which a magnetic field based on a main current and an ionic current flowing in an electrolytic solution from an anode to a cathode is canceled by a magnetic field generated by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet.
FIG. 5 is a partially broken perspective view of a modified example of the present invention in which an electrolysis tank is partitioned into an anode tank and a cathode tank by a partition wall.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Anode 1a Hole 2 Cathode 2a Hole 3 Electrolyte 4 Covered electric wire 5 Diode 6 Variable resistance 7 Electric circuit 8 Auxiliary anode 9 Switch 10 Electrolysis tank 10a Anode tank 10b Cathode tank 11 Variable resistance 12 Permanent magnet 13 Partition wall 14 Opening

Claims

In an electrolysis method in which an anode and a cathode are immersed in an electrolytic solution in an electrolysis tank to cause electrolysis, the main current flowing through the electrolyte from the anode to the cathode and the magnetic field generated by the ion flow are canceled out. An electrolysis method comprising applying a reverse magnetic field.

An electric circuit separated from these electrodes is provided between the anode and the cathode, and a current in the opposite direction to the main current and ion flow that flows in the electrolyte from the anode to the cathode is passed through the electrolysis. The electrolysis method according to claim 1, wherein a reverse magnetic field that cancels a magnetic field based on a main current and an ion flow flowing in the liquid is generated.

The electrolysis method according to claim 1, wherein a reverse magnetic field that cancels a magnetic field based on a main current and an ionic current flowing in the liquid is generated by a magnetic force generated by a permanent magnet or an electromagnet.

The electrolysis method according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein an electric field is increased by disposing an auxiliary anode with an electrically insulating coating outside the anode.

5. The electrolysis method according to claim 1, wherein the cathode is used as a hydrogen storage material, and hydrogen nuclei are stored therein.

In an electrolysis method in which an anode and a cathode are immersed in an electrolytic solution of an electrolysis tank to cause electrolysis, the electrolysis tank has an electrically insulating and non-magnetic partition having an opening through which the electrolyte can flow. A wall is divided into an anode tank and a cathode tank, the anode is placed in the anode tank, the cathode is placed in the cathode tank, and the main current and ion flow flowing through the electrolyte from the anode to the cathode through the opening are In the direction perpendicular to the straight line connecting the anode and the cathode between the anode and the opening, and between the opening and the cathode, the flows are opposite to each other across the partition wall. An electrolysis method characterized by generating magnetic fields that cancel each other out.

The electrolysis method according to claim 6, wherein the cathode is used as a hydrogen storage material, and hydrogen nuclei are stored therein.

In an electrolysis apparatus in which an anode and a cathode are immersed in an electrolytic solution of an electrolysis tank to cause electrolysis, the reverse of this against the magnetic field generated by the main current and ion flow flowing in the liquid from the anode to the cathode. An electrolysis apparatus comprising means for applying a magnetic field.

An electric circuit that generates a reverse magnetic field that cancels out the magnetic field generated by the main current and ion flow that flows in the electrolyte from the anode to the cathode is provided between the anode and the cathode and separated from these electrodes. The electrolyzer according to claim 8.

An electrolysis apparatus in which an anode and a cathode are immersed in an electrolytic solution of an electrolysis tank to cause electrolysis. The electrolysis tank has an electrically insulating and non-magnetic partition having an opening through which the electrolyte can flow. A wall is divided into an anode tank and a cathode tank, the anode is disposed in the anode tank, the cathode is disposed in the cathode tank, and the main current and the ion flow flowing through the electrolyte from the anode to the cathode through the opening are respectively provided. In the direction perpendicular to the straight line connecting the anode and the cathode between the anode and the opening and between the opening and the cathode, the flows are opposite to each other across the partition wall. An electrolysis apparatus characterized in that magnetic fields that cancel each other are generated.