Abstract: The present disclosure is intended to provide an electrochemical compressor capable of preventing a liquid, such as water, from accumulating inside a piston. An electrochemical compressor according to an embodiment includes a housing chamber and a drain path. The housing chamber houses an elastic body that presses an electrochemical cell with its elastic force, and is configured to receive part of a gas compressed by the electrochemical cell, the part of the gas flowing into the housing chamber. In the electrochemical cell, the gas is supplied to an anode side of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane as a partition wall, and is compressed by being moved by electricity to a cathode side opposite to the anode side. The drain path allows a liquid in the housing chamber to be drained out of the housing chamber.

Abstract: The present disclosure is intended to prevent blockage of a path that allows a fluid to flow to a predetermined position where a pressure of the fluid is applied to a cell unit. An electrochemical compressor according to an embodiment includes first and second members, an elastic body, a fluid chamber, and a fluid path. The elastic body exerts an elastic force in a direction in which the first member and the second member are pushed apart from each other, and thereby presses a stack of electrochemical cells. The fluid chamber has the elastic body disposed therein and receives boosted gas flowing thereinto, the fluid chamber allowing the boosted gas to apply a pressure to push the first member and the second member apart from each other. The fluid path connects the fluid chamber to a flow path into which the boosted gas is discharged from the electrochemical cells.

Abstract: A method of controlling a hydrogen/oxygen producing system is a method of controlling a hydrogen/oxygen producing system including a water electrolysis apparatus that electrolyzes liquid water by applying current to an anode and a cathode, and a hydrogen gas pressurizing part that pressurizes hydrogen at downstream of the water electrolysis apparatus by applying current to a pressurizing part anode and a pressurizing part cathode. A controller controls current applied to the water electrolysis apparatus and current applied to the hydrogen gas pressurizing part. When the hydrogen/oxygen producing system is stopped, the controller performs first decompression processing such that a decompression speed of the pressurizing part cathode of the hydrogen gas pressurizing part does not exceed a basic decompression speed and performs second decompression processing such that a decompression speed of the anode of the water electrolysis apparatus does not exceed the decompression speed of the pressurizing part cathode.

Abstract: An electrochemical hydrogen compression system includes a hydrogen gas compression part that compresses hydrogen by applying a current between an anode and a cathode provided on two surfaces of a proton exchange film, and a supply pipeline that guides hydrogen discharged from a hydrogen supply source to the hydrogen gas compression part. The hydrogen gas compression part has an outlet for discharging unreacted hydrogen. The electrochemical hydrogen compression system further includes a film resistance meter and a voltmeter that acquire information related to a wet state of the proton exchange film, a fourth opening/closing part and a fifth opening/closing part that regulate discharge of hydrogen from the outlet, and a control device that controls the fourth opening/closing part and the fifth opening/closing part. The control device controls the fourth opening/closing part and the fifth opening/closing part based on at least the wet state of the proton exchange film.

Abstract: A water electrolysis system includes a water electrolysis cell, a power supply, an oxygen tank, and a control device. The water electrolysis cell has a solid polymer electrolyte membrane and an anode and a cathode provided on both sides of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane in a thickness direction. The water electrolysis cell electrolyzes water by applying a voltage between the anode and the cathode using the power supply. The control device makes the pressure of oxygen generated at the anode relatively higher than the pressure of hydrogen generated at the cathode according to the electrolysis of the water in the water electrolysis cell. The control device makes the pressure of the anode side of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane relatively higher than the pressure of the cathode side by supplying the oxygen from the oxygen tank to the anode before the electrolysis starts.

Abstract: The present disclosure is intended to provide an electrochemical compressor capable of preventing a liquid, such as water, from accumulating inside a piston. An electrochemical compressor according to an embodiment includes a housing chamber and a drain path. The housing chamber houses an elastic body that presses an electrochemical cell with its elastic force, and is configured to receive part of a gas compressed by the electrochemical cell, the part of the gas flowing into the housing chamber. In the electrochemical cell, the gas is supplied to an anode side of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane as a partition wall, and is compressed by being moved by electricity to a cathode side opposite to the anode side. The drain path allows a liquid in the housing chamber to be drained out of the housing chamber.

Abstract: An electrochemical hydrogen compression system includes a hydrogen gas compression part that compresses hydrogen by applying a current between an anode and a cathode provided on two surfaces of a proton exchange film, and a supply pipeline that guides hydrogen discharged from a hydrogen supply source to the hydrogen gas compression part. The hydrogen gas compression part has an outlet for discharging unreacted hydrogen. The electrochemical hydrogen compression system further includes a film resistance meter and a voltmeter that acquire information related to a wet state of the proton exchange film, a fourth opening/closing part and a fifth opening/closing part that regulate discharge of hydrogen from the outlet, and a control device that controls the fourth opening/closing part and the fifth opening/closing part. The control device controls the fourth opening/closing part and the fifth opening/closing part based on at least the wet state of the proton exchange film.

Abstract: The present disclosure is intended to prevent blockage of a path that allows a fluid to flow to a predetermined position where a pressure of the fluid is applied to a cell unit. An electrochemical compressor according to an embodiment includes first and second members, an elastic body, a fluid chamber, and a fluid path. The elastic body exerts an elastic force in a direction in which the first member and the second member are pushed apart from each other, and thereby presses a stack of electrochemical cells. The fluid chamber has the elastic body disposed therein and receives boosted gas flowing thereinto, the fluid chamber allowing the boosted gas to apply a pressure to push the first member and the second member apart from each other. The fluid path connects the fluid chamber to a flow path into which the boosted gas is discharged from the electrochemical cells.

Abstract: A method of controlling a hydrogen/oxygen producing system is a method of controlling a hydrogen/oxygen producing system including a water electrolysis apparatus that electrolyzes liquid water by applying current to an anode and a cathode, and a hydrogen gas pressurizing part that pressurizes hydrogen at downstream of the water electrolysis apparatus by applying current to a pressurizing part anode and a pressurizing part cathode. A controller controls current applied to the water electrolysis apparatus and current applied to the hydrogen gas pressurizing part. When the hydrogen/oxygen producing system is stopped, the controller performs first decompression processing such that a decompression speed of the pressurizing part cathode of the hydrogen gas pressurizing part does not exceed a basic decompression speed and performs second decompression processing such that a decompression speed of the anode of the water electrolysis apparatus does not exceed the decompression speed of the pressurizing part cathode.

Abstract: A water electrolysis device of a water electrolysis system includes an ion exchange membrane, an anode, and a cathode. A water supply unit supplies water to the water electrolysis device. A power supply applies a voltage to the anode and the cathode. A water removal unit separates water from the hydrogen gas discharged from the cathode. An electrochemical hydrogen compressor boosts the pressure of hydrogen gas. An oxygen gas discharge regulating unit makes the pressure of the oxygen gas generated in the anode higher than the pressure of the hydrogen gas generated in the cathode.

Abstract: A differential pressure type high pressure water electrolysis apparatus includes a seal member, which is sandwiched between a cathode side separator and a membrane electrode assembly, and surrounds a cathode electrode catalyst layer, and a pressure resistant member surrounding the seal member from an outer side thereof. A surface pressure applying member is interposed between the seal member and the pressure resistant member. The surface pressure applying member receives a pressing force from the seal member, and applies pressure to the membrane electrode assembly.

Abstract: A resin-framed membrane electrode assembly includes a membrane electrode assembly, a resin frame, and a clearance. The membrane electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a step. The first electrode is located on a first surface of the electrolyte membrane and includes a first catalyst layer and a first diffusion layer which are stacked on the first surface in a stacking direction. The resin frame is disposed outside the membrane electrode assembly. The clearance is provided between the resin frame and an outer edge surface of the first diffusion layer to be filled with a filler such that the filler reaches a level higher than a lower one of a height of the first diffusion layer or a height of the resin frame in cross section in the stacking direction.

Abstract: A resin-framed membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell includes a stepped membrane-electrode assembly and a resin frame member. The stepped membrane-electrode assembly includes a polymer electrolyte membrane, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The resin frame member surrounds an outer perimeter of the polymer electrolyte membrane and includes an inner perimeter base end and an inner protruding portion. The inner protruding portion includes a flat surface portion which extends to face an outer perimeter surface portion of a second surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane and on which an adhesive layer is provided so that the adhesive layer lies at least between the flat surface portion and the outer perimeter surface portion. The adhesive layer has a tapered shape in which a thickness of the adhesive layer increases from a tip of the inner protruding portion toward the inner perimeter base end.

Abstract: A differential pressure type high pressure water electrolysis apparatus includes a seal member, which is sandwiched between a cathode side separator and a membrane electrode assembly, and surrounds a cathode electrode catalyst layer, and a pressure resistant member surrounding the seal member from an outer side thereof. A surface pressure applying member is interposed between the seal member and the pressure resistant member. The surface pressure applying member receives a pressing force from the seal member, and applies pressure to the membrane electrode assembly.

Abstract: A resin-framed membrane-electrode assembly for a fuel cell includes a stepped membrane-electrode assembly, a resin frame, and a water-impermeable layer. The stepped membrane-electrode assembly includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, a first electrode provided on the first surface, and a second electrode provided on the second surface. The second surface has an exposed surface on an area outside of an outer periphery of the second electrode. The water-impermeable layer is disposed on the exposed surface of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane so that the exposed surface is bonded to an inner protruding portion of the resin frame via the water-impermeable layer and an adhesive and so that a region of the exposed surface where the water-impermeable layer is disposed is larger than a region of the water-impermeable layer where the adhesive is applied.

Abstract: A resin-framed membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell includes a stepped membrane electrode assembly and a resin frame member. The stepped membrane electrode assembly includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode electrode, and a cathode electrode. The resin frame member surrounds an outer periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and includes an inner protruding portion that protrudes from an inner peripheral base portion toward the cathode electrode and that has a thickness. The inner protruding portion has an adhesive application portion to which an adhesive is applied so as to surround a part of the inner protruding portion. The part is in contact with the stepped membrane electrode assembly. A thickness of a cathode diffusion layer is larger than a thickness of an anode diffusion layer.

Abstract: A fuel cell includes an electrolyte membrane electrode assembly and a resin frame member. The electrolyte membrane electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane, a first electrode and a second electrode. The resin frame member has a recess in which the first electrode, the electrolyte membrane, and a portion of a second electrode catalyst layer protruding from a second gas diffusion layer are disposed, and an insertion hole which is in communication with the recess and in which the second gas diffusion layer is inserted. A filling layer covering an outer edge portion of the second electrode catalyst layer and having an oxygen permeability of 2×105 ml/m2·24 hr·atm or less is formed at least in a space between an inner wall of the insertion hole and the second gas diffusion layer.

Abstract: An electrolyte membrane-electrode structure with a resin frame is provided with: an electrolyte membrane-electrode structure that is provided with an anode-side electrode and a cathode-side electrode, with a solid polymer electrolyte membrane being held therebetween; and a resin frame member that is arranged around the outer periphery of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane. An intermediate layer is continuously arranged: between an outer peripheral end portion of the cathode-side electrode and a first inner peripheral end portion of the resin frame member; on an outer peripheral end portion of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, said outer peripheral end portion being exposed outside the outer peripheral end portion of the cathode-side electrode; and between an outer peripheral end portion of the anode-side electrode and a second inner peripheral end portion of the resin frame member.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly includes an MEA structure unit and a resin frame member. The MEA structure unit includes a cathode, an anode, and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the cathode and the anode. The resin frame member is formed around the MEA structure unit, and joined to the MEA structure unit. An adhesive layer is provided between an outer marginal portion of the solid polymer electrolyte membrane extending outward beyond an outer end of a second gas diffusion layer and an inner extension of the resin frame member. The adhesive layer includes an overlapped portion overlapped on an outer marginal end of the second gas diffusion layer.

Abstract: A resin frame member of a resin frame equipped membrane electrode assembly includes a recess where adhesive is provided. An inner protrusion on an inner side of the recess abuts against an electrode catalyst layer protruding outward beyond a gas diffusion layer of a membrane electrode assembly. An outer protrusion on an outer side of the recess abuts against the outermost portion of a gas diffusion layer of the membrane electrode assembly such that a solid polymer electrolyte membrane is interposed between the outer protrusion and the gas diffusion layer.