Electrolytic Ozone Generator with Membrane Electrode

Abstract

An electrolytic ozone generator with membrane electrode includes a proton exchange membrane (2), an anode electrocatalyst layer (3), an anode diffusion layer (4), a flow field plate (5), a cathode structure (1) and a frame body (6). The frame boy (6) has a frame sealing groove (11) therein. A seal (7) is provided in the frame sealing groove (11). The frame body (6) is tightly connected with the cathode structure (1) through screws (9) so that the seal (7) is to seal the proton exchange membrane (2), the anode electrocatalyst layer (3) and the frame body (6) completely and tightly. The present invention has a simple structure, is cost-effective and provides a better seal effect to achieve mass production. After a period of operation, the electrolytic ozone generator still keeps an excellent seal, so that the electrolytic ozone generator can generate ozone steadily.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electrolytic ozone generator, and more particularly to an electrolytic ozone generator with membrane electrode with pure water as raw material.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There are many electrolytic ozone generators on the market, such as Chinese Utility Model Patent No. ZL200520113829.9 titled “anode structure of electrolytic ozone generator” and Chinese Patent Application No. 97122126.X titled “electrolytic ozone generator”. The aforesaid structures have the following shortcomings.

1. Ozone has a strong oxidized corrosion. During operation, the large-sized seal gets contact with ozone direct. The surface area is large, which is easy to be oxidized and corroded. After a period of time, the seal will be aging and its seal capability will lose to result in leakage of gas and source water.

2. There are many seals in the conventional ozone generator. This increases cost and the operation is complicated. No matter how small the ozone contact area is, the oxidization and corrosion cannot be avoided, so the seal may lose its efficacy.

3. After a long time, the seal made of silicon rubber is unable to resist ozone of high concentration and will harden to lose its resilience, without seal function.

4. After fastened, the fastening force provides two pressures to deform the seal and to the anode electrocataly layer for fastening the proton exchange membrane. The pressure to deform the seal and the pressure for the anode electrocataly layer to fasten the proton exchange membrane are different, which will cause the other pressure too large or too small. The seal capability and the anode electrocataly layer to fasten the proton exchange membrane are influenced, so the electrolytic ozone generator with membrane electrode is unstable and the volume of ozone may decrease.

5. After operation, the thickness of the anode electrocataly layer gradually thin, and the fastening plate cannot provide enough pressure and is unable to compensate for the lost pressure caused by the thin anode electrocataly layer, so the anode structure of the electrolytic ozone generator is loosened. The pressure to the anode electrocataly layer and the proton exchange membrane is not enough, so the volume of ozone generated by the electrolytic ozone generator with membrane electrode is decreased.

6. The conventional cathode structure comprises a cathode fixed plate, an anticorrosive plate, a frame, a deflector plate, a seal, an anode diffusion layer, a cathode electrocatalyst layer, which has too many parts. The production and assembly are complicated to influence its reliability and to increase cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an electrolytic ozone generator with membrane electrode which has a simple structure, is cost-effective and provides a better seal effect to achieve mass production. After a period of operation, the electrolytic ozone generator still keeps an excellent seal so that the electrolytic ozone generator can generate ozone steadily.

According to the present invention, there is provided an electrolytic ozone generator with membrane electrode which comprises a proton exchange membrane, an anode electrocatalyst layer, an anode diffusion layer, a flow field plate and a cathode structure. The electrolytic ozone generator further comprises a frame body. The frame boy has a frame sealing groove therein. A seal is provided in the frame sealing groove. The frame body is tightly connected with the cathode structure through screws so that the seal is to seal the proton exchange membrane, the anode electrocatalyst layer and the frame body completely and tightly.

Preferably, the frame body is tightly connected with the cathode structure through the screws so that the seal is to seal the proton exchange membrane, the anode electrocatalyst layer, the anode diffusion layer and the frame body completely and tightly.

Preferably, the frame body is tightly connected with the cathode structure through the screws so that the seal is to seal the proton exchange membrane, the anode electrocatalyst layer, the flow field plate and the frame body completely and tightly.

Preferably, the frame body is tightly connected with the cathode structure through the screws so that the seal is to seal the proton exchange membrane, the anode electrocatalyst layer, the anode diffusion layer, the flow field plate and the frame body completely and tightly.

Preferably, the seal is a fluoroplastic encapsulated O-ring.

Preferably, the frame sealing groove is a bevel groove.

Preferably, the frame body comprises a frame body periphery, a thin body and a conductive column encapsulating body to be one-piece. The conductive column encapsulating body comprises a conductive column therein. A fastening plate is provided on the conductive column. The fastening plate is tightly connected with the cathode structure through screws.

Preferably, the thin body has a curve shape, a V shape or a flat shape.

Preferably, the conductive column is inlayed in the conductive column encapsulating body.

Preferably, the cathode structure comprises a cathode fixed plate. The cathode fixed plate has a plurality of screw holes and a drainage hole. The cathode fixed plate further has deflector grooves. The deflector grooves are interconnected through a groove and communicates with the drainage hole. A cathode diffusion layer is provided on the cathode fixed plate. A cathode electrocatalyst layer is provided on the cathode diffusion layer.

Preferably, the deflector grooves are annular deflector grooves.

Preferably, the cathode fixed plate is made of a metallic titanium material.

Compared to the prior art, the present invention has the following effects.

1. The seal of the present invention adopts the fluoroplastic encapsulated O-ring. The fluoroplastic won't be oxidized and corroded by ozone and wraps the O-ring completely. After a period of operation, the electrolytic ozone generator still keeps its excellent seal and won't be oxidized and corroded by ozone to lose efficacy of seal. The electrolytic ozone generator with membrane electrode of the present invention generates ozone steadily to achieve a stable function.

2. The frame body is tightly connected with the cathode structure in a mechanical way. Through the frame sealing groove, the seal is extruded and deformed and the bevel grove makes the seal generate pressure, so that the seal gets contact with the proton exchange membrane, the anode electrocataly layer, the anode diffusion layer, the flow field plate and the frame body tightly so as to achieve a complete seal.

3. The frame body and the fastening plate are tightly connected with the cathode structure through screws in a mechanical tightening way. The tightening plate provides a tightening force to the conductive column. Because the inner of the seal is smooth after deformed, the tightening force passes the flow field plate and the anode diffusion layer through the conductive column and is transmitted to the anode electrocataly layer and the proton exchange membrane, providing a stable tightening force as required. Besides, the conductive column is applied with a force and has a gap relative to the flow field plate, so the periphery and the outer side of the conductive column will be deformed. Through the thin body to bear deformation, the outer side of the thin body won't be influenced by the screws and the tightening plate. In this way, the deformation and airtightness of the seal won't have a change. Therefore, through the thin body, the pressure to deform the seal and the pressure for the anode electrocataly layer to tighten the proton exchange membrane are different and separate, so that the electrolytic ozone generator keeps a stable function.

4. After operation, the thickness of the anode electrocatalyst layer will gradually be thinned. When the thickness is thin, the fastening plate applies a fastening force to the conductive column and the conductive column is moved downward through the thin body so as to compensate for the lost pressure because the thickness of the anode electrocatalyst layer becomes thin. This can prevent the anode electrocatalys layer and the ion exchange layer from not having enough fastening force to lower the ozone volume of the electrolytic ozone generator.

5. The cathode fixed plate of the cathode structure of the present invention has screw holes which are used to fasten the electrolytic ozone generator with membrane electrode and connect with the cathode electrode of direct current, having the same function of a conventional cathode fixed plate. The cathode fixed plate of the present invention has the deflector grooves to receive source water. The source water and the gas product convect and diffuse in the grooves to have conductive and cooling functions as the conventional deflector plate. The cathode fixed plate of the present invention has the drainage hole to drain the water of cathode and the gas production. The cathode fixed plate of the present invention is made of a metallic titanium material to prevent corrosion, without the need of corrosion-resisting material and corrosion-resisting treatment. The cathode fixed plate has fastening, guide, cooling and drainage functions, combining the functions of a conventional cathode fixed plate, an anticorrosive plate, a frame and a deflector plate. Compared to the conventional ozone generator, the present invention is simple in technique, is convenient for assembly and lowers the cost about 20-30%.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the frame body of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the cathode structure of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the cathode fixed plate of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 4, the electrolytic ozone generator with membrane electrode of the present invention comprises a cathode structure 1. The cathode structure 1 comprises a cathode fixed plate 1-5 which is made of a metallic titanium material. The cathode fixed plate 1-5 has a plurality of screw holes 1-1 which are evenly arranged around a circumferential portion of the cathode fixed plate 1-5. The cathode fixed plate 1-5 further has annular deflector grooves 1-2 and a transverse groove 1-4 which passes through the central portions of the annular deflector grooves 1-2. The annular deflector grooves 1-2 are interconnected through the groove 1-4 and communicate with a drainage hole 1-3. A cathode diffusion layer 1-6 is provided on the cathode fixed plate 1-5. A cathode electrocatalyst layer 1-7 is provided on the cathode diffusion layer 1-6. The cathode electrocatalyst layer 1-7 has a thickness ranging from 0.1 mm to 5 mm. A proton exchange membrane 2 (DuPont Nafion 117) is provided on the cathode electrocatalyst layer 1-7. An anode electrocatalyst layer 3 is provided on the proton exchange membrane 2, which is located opposite the cathode structure of the electrolytic ozone generator. The anode electrocatalyst layer 3 has a thickness ranging from 0.1 mm to 5 mm. The anode electrocatalyst layer 3 is a membrane layer made of lead dioxide. The way to produce is that anode electrocatalyst particles are placed on the proton exchange membrane 2 and then an anode diffusion layer 4 is provided to cover the anode electrocataly layer 3. The surface of the anode diffusion layer 4 is treated with a conductive and corrosion-resisting protection layer. The anode diffusion layer 4 is a porous titanium layer. The anode diffusion layer 4 has a pore diameter ranging from 10 μm to 500 μm. A flow field plate 5 is provided on the anode diffusion layer 4. One side of the flow field plate 5 gets contact with the anode diffusion layer 4 tightly. A seal 7 is used to seal the peripheral edges of the flow field plate 5, the anode diffusion layer 4 and the anode electrocataly layer 3. The seal 7 is a fluoroplastic encapsulated O-ring. A frame body 6 is placed on top of the seal 7. The frame body 6 has a frame sealing groove 11 therein. The frame sealing groove 11 is a bevel groove. The seal 7 is placed in the frame sealing groove 11. The frame body 6 is tightly connected with the cathode fixed plate 1-5 of the cathode structure 1 through screws 9 in a mechanical tightening way. Through the frame sealing groove 11, the seal 7 is extruded and deformed to get contact with the proton exchange membrane 2, the anode electrocataly layer 3, the anode diffusion layer 4, the flow field plate 5 and the frame body 6 tightly so as to achieve a complete seal. The frame body 6 comprises a frame body periphery 6-3, a thin body 6-2 and a conductive column encapsulating body 6-1 to be one-piece. The thin body 6-2 is disposed between the frame body periphery 6-3 and the conductive column encapsulating body 6-1. A conductive column 13 is inlayed in the conductive column encapsulating body 6-1. The thin body 6-2 is resilient and extendable and has a curve shape, a V shape or a flat shape. A fastening plate 8 is placed on the conductive column 13. The fastening plate 8 is tightly connected with the cathode fixed plate 1-5 of the cathode structure 1 through screws 10 in a mechanical tightening way. The tightening plate 8 provides a force to the center of the frame body 6. Through the thin body 6-2 to generate deformation, the seal 7 won't be influenced by the screws 10 of the tightening plate 8 to cause change of seal capability.

The electrolytic ozone generator with membrane electrode of the present invention has a life span more than 10000 hours.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electrolytic ozone generator with membrane electrode that comprises a proton exchange membrane (2), an anode electrocatalyst layer (3), an anode diffusion layer (4), a flow field plate (5) and a cathode structure (1). The characteristics of the design are that the electrolytic ozone generator further comprising a frame body (6), the frame boy (6) having a frame sealing groove (11) therein, a seal (7) provided in the frame sealing groove (11), the frame body (6) being tightly connected with the cathode structure (1) through screws (9) so that the seal (7) is to seal the proton exchange membrane (2), the anode electrocatalyst layer (3) and the frame body (6) completely and tightly.

2. The electrolytic ozone generator with membrane electrode as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame body (6) is tightly connected with the cathode structure (1) through the screws (9) so that the seal (7) is to seal the proton exchange membrane (2), the anode electrocatalyst layer (3), the anode diffusion layer (4) and the frame body (6) completely and tightly.

3. The electrolytic ozone generator with membrane electrode as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame body (6) is tightly connected with the cathode structure (1) through the screws (9) so that the seal (7) is to seal the proton exchange membrane (2), the anode electrocatalyst layer (3), the flow field plate (5) and the frame body (6) completely and tightly.

4. The electrolytic ozone generator with membrane electrode as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame body (6) is tightly connected with the cathode structure (1) through the screws (9) so that the seal (7) is to seal the proton exchange membrane (2), the anode electrocatalyst layer (3), the anode diffusion layer (4), the flow field plate (5) and the frame body (6) completely and tightly.

5. The electrolytic ozone generator with membrane electrode as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seal (7) is a fluoroplastic encapsulated O-ring.

6. The electrolytic ozone generator with membrane electrode as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame sealing groove (11) is a bevel groove.

7. The electrolytic ozone generator with membrane electrode as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame body (6) comprises a frame body periphery (6-3), a thin body (6-2) and a conductive column encapsulating body (6-1) to be one-piece, the conductive column encapsulating body (6-1) comprising a conductive column (13) therein, a fastening plate (8) provided on the conductive column (13), the fastening plate (8) being tightly connected with the cathode structure (1) through screws (10).

8. The electrolytic ozone generator with membrane electrode as claimed in claim 7, wherein the thin body (6-2) has a curve shape, a V shape or a flat shape.

9. The electrolytic ozone generator with membrane electrode as claimed in claim 7, wherein the conductive column (13) is inlayed in the conductive column encapsulating body (6-1).

10. The electrolytic ozone generator with membrane electrode as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cathode structure (1) comprises a cathode fixed plate (1-5), the cathode fixed plate (1-5) having a plurality of screw holes (1-1) and a drainage hole (1-3), the cathode fixed plate (1-5) further having deflector grooves (1-2), the deflector grooves (1-2) being interconnected through a groove (1-4) and communicating with the drainage hole (1-3), a cathode diffusion layer (1-6) provided on the cathode fixed plate (1-5), a cathode electrocatalyst layer (1-7) provided on the cathode diffusion layer (1-6).

11. The electrolytic ozone generator with membrane electrode as claimed in claim 8, wherein the deflector grooves (1-2) are annular deflector grooves.

12. The electrolytic ozone generator with membrane electrode as claimed in claim 8, wherein the cathode fixed plate (1-5) is made of a metallic titanium material.