Hydrogen production apparatus and hydrogen production method provided with third electrode

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hydrogen production apparatus and a hydrogen production method which, in an electrolysis cell using a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, do not require a high cost, have no fear of breakage even when a pressure difference between hydrogen gas and oxygen gas is large, and has no necessity of having a distance between electrodes for separation of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas made long, resulting in little heat loss.SOLUTION: Provided are a hydrogen production apparatus and a hydrogen production method. In the hydrogen production apparatus, a first electrode 11 containing nickel hydroxide, a second electrode 12 containing a hydrogen-storing alloy, a third electrode 13 containing manganese dioxide, and a separator 14 which permits the passage of ions but not electrons and is interposed between the first electrode 11, the second electrode 12, and the third electrode 13, are housed inside a closed container. The oxygen gas generated from the first electrode 11 by an oxidation-reduction reaction between the first electrode 11 and the third electrode 13, and hydrogen gas generated from the second electrode 12 by an oxidation-reduction reaction between the second electrode 12 and the third electrode 13 are taken out from the closed container alternately and independently with a time difference.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6