# US 12,180,598 B2 · Electrochemical reaction device and electrochemical reaction method

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- Number: US 12,180,598 B2
- Document ID: US12180598B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/903,186
- Filed: 2022-09-06
- Published: 2023-08-03
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2022-01-28
- Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba; Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation
- Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba; Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation
- Inventors: Norihiro Yoshinaga; Shinichi Sekiguchi; Naoki Syoji; Ryota Kitagawa; Yoji Nakamori; Hideaki Sato; Yoshitsune Sugano; Tetsuharu Tanoue
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12180598B2

## CPC

- C25B 1/04: by electrolysis of water
- C25B 9/05: Pressure cells
- C25B 9/19: with diaphragms
- C25B 9/73: of the filter-press type
- C25B 13/02: characterised by shape or form
- C25B 15/02: Process control or regulation
- C25B 15/085: {Removing impurities}
- C25B 15/087: {Recycling of electrolyte to electrochemical cell}
- C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B)

## Abstract

An electrochemical reaction device of an embodiment includes: an electrochemical reaction cell 1 that includes: a first electrode having a first flow path, a second electrode having a second flow path, and a separating membrane sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode; a liquid tank that contains a liquid to be treated supplied to the second flow path of the second electrode; a first pipe that connects an inlet of the second flow path and the liquid tank; a second pipe that connects an outlet of the second flow path and the liquid tank; and a backflow suppression mechanism that is provided in the second pipe to prevent backflow of the liquid to be treated flowing in the second pipe or reduce a backflow speed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electrochemical reaction device, comprising:
an electrochemical reaction cell that includes a first electrode having a first flow path, a second electrode having a second flow path, and a separating membrane sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode and having a polymer electrolyte membrane;
a liquid to be treated supply system that includes a pure-water production unit to produce pure water and an ultrapure-water production unit to produce ultrapure water by treating the pure water supplied from the pure-water production unit, and supplies the ultrapure water to the electrochemical reaction cell as a liquid to be treated; and
a liquid tank configured to receive the ultrapure water to be supplied from the electrochemical reaction cell and to be treated in the electrochemical reaction cell and the pure water to be supplied from the pure-water production unit, wherein
the liquid to be treated supply system includes a pure water and treated ultrapure water backflow suppression mechanism that suppresses backflow of the pure water and the treated ultrapure water in the liquid tank, from the liquid tank into the electrochemical reaction cell.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein
the liquid tank has an overflow structure with two tanks separated by an overflow wall into a low water level tank portion and a high water level tank portion,
a pipe that supplies the pure water from the pure-water production unit to the ultrapure-water production unit is connected to the low water level tank portion of the liquid tank, and the pure water is supplied to the ultrapure-water production unit through the low water level tank portion of the liquid tank, and
a pipe that returns the liquid to be treated from the electrochemical reaction cell to the liquid tank is connected to the high water level tank portion of the liquid tank.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electrochemical reaction device according to claim 1, wherein
a supply pipe that supplies the pure water from the pure-water production unit to the ultrapure-water production unit is directly connected to the ultrapure-water production unit, and
a pipe that returns the liquid to be treated from the electrochemical reaction cell to the liquid tank is connected to the liquid tank, and a pipe that supplies the liquid to be treated from the liquid tank to the electrochemical reaction cell is connected to the supply pipe at an upstream side than the ultrapure-water production unit through a check valve.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein
a pipe that supplies the liquid to be treated from the liquid tank to the electrochemical reaction cell is connected to the ultrapure-water production unit through a pump and an injector, and
a water supply port that discharges the pure water from the pure-water production unit is connected to the injector.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein
the liquid tank has:
a first inlet through which the ultrapure water to be supplied from the electrochemical reaction cell flows; and
a second inlet through which the pure water to be supplied from the pure-water production unit flows.