Hydrogen gas producing apparatus using photocatalyst

Abstract

In an apparatus producing hydrogen gas by the decomposition reaction of water using photocatalyst, its miniaturization is achieved while suppressing the decrease of production efficiency of hydrogen gas as low as possible or improving the efficiency. The apparatus 1 comprises a container portion 2 receiving water W; a photocatalyst member 3 immersed in the water, having photocatalyst which generates excited electrons and positive holes when irradiated with light, causes a decomposition reaction of the water and generates hydrogen gas; a light source 4 emitting the light irradiated to the photocatalyst member; and a heat exchange device 7 conducting waste heat of the light source to the water in the container portion; wherein the water to be decomposed on the photocatalyst member in the container portion is warmed by the waste heat of the light source by the heat exchange device.

Claims

1. A hydrogen gas producing apparatus, comprising: a container portion which receives water, a photocatalyst member placed in the container portion to be immersed in the water therein, which member has photocatalyst which generates excited electrons and positive holes when it is irradiated with light, causes a decomposition reaction of the water which decomposes water into hydrogen and oxygen and generates hydrogen gas; a light source emitting the light which is irradiated to the photocatalyst member and induces the decomposition reaction of the water; and a heat exchange device which conducts waste heat of the light source to the water in the container portion; wherein the water to be decomposed on the photocatalyst member in the container portion is warmed by the waste heat of the light source by the heat exchange device, and wherein the photocatalyst member comprises plural plate members in which the photocatalyst is fixed in layer in a surface direction of each of the plate members, the plate members being arranged so that their respective surfaces are mutually faced and inclined to become closer to one another as those are farther away from the light source, and an incident angle of the light emitted from the light source to each surface of the plate members is larger than 0°.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source is operated with electric power obtained by solar power generation and emits the light irradiated to the photocatalyst member while waste heat in the operation of the light source is conducted to the water by the heat exchange device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a density of the light irradiated to the photocatalyst member is adjusted at or lower than a density which gives a photocatalyst efficiency more than a predetermined value, which efficiency is a ratio of an amount of the generated hydrogen gas per photon quantity entering into the photocatalyst.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to confine the light emitted from the light source in the container portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the container portion has a light reflecting mechanism for confining the light emitted from the light source in the container portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the photocatalyst member is a member on which the photocatalyst is formed in layer, and the photocatalyst layer is formed in a thickness that not all the light is absorbed in the photocatalyst when the light enters into the photocatalyst layer for the first time, and the light which penetrated through the photocatalyst member is irradiated again to the photocatalyst member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container portion has a heat insulation mechanism which suppresses heat dissipation from the water to outside of the container portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the layer of the photocatalyst of the photocatalyst member is formed in a thickness which increases as it is farther away from the light source.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the photocatalyst member is configured to satisfy a condition that the light emitted from the light source reflects on the plate members twice or more.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an emission wavelength of the light source is selected to fall in a wavelength band in which a quantum yield of the photocatalyst exceeds beyond a predetermined threshold value.

11. A hydrogen gas producing apparatus, comprising: a container portion which receives water, a photocatalyst member placed in the container portion to be immersed in the water therein, which member has photocatalyst which generates excited electrons and positive holes when it is irradiated with light, causes a decomposition reaction of the water which decomposes water into hydrogen and oxygen and generates hydrogen gas; a light source emitting the light which is irradiated to the photocatalyst member and induces the decomposition reaction of the water; and a heat exchange device which conducts waste heat of the light source to the water in the container portion; wherein the water to be decomposed on the photocatalyst member in the container portion is warmed by the waste heat of the light source by the heat exchange device, wherein the light source is operated with electric power obtained by solar power generation and emits the light irradiated to the photocatalyst member while waste heat in the operation of the light source is conducted to the water by the heat exchange device, and wherein a rated output of the light source is adjusted so that a light emitting efficiency of the light source will be maximized when a current is supplied to the light source at a rated current value of the solar power generation.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a density of the light irradiated to the photocatalyst member is adjusted at or lower than a density which gives a photocatalyst efficiency more than a predetermined value, which efficiency is a ratio of an amount of the generated hydrogen gas per photon quantity entering into the photocatalyst.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is configured to confine the light emitted from the light source in the container portion.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the container portion has a light reflecting mechanism for confining the light emitted from the light source in the container portion.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the photocatalyst member is a member on which the photocatalyst is formed in layer, and the photocatalyst layer is formed in a thickness that not all the light is absorbed in the photocatalyst when the light enters into the photocatalyst layer for the first time, and the light which penetrated through the photocatalyst member is irradiated again to the photocatalyst member.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the container portion has a heat insulation mechanism which suppresses heat dissipation from the water to outside of the container portion.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein an emission wavelength of the light source is selected to fall in a wavelength band in which a quantum yield of the photocatalyst exceeds beyond a predetermined threshold value.

18. A hydrogen gas producing apparatus, comprising: a container portion which receives water, a photocatalyst member placed in the container portion to be immersed in the water therein, which member has photocatalyst which generates excited electrons and positive holes when it is irradiated with light, causes a decomposition reaction of the water which decomposes water into hydrogen and oxygen and generates hydrogen gas; a light source emitting the light which is irradiated to the photocatalyst member and induces the decomposition reaction of the water; and a heat exchange device which conducts waste heat of the light source to the water in the container portion; wherein the water to be decomposed on the photocatalyst member in the container portion is warmed by the waste heat of the light source by the heat exchange device, wherein the light source is operated with electric power obtained by solar power generation and emits the light irradiated to the photocatalyst member while waste heat in the operation of the light source is conducted to the water by the heat exchange device, and wherein the light source includes two or more LEDs, and a number of operated LEDs in the two or more LEDs is changed so that a light emitting efficiency of the light source will be maximized in accordance with an output current of the solar power generation.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein a density of the light irradiated to the photocatalyst member is adjusted at or lower than a density which gives a photocatalyst efficiency more than a predetermined value, which efficiency is a ratio of an amount of the generated hydrogen gas per photon quantity entering into the photocatalyst.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the apparatus is configured to confine the light emitted from the light source in the container portion.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the container portion has a light reflecting mechanism for confining the light emitted from the light source in the container portion.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the photocatalyst member is a member on which the photocatalyst is formed in layer, and the photocatalyst layer is formed in a thickness that not all the light is absorbed in the photocatalyst when the light enters into the photocatalyst layer for the first time, and the light which penetrated through the photocatalyst member is irradiated again to the photocatalyst member.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the container portion has a heat insulation mechanism which suppresses heat dissipation from the water to outside of the container portion.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein an emission wavelength of the light source is selected to fall in a wavelength band in which a quantum yield of the photocatalyst exceeds beyond a predetermined threshold value.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of one embodiment of a hydrogen gas producing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

(2) FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the examples of the wavelength characteristics of absorptivity and quantum yield of a typical photocatalyst (SrTiO.sub.3) and the emission wavelength characteristic of a light source (InGaN series LED), used for the hydrogen gas producing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The data were measured by the inventors of the present embodiment.

(3) FIG. 3A is a graph chart showing the change of the photocatalyst efficiency against the density of the light (light intensity) irradiated to photocatalyst.

(4) FIG. 3B is a graph chart showing the change of the photocatalyst efficiency against the temperature in water contacted to photocatalyst, obtained through experiments. The data were measured by the inventors of the present embodiment.

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of another embodiment of the hydrogen gas producing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

(6) FIG. 5A is a schematic drawing of a photocatalyst layer of a photocatalyst member in the hydrogen gas producing apparatus according to the present embodiment, showing a situation that irradiated light which penetrates a photocatalyst layer once is reflected by a reflector and irradiated again to the photocatalyst layer. FIG. 5B is a schematic drawing of another embodiment of the hydrogen gas producing apparatus according to the present embodiment, showing an example that plural photocatalyst members are arranged in a V-shape form. FIG. 5C is a drawing explaining the relation between the directional angle θ of the range of the rays of the light emitted from the light source in FIG. 5A, and the included angle ψ of the photocatalyst members arranged in the V-shape form. FIG. 5D is a schematic drawing of the embodiment where more advantageous characteristic structure is added to the structure of FIG. 5A.

(7) FIG. 6 is graph charts of the change of the raising rates of the water temperature to itself in the structure of warming water with the waste heat of a light source by a heat exchange device as shown in FIGS. 1, 5A, and 5C, obtained by the simulation, wherein the cases where the container portion is equipped with the heat insulation mechanism and without it are shown. The data were obtained through simulations by the inventors of the present embodiment.

(8) FIG. 7A is a graph chart showing the change of the light emission efficiency of a light source against the current supplied thereto, where the light source was formed by four LEDs being connected in parallel to an electric source, obtained by experiment. FIG. 7B is a graph chart showing the change of the light emission efficiency of a light source to the current supplied thereto, where the light source was formed by one LED being connected to an electric source. The data were obtained through experiments by the inventors of the present embodiment.

(9) FIG. 8A-8C are drawings showing schematically circuit configurations of a light source in which the number of LEDs operated in accordance with the amount of generated current of a solar panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF EMBODIMENTS

(10) Basic Structure of Hydrogen Gas Producing Apparatus

(11) Referring to FIG. 1, the hydrogen gas producing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, in its basic structure, has a container portion 2, having an arbitrary form, which receives water (liquid) W; a photocatalyst member 3 which carries photocatalyst and is contacted to or immersed in the water W in the container portion 2; a light source device 4 which emits light to be irradiated to the photocatalyst member 3; a heat exchange device 7 for warming the water W stored in the container portion 2 by the waste heat of the light source device 4; and a gas pipe 8 which sends generated hydrogen gas and oxygen gas to a separator.

(12) In the structure of this hydrogen gas producing apparatus 1, the photocatalyst member 3 is a member carrying photocatalyst material which, when irradiated with light, can absorb photons, generate excited electrons and positive holes, cause the decomposition reaction of water where the water is reduced, and generate hydrogen gas, and the member may be formed of the photocatalyst material itself, or be prepared by fixing photocatalyst material on an arbitrary board or substrate. The photocatalyst member 3 may be typically formed in a plate form as illustrated, but not limited thereto if the photocatalyst material can contact to the water W. For instance, in one manner, the photocatalyst member 3 may be formed by placing the powder of a photocatalyst material over a glass substrate or a ceramic board, and heating and sintering it. Or, a substrate formed by hardening photocatalyst material in a plate form may be employed as the photocatalyst member 3. For the photocatalyst material used in this embodiment, as noted above, any material which can generate hydrogen gas from water through the irradiation of light, used in this field, may be used, and concretely, for example, SrTiO.sub.3 (strontium titanate), Ga.sub.2O.sub.3 (gallium oxide), GaN (gallium nitride), NaTaO.sub.3 (sodium tantalate), TiO.sub.2 (titanium oxide), etc. can be used. As shown in FIG. 2, the photocatalyst material typically exhibits a wavelength characteristic that, when the wavelength of the irradiated light is changed shorter from a long wavelength, its absorptivity and quantum yield increase rapidly near a certain wavelength (The generated amounts of excited electrons and positive holes because of the absorption of photons increase in the wavelength band in which the absorptivity and quantum yield increase.).

(13) The light source device 4 may be an arbitrary light source which emits the light of a wavelength which is absorbed by the photocatalyst material on the above-mentioned photocatalyst member 3 to generate excited electrons and positive holes. In this respect, more in detail, as in FIG. 2 noted above, the absorptivity and quantum yield of the photocatalyst material have wavelength characteristics which increase when the light in the wavelength band shorter than a certain wavelength is irradiated, and therefore, for the light source device 4, a light emitting element or a light-emitting object which generates the light in the wavelength band where the absorptivity and quantum yield of the photocatalyst material of the photocatalyst member 3 increase is chosen preferably. Concretely, for the light emitting element or light-emitting object of the light source, various light emission diodes (LED) using indium gallium nitride (InGaN), diamond (ultraviolet), gallium nitride (GaN)/aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) (ultraviolet, blue), zinc selenide (blue), zinc oxide (near-ultraviolet, purple, blue), etc. may be employed. For instance, in a case that SrTiO.sub.3 is used as photocatalyst material of FIG. 2, since its absorptivity and quantum yield will increase when the wavelength of the irradiated light is less than 380 nm, an LED of InGaN series which has a peak of an emission wavelength in 360-370 nm can advantageously be used for the light-emitting object of the light source device 4.

(14) Then, in the hydrogen gas producing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the heat exchange device 7 for warming the water W in contact with the photocatalyst member 3 in the container portion 2 with the waste heat of the light source device 4 as noted above is provided, and thereby, both the miniaturization of the apparatus and improvement of the efficiency of hydrogen gas production are achieved while suppressing the loss of energy as low as possible.

(15) In this respect as noted in the column of “SUMMARY”, according to research of the inventors of the present embodiment, it has been found out through the experiment described below that the efficiency of the hydrogen gas production by photocatalyst decreases when the density of the light (light intensity) irradiated to the photocatalyst is increased while the same efficiency raises when the temperature of the water which is the reactant is raised.

(16) In the experiment, a photocatalyst member prepared by spreading and sintering 100 mg SrTiO.sub.3 (strontium titanate) on a glass plate was immersed in 200 ml of water put in a container made of silica glass, and then irradiated with 365 nm light at various light intensities by LED (maximum output 0.691 W) of a spot type while adjusting water temperature to various values with a heater, and thereby, hydrogen gas generated by the induced decomposition reaction of water was collected, and the amount of the gas was measured. The irradiated area of the light was 2 cm.sup.2. The output of the LED (the irradiated light intensity) was adjusted while measuring it with a power meter (Ophir Japan 50(150)A-BB26). The amount of the irradiated light to the photocatalyst (incident light amount) was computed by the following:
Incident light amount (mmol.Math.cm.sup.−2.Math.hr.sup.−1)=P×λ×3600/(A.Math.h.Math.c)
Here, P is an LED output (W.Math.cm.sup.−2); λ, wavelength=365 (nm); A, Avogadro's number (mol.sup.−1); h, Planck constant (J.Math.s); and c, the velocity of light (m.Math.s.sup.−1). And, the efficiency of hydrogen gas production (photocatalyst efficiency) was computed by the following;
Photocatalyst efficiency (%)=[Generated amount of hydrogen gas H.sub.2×2]/[Incident light amount]
Here, the unit of the generated amount of hydrogen gas is mmol.Math.cm.sup.−2.Math.hr.sup.−1 (The amount of reduction of hydrogen ions is twice of the hydrogen gas.).

(17) In the results, first, referring to FIG. 3A, when the LED output was changed to be at 5%, 10%, 20%, 60%, and 100% of its maximum output under the condition of the water temperature of 25° C. (room temperature), the photocatalyst efficiency fell with the increase of the LED output, i.e., the density of the irradiated light. This is considered because, even if the densities of excited electrons and positive holes generated in the photocatalyst are increased by the increase of the light intensity, the speed of the decomposition reaction of water with the excited electrons and positive holes is slow, and thus, the excited electrons and positive holes disappear by their recombination before these react to water, respectively. That is, it shows that the ratio of photon energy which contributes to the generating of hydrogen gas decreases when the density of the light irradiated to the photocatalyst is increased. On the other hand, referring to FIG. 3B, when the water temperature was raised to 30° C., 40° C., 50° C., and 60° C. while maintaining the LED output at its maximum output, the photocatalyst efficiency increased with the rise of the water temperature. This is considered because the speed of the reaction of the electrons and water by the photocatalyst is increased by the heating.

(18) Thus, considering the results in FIGS. 3A and 3B together, it has been shown for the hydrogen gas producing apparatus that, in a case that the density of the light irradiated to photocatalyst is increased so that the space occupied by the photocatalyst will be made smaller for miniaturizing the apparatus, if the water temperature is a normal temperature, the efficiency of hydrogen gas production, namely, the produced amount of hydrogen gas per photon energy supplied decreases and thus the energy efficiency decreases, and on the other hand, if the temperature of the water, which is the reactant, is raised, it is expected that the decrease in the efficiency of the hydrogen gas production due to the increase in the irradiated light density can be compensated or the efficiency can be maintained. Moreover, with respect to the warming of water, normally, a light source device emitting the light irradiated to photocatalyst discharges waste heat with the light, and if the waste heat of the light source device can be used for the warming of water, it becomes unnecessary to prepare a separate heater so that no energy will be needed to be supplied to a heater, and thus, the saving of energy for hydrogen gas production is attained. From the above knowledge, a heat exchange device 7 as described above is installed in the hydrogen gas producing apparatus 1.

(19) The heat exchange device 7 may be realized in an arbitrary from as long as it can achieve the warming of water in the container portion 2 with the waste heat of the light source device 4. In one manner, as schematically drawn in FIG. 1, a heat exchanger 7a is installed adjacent the light source device 4, and then, the water may be warmed by pressure-feeding and circulating the water in the container portion 2 through a water pipe 7b to the heat exchanger 7 with a pump 7c. Furthermore, in another manner, as schematically drawn in FIG. 4, the light source device 4 equipped with the heat exchanger 7 and waterproofed is immersed in the water W in the container portion 2, and thereby, the water W may be warmed with the waste heat of the light source device 4. In that case, for example, a stirrer 7e for generating the convection in the water W in the container portion 2 may be provided. Or, the light source device 4 may be placed on the bottom of the container portion 2 while the photocatalyst member 3 may be placed on the upper part of the container portion 2, and thereby, the water warmed by the light source device 4 rises up toward the upper part of the container portion 2. According to those structures using a heat exchanger, it is advantageous in that the warming of water is achieved more promptly than the case that only the radiant heat from a light source is used (It is advantageous in that the warming of water is achieved promptly also when the electric power supplied to the light source device 4 is changed (such as when the electric power is sent from the power production source with renewable energy).).

(20) In the above-mentioned structure, the density of the light (light intensity) irradiated on the photocatalyst member 3 may be chosen so that the photocatalyst efficiency may become comparatively high, as shown in FIG. 3A. For instance, when an area which receives the light irradiated to the photocatalyst member 3 is A cm.sup.2, the optical power P.sub.L(W) from the light source device 4 may be adjusted to be 0.1×A (W) so that the light intensity will be at or below 0.1 W/cm.sup.2, giving a high photocatalyst efficiency. What should be understood is that the decrease in the photocatalyst efficiency due to the raising of the light intensity can be compensated by the rise of the water temperature.

(21) The light source device 4 of the apparatus 1 of the above-mentioned this embodiment operates with electric power, which may be preferably given from the energy of the sunlight origin, generated by a solar panel, or other renewable energy. For that, the light source device 4 may be designed so as to receive the supply of electric power from a power production source with renewable energy, such as a solar panel 5, through a power line 6.

(22) In the operation of the hydrogen gas producing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the light source device 4 is supplied with electric power from the power production source of a solar panel 5, etc., and emits light, and the light is irradiated to the photocatalyst material on the photocatalyst member 3 in the container portion 2. Further, the water W in the container portion 2 is warmed by the heat exchange device 7 with the waste heat of the light source device 4. Then, in the photocatalyst material, the light is absorbed and excited electrons and positive holes are generated, and, by the excited electrons, hydrogen of the water is reduced to form hydrogen gas while, by the positive holes, oxygen of the water is oxidized to form oxygen gas. After that, the generated hydrogen gas and oxygen gas pass through the gas pipe 8, and are sent to a separating equipment (not shown), where the hydrogen gas is separated and collected. The separating equipment may be an arbitrary separating equipment, using, for instance, hydrogen separating membrane used in this field.

(23) Improvement of Structure of Hydrogen Gas Producing Apparatus

(24) The structure of the hydrogen gas producing apparatus of this embodiment may be variously improved so that the light and waste heat, emitted from the light source device 4, may contribute to the production of hydrogen gas more effectively, as illustrated below.

(25) (a) Structure Improving the Utilization Efficiency of the Light from the Light Source Device 4

(26) In order to make it possible to use the light from the light source device 4 more effectively in the production of hydrogen gas, in one manner, there may be provided a structure for confining the light L from the light source device 4 in the container portion 2. For instance, a light reflecting mechanism, such as a reflective mirror, may be prepared adjacent an inner wall of the container portion 2 or the photocatalyst member 3. In that case, the light, which hits upon the inner wall of the container portion 2 directly from the light source device 4 is expected to reflect there and enter into the photocatalyst member 3. Also, as schematically drawn in FIG. 5A, it may be designed that a part of the light L irradiated to the photocatalyst member 3, penetrating through the photocatalyst member 3, is reflected by the reflective mirror 9 and the reflected light Lr enters into the photocatalyst member 3 again. In this respect, in order to cause the decomposition reaction of water, the excited electron generated by the light irradiated on the photocatalyst member 3 is needed to contact a water molecule on the surface of the photocatalyst member 3 (excited electrons generated in the depth of the photocatalyst member 3 recombines with positive holes without reacting to water molecules.). Thus, it is preferable that the entering photons as much as possible are absorbed on the surface of the photocatalyst member 3. Then, in this embodiment, in a case that the photocatalyst member 3 is a member in which photocatalyst material is formed in a layer structure, it is preferable that the photocatalyst layer is formed at a thickness at which not all the light is absorbed in the photocatalyst when it enters the photocatalyst layer for the first time. In this case, as in FIG. 5A, the light L which has penetrated through the photocatalyst member 3 and reflected on the reflective mirror 9 will be irradiated on the surface on the back side of the photocatalyst member 3, and thereby, more photons are absorbed on or near the surface of the photocatalyst member 3 (The number of photons absorbed in the depths of the photocatalyst member 3 decreases.) so that it becomes possible to make much more photon energy contribute to the generating of hydrogen gas.

(27) Moreover, in the hydrogen gas producing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, as schematically drawn in FIG. 5B, the photocatalyst member 3 may be formed in a structure that two or more plate members 3a and 3b are arranged to form a V-shape such that the respective surfaces of the plate members are mutually faced and become closer as they are away from the light source. According to this structure, in the light L irradiated on one of the plate members 3a and 3b, a part of the light, reflected without being absorbed by the photocatalyst material, is irradiated on the other of the plate members 3a and 3b and thus, there is the opportunity that the reflected light can be absorbed in the photocatalyst material, and thereby, it becomes possible to make much more photon energy contribute to the generating of hydrogen gas. In that case, it is preferable that, in order for the light L emitted from the light source device 4 and reflected on one of the plate members 3a and 3b to go to the other of the plate members 3a and 3b instead of returning toward the light source device 4, the incident angle (α) of the light L emitted from the light source device 4 to each surface of the plate members 3a and 3b is larger than 0° (refer to FIG. 5A). In this regard, with reference to FIG. 5C, as noted above, in a structure that the plural photocatalyst members 3a and 3b are arranged in the V-shape form at the included angle ψ, when the plate length x of the photocatalyst members 3a and 3b and the distance y from the point of the included angle of the members formed in the V-shape to the light source device 4 satisfies x≤y.Math.sin (ψ/2), if the ray of the light L emitted from the light source device 4 at a directional angle θ reaches one of the photocatalyst members 3a and 3b and the ray of the light Lr, reflected thereon, reaches also the other of the photocatalyst members 3a and 3b, the condition of ϕ1≤ϕ2 is fulfilled between the angle ϕ1=θ/2+ψ/2, defined by the ray of the light L and one surface of the photocatalyst members 3a and 3b, and the angle ϕ2=180°−(θ/2+3/2ψ), defined by the ray of the reflected light Lr and the other surface of the photocatalyst members 3a and 3b. Therefore, the included angle ψ of the plural photocatalyst members 3a and 3b, and the directional angle θ of the light source device 4 may be adjusted to satisfy the condition:
ψ≤90°−θ/2.

(28) Moreover, in order for the light having penetrated through the plural plate members 3a and 3b to enter into the plate members 3a and 3b again, there may be provided reflective mirrors 9a and 9b on the respective sides of the plural plate members 3a and 3b opposite to the light source device 4.

(29) Furthermore, as noted above, in the case that the photocatalyst member 3 is formed by the plural plate members 3a and 3b arranged in a V-shape, as schematically drawn in FIG. 5D, the layer of the photocatalyst of the photocatalyst members 3a and 3b may be formed such that its thickness (t1, t2) is increased as it is farther away from the light source device 4 (t1<t2). As illustrated, in a structure that the rays of the light (L1-L4) from the light source device 4 advance while being reflected between the photocatalyst members 3a and 3b arranged in the V-shape, the amount of the reaching light increases and the density of light becomes higher as their positions are farther away from the light source device 4. Thus, as noted above, the thickness (t1, t2) of the photocatalyst layer may be increased and the amount of the photocatalyst material may be increased as it is farther away from the light source device 4, so that the absorbed amount of the light by the photocatalyst material will be increased. Thereby, in the photocatalyst member 3, the amount of photocatalyst is lessened in a place where the light intensity is low while the amount of photocatalyst is increased in a place where the light intensity is high, and thereby it can be avoided to use the photocatalyst material in vain, and it can be achieved to efficiently distribute the amount of photocatalyst.

(30) Thus, in accordance with the above-mentioned series of structures, the light emitted from the light source device 4 will be absorbed much more by the photocatalyst material, while the loss of energy supplied in the form of the light from the light source device 4 will be suppressed.

(31) (b) Structure Suppressing the Loss of Waste Heat from the Light Source Device 4

(32) As noted, in the hydrogen gas producing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the water, which is the reactant, is warmed with the waste heat of the light source device 4. In this structure, when the apparatus 1 is installed under a normal temperature (room temperature), heat is radiated from the container portion 2 while the temperature of the warmed water falls, and thereby, the energy obtained from the waste heat of the light source device 4 becomes in vain. Then, in the container portion 2, there may be provided a heat insulation mechanism 10 by covering its circumference with thermal insulating material, etc. for suppressing heat dissipation so that the loss of the waste heat from the light source device 4 can be suppressed.

(33) In this respect, that the water temperature providing a high photocatalyst efficiency can be achieved and maintained by warming the water with the waste heat of the light source device 4 and providing the heat insulation mechanism 10 in the container portion 2 has been confirmed in the following simulation by the inventors of the present embodiment. In the simulation, there was assumed a structure, as in FIG. 1, that the light source device 4 generating 11.05 W of calorific power (the optical power 5 W, the light-emitting efficiency 31.4%) was equipped in the container portion 2 into which 500 ml of water had been poured (made of glass, cylindrical, 40 mm in radius and 40 mm in height) while the water from the container portion 2 was circulated in the heat exchanger adjacent the light source device 4 through a tube (6 mm in diameter, 1 m in length). Then, in this structure, the water temperature rising rates (° C./hr) at various water temperatures when the water was assumed to be warmed with the waste heat of the light source device 4 were computed under a normal temperature (about 25° C.) in the cases that the container portion 2 was covered with and without thermal insulation material (thermal conductivity 0.03 W/mK and 10 mm in thickness), respectively. FIG. 6 shows the water temperature rising rate (° C./hr) at each water temperature. As illustrated, in the case that the container portion 2 was not covered with thermal insulation material, when the water temperature exceeded 45° C., the temperature fell (the water temperature rising rate was negative) even in the warming of the water with the waste heat of the light source device 4, and thus, the heat dissipating amount exceeded beyond the heating amount of the water. On the other hand, in the case that the container portion 2 was covered with thermal insulation material, the water temperature rising rate was always positive in the experimented temperature range, and thus, it was confirmed that the condition that the water was warmed was maintained. In particular, comparing with the result in FIG. 3B, the water temperature did not fall in the above-mentioned structure in the case that the water temperature was 50° C. or more at which a significant increase of the photocatalyst efficiency is obtained. Accordingly, it has been shown that, by providing the heat insulation mechanism 10 in the container portion 2, the water can be warmed with the waste heat of the light source device 4, and be effectively used in the production of hydrogen gas

(34) Output Control of the Light Source Device

(35) As already noted, in the hydrogen gas producing apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the electric power supplied to the light source device 4 may be of renewable energy origin, such as obtained by a solar panel 5. For the light irradiated on the photocatalyst, by using the light emitted from the light source device with the electric power converted from solar energy, instead of using the sunlight directly, the wavelength of the light can be converted into the wavelength band where the photocatalyst easily absorbs and also the density of the light can be condensed, and thereby the space occupied by the photocatalyst can be made small so that the miniaturization of hydrogen gas producing apparatus will be easy.

(36) By the way, in a case of obtaining the light irradiated to photocatalyst by supplying electric power to the light source device 4 to make a light emitting element or a light-emitting object emit the light, it has been found out that the light emitting efficiency of a light emitting element or a light-emitting object, such as LED, varies with the magnitude of the current supplied thereto. According to the experiments of the inventors of the present embodiment, when the light emitting efficiency (%) of four LEDs, each exhibiting 1 A of the rated current and 3.54 V of the rated voltage, connected in parallel, was measured, the light emitting efficiency became its maximum under the condition that the supplied current was a current (1.6 A) which was less than the rated current (4 A) as illustrated in FIG. 7A. Namely, this shows that, when the current, more than the current where the light emitting efficiency is its maximum, is supplied to the light emitting element or light-emitting object, the ratio of the energy which is not converted into the light would increase relatively, and thus the energy loss would increase. Then, in this embodiment, it is preferable that the current supplied to the light source device 4 is adjusted so that the light emitting efficiency of the light emitting element or light-emitting object will be its maximum. Or, in the current to be suppliable to the light source device 4, the magnitude of the current in the light emitting element or light-emitting object may be adjusted so as to make the light emitting efficiency its maximum. Concretely, the light emitting element or light-emitting object of normal power in which the current giving the maximum light emitting efficiency flows when the suppliable current is supplied to the light source device 4 may be chosen. Thus, for instance, in a case that the electric power source which supplies electric power to the light source device 4 is a solar panel, a light emitting element or a light-emitting object may be preferably chosen so that the current which gives the maximum light emitting efficiency will flow when the rated current value of the solar panel is supplied.

(37) Moreover, in a case that a power production source with renewable energy, such as a solar panel, is used as an electric power source which supplies electric power to the light source device 4, the output of the power production source can be changed with its environmental conditions, such as the sunshine condition, and thus, the available current can vary every moment. In that case, if the light source device is operated so that its light emitting efficiency will be its maximum each moment, a good efficiency of the energy used for production of hydrogen gas will be obtained. As one way for this, in the light source device 4 of this embodiment, there may be employed a structure that two or more LEDs are connected in parallel for the light emitting elements or light-emitting objects, as drawn in FIGS. 8A to 8C. In this structure, the number of LEDs connected to the power production source is adjusted in accordance with the output of the power production source, and thereby, it is designed that, always, currents giving the maximum light emitting efficiency flow in the connected LEDs as much as possible. For instance, when the output of the power production source is its normal power, all the LEDs are connected to the power production source PV as shown in FIG. 8 (A), and when the output of the power production source is about a half of its normal power, a half of the LEDs are connected to the power production source PV as shown in FIG. 8B, and when the output of the power production source is about ¼ of its normal power as shown in FIG. 8C, ¼ of the LEDs is connected to the power production source PV. Thereby, it becomes possible to achieve the condition that the current giving the maximum light emitting efficiency flows in each LED connected to the power production source PV as illustrated in FIG. 7B. Namely, by adjusting the number of LEDs connected in accordance with the output of the power production source, the light emitting efficiency in each of LEDs supplied with current from the power production source becomes as close to its maximum as possible, so that the loss of the energy which does not contribute to the generating of the light will be suppressed.

(38) Therefore, according to the hydrogen gas producing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, in the structure of providing the light irradiated to photocatalyst by a light source device which operates with in the supply of electric power, the warming of the water, which is the reactant, with the waste heat of the light source device compensates the decrease in the production efficiency of hydrogen gas due to the increase of the density of the light irradiated to the photocatalyst from the light source device, and thus, in the miniaturization of the apparatus by increasing the amount of light irradiated to the photocatalyst per unit quantity, the decrease in the production efficiency of hydrogen gas can be suppressed, and thereby both the miniaturization and the increasing of the efficiency of the apparatus are achieved. Furthermore, according to the series of structures illustrated in FIG. 5, through making the photocatalyst absorb as much light irradiated from the light source device as possible and suppressing the loss of the waste heat of the light source device as low as possible, it becomes possible to make as much photon energy and thermal energy from the light source device as possible contribute to the production of hydrogen gas. Also, according to the structure as illustrated in relation to FIGS. 7 and 8, by maximizing the light emitting efficiency of the light source device as much as possible, it becomes possible to make as much energy supplied to the light source device as possible contribute to the production of hydrogen gas. Thus, according to the series of structures of the present embodiment, the further improvement of the energy efficiency in the production of hydrogen gas is expected.

(39) Although the above explanation has been described with respect to embodiments of the present embodiment, it will be apparent for those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes are possible, and that the present embodiment is not limited to the above-illustrated embodiments and may be applied to various devices and apparatus without deviating from the concepts of the present embodiment.