JP2794605B

PURPOSE:To easily obtain hydrogen having high purity and activity with no need for a special purifier by separating an electrolytic cell and a gaseous hydrogen storage chamber by a partition with a part formed with a cathode provided with a hydrogen storage alloy. CONSTITUTION:This hydrogen generator is provided with a storage chamber 1 having a discharge passage 2, an electrolytic cell 4 contg. an alkaline electrolyte and provided with an anode 6, a partition 7 for separating the chamber 1 and the cell 4 and a gas-permeable cathode 8 furnished with a hydrogen storage alloy and forming at least a part of the partition 7. The hydrogen atom generated by electrolysis is dissolved in the cathode provided with the hydrogen storage alloy and diffused in the alloy, and ultrahigh-purity hydrogen is absorbed. When an appropriate amt. of hydrogen is absorbed in the cathode, the chamber is evacuated from the discharge passage 2, hence the hydrogen absorbed in the cathode is discharged into the chamber 1, and the hydrogen in the chamber 1 is discharged to the outside. Meanwhile, a reactant is introduced into the chamber 1 from a pipe 21 and allowed to react with hydrogen, and an efficient reaction is caused with the hydrogen storage alloy as a catalyst.