Patent ID: 8551302

Claim:
A hydrogen generating apparatus comprising: an electrolyzer, filled with an aqueous electrolyte solution; a first electrode, accommodated in the electrolyzer, submerged in the aqueous electrolyte solution, and generating electrons; a second electrode, accommodated in the electrolyzer, submerged in the aqueous electrolyte solution, receiving the electrons to generate hydrogen; a switch, located between the first electrode and the second electrode; a flow rate meter, measuring an amount of hydrogen generation in the second electrode; and a switch controller, receiving a set value, comparing the amount of hydrogen generation measured by the flow rate meter with the set value, and controlling an on/off status of the switch, wherein the switch controller generates and outputs a switch control signal turning the switch on and off, and wherein the switch controller is programmed to determine an on/off ratio of the switch within one cycle by varying a duty ratio of the switch control signal, control a fluctuation in the amount of hydrogen generation by varying an on/off frequency of the switch control signal, compare the set value with the measured amount of hydrogen generation, increase the duty ratio if the amount of hydrogen generation is smaller than the set value, reduce the duty ratio if the amount of hydrogen generation is greater than the set value, and maintain the duty ratio if the amount of hydrogen generation is equal to the set value.