A decomposition-electrolysis device for using methane hydrate as a fuel cell

Abstract

The present invention relates to a decomposition - electrolysis device for using methane hydrate as a fuel cell, which can effectively solve the problem of a large amount of low - concentration coal mine gas being emptied in coal mine gas. The technical solution it adopts is as follows: It includes a reaction kettle body. A hydrate inlet communicating with the inner wall of the reaction kettle is provided on the reaction kettle body. A temperature sensor and a pressure monitoring module are respectively arranged on the outer wall of the reaction kettle. The inner wall of the reaction kettle is connected to an oxygen supply tank. A load is arranged at the top of the reaction kettle. The first load is electrically connected to the negative electrode and the positive electrode of the methane fuel cell through a proton exchange membrane. The second load is electrically connected to the negative electrode and the positive electrode of the hydrogen fuel cell through an electrolyte. The present invention uses low - concentration gas as raw material, forms a fuel cell through a series of reaction treatments, stores and transports it in the form of hydrate, and provides energy supply for coal mines in the form of a fuel cell. It is an innovation in the decomposition - electrolysis device of the fuel cell.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of fuel cells, and particularly to a decomposition - electrolysis device for using methane hydrate as a fuel cell. Background Art

[0002] For energy utilization, researching new energy power propulsion technologies that are clean, efficient, and sustainable has become an important trend for achieving green development. The application of fuel cell technology is generally regarded as an effective solution. Methane is a transitional fuel for entering the future carbon - constrained world and is also an important greenhouse gas. Both H2 after the electrolysis of CH4 and water are high - quality fuel cell raw materials. Due to the high risk of gas explosion of methane gas during storage and transportation, the use of the hydrate method for transportation and storage has become a reliable method.

[0003] In coal mine production, considering the complex geographical location and characteristics of coal mines, it is not convenient for transportation and energy supply, resulting in difficult energy supply and low utilization efficiency. How to effectively utilize the large amount of low - concentration coal mine gas discharged in coal mine gas is also a major problem. To directly and effectively improve the energy utilization efficiency of methane hydrate and reduce energy loss during the process, it is necessary to further improve the high - efficiency utilization rate of methane hydrate. Therefore, it is imperative to invent a fuel cell that directly supplies power using methane hydrate as a raw material. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above situation, to solve the defects of the prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a decomposition - electrolysis device for using methane hydrate as a fuel cell, which can effectively solve the problem of a large amount of low - concentration coal mine gas discharged in coal mine gas.

[0005] The technical solution solved by the present invention is as follows: It includes a reaction kettle body. A hydrate inlet communicating with the inner wall of the reaction kettle is arranged on the reaction kettle body. A temperature sensor and a pressure monitoring module are respectively arranged on the outer wall of the reaction kettle. The inner wall of the reaction kettle is connected to an oxygen supply tank. A load is arranged at the top of the reaction kettle. The first load is electrically connected to the negative electrode and the positive electrode of the methane fuel cell through a proton exchange membrane. The second load is electrically connected to the negative electrode and the positive electrode of the hydrogen fuel cell through an electrolyte. The positive electrode of the DC power supply is connected to the anode plate, and the negative electrode of the DC power supply is connected to the cathode plate. A liquid level gauge probe connected to a float - type liquid level sensor is installed on the inner wall of the reaction kettle.

[0006] The present invention uses low - concentration gas as a raw material to form a fuel cell through a series of reaction treatments. The low - concentration gas is efficiently utilized, stored and transported in the form of hydrate, and provides energy supply for coal mines in the form of a fuel cell. It solves the problem of a large amount of low - concentration coal mine gas discharged in coal mine gas and is an innovation in the decomposition - electrolysis device of fuel cells. Description of the Drawings

[0007] Figure 1 This is the front view of the structure of the present invention. Detailed Embodiments

[0008] The following further elaborates on the detailed embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0009] As shown by Figure 1 The present invention includes a reaction kettle body. A hydrate inlet 1 communicating with the inner wall 2 of the reaction kettle is provided on the reaction kettle body. A temperature sensor 8 and a pressure monitoring module 12 are respectively provided on the outer wall 3 of the reaction kettle. The inner wall 2 of the reaction kettle is connected to an oxygen supply tank 19. A load is provided at the top of the reaction kettle. The first load 18a is electrically connected to the negative electrode 4 and the positive electrode 5 of a methane fuel cell through a proton exchange membrane 6. The second load 18b is electrically connected to the negative electrode 9 and the positive electrode 10 of a hydrogen fuel cell through an electrolyte 11. The positive pole of a DC power supply 17 is connected to an anode plate 15, and the negative pole of the DC power supply 17 is connected to a cathode plate 14. A liquid level gauge probe connected to a float-type liquid level sensor 16 is installed on the inner wall 2 of the reaction kettle.

[0010] To ensure the use effect, the first load 18a is a transformer, and the fuel cell is connected to coal mine detection equipment (such as mine ventilation equipment, gas detectors, gas leakage detectors, etc.) after voltage transformation through the transformer.

[0011] The second load 18b is a transformer, and the fuel cell is connected to the transformer and then connected to household appliances (such as lights, charging sockets, etc.) after voltage transformation through the transformer.

[0012] The pressure monitoring module 12 is a diffused silicon pressure transmitter.

[0013] The inner wall 2 of the reaction kettle is made of austenitic stainless steel.

[0014] Both the anode plate 15 and the cathode plate 14 are made of stainless steel plates.

[0015] The electrolyte 11 is a solid polymer electrolyte.

[0016] The proton exchange membrane 6 is a Nafion117 membrane.

[0017] A filter port 13 is provided at the top of the reaction kettle.

[0018] A hydrogen waste gas outlet 20, an oxygen waste gas outlet 21, and a methane waste gas outlet 22 communicating with the inner wall 2 of the reaction kettle are provided on the outer wall 3 of the reaction kettle.

[0019] Insulating partitions 7 are covered on the negative electrode 4 and the positive electrode 5 of the methane fuel cell.

[0020] A hydrogen gas-permeable insulating partition 23 and an oxygen gas-permeable insulating partition 24 are covered on the negative electrode 9 and the positive electrode 10 of the hydrogen fuel cell.

[0021] A hydrogen gas and an oxygen gas partition 25 is arranged in the reactor body at a certain distance from the bottom of the reactor body. The electrolysis reaction can only proceed when the liquid level contacts the partition.

[0022] Based on the characteristics that methane hydrate can be transported over long distances, has good stability, and can also supply power in the form of a fuel cell, the container material is preferably a square low-temperature storage tank with a horizontal double-layer vacuum insulation tank. The inner tank is preferably made of austenitic stainless steel, and the outer container material is preferably Q235-B, Q245R, or 345R. The interlayer between the inner and outer containers is preferably filled with an insulating material, and the insulating material is preferably pearlite sand, aluminum foil, or insulating cotton.

[0023] Since the decomposition of hydrate is an endothermic reaction, it is generally decomposed above the freezing point. During the decomposition process of the methane hydrate of the present invention, the temperature in the reactor is controlled at 5 - 10 °C, and the pressure in the reactor is 0.1 MPa. By controlling the reaction temperature and reaction pressure, the decomposition equilibrium of the hydrate is maintained. While the methane hydrate undergoes a decomposition reaction, the decomposed water and methane are separated; the separated pure water is centrally collected, and the methane fuel cell reaction unit uses the separated methane gas to provide power supply for the fuel cell.

[0024] The electrolysis of water reaction preferably uses the technology of water electrolysis for hydrogen production, with a solid polymer as the electrolyte, without the need to create an alkaline environment. A zero-pole-distance electrolytic cell is prepared with a DC power supply. Further preferably, Nafion117 membrane of DuPont Company is used, and the membrane electrode is prepared by the impregnation reduction method. The membrane electrode is assembled into a zero-pole-distance electrolytic cell. In the electrolysis of water reaction unit, the amount of water generated by the decomposition of hydrate needs to reach a certain standard before the electrolysis of water reaction can start. A water volume monitor (float-type liquid level sensor) needs to be installed to control the occurrence of the electrolysis reaction. While the electrolysis of water reaction is proceeding, it is preferred to separate the generated hydrogen and oxygen, and the gases are centrally processed.

[0025] In the fuel cell reaction of the present invention, the electrode material of the hydrogen fuel cell is preferably metal platinum or graphite, and the catalyst layer is preferably a platinum catalyst (Pt / C), a low-platinum catalyst, or a non-platinum catalyst; the non-platinum catalyst includes an Ir / C catalyst, a Pb / C catalyst, a PdCoNi / NCNTs catalyst, or an Fe3C / NG nanoporous carbon film catalyst; the positive electrode of the methane fuel cell is preferably a mixture of copper and ceramic or porous nickel, and the negative electrode is preferably porous nickel.

[0026] The present invention regulates the acidity and alkalinity of the environment for the reaction of a methane fuel cell, processes the generated gas while the reaction occurs, electrolyzes water to decompose oxygen and feeds it into an external oxygen supply unit. The methane fuel cell preferably maintains the reaction by externally supplying oxygen, and the hydrogen fuel cell uses the hydrogen and oxygen generated by the electrolyzed water reaction unit and the oxygen supply unit to maintain the reaction. In the present invention, the gas generated by the methane fuel cell reaction unit and the hydrogen and oxygen generated by the electrolyzed water reaction unit are used for power supply in the form of a fuel cell or other forms.

[0027] The electrodes of high-temperature fuel cells are mainly made of catalyst materials. For example, the Y2O3-stabilized-ZrO2 (abbreviated as YSZ) of a solid oxide fuel cell or the nickel oxide electrode of a molten carbonate fuel cell; the electrodes of low-temperature fuel cells are mainly composed of a thin layer of catalyst material supported by a gas diffusion layer. For example, the platinum electrodes of a phosphoric acid fuel cell (abbreviated as PAFC) and a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (abbreviated as PEMFC); Pt / C or Pt-Ru / C is used as the anode catalyst.

[0028] The present invention mainly provides a decomposition-electrolysis device for using methane hydrate as a fuel cell according to the properties of methane hydrate and the geographical location of coal mines. Considering that the geographical location and characteristics of coal mines are relatively complex and inconvenient for transportation and energy supply, the present invention uses methane hydrate as a raw material to form a fuel cell through a series of reaction treatments, improving the energy utilization efficiency, storing and transporting it in the form of hydrate, and providing energy supply for coal mines in the form of a fuel cell, solving the problem of a large amount of low-concentration coal mine gas being emptied in coal mine gas, and having good economic and social benefits.

Claims

1. A decomposition - electrolysis device for using methane hydrate as a fuel cell, comprising a reaction kettle body, characterized in that, A hydrate inlet (1) communicating with the inner wall (2) of the reactor is provided on the reactor body. A temperature sensor (8) and a pressure monitoring module (12) are respectively provided on the outer wall (3) of the reactor. The inner wall (2) of the reactor is connected to an oxygen supply tank (19). A load is provided at the top of the reactor. The first load (18a) is electrically connected to the negative electrode (4) and the positive electrode (5) of the methane fuel cell through a proton exchange membrane (6). The second load (18b) is electrically connected to the negative electrode (9) and the positive electrode (10) of the hydrogen fuel cell through an electrolyte (11). The positive electrode of a DC power supply (17) is connected to an anode plate (15), and the negative electrode of the DC power supply (17) is connected to a cathode plate (14). A liquid level gauge probe connected to a float type liquid level sensor (16) is installed on the inner wall (2) of the reactor; A filter port (13) is provided at the top of the reactor; A hydrogen waste gas outlet (20), an oxygen waste gas outlet (21), and a methane waste gas outlet (22) communicating with the inner wall (2) of the reactor are provided on the outer wall (3) of the reactor.

2. The decomposition - electrolysis device for using methane hydrate as a fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first load (18a) is a transformer.

3. The decomposition and electrolysis device for using methane hydrate as a fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second load (18b) is a transformer.

4. The decomposition - electrolysis device for using methane hydrate as a fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure monitoring module (12) is a diffused silicon pressure transmitter.

5. The decomposition - electrolysis device for using methane hydrate as a fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall (2) of the reactor is made of austenitic stainless steel.

6. The decomposition - electrolysis device for fuel cells using methane hydrate according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the anode plate (15) and the cathode plate (14) are stainless steel plates.

7. The decomposition - electrolysis device for using methane hydrate as a fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrolyte (11) is a solid polymer electrolyte.

8. The decomposition - electrolysis device for using methane hydrate as a fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The proton exchange membrane (6) is a Nafion117 membrane.

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