A seawater direct hydrogen production device and method

Abstract

The application discloses a seawater direct hydrogen production device and method, wherein the device comprises a seawater side cavity, an electrolysis side cavity, a cathode electrolysis layer and an anode electrolysis layer; the seawater side cavity is provided with a seawater inlet and a seawater outlet, and a seawater tank is arranged in the seawater side cavity and connected with the seawater inlet and the seawater outlet; the electrolysis side cavity is connected with the seawater side cavity, and an electrolysis tank is arranged in the electrolysis side cavity and connected with the seawater tank through a hydrophobic membrane; the cathode electrolysis layer is arranged in the electrolysis side cavity, and part of the cathode electrolysis layer is arranged in the electrolysis tank; the anode electrolysis layer is arranged in the electrolysis side cavity, and part of the anode electrolysis layer is arranged in the electrolysis tank, and a hydrophilic membrane is arranged between the anode electrolysis layer and the cathode electrolysis layer; and the electrolysis side cavity is provided with a hydrogen outlet and an oxygen outlet. The seawater direct hydrogen production device combines seawater desalination and water electrolysis hydrogen production technologies, realizes the target of directly producing hydrogen from seawater and solves the problem of high cost of seawater hydrogen production.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of energy technology, and in particular to a device and method for direct hydrogen production from seawater. Background Technology

[0002] Hydrogen is considered one of the most ideal clean energy sources. Water electrolysis is a method for producing hydrogen—a clean energy source—through a zero-carbon pathway. This method is simple, produces no toxic byproducts, and yields high-purity hydrogen. However, because this method uses pure water to prepare the electrolyte, it consumes a large amount of electrical and thermal energy, and has low electrolysis efficiency, resulting in high hydrogen production costs and hindering the commercial development of water electrolysis for hydrogen production.

[0003] Seawater is one of the most abundant renewable resources on Earth. Statistics show that seawater accounts for 96.5% of the world's total water volume, while freshwater resources are very limited. Therefore, if seawater electrolysis could be used to produce hydrogen, it would reduce costs and energy consumption in the desalination process. However, seawater contains a large amount of magnesium (Mg). 2+ Ca 2+ and Cl - The presence of impurity ions in seawater during direct electrolysis causes the formation of Mg(OH)₂ and Ca(OH)₂ precipitates, as well as harmful Cl₂ gas, in the electrolyzer. This severely contaminates the electrolyzer and electrodes, gradually reducing electrolysis efficiency and preventing the production of pure hydrogen. Therefore, to achieve hydrogen production from seawater, it is necessary to first desalinate the seawater to meet the requirements for electrolysis, and then further electrolyze the desalinated water.

[0004] Common seawater desalination methods include distillation, electrodialysis, and reverse osmosis. These methods produce fresh water with relatively high purity. However, the desalination equipment involved is expensive, the desalination process is complex, and they consume significant amounts of heat, electricity, and mechanical energy. Therefore, using conventional methods to desalinate seawater for hydrogen production will not reduce hydrogen production costs and will hinder the development of seawater-to-hydrogen technology.

[0005] Therefore, existing technologies still need to be improved and developed. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the purpose of this invention is to provide a device and method for direct hydrogen production from seawater, which aims to solve the problem of high cost of seawater hydrogen production in the prior art.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0008] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a seawater direct hydrogen production device, wherein the seawater direct hydrogen production device comprises:

[0009] A seawater side cavity is provided with a seawater inlet and a seawater outlet, and a seawater tank is provided inside the seawater side cavity, which is connected to the seawater inlet and the seawater outlet.

[0010] An electrolysis side cavity is connected to the seawater side cavity. The electrolysis side cavity is provided with an electrolysis tank for placing electrolyte. A hydrophobic membrane is provided between the electrolysis tank and the seawater tank to separate the seawater tank and the electrolysis tank.

[0011] A cathode electrolysis layer is disposed in the electrolysis side cavity, and a portion of the cathode electrolysis layer is disposed within the electrolysis cell;

[0012] An anode electrolysis layer is disposed in the electrolysis side cavity, and a portion of the anode electrolysis layer is located within the electrolysis cell. A hydrophilic membrane for isolating gas is provided between the anode electrolysis layer and the cathode electrolysis layer.

[0013] The electrolysis side cavity has a hydrogen outlet connected to the electrolysis cell on the side near the cathode electrolysis layer, and an oxygen outlet connected to the electrolysis cell on the side near the anode electrolysis layer.

[0014] As a further improved technical solution, the seawater side cavity includes:

[0015] A seawater side cover, wherein the seawater side cover is provided with a seawater inlet and a seawater outlet;

[0016] The seawater-side shell has one side connected to the seawater-side cover and the other side connected to the electrolysis-side cavity. A through seawater trough is provided in the middle of the seawater-side shell, and the seawater trough is connected to the seawater inlet and the seawater outlet.

[0017] As a further improved technical solution, the electrolysis side cavity includes:

[0018] First electrolytic shell, second electrolytic shell, and electrolytic side cover;

[0019] The electrolytic cell is disposed in the middle of the first electrolytic shell and the second electrolytic shell. The opening of the electrolytic cell near the seawater side cavity is covered with the hydrophobic membrane. One side of the first electrolytic shell is connected to the seawater side cavity, and the other side of the first electrolytic shell is connected in sequence to the cathode electrolytic layer, the anode electrolytic layer, the second electrolytic shell and the electrolytic side cover. The first shell is provided with the hydrogen outlet, and the second shell is provided with the oxygen outlet.

[0020] As a further improved technical solution, the cathode electrolysis layer includes:

[0021] Cathode shell, cathode metal sheet, cathode insulating layer, and cathode nickel mesh;

[0022] One side of the cathode housing is connected to the other side of the first electrolytic housing, and the other side of the cathode housing is connected to the anode electrolytic layer;

[0023] The cathode metal sheet is disposed on the cathode housing, and the cathode metal sheet is provided with a cathode terminal, which extends out of the cathode housing;

[0024] The cathode insulating layer wraps around the outside of the cathode metal sheet;

[0025] The cathode nickel mesh is located in the middle of the cathode metal sheet and is situated inside the electrolytic cell.

[0026] As a further improved technical solution, the anode electrolysis layer includes:

[0027] Anode shell, anode metal sheet, anode insulating layer, and anode nickel mesh;

[0028] One side of the anode housing is connected to the other side of the cathode housing, and the other side of the anode housing is connected to the second electrolysis housing;

[0029] The anode insulating layer wraps around the outside of the anode metal sheet;

[0030] The anode metal sheet is disposed on the anode housing, and the anode metal sheet is provided with an anode terminal, which extends out of the anode housing;

[0031] The anode nickel mesh is located in the middle of the anode metal sheet and is situated inside the electrolytic cell. The anode nickel mesh is separated from the cathode nickel mesh by the hydrophilic membrane.

[0032] As a further improved technical solution, a first insulating plate is provided between the cathode shell and the hydrophilic membrane, and a second insulating plate is provided between the anode shell and the hydrophilic membrane. The first insulating plate is connected to the other side of the cathode shell, and the second insulating plate is connected to the first insulating plate and the anode shell respectively. The electrolytic cell passes through the first insulating plate and the second insulating plate.

[0033] As a further improved technical solution, the seawater direct hydrogen production device also includes:

[0034] First washer and second washer;

[0035] The first gasket is disposed on one side of the seawater-side shell and is located around the seawater tank facing the seawater-side shell. The second gasket is disposed on the other side of the seawater-side shell and is located around the seawater tank facing the hydrophobic membrane.

[0036] As a further improved technical solution, the seawater direct hydrogen production device also includes:

[0037] The third washer, the fourth washer, the fifth washer, and the sixth washer;

[0038] The third gasket is disposed on one side of the first electrolytic shell and is located around the electrolytic cell facing the hydrophobic membrane. The fourth gasket is disposed on the other side of the first electrolytic shell and is located around the electrolytic cell facing the cathode electrolytic layer.

[0039] The fifth gasket is disposed on one side of the second electrolytic shell and is located around the electrolytic cell facing the anode electrolytic layer. The sixth gasket is disposed on the other side of the second electrolytic shell and is located around the electrolytic cell facing the electrolytic side cover.

[0040] As a further improved technical solution, the seawater direct hydrogen production device also includes:

[0041] The insulation layer is respectively disposed inside the seawater side cavity and inside the electrolysis side cavity;

[0042] A water stop valve is provided on the electrolysis side cavity and connected to the interior of the electrolysis cell.

[0043] Secondly, embodiments of the present invention provide a method for direct hydrogen production from seawater, comprising:

[0044] Seawater is fed into the seawater tank through the seawater inlet, allowing the seawater to be desalinated by passing through a hydrophobic membrane;

[0045] The desalinated seawater flows directly into the electrolytic cell, with the cathode electrolytic layer connected to the negative terminal of the power supply and the anode electrolytic layer connected to the positive terminal of the power supply, causing the cathode electrolytic layer to undergo hydrogen evolution reaction and the anode electrolytic layer to undergo oxygen evolution reaction.

[0046] The hydrogen produced by the cathode electrolysis layer and the oxygen produced by the anode electrolysis layer are separated by a hydrophilic membrane. The hydrogen is discharged from the hydrogen outlet and the oxygen is discharged from the oxygen outlet.

[0047] The technical solution adopted in this invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0048] 1. The seawater desalination and water electrolysis hydrogen production processes are integrated into one device, realizing the design of a direct seawater hydrogen production device and reducing the use of freshwater resources.

[0049] 2. This device utilizes the concentration difference to drive water molecules to flow through a hydrophobic membrane, thereby achieving seawater desalination. Compared with traditional desalination technologies, it reduces energy consumption and material costs.

[0050] 3. By adjusting the pore size and porosity of the hydrophobic membrane, the catalytic efficiency of the catalyst, or the current density, a dynamic balance can be achieved between the desalination rate and the water consumption rate of electrolysis.

[0051] 4. The thermal insulation layer can reuse waste heat, which can improve the desalination rate of seawater and the efficiency of electrochemical reactions in the electrolyzer, thereby increasing the hydrogen production rate.

[0052] 5. The electrodes are separated by a hydrophilic membrane, which reduces the distance between the two electrodes without affecting electrolyte flow, thereby reducing the electrolyte resistance between the two nickel meshes and accelerating the electrolysis rate. Additionally, it separates the hydrogen evolution side from the oxygen evolution side, preventing cross-contamination between the two electrode sides. Attached Figure Description

[0053] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a seawater direct hydrogen production device provided by the present invention;

[0054] Figure 2 A perspective view of a seawater direct hydrogen production device provided by the present invention;

[0055] Figure 3 An exploded view of a seawater direct hydrogen production device provided by the present invention;

[0056] Figure 4 This is a front view of a seawater direct hydrogen production device provided by the present invention;

[0057] Figure 5 The right view of a seawater direct hydrogen production device provided by the present invention;

[0058] Figure 6 A rear view of a seawater direct hydrogen production apparatus provided by the present invention;

[0059] Figure 7 A left view of a seawater direct hydrogen production device provided by the present invention;

[0060] Figure 8 This is a flowchart of a preferred embodiment of a method for manufacturing a direct seawater hydrogen production device provided by the present invention.

[0061] Reference numerals: 100, seawater side cavity; 200, electrolysis side cavity; 300, cathode electrolysis layer; 400, anodic electrolysis layer; 101, seawater inlet; 102, seawater outlet; 103, seawater tank; 201, electrolysis cell; 500, hydrophobic membrane; 600, hydrophilic membrane; 202, hydrogen outlet; 203, oxygen outlet; 110, seawater side cover; 120, seawater side shell; 130, first gasket; 140, second gasket; 210, first electrolysis shell; 22 0. Second electrolytic shell; 230. Electrolytic side cover; 240. Third gasket; 250. Fourth gasket; 260. Fifth gasket; 270. Sixth gasket; 310. Cathode shell; 320. Cathode metal sheet; 330. Cathode nickel mesh; 340. Cathode terminal; 410. Anode shell; 420. Anode metal sheet; 430. Anode nickel mesh; 440. Anode terminal; 610. First insulating plate; 620. Second insulating plate; 700. Insulation layer; 800. Water stop valve. Detailed Implementation

[0062] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and effects of this invention clearer and more explicit, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

[0063] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on or indirectly on that other component. When a component is referred to as being "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to or indirectly connected to that other component.

[0064] It should also be noted that the same or similar reference numerals in the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention correspond to the same or similar components; in the description of the present invention, it should be understood that if terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," etc. indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, they are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the terms used to describe positional relationships in the accompanying drawings are only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting the present patent. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0065] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0066] Expensive equipment, complex processes, and high energy consumption are major reasons for the high cost of seawater hydrogen production, thus hindering the development of seawater hydrogen production technology. To address the high cost of seawater hydrogen production, this invention designs a direct seawater hydrogen production device from three aspects: simplified device design, adoption of seawater desalination technology evolved from membrane distillation, and energy recycling. Simplifying the hydrogen production device involves retaining the main functional components while eliminating redundant piping and connections.

[0067] Therefore, this invention is mainly divided into two parts, namely a seawater tank and an electrolysis tank, and the two parts are tightly combined by a diaphragm to achieve seamless conversion from seawater to electrolyte, thereby reducing the cost of equipment materials and the large amount of energy required by other desalination methods.

[0068] The desalination method employed in this invention uses a hydrophobic membrane to separate seawater from the electrolyte. This type of membrane can exclude solid impurities, and due to its hydrophobic properties, impurity ions in the seawater cannot pass through the membrane to reach the electrolyte on the other side. By adjusting the solution concentrations on both sides of the membrane, making the ion concentration in the electrolyte greater than the ion concentration in the seawater (i.e., the water concentration in the seawater tank greater than the water concentration in the electrolysis tank), water molecules can flow from the seawater to the electrolyte driven by this concentration difference.

[0069] In addition, the electrodes release heat during electrolysis. To utilize this waste heat, the present invention incorporates a heat insulation layer to confine the heat within the device. On one hand, higher temperatures lead to more vigorous movement of liquid molecules, which can increase the rate of water flow through the diaphragm within a certain range. On the other hand, increased temperature accelerates the electrochemical reaction, improving electrolysis efficiency and thus increasing the hydrogen production rate.

[0070] Therefore, this application aims to provide a solution that can solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the details of which will be described in subsequent embodiments.

[0071] This invention discloses a device for direct hydrogen production from seawater. Please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 1 and Figure 2 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a seawater direct hydrogen production device provided by the present invention; Figure 2This is a perspective view of a seawater direct hydrogen production device provided by the present invention. The seawater direct hydrogen production device disclosed in this invention specifically includes: a seawater side cavity 100, an electrolysis side cavity 200, a cathode electrolysis layer 300, and an anode electrolysis layer 400; the seawater side cavity 100 is provided with a seawater inlet 101 and a seawater outlet 102, and a seawater tank 103 is provided inside the seawater side cavity 100, the seawater tank 103 being connected to the seawater inlet 101 and the seawater outlet 102; the electrolysis side cavity 200 is connected to the seawater side cavity 100, and an electrolysis cell 201 for placing electrolyte is provided inside the electrolysis side cavity 200; a hydrophobic membrane 500 is provided between the electrolysis cell 201 and the seawater tank 103 to separate the seawater tank 103 and the electrolysis cell 201; The cathode electrolysis layer 300 is disposed in the electrolysis side cavity 200, and a portion of the cathode electrolysis layer 300 is disposed within the electrolysis cell 201; the anode electrolysis layer 400 is disposed in the electrolysis side cavity 200, and a portion of the anode electrolysis layer 400 is located within the electrolysis cell 201; a hydrophilic membrane 600 for isolating gas is provided between the anode electrolysis layer 400 and the cathode electrolysis layer 300; wherein, the side of the electrolysis side cavity 200 near the cathode electrolysis layer 300 is provided with a hydrogen outlet 202 communicating with the electrolysis cell 201, and the side of the electrolysis side cavity 200 near the anode electrolysis layer 400 is provided with an oxygen outlet 203 communicating with the electrolysis cell 201.

[0072] In this embodiment of the invention, the overall shape of the hydrogen production device is not limited and can be rectangular or cylindrical, etc. Optionally, the seawater tank 103 and the electrolysis cell 201 can be cylindrical cavities. Of course, the geometric design of the seawater tank 103 and the electrolysis cell 201 is not limited to cylindrical cavities, and can also be box-type, flat barrel-type, etc., depending on actual needs. In addition, to facilitate the assembly and replacement of various components, the seawater side cavity 100, the electrolysis side cavity 200, the cathode electrolysis layer 300 and the anode electrolysis layer 400 are detachably connected, for example, by bolt connection.

[0073] In practical applications, seawater can be circulated by an external pump. Seawater contains a large number of impurities. When the sediment in the seawater tank 103 accumulates to a certain extent, a reverse circulation method can be used to flush the sediment at the bottom of the seawater tank 103 out of the seawater inlet 101, thus avoiding blockage in the seawater tank 103.

[0074] It is worth mentioning that in the above embodiments, both the cathode electrolysis layer 300 and the anode electrolysis layer 400 are disposed within the electrolysis-side cavity 200, and their positions can be interchanged, which can be adjusted according to actual use. Furthermore, there is no limitation on the number of cathode electrolysis layers 300 and anode electrolysis layers 400; multiple cathode electrolysis layers 300 and anode electrolysis layers 400 can be installed in a row within the electrolysis-side cavity 200, with each cathode electrolysis layer 300 and anode electrolysis layer 400 separated by a hydrophilic membrane 600.

[0075] The working principle of the seawater direct hydrogen production device provided in this embodiment is as follows:

[0076] Seawater is pumped into the seawater tank 103 through the seawater inlet 101. On the side of the seawater tank 103, the water in the seawater passes through the hydrophobic membrane 500 driven by the concentration difference (the concentration of water in the seawater tank 103 is greater than the concentration of water in the electrolysis cell 201), thus achieving seawater desalination. By using the concentration difference to drive the water molecules to flow through the hydrophobic membrane 500, seawater desalination is achieved. Compared with traditional desalination technology, this reduces energy consumption and material costs. The desalinated seawater flows directly into the electrolytic cell 201 to replenish the electrolyte (the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell 201 is an alkaline solution). Simultaneously, the cathode electrolytic layer 300 is connected to the negative terminal of the power supply, and the anode electrolytic layer 400 is connected to the positive terminal. This causes a partial hydrogen evolution reaction in the cathode electrolytic layer 300 immersed in the electrolyte, and a partial oxygen evolution reaction in the anode electrolytic layer 400 immersed in the electrolyte. The hydrogen produced by the cathode electrolytic layer 300 and the oxygen produced by the anode electrolytic layer 400 are separated by a hydrophilic membrane 600, preventing the mixing of the two gases. Hydrogen is discharged from the hydrogen outlet 202, and oxygen is discharged from the oxygen outlet 203. The gas discharged from the hydrogen outlet 202 needs to undergo a certain degree of drying to obtain hydrogen; the specific drying process is not limited in this invention.

[0077] The beneficial effects of the seawater direct hydrogen production device provided in this embodiment are at least as follows:

[0078] The seawater direct hydrogen production device disclosed in this invention combines seawater desalination and water electrolysis hydrogen production technologies, achieving the goal of directly producing hydrogen from seawater. Furthermore, it employs three methods—simplified device design, innovative desalination technology, and waste heat utilization—to reduce hydrogen production costs, solving the problems of the inability to directly electrolyze seawater for hydrogen production and the high cost of water electrolysis hydrogen production.

[0079] Please refer to the following for details. Figures 3 to 7The seawater side cavity 100 includes a seawater side cover 110 and a seawater side shell 120. The seawater side cover 110 has a seawater inlet 101 and a seawater outlet 102. The seawater inlet 101 and the seawater outlet 102 are arranged vertically on the seawater side cover 110. One side of the seawater side shell 120 is connected to the seawater side cover 110, and the other side of the seawater side shell 120 is connected to the electrolysis side cavity 200. A through seawater channel 103 is provided in the middle of the seawater side shell 120. The seawater channel 103 is connected to the seawater inlet 101 and the seawater outlet 102. Optionally, the seawater channel 103 is a circular through channel.

[0080] For further details, please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 3 The seawater direct hydrogen production device further includes: a first gasket 130 and a second gasket 140; the first gasket 130 is disposed on one side of the seawater-side housing 120 and located around the seawater tank 103 facing the seawater-side housing 120; the second gasket 140 is disposed on the other side of the seawater-side housing 120 and located around the seawater tank 103 facing the hydrophobic membrane 500; wherein, a groove (not shown in the figure) is provided on the outer side of the opening of the seawater tank 103 corresponding to the positions of the first gasket 130 and the second gasket 140, and both the first gasket 130 and the second gasket 140 are connected to the seawater-side housing 120 through the groove. The first gasket 130 and the second gasket 140 ensure a sealed connection between the seawater-side cover 110 and the seawater-side housing 120, as well as a sealed connection between the seawater-side housing 120 and the electrolysis-side cavity 200, preventing seawater from overflowing from the seawater tank 103.

[0081] For more details, please continue reading. Figure 3 The electrolysis side cavity 200 includes: a first electrolysis shell 210, a second electrolysis shell 220, and an electrolysis side cover 230; the electrolysis cell 201 is disposed through the middle of the first electrolysis shell 210 and the second electrolysis shell 220, and the hydrophobic membrane 500 is covered on the groove of the electrolysis cell 201 near the seawater side cavity 100; one side of the first electrolysis shell 210 is connected to the seawater side cavity 100, and the other side of the first electrolysis shell 210 is sequentially connected to the cathode electrolysis layer 300, the anode electrolysis layer 400, the second electrolysis shell 220, and the electrolysis side cover 230; wherein, the first shell is provided with the hydrogen outlet 202, and the second shell is provided with the oxygen outlet 203.

[0082] In a specific embodiment, the first electrolytic shell 210, the second electrolytic shell 220, and the electrolytic side cover 230 form the electrolytic side cavity 200. Electrolytic cells 201 are provided on the first and second electrolytic shells 210 and 220, respectively, for holding the electrolyte. To prevent impurities in the seawater from entering the electrolyte, a hydrophobic membrane 500 at the opening of the electrolytic cell 201 effectively filters impurities from the seawater, achieving seawater desalination. The first and second electrolytic shells 210 and 220 sandwich the cathode electrolytic layer 300 and the anode electrolytic layer 400 in the middle, so that both the cathode electrolytic layer 300 and the anode electrolytic layer 400 are located within the electrolytic cell 201. The electrolyte in the electrolytic cell 201 undergoes an electrochemical reaction with the cathode electrolytic layer 300 and the anode electrolytic layer 400.

[0083] For further information, please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 3 The seawater direct hydrogen production device further includes: a third gasket 240, a fourth gasket 250, a fifth gasket 260, and a sixth gasket 270; the third gasket 240 is disposed on one side of the first electrolytic shell 210 and is located around the electrolytic cell 201 facing the hydrophobic membrane 500; the fourth gasket 250 is disposed on the other side of the first electrolytic shell 210 and is located around the electrolytic cell 201 facing the cathode electrolytic layer 300; the fifth gasket 260 is disposed on one side of the second electrolytic shell 220 and is located around the electrolytic cell 201 facing the anode electrolytic layer 400; the sixth gasket 270 is disposed on the other side of the second electrolytic shell 220 and is located around the electrolytic cell 201 facing the electrolytic side cover 230. The first electrolytic shell 210 has grooves on both sides of its side surfaces, located outside the opening of the electrolytic cell 201, for mounting the third gasket 240 and the fourth gasket 250. Similarly, the second electrolytic shell 220 has grooves on both sides of its side surfaces, located outside the opening of the electrolytic cell 201, for mounting the fifth gasket 260 and the sixth gasket 270. The third gasket 240 and the fourth gasket 250 ensure a sealed connection between the first electrolytic shell 210 and the seawater-side shell 120 and the cathode electrolytic layer 300. The fifth gasket 260 and the sixth gasket 270 ensure a sealed connection between the second electrolytic shell 220 and the electrolytic-side cover 230 and the anode electrolytic layer 400, preventing electrolyte from overflowing from the electrolytic cell 201.

[0084] In some implementations, please refer to [the relevant documentation]. Figure 3The cathode electrolysis layer 300 includes: a cathode housing 310, a cathode metal sheet 320, a cathode insulating layer (not shown in the figure), and a cathode nickel mesh 330; one side of the cathode housing 310 is connected to the other side of the first electrolysis housing 210, and the other side of the cathode housing 310 is connected to the anode electrolysis layer 400; the cathode metal sheet 320 is disposed on the cathode housing 310, and the cathode metal sheet 320 is provided with a cathode terminal 340, which extends out of the cathode housing 310 for connection to the negative terminal of the power supply; the cathode... An insulating layer (not shown in the figure) wraps around the outside of the cathode metal sheet 320 to prevent the cathode metal sheet 320 from short-circuiting with the anode electrolytic layer 400; the cathode nickel mesh 330 is disposed in the middle of the cathode metal sheet 320 and is located inside the electrolytic cell 201; wherein, the size of the cathode nickel mesh 330 is adapted to the shape of the electrolytic cell 201 to facilitate the passage of liquid, and a catalyst is attached to the cathode nickel mesh 330 for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) to occur in the electrolyte after the cathode metal sheet 320 is energized.

[0085] In other implementations, please refer to [link / reference needed]. Figure 3 The anode electrolytic layer 400 includes: an anode shell 410, an anode metal sheet 420, an anode insulating layer (not shown in the figure), and an anode nickel mesh 430; one side of the anode shell 410 is connected to the other side of the cathode shell 310, and the other side of the anode shell 410 is connected to the second electrolytic shell 220; the anode insulating layer wraps around the outside of the anode metal sheet 420; the anode metal sheet 420 is disposed on the anode shell 410, and the anode metal sheet 420 is provided with an anode terminal 440, which extends out of the anode shell 410 for connection to the positive terminal of the power supply; the anode nickel mesh 430 is disposed in the middle of the anode metal sheet 420, and the anode nickel mesh 430 is located inside the electrolytic cell 201. The anode nickel mesh 430 is separated from the cathode nickel mesh 330 by a hydrophilic membrane 600, which prevents the mixing of the two gases. The size of the anode nickel mesh 430 is adapted to the shape of the electrolytic cell 201 to facilitate the passage of liquid. The anode nickel mesh 430 is coated with a catalyst to enable the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) to occur in the electrolyte after the anode metal sheet 420 is energized.

[0086] Based on the above implementation methods, please continue to refer to... Figure 3A first insulating plate 610 is provided between the cathode housing 310 and the hydrophilic membrane 600, and a second insulating plate 620 is provided between the anode housing 410 and the hydrophilic membrane 600. The first insulating plate 610 is connected to the other side of the cathode housing 310, and the second insulating plate 620 is connected to the first insulating plate 610 and the anode housing 410 respectively. The electrolytic cell 201 passes through the first insulating plate 610 and the second insulating plate 620.

[0087] Specifically, both the cathode metal sheet 320 and the anode metal sheet 420 are covered with insulating material and separated by a first insulating plate 610 and a second insulating plate 620. Current is input into the cathode metal sheet 320 and the anode metal sheet 420, respectively, causing an electrochemical reaction to occur on the two nickel meshes (cathode metal sheet 320 and anode metal sheet 420) immersed in the electrolyte and coated with the catalyst: 2H₂O=2H₂↑+O₂↑ (with current applied). Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) occurs on the cathode side, and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) occurs on the anode side. A hydrophilic membrane 600 separates the hydrogen gas generated on the cathode side and the oxygen gas generated on the anode side between the two nickel meshes, preventing the mixing of the two gases. Finally, oxygen is discharged from the oxygen outlet 203. Drying the gas discharged from the hydrogen outlet 202 yields hydrogen gas.

[0088] It is worth mentioning that by adjusting the pore size and porosity of the hydrophobic membrane 500, the catalytic efficiency of the catalyst, or the current density, a dynamic balance can be achieved between the desalination rate and the water consumption rate of electrolysis. The cathode metal plate 320 and the anode metal plate 420 are separated by a hydrophilic membrane 600. This reduces the distance between the cathode metal plate 320 and the anode metal plate 420 without affecting electrolyte flow, thus reducing the electrolyte resistance between the two nickel meshes and accelerating the electrolysis rate. Furthermore, it separates the hydrogen evolution side from the oxygen evolution side, preventing cross-contamination between the two electrode sides.

[0089] For further information, please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 1 The seawater direct hydrogen production device includes: a heat insulation layer 700 and a water stop valve 800; the heat insulation layer 700 is respectively disposed inside the seawater side cavity 100 and the electrolysis side cavity 200, and the water stop valve 800 is disposed on the electrolysis side cavity 200 and connected to the inside of the electrolysis cell 201.

[0090] In a specific implementation, an insulation layer 700 is designed to maintain the temperature within the entire device in order to utilize waste heat. The waste heat can improve the desalination rate of seawater and the electrochemical reaction efficiency in the electrolyzer 201, thereby increasing the hydrogen production rate. Additionally, when the electrolyte needs to be replaced, the stop valve 800 is opened to drain the electrolyte from the tank, and fresh electrolyte is replenished by pumping.

[0091] Example 2:

[0092] Please see Figure 8 The present invention also discloses a method for direct hydrogen production from seawater, comprising:

[0093] S100, seawater is fed into the seawater tank 103 through the seawater inlet 101, and the seawater is desalinated through the hydrophobic membrane 500;

[0094] Specifically, seawater is pumped into the seawater tank 103 through the seawater inlet 101. On the side of the seawater tank 103, the water in the seawater passes through the hydrophobic membrane 500 driven by the concentration difference, thus achieving seawater desalination. By using the concentration difference to drive the water molecules to flow through the hydrophobic membrane 500, seawater desalination is achieved. Compared with traditional desalination technology, this reduces energy consumption and material costs.

[0095] S200: The desalinated seawater flows directly into the electrolytic cell 201. The cathode electrolytic layer 300 is connected to the negative terminal of the power supply and the anode electrolytic layer 400 is connected to the positive terminal of the power supply, so that the cathode electrolytic layer 300 undergoes a hydrogen evolution reaction and the anode electrolytic layer 400 undergoes an oxygen evolution reaction.

[0096] Specifically, the desalinated seawater flows directly into the electrolytic cell 201 to replenish the electrolyte with water solvent (the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell 201 is an alkaline solution); at the same time, the cathode electrolytic layer 300 is connected to the negative terminal of the power supply and the anode electrolytic layer 400 is connected to the positive terminal of the power supply, so that the cathode electrolytic layer 300 immersed in the electrolyte undergoes a hydrogen evolution reaction, and the anode electrolytic layer 400 immersed in the electrolyte undergoes an oxygen evolution reaction.

[0097] S300, the hydrogen produced by the cathode electrolysis layer 300 and the oxygen produced by the anode electrolysis layer 400 are separated by the hydrophilic membrane 600. The hydrogen is discharged from the hydrogen outlet 202 and the oxygen is discharged from the oxygen outlet 203.

[0098] Specifically, the hydrogen produced by the cathode electrolysis layer 300 and the oxygen produced by the anode electrolysis layer 400 are separated by a hydrophilic membrane 600 to prevent the mixing of the two gases. The hydrogen is discharged from the hydrogen outlet 202 and the oxygen is discharged from the oxygen outlet 203. The gas discharged from the hydrogen outlet 202 needs to be dried to a certain extent to obtain hydrogen.

[0099] It should be noted that since the hydrogen production method of the direct seawater hydrogen production device has been described in detail above, it will not be repeated here.

[0100] In summary, this invention provides a seawater direct hydrogen production device and method, wherein the seawater direct hydrogen production device includes: a seawater side cavity, an electrolysis side cavity, a cathode electrolysis layer, and an anode electrolysis layer; the seawater side cavity is provided with a seawater inlet and a seawater outlet, and a seawater tank is provided inside the seawater side cavity, the seawater tank being connected to the seawater inlet and the seawater outlet; the electrolysis side cavity is connected to the seawater side cavity, and an electrolysis cell for placing electrolyte is provided inside the electrolysis side cavity, and a separation mechanism is provided between the electrolysis cell and the seawater tank to separate the seawater tank and the electrolysis cell. A hydrophobic membrane is provided in the electrolysis cell; the cathode electrolysis layer is disposed in the electrolysis side cavity, and a portion of the cathode electrolysis layer is located within the electrolysis cell; the anode electrolysis layer is disposed in the electrolysis side cavity, and a portion of the anode electrolysis layer is located within the electrolysis cell; a hydrophilic membrane for isolating gases is provided between the anode electrolysis layer and the cathode electrolysis layer; wherein, a hydrogen outlet connected to the electrolysis cell is provided on the side of the electrolysis side cavity near the cathode electrolysis layer, and an oxygen outlet connected to the electrolysis cell is provided on the side of the electrolysis side cavity near the anode electrolysis layer. This invention, by combining seawater desalination and water electrolysis hydrogen production technologies, achieves the goal of directly producing hydrogen from seawater, solving the problem of high cost in seawater hydrogen production.

[0101] Other embodiments of the invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the solutions disclosed herein. This invention is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention that follow the general principles of the invention and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of the invention are indicated by the claims.

Claims

1. A seawater direct hydrogen production device, characterized by comprising: The seawater direct hydrogen production device comprises: a seawater side cavity, a seawater inlet and a seawater outlet are arranged on the seawater side cavity, a seawater tank is arranged in the seawater side cavity, and the seawater tank is connected with the seawater inlet and the seawater outlet; an electrolysis side cavity, the electrolysis side cavity is connected with the seawater side cavity, an electrolysis tank for placing electrolyte is arranged in the electrolysis side cavity, and a hydrophobic membrane is arranged between the electrolysis tank and the seawater tank to separate the seawater tank and the electrolysis tank; a cathode electrolysis layer, the cathode electrolysis layer is arranged in the electrolysis side cavity, and part of the cathode electrolysis layer is arranged in the electrolysis tank; an anode electrolysis layer, the anode electrolysis layer is arranged in the electrolysis side cavity, and part of the anode electrolysis layer is arranged in the electrolysis tank, a hydrophilic membrane is arranged between the anode electrolysis layer and the cathode electrolysis layer to separate the anode electrolysis layer and the cathode electrolysis layer; wherein, a hydrogen outlet connected with the electrolysis tank is arranged on the side of the electrolysis side cavity close to the cathode electrolysis layer, and an oxygen outlet connected with the electrolysis tank is arranged on the side of the electrolysis side cavity close to the anode electrolysis layer; the hydrophobic membrane has a pore structure through which water molecules can pass.

2. The apparatus for direct hydrogen production from seawater according to claim 1, wherein The seawater side cavity comprises: a seawater side cover, the seawater inlet and the seawater outlet are arranged on the seawater side cover; a seawater side shell, one side of the seawater side shell is connected with the seawater side cover, the other side of the seawater side shell is connected with the electrolysis side cavity, and a through seawater tank is arranged in the middle of the seawater side shell, and the seawater tank is connected with the seawater inlet and the seawater outlet.

3. The apparatus for direct hydrogen production from seawater according to claim 1, wherein The electrolysis side cavity comprises: a first electrolysis shell, a second electrolysis shell and an electrolysis side cover; the electrolysis tank is arranged in the middle of the first electrolysis shell and the second electrolysis shell, the hydrophobic membrane is arranged on the tank opening of the electrolysis tank close to the seawater side cavity, one side of the first electrolysis shell is connected with the seawater side cavity, and the other side of the first electrolysis shell is sequentially connected with the cathode electrolysis layer, the anode electrolysis layer, the second electrolysis shell and the electrolysis side cover; wherein, the hydrogen outlet is arranged on the first shell, and the oxygen outlet is arranged on the second shell.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein The cathode electrolysis layer comprises: a cathode shell, a cathode metal sheet, a cathode insulating layer and a cathode nickel mesh; one side of the cathode shell is connected with the other side of the first electrolysis shell, and the other side of the cathode shell is connected with the anode electrolysis layer; the cathode metal sheet is arranged on the cathode shell, a cathode terminal is arranged on the cathode metal sheet, and the cathode terminal extends out of the cathode shell; the cathode insulating layer is wrapped outside the cathode metal sheet; the cathode nickel mesh is arranged in the middle of the cathode metal sheet, and the cathode nickel mesh is arranged in the electrolysis tank.

5. The apparatus for direct hydrogen production from seawater according to claim 4, wherein The anode electrolysis layer comprises: an anode shell, an anode metal sheet, an anode insulating layer and an anode nickel mesh; one side of the anode shell is connected with the other side of the cathode shell, and the other side of the anode shell is connected with the second electrolysis shell; the anode insulating layer is wrapped outside the anode metal sheet; The anode metal sheet is arranged on the anode shell, and an anode terminal is arranged on the anode metal sheet and extends out of the anode shell; The anode nickel mesh is arranged in the middle of the anode metal sheet, and is located in the electrolytic tank and separated from the cathode nickel mesh by the hydrophilic membrane.

6. The apparatus for direct hydrogen production from seawater according to claim 5, wherein A first insulating plate is arranged between the cathode shell and the hydrophilic membrane, and a second insulating plate is arranged between the anode shell and the hydrophilic membrane, the first insulating plate is connected to the other side of the cathode shell, and the second insulating plate is connected to the first insulating plate and the anode shell respectively, and the electrolytic tank penetrates the first and second insulating plates.

7. The apparatus for direct hydrogen production from seawater according to claim 2, wherein The seawater direct hydrogen production device further comprises: A first gasket and a second gasket; The first gasket is arranged on one side of the seawater side shell and located around the seawater tank facing the seawater side shell, and the second gasket is arranged on the other side of the seawater side shell and located around the hydrophobic membrane facing the seawater tank.

8. The apparatus for direct hydrogen production from seawater according to claim 3, wherein The seawater direct hydrogen production device further comprises: A third gasket, a fourth gasket, a fifth gasket and a sixth gasket; The third gasket is arranged on one side of the first electrolytic shell and located around the electrolytic tank facing the hydrophobic membrane, and the fourth gasket is arranged on the other side of the first electrolytic shell and located around the electrolytic tank facing the cathode electrolytic layer; The fifth gasket is arranged on one side of the second electrolytic shell and located around the electrolytic tank facing the anode electrolytic layer, and the sixth gasket is arranged on the other side of the second electrolytic shell and located around the electrolytic tank facing the electrolytic side cover.

9. The apparatus for direct hydrogen production from seawater according to claim 3, wherein The seawater direct hydrogen production device further comprises: A heat preservation layer arranged in the interior of the seawater side cavity and the electrolytic side cavity respectively; A water stop valve arranged on the electrolytic side cavity and communicating with the interior of the electrolytic tank.

10. A method of producing hydrogen from seawater using the apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by, The seawater direct hydrogen production device further comprises: Seawater is input into the seawater tank through the seawater inlet, and the seawater is desalinated through the hydrophobic membrane; The desalinated seawater directly flows into the electrolytic tank, the cathode electrolytic layer is connected to the negative electrode of the power supply, and the anode electrolytic layer is connected to the positive electrode of the power supply, so that the cathode electrolytic layer generates hydrogen evolution reaction and the anode electrolytic layer generates oxygen evolution reaction; The hydrogen generated by the cathode electrolytic layer and the oxygen generated by the anode electrolytic layer are separated by the hydrophilic membrane, the hydrogen is discharged from the hydrogen outlet, and the oxygen is discharged from the oxygen outlet.

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