Seawater desalination system and method based on solar collector and fuel cell

Abstract

The present invention discloses a seawater desalination system and method based on a solar collector and a fuel cell. The system includes a seawater pump, a regenerator, a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell, a solar collector, a humidifier, a first blower, a dehumidifier, a second blower, a fresh water pump, a hydrogen storage tank, a third blower, a condenser, a fresh water tank, an electrolytic cell, an oxygen storage tank, a battery, an electric heater and a two-position three-way valve. The present invention combines heat pump circulation, humidification and dehumidification process, and hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell power generation. According to the energy transfer principle of the heat pump system and hydrogen, the utilization of hydrogen by hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells and the power generation of batteries are used to improve the efficiency of seawater desalination and the continuous operation of the system, avoiding the application restrictions of the traditional humidification and dehumidification seawater desalination system due to the additional heat source, and meeting the national strategic needs of energy conservation, emission reduction and sustainable development of water resources.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of seawater desalination, and in particular to a seawater desalination system and method based on a solar collector and a fuel cell. Background Art

[0002] In conventional photovoltaic solar thermal humidification and dehumidification seawater desalination systems, affected by natural factors such as weather, an external heat source drive system is required, which limits the efficiency of seawater desalination. At the same time, the incoming seawater is used to cool the hot and humid air to produce fresh water, but the concentrated seawater after the humidification process is usually discharged directly, and the heat cannot be recovered, resulting in reduced energy utilization efficiency and economic efficiency of the traditional humidification and dehumidification seawater desalination system. The use of external heat sources may also cause environmental problems. Therefore, on the basis of the conventional humidification and dehumidification seawater system, the replenishment of electricity is maintained by solar collectors and hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells. Hydrogen has a strong moisture-carrying capacity and will not pollute the environment as a clean energy combustion product. It can significantly improve the energy utilization efficiency and production efficiency of seawater desalination, and has important application value. Summary of the invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a seawater desalination system and method based on a solar collector and a fuel cell in view of the defects involved in the background technology.

[0004] The present invention adopts the following technical solutions to solve the above technical problems:

[0005] A seawater desalination system based on solar collectors and fuel cells, including a seawater pump, a heat regenerator, a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell, a solar collector, a humidifier, a first blower, a dehumidifier, a second blower, a fresh water pump, a hydrogen storage tank, a third blower, a condenser, a fresh water tank, an electrolytic cell, an oxygen storage tank, a battery, an electric heater and a two-position three-way valve;

[0006] A cooling pipe is provided on the housing of the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell, one end of the pipe is connected to the outlet of the seawater pump, and the other end is connected to the inlet of the cold side channel of the regenerator;

[0007] The inlet of the two-position three-way valve is connected to the outlet pipe of the cold side channel of the regenerator, one outlet is connected to the water inlet pipe of the solar collector, and the other outlet is connected to the water inlet pipe of the electric heater;

[0008] The water inlet at the top of the humidifier is connected to the water outlet of the solar collector and the water outlet pipe of the electric heater respectively, the air inlet at the upper end is connected to the inlet of the first blower, the air inlet at the lower end is connected to the anode outlet pipe of the electrolytic cell, and the water outlet at the bottom end is connected to the outside and is used to discharge brine;

[0009] The water inlet of the electrolytic cell is connected to the water outlet pipeline of the fresh water tank, and the cathode gas outlet is connected to the oxygen storage tank pipeline;

[0010] The lower air inlet of the dehumidifier is connected to the outlet pipe of the first blower, the bottom water outlet is connected to the inlet pipe of the fresh water pump, and the upper air outlet is connected to the inlet pipe of the second blower;

[0011] The inlet of the hot side channel of the regenerator is connected to the outlet pipe of the fresh water pump, and the outlet of the hot side channel of the regenerator is respectively connected to the water outlet of the condenser, the top water inlet of the dehumidifier, and the water inlet pipe of the fresh water tank;

[0012] The inlet of the hydrogen storage tank is connected to the outlet pipeline of the first blower, and the outlet of the hydrogen storage tank is connected to the anode air inlet pipeline of the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell;

[0013] The cathode air inlet of the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell is connected to the outside air, and the air outlet is connected to the inlet of the third blower;

[0014] The outlet of the third blower is connected to the air inlet pipe of the condenser;

[0015] The storage battery is electrically connected to the power output end of the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell and the power output end of the solar thermal collector respectively.

[0016] As a further optimization solution of the seawater desalination system based on a solar collector and a fuel cell of the present invention, the fillers of the humidifier and the dehumidifier are both made of iron materials.

[0017] As a further optimization solution of the seawater desalination system based on a solar collector and a fuel cell of the present invention, the regenerator is a plate-type regenerator.

[0018] As a further optimization solution of the seawater desalination system based on a solar thermal collector and a fuel cell of the present invention, the solar thermal collector is a non-focusing solar thermal collector.

[0019] The present invention also discloses a working method of the seawater desalination system based on the solar collector and the fuel cell, comprising the following process:

[0020] After the seawater pump draws seawater into the pipeline, it first passes through the cooling pipe on the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell shell to cool the fuel cell and preliminarily heat the seawater. Then, it passes through the cold side channel of the regenerator and enters the solar collector or electric heater through the two-position three-way valve for full heating.

[0021] The solar collector is used for heating during the day and the generated electricity is input into the battery, and the electric heater is used for heating at night; the two-position three-way valve is used to select whether to use the solar collector for heating or the electric heater for heating;

[0022] The heated seawater enters the humidifier and conducts heat and mass transfer with the hydrogen obtained by electrolysis in the electrolytic cell to form a mixed gas, which is then blown out by the first blower and sent to the dehumidifier;

[0023] The dehumidifier condenses the water vapor in the mixed gas to dehumidify the hydrogen. The dehumidified hydrogen is blown from the upper outlet of the dehumidifier through the second blower into the hydrogen storage tank for use in the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell.

[0024] The hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell uses the hydrogen provided by the hydrogen storage tank and the air connected to the outside to generate electricity, and stores the electrical energy in the battery. At the same time, the water vapor generated by the reaction is blown into the condenser by the third blower for condensation;

[0025] The fresh water condensed by the dehumidifier is pumped out by the fresh water pump and merged with the fresh water condensed by the condenser. One part enters the top water inlet of the dehumidifier, and the other part is stored in the fresh water tank.

[0026] Part of the fresh water in the fresh water tank is collected as a product, and part is used as a raw material for the electrolytic cell. The oxygen obtained by electrolysis is stored in an oxygen storage tank as a by-product.

[0027] Compared with the prior art, the present invention adopts the above technical solution and has the following technical effects:

[0028] The present invention introduces a heat pump cycle into a seawater desalination system, utilizes the characteristics of the cycle itself to recover heat, and utilizes hydrogen as a moisture-carrying gas, thereby greatly improving the energy utilization efficiency and production efficiency of the seawater desalination system. Hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells and solar collectors are introduced into the seawater desalination system, and batteries are used to maintain the seawater desalination operation in a dark state, thereby realizing the all-weather operation of the system and improving the economic benefits. In addition, the system eliminates the dependence of conventional seawater desalination systems on fossil energy, reduces pollution to the environment, and meets the national strategic requirements for energy conservation and emission reduction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Figure 1 It is a cooling and dehumidification seawater desalination system with heat pump cycle.

[0030] In the figure, 1-seawater pump, 2-hydrogen and oxygen fuel cell, 3-regenerator, 4-solar collector, 5-humidifier, 6-first blower, 7-dehumidifier, 8-second blower, 9-fresh water pump, 10-hydrogen storage tank, 11-third blower, 12-condenser, 13-fresh water tank, 14-electrolytic cell, 15-oxygen storage tank, 16-battery, 17-electric heater, 18-two-position three-way valve. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The technical solution of the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

[0032] The present invention can be implemented in many different forms and should not be considered to be limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided to make this disclosure thorough and complete, and will fully express the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. In the accompanying drawings, components are enlarged for clarity.

[0033] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc. can be used here to describe various elements, components and / or parts, these elements, components and / or parts are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish elements, components and / or parts from each other. Therefore, the first element, component and / or part discussed below can become the second element, component or part without departing from the teaching of the present invention.

[0034] like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention discloses a seawater desalination system based on a solar collector and a fuel cell, comprising a seawater pump 1, a regenerator 3, a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell 2, a solar collector 4, a humidifier 5, a first blower 6, a dehumidifier 7, a second blower 8, a fresh water pump 9, a hydrogen storage tank 10, a third blower 11, a condenser 12, a fresh water tank 13, an electrolytic cell 14, an oxygen storage tank 15, a battery 16, an electric heater 17 and a two-position three-way valve 18;

[0035] A cooling pipe is provided on the housing of the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell 2, one end of the pipe is connected to the outlet of the seawater pump 1, and the other end is connected to the inlet of the cold side channel of the regenerator 3;

[0036] The inlet of the two-position three-way valve 18 is connected to the outlet pipe of the cold side channel of the regenerator 3, one outlet is connected to the water inlet pipe of the solar collector 4, and the other outlet is connected to the water inlet pipe of the electric heater 17;

[0037] The water inlet at the top of the humidifier 5 is connected to the water outlet of the solar collector 4 and the water outlet pipe of the electric heater 17 respectively, the upper air inlet is connected to the inlet of the first blower 6, the lower air inlet is connected to the anode outlet pipe of the electrolytic cell 14, and the bottom water outlet is connected to the outside for discharging brine;

[0038] The water inlet of the electrolytic cell 14 is connected to the water outlet of the fresh water tank 13 through a pipeline, and the cathode gas outlet is connected to the oxygen storage tank 15 through a pipeline;

[0039] The lower air inlet of the dehumidifier 7 is connected to the outlet pipe of the first blower 6, the bottom water outlet is connected to the inlet pipe of the fresh water pump 9, and the upper air outlet is connected to the inlet pipe of the second blower 8;

[0040] The inlet of the hot side channel of the regenerator 3 is connected to the outlet pipe of the fresh water pump 9, and the outlet of the hot side channel of the regenerator 3 is respectively connected to the water outlet of the condenser 12, the top water inlet of the dehumidifier 7, and the water inlet pipe of the fresh water tank 13;

[0041] The inlet of the hydrogen storage tank 10 is connected to the outlet pipe of the first blower 8, and the outlet of the hydrogen storage tank 10 is connected to the anode air inlet pipe of the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell 2;

[0042] The cathode air inlet of the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell 2 is connected to the outside air, and the air outlet is connected to the inlet of the third blower 11;

[0043] The outlet of the third blower 11 is connected to the air inlet pipe of the condenser 12;

[0044] The storage battery 16 is electrically connected to the power output end of the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell 2 and the power output end of the solar thermal collector 4 respectively.

[0045] The fillers of the humidifier 5 and the dehumidifier 7 are both made of iron material.

[0046] The regenerator 3 is a plate type regenerator.

[0047] The solar thermal collector 4 is a non-focusing solar thermal collector.

[0048] The present invention also discloses a working method of the seawater desalination system based on the solar collector and the fuel cell, comprising the following process:

[0049] After the seawater pump 1 pumps the seawater into the pipeline, it first passes through the cooling pipe on the shell of the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell 2 to cool the fuel cell and preliminarily heat the seawater. Then, it passes through the cold side channel of the regenerator 3 and enters the solar collector 4 or the electric heater 17 via the two-position three-way valve 18 to be fully heated.

[0050] The solar collector 4 is used for heating during the day and the generated electric energy is input to the storage battery 16, and the electric heater 17 is used for heating at night; the two-position three-way valve 18 is used to select whether to use the solar collector 4 for heating or the electric heater 17 for heating;

[0051] The heated seawater enters the humidifier 5 and conducts heat and mass transfer with the hydrogen obtained by electrolysis in the electrolytic cell 14 to form a mixed gas, which is then blown out by the first blower 6 and sent to the dehumidifier 7;

[0052] The dehumidifier 7 condenses the water vapor in the mixed gas to dehumidify the hydrogen. The dehumidified hydrogen is blown from the upper gas outlet of the dehumidifier 7 through the second blower 8 into the hydrogen storage tank 10 for use by the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell 2.

[0053] The hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell 2 generates electricity using hydrogen provided by the hydrogen storage tank 10 and air from the outside, and stores the electric energy in the storage battery 16. At the same time, the water vapor generated by the reaction is blown into the condenser 12 by the third blower 11 for condensation.

[0054] The fresh water condensed by the dehumidifier 7 is pumped out by the fresh water pump 9 and merged with the fresh water condensed by the condenser 12. A part of it enters the top water inlet of the dehumidifier 7, and the other part is stored in the fresh water tank 13;

[0055] A portion of the fresh water in the fresh water tank 13 is collected as a product, and a portion is used as a raw material for the electrolytic cell 14. The oxygen obtained by electrolysis is stored in the oxygen storage tank 15 as a by-product.

[0056] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art in the art to which the present invention belongs. It should also be understood that terms such as those defined in common dictionaries should be understood to have meanings consistent with the meanings in the context of the prior art, and will not be interpreted with idealized or overly formal meanings unless defined as herein.

[0057] The specific implementation methods described above further illustrate the objectives, technical solutions and beneficial effects of the present invention in detail. It should be understood that the above description is only a specific implementation method of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A seawater desalination system based on solar collectors and fuel cells, characterized in that: It comprises a seawater pump (1), a regenerator (3), a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell (2), a solar collector (4), a humidifier (5), a first blower (6), a dehumidifier (7), a second blower (8), a fresh water pump (9), a hydrogen storage tank (10), a third blower (11), a condenser (12), a fresh water tank (13), an electrolytic cell (14), an oxygen storage tank (15), a battery (16), an electric heater (17) and a two-position three-way valve (18); A cooling pipe is provided on the housing of the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell (2), one end of the pipe is connected to the outlet of the seawater pump (1), and the other end is connected to the inlet of the cold side channel of the regenerator (3); The inlet of the two-position three-way valve (18) is connected to the outlet pipe of the cold side channel of the regenerator (3), one outlet is connected to the water inlet pipe of the solar collector (4), and the other outlet is connected to the water inlet pipe of the electric heater (17); The water inlet at the top of the humidifier (5) is respectively connected to the water outlet of the solar collector (4) and the water outlet pipe of the electric heater (17); the air inlet at the upper end is connected to the inlet of the first blower (6); the air inlet at the lower end is connected to the anode outlet pipe of the electrolytic cell (14); and the water outlet at the bottom end is connected to the outside and is used to discharge brine; The water inlet of the electrolytic cell (14) is connected to the water outlet pipeline of the fresh water tank (13), and the cathode gas outlet is connected to the oxygen storage tank (15) pipeline; The lower air inlet of the dehumidifier (7) is connected to the outlet pipe of the first blower (6), the lower water outlet is connected to the inlet pipe of the fresh water pump (9), and the upper air outlet is connected to the inlet pipe of the second blower (8); The inlet of the hot side channel of the regenerator (3) is connected to the outlet pipe of the fresh water pump (9), and the outlet of the hot side channel of the regenerator (3) is respectively connected to the water outlet of the condenser (12), the top water inlet of the dehumidifier (7), and the water inlet pipe of the fresh water tank (13); The inlet of the hydrogen storage tank (10) is connected to the outlet pipeline of the second blower (8), and the outlet of the hydrogen storage tank (10) is connected to the anode air inlet pipeline of the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell (2); The cathode air inlet of the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell (2) is connected to the outside air, and the air outlet is connected to the inlet of the third blower (11); The outlet of the third blower (11) is connected to the air inlet pipe of the condenser (12); The storage battery (16) is electrically connected to the power output end of the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell (2) and the power output end of the solar thermal collector (4), respectively.

2. The seawater desalination system based on solar thermal collector and fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fillers of the humidifier (5) and the dehumidifier (7) are both made of iron material.

3. The seawater desalination system based on solar thermal collectors and fuel cells according to claim 1, characterized in that: The regenerator (3) is a plate-type regenerator.

4. The seawater desalination system based on solar thermal collectors and fuel cells according to claim 1, characterized in that: The solar thermal collector (4) is a non-focusing solar thermal collector.

5. The working method of the seawater desalination system based on solar thermal collector and fuel cell according to claim 1, characterized in that: The process includes: After the seawater pump (1) pumps the seawater into the pipeline, the seawater first passes through the cooling pipeline on the shell of the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell (2) to cool the fuel cell and preliminarily heat the seawater. The seawater then passes through the cold side channel of the regenerator (3) and enters the solar collector (4) or the electric heater (17) via the two-position three-way valve (18) to be fully heated. The solar thermal collector (4) is used for heating during the day and the generated electric energy is input into the storage battery (16), and the electric heater (17) is used for heating at night; the two-position three-way valve (18) is used to select whether to use the solar thermal collector (4) for heating or the electric heater (17) for heating; The heated seawater enters the humidifier (5) and conducts heat and mass transfer with the hydrogen obtained by electrolysis in the electrolytic cell (14) to form a mixed gas, which is then blown out by the first blower (6) and sent to the dehumidifier (7); The dehumidifier (7) condenses water vapor in the mixed gas to dehumidify the hydrogen, and the dehumidified hydrogen is blown from the upper gas outlet of the dehumidifier (7) through the second blower (8) into the hydrogen storage tank (10) for use by the hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell (2); The hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell (2) generates electricity using hydrogen provided by the hydrogen storage tank (10) and air connected to the outside, and stores the electric energy in the storage battery (16). At the same time, the water vapor generated by the reaction is blown into the condenser (12) by the third blower (11) for condensation. The fresh water condensed by the dehumidifier (7) is pumped out by the fresh water pump (9) and merged with the fresh water condensed by the condenser (12). A portion of the fresh water enters the top water inlet of the dehumidifier (7), and the other portion is stored in the fresh water tank (13). A portion of the fresh water in the fresh water tank (13) is collected as a product, and a portion is used as a raw material for the electrolytic cell (14). The oxygen obtained by electrolysis is stored in the oxygen storage tank (15) as a by-product.

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