Electrochemical oxygen pump energy storage system

Abstract

This invention discloses an electrochemical oxygen pump energy storage system, comprising: an electrical energy input unit, an electrochemical oxygen pump device, a heat storage unit, an oxygen storage chamber, a regenerative unit, a battery stack device, an electrical energy output unit, a first electrolyte assembly, a second electrolyte assembly, a heating unit, a cooling unit, an oxygen outlet pipeline, and an oxygen inlet pipeline. This electrochemical oxygen pump energy storage system continuously produces and stores pure oxygen from the air using the electrochemical oxygen pump device. When needed, the produced oxygen is used to generate electricity through the battery stack device via the oxygen concentration cell principle. It has advantages such as rapid start-up, clean and pollution-free operation, high controllability, simple maintenance, continuous use, and easy deployment and expansion, enabling convenient and rapid response to various energy storage needs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of energy storage technology, and in particular to an electrochemical oxygen pump energy storage system. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, the demand for energy storage technology has become increasingly urgent in areas such as grid peak shaving, improving grid reliability, and enhancing power quality. Based on different energy storage forms, energy storage technologies are categorized into pumped hydro storage, compressed air storage, battery storage, superconducting storage, flywheel storage, and supercapacitors. Among these, compressed air storage (CAS) boasts advantages such as large scale, low construction cost, and long lifespan. Utilizing air as the energy storage medium, it achieves energy storage and management through the mutual conversion of electrical energy and the internal energy of high-pressure, low-temperature air. It is one of the most promising large-scale energy storage technologies (100MW and above) and has already entered the commercial application stage. However, the construction of CAS requires large compressors, expanders, and large air storage caverns, resulting in numerous mechanical components, significant control challenges, and a long deployment and construction cycle.

[0003] An electrochemical oxygen pump is an electrolytic cell for electrolyzing air, similar in structure to a fuel cell, primarily consisting of a cathode, anode, and electrolyte. Under the influence of a potential difference, oxygen in the air undergoes a reduction reaction at the cathode of the electrochemical oxygen pump, thereby reducing the oxygen concentration in the cathode chamber; simultaneously, an oxygen evolution reaction occurs at the anode, generating oxygen. The reverse process of the electrochemical oxygen pump is equivalent to an oxygen concentration cell, and its principle has been widely applied in fields such as oxygen sensors. Utilizing the characteristics of electrochemical oxygen pumps in producing high-purity, high-pressure oxygen through air electrolysis and in oxygen concentration cell power generation to improve existing large-scale energy storage systems has become a feasible research direction. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the above problems, this invention proposes an electrochemical oxygen pump energy storage system.

[0005] To achieve the objective of this invention, an electrochemical oxygen pump energy storage system is provided, comprising: an electrical energy input unit, an electrochemical oxygen pump device, an oxygen storage chamber, a battery stack device, an electrical energy output unit, a first electrolyte assembly, a second electrolyte assembly, an oxygen outlet pipeline, and an oxygen inlet pipeline;

[0006] The power input unit is electrically connected to the electrochemical oxygen pump device;

[0007] The first electrolyte component is disposed inside the electrochemical oxygen pump device; the electrochemical oxygen pump device is provided with a first air inlet, a first air outlet and an oxygen outlet on its side; the first air inlet and the first air outlet are both located on the cathode side of the first electrolyte component, and the oxygen outlet is located on the anode side of the first electrolyte component.

[0008] One end of the oxygen outlet pipeline is connected to the oxygen outlet, and the other end is connected to the oxygen storage chamber;

[0009] The second electrolyte assembly is disposed inside the battery stack device; a second air inlet, a second air outlet and an oxygen inlet are respectively provided on the side of the battery stack device; the second air inlet and the second air outlet are both located on the anode side of the second electrolyte assembly, and the oxygen inlet is located on the cathode side of the second electrolyte assembly;

[0010] One end of the oxygen inlet pipeline is connected to the oxygen storage chamber, and the other end is connected to the oxygen inlet.

[0011] The power output unit is electrically connected to the battery stack device.

[0012] Furthermore, the electrochemical oxygen pump energy storage system also includes: a heat storage unit and a regeneration unit; the heat storage unit is disposed on the oxygen outlet pipeline; and the regeneration unit is disposed on the oxygen inlet pipeline.

[0013] Furthermore, the electrochemical oxygen pump energy storage system also includes a heating unit and a cooling unit, wherein the heating unit is disposed on the electrochemical oxygen pump device; and the cooling unit is disposed on the battery stack device.

[0014] Furthermore, the first electrolyte component is a solid oxide electrolyte, a phosphate electrolyte, a molten carbonate electrolyte, an alkaline solution electrolyte, or a proton exchange membrane.

[0015] Furthermore, the second electrolyte component is a solid oxide electrolyte, a phosphate electrolyte, a molten carbonate electrolyte, an alkaline solution electrolyte, or a proton exchange membrane.

[0016] Furthermore, the electrochemical oxygen pump device has a tubular structure or a flat plate structure.

[0017] Furthermore, the battery stack device has a tubular structure or a flat plate structure.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial technical effects:

[0019] This invention utilizes an electrochemical oxygen pump device to continuously produce and store pure oxygen from the air. When needed, the produced oxygen is used to generate electricity via a battery stack module through an oxygen concentration cell principle, thus achieving the storage and release of electrical energy. Compared to existing large-scale physical energy storage technologies, especially compressed air energy storage technology, the electrochemical oxygen pump module and battery stack module greatly simplify the energy storage system, eliminating the need for bulky operating machinery and dangerous compressors. Furthermore, the battery stack module is easy to deploy, expand, and start, significantly improving system reliability and enabling more convenient and rapid response to various energy storage needs. Its production costs and energy consumption are also significantly reduced compared to traditional large-scale physical energy storage technologies. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electrochemical oxygen pump energy storage system according to one embodiment.

[0021] Reference numerals in the attached figures: 1-Electrical input unit, 2-Electrochemical oxygen pump device, 3-Heat storage unit, 4-Oxygen storage chamber, 5-Regenerative unit, 6-Battery stack device, 7-Electrical output unit, 8-First electrolyte assembly, 9-Second electrolyte assembly, 10-Heating unit, 11-Cooling unit, E-Oxygen outlet pipeline, F-Oxygen inlet pipeline, a-First air inlet, b-First air outlet, e-Oxygen outlet, c-Second air inlet, d-Second air outlet, f-Oxygen inlet. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0023] In this document, the term "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0024] refer to Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electrochemical oxygen pump energy storage system according to one embodiment, including: an electrical energy input unit 1, an electrochemical oxygen pump device 2, an oxygen storage chamber 4, a battery stack device 6, an electrical energy output unit 7, a first electrolyte assembly 8, a second electrolyte assembly 9, an oxygen outlet pipeline E, and an oxygen inlet pipeline F;

[0025] The power input unit 1 is electrically connected to the electrochemical oxygen pump device 2;

[0026] The first electrolyte component 8 is disposed inside the electrochemical oxygen pump device 2; the electrochemical oxygen pump device 2 is provided with a first air inlet a, a first air outlet b and an oxygen outlet e on its side; the first air inlet a and the first air outlet b are both located on the cathode side of the first electrolyte component 8, and the oxygen outlet e is located on the anode side of the first electrolyte component 8.

[0027] One end of the oxygen outlet pipeline E is connected to the oxygen outlet e, and the other end is connected to the oxygen storage chamber 4.

[0028] The second electrolyte component 9 is disposed inside the battery stack device 6; the side of the battery stack device 6 is respectively provided with a second air inlet c, a second air outlet d and an oxygen inlet f; the second air inlet c and the second air outlet d are both located on the anode side of the second electrolyte component 9, and the oxygen inlet f is located on the cathode side of the second electrolyte component 9.

[0029] One end of the oxygen inlet pipe F is connected to the oxygen storage chamber 4, and the other end is connected to the oxygen inlet f;

[0030] The power output unit 7 is electrically connected to the battery stack device 6.

[0031] In one embodiment, the electrochemical oxygen pump energy storage system further includes: a heat storage unit 3 and a regeneration unit 5; the heat storage unit 3 is disposed on the oxygen outlet pipeline E; and the regeneration unit 5 is disposed on the oxygen inlet pipeline F.

[0032] In one embodiment, the electrochemical oxygen pump energy storage system further includes a heating unit 10 and a cooling unit 11, wherein the heating unit 10 is disposed on the electrochemical oxygen pump device 2; and the cooling unit 11 is disposed on the battery stack device 6.

[0033] In one embodiment, the first electrolyte component 8 is a solid oxide electrolyte, a phosphate electrolyte, a molten carbonate electrolyte, an alkaline solution electrolyte, or a proton exchange membrane.

[0034] In one embodiment, the second electrolyte component 9 is a solid oxide electrolyte, a phosphate electrolyte, a molten carbonate electrolyte, an alkaline solution electrolyte, or a proton exchange membrane.

[0035] In one embodiment, the electrochemical oxygen pump device 2 has a tubular structure or a flat plate structure.

[0036] In one embodiment, the battery stack device 6 is a tubular structure or a flat plate structure.

[0037] In one embodiment, when the first electrolyte component 8 is a solid oxide electrolyte, the working principle of the electrochemical oxygen pump energy storage system for storing and releasing electrical energy is as follows:

[0038] During the energy storage process, the energy input unit 1 supplies power to the electrochemical oxygen pump device 2, and the electrochemical oxygen pump device 2 begins to operate. Air is introduced into the electrochemical oxygen pump device 2 through the cathode side of the first electrolyte component 8, i.e., the first air inlet a. The air enters the electrochemical oxygen pump device 2 and undergoes a reduction reaction on the surface of the first electrolyte component 8, reducing the oxygen concentration. The air with reduced oxygen concentration is then discharged to the outdoor environment through the first air outlet b. Meanwhile, the oxygen ions generated by the reduction pass through the first electrolyte component 8 to the other side, i.e., the anode side, where an oxidation reaction occurs, releasing oxygen, which is then discharged through the oxygen outlet pipe E. As air continuously enters from the first air inlet a and releases pure oxygen through the electrolysis of the electrochemical oxygen pump device 2, the oxygen concentration and partial pressure on the oxygen outlet pipe E side continuously increase. The oxygen then enters the heat storage unit 3 through the oxygen outlet pipe E and is cooled down. The released heat is absorbed and stored by the heat storage unit 3, and the oxygen cooled to room temperature subsequently enters the oxygen storage chamber 4 for storage. During the operation of the electrochemical oxygen pump device 2, the first electrolyte component 8 requires heat from the heating unit 10. When the oxygen storage chamber 4 reaches the preset maximum pressure, the energy storage process ends, and the electrical energy is converted into the internal energy of oxygen through the electrolysis of the electrochemical oxygen pump device 2 and stored.

[0039] During the energy release process, room-temperature, high-pressure oxygen stored in the oxygen storage chamber 4 enters the regenerator unit 5 through the oxygen inlet f and is preheated. Then, it enters the battery stack device 6 through the oxygen inlet pipe F. Inside the battery stack device 6, on both sides of the second electrolyte component 9, room-temperature, high-pressure air is introduced through the second air inlet c on one side, and high-temperature, pure oxygen enters through the oxygen inlet pipe F on the other side. At high temperature, the oxygen ionizes on the surface of the second electrolyte component 9. The ionized ions undergo electromigration under the influence of the concentration gradient, pass through the second electrolyte component 9 to the other side, lose electrons, and release oxygen. After mixing with the air, the oxygen is discharged into the outdoor environment through the second air outlet d. At this time, a potential difference is generated on both sides of the second electrolyte component 9, which can then be used to generate electricity through the energy output unit 7. During the operation of the battery stack device 6, the heat generated by the second electrolyte component 9 is promptly removed by the cooling unit 11 to prevent heat accumulation and a rapid temperature increase that could affect the performance of the battery stack device 6. When the pressure in the oxygen storage chamber 4 drops to a certain level, the energy release process ends. The internal energy of the oxygen in the oxygen storage chamber 4 is converted into electrical energy through the oxygen concentration cell effect of the battery stack device 6 and fed into the power grid or directly supplied to various production activities.

[0040] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0041] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," and "third" used in the embodiments of this application are merely to distinguish similar objects and do not represent a specific order of objects. It is understood that "first," "second," and "third" can be interchanged in a specific order or sequence where permitted. It should be understood that the objects distinguished by "first," "second," and "third" can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described herein.

[0042] The terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, in this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, apparatus, product, or device that includes a series of steps or modules is not limited to the steps or modules listed, but may optionally include steps or modules not listed, or may optionally include other steps or modules inherent to such processes, methods, products, or devices.

[0043] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electrochemical oxygen pump energy storage system, characterized in that, include: The unit includes an electrical energy input unit (1), an electrochemical oxygen pump device (2), an oxygen storage chamber (4), a battery stack device (6), an electrical energy output unit (7), a first electrolyte assembly (8), a second electrolyte assembly (9), an oxygen outlet pipeline (E), and an oxygen inlet pipeline (F). The power input unit (1) is electrically connected to the electrochemical oxygen pump device (2); The first electrolyte component (8) is disposed inside the electrochemical oxygen pump device (2); the electrochemical oxygen pump device (2) is provided with a first air inlet (a), a first air outlet (b) and an oxygen outlet (e) on its side; the first air inlet (a) and the first air outlet (b) are both located on the cathode side of the first electrolyte component (8), and the oxygen outlet (e) is located on the anode side of the first electrolyte component (8). One end of the oxygen outlet pipeline (E) is connected to the oxygen outlet (e), and the other end is connected to the oxygen storage chamber (4); The second electrolyte component (9) is disposed inside the battery stack device (6); the side of the battery stack device (6) is provided with a second air inlet (c), a second air outlet (d) and an oxygen inlet (f); the second air inlet (c) and the second air outlet (d) are both located on the anode side of the second electrolyte component (9), and the oxygen inlet (f) is located on the cathode side of the second electrolyte component (9); One end of the oxygen inlet pipe (F) is connected to the oxygen storage chamber (4), and the other end is connected to the oxygen inlet (f); The power output unit (7) is electrically connected to the battery stack device (6).

2. The electrochemical oxygen pump energy storage system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A heat storage unit (3) and a heat recovery unit (5); the heat storage unit (3) is installed on the oxygen outlet pipeline (E); the heat recovery unit (5) is installed on the oxygen inlet pipeline (F).

3. The electrochemical oxygen pump energy storage system according to claim 2, characterized in that, Also includes: A heating unit (10) and a cooling unit (11) are provided, wherein the heating unit (10) is disposed on the electrochemical oxygen pump device (2); and the cooling unit (11) is disposed on the battery stack device (6).

4. The electrochemical oxygen pump energy storage system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first electrolyte component (8) is a solid oxide electrolyte, a phosphate electrolyte, a molten carbonate electrolyte, an alkaline solution electrolyte, or a proton exchange membrane.

5. The electrochemical oxygen pump energy storage system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The second electrolyte component (9) is a solid oxide electrolyte, a phosphate electrolyte, a molten carbonate electrolyte, an alkaline solution electrolyte, or a proton exchange membrane.

6. The electrochemical oxygen pump energy storage system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The electrochemical oxygen pump device (2) has a tubular structure or a flat plate structure.

7. An electrochemical oxygen pump energy storage system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The battery stack device (6) has a tubular structure or a flat plate structure.

Images