Ammonia fuel supply system and method with near-instantaneous response

Abstract

The application discloses a near-instantaneous response ammonia fuel supply system and method, wherein a liquid ammonia tank provides liquid ammonia fuel for a region, the fuel is distributed to a gasifier and a liquid ammonia supply branch after being controlled by a total electromagnetic valve, the liquid ammonia is divided into three branches after passing through the gasifier and enters a plasma processing unit through an opening valve, an ammonia gas distributor through an electromagnetic valve and an ammonia gas cracker, and a mixer through an electromagnetic valve, each plasma processor in the plasma processing unit is respectively provided with an electromagnetic valve for independent control of ammonia gas processing, the gas after plasma processing passes through a catalyst bed, enters the ammonia gas distributor, is mixed with ammonia gas through an electromagnetic valve, enters the ammonia gas cracker, is further mixed with ammonia gas through an electromagnetic valve in the mixer, and finally enters a fuel consumption end through an electromagnetic valve. The application has the advantages of zero carbon emission, high efficiency, easy expansion and the like.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of energy application technology, specifically relating to a near-transient response ammonia fuel supply system and method. Background Technology

[0002] Solar, wind, and tidal energy are characterized by their regional and seasonal nature, and their inability to be directly connected to the grid severely limits their rapid development. Converting renewable electricity on-site into energy storage media such as hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol is a growing focus, with ammonia receiving particular attention due to its ease of long-term storage and transportation and zero carbon emissions. The production, transportation, and utilization of renewable hydrogen are gaining widespread recognition and support from the industry. As a carrier of hydrogen and a storage medium, ammonia energy is also receiving increasing attention and research, with its production models, industrial chain, and application-side utilization issues gradually gaining importance. Ammonia's advantages as an effective means of long-term energy storage are being fully utilized. Although ammonia is easily liquefied, stored, and transported, its chemical inertness as a fuel results in poor combustion characteristics, low laminar flame velocity, and low calorific value. Therefore, it is generally used in blending applications, such as with fast-burning, higher-calorific-value auxiliary fuels like coal, gasoline, diesel, and natural gas. This necessitates additional fuel storage and supply lines in some applications, preventing complete decarbonization. Furthermore, it requires the storage and replenishment of a second or multiple auxiliary fuels, hindering truly zero-carbon combustion. Partially or completely decomposing ammonia into hydrogen to improve its combustion performance is a relatively effective way to create zero-carbon fuel without requiring additional fuel storage. However, traditional electric heating methods suffer from slow response times and high energy consumption, limiting their use and development in many applications. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To minimize the electrical energy consumption during ammonia decomposition for hydrogen production while maintaining the timely response of the ammonia fuel supply system, this invention provides a near-transient response ammonia fuel supply system and method. This aims to overcome the shortcomings and deficiencies of existing fuel supply systems. The invention provides a near-transient response ammonia fuel supply method and system that utilizes ammonia fuel instead of natural gas, making it easy to store and transport. It also utilizes plasma to effectively solve the problems of difficult ignition and sustained combustion of ammonia, resulting in a short start-up time, high combustion stability and burnout rate, and significantly reduced carbon dioxide emissions.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0005] A near-transient response ammonia fuel supply system includes a main solenoid valve, a second solenoid valve, a first opening valve, a series of solenoid valves (from the first to the nth solenoid valve), a first plasma processing unit to the nth plasma processing unit, a third solenoid valve, a fourth solenoid valve, a liquid ammonia solenoid valve, a liquid ammonia opening valve, a hydrogen concentration detector, and a pressure sensor.

[0006] The liquid ammonia tank provides fuel to the near-transient response ammonia fuel supply system. The fuel is distributed to the vaporizer and the direct liquid ammonia supply branch via a main solenoid valve. The liquid ammonia, after being vaporized in the vaporizer, is divided into three branches and passes through the first opening valve, the third solenoid valve, and the fourth solenoid valve respectively. The ammonia gas enters the first plasma processing unit through the nth plasma processing unit via the first opening valve. After passing through the first and nth plasma processing units, the ammonia gas enters the catalyst bed through the 11th to n1th pipelines, and then further enters the ammonia distributor through the 1mth to nmth pipelines, where it interacts with the fuel supplied by the third solenoid valve. Ammonia gas is mixed and then further enters the ammonia cracker through the 1h-nh pipeline, then enters the mixer to mix with the ammonia gas passing through the 4th solenoid valve, and then enters the fuel consumption end through the 5th solenoid valve; the high-temperature flue gas inlet refers to the gas emitted from the high-temperature gas, which completes the ammonia cracking reaction through the ammonia cracker, and then is discharged from the high-temperature flue gas outlet, and then the heat is further transferred to the air participating in combustion through the air regenerator, and then discharged into the atmosphere through the tail gas; the liquid ammonia from the liquid ammonia direct supply branch enters the fuel consumption end directly through the liquid ammonia solenoid valve and then through the liquid ammonia opening valve, where n represents the number of plasma processing units.

[0007] Furthermore, the plasma of the first to nth plasma processing units is an electric arc plasma, microwave plasma, dielectric barrier discharge plasma, radio frequency plasma, sliding electric arc plasma, corona discharge plasma, or rotating arc plasma.

[0008] Furthermore, the catalysts used in the catalyst bed and the ammonia cracker are Ni-based, Fe-based, or Co-based transition metal catalysts, or Ru-based, Pt-based, Pd-based, Rh-based, or Ag-based noble metal catalysts, or mixtures or alloys of two or more catalysts. The catalyst support is diatomaceous earth, kaolin, or activated carbon, silica gel, or glass sheets, glass fibers, or silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, or a polymer.

[0009] Furthermore, the ammonia pyrolyzer has a tube sheet type, shell and tube type, partition wall type, hybrid type, or regenerative structure.

[0010] Furthermore, the stable operating pressure of the ammonia fuel supply system is atmospheric pressure, or any pressure between atmospheric pressure and 1,000 atmospheres; the ratio of liquid ammonia in the liquid ammonia direct supply branch to the total ammonia supply is 0 or any ratio between 0 and 100%; the ratio of ammonia gas passing through the fourth solenoid valve to ammonia gas formed by the vaporizer is 0 or any ratio between 0 and 100%.

[0011] Furthermore, the high-temperature flue gas entering through the high-temperature flue gas inlet is the exhaust gas of a gas turbine, or the exhaust gas of a reciprocating engine, or the exhaust gas of an external combustion engine, or the exhaust gas of a gas boiler, or the exhaust gas of a burner, or the exhaust gas of an aircraft engine.

[0012] Furthermore, the fuel consumption end can be an engine, gas turbine, generator, coal-fired boiler, cement decomposition furnace, cement kiln converter, gas boiler, marine power system, metal smelting system, or chemical plant.

[0013] This invention also provides an ammonia fuel supply method for a near-transient response ammonia fuel supply system, comprising: liquid ammonia being divided into two paths after passing through a main solenoid valve, namely a vaporizer branch and a liquid ammonia direct supply branch; the liquid ammonia being further divided into three branches after passing through the vaporizer, namely a gas branch passing through a plasma processing unit, an ammonia branch entering an ammonia distributor, and an ammonia branch directly mixed with the cracked gas; the gas after passing through the three branches is mixed in a mixing tank and supplied to the fuel consumption end through a solenoid valve; the liquid ammonia direct supply branch directly supplies liquid ammonia to the fuel consumption end; the vaporizer branch and the liquid ammonia direct supply branch independently supply fuel to the fuel consumption end; during cold start at the fuel consumption end, the vaporizer branch first supplies gaseous fuel, and after the system stabilizes during cold start, the liquid ammonia direct supply branch gradually replenishes liquid ammonia fuel.

[0014] Furthermore, the hydrogen concentration in the mixed gas entering the fuel consumption end is 0 or any proportion between 0-75%.

[0015] Beneficial effects:

[0016] 1. This invention utilizes ammonia fuel to replace fossil fuels such as natural gas, achieving carbon dioxide emission reduction or zero carbon emissions in ammonia fuel power, electricity, chemical, cement construction, metallurgy, transportation, shipping and other application scenarios.

[0017] 2. This invention couples waste heat from exhaust gas with plasma technology to achieve multifunctional rapid ammonia-hydrogen fuel supply. High-temperature flue gas enters the ammonia cracker through the high-temperature flue gas inlet to exchange heat with the ammonia and realize the thermal cracking reaction of ammonia to form an ammonia-hydrogen mixture. After heat exchange, the flue gas enters the air regenerator through the high-temperature flue gas outlet to preheat the combustion air. The flue gas after heat exchange is further heat-exchanged through the gasifier to realize the gasification of a large flow of liquid ammonia, and then discharged through the exhaust gas outlet.

[0018] 3. This invention has the advantages of zero carbon emissions, high efficiency, and easy scalability. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a near-transient response ammonia fuel supply system according to the present invention.

[0020] The reference numerals in the attached diagram are as follows: main solenoid valve mg1, second solenoid valve mg2, first opening valve vl1, first solenoid valve lg1-nth solenoid valve lgn, first plasma processing unit p1-nth plasma processing unit pn, third solenoid valve mg3, fourth solenoid valve mg4, liquid ammonia solenoid valve mg2, liquid ammonia opening valve vl2, hydrogen concentration detector Hm1, pressure sensor Pm, first opening valve vl1, first 1st pipeline lmg1-nth 1st pipeline lmgn, first 1st pipeline mmg1-nth 1nm pipeline mmgn, first 1st 1h pipeline hmg1-nth 1h pipeline hmgn, and fifth solenoid valve hg1. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. These embodiments are implemented based on the technical solution of the present invention, and provide detailed implementation methods and specific operation processes. However, the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0022] The ammonia gas passing through the first ammonia inlet is vaporized by the vaporizer and then directly processed by the n-channel plasma. The ammonia gas passing through the second ammonia inlet is vaporized by the vaporizer and then mixed in the ammonia distributor before entering the ammonia pyrolyzer for pyrolysis. The third ammonia inlet is a branch that is vaporized by the vaporizer and then directly enters the mixing tank to mix with the gas pyrolyzed by the ammonia pyrolyzer. The fourth ammonia inlet is a branch that directly outputs liquid ammonia from the liquid ammonia tank to the fuel consumption end.

[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, a near-transient response ammonia fuel supply system of the present invention includes a liquid ammonia tank, a main solenoid valve mg1, a second solenoid valve mg2, a vaporizer, a first opening valve vl1, first solenoid valves lg1-nth solenoid valves lgn, a first plasma processing unit p1-nth plasma processing unit pn, a catalyst bed, an ammonia distributor, an ammonia cracker, a third solenoid valve mg3, a fourth solenoid valve mg4, a liquid ammonia solenoid valve mg2, a liquid ammonia opening valve vl2, an air regenerator, a hydrogen concentration detector Hm1, and a pressure sensor Pm.

[0024] The liquid ammonia tank provides fuel to the system. The fuel is distributed to the vaporizer and the liquid ammonia direct supply branch through the main solenoid valve mg1. After the liquid ammonia is vaporized into ammonia gas in the vaporizer, it is divided into three branches and passes through the first opening valve vl1, the third solenoid valve mg3, and the fourth solenoid valve mg4 respectively. The ammonia gas enters the first plasma processing unit p1 to the nth plasma processing unit pn through the first opening valve vl1. After passing through the first plasma processing unit p1 to the nth plasma processing unit pn, the ammonia gas enters the catalyst bed through the first 1st pipeline lmg1 to the nth 11th pipeline lmgn, and then enters the ammonia gas distributor through the first 1m pipeline mmg1 to the nth 1nm pipeline mmgn, where it mixes with the ammonia gas passing through the third solenoid valve mg3. Then, it enters the ammonia gas cracker through the first 1h pipeline hmg1 to the nth 1h pipeline hmgn, and then enters the mixer to mix with the ammonia gas passing through the fourth solenoid valve mg4. Finally, it enters the fuel consumption end through the fifth solenoid valve hg1.

[0025] The liquid ammonia supplied through the liquid ammonia direct supply branch passes through the liquid ammonia solenoid valve mg2, and then directly enters the fuel consumption end through the liquid ammonia opening valve vl2.

[0026] Preferably, the plasma of the first plasma processing unit p1 to the nth plasma processing unit pn is an arc plasma, microwave plasma, DBD plasma, radio frequency plasma, sliding arc plasma, corona discharge plasma, or rotating arc plasma.

[0027] Preferably, the catalyst used in the catalyst bed and the ammonia cracker can be a transition metal catalyst such as Ni-based, Fe-based, or Co-based, or a noble metal catalyst such as Ru-based, Pt-based, Pd-based, Rh-based, or Ag-based, or a mixture or alloy of two or more catalysts. The catalyst support can be a natural mineral such as diatomaceous earth or kaolin, or a porous material such as activated carbon or silica gel, or a glass sheet or glass fiber, or a ceramic such as silica or titanium dioxide, or an organic support such as a polymer.

[0028] Preferably, the ammonia pyrolyzer can be a tube sheet type, shell and tube type, partition type, hybrid type, or regenerative type.

[0029] Preferably, the stable operating pressure of the ammonia fuel supply system can be atmospheric pressure, or any pressure between atmospheric pressure and 1,000 atmospheres; the ratio of liquid ammonia in the liquid ammonia direct supply branch to the total ammonia supply can be 0, or any ratio between 0 and 100%; the ratio of ammonia gas passing through the fourth solenoid valve mg4 to ammonia gas formed by the vaporizer can be 0, or any ratio between 0 and 100%.

[0030] Preferably, the high-temperature flue gas entering through the high-temperature flue gas inlet can be the exhaust gas of a gas turbine, the exhaust gas of a reciprocating engine, the exhaust gas of an external combustion engine, the exhaust gas of a gas boiler, the exhaust gas of a burner, or the exhaust gas of an aircraft engine, etc.

[0031] Preferably, the fuel consumption end can be an engine, gas turbine, generator, coal-fired boiler, cement decomposition furnace, cement kiln converter, gas boiler, marine power system, metal smelting system, chemical plant, etc.

[0032] The present invention also provides a near-transient response ammonia fuel supply method, comprising:

[0033] Liquid ammonia is split into two paths after passing through the main solenoid valve mg1: a vaporizer branch and a direct liquid ammonia supply branch. After passing through the vaporizer, the liquid ammonia is further split into three branches: a gas branch passing through the plasma processing unit, an ammonia branch entering the ammonia distributor, and an ammonia branch directly mixed with the pyrolyzed gas. The gas after passing through the three branches is mixed in a mixing tank and then supplied to the fuel consumption end through a solenoid valve. The direct liquid ammonia supply branch directly supplies liquid ammonia to the fuel consumption end. The vaporizer branch and the direct liquid ammonia supply branch independently supply fuel to the fuel consumption end. During cold start at the fuel consumption end, the vaporizer branch first supplies gaseous fuel. After the near-transient response ammonia fuel supply system stabilizes during cold start, the direct liquid ammonia supply branch gradually replenishes the liquid ammonia fuel. The hydrogen concentration in the mixed gas entering the fuel consumption end can be 0 or any proportion between 0% and 75%.

[0034] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and effects of the invention, as well as some of the application examples. For those skilled in the art, various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the inventive concept, and these all fall within the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

1. A near-transient response ammonia fuel supply system, characterized in that, The coupling of exhaust gas waste heat and plasma technology enables a multifunctional rapid ammonia-hydrogen fuel supply, including a main solenoid valve mg1, a second solenoid valve mg2, a first opening valve vl1, a series of solenoid valves lgn (from the first to the nth solenoid valves), a first plasma processing unit to the nth plasma processing unit, a third solenoid valve mg3, a fourth solenoid valve mg4, a liquid ammonia solenoid valve mg2, a liquid ammonia opening valve vl2, a hydrogen concentration detector, and a pressure sensor. The liquid ammonia tank provides fuel for the near-transient response ammonia fuel supply system. The liquid ammonia is split into two branches after passing through the main solenoid valve mg1: a vaporizer branch and a direct liquid ammonia supply branch. The fuel is distributed to the vaporizer and the direct liquid ammonia supply branch via the main solenoid valve mg1. After the liquid ammonia is vaporized in the vaporizer, it is further split into three branches, passing through the first opening valve vl1, the third solenoid valve mg3, and the fourth solenoid valve mg4, respectively. The ammonia gas enters the first plasma processing unit through the nth plasma processing unit via the first opening valve vl1. After passing through the first plasma processing unit through the nth plasma processing unit, the ammonia gas enters the catalyst bed through the 1lth pipeline through the nlth pipeline, and then further through the 1mth pipeline through the nmth pipeline. The ammonia gas enters the ammonia distributor and mixes with the ammonia gas passing through the third solenoid valve mg3. It then further enters the ammonia cracker through the 1h-nh pipeline, and then enters the mixer to mix with the ammonia gas passing through the fourth solenoid valve mg4. Finally, it enters the fuel consumption end through the fifth solenoid valve hg1. High-temperature flue gas from the high-temperature gas emission source enters the ammonia cracker through the high-temperature flue gas inlet to complete the ammonia cracking reaction. It then exits from the high-temperature flue gas outlet, and its heat is further transferred to the combustion air via the air regenerator before being discharged into the atmosphere via the exhaust gas. Liquid ammonia from the liquid ammonia direct supply branch enters the fuel consumption end directly through the liquid ammonia solenoid valve mg2 and then through the liquid ammonia opening valve vl2. Here, n represents the number of plasma processing units. The vaporizer branch and the liquid ammonia direct supply branch supply fuel to the fuel consumption end independently. During cold start at the fuel consumption end, the vaporizer branch first supplies gaseous fuel, and after the system stabilizes during cold start, the liquid ammonia direct supply branch gradually replenishes liquid ammonia fuel to achieve near-transient response.

2. The near-transient response ammonia fuel supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plasma in the first to nth plasma processing units is an electric arc plasma, microwave plasma, dielectric barrier discharge plasma, radio frequency plasma, sliding electric arc plasma, corona discharge plasma, or rotating arc plasma.

3. The near-transient response ammonia fuel supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The catalysts used in the catalyst bed and the ammonia cracker are Ni-based, Fe-based, or Co-based transition metal catalysts, or Ru-based, Pt-based, Pd-based, Rh-based, or Ag-based noble metal catalysts, or mixtures or alloys of multiple catalysts. The catalyst supports are diatomaceous earth, kaolin, activated carbon, silica gel, glass sheets, glass fibers, silicon dioxide, titanium dioxide, or polymers.

4. The near-transient response ammonia fuel supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ammonia pyrolyzer has a tube sheet type, shell and tube type, partition wall type, hybrid type, or regenerative type structure.

5. The near-transient response ammonia fuel supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The stable operating pressure of the ammonia fuel supply system is atmospheric pressure, or any pressure between atmospheric pressure and 1,000 atmospheres; the ratio of liquid ammonia in the liquid ammonia direct supply branch to the total ammonia supply is 0 or any ratio between 0 and 100%; the ratio of ammonia gas passing through the fourth solenoid valve mg4 to ammonia gas formed by the vaporizer is 0 or any ratio between 0 and 100%.

6. The near-transient response ammonia fuel supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The high-temperature flue gas entering through the high-temperature flue gas inlet is the exhaust gas of a gas turbine, or the exhaust gas of a reciprocating engine, or the exhaust gas of an external combustion engine, or the exhaust gas of a gas boiler, or the exhaust gas of a burner, or the exhaust gas of an aircraft engine.

7. The near-transient response ammonia fuel supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fuel consumption end is an engine, gas turbine, generator, coal-fired boiler, cement decomposition furnace, cement kiln converter, gas boiler, marine power system, metal smelting system, or chemical plant.

8. An ammonia fuel supply method for a near-transient response ammonia fuel supply system according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, include: Liquid ammonia is divided into two paths after passing through the main solenoid valve mg1: a vaporizer branch and a direct liquid ammonia supply branch. After passing through the vaporizer, the liquid ammonia is further divided into three branches: a gas branch passing through the plasma processing unit, an ammonia branch entering the ammonia distributor, and an ammonia branch directly mixing with the pyrolyzed gas. The gas after passing through the three branches is mixed in a mixing tank and then supplied to the fuel consumption end through a solenoid valve. The direct liquid ammonia supply branch directly supplies liquid ammonia to the fuel consumption end. The vaporizer branch and the direct liquid ammonia supply branch independently supply fuel to the fuel consumption end. During cold start at the fuel consumption end, the vaporizer branch first supplies gaseous fuel, and after the system stabilizes during cold start, the direct liquid ammonia supply branch gradually replenishes the liquid ammonia fuel.

9. The ammonia fuel supply method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The hydrogen concentration in the mixed gas entering the fuel consumption end is 0 or any proportion between 0-75%.

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