High-temperature electrolytic cell hydrogen production system and method based on photo-thermal driving

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of electrolytic hydrogen production, in particular to a high-temperature electrolytic cell hydrogen production system and method based on photo-thermal driving, and the system comprises an electrolytic cell used for generating target gas after electrolyzing electrolyte, and a gas-liquid separation assembly used for separating the electrolyte from the target gas; the solar heat collector communicates with the gas-liquid separation assembly and the heat storage device, the solar heat collector heats the electrolyte separated by the gas-liquid separation assembly, and the heated electrolyte is fed into the heat storage device and then enters the electrolytic bath; the heat storage device is located between the solar heat collector and the electrolytic bath, communicates with the electrolytic bath and is used for storing redundant heat of the electrolyte heated by the solar heat collector when the temperature of the electrolyte is high or supplementing heat to the electrolyte when the temperature of the electrolyte is low when the temperature of the electrolyte is low when the electrolyte flows through the heat storage device. Therefore, the problems that energy consumption is increased, electric energy is wasted and the like due to the fact that an additional cooling device is needed for heat dissipation in a hydrogen production mode in the related technology are solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of electrolytic hydrogen production, and in particular to a high-temperature electrolytic cell hydrogen production system and method based on photothermal drive. Background Art

[0002] With the increasing global awareness of environmental protection and the pursuit of sustainable development, countries have increased their investment and development efforts in renewable energy such as wind power, photovoltaics, and hydropower. However, these renewable energy sources generally have problems of uneven temporal and spatial distribution and strong volatility, which limits the possibility of their direct application. In order to achieve effective allocation and stable output of renewable energy, converting it into stable chemical energy such as hydrogen energy has become an important solution. At present, water electrolysis is one of the main methods for preparing high-purity hydrogen, but in the process of conventional alkaline water electrolysis (about 80-90°C), due to the need to overcome ohmic polarization and activation polarization, the input power of the stack often exceeds the energy required for the electrochemical reaction, resulting in system heat release and generation of a large amount of additional heat. Therefore, additional cooling devices are required, resulting in increased energy consumption and waste of electricity. In addition, the traditional method of hydrogen production by water electrolysis is highly dependent on power supply. When the power supply is unstable or the cost is high, the cost of hydrogen production will also increase accordingly. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present application provides a high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system and method based on photothermal drive to solve the problems of hydrogen production methods in related technologies requiring additional cooling devices for heat dissipation, increased energy consumption, waste of electricity, etc.

[0004] The first aspect of the present application provides a high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system based on photothermal drive, including: an electrolyzer, used to generate a target gas after electrolyzing an electrolyte, a gas-liquid separation component, used to separate the electrolyte from the target gas; a solar collector and a heat storage device, wherein the solar collector is respectively connected to the gas-liquid separation component and the heat storage device, the solar collector heats the electrolyte separated by the gas-liquid separation component, and the heated electrolyte is sent to the heat storage device; the heat storage device is respectively connected to the solar collector and the electrolyzer, and is used to store or replenish heat for the electrolyte heated by the solar collector.

[0005] Optionally, a target liquid is also introduced into the solar thermal collector, and the electrolyte in the solar thermal collector is diluted based on the target liquid.

[0006] Optionally, the solar thermal collector includes one or more of a flat-plate solar thermal collector, a vacuum tube solar thermal collector and a concentrating solar thermal collector.

[0007] Optionally, the heat storage device is further used to: if the electrolyte temperature is greater than a preset temperature, the heat storage device stores excess heat; if the electrolyte temperature is less than a preset temperature, the heat storage device supplements heat.

[0008] Optionally, the heat storage device includes, but is not limited to, one or more of a sensible heat storage device, a latent heat storage device, and a chemical heat storage device.

[0009] Optionally, the target gas includes hydrogen and oxygen, and the gas-liquid separation component includes a first gas-liquid separator and a second gas-liquid separator.

[0010] Optionally, a water pump is provided between the heat storage device and the electrolytic cell, wherein the water pump is used to pump the heated electrolyte to the electrolytic cell.

[0011] Optionally, the high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system based on photothermal drive also includes: a DC power supply for providing electricity to the electrolyzer and a water pump.

[0012] Optionally, the electrolyte is alkaline solution.

[0013] The second aspect of the present application provides a method for producing hydrogen by a high-temperature electrolyzer based on photothermal drive. The method uses the high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system based on photothermal drive of the above-mentioned embodiment to produce hydrogen, and includes the following steps: passing an electrolyte and a target liquid into a solar collector, and diluting the electrolyte with the target liquid, wherein the solar collector heats the diluted electrolyte; sending the heated electrolyte into a heat storage device to store or replenish heat; sending the electrolyte that has passed through the heat storage device into an electrolyzer, and using the electrolyzer to perform electrolysis to generate a target gas; separating the electrolyte and the target gas, and returning the separated electrolyte to the solar collector.

[0014] Therefore, this application includes the following beneficial effects:

[0015] The embodiment of the present application uses an electrolyzer to prepare hydrogen. By increasing the operating temperature of the electrolyzer, the heat generation of the system is reduced and the heat dissipation is increased. The temperature reaches a state where the heat generation and heat dissipation of the system can naturally reach a balance. The temperature is self-stabilized, and no external cooling and heating are required, eliminating the energy consumption of external stabilization regulation. In addition, a solar collector is combined to convert solar energy into thermal energy for heating alkali solution, reducing the dependence on electrical energy. At the same time, a heat storage device is introduced to store and provide energy according to the collection and utilization of solar energy, so as to realize the continuous utilization of solar energy by the device. Thus, the problem that the hydrogen production method in the related art requires an additional cooling device for heat dissipation, and there are problems such as increased energy consumption and waste of electrical energy is solved.

[0016] Additional aspects and advantages of the present application will be given in part in the description below, and in part will become apparent from the description below, or will be learned through the practice of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present application will become apparent and easily understood from the following description of the embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] Figure 1 A block diagram of a high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system based on photothermal drive provided according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0019] Figure 2 A structural diagram of a high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system based on photothermal drive provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present application;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a flow chart of a method for producing hydrogen in a high-temperature electrolyzer based on photothermal drive according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The embodiments of the present application are described in detail below, and examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are intended to be used to explain the present application, and should not be construed as limiting the present application.

[0022] The following describes the photothermal-driven high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system and method of the embodiment of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings. In response to the problems mentioned in the above background technology, the present application provides a photothermal-driven high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system, in which an electrolyzer is used to prepare hydrogen, and by increasing the operating temperature of the electrolyzer, the system heat generation is reduced and the heat dissipation is increased, and the temperature reaches a state where the system heat generation and heat dissipation can naturally reach a balance, and the temperature is self-stabilized, without the need for external cooling and heating, eliminating the energy consumption of external stabilization regulation, and combined with a solar collector, solar energy can be converted into thermal energy for heating alkali solution, reducing dependence on electrical energy, and introducing a heat storage device to store and provide energy according to the collection and utilization of solar energy, so as to achieve continuous utilization of solar energy by the device. Thus, the problem that the hydrogen production method in the related technology requires an additional cooling device for heat dissipation, and there are problems such as increased energy consumption and waste of electrical energy is solved.

[0023] Specifically, Figure 1 It is a block diagram of a high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system based on photothermal drive according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0024] like Figure 1 As shown, the photothermal-driven high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system 10 includes: a solar collector 1, an electrolyzer 2, a heat storage device 3 and a gas-liquid separation component 4.

[0025] Among them, the electrolytic cell 2 is used to generate a target gas after electrolyzing the electrolyte, and the gas-liquid separation component 4 is used to separate the electrolyte from the target gas; the solar collector 1 is connected to the gas-liquid separation component 4 and the heat storage device 3 respectively, the heat storage device 3 is located between the solar collector 1 and the electrolytic cell 2, and is connected to the electrolytic cell 2, the solar collector 1 heats the electrolyte separated by the gas-liquid separation component 4, and the heated electrolyte is sent to the heat storage device 3; the heat storage device 3 is used to store excess heat of the electrolyte heated by the solar collector 1 when the electrolyte temperature is high, or to supplement the heat when the electrolyte temperature is low, and the electrolyte passed through the heat storage device 3 is sent to the electrolytic cell 2 for electrolysis.

[0026] Among them, the electrolyte is alkaline solution, the target gas includes hydrogen and oxygen, the heat storage device 3 includes but is not limited to one or more of a sensible heat storage device (using temperature change to store heat), a latent heat storage device (using phase change to store heat), and a chemical heat storage device (using chemical reaction to absorb and release heat to store heat), and the solar collector 1 includes one or more of a flat-plate solar collector, a vacuum tube solar collector, and a concentrating solar collector (including a trough parabolic collector, a dish parabolic collector, a tower parabolic collector, etc.).

[0027] It can be understood that the solar collector 1 of the embodiment of the present application can collect solar energy and convert it into thermal energy, such as Figure 1 As shown, the solar collector 1 is connected to the gas-liquid separation component 4 and the heat storage device 3 respectively, and can receive the low-temperature high-concentration alkali solution separated from the gas-liquid separation component 4, and pass deionized water to obtain the target concentration electrolyte. The heated electrolyte is sent from the solar collector 1 to the heat storage device 3, and the heat storage device 3 is connected to the electrolytic cell 2 to store or replenish energy before passing into the electrolytic cell 2 for electrolysis. At this time, the heat generation and heat dissipation of the system are balanced under high temperature conditions, and the temperature is self-stabilized, without external cooling and heating, thereby reducing energy consumption and improving energy efficiency. In addition, an electrochemical reaction occurs in the electrolytic cell 2 to produce hydrogen and oxygen. The gas-liquid separation component 4 can effectively separate the gas component, and the remaining alkali solution after the reaction will be recycled back to the solar collector 1 for heating, realizing the continuous collection and effective utilization of solar energy.

[0028] 2H2I→2H2+O2

[0029] In one embodiment of the present application, if the electrolyte temperature is greater than the preset temperature, the heat storage device 3 stores excess heat; if the electrolyte temperature is less than the preset temperature, the heat storage device 3 replenishes heat. The preset temperature can be set according to actual conditions and is not specifically limited.

[0030] In the actual implementation process, the excess heat in the electrolyte after being heated by the solar collector 1 can be stored in the heat storage device 3, ensuring that the heat can be transferred to the electrolyte when needed. For example, when the lighting conditions are poor, the heat storage device 3 can release the stored heat to maintain the temperature required for the electrolysis process, thereby ensuring the continuous operation of the system.

[0031] In one embodiment of the present application, Figure 2 As shown, a water pump 5 is provided between the heat storage device 3 and the electrolyzer 2, wherein the water pump 5 is used to pump the heated electrolyte to the electrolyzer 2, ensuring that the electrolyte can enter the electrolyzer 2 under appropriate pressure, thereby improving the electrolysis efficiency. The gas-liquid separation component 4 includes a first gas-liquid separator 6 and a second gas-liquid separator 7, wherein the second gas-liquid separator 7 is specifically used to separate the hydrogen 10 and the alkali solution generated during the electrolysis process, ensuring that the hydrogen 10 can be collected cleanly, and the first gas-liquid separator 6 is used to separate the oxygen 9 and the alkali solution, so that the oxygen 9 can also be collected separately. Both gas-liquid separators are connected to the electrolyzer, receive the mixture from the electrolyzer, and effectively separate the gas component, and at the same time return the separated alkali solution to the solar collector 1 for reheating and utilization.

[0032] In one embodiment of the present application, a target liquid is also introduced into the solar thermal collector 1 to dilute the electrolyte in the solar thermal collector 1 based on the target liquid. The target liquid may be deionized water.

[0033] In one embodiment of the present application, Figure 2 As shown, the high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system based on photothermal drive also includes: a DC power supply 8 is used to provide power to the electrolyzer 2 and the water pump 5.

[0034] According to the photothermal-driven high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system proposed in the embodiment of the present application, an electrolyzer is used to prepare hydrogen. By increasing the operating temperature of the electrolyzer, the heat generated and the heat lost during the electrolysis process can be naturally balanced, and the temperature is self-stabilized, without the need for external cooling and heating, eliminating the energy consumption of external stabilization regulation, and combining with a solar collector, solar energy can be converted into thermal energy for heating alkali solution, reducing dependence on electrical energy, and introducing a heat storage device to store and provide energy according to the collection and utilization of solar energy, so as to achieve continuous utilization of solar energy by the device. Thus, the problem that the hydrogen production method in the related art requires an additional cooling device for heat dissipation, and there are problems such as increased energy consumption and waste of electrical energy is solved.

[0035] Next, a method for producing hydrogen by a high-temperature electrolyzer based on photothermal drive proposed in accordance with an embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The method produces hydrogen by using the high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system based on photothermal drive of the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0036] Figure 3A schematic flow chart of a method for producing hydrogen in a high-temperature electrolyzer driven by photothermal energy provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0037] like Figure 3 As shown, the method for producing hydrogen by a high-temperature electrolyzer based on photothermal drive includes the following steps:

[0038] In step S101, the electrolyte and the target liquid are introduced into a solar thermal collector, and the electrolyte is diluted with the target liquid, wherein the solar thermal collector heats the diluted electrolyte.

[0039] In step S102, the heated electrolyte is sent to a heat storage device to store or replenish heat.

[0040] In step S103, the electrolyte that has passed through the heat storage device is fed into the electrolytic cell, and the target gas is generated by electrolysis in the electrolytic cell.

[0041] In step S104, the electrolyte and the target gas are separated, and the separated electrolyte is returned to the solar thermal collector.

[0042] Combine the following Figure 2 The method of the embodiment of the present application is described in detail based on the high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system driven by light and heat, as follows:

[0043] 1) The deionized water introduced is mixed with the circulating low-temperature high-concentration alkali solution, and the mixed and diluted alkali solution is heated in the solar collector;

[0044] 2) The high-temperature alkali solution is stored or supplemented with heat through a heat storage device;

[0045] 3) The high-temperature alkali solution is electrolyzed in the electrolytic cell, and an electrochemical reaction occurs to generate hydrogen and oxygen:

[0046] 2H2O→2H2+O2

[0047] After passing through gas-liquid separators respectively, they are collected;

[0048] 4) The separated low-temperature and high-concentration alkali solution is returned to the solar collector for recycling.

[0049] It should be noted that the aforementioned explanations and descriptions of some embodiments of the photothermal-driven high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system are also applicable to the photothermal-driven high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production method of this embodiment, and will not be repeated here to avoid redundancy.

[0050] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" etc. means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms are not necessarily directed to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described may be combined in any one or N embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art may combine and combine the different embodiments or examples described in this specification and the features of the different embodiments or examples, without contradiction.

[0051] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In the description of this application, "N" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0052] Any process or method description in a flowchart or otherwise described herein may be understood to represent a module, fragment or portion of code comprising one or N executable instructions for implementing the steps of a custom logical function or process, and the scope of the preferred embodiments of the present application includes alternative implementations in which functions may not be performed in the order shown or discussed, including performing functions in a substantially simultaneous manner or in reverse order depending on the functions involved, which should be understood by technicians in the technical field to which the embodiments of the present application belong.

[0053] It should be understood that the various parts of the present application can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware or a combination thereof. In the above-mentioned embodiments, the steps or methods can be implemented in software or firmware stored in a memory and executed by a suitable instruction execution system. For example, if implemented in hardware, as in another embodiment, it can be implemented by any one of the following technologies known in the art or their combination: a discrete logic circuit having a logic gate circuit for implementing a logic function on a data signal, a dedicated integrated circuit having a suitable combination of logic gate circuits, a programmable gate array, a field programmable gate array, etc.

[0054] A person of ordinary skill in the art may understand that all or part of the steps carried by the method for implementing the above-mentioned embodiment may be completed by instructing related hardware through a program, and the above-mentioned program may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, which, when executed, includes one of the steps of the method embodiment or a combination thereof.

[0055] Although the embodiments of the present application have been shown and described above, it can be understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and cannot be understood as limitations on the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field can change, modify, replace and modify the above embodiments within the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system based on photothermal drive, characterized in that: include: The electrolytic cell is used to generate the target gas after electrolyzing the electrolyte. A gas-liquid separation component, used for separating the electrolyte from the target gas; A solar thermal collector and a heat storage device, wherein the solar thermal collector is respectively connected to the gas-liquid separation component and the heat storage device, the heat storage device is connected to the electrolytic cell, the solar thermal collector heats the electrolyte separated by the gas-liquid separation component, and the heated electrolyte is fed into the heat storage device; The heat storage device is used to store or replenish the heat of the electrolyte heated by the solar thermal collector.

2. The high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system based on photothermal drive according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The solar thermal collector also passes a target liquid into the solar thermal collector, and the electrolyte in the solar thermal collector is diluted with the target liquid.

3. The high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system based on photothermal drive according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The solar thermal collector includes one or more of a flat plate solar thermal collector, a vacuum tube solar thermal collector and a concentrating solar thermal collector.

4. The high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system based on photothermal drive according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The heat storage device is further used to: if the temperature of the electrolyte is greater than a preset temperature, the heat storage device stores excess heat; if the temperature of the electrolyte is less than a preset temperature, the heat storage device supplements heat.

5. The high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system based on photothermal drive according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that: The heat storage device includes, but is not limited to, one or more of a sensible heat storage device, a latent heat storage device, and a chemical heat storage device.

6. The high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system based on photothermal drive according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The target gas includes hydrogen and oxygen, and the gas-liquid separation component includes a first gas-liquid separator and a second gas-liquid separator.

7. The high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system based on photothermal drive according to claim 1 is characterized in that: A water pump is provided between the heat storage device and the electrolytic cell, wherein the water pump is used to pump the heated electrolyte to the electrolytic cell.

8. The high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system based on photothermal drive according to claim 7 is characterized in that: Also includes: A direct current power supply is used to provide power to the electrolyzer and the water pump.

9. The high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system based on photothermal drive according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The electrolyte is alkaline solution.

10. A method for producing hydrogen in a high-temperature electrolyzer based on photothermal drive, characterized in that: The method uses the photothermal-driven high-temperature electrolyzer hydrogen production system according to any one of claims 1 to 9 to produce hydrogen, wherein the method comprises the following steps: The electrolyte and the target liquid are introduced into a solar collector, and the target liquid is used to dilute the electrolyte, wherein: The solar thermal collector heats the diluted electrolyte; The heated electrolyte is sent to a heat storage device to store or replenish heat; The electrolyte passed through the heat storage device is fed into an electrolytic cell, and the target gas is generated by electrolysis in the electrolytic cell; The electrolyte and the target gas are separated, and the separated electrolyte is returned to the solar thermal collector.

Images