Self-operated water adding system and method for water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment, and discloses a self-operated water adding system of water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment, a high-level water tank is placed right above an oxygen separator, and a water supplementing outlet of the high-level water tank is connected with a water supplementing inlet of the oxygen separator through a connecting pipeline I provided with an oxygen separator water supplementing valve; the upper end of the oxygen separator is connected with the upper end of the high-level water tank through a connecting pipeline II provided with a pressure equalizing valve; the high-level water tank is respectively communicated with external water and air through a water inlet pipeline provided with a water replenishing valve and an exhaust pipeline I provided with a high-level water tank exhaust valve; the oxygen separator is communicated with the external environment through an exhaust pipeline II provided with an oxygen separator exhaust valve; the measuring module is used for measuring pressure values and liquid level values of the high-level water tank and the oxygen separator and transmitting the pressure values and the liquid level values to the control system in real time; the control system completes water replenishing of the high-level water tank or the oxygen separator by controlling automatic opening and closing of all the valves. The water adding function of the oxygen separator can be achieved without external resources.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment, and in particular to a self-powered water adding system and method for water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment. Background Art

[0002] The electrolyzer of the water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment electrolyzes water into hydrogen and oxygen by supplying direct current; the mixture of hydrogen and electrolyte enters the hydrogen separator for gas-liquid separation, and hydrogen is discharged to the subsequent hydrogen use system through the hydrogen emission control system; the mixture of oxygen and electrolyte enters the oxygen separator for gas-liquid separation, and oxygen is discharged to the oxygen use system through the oxygen emission control system, and hydrogen and oxygen will carry some saturated water vapor when discharged to the outside; therefore, the equipment will continue to consume water during the electrolysis process. Most hydrogen production equipment adopts a pressurized operation mode. In order to ensure the continuous and stable operation of the hydrogen production equipment, the plunger pump or diaphragm pump is currently used on the hydrogen production equipment. When the liquid level value in the oxygen separator is lower than the lower limit setting value of water addition, the normal pressure pure water is pressurized and added to the oxygen separator. When the liquid level rises to the upper limit setting value of water addition, the water addition pump is turned off and water addition is stopped, thereby realizing the continuous operation function of the equipment. However, plunger pumps and diaphragm pumps have the problems of high price, high noise, and regular replacement of wearing parts such as pistons or diaphragms. Summary of the invention

[0003] In view of this, the present invention provides a self-powered water-adding system for water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment, which does not require a boosting mechanism such as a plunger pump or a diaphragm pump or external resources such as compressed air, and realizes the water-adding function of the oxygen separator through the automatic opening and closing of the valve and the gravity of water.

[0004] The present invention is realized by the following technical scheme: a self-powered water-adding system for water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment, comprising a high-level water tank, a measuring module, a connecting pipeline I, a connecting pipeline II, a water inlet pipeline, an exhaust pipeline I, an exhaust pipeline II and a control system; the high-level water tank is placed directly above the oxygen separator, the water replenishment outlet of the high-level water tank is connected to the water replenishment inlet of the oxygen separator through the connecting pipeline I, and the connecting pipeline I is provided with an oxygen separator water replenishment valve; the upper end of the oxygen separator and the upper end of the high-level water tank are connected through the connecting pipeline II, and the connecting pipeline II is provided with a pressure equalizing valve; the high-level water tank is connected to external water through the water inlet pipeline, and the water inlet pipeline is arranged A high-level water tank water replenishment valve is installed; the high-level water tank is connected with the external environment through exhaust pipe I, and the exhaust pipe I is installed with a high-level water tank exhaust valve; the oxygen separator is connected with the external environment through exhaust pipe II, and the exhaust pipe II is installed with an oxygen separator exhaust valve; the measurement module is used to measure the pressure value and liquid level value of the high-level water tank and the oxygen separator, and transmit them to the control system in real time; the control system completes the water replenishment of the high-level water tank or the oxygen separator by controlling the automatic opening and closing of the high-level water tank water replenishment valve, the high-level water tank exhaust valve, the pressure equalizing valve, the oxygen separator water replenishment valve, and the oxygen separator exhaust valve according to the pressure value and the liquid level value.

[0005] Furthermore, the measuring module includes a high-level water tank pressure transmitter, a high-level water tank differential pressure transmitter, an oxygen separator pressure transmitter, and an oxygen separator differential pressure transmitter; the high-level water tank pressure transmitter and the high-level water tank differential pressure transmitter are both installed on the high-level water tank, and are respectively used to measure the pressure value and liquid level value of the high-level water tank; the oxygen separator pressure transmitter and the oxygen separator differential pressure transmitter are both installed on the oxygen separator, and are respectively used to measure the pressure value and liquid level value of the oxygen separator.

[0006] Furthermore, the water replenishment outlet of the high-level water tank and the water replenishment inlet of the oxygen separator are on a plumb line.

[0007] Furthermore, the oxygen separator water supply valve adopts an electric ball valve or a pneumatic ball valve, and the high-level water tank exhaust valve, the high-level water tank water supply valve, the equalizing valve, and the oxygen separator exhaust valve all adopt solenoid valves.

[0008] A self-powered water-adding method for water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment adopts the self-powered water-adding system for water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment described above, and the steps of replenishing water for an oxygen separator are as follows: when the equipment is in a normal working state, the oxygen separator water-adding valve, the high-level water tank exhaust valve, the high-level water tank water-adding valve and the pressure-equalizing valve are in a closed state; a control system receives and processes the liquid level value in the oxygen separator, and when the liquid level of the oxygen separator is lower than the lower limit of the water-adding liquid level, the pressure-equalizing valve is controlled to be intermittently opened and closed according to the pressure values ​​of the high-level water tank and the oxygen separator, so that the oxygen separator and the high-level water tank are gradually pressure-equalized; until the pressure value of the high-level water tank is equal to the pressure value of the oxygen separator, the pressure-equalizing valve remains normally open, and the oxygen separator exhaust valve opens / closes normally according to the system pressure; at this time, the control system controls the opening of the oxygen separator water-adding valve, replenishes water to the oxygen separator to the upper limit of the water-adding liquid level of the oxygen separator, closes the oxygen separator water-adding valve, and keeps the pressure-equalizing valve in an open state, and the oxygen separator completes water replenishment.

[0009] Furthermore, the steps of adding water to the high-level water tank are as follows: the control system receives and processes the liquid level value in the high-level water tank. When the liquid level in the high-level water tank reaches the lower limit of the water replenishment level, the control system controls the oxygen separator water replenishment valve and the pressure equalizing valve to be in a closed state; the high-level water tank exhaust valve remains normally open to discharge the gas in the high-level water tank until the pressure in the high-level water tank is lower than the water adding pressure setting value, the control system controls the high-level water tank water replenishment valve to open for water replenishment, to the upper limit of the high-level water tank water replenishment level, closes the high-level water tank water replenishment valve and the high-level water tank exhaust valve, and the high-level water tank completes water filling.

[0010] Furthermore, the external water pressure is ≥0.2MPa.

[0011] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0012] 1. The control system of the present invention can replenish water to the high-level water tank or oxygen separator by controlling the automatic opening and closing of valves and utilizing the gravity of water according to the pressure value and liquid level value of the high-level water tank and the oxygen separator, thereby reducing the cost of the equipment and dependence on external resources.

[0013] 2. The pressure transmitter and differential pressure transmitter of the present invention transmit the measured pressure value and liquid level value of the high-level water tank and the oxygen separator to the control system in real time, so that the high-level water tank or the oxygen separator can be replenished with water in time to ensure the continuous operation capability of the water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment.

[0014] 3. The water replenishment outlet of the high-level water tank of the present invention and the water replenishment inlet of the oxygen separator are on a plumb line, and the connecting pipeline between the water replenishment outlet of the high-level water tank and the water replenishment inlet of the oxygen separator is as straight as possible, which can reduce the resistance caused by the bending of the pipeline.

[0015] 4. The entire system of the present invention does not require any external pressurizing mechanism and external resources, and compared with existing plunger pumps and diaphragm pumps, it has low cost, low noise and high reliability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the present invention.

[0017] Among them, 1001-oxygen separator, 1301-high-level water tank, PT1001-oxygen separator pressure transmitter, LT1001-oxygen separator differential pressure transmitter, PT1301-high-level water tank pressure transmitter, LT1301-high-level water tank differential pressure transmitter, DF1001-equalizing valve, DF1002-high-level water tank water supply valve, DF1003-high-level water tank exhaust valve, DF1004-oxygen separator exhaust valve, DQ1001-oxygen separator water supply valve, LI1002-liquid level display. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not used to limit the present invention.

[0019] The electrolyzer of the water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment electrolyzes water into hydrogen and oxygen by supplying direct current, and the hydrogen and oxygen will carry some saturated water vapor when discharged to the outside. The equipment will continue to consume water during the electrolysis process, so it is necessary to replenish water to the oxygen separator 1001 in the water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment in time.

[0020] The present invention provides a self-powered water adding system for water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment, such as Figure 1As shown, the system includes a high-level water tank 1301, a measuring module, a connecting pipeline I, a connecting pipeline II, a water inlet pipeline, an exhaust pipeline I, an exhaust pipeline II and a control system.

[0021] The high-level water tank 1301 is placed directly above the oxygen separator 1001, and the water replenishment outlet of the high-level water tank 1301 is connected to the water replenishment inlet of the oxygen separator 1001 through a connecting pipe I, and an oxygen separator water replenishment valve DQ1001 is provided on the connecting pipe I, and the opening and closing of the oxygen separator water replenishment valve DQ1001 corresponds to whether the connecting pipe I is connected; the water replenishment outlet of the high-level water tank 1301 and the water replenishment inlet of the oxygen separator 1001 can be in a plumb line, so that the connecting pipe I between the water replenishment outlet of the high-level water tank 1301 and the water replenishment inlet of the oxygen separator 1001 is as straight as possible, which can reduce the resistance caused by the bending of the pipe.

[0022] The upper end of the oxygen separator 1001 and the upper end of the high-level water tank 1301 are connected through a connecting pipe II, and a pressure equalizing valve DF1001 is provided on the connecting pipe II. The opening and closing of the pressure equalizing valve DF1001 corresponds to whether the connecting pipe II is connected. The oxygen separator 1001 and the high-level water tank 1301 are both set with an upper limit of the water level. Under the gravity of water, the upper half of the oxygen separator 1001 and the high-level water tank 1301 are water-free parts with only gas, that is, the connecting pipe II between the upper end of the oxygen separator 1001 and the upper end of the high-level water tank 1301 communicates with the gas in the oxygen separator 1001 and the high-level water tank 1301. The opening of the pressure equalizing valve DF1001 can play a role in equalizing the pressure of the gas in the oxygen separator 1001 and the high-level water tank 1301.

[0023] The high-level water tank 1301 is connected to the external water supply through the high-level water tank inlet pipeline. The high-level water tank inlet pipeline is equipped with a high-level water tank replenishment valve DF1002. The opening and closing of the high-level water tank replenishment valve DF1002 corresponds to whether the high-level water tank 1301 is connected to the external water, that is, whether the high-level water tank 1301 can be replenished with water through the external water supply. The high-level water tank 1301 is provided with a high-level water tank exhaust pipeline I, and a high-level water tank exhaust valve DF1003 is installed on the high-level water tank exhaust pipeline I. The opening and closing of the high-level water tank exhaust valve DF1003 corresponds to whether the high-level water tank 1301 can exhaust to the outside. The oxygen separator 1001 is provided with an oxygen separator exhaust pipeline II, and an oxygen separator exhaust valve DF1004 is installed on the oxygen separator exhaust pipeline II. The opening and closing of the oxygen separator exhaust valve DF1004 corresponds to whether the oxygen separator 1001 can exhaust to the outside.

[0024] The measuring module is used to measure the pressure value and liquid level value of the high-level water tank 1301 and the oxygen separator 1001, and transmit the two to the control system in real time. In this embodiment, the measuring module includes a high-level water tank pressure transmitter PT1301, a high-level water tank differential pressure transmitter LT1301, an oxygen separator pressure transmitter PT1001, and an oxygen separator differential pressure transmitter LT1001; the high-level water tank pressure transmitter PT1301 and the high-level water tank differential pressure transmitter LT1301 are both installed on the high-level water tank 1301, and are respectively used to measure the pressure value and liquid level value of the high-level water tank 1301; the oxygen separator pressure transmitter PT1001 and the oxygen separator differential pressure transmitter LT1001 are both installed on the oxygen separator 1001, and are respectively used to measure the pressure value and liquid level value of the oxygen separator 1001.

[0025] In this embodiment, the control system is a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller). The PLC completes the water replenishment of the high-level water tank 1301 or the oxygen separator 1001 by controlling the automatic opening and closing of the high-level water tank water replenishment valve DF1002, the high-level water tank exhaust valve DF1003, the pressure equalizing valve DF1001, the oxygen separator water replenishment valve DQ1001, and the oxygen separator exhaust valve DF1004 according to the pressure value and liquid level value of the high-level water tank 1301 and the oxygen separator 1001.

[0026] The oxygen separator water supply valve DQ1001 can use an electric ball valve or a pneumatic ball valve, and the high-level water tank exhaust valve DF1003, the high-level water tank water supply valve DF1002, the equalizing valve DF1001, and the oxygen separator exhaust valve DF1004 all use solenoid valves. Other valves, equipment, or pipelines can be added according to the degree of automation and redundant design of the equipment. For example, a liquid level display LI1002 can be provided in the oxygen separator 1001 to facilitate the staff to observe the liquid level in the oxygen separator 1001 at any time.

[0027] The present invention provides a self-powered water-adding method for a water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment. The self-powered water-adding system for the water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment described above is adopted, and the water-adding steps for the oxygen separator 1001 are as follows:

[0028] When the hydrogen production equipment is in operation, the high-level water tank pressure transmitter PT1301, the high-level water tank differential pressure transmitter LT1301, the oxygen separator pressure transmitter PT1001, and the oxygen separator differential pressure transmitter LT1001 continuously and in real time transmit the pressure value and liquid level value of the high-level water tank 1301 and the oxygen separator 1001 to the PLC.

[0029] When the equipment is in normal working condition, the oxygen separator water supply valve, high-level water tank exhaust valve, high-level water tank water supply valve and equalizing valve are in closed state. PLC receives and processes the liquid level value in the oxygen separator 1001. When the liquid level of the oxygen separator 1001 is lower than the lower limit setting value of the water supply level of the oxygen separator 1001. Since the gas pressure on the upper part of the oxygen separator 1001 is relatively high, in order to ensure the stability of the entire system, the PLC controls the equalizing valve DF1001 to open and close continuously according to the real-time received pressure values ​​of the high-level water tank 1301 and the oxygen separator 1001, gradually balancing the pressure of the oxygen separator 1001 with the pressure of the high-level water tank 1301, and gradually achieving equal pressure between the two.

[0030] Until the pressure value of the high-level water tank 1301 is equal to the pressure value of the oxygen separator 1001, the pressure equalizing valve DF1001 is controlled to remain normally open, and the exhaust valve DF1004 of the oxygen separator is normally opened / closed according to the system pressure. In the specific implementation process, when the pressure value of the high-level water tank 1301 is slightly less than or infinitely close to the pressure value of the oxygen separator 1001, the pressure equalizing valve DF1001 can be controlled to remain normally open.

[0031] At this time, the control system controls to open the oxygen separator water supply valve DQ1001. At this time, the water in the high-level water tank 1301 is added to the oxygen separator 1001 by gravity until the upper limit of the oxygen separator water supply level is reached. The oxygen separator water supply valve DQ1001 is closed, and the pressure equalizing valve DF1001 is maintained. The oxygen separator 1001 completes the water supply. The oxygen separator 1001 enters the normal operation state until the next time the oxygen separator 1001 liquid level is lower than the oxygen separator 1001 water supply level lower limit setting value, and the above operation steps are repeated.

[0032] In order to ensure the timely replenishment of water in the oxygen separator 1001, so as to realize the continuous operation of the hydrogen production equipment, the system can also automatically add water to the high-level water tank 1301. The steps of adding water to the high-level water tank 1301 are as follows:

[0033] The PLC receives and processes the liquid level value in the high-level water tank 1301. When the liquid level in the high-level water tank 1301 reaches the lower limit setting value of the water replenishment, the PLC controls the oxygen separator water replenishment valve DQ1001 and the pressure equalizing valve DF1001 to be in the closed state.

[0034] The high-level water tank exhaust valve DF1003 remains normally open to discharge the gas in the high-level water tank 1301 until the pressure of the high-level water tank 1301 is lower than the set value of the water filling pressure of the high-level water tank 1301 (the pressure of the high-level water tank 1301 drops below 0.1MPa). The PLC controls the high-level water tank water replenishment valve DF1002 to replenish water with a certain external pressure (not less than 0.2MPa) into the high-level water tank 1301 until the upper limit setting value of the water filling level of the high-level water tank 1301 is reached. The high-level water tank water replenishment valve DF1002 and the high-level water tank exhaust valve DF1003 are closed, and the water filling of the high-level water tank 1301 is completed.

[0035] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A self-powered water adding system for water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment, characterized in that: It includes a high-level water tank, a measuring module, a connecting pipeline I, a connecting pipeline II, a water inlet pipeline, an exhaust pipeline I, an exhaust pipeline II and a control system; The high-level water tank is placed directly above the oxygen separator. The water supply outlet of the high-level water tank is connected to the water supply inlet of the oxygen separator through a connecting pipe I, and the connecting pipe I is provided with an oxygen separator water supply valve; the upper end of the oxygen separator and the upper end of the high-level water tank are connected through a connecting pipe II, and the connecting pipe II is provided with a pressure equalizing valve; The high-level water tank is connected to the external water through the water inlet pipeline, and the water inlet pipeline is equipped with a high-level water tank water replenishment valve; the high-level water tank is connected to the external environment through the exhaust pipeline I, and the exhaust pipeline I is equipped with a high-level water tank exhaust valve; the oxygen separator is connected to the external environment through the exhaust pipeline II, and the exhaust pipeline II is equipped with an oxygen separator exhaust valve; The measuring module is used to measure the pressure value and liquid level value of the high-level water tank and the oxygen separator, and transmit them to the control system in real time; the control system completes the water replenishment of the high-level water tank or the oxygen separator by controlling the automatic opening and closing of the high-level water tank water replenishment valve, the high-level water tank exhaust valve, the pressure equalizing valve, the oxygen separator water replenishment valve, and the oxygen separator exhaust valve according to the pressure value and the liquid level value.

2. The self-powered water supply system for water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The measuring modules include high-level water tank pressure transmitter, high-level water tank differential pressure transmitter, oxygen separator pressure transmitter, and oxygen separator differential pressure transmitter; The high-level water tank pressure transmitter and the high-level water tank differential pressure transmitter are both installed on the high-level water tank, and are used to measure the pressure value and liquid level value of the high-level water tank respectively; the oxygen separator pressure transmitter and the oxygen separator differential pressure transmitter are both installed on the oxygen separator, and are used to measure the pressure value and liquid level value of the oxygen separator respectively.

3. The self-powered water supply system for water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water supply outlet of the high-level water tank and the water supply inlet of the oxygen separator are on a plumb line.

4. The self-powered water supply system for water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment according to claims 1-3, characterized in that: The oxygen separator water supply valve adopts an electric ball valve or a pneumatic ball valve, and the high-level water tank exhaust valve, high-level water tank water supply valve, equalizing valve, and oxygen separator exhaust valve all adopt solenoid valves.

5. A self-powered water-adding method for a water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment, using the self-powered water-adding system for a water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The steps for replenishing water in the oxygen separator are: When the equipment is in normal working condition, the oxygen separator water supply valve, high-level water tank exhaust valve, high-level water tank water supply valve and equalizing pressure valve are in closed state; The control system receives and processes the liquid level value in the oxygen separator. When the liquid level in the oxygen separator is lower than the lower limit of the water filling level, the pressure equalizing valve is controlled to be opened and closed intermittently according to the pressure values ​​of the high-level water tank and the oxygen separator, so that the oxygen separator and the high-level water tank are gradually equalized in pressure. Until the high-level water tank pressure value is equal to the oxygen separator pressure value, the pressure equalizing valve remains normally open, and the oxygen separator exhaust valve opens / closes normally according to the system pressure; At this time, the control system controls the opening of the oxygen separator water supply valve, replenishes water to the oxygen separator to the upper limit of the water supply level of the oxygen separator, closes the oxygen separator water supply valve, and keeps the pressure equalizing valve in the open state, and the oxygen separator completes the water supply.

6. The self-powered water-adding method for water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that: The steps for adding water to the high-level water tank are: The control system receives and processes the liquid level value in the high-level water tank. When the liquid level in the high-level water tank reaches the lower limit of the water replenishment level, the control system controls the oxygen separator water replenishment valve and the pressure equalizing valve to be in a closed state; The high-level water tank exhaust valve remains normally open to discharge the gas in the high-level water tank until the high-level water tank pressure is lower than the water filling pressure setting value. The control system controls the high-level water tank water replenishment valve to open for water replenishment until the high-level water tank water replenishment level upper limit is reached, and the high-level water tank water replenishment valve and the high-level water tank exhaust valve are closed, and the high-level water tank is filled with water.

7. The self-powered water-adding method for water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that: External water pressure ≥0.2MPa.

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