Method for regulating flow rate of electrolyte of electrolytic cell and associated device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for adjusting the flow rate of electrolyte of an electrolytic cell and a related device. The method comprises the steps that the flow of electrolyte of the electrolytic cell is adjusted based on the working state of the electrolytic cell, and the temperature difference value between the first temperature of an inlet of the electrolytic cell and the second temperature of an outlet of the electrolytic cell is determined. The method further comprises the step of adjusting the flow of the electrolyte again in response to the fact that the temperature difference value is smaller than the preset temperature threshold value. In this way, the flow of the electrolyte in the electrolytic bath can be continuously adjusted to compensate the heating power of the electrolytic bath reduced due to temperature rise, so that the rising speed of the working temperature of the electrolytic bath is increased, and the working efficiency of the electrolytic bath is improved. In addition, in the process of adjusting the flow of the electrolyte, the temperature difference between the inlet and the outlet of the electrolytic bath can be detected, the problem that the outlet temperature is too high due to the large temperature difference between the inlet and the outlet is solved, therefore, damage to assemblies such as a proton membrane in the electrolytic bath is avoided, the safety performance of the electrolytic bath is improved, and the service life of the electrolytic bath is prolonged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of electrolytic cell technology, and more particularly to a method and related apparatus for regulating the flow rate of an electrolyte in an electrolytic cell. Background Art

[0002] With the development of society, people are paying more and more attention to the protection of the ecological environment. Among them, hydrogen energy is a secondary energy source with abundant sources, green and low carbon, and wide application. It can help many fields such as industry, transportation, and construction to achieve decarbonization goals and promote the acceleration of carbon emission reduction. When producing hydrogen, water electrolysis hydrogen production technology can be combined with renewable energy, and renewable energy (such as wind energy and solar energy) can be converted into hydrogen using an electrolyzer. In the hydrogen production process, the temperature of the electrolyzer is a very important process parameter. In order to ensure the operational stability of the electrolyzer, the temperature of the electrolyzer needs to be controlled. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and related apparatus for regulating the flow rate of an electrolyte in an electrolytic cell.

[0004] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, a method for regulating the flow rate of an electrolyte in an electrolytic cell is provided. The method includes regulating the flow rate of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell based on an operating state of the electrolytic cell. The method also includes determining a temperature difference between a first temperature at an inlet of the electrolytic cell and a second temperature at an outlet of the electrolytic cell. Furthermore, the method includes re-regulating the flow rate of the electrolyte in response to the temperature difference being less than a predetermined temperature threshold.

[0005] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, a device for regulating the flow of an electrolyte in an electrolytic cell is provided. The device includes a flow regulating unit configured to regulate the flow of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell based on the operating state of the electrolytic cell. The device also includes a temperature difference determining unit configured to determine the temperature difference between a first temperature at the inlet of the electrolytic cell and a second temperature at the outlet of the electrolytic cell. The device also includes a flow re-regulating unit configured to re-regulate the flow of the electrolyte in response to the temperature difference being less than a predetermined temperature threshold.

[0006] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, a controller is provided. The controller includes one or more processors; and a storage device for storing one or more programs, which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to implement the method provided according to the first aspect of the present disclosure.

[0007] In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a hydrogen production system by electrolysis is provided. The system comprises an electrolyzer and the controller provided in the third aspect of the present disclosure.

[0008] In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, a machine-readable storage medium is provided, wherein the machine-readable storage medium stores machine-executable instructions, wherein the machine-executable instructions are executed by a processor to implement the method provided according to the first aspect of the present disclosure.

[0009] In a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program product is provided, which is tangibly stored on a non-volatile computer-readable medium and includes machine-executable instructions, which when executed cause a machine to perform the steps of the method provided according to the first aspect of the present disclosure.

[0010] It should be understood that the contents described in the disclosure section are not intended to limit the key or important features of the embodiments of the present disclosure, nor are they intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become readily understood through the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The above and other features, advantages and aspects of the embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar elements, wherein:

[0012] Figure 1 A schematic diagram illustrating an example environment in which devices and / or methods according to some embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented;

[0013] Figure 2 A flow chart illustrating a method for regulating the flow rate of an electrolyte in an electrolytic cell according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0014] Figure 3 A schematic diagram showing polarization curves corresponding to different temperatures according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0015] Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing polarization curves corresponding to different electrolyte flow rates according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0016] Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing a polarization curve corresponding to adjustment of the flow rate of the electrolyte according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0017] Figure 6 A schematic diagram showing a workflow for regulating the flow rate of an electrolyte in an electrolytic cell according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0018] Figure 7 A block diagram illustrating an apparatus for regulating the flow rate of an electrolyte in an electrolytic cell according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0019] Figure 8A schematic block diagram of an example device illustrating some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0020] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numbers denote the same or similar elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The following describes embodiments of the present disclosure in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although certain embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and complete understanding of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the drawings and embodiments of the present disclosure are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0022] In the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the term "including" and similar terms should be understood as open inclusion, that is, "including but not limited to." The term "based on" should be understood as "based at least in part on." The term "one embodiment" or "the embodiment" should be understood as "at least one embodiment." The terms "first," "second," etc. may refer to different or the same objects. Other explicit and implicit definitions may also be included below.

[0023] The electrolyzer is a crucial component of a water electrolysis system. The electrolysis system provides power to the electrolyzer, enabling it to produce hydrogen. Based on electrochemical principles, the electrolyzer conducts reactions within the electrolyte to produce the desired compounds. Hydrogen production in an electrolyzer involves the dissociation of water molecules under the action of direct current to produce oxygen and hydrogen, which are then released from the anode and cathode of the electrolyzer, respectively.

[0024] As the most promising clean energy source, hydrogen offers advantages such as pollution-free products and high calorific value. Furthermore, hydrogen can be synergistically exchanged with wind and solar energy to absorb renewable energy. However, when combining renewable energy with water electrolysis hydrogen production technology, water electrolysis faces challenges with dynamic regulation and frequent starts and stops. For example, when using solar energy to power an electrolyzer for hydrogen production, the electrolysis system can only operate during the day and must be shut down at night. If the electrolysis system is shut down for an extended period, the electrolyte gradually cools. When the system is restarted, the electrolyte often needs to be reheated to bring the cell temperature within the acceptable range before it can begin operation. However, the low electrolyte temperature results in lower electrolysis efficiency and a slower electrolyte temperature rise, resulting in a longer time for the electrolysis system to return to rated operation from a cold start.

[0025] In order to quickly start the electrolytic hydrogen production system, the electrolyte temperature must quickly reach the set temperature. However, after the electrolyzer is powered on, as the temperature gradually rises, the electrolyzer's heating power gradually decreases. In other words, the amount of heat provided by the electrolyzer to warm the electrolyte gradually decreases. This results in a slow temperature rise rate, preventing the electrolyzer from quickly reaching the operating temperature and preventing the electrolytic hydrogen production system from maintaining a high-efficiency hydrogen production state.

[0026] To this end, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for regulating the flow rate of an electrolyte in an electrolytic cell. The method includes regulating the flow rate of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell based on the operating status of the electrolytic cell. The method also includes determining a temperature difference between a first temperature at an inlet of the electrolytic cell and a second temperature at an outlet of the electrolytic cell. Furthermore, the method further includes re-regulating the flow rate of the electrolyte in response to the temperature difference being less than a predetermined temperature threshold.

[0027] In this way, the flow rate of the electrolyte in the electrolyzer can be continuously adjusted during the operation of the electrolyzer to compensate for the reduced heat power of the electrolyzer due to the increase in temperature, thereby increasing the rate of increase of the working temperature of the electrolyzer. In this way, the temperature of the electrolyzer can quickly reach the set working temperature, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the electrolysis process and making the electrolyzer have higher hydrogen production efficiency and working efficiency. At the same time, in the process of adjusting the flow rate of the electrolyte, the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the electrolyzer will also be detected to avoid the problem of excessively high outlet temperature due to the large difference in inlet and outlet temperatures, thereby avoiding damage to components such as the proton membrane in the electrolyzer and improving the safety performance and service life of the electrolyzer.

[0028] The embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 A schematic diagram illustrating an example environment in which devices and / or methods according to embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented is shown. Figure 1 ,exist Figure 1 In the example environment 100, an electrolyzer 102 for producing hydrogen by electrolysis is shown. Figure 1 As shown, the electrolytic cell 102 may include an electrolyte 104, an anode 106, and a cathode 108. The electrolytic cell 102 also includes a diaphragm ( Figure 1 The diaphragm (not shown) serves to separate the anode chamber from the cathode chamber. Electrolyzer 102 is connected to power source 110, which provides the electrical energy required for electrolysis of water in electrolyzer 102. For example, power source 110 may be a DC power source. In some embodiments, power source 110 may include multiple renewable energy generators (e.g., wind turbines or photovoltaic generators).

[0029] In some embodiments, the electrolytic cell 102 can react in the electrolyte 104 based on electrochemical principles (for example, an oxygen evolution reaction is initiated at the anode 106 and a hydrogen evolution reaction is generated at the cathode 108) to produce the final desired compound. The electrolytic cell 102 can be any one of an aqueous solution electrolytic cell, a molten salt electrolytic cell, and a non-aqueous solution electrolytic cell. Correspondingly, the electrolyte that can be used in the electrolytic cell 102 includes any one of an aqueous solution, a molten salt, and a non-aqueous solution.

[0030] In some embodiments, the electrolyte can be an aqueous solution, and water can be decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen in the electrolyzer. Among them, the electrolyzer 102 can use electrolysis hydrogen production technology to decompose water into hydrogen and oxygen. Depending on the different materials of the electrolyzer diaphragm, electrolysis hydrogen production technology can be divided into alkaline water electrolysis, proton exchange membrane water electrolysis and solid oxide water electrolysis technology. Among them, proton exchange membrane water electrolysis hydrogen production uses a proton exchange membrane with good chemical stability, proton conductivity, and gas separation as a solid electrolyte, which can effectively prevent electron transfer and improve the safety of the electrolyzer.

[0031] Although only one electrolytic cell 102 is shown in the figure, it should be understood that according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the number of electrolytic cells 102 can be one or more. In the case where there are multiple electrolytic cells 102, each electrolytic cell 102 can be connected in series or in parallel. Figure 1 The electrolytic cell 102 shown in the figure is merely an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the solutions provided herein. The electrolytic cell 102 may include more or fewer components. In some embodiments, the electrolytic cell includes an electrolyte inlet and an electrolyte outlet, each of which may be provided with a regulating valve or a shut-off valve. It should also be understood that the electrolytic cell 102 in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various scenarios.

[0032] Continue to refer Figure 1 , the flow rate of the electrolyte 104 in the electrolytic cell 102 can be controlled by the controller 114. For example, the controller 114 can adjust the flow rate of the electrolyte 104 by controlling the operating state of the flow valve 112 at the inlet of the electrolytic cell 102. In some examples, the controller 114 can adjust the flow rate of the electrolyte 104 by adjusting the opening of the flow valve 112 at the inlet of the electrolytic cell 102. The electrolysis equipment 114 can also adjust the flow rate of the electrolyte 104 by controlling the flow rate of the water tank containing the electrolyte 102. In some embodiments, the controller 114 can be a device capable of data transmission and data processing. For example, the controller 114 can have common capabilities such as receiving and sending data requests, real-time data analysis, local data storage, and real-time network connection.

[0033] like Figure 1As shown, at block 116, controller 114 may adjust the flow rate of electrolyte 104. For example, the flow rate of electrolyte 104 may be adjusted by adjusting the opening of a flow valve for electrolyte 104. At block 118, controller 114 may determine the temperature difference between a first temperature at the inlet of electrolysis cell 102 and a second temperature at the outlet of electrolysis cell 102. For example, controller 114 may determine the first temperature at the inlet based on a signal from a temperature sensor disposed at the inlet of electrolysis cell 102. Controller 114 may also determine the second temperature at the outlet based on a signal from a temperature sensor disposed at the outlet of electrolysis cell 102. The first and second temperatures may then be subtracted to determine the temperature difference. At block 120, controller 114 may again adjust the flow rate of electrolyte in response to the temperature difference being less than a predetermined temperature threshold.

[0034] In this way, the flow rate of the electrolyte 104 in the electrolytic cell 102 can be continuously adjusted during the operation of the electrolytic cell 102 to compensate for the reduced heat generation power of the electrolytic cell 102 due to the temperature increase, thereby increasing the rate of increase of the operating temperature of the electrolytic cell 102. In this way, the temperature of the electrolytic cell 102 can quickly reach the set operating temperature, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the electrolysis process and making the electrolytic cell 102 have higher hydrogen production efficiency and working efficiency. At the same time, in the process of adjusting the flow rate of the electrolyte 104, the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the electrolytic cell 102 is also detected to avoid the problem of excessively high outlet temperature due to the large difference between the inlet and outlet temperatures, thereby avoiding damage to components such as the proton membrane in the electrolytic cell and improving the safety performance and service life of the electrolytic cell.

[0035] The following will be combined Figures 2 to 8 Describe an example process according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For ease of understanding, the specific data mentioned in the following description are exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present disclosure. It is understood that the embodiments described below may also include additional actions not shown and / or may omit the actions shown, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited in this respect.

[0036] Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a method 200 for regulating the flow rate of an electrolyte in an electrolytic cell according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the method 200 may be performed by Figure 1 It should be understood that the method 200 may also include additional actions not shown and / or may omit actions shown, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited in this respect.

[0037] like Figure 2As shown, in box 202, method 200 can adjust the flow rate of the electrolyte in the electrolyzer based on the operating status of the electrolyzer. The electrolyzer is composed of a cell body, an anode, and a cathode, and a diaphragm is usually used to separate the anode chamber and the cathode chamber. In some embodiments, the electrolyzer can be provided with electrical energy by a power supply device. It should be noted that the power supply device can provide the electrolyzer with electrical energy at a constant current. When current passes through the electrolyzer, an oxygen evolution reaction can occur at the interface between the anode and the solution of the electrolyzer, such as the dissolution of metals or the formation of other oxides; and a hydrogen evolution reaction can occur at the interface between the cathode and the solution, such as the absorption of reducing agents or the generation of other compounds. In some examples, the electrolyzer can be used in a hydrogen production system to electrolyze water to produce hydrogen. Different types of hydrogen production systems correspond to different electrolytes. For example, the electrolyte corresponding to the alkaline water electrolysis hydrogen production system is alkaline solution, and the electrolyte corresponding to the proton exchange membrane water electrolysis hydrogen production system is pure water.

[0038] In some embodiments, the regulation can be based on the operating state of the electrolytic cell, reducing the flow rate of the electrolyte. For example, the flow rate of the electrolyte can be reduced by reducing the flow rate of the container holding the electrolyte, or by reducing the opening of the valve at the inlet of the electrolytic cell. The valve may include a flow regulating valve, a self-balancing valve, and a flow balancing valve. It is understood that when the flow rate of the electrolyte is reduced, the heat generation power of the electrolytic cell will increase, thereby causing the electrolytic cell to heat up rapidly. In some embodiments, the operating state of the electrolytic cell may include the voltage and current passing through the electrolytic cell, and may also include the temperature of the inlet or outlet of the electrolytic cell.

[0039] In box 204, method 200 can determine the temperature difference between the first temperature of the inlet of the electrolyzer and the second temperature of the outlet of the electrolyzer. The inlet of the electrolyzer refers to the electrolyte inlet, and the outlet of the electrolyzer can be a hydrogen side outlet or an oxygen side outlet. In one example, a mixture of hydrogen and electrolyte can flow out from the hydrogen side outlet, and a mixture of oxygen and electrolyte can flow out from the oxygen side outlet. The temperature of the inlet and the temperature of the outlet of the electrolyzer can be collected by temperature sensors arranged at the inlet and outlet of the electrolyzer. There are many types of temperature sensors, for example, including but not limited to thermocouple sensors, thermistor sensors, resistance temperature detectors, etc. In some embodiments, the temperature difference can be obtained by subtracting the temperature of the inlet and the temperature of the outlet. In other embodiments, the temperature difference can also be determined based on the ratio of the temperature of the inlet to the temperature of the outlet.

[0040] In box 206, method 200 can adjust the flow rate of the electrolyte again in response to the temperature difference being less than a predetermined temperature threshold. The predetermined temperature threshold can be set by the user according to the operating environment of the hydrogen production system and the working performance of the electrolyzer, for example, set to 5°, 8°, 10°, etc. It can be understood that when the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the electrolyzer is greater than the predetermined temperature threshold, the flow rate of the electrolyte can be stopped (for example, reduced). In some embodiments, after a period of time after stopping adjusting the flow rate of the electrolyte, the temperature difference between the temperature of the inlet and the temperature of the outlet of the electrolyzer can be re-detected to see whether it is greater than the predetermined temperature threshold. When it is determined that the temperature difference is less than the predetermined temperature threshold, the flow rate of the electrolyte can be reduced again. Through such a feedback control process, the maximum heat production efficiency of the electrolyzer can be guaranteed.

[0041] In this way, the flow rate of the electrolyte in the electrolyzer can be continuously adjusted during the operation of the electrolyzer to compensate for the reduced heat power of the electrolyzer due to the increase in temperature, thereby increasing the rate of increase of the working temperature of the electrolyzer. In this way, the temperature of the electrolyzer can quickly reach the set working temperature, reducing the energy consumption of the electrolysis process, so that the electrolyzer can reach a working state with high hydrogen production efficiency. At the same time, in the process of adjusting the flow rate of the electrolyte, the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the electrolyzer will also be detected to avoid the problem of excessively high outlet temperature due to the large difference between the inlet and outlet temperatures, thereby avoiding damage to components such as the proton membrane in the electrolyzer and improving the safety performance and service life of the electrolyzer.

[0042] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of polarization curves corresponding to different temperatures according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 3 As shown, curve 302 refers to the curve in which the voltage changes with the current under the condition of temperature A. Curve 304 refers to the curve in which the voltage changes with the current under the condition of temperature B. Curve 306 refers to the curve in which the voltage changes with the current under the condition of temperature C. Among them, temperature A < temperature B < temperature C. It can be seen that when the current input to the electrolyzer is constant (for example, the input current is I), the voltage corresponding to curve 302 is U3 > the voltage corresponding to curve 304 is U2 > the voltage corresponding to curve 306 is U1. In other words, as the temperature of the electrolyzer gradually rises, the corresponding heat generation resistance gradually decreases. Under the condition of rated input current, it is very difficult to increase the hydrogen production voltage. For example, the voltage required to overcome the resistance in the tank at temperature A is greater than the voltage required to overcome the resistance in the tank at temperature B.

[0043] It should be noted that in the process of electrolyzing water to produce hydrogen, the theoretical decomposition voltage of the electrolytic cell is 1.23V, and the thermoneutral voltage is 1.48V. Among them, the theoretical decomposition voltage refers to the minimum voltage theoretically required for the electrolysis reaction to occur. The thermoneutral voltage refers to the minimum voltage required for no heat to flow into or out of the entire system. Then, when the voltage applied to the electrolytic cell is greater than 1.48V, the voltage exceeding 1.48V is used to generate heat, and the voltage below 1.48V is used to electrolyze water to produce hydrogen. On this basis, if Figure 3 As shown, under the condition of temperature A, the heating efficiency P of the electrolytic cell is A发热 =(U3-1.48)◇I; Under the condition of temperature B, the heating efficiency of the electrolytic cell is P B发热 =(U2-1.48)◇I; When the temperature is C, the heating efficiency of the electrolytic cell is P C发热 =(U1-1.48)◇I. Since U3>U2>U1, P A发热 >P B发热 >P C发热 Then, it can be deduced that as the temperature of the electrolytic cell rises, the heating power of the electrolytic cell gradually decreases, and the heat provided for the rapid heating of the electrolyte also gradually decreases.

[0044] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of polarization curves corresponding to different temperatures according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 4 As shown, curve 402 refers to the curve of voltage changing with current under the condition that the flow rate of electrolyte is O. Curve 404 refers to the curve of voltage changing with current under the condition that the flow rate of electrolyte is P. Curve 406 refers to the curve of voltage changing with current under the condition that the flow rate of electrolyte is Q. Among them, flow rate O < flow rate P < flow rate Q. It can be seen that when the current is constant (for example, the current is I), the voltage corresponding to curve 402 is U6> the voltage corresponding to curve 404 is U5> the voltage corresponding to curve 406 is U4.

[0045] like Figure 4 As shown, when the flow rate of the electrolyte is 0, the heating efficiency of the electrolytic cell P O发热 =(U6-1.48)◇I; When the temperature is P, the heating efficiency of the electrolytic cell is P P发热 =(U5-1.48)◇I; When the temperature is Q, the heating efficiency of the electrolytic cell is P Q发热 =(U4-1.48)◇I. Since U6>U5>U4, P O发热 >P P发热 >P Q发热Then, it can be deduced that as the flow rate of the electrolyte decreases, the heating power of the electrolytic cell gradually increases, and the heat provided for the rapid temperature rise of the electrolyte also gradually increases.

[0046] Therefore, in some embodiments, the heat generation power of the electrolyzer reduced due to the increase in temperature can be compensated by reducing the flow rate of the electrolyte. In this way, the heat generation power of the electrolyzer can be maximized when the temperature rises, so that the electrolyzer provides the maximum amount of heat to the electrolyte, thereby causing the temperature of the electrolyzer to rise rapidly and achieving rapid startup of the hydrogen production system. At the same time, due to the reduction in the flow rate of the electrolyte, the heat generation power of the electrolyzer will increase, thereby causing the electrolyzer to heat up rapidly. In addition, the heat carried away by the flow of the electrolyte will also decrease, thereby slowing down the heat dissipation speed of the electrolyzer and further increasing the temperature rise rate of the electrolyzer.

[0047] As described above, a mapping relationship between the flow rate of the electrolyte and the heating power can be pre-established based on the polarization curves corresponding to the flow rates of different electrolytes. The mapping relationship may be in the form of a mapping relationship function, a mapping relationship table, a mapping relationship model, etc. In some embodiments, after the electrolytic cell is powered on, the voltage and current of the electrolytic cell can be collected in real time. The voltage refers to the voltage applied to the electrolytic cell, and the current refers to the current intensity passing through the electrolytic cell. It should be understood that in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the voltage is variable and the current is constant. Thereafter, based on the voltage and current of the electrolytic cell, the change in the heating power of the electrolytic cell caused by the temperature change is determined. For example, in one example, the voltage of the electrolytic cell collected at a temperature of 40° is u1, and the voltage of the electrolytic cell collected at a temperature of 45° is u2. Since the current is constant, the magnitude of the current is the same at different temperatures or at different times. For example, the current can be i. The change in the heating power of the electrolytic cell caused by temperature change is p = p1-p2 = (u1-1.48)◇i-(u2-1.48)◇i.

[0048] In some embodiments, the flow rate of the electrolyte can be adjusted according to the change in the heating power of the electrolyzer caused by the temperature change and the current flow rate of the electrolyte. For example, the first heating power corresponding to the current flow rate can be determined based on the mapping relationship between the flow rate of the electrolyte and the heating power. Afterwards, the second heating power that needs to be compensated can be determined based on the change in the heating power of the electrolyzer caused by the temperature change. The third heating power corresponding to the adjusted flow rate of the electrolyte is determined based on the sum of the first heating power and the second heating power. Afterwards, the adjusted flow rate of the electrolyte is determined based on the third heating power and the mapping relationship between the flow rate of the electrolyte and the heating power, so as to compensate for the heating power reduced due to the temperature rise, so that the temperature of the electrolyzer can be quickly increased to improve the hydrogen production efficiency of the electrolyzer.

[0049] In other embodiments, the mapping relationship between the change in electrolyte flow rate and the change in heating power can also be determined based on the polarization curves corresponding to different electrolyte flow rates. For example, the mapping relationship can be Δp=f(Δm). Wherein, Δp is the change in electrolyte flow rate, and Δm is the change in heating power. After determining the change in heating power caused by the temperature rise of the electrolytic cell, the flow rate of the electrolytic cell that needs to be reduced can be determined based on the mapping relationship between the change in electrolyte flow rate and the change in heating power. The flow rate of the electrolyte can be adjusted according to the flow rate of the electrolytic cell that needs to be reduced.

[0050] In this way, the flow rate of the electrolyte can be accurately adjusted, and the heating power reduced due to the temperature increase of the electrolytic cell can be fully compensated, so that the temperature of the electrolytic cell quickly reaches the set operating temperature.

[0051] In some embodiments, the flow rate of the electrolyte can be adjusted according to the operating temperature information of the electrolyzer and the target temperature of the electrolyzer. The target temperature of the electrolyzer can be set by the user according to the actual working state and actual needs of the electrolyzer. For example, when the temperature of the electrolyzer is 50°, the electrolyzer can have a higher hydrogen production efficiency, and the target temperature can be set to 50°. The operating temperature information of the electrolyzer can be the operating temperature of the electrolyzer obtained by real-time collection. In some embodiments, when the operating temperature of the electrolyzer is significantly different from the target temperature of the electrolyzer, the downward trend of the flow rate of the electrolyte can be increased. When the operating temperature of the electrolyzer is slightly different from the target temperature of the electrolyzer, the downward trend of the flow rate of the electrolyte can be reduced.

[0052] In other embodiments of the present application, the operating temperature information of the electrolytic cell may further include the rate of change of the operating temperature of the electrolytic cell. The rate of change of the operating temperature of the electrolytic cell may be determined based on the ratio of the change in the operating temperature of the electrolytic cell to the change in time. For example, when the change in time is Δt and the change in the operating temperature is ΔT, the rate of change k of the operating temperature may be ΔT / Δt. In some embodiments, when the rate of increase of the operating temperature of the electrolytic cell is relatively low, the rate of decrease of the flow rate of the electrolyte may be increased; and when the rate of increase of the operating temperature of the electrolytic cell is relatively low, the rate of decrease of the flow rate of the electrolyte may be increased. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the rate of change of the flow rate of the electrolyte may also be determined based on the rate of change of the operating temperature. Thereafter, the flow rate of the electrolyte may be adjusted accordingly based on the rate of change of the flow rate.

[0053] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the flow rate of the electrolyte can be adjusted when the electrolytic cell starts working, or the flow rate of the electrolyte can be adjusted after the electrolytic cell has been working for a period of time. The time of adjustment can be determined according to the working state of the electrolytic cell (such as working temperature, working current), or according to the startup requirements of the electrolytic cell. For example, when the startup time of the electrolytic cell set by the user is short, the flow rate of the electrolyte can be reduced after the electrolytic cell is powered on; and when the startup time of the electrolyte set by the user is long, the flow rate of the electrolyte can be reduced after the electrolytic cell has been working for a period of time. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, a more accurate adjustment time can also be determined based on the change in the working temperature of the electrolytic cell. For example, when it is detected that the rate of change of the working temperature of the electrolytic cell is greater than a predetermined rate, the flow rate of the electrolyte is adjusted.

[0054] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, when the flow rate of the electrolyte is adjusted when the electrolyzer starts working, the flow rate of the electrolyte can be adjusted according to the first adjustment strategy. Since the flow rate of the electrolyte is adjusted synchronously with the temperature rise, the adjustment rate included in the first adjustment strategy can be less than the set adjustment rate. If the flow rate of the electrolyte is adjusted after the electrolyzer has been working for a period of time, the flow rate of the electrolyte can be adjusted according to the second adjustment strategy. Since the operation of adjusting the flow rate of the electrolyte starts relatively late, if the temperature of the electrolyzer is to quickly reach the operating temperature to ensure the hydrogen production efficiency of the electrolyzer, the adjustment rate included in the second adjustment strategy can be greater than the set adjustment rate. In this way, no matter when the adjustment operation starts, the temperature of the electrolyzer can quickly reach the operating temperature, thereby improving the stability of the electrolyzer operation.

[0055] In some embodiments, when it is detected that the temperature difference between the temperature of the electrolytic cell inlet and the temperature of the outlet is greater than or equal to a predetermined temperature threshold, the flow rate of the electrolyte of the electrolytic cell can be stopped and the current flow rate of the electrolyte can be obtained. Afterwards, the flow rate of the electrolyte can be maintained at the current flow rate. For example, the actual flow rate of the electrolyte can be controlled based on the current flow rate of the electrolyte and the actual flow rate of the electrolyte by a proportional, integral and differential (Proportion, Integral, Differential PID) regulator to make the actual flow rate of the electrolyte equal to the current flow rate of the electrolyte. Additionally or alternatively, the flow rate of the pipeline from the water tank containing the electrolyte to the inlet of the electrolytic cell can be maintained at the current flow rate. In one example, the flow rate of the electrolyte can be maintained at the current flow rate by fixing the flow rate of the water tank or the opening of the valve at the inlet of the electrolytic cell. It is understandable that after stopping the adjustment of the flow rate of the electrolyte, the comparison result of the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the electrolytic cell and the predetermined temperature threshold can also be continuously monitored. When it is detected that the temperature difference is less than the predetermined temperature threshold, the flow rate of the electrolyte can be further reduced.

[0056] Figure 5 Schematic diagram showing the polarization curve corresponding to the adjustment of the flow rate of the electrolyte according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 5 As shown, curve 504 is the curve of the voltage changing with the current in the initial state of the electrolytic cell. Curve 502 is the curve of the voltage changing with the current after the electrolytic cell is powered on to increase the working temperature of the electrolytic cell. It can be seen that as the temperature rises, the change in the heat power reduced by the electrolytic cell is 508. In order to compensate for the heat power reduced by the temperature rise of the electrolytic cell, the flow rate of the electrolyte can be reduced. After reducing the flow rate of the electrolyte, the corresponding curve of the voltage changing with the current is 506. Figure 5 As shown in the figure, after reducing the electrolyte flow rate, the increased heat output of the electrolyzer can completely compensate for the heat output reduced due to temperature rise. In this way, during the startup phase of the hydrogen production system, reducing the electrolyte flow rate can maintain the original heat output of the electrolyzer, thereby providing heat for the rapid temperature rise of the electrolyte, thereby improving the electrolysis efficiency during the startup phase of the hydrogen production system and achieving the purpose of increasing startup speed.

[0057] Figure 6 FIG2 shows a schematic diagram of a workflow for regulating the flow rate of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 6 As shown, in block 602, the initial operating conditions of the electrolytic cell and the initial flow rate of the electrolyte can be set. The initial operating conditions of the electrolytic cell refer to the operating state of the electrolytic cell and may include the operating parameters and environmental conditions of the electrolytic cell. In block 604, the flow rate of the electrolyte can be reduced. For example, the flow rate of the electrolyte can be reduced after the electrolytic cell is powered on. In block 606, the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet temperatures of the electrolytic cell can be compared with a predetermined temperature threshold. Based on the comparison result, it is determined whether to adjust the flow rate of the electrolyte again. If the temperature difference is determined to be less than the predetermined temperature threshold, the flow rate of the electrolyte can be reduced again. For example, the flow rate of the electrolyte can be reduced according to the adjustment methods described in the above embodiments. In block 608, if the temperature difference is determined to be greater than the predetermined temperature threshold, the flow rate of the electrolyte can be maintained at the current flow rate. The current flow rate refers to the flow rate of the electrolyte when the temperature difference is detected to be greater than the predetermined temperature threshold. It can be understood that after maintaining the flow rate of the electrolyte at the current flow rate, the temperature difference between the temperature at the inlet and the temperature at the outlet of the electrolyzer at the next moment can be continued to be compared to see whether it is greater than the predetermined temperature difference. By repeating the above steps, the maximum heat production efficiency can be maintained after the electrolyzer is powered on, providing the maximum heat for the rapid heating of the electrolyzer, so that the hydrogen production system can be started quickly.

[0058] Figure 7 FIG2 is a block diagram of an apparatus 700 for regulating the flow rate of an electrolyte in an electrolytic cell according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 7The device 700 includes a flow regulating unit (702) configured to regulate the flow of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell based on the working state of the electrolytic cell; a temperature difference determining unit (704) configured to determine the temperature difference between a first temperature at the inlet of the electrolytic cell and a second temperature at the outlet of the electrolytic cell; and a flow re-regulating unit (706) configured to re-regulate the flow of the electrolyte in response to the temperature difference being less than a predetermined temperature threshold.

[0059] In some embodiments, the flow regulating unit (702) is further configured to: determine the operating voltage and the operating current of the electrolytic cell; determine the heating power of the electrolytic cell based on the operating voltage and the operating current; and regulate the flow of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell based on the heating power.

[0060] In some embodiments, the flow regulating unit (702) is further configured to: determine the operating temperature information of the electrolytic cell; and regulate the flow rate of the electrolyte of the electrolytic cell based on the target temperature of the electrolytic cell and the operating temperature information, wherein the target temperature is determined according to the operating performance of the electrolytic cell.

[0061] In some embodiments, the operating temperature information includes the current operating temperature of the electrolytic cell at the current moment, and the flow regulating unit (702) is further configured to regulate the flow of the electrolyte of the electrolytic cell based on the difference between the target temperature and the current operating temperature of the electrolytic cell.

[0062] In some embodiments, the operating temperature information includes the rate of change of the operating temperature of the electrolytic cell, and the flow regulation unit (702) is further configured to: determine a first operating temperature of the electrolytic cell at a first moment and a second operating temperature of the electrolytic cell at a second moment; determine the rate of change of the operating temperature of the electrolytic cell based on the first moment, the first operating temperature, the second moment, and the second operating temperature; determine a regulation rate for regulating the flow of the electrolyte based on the rate of change; and regulate the flow of the electrolyte of the electrolytic cell based on the regulation rate.

[0063] In some embodiments, the flow regulating unit (702) is further configured to: after the electrolytic cell is powered on, regulate the flow of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell according to a first regulation strategy, and the regulation rate indicated in the first regulation strategy is less than a predetermined regulation rate threshold.

[0064] In some embodiments, the flow regulating unit (702) is further configured to: regulate the flow of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell according to a second regulation strategy at a target time, the regulation rate indicated in the second regulation strategy is greater than a predetermined regulation rate threshold, and the target time is later than the power-on time of the electrolytic cell.

[0065] In some embodiments, the target moment is determined based on the rate of change of the electrolytic cell temperature, and the electrical device 600 also includes a target moment determination unit, which is configured to: obtain the rate of change of the operating temperature of the electrolytic cell after the electrolytic cell is powered on; and in response to the rate of change being greater than a preset temperature change rate threshold, use the current moment as the target moment.

[0066] In some embodiments, the device further includes a flow maintaining unit configured to obtain a current flow of the electrolyte in response to the temperature difference being greater than a predetermined temperature threshold; and maintain the flow value of the electrolyte pipeline at the current flow according to the current flow.

[0067] It can be understood that the device 700 of the present disclosure can achieve at least one of the many advantages that can be achieved by the method or process described above. For example, the device 700 can continuously adjust the flow rate of the electrolyte in the electrolyzer during the operation of the electrolyzer to compensate for the heat generation power of the electrolyzer that is reduced due to the increase in temperature, thereby increasing the rate of increase of the working temperature of the electrolyzer. In this way, the temperature of the electrolyzer can quickly reach the set working temperature, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the electrolysis process, and making the electrolyzer have higher hydrogen production efficiency and working efficiency. At the same time, in the process of adjusting the flow rate of the electrolyte, the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the electrolyzer will also be detected to avoid the problem of excessive outlet temperature due to the large difference in inlet and outlet temperatures, thereby avoiding damage to components such as the proton membrane in the electrolyzer and improving the safety performance and service life of the electrolyzer.

[0068] Figure 8 8 shows a schematic block diagram of an example device 800 that can be used to implement embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 8 As shown, the device 800 includes a processor 801, which can perform various appropriate actions and processes according to computer program instructions stored in a read-only memory (ROM) 802 and loaded into a random access memory (RAM) 803. Various programs and data required for the operation of the device 800 can also be stored in the RAM 803. The processor 801, ROM 802, and RAM 803 are connected to each other via a bus 804. An input / output (I / O) interface 805 is also connected to the bus 804.

[0069] The various processes and procedures described above, such as method 200, may be executed by processor 801. For example, in some embodiments, method 200 may be implemented as a computer software program tangibly embodied on a machine-readable medium. In some embodiments, part or all of the computer program may be loaded and / or installed onto device 800 via ROM 802. When the computer program is loaded into RAM 803 and executed by processor 801, one or more actions of method 200 described above may be performed.

[0070] The present disclosure may be a method, an apparatus, a system and / or a computer program product. The computer program product may include a computer-readable storage medium carrying computer-readable program instructions for executing various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0071] A computer-readable storage medium may be a tangible device that can hold and store instructions used by an instruction execution device. A computer-readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electrical storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination thereof. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of computer-readable storage media include random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), static random access memory (SRAM), and any suitable combination thereof. The computer-readable storage medium used herein is not to be interpreted as a transient signal per se, such as a radio wave or other freely propagating electromagnetic wave, an electromagnetic wave propagated through a waveguide or other transmission medium (e.g., a light pulse through a fiber optic cable), or an electrical signal transmitted through a wire.

[0072] The computer-readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded from a computer-readable storage medium to each computing / processing device, or downloaded to an external computer or external storage device via a network, such as the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, and / or a wireless network. The network can include copper transmission cables, fiber optic transmission, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers, and / or edge servers. The network adapter card or network interface in each computing / processing device receives the computer-readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer-readable program instructions to be stored in the computer-readable storage medium in each computing / processing device.

[0073] The computer program instructions for performing the operations of the present disclosure may be assembly instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine-dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state setting data, or source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Smalltalk, C++, and conventional procedural programming languages ​​such as "C" language or similar programming languages. Computer-readable program instructions may be executed entirely on a user's computer, partially on a user's computer, as an independent software package, partially on a user's computer, partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer or server. In the case of a remote computer, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer via any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or may be connected to an external computer (e.g., utilizing an Internet service provider to connect via the Internet). In some embodiments, an electronic circuit, such as a programmable logic circuit, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or a programmable logic array (PLA), may be personalized by utilizing the state information of the computer-readable program instructions. The electronic circuit may execute the computer-readable program instructions, thereby realizing various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0074] Various aspects of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to flowcharts and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be understood that each block of the flowcharts and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer-readable program instructions.

[0075] These computer-readable program instructions can be provided to a processing unit of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing device, thereby producing a machine such that when these instructions are executed by the processing unit of the computer or other programmable data processing device, a device is generated that implements the functions / actions specified in one or more blocks in the flowchart and / or block diagram. These computer-readable program instructions can also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, where these instructions cause the computer, programmable data processing device, and / or other device to operate in a specific manner. Thus, the computer-readable medium storing the instructions comprises an article of manufacture that includes instructions for implementing various aspects of the functions / actions specified in one or more blocks in the flowchart and / or block diagram.

[0076] Computer-readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device so that a series of operational steps are performed on the computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby causing the instructions executed on the computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to implement the functions / actions specified in one or more blocks in the flowchart and / or block diagram.

[0077] The flow charts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings show the possible architecture, functions and operations of the systems, methods and computer program products according to multiple embodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, each box in the flow chart or block diagram can represent a part of a module, program segment or instruction, and the part of the module, program segment or instruction contains one or more executable instructions for realizing the prescribed logical function. In some alternative implementations, the functions marked in the box can also occur in a sequence different from that marked in the accompanying drawings. For example, two consecutive boxes can actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they can sometimes be executed in the opposite order, depending on the functions involved. It should also be noted that each box in the block diagram and / or flow chart, and the combination of the boxes in the block diagram and / or flow chart can be implemented by a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the prescribed function or action, or can be implemented by a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

[0078] While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative, non-exhaustive, and not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein is selected to best explain the principles of the embodiments, their practical applications, or technical improvements to existing technologies, or to enable others skilled in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method (200) for regulating the flow rate of an electrolyte in an electrolytic cell, comprising: adjusting (202) the flow rate of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell based on the operating state of the electrolytic cell; determining (204) a temperature difference between a first temperature at an inlet of the electrolysis cell and a second temperature at an outlet of the electrolysis cell; as well as In response to the temperature difference being less than a predetermined temperature threshold, the flow rate of the electrolyte is again adjusted (206).

2. The method (200) according to claim 1, wherein regulating (202) the flow rate of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell comprises: Determining the operating voltage and operating current of the electrolytic cell; Determining the heating power of the electrolytic cell based on the operating voltage and the operating current; as well as Based on the heating power, the flow rate of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell is adjusted.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein adjusting (202) the flow rate of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell comprises: Determining operating temperature information of the electrolytic cell; as well as The flow rate of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell is adjusted based on a target temperature of the electrolytic cell and the operating temperature information, wherein the target temperature is determined according to the operating performance of the electrolytic cell.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the operating temperature information comprises a current operating temperature of the electrolytic cell at a current moment, and adjusting the flow rate of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell based on the target temperature of the electrolytic cell and the operating temperature information comprises: The flow rate of the electrolyte is adjusted based on the difference between the target temperature of the electrolytic cell and the current operating temperature.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the operating temperature information comprises a rate of change of the operating temperature of the electrolytic cell, and adjusting the flow rate of the electrolyte of the electrolytic cell based on the target operating temperature of the electrolytic cell and the operating temperature comprises: determining a first operating temperature of the electrolytic cell at a first moment and a second operating temperature of the electrolytic cell at a second moment; determining a rate of change of the operating temperature of the electrolytic cell based on the first moment, the first operating temperature, the second moment, and the second operating temperature; determining an adjustment rate for adjusting the flow rate of the electrolyte based on the change rate; as well as Based on the adjustment rate, the flow rate of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell is adjusted.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein regulating (202) the flow rate of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell comprises: After the electrolytic cell is powered on, the flow rate of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell is adjusted according to a first adjustment strategy, and the adjustment rate indicated in the first adjustment strategy is less than a predetermined adjustment rate threshold.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein regulating (202) the flow rate of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell comprises: At the target time, the flow rate of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell is adjusted according to a second adjustment strategy, the adjustment rate indicated in the second adjustment strategy is greater than the predetermined adjustment rate threshold, and the target time is later than the power-on time of the electrolytic cell.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein determining the target time according to the rate of change of the electrolytic cell temperature further comprises: After the electrolytic cell is powered on, obtaining a rate of change of an operating temperature of the electrolytic cell; as well as In response to the change rate being greater than a preset temperature change rate threshold, the current time is used as the target time.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: In response to the temperature difference being greater than the predetermined temperature threshold, obtaining a current flow rate of the electrolyte; as well as The flow rate value of the electrolyte pipeline is maintained at the current flow rate according to the current flow rate.

10. A device (700) for regulating the flow rate of an electrolyte in an electrolytic cell, comprising: a flow regulating unit (702), configured to regulate the flow of the electrolyte in the electrolytic cell based on the working state of the electrolytic cell; a temperature difference determination unit (704) configured to determine a temperature difference between a first temperature at an inlet of the electrolysis cell and a second temperature at an outlet of the electrolysis cell; as well as The flow rate re-regulating unit (706) is configured to re-regulate the flow rate of the electrolyte in response to the temperature difference being less than a predetermined temperature threshold.

11. A controller (800), comprising: at least one processor (801); as well as A memory (802) coupled to the at least one processor (801) and having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by the at least one processor (801), cause the controller (800) to perform the method according to any one of claims 1-9.

12. An electrolysis hydrogen production system comprising an electrolyzer and the controller according to claim 11.

13. A computer program product tangibly stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium and comprising machine-executable instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to perform the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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