Joule heat-based hollow fiber membrane reactor and membrane separation method

Abstract

This invention provides a Joule-thermal hollow fiber membrane reactor and membrane separation method, belonging to the field of hydrogen production. It includes a reactor shell and a metal hollow fiber membrane. The reactor shell forms a chamber with a material inlet and outlet. The metal hollow fiber membrane is disposed within the chamber and is cylindrical, comprising a separation layer and a reaction layer stacked along its diameter. The separation layer and / or reaction layer are electrically connected to a power supply circuit. As the current intensity flowing through the separation layer increases, the temperature of the separation layer increases; as the current intensity flowing through the reaction layer increases, the temperature of the reaction layer increases. Along the axis of the metal hollow fiber membrane, the reaction layer forms reaction sections at different temperatures, and the separation layer forms separation sections at different temperatures. Compared with existing technologies, this invention solves the technical problem of poor hydrogen production efficiency caused by defects in the structure of existing Joule-thermal reactors in hydrogen production processes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of hydrogen separation, and more specifically, it relates to a hollow fiber membrane reactor based on Joule heating. This invention also relates to a membrane separation method based on the Joule heating effect. Background Technology

[0002] In membrane reactor operation, precise temperature control is crucial for product selectivity, membrane separation efficiency, and stability. Existing technologies, particularly traditional heating methods, have significant drawbacks: combustion / electric heating requires complex systems, resulting in bulky and complex devices with low electrical energy conversion efficiency; partial oxidation heating in reactors, due to the low specific heat of high-temperature gases, easily leads to large temperature differences between the reactor inlet and outlet, causing uneven heating of the membrane surface and reducing overall efficiency. In contrast, Joule heating offers advantages such as high direct electrical energy conversion efficiency, fast heating response, uniform bulk heating temperature, and compact device design. However, the large-scale application of Joule heating in membrane reactors is still limited by poor structural compatibility between membrane modules and Joule heating components. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a hollow fiber membrane reactor based on Joule heating to solve the technical problem of poor hydrogen production efficiency caused by defects in the structural design of existing Joule heating reactors in the existing hydrogen production process.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is: to provide a hollow fiber membrane reactor based on Joule heating, comprising:

[0005] The reactor shell has an internal chamber with a material inlet and outlet.

[0006] A hollow metal membrane is disposed in the chamber. The hollow metal membrane is cylindrical and includes a separation layer and a reaction layer stacked along its diameter. The separation layer and / or the reaction layer are electrically connected to a power supply circuit. As the current intensity flowing through the separation layer increases, the temperature of the separation layer increases. As the current intensity flowing through the reaction layer increases, the temperature of the reaction layer also increases.

[0007] Along the axis of the metal hollow fiber membrane, the reaction layer has reaction sections at different temperatures, and the separation layer has separation sections at different temperatures.

[0008] In one feasible implementation, the Joule-heat-based hollow fiber membrane reactor further includes:

[0009] The power supply circuit includes a first connector and a second connector, which are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the metal hollow fiber membrane. The outer periphery of the reaction layer is sealed to the inner wall of the reactor shell to divide the chamber into a feed chamber and a discharge chamber. The reactants entering the feed chamber undergo a catalytic reaction in the reaction layer and are separated by the separation layer to obtain the product. The product flows into the discharge chamber.

[0010] Along the axis of the metal hollow fiber membrane, there are multiple feed chambers corresponding to each of the reaction sections, and the reaction raw materials that are not separated in the upstream feed chamber enter the adjacent downstream feed chamber.

[0011] In one feasible implementation, the first connector includes a metal connection portion electrically connected to the reaction layer and / or the separation layer; a polymer sealing portion is provided between the reaction layer and the reactor shell, the polymer sealing portion being used to seal and connect the metal hollow fiber membrane to the reactor shell to form the feed chamber and the discharge chamber.

[0012] In one feasible implementation, the metal hollow fiber membrane is configured as a nickel alloy hollow fiber membrane or an iron-based alloy hollow fiber membrane, the polymer sealing part is made of fluororubber, and the metal connecting part is made of one of nickel alloy, iron alloy, stainless steel, or high entropy alloy.

[0013] In one feasible implementation, the Joule-heat-based hollow fiber membrane reactor further includes a power supply module, which comprises:

[0014] A DC power supply provides an adjustable DC current of 0A-50A to the separation layer and / or the reaction layer;

[0015] A temperature sensor is disposed on the surface of the reaction layer or the separation layer or in the chamber for real-time monitoring of the reaction temperature;

[0016] The PID controller receives the signal from the temperature sensor and compares it with a preset temperature value to adjust the output current of the DC power supply.

[0017] In one feasible implementation, there are multiple hollow metal membranes arranged side by side, each of which can independently separate hydrogen gas. The DC power supply is connected in series with each of the hollow metal membranes to achieve synchronous temperature control of each of the hollow metal membranes.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the reactor shell is connected to the first connector and the second connector as part of the power supply circuit.

[0019] In one feasible implementation, the reaction layer is formed with a plurality of structural pores extending in the depth direction along the diameter direction of the metal hollow fiber membrane to increase the surface area of ​​the reaction layer, and a catalyst is attached to the outer surface of the reaction layer, the catalyst being one or more of nickel-based catalysts, iron-chromium catalysts, copper-zinc-aluminum catalysts, ruthenium-based catalysts, cobalt-based catalysts, or platinum-based catalysts.

[0020] In one feasible implementation, the reaction layer is sleeved on the outer periphery of the separation layer, and both the first connector and the second connector are brazed to the reaction layer.

[0021] Compared with existing technologies, the beneficial effects of the hollow fiber membrane reactor based on Joule heating provided by this invention are as follows:

[0022] First, by setting up a cylindrical hollow fiber metal membrane that serves as both a reaction layer and a separation layer, and electrically connecting each layer to a power supply circuit, and utilizing the Joule heating effect, independent, precise, and rapid temperature control of both the separation and reaction layers is achieved, thus integrating reaction and separation functions into a single membrane module. Furthermore, segmented power supply can provide precise gradient temperature fields for different axial reaction and separation sections, enabling staged catalysis of complex reactants to more efficient hydrogen separation. This solves the technical problems of low thermal efficiency, slow response, imprecise temperature control, and the difficulty in providing an optimal temperature environment for complex multi-component reactions within a single reactor, inherent in traditional external heating methods.

[0023] Secondly, this invention integrates power supply, sealing, chamber partitioning, and material flow guidance into a single unit by incorporating a power supply circuit that seals and divides the chamber into feed and discharge chambers, forming multiple axial feed chambers. Each independent reaction section is matched with an independent feed chamber, thus resolving the problems of reactant interference and uneven flow field distribution at different temperature ranges within the reactor. Furthermore, along the material flow direction, material from one reaction chamber enters the next, and this process occurs sequentially across multiple reaction chambers, enabling more thorough hydrogen extraction from complex materials (such as raw coal gas).

[0024] Furthermore, by specifically setting the first connector as a metal connector, a low-resistance electrical connection of the membrane module is achieved, and the polymer sealing part achieves a reliable seal between the membrane module and the shell, thus achieving the technical effect of ensuring good sealing performance under high-temperature conditions. This helps to solve the technical problem that the material properties cannot simultaneously meet the sealing requirements and heat resistance.

[0025] Furthermore, by adding a power supply module that includes an adjustable DC power supply, a temperature sensor, and a PID controller, and with the temperature sensor monitoring in real time and the PID controller performing calculations and precisely adjusting the power output, closed-loop automatic control of the membrane module's operating temperature is achieved. This allows the membrane module to quickly reach and stabilize at the preset reaction temperature, which helps to solve the technical problems of large temperature fluctuations, overshoot, and slow response caused by manual or open-loop control, thus affecting reaction selectivity and separation efficiency.

[0026] By further defining the temperature sensor as a ceramic-encapsulated type and conformally bonded to the membrane surface, combined with its high temperature tolerance (≥600℃), the temperature sensor can accurately and reliably measure the extreme high temperature on the membrane module surface and promptly feed the signal back to the controller.

[0027] The reactor shell itself serves as part of the power supply circuit. In conjunction with its electrical connection to the first connector and the second connector, it achieves the technical effects of simplifying the internal wiring of the reactor, reducing circuit resistance, improving power supply efficiency, and making the overall structure more compact. It solves the technical problems of complex installation, large space occupation, difficult thermal management, and increased energy loss caused by the additional arrangement of high-current wires.

[0028] In addition to the feasible implementation methods described above, this invention significantly increases the effective specific surface area of ​​the catalytic reaction of the reaction layer by constructing holes extending along the diameter in the depth direction of the reaction layer, combined with Joule heating. At the same time, it ensures that heat can be efficiently and uniformly transferred to the entire interior of the reaction layer, thus solving the technical problems of insufficient catalytic active sites, low reaction efficiency, and uneven temperature inside the bulk catalyst caused by the limited surface area of ​​the film.

[0029] Another object of the present invention is to provide a membrane separation method, including the hollow fiber membrane reactor based on Joule heating described above.

[0030] And includes the following steps:

[0031] S1: A controllable direct current is passed through the metal hollow fiber membrane to generate Joule heat using its own resistance, providing a reaction temperature for the membrane separation process.

[0032] S2: Multiple reaction sections with different temperatures are set along the axial direction of the metal hollow fiber membrane to match different types of reactants in the reaction raw materials;

[0033] S3: Reactants that were not catalyzed by the upstream reaction section with a relatively low temperature sequentially enter the downstream reaction section with a higher temperature for further catalysis.

[0034] Compared to existing technologies, the membrane separation method of this invention possesses all the advantages of the aforementioned Joule-heat-based hollow fiber membrane reactor, which will not be elaborated upon here. Furthermore, by setting up the aforementioned Joule-heat-based hollow fiber membrane reactor, and by directly supplying controllable direct current to the membrane module to generate Joule heat, and by setting multiple reaction sections with different temperatures along the axial direction, this invention achieves rapid establishment and precise control of the temperature field required for the reaction using the membrane's own heating. Moreover, this application can provide the optimal reaction temperature for different reactants or reaction steps in complex reaction feedstocks, solving the technical problem that multiple gaseous components in complex feedstocks (such as biomass-derived syngas and industrial by-product gases) are difficult to efficiently catalytically convert and separate at the same fixed temperature, resulting in low recovery rates and poor purity of target products (such as hydrogen). Attached Figure Description

[0035] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort. In the drawings:

[0036] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of the hollow fiber membrane reactor based on Joule heating provided by the present invention;

[0037] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of the membrane separation method based on the Joule heating effect in this invention.

[0038] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of the hollow fiber membrane reactor based on Joule heating provided by the present invention in another embodiment;

[0039] Figure 4 Temperature variation diagram of the metal hollow fiber membrane provided by the present invention under different powers;

[0040] Figure 5 The hydrogen separation rate diagram of the metal hollow fiber membrane provided by the present invention under different power conditions.

[0041] In the picture:

[0042] 1. Reactor shell; 11. Feed chamber; 12. Discharge chamber; 13. Polymer sealing part;

[0043] 2. Metal hollow fiber membrane; 21. Separation layer; 22. Reaction layer;

[0044] 3. Power supply circuit; 31. First connector; 32. Second connector. Detailed Implementation

[0045] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in the present invention can be combined with each other.

[0046] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that if terms such as "upper," "lower," "inner," or "back" appear, indicating orientation or positional relationship, they are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.

[0047] Furthermore, in the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly defined, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "connector" should be interpreted broadly. For example, a connection can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be a connection within two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention in light of the specific circumstances.

[0048] To make the technical problems, solutions, and beneficial effects of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.

[0049] Please refer to the following: Figures 1 to 3 The Joule-heat-based hollow fiber membrane reactor provided by this invention will now be described. This Joule-heat-based hollow fiber membrane reactor includes a reactor shell 1 and a metal hollow fiber membrane 2. The reactor shell 1 has an internal chamber with a material inlet and outlet. The metal hollow fiber membrane 2 is disposed within the chamber and is cylindrical. It includes a separation layer 21 and a reaction layer 22 stacked along its diameter. The separation layer 21 and / or the reaction layer 22 are electrically connected to a power supply circuit 3. As the current intensity flowing through the separation layer 21 increases, the temperature of the separation layer 21 increases; as the current intensity flowing through the reaction layer 22 increases, the temperature of the reaction layer 22 increases. Along the axis of the metal hollow fiber membrane 2, the reaction layer 22 forms reaction sections at different temperatures, and the separation layer 21 forms separation sections at different temperatures.

[0050] Compared to existing technologies, this invention, in its specific implementation, utilizes a cylindrical hollow metal membrane 2 that serves as both a reaction layer 22 and a separation layer 21, and connects it electrically to a power supply circuit 3, either individually or collectively. Combined with the Joule heating effect, this achieves precise and rapid temperature control and elevation of the separation layer 21 and the reaction layer 22, thus integrating reaction and separation functions into a single membrane module. Furthermore, segmented power supply provides precise gradient temperature fields for different axial reaction and separation sections, enabling staged catalytic reactions of complex reactants to more efficiently separate hydrogen from them. This solves the technical problems of low thermal efficiency, slow response, imprecise temperature control, and the difficulty in providing an optimal temperature environment for complex multi-component reactions within a single reactor, inherent in traditional external heating methods.

[0051] Based on the above embodiments, in a more preferred embodiment, the Joule heating-based hollow fiber membrane reactor further includes a power supply circuit 3. The power supply circuit 3 includes a first connector 31 and a second connector 32. The first connector 31 and the second connector 32 are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the metal hollow fiber membrane 2. The outer periphery of the reaction layer 22 is sealed to the inner wall of the reactor shell 1 to divide the chamber into a feed chamber 11 and a discharge chamber 12. The reactants entering the feed chamber 11 undergo catalytic reaction in the reaction layer 22 and are separated by the separation layer 21 to obtain the product. The product flows into the discharge chamber 12. Along the axis of the metal hollow fiber membrane 2, there are multiple feed chambers 11 corresponding to each reaction section, and the reactants that are not separated in the upstream feed chamber 11 enter the adjacent downstream feed chamber 11.

[0052] Preferably, in order to control the flow of materials between the various feed chambers 11 mentioned above, the partition (part of the shell) of each feed chamber 11 is provided with a one-way valve so that after the high-pressure reactants in the upstream feed chamber 11 have completed the low-temperature reaction and separation, they can enter the downstream feed chamber 11 with a higher temperature through their own pressure. The above process is carried out continuously until the hydrogen in the reaction raw materials is completely separated.

[0053] Compared with the prior art, in the specific implementation process of the above embodiment, the outer periphery of the reaction layer 22 is sealed to the inner wall of the reactor shell 1, dividing the chamber into a feed chamber 11 and a discharge chamber 12, forming multiple axially arranged feed chambers 11. This integrates power supply, sealing, chamber partitioning, and material flow guidance into one unit, and matches each independent reaction section with an independent feed chamber 11 to solve the problems of mutual interference of reactants in different temperature ranges and uneven flow field distribution within the reactor. Furthermore, along the material flow direction, the material in the previous reaction chamber (i.e., the feed chamber 11) enters the next reaction chamber. The above process is carried out stepwise in multiple reaction chambers to achieve more complete hydrogen extraction from complex materials (such as raw coal gas).

[0054] In a more preferred embodiment, the first connector 31 includes a metal connection portion, which is electrically connected to the reaction layer 22 and / or the separation layer 21; a polymer sealing portion 13 is provided between the reaction layer 22 and the reactor shell 1, which is used to seal the connection between the metal hollow fiber membrane 2 and the reactor shell 1 to form the feed chamber 11 and the discharge chamber 12.

[0055] By specifically setting the first connector 31 as a metal connector, a low-resistance electrical connection of the membrane module is achieved, while the polymer sealing part 13 achieves a reliable seal between the membrane module and the housing, thus ensuring excellent conductivity under high-temperature conditions and good sealing between the reaction layer 22 of the membrane module and the housing.

[0056] In a more preferred embodiment, the metal hollow fiber membrane 2 is configured as a nickel alloy hollow fiber membrane or an iron-based alloy hollow fiber membrane, the polymer sealing part 13 is made of fluororubber, and the metal connecting part is made of one of nickel alloy, iron alloy, stainless steel, or high-entropy alloy. This structure further specifies that the polymer sealing part 13 is made of fluororubber. Furthermore, the distance between the metal connecting part and the polymer sealing part 13 is specified to be no less than 1.5 cm to prevent direct contact between the high-temperature heat of the metal hollow fiber membrane 2 and the fluororubber polymer sealing part 13. In this way, this embodiment ensures the conductive connection between the metal connecting part and the metal hollow fiber membrane, while the metal connecting part uses a high-temperature resistant metal material such as nickel alloy. The combination of these two materials ensures both the sealing connection between the reaction layer 22 of the metal hollow fiber membrane 2 and the shell, and also forms an electrical connection between the metal hollow fiber membrane 2 and the metal connecting part.

[0057] In a more preferred embodiment, the Joule-heat-based hollow fiber membrane reactor further includes a power supply module. The power supply module includes a DC power supply, a temperature sensor, and a PID controller. The DC power supply provides an adjustable DC current of 0A-50A to the separation layer 21 and / or the reaction layer 22. The temperature sensor is disposed on the surface of the reaction layer 22 or the separation layer 21, or within the reaction chamber, for real-time monitoring of the reaction temperature. The PID controller receives the signal from the temperature sensor and compares it with a preset temperature value to adjust the output current of the DC power supply. Compared with the prior art, this embodiment, by adding a power supply module including an adjustable DC power supply, a temperature sensor, and a PID controller, and cooperating with the temperature sensor for real-time monitoring and the PID controller for calculation and precise adjustment of the power output, achieves closed-loop automatic control of the membrane module's operating temperature, enabling it to quickly reach and stabilize at the preset reaction temperature. This helps solve the technical problems of large temperature fluctuations, overshoot, and slow response caused by manual or open-loop control, which affect reaction selectivity and separation efficiency.

[0058] In addition, this embodiment can also set different temperature change processes for each reaction section, thereby adapting complex reactants with similar reaction temperatures by matching a single reaction section with adjacent or closely spaced reaction sections, optimizing the reaction temperature required for different reaction raw materials, and specifying more suitable reaction steps.

[0059] For the effects of different currents and voltages on the temperature of hollow fiber membranes, and the hydrogen separation rate of hollow fiber membranes at different temperatures, please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 4 and Figure 5 .

[0060] In a more preferred embodiment, the temperature sensor is a ceramic-encapsulated temperature sensor conformally bonded to the separation layer 21 or the reaction layer 22. The temperature sensor has a temperature tolerance of not less than 600°C. By further defining the temperature sensor as a ceramic-encapsulated type and conformally bonded to the membrane surface, combined with its high temperature tolerance (≥600°C), the temperature sensor can accurately and reliably directly measure the extreme high temperature on the surface of the membrane module and feed the signal back to the controller in a timely manner.

[0061] In addition to the feasible implementations described above, another more preferred implementation is as follows: Figure 3 As shown, multiple hollow metal fiber membranes 2 are arranged side-by-side, each capable of independently separating hydrogen. A DC power supply is connected in series with each hollow metal fiber membrane 2 to achieve synchronous temperature control. In this embodiment, each hollow metal fiber membrane 2 can independently separate hydrogen, thereby improving the temperature consistency when the membranes are arranged side-by-side and enhancing the hydrogen separation efficiency. More preferably, the side-by-side arrangement of the fiber bundles in this embodiment can be compared with... Figure 1 The structure combines multiple power supply circuits on a single hollow fiber bundle to achieve the technical effect of improving hydrogen separation efficiency and separating different components in the raw material step by step along the temperature gradient.

[0062] In a more preferred embodiment, the reactor shell 1 is connected to the first connector 31 and the second connector 32 as part of the power supply circuit 3. The various reaction chambers mentioned above are located within the intervals formed by the reactor shell 1. The reactor shell 1 itself is part of the power supply circuit 3. With its electrical connection to the first connector 31 and the second connector 32, it can simplify the internal wiring of the reactor, reduce the circuit resistance, improve the power supply efficiency, and make the overall structure more compact. This solves the technical problems of complicated installation, large space occupation, difficult heat management, and increased energy loss caused by the additional arrangement of high current wires.

[0063] In addition to the feasible embodiments described above, in a more preferred embodiment, the reaction layer 22 is formed with a plurality of structural pores extending in the depth direction along the diameter direction of the metal hollow fiber membrane 2 to increase the surface area of ​​the reaction layer 22. A catalyst is attached to the outer surface of the reaction layer 22, and the catalyst is one or more of nickel-based, iron-chromium, copper-zinc-aluminum, ruthenium-based, cobalt-based, or platinum-based catalysts. Combined with Joule heating, this ensures that heat can be efficiently and uniformly transferred to the entire interior of the reaction layer 22, solving the technical problems of insufficient catalytic active sites and low reaction efficiency due to the limited membrane surface area, as well as uneven temperature inside the bulk catalyst.

[0064] In a more preferred embodiment, the reaction layer 22 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the separation layer 21, and both the first connector 31 and the second connector 32 are brazed to the reaction layer 22. In this embodiment, the specific layered arrangement of the reaction layer 22 outside the separation layer 21, combined with the brazing connection of the first connector 31 and the second connector 32 to the reaction layer 22, not only enables the reaction products generated by the reaction layer 22 to be directly and efficiently separated and purified by the inner separation layer 21, but also ensures the robustness and reliability of the membrane module and the metal connectors.

[0065] Based on the same inventive concept, this invention also proposes a Joule-based membrane separation method, which is implemented using a Joule-heated hollow fiber membrane reactor and includes the following steps:

[0066] S1: A controllable direct current is passed into the metal hollow fiber membrane 2 to generate Joule heat using its own resistance, which provides the reaction temperature for the membrane separation process.

[0067] S2: Multiple reaction sections with different temperatures are set along the axial direction of the metal hollow fiber membrane 2 to match different types of reactants in the reaction raw materials;

[0068] S3: Reactants that were not catalyzed by the upstream reaction section with a relatively low temperature sequentially enter the downstream reaction section with a higher temperature for further catalysis.

[0069] Compared to existing technologies, the Joule-heat-based membrane separation method of this invention possesses all the advantages of the aforementioned Joule-heat-based hollow fiber membrane reactor, which will not be elaborated upon here. This invention, by setting up the aforementioned Joule-heat-based hollow fiber membrane reactor, and by directly supplying controllable direct current to the membrane module to generate Joule heat, and by setting multiple reaction sections with different temperatures along the axial direction, achieves rapid establishment and precise control of the temperature field required for the reaction using the membrane's own heating. Furthermore, this invention can provide the optimal reaction temperature for different reactants or reaction steps in complex reaction feedstocks, solving the technical problem that multiple gaseous components in complex feedstocks (such as biomass-derived syngas and industrial by-product gases) are difficult to efficiently catalytically convert and separate at the same fixed temperature, resulting in low recovery rates and poor purity of target products (such as hydrogen).

[0070] In summary, compared with existing technologies, this invention achieves precise, rapid, and efficient control of the reaction temperature by using the metal hollow fiber membrane 2 itself as the heating element and a closed-loop automatic control system, completely eliminating the traditional inefficient and slow external heating methods. This allows the reactor to quickly reach and stabilize at high temperatures (even above 600°C), with extremely precise temperature control, providing an optimal thermal environment for efficient catalytic reactions and membrane separation, fundamentally solving the technical problems of low thermal efficiency, slow response, and inaccurate temperature control.

[0071] Secondly, this application creates an axial gradient temperature field, enabling segmented optimization of complex reactions. Setting multiple reaction sections with different temperatures along the membrane axis allows complex reactants (such as mixtures of multiple hydrocarbons) to be sequentially catalytically converted and separated at their respective optimal temperature ranges as they flow through the membrane module. This "one-stop" processing method significantly improves reaction selectivity and the recovery efficiency of target products (such as hydrogen), overcoming the technical bottleneck that a single fixed temperature cannot simultaneously meet the needs of multi-component reactions.

[0072] By selecting high-temperature and corrosion-resistant materials and innovating specific structures such as utilizing the conductivity of the reactor shell 1, the power supply, sealing, reaction, and separation functional modules are successfully integrated within a limited space. This not only makes the equipment structure more compact but also significantly improves its mechanical stability, sealing reliability, and long-term service life under harsh high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, solving engineering problems such as complex internal wiring, difficult thermal management, and easy failure of connection parts. Finally, this invention enhances reaction and separation efficiency. By introducing a porous structure in the design of the reaction layer 22, the effective surface area of ​​the catalytic reaction is greatly increased. Combined with the uniform heating characteristics of Joule heating from the inside out, the overall activity of the catalyst is fully utilized, thereby further improving the reaction rate and the final separation effect.

[0073] In summary, this application, through the core design of "using membrane as a heat source" and "segmented temperature control" combined with a series of structural innovations, has successfully constructed a highly efficient, precise, compact and reliable membrane reactor system. It is particularly adept at handling high-temperature catalysis and separation processes of complex reaction raw materials, and has significant technical advantages and broad application prospects in fields such as hydrogen purification.

[0074] 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, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hollow fiber membrane reactor based on Joule heating, characterized in that, include: The reactor shell (1) has a cavity inside and is provided with a material inlet and outlet; A metal hollow fiber membrane (2) is disposed in the cavity. The metal hollow fiber membrane (2) is cylindrical and includes a separation layer (21) and a reaction layer (22) stacked along its own diameter. The separation layer (21) and / or the reaction layer (22) are electrically connected to the power supply circuit (3). As the current intensity flowing through the separation layer (21) increases, the temperature of the separation layer (21) increases. As the current intensity flowing through the reaction layer (22) increases, the temperature of the reaction layer (22) increases. Along the axis of the metal hollow fiber membrane (2), the reaction layer (22) has reaction sections at different temperatures, and the separation layer (21) has separation sections at different temperatures; The Joule-heat-based hollow fiber membrane reactor further includes: The power supply circuit (3) includes a first connector (31) and a second connector (32). The first connector (31) and the second connector (32) are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the metal hollow fiber membrane (2). The outer periphery of the reaction layer (22) is sealed to the inner wall of the reactor shell (1) to divide the chamber into a feed chamber (11) and a discharge chamber (12). The reaction raw materials entering the feed chamber (11) undergo catalytic reaction in the reaction layer (22) and are separated by the separation layer (21) to obtain the product. The product flows into the discharge chamber (12). Along the axis of the metal hollow fiber membrane (2), there are multiple feed chambers (11) corresponding to each of the reaction sections, and the reaction raw materials that are not separated in the upstream feed chamber (11) enter the adjacent downstream feed chamber (11).

2. The hollow fiber membrane reactor based on Joule heating as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first connector (31) includes a metal connection part, which is electrically connected to the reaction layer (22) and / or the separation layer (21); a polymer sealing part (13) is provided between the reaction layer (22) and the reactor shell (1), which is used to seal the connection between the metal hollow fiber membrane (2) and the reactor shell (1) to form the feed chamber (11) and the discharge chamber (12).

3. The hollow fiber membrane reactor based on Joule heating as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The metal hollow fiber membrane (2) is configured as a nickel alloy hollow fiber membrane or an iron-based alloy hollow fiber membrane; The polymer sealing part (13) is made of fluororubber, and the metal connecting part is made of one of nickel alloy, iron alloy or high entropy alloy.

4. The hollow fiber membrane reactor based on Joule heating as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The Joule-heat-based hollow fiber membrane reactor further includes a power supply module, which comprises: A DC power supply provides an adjustable DC current of 0A-50A to the separation layer (21) and / or the reaction layer (22); A temperature sensor is disposed on the surface of the reaction layer (22) or the separation layer (21) or in the chamber for real-time monitoring of the reaction temperature; The PID controller receives the signal from the temperature sensor and compares it with a preset temperature value to adjust the output current of the DC power supply.

5. The hollow fiber membrane reactor based on Joule heating as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The hollow metal membranes (2) are arranged in a row, and each hollow metal membrane (2) can independently separate hydrogen. The DC power supply is connected in series with each hollow metal membrane (2) to form synchronous temperature control of each hollow metal membrane (2).

6. The hollow fiber membrane reactor based on Joule heating as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The reactor shell (1) is connected to the first connector (31) and the second connector (32) as part of the power supply circuit (3).

7. The hollow fiber membrane reactor based on Joule heating as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The reaction layer (22) has a plurality of structural pores extending in the depth direction along the diameter direction of the metal hollow fiber membrane (2) to increase the surface area of ​​the reaction layer (22). The outer surface of the reaction layer (22) is attached with a catalyst, which is one or more of nickel-based catalyst, iron-chromium catalyst, copper-zinc-aluminum catalyst, ruthenium-based catalyst, cobalt-based catalyst or platinum-based catalyst.

8. The hollow fiber membrane reactor based on Joule heating as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The reaction layer (22) is sleeved on the outer periphery of the separation layer (21), and the first connector (31) and the second connector (32) are both brazed to the reaction layer (22).

9. A membrane separation method based on the Joule heating effect, implemented using a hollow fiber membrane reactor based on Joule heating as described in any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The membrane separation method based on the Joule heating effect includes the following steps: S1: A controllable direct current is passed through the metal hollow fiber membrane (2) to generate Joule heat using its own resistance, providing a reaction temperature for the membrane separation process; S2: Multiple reaction sections with different temperatures are set along the axial direction of the metal hollow fiber membrane (2) to match different types of reactants in the reaction raw materials; S3: Reactants that were not catalyzed by the upstream reaction section with a relatively low temperature sequentially enter the downstream reaction section with a higher temperature for further catalysis.

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