Hydrogen production test device for direct seawater electrolysis electrolytic bath

Abstract

The invention discloses a direct seawater electrolysis electrolytic bath hydrogen production test device, which realizes full-flow automatic operation of a hydrogen production process through an integrated control system. The system has the functions of dual-mode circulation switching, collaborative stabilization of system pressure and liquid level, automatic electrolyte supply and temperature regulation and control, online sampling analysis and programmed pressure management, and performs synchronous monitoring and recording on multiple parameters such as temperature, pressure, flow and conductivity through a distributed sensing network. The problems of low automation degree, discrete control, difficulty in data tracing and the like in the prior art are effectively solved, and the test efficiency and the system stability are remarkably improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of seawater electrolysis hydrogen production technology, specifically to a test device for direct seawater electrolysis hydrogen production. Background Technology

[0002] Hydrogen energy, as an important component of clean energy, has attracted much attention for its efficient production technologies. Direct seawater electrolysis for hydrogen production technology can fully utilize seawater resources and has broad application prospects.

[0003] However, existing seawater electrolysis hydrogen production systems generally suffer from problems such as discrete system control and insufficient automation. Key process parameters such as pressure, liquid level, temperature and pH value rely heavily on manual adjustment, making it difficult to achieve precise control. At the same time, the system cannot achieve continuous sampling and real-time monitoring during operation, resulting in poor operating stability and insufficient traceability of test data.

[0004] In addition, traditional equipment lacks intelligent pressure management and multi-parameter coordinated control capabilities, which restricts the improvement of hydrogen production efficiency and system safety. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention proposes a direct seawater electrolysis electrolyzer for hydrogen production experimental device, aiming to solve the problems of low experimental efficiency and poor system stability in the existing technology through full-process automated control and multi-parameter coordinated regulation.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the basic solution of the present invention provides a pilot apparatus for hydrogen production via direct seawater electrolysis, comprising: An electrolytic cell, used for the electrolysis of seawater; The separation system includes an oxygen separation tank connected to the oxygen outlet of the electrolyzer via a pipeline and a hydrogen separation tank connected to the hydrogen outlet, for separating the gas-liquid mixture generated by electrolysis; The circulation system includes an oxygen-side circulation loop and a hydrogen-side circulation loop respectively connected between the oxygen separator and the hydrogen separator and the electrolyzer. The circulation loop is equipped with a circulation pump and a filter for driving and purifying the electrolyte. The mode switching unit includes a controller and a connecting valve installed on the connecting pipe connecting the oxygen separator and the hydrogen separator. The controller controls the opening and closing of the connecting valve to switch the device between an independent dual-circulation mode and an interconnected single-circulation mode.

[0007] In one possible design, the pressure control system includes, Pressure sensors used to monitor system pressure; Electric regulating valve for venting gases; The pressure sensor and the electric regulating valve are electrically connected to the controller, forming a closed-loop pressure control system, which is used to maintain system pressure stability or perform step-by-step pressure reduction.

[0008] In one possible design, a liquid level control system is also included, which includes: A level gauge used to monitor the liquid level in a separation tank; An automatic electrolyte replenishment module; The level gauge and the automatic replenishment module are both electrically connected to the controller, forming a closed-loop level control system.

[0009] In one possible design, the automatic replenishment module includes a replenishment pump electrically connected to the controller, a solenoid valve for controlling the replenishment path, and a pure water / saline solenoid valve for selecting the replenishment source.

[0010] In one possible design, a temperature control system is also included, which includes: Temperature sensors are installed on the separation tank and / or circulation loop; The electric heating wire is integrated into the separation tank; The temperature sensor and the electric heating wire are both electrically connected to the controller, forming a closed-loop temperature control system to maintain the electrolyte temperature within a preset range.

[0011] In one possible design, a sampling analysis system is also included, which comprises: A sampling branch connected to the oxygen-side and / or hydrogen-side circulation loop is equipped with a sampling valve. A buffer tank is used to receive and temporarily store the electrolyte taken from the sampling branch; pH meter and / or conductivity meter installed on the pipeline of the buffer tank The pH meter and / or conductivity meter are both electrically connected to the controller.

[0012] In one possible design, the sampling and analysis system also includes an acid replenishment unit connected to the buffer tank. The acid replenishment unit includes an acid replenishment pump and a hydrochloric acid solenoid valve electrically connected to the controller, used to adjust the system pH value according to the detection results of the pH meter.

[0013] In one possible design, a gas flow monitoring system is also included, comprising gas flow meters and / or mass flow meters installed in the oxygen and hydrogen side gas pipelines.

[0014] In one possible design, the buffer tank is also connected to a return pump and a return solenoid valve for returning the sampled electrolyte to the separation system.

[0015] In one possible design, a voltage monitoring device electrically connected to the controller is also included for real-time monitoring of the total voltage of the electrolytic cell and / or the voltage of each compartment.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the principles and effects of the present invention are as follows: This invention provides a direct seawater electrolysis electrolyzer for hydrogen production experimental apparatus. The apparatus, centered on the electrolyzer, integrates a separation tank, buffer tank, circulating pump, scrubber, and various high-precision sensors and actuators to construct a complete hydrogen production testing system. The innovations of this invention lie in: a dual-mode circulating operation architecture built upon the coordinated control of multiple circulating pumps and multi-functional valve groups, enabling flexible switching between single-sided and dual-sided circulation modes; closed-loop control via a distributed sensor network and electric regulating valves achieving coordinated stability of system pressure and separation tank liquid level, as well as dynamic regulation of electrolyte temperature; an intelligent replenishment system and online sampling unit ensuring the stability of electrolyte composition and ease of sampling; intelligent pressure management, including automatic pressurization and step-wise pressure reduction, achieved through a programmed pressure control algorithm; and a multi-parameter monitoring system that simultaneously collects and automatically records key parameters such as temperature, pressure, flow rate, and conductivity, providing comprehensive data support for experimental analysis. This invention effectively solves the problems of low test efficiency, poor operating condition stability, and insufficient data traceability caused by discrete system control, insufficient automation, and lack of continuous monitoring capabilities in the prior art. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is an overall structural diagram of the hydrogen production experimental device for direct seawater electrolysis as described in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To further illustrate the various embodiments, the present invention provides accompanying drawings, which are part of the disclosure of the present invention. These drawings are mainly used to illustrate the embodiments and can be used in conjunction with the relevant descriptions in the specification to explain the operating principles of the embodiments. With reference to these drawings, those skilled in the art should be able to understand other possible implementation methods and the advantages of the present invention. The components in the drawings are not drawn to scale, and similar component symbols are generally used to represent similar components.

[0020] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: Electrolyzer 1, Oxygen-side filter 2, Hydrogen-side filter 3, Oxygen-side separator temperature sensor 4, Hydrogen-side separator temperature sensor 5, Oxygen-side flow meter 6, Hydrogen-side flow meter 7, Oxygen circulation pump 8, Hydrogen circulation pump 9, Oxygen-side electrolyte temperature sensor 10, Hydrogen-side electrolyte temperature sensor 11, Connecting pipe ball valve 12, Oxygen-side sampling ball valve 13, Hydrogen-side sampling ball valve 14, Acid replenishment pump 15, Hydrochloric acid filter 16, Hydrochloric acid solenoid valve 17, Sampling solenoid valve 18, Pressure relief needle valve 19, Buffer tank 20, Check valve assembly 21, Oxygen-side hydrochloric acid needle valve 22, Hydrogen-side hydrochloric acid needle valve 23, Oxygen-side water replenishment solenoid valve 24, Hydrogen 25. Side water supply solenoid valve, 26. pH value meter, 27. Conductivity meter, 28. Oxygen separator, 29. Hydrogen separator, 30. Replenishment pump, 31. Replenishment filter, 32. Pure water / salt water solenoid valve, 33. Buffer tank return pump, 34. Buffer tank return solenoid valve, 35. Oxygen pressure sensor, 36. Hydrogen pressure sensor, 37. Oxygen scrubber, 38. Hydrogen scrubber, 39. Oxygen electric regulating valve, 40. Oxygen bypass valve, 41. Mass flow meter solenoid valve, 42. Hydrogen bypass solenoid valve, 43. Mass flow meter, 44. Hydrogen side back pressure valve, 45. Hydrogen electric regulating valve, 46. Hydrogen bypass valve, 47. Oxygen level gauge, 48. Hydrogen level gauge.

[0021] Example: A pilot apparatus for hydrogen production via direct seawater electrolysis includes: Electrolytic cell 1, which is used for the electrolysis of seawater; The separation system includes an oxygen separation tank connected to the oxygen outlet of the electrolyzer via a pipeline and a hydrogen separation tank connected to the hydrogen outlet, for separating the gas-liquid mixture generated by electrolysis; The circulation system includes an oxygen-side circulation loop and a hydrogen-side circulation loop respectively connected between the oxygen separator and the hydrogen separator and the electrolyzer. The circulation loop is equipped with a circulation pump and a filter for driving and purifying the electrolyte. The mode switching unit includes a controller and a connecting valve installed on the connecting pipeline connecting the oxygen separator and the hydrogen separator. The controller controls the opening and closing of the connecting valve to switch the device between an independent dual-sided circulation mode and an interconnected single-sided circulation mode. By using preset solenoid valve control logic, the hydrogen production system can freely switch between single-sided circulation and dual-sided circulation modes.

[0022] In one possible design, the pressure control system includes, Pressure sensors used to monitor system pressure; Electric regulating valve for venting gases; The pressure sensor and electric regulating valve are electrically connected to the controller to form a closed-loop pressure control system, which is used to maintain the system pressure stability or perform step-by-step pressure reduction. Relying on the control of the electric regulating valves on both sides, it has the dual regulation capability of automatically maintaining the constant system pressure and the stable liquid level in the separator tank.

[0023] This also includes a liquid level control system, which includes... A level gauge used to monitor the liquid level in a separation tank; An automatic electrolyte replenishment module; The level gauge and the automatic replenishment module are both electrically connected to the controller, forming a closed-loop level control system.

[0024] The automatic liquid replenishment module includes a liquid replenishment pump electrically connected to the controller, a solenoid valve for controlling the liquid replenishment path, and a pure water / salt water solenoid valve for selecting the liquid replenishment source. It can accurately control the circulation pump and solenoid valve through liquid level detection to achieve autonomous liquid level maintenance and compensation of the system.

[0025] This also includes a temperature control system, which comprises, Temperature sensors are installed on the separation tank and / or circulation loop; The electric heating wire is integrated into the separation tank; The temperature sensor and the electric heating wire are both electrically connected to the controller, forming a closed-loop temperature control system to maintain the electrolyte temperature within a preset range.

[0026] This also includes a sampling and analysis system, which comprises: A sampling branch connected to the oxygen-side and / or hydrogen-side circulation loop is equipped with a sampling valve. A buffer tank is used to receive and temporarily store the electrolyte taken from the sampling branch; pH meter and / or conductivity meter installed on the pipeline of the buffer tank The pH meter and / or conductivity meter are electrically connected to the controller, enabling one-click sampling. Fluid samples can be obtained without stopping the machine through the coordinated control of the buffer tank and valve.

[0027] The sampling and analysis system also includes an acid replenishment unit connected to the buffer tank. The acid replenishment unit includes an acid replenishment pump and a hydrochloric acid solenoid valve electrically connected to the controller. It is used to adjust the pH value of the system according to the detection results of the pH meter and has the functions of pH monitoring and automatic control. The pH meter can detect and analyze the pH value of the electrolyte sampled in the buffer tank online. It can adjust the pH value of the system through the circulation pump and pipeline and has the function of online monitoring of electrolyte conductivity. The system conductivity value is monitored in real time through the sampling point of the buffer tank.

[0028] It also includes a gas flow monitoring system, which includes gas flow meters and / or mass flow meters installed in the oxygen and hydrogen gas pipelines. It integrates a gas mass flow monitoring unit, which can display the instantaneous gas volume under operating conditions in real time and record the cumulative gas production mass. It has complete pressure control capabilities, supports automatic pressure increase and intelligent step-by-step automatic pressure decrease based on preset values, and also retains a manual intervention interface to realize flexible manual pressure reduction operation.

[0029] The buffer tank is also connected to a return pump and a return solenoid valve, which are used to transport the sampled electrolyte back to the separation system.

[0030] It also includes a voltage monitoring instrument electrically connected to the controller, used to monitor the total voltage of the electrolytic cell and / or the voltage of each compartment in real time.

[0031] The hydrogen production unit includes: an electrolyzer, a separator, a buffer tank, a pressure sensor, a circulating pump, a scrubber, an electric regulating valve, a temperature sensor, a flow sensor, a gas flow meter, a solenoid valve, a filter, a pH meter, and a conductivity meter. The electrolytic cell is used to electrolyze water to generate hydrogen and chlorine by passing direct current through it; the separation tank is used to separate the gas and liquid after electrolysis; the buffer tank is used to sample from the hydrogen production system; the pressure sensor is used to directly monitor the system pressure; the circulating pump is used to drive the flow of the electrolyte; the scrubber is used to filter and clean the separated hydrogen and chlorine; the electric regulating valve is used to control the release of gas; the temperature sensor is used to monitor the temperature of the alkali solution entering and leaving the tank; the flow sensor is used to monitor the flow rate of the alkali solution; the gas flow meter is used to monitor the volume of gas generated by the device and calculate the electrolysis efficiency; the solenoid valve is used to control the switching of the system pipeline; the filter is used to filter impurities in the electrolyte; and the pH meter and conductivity meter are used to monitor the pH value and conductivity of the system in real time.

[0032] Specifically, such as Figure 1 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a direct seawater electrolysis electrolyzer for hydrogen production experimental device. This device enables fully automated control and multi-parameter coordinated regulation of the hydrogen production process, ensuring efficient and stable operation while possessing comprehensive data traceability capabilities. It includes: Figure 1The core process flow of the direct seawater electrolysis electrolyzer hydrogen production experimental device is demonstrated: Electrolyzer 1 electrolyzes brine under the drive of DC power to continuously generate chlorine and hydrogen; the generated gas-liquid mixture first passes through oxygen-side filter 2 and hydrogen-side filter 3 respectively to effectively remove fine impurities entrained in the electrolyte; the mixture after preliminary purification then enters oxygen separator 28 and hydrogen separator 29 to achieve separation of gas and liquid phases; the separated chlorine and hydrogen then enter scrubber 37 and hydrogen scrubber 38, where the built-in high-efficiency filter element further removes trace amounts of residual electrolyte in the gas to ensure gas purity; finally, the purified gas is controlled to release or be stored in a controlled manner through a control system consisting of a solenoid valve or a manual bypass pipeline.

[0033] The device of this invention integrates a dual-mode cyclic operation system, with mode switching controlled by the opening and closing state of ball valve 12. When ball valve 12 is open, the pipelines of oxygen separator 28 and hydrogen separator 29 are connected, and the system enters a dual-circulation mode. At this time, either oxygen circulation pump 8 or hydrogen circulation pump 9 can be used as the main circulation power source. When ball valve 12 is closed, the two separator circuits are independent of each other, and the system switches to a single-circulation mode. Oxygen circulation pump 8 and hydrogen circulation pump 9 operate independently, driving the electrolyte circulation in their respective circuits. This mechanism, combined with an external interface, enables flexible switching between single- and dual-circulation modes.

[0034] This direct seawater electrolysis hydrogen production test device integrates a pressure and separator level stabilization system. The system comprises an oxygen pressure sensor 35, a hydrogen pressure sensor 36, an oxygen level gauge 47, a hydrogen level gauge 48, solenoid valves (41, 24), a proton flow meter 43, an oxygen electric regulating valve 39, and a hydrogen electric regulating valve 45. Before system operation, a target pressure is preset, and the system enters hydrogen production mode after a one-button start-up. Before the system pressure reaches the preset value, the oxygen-side regulating valve 39 remains closed. Due to the difference in gas production ratio between the hydrogen and oxygen sides, the hydrogen-side gas production is greater than the oxygen-side production. At this time, the ball valve 12 is open, and the oxygen separator 28 and the hydrogen separator 29 are connected at the bottom. If simultaneous intake of hydrogen and oxygen causes the hydrogen-side liquid level to fall below that of the oxygen-side, the system will open the solenoid valve 42 based on the monitoring data from the hydrogen-side liquid level sensor 48. The system will then use PID control to adjust the opening of the hydrogen-side regulating valve 44, releasing some hydrogen to raise the hydrogen-side liquid level and thus keeping the level difference within the allowable fluctuation range. Once the system pressure reaches the preset value, the hydrogen production process continues, with the oxygen pressure sensor 35 monitoring the system pressure in real time. If the system pressure exceeds the preset range, the system will dynamically adjust the opening of the oxygen-side regulating valve 39 using PID control to release oxygen gas and maintain stable system pressure. As the oxygen-side regulating valve 39 opens, the oxygen-side liquid level rises. To maintain the liquid level balance between the two separators, the hydrogen-side regulating valve 44 adjusts its opening based on real-time data from the oxygen level gauge 47 and the hydrogen level gauge 48, using PID control to ensure that the liquid levels on both sides are essentially the same. After the system has been running stably at the preset pressure for 30 minutes, solenoid valve 42 automatically closes and switches to solenoid valve 41. Hydrogen gas is processed through the drying tube and monitored in real time by a high-precision proton flow meter 43, simultaneously acquiring instantaneous flow rate and cumulative hydrogen production data. This allows for accurate evaluation of the electrolyzer's hydrogen production efficiency under different operating conditions, providing crucial data for performance analysis and process optimization. The system has a one-button shutdown function during shutdown, automatically setting the target pressure to 0.1 MPa and initiating a stepped pressure reduction process. During pressure reduction, the system supports customizable pressure reduction gradients and buffer times. To avoid risks caused by excessive liquid level differences, the pressure reduction gradient should not be too high, and sufficient buffer time should be reserved for the regulating valves on both sides to work together to stabilize the system pressure and liquid level. Once the system pressure drops to 0.1 MPa, the oxygen-side regulating valve 39 and the hydrogen-side regulating valve 44 switch from PID mode to manual mode and automatically return to zero opening. At this time, the oxygen-side bypass ball valve 40 and the hydrogen-side bypass ball valve 46 can be manually opened to completely release the residual system pressure.

[0035] During continuous system operation, the electrolysis reaction gradually consumes the electrolyte, causing the liquid levels in the hydrogen and oxygen separation tanks to drop. To address this, the system integrates a highly reliable automatic liquid replenishment function, achieved through the use of an oxygen-side level sensor 47, a hydrogen-side level sensor 48, solenoid valves (24, 25, 32), a filter 31, a replenishment circulation pump 30, and a one-way valve 21. When the system detects that the average liquid level in both separation tanks is below a preset threshold, it automatically triggers a replenishment command, opening the solenoid valves (24, 25, 32). The replenished liquid undergoes preliminary purification by the filter 31 to remove any trace impurities, and is then pumped to the hydrogen and oxygen separation tanks by the replenishment circulation pump 30. The one-way valve 21 in the pipeline effectively prevents gas from back-impacting the pump body when the system pressure is high, avoiding equipment damage and operational risks. Once the liquid level returns to the preset height, the system automatically closes the solenoid valves (24, 25, 32), stopping replenishment and thus forming a complete closed loop for liquid level maintenance and automatic compensation.

[0036] The temperature of the electrolyte is a key factor affecting electrolysis efficiency and the lifespan of the electrolyzer. To achieve precise control of the electrolyte temperature during operation, this system employs a dynamic temperature control system. The system includes heating wires in both the oxygen-side separator 28 and the hydrogen-side separator 29, and temperature sensors (4, 5, 10, 11) are placed at key points such as the electrolyzer inlet and outlet. Before system startup, a target heating temperature can be preset, and the electrolyte is preheated using the heating wires in the separators. Simultaneously, circulating pumps (8, 9) drive the electrolyte circulation, ensuring a uniform temperature rise within the system. Temperature sensors (4, 5) located at the outlet of the separator monitor the temperature of the heated electrolyte in real time, providing feedback to the system. After the system starts running, the electrolysis reaction itself releases heat, causing the electrolyte temperature at the outlet of the electrolyzer to rise. At this time, the temperature of the electrolyzer outlet is continuously monitored by temperature sensors (10, 11), and combined with the preset temperature range, the power output of the electric heating wire is dynamically adjusted by a PID control strategy to keep the electrolyte temperature stable within the range that is most efficient and most suitable for the electrolysis reaction, thereby improving hydrogen production efficiency while ensuring the service life of the electrolyzer.

[0037] The device integrates a fully automated sampling system, consisting of ball valves (13, 14), solenoid valves (18, 24, 25, 34), pressure relief needle valve 19, buffer tank 20, return pump 33, and check valve 21. The system features one-button sampling. After initiating the sampling process, solenoid valve 18 opens, and the sampling medium is initially throttled through oxygen-side ball valve 13 and hydrogen-side ball valve 14, reducing its flow rate before entering buffer tank 20. To maintain stable internal pressure in the electrolysis system and prevent a sudden pressure drop due to the buffer tank's bottom outlet being connected to the atmosphere, pressure relief needle valve 19 precisely controls the sampling flow rate and pressure difference between the front and rear ends during sampling, effectively preventing liquid level imbalance and system protective shutdown caused by excessively rapid pressure relief. The system supports manually setting the sampling time and interval, ensuring continuous and stable operation of the main system while obtaining representative samples through configurable sampling parameters. Buffer tank 20 is equipped with a level gauge to monitor changes in the liquid level within the tank in real time. When the liquid level reaches the preset upper limit, the solenoid valve 34 automatically opens and the return pump 33 starts, returning the electrolyte temporarily stored in the buffer tank to the separation tank. This realizes the recycling of the sampling medium and maintains the fluid state of the electrolyte, thereby ensuring the representativeness of the sample and the accuracy of the test data.

[0038] The buffer tank 20 is equipped with a pH meter 26 and a conductivity meter 27 for real-time monitoring of the pH and conductivity changes of the system electrolyte. Based on the above detection data, the system can automatically initiate the acid replenishment adjustment process. This acid replenishment system consists of a solenoid valve 17, a filter 16, an acid replenishment pump 15, a one-way valve 21, and oxygen-side needle valves 22 and 23. During the acid replenishment process, the solenoid valve 17 opens, and the acid replenishment pump 15 injects hydrochloric acid, purified by the filter 16, into the electrolyte circuit to dynamically adjust and maintain the electrolyte's pH balance. The one-way valve 21 in the system can effectively suppress pressure fluctuations during the acid replenishment process, ensuring stable operation; while the oxygen-side needle valve 22 and 23 are used to regulate the flow rate of the acid replenishment solution in the oxygen and hydrogen side circuits respectively, thereby achieving precise and controllable closed-loop pH adjustment.

[0039] The device of this invention integrates a complete distributed sensor network covering key parameters such as temperature, flow rate, liquid level, pressure, gas composition, and media characteristics. Specifically, it includes temperature sensors (4, 5, 10, 11), flow meters (6, 7), liquid level sensors (47, 48), pressure sensors (35, 36), a proton flow meter (43), a pH meter (26), and a conductivity meter (27). This system enables multi-dimensional real-time monitoring of the operating status. All collected data is automatically stored in the system and supports one-click export, providing a complete and reliable data foundation for subsequent performance evaluation, process analysis, and system optimization.

[0040] In summary, this invention provides a test apparatus and method for hydrogen production via direct seawater electrolysis. The apparatus, centered on an electrolyzer, integrates a separation tank, a buffer tank, a circulating pump, a scrubber, and various high-precision sensors and actuators, constructing a complete hydrogen production testing system. The innovations of this invention lie in: a dual-mode circulating operation architecture constructed based on the coordinated control of multiple circulating pumps and multi-functional valve groups, enabling the system to flexibly switch between single-sided and dual-sided circulating modes; a pressure and separation tank level coordinated stabilization system constructed based on components such as oxygen pressure sensor 35, hydrogen pressure sensor 36, oxygen level gauge 47, hydrogen level gauge 48, oxygen electric regulating valve 39, and hydrogen electric regulating valve 45, realizing automatic pressure regulation and dynamic level balance of the system; dynamic regulation of electrolyte temperature, automatic replenishment, online automatic sampling, closed-loop pH adjustment, and conductivity monitoring through distributed sensor networks and intelligent control algorithms; intelligent pressure management with automatic pressure increase and step-by-step pressure decrease achieved through programmed pressure control; and the integrated multi-parameter monitoring system can simultaneously collect key parameters such as temperature, pressure, flow rate, and conductivity, and automatically record and store them. This invention generates chlorine and hydrogen by electrolyzing brine in an electrolyzer 1 under DC power. After preliminary purification by an oxygen-side filter 2 and a hydrogen-side filter 3, the gas-liquid mixture enters an oxygen separator 28 and a hydrogen separator 29 for gas-liquid separation. The separated gas is then further purified by an oxygen scrubber 37 and a hydrogen scrubber 38. Finally, the gas is controlled to be discharged or stored through a solenoid valve or a manual bypass system. This invention achieves fully automated control and efficient and stable operation of the hydrogen production process, effectively solving the problems of low experimental efficiency, poor operating stability, and insufficient data traceability caused by discrete system control, insufficient automation, and lack of continuous monitoring capabilities in existing technologies.

[0041] In summary, the highlights of this invention are as follows: Core Innovation: Integrated Intelligent Control System for "Perception-Decision-Execution" This is the "brain" and "nerves" of the present invention, which solves the fundamental problem of existing technologies that "have control but lack coordination," specifically in the following ways: A. Multi-parameter closed-loop coordinated control: Pressure-level coordination not only prevents unilateral loss of control over gas pressure or liquid level, but more importantly, ensures the stability of the pressure difference across the electrolyzer. This is crucial for preventing hydrogen and oxygen gases from interpenetrating through the porous membrane (leading to reduced efficiency and safety hazards). Such precise coordination is difficult to achieve with existing technologies.

[0042] Temperature-pH-conductivity synergy: The system can simultaneously monitor and regulate these three key chemical environmental parameters that affect reaction rates, side reactions, and electrode lifetime. For example, during seawater electrolysis, pH values ​​are volatile, and the chlorine evolution reaction competes with the oxygen evolution reaction; temperature fluctuations affect reaction kinetics and gas solubility. This system can dynamically maintain the optimal reaction window.

[0043] B. Programmatic and adaptive operation modes: "One-button start / stop" and programmed pressure control: This not only simplifies operation but also represents a revolution in experimental methodology. Researchers can preset complex pressure curves (such as simulating pressure changes at varying depths of fluctuating seawater) to study the dynamic response of the electrolyzer, which is impossible with manual operation.

[0044] Dual-mode circulation architecture: The single-sided circulation mode can be used to study the performance of specific electrodes (such as anode materials resistant to chloride ion corrosion) or to perform system cleaning and maintenance, while the dual-sided circulation mode is the standard hydrogen production operation mode. This flexibility greatly expands the research and application scope of the device.

[0045] 2. The online, in-situ analysis and safe sampling system addresses the pain points of existing technologies, namely, "sampling during downtime and intermittent data collection." Specifically, this is reflected in: Online automatic sampling unit (buffer tank design): The design of the buffer tank 20 is key. As a "gas-liquid separation and temporary storage chamber", it makes safe sampling possible while the system is maintaining high pressure. The cooperation of the solenoid valve 18 and the needle valve 19 enables precise control of the sampling flow rate and speed, avoids the impact on the system caused by sudden pressure relief, and also ensures the safety of operators.

[0046] Data integration and traceability: All sensor data is automatically recorded and timestamped, meaning that the analysis results of any sample taken can precisely correspond to all the system's operating parameters (T, P, pH, conductivity, etc.) at the moment of sampling. This provides an invaluable data foundation for establishing accurate structure-property relationship models and fault diagnosis.

[0047] 3. Reliability design oriented towards engineering applications has achieved a leap from "laboratory principles" to "usable test equipment," specifically reflected in: Adaptive design for seawater media: The entire system design (especially the circulation pump, piping, valves and sensors) takes into account the corrosiveness and impurities (such as microorganisms and sediment) of seawater. For example, the circulation mode itself helps to flush out and prevent clogging.

[0048] Safety redundancy design: The oxygen and hydrogen sides are completely symmetrical independent control systems, which not only facilitate control but also provide safety redundancy. If a fault occurs on one side, it can be isolated and dealt with more quickly.

[0049] Furthermore, compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages: 1. A qualitative change in experimental efficiency and quality: Efficiency improvement: Automation reduces manual labor, online sampling avoids downtime, and experimental cycles are significantly shortened.

[0050] Quality Improvement: Highly repeatable automated control makes experimental data from different batches and under different conditions highly comparable, greatly improving the reliability of scientific research conclusions.

[0051] 2. Expanding the depth of scientific research: This expands research from static "steady-state performance" testing to dynamic "transient response" and "operating condition adaptability" studies (through programmed pressure control, etc.); it enables systematic research on the effects of multi-parameter (pH, concentration) coupling on electrolysis efficiency, catalyst lifetime, and side reaction competition, thereby guiding the optimization of materials and processes.

[0052] 3. A leap forward in system security and stability: Collaborative control fundamentally avoids serious safety problems such as diaphragm damage and gas interpenetration caused by pressure and liquid level imbalance, while automation reduces the risk of human error.

[0053] 4. Accelerated commercialization verification of technology: The device of this invention is itself a "miniaturized demonstration system" that highly replicates a real-world scenario. The optimized parameters and operational experience obtained therein can be more directly and reliably scaled up to future engineered equipment, reducing technology development risks and costs.

[0054] This invention does not lie in discovering a new chemical principle or inventing a completely new electrode material, but rather in constructing an unprecedented and powerful scientific research tool through systematic mechatronics and intelligent control innovation. It successfully transforms the complex and multivariately influenced process of direct seawater electrolysis from an experiment that is difficult to study precisely and repeat, into a highly controllable, measurable, and analyzable standardized scientific process. The creativity of this invention lies in the transformation from the "skill" of existing technology to the "science" of this invention.

[0055] It should be noted that in this application, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0056] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-disclosed technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A pilot apparatus for hydrogen production via direct seawater electrolysis, characterized in that, include: An electrolytic cell, used for the electrolysis of seawater; The separation system includes an oxygen separation tank connected to the oxygen outlet of the electrolyzer via a pipeline and a hydrogen separation tank connected to the hydrogen outlet, for separating the gas-liquid mixture generated by electrolysis; The circulation system includes an oxygen-side circulation loop and a hydrogen-side circulation loop respectively connected between the oxygen separator and the hydrogen separator and the electrolyzer. The circulation loop is equipped with a circulation pump and a filter for driving and purifying the electrolyte. The mode switching unit includes a controller and a connecting valve installed on the connecting pipeline connecting the oxygen separator and the hydrogen separator. The controller controls the opening and closing of the connecting valve to switch the device between an independent dual-circulation mode and an interconnected single-circulation mode.

2. The experimental apparatus for hydrogen production via direct seawater electrolysis as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a pressure control system, which includes, Pressure sensors used to monitor system pressure; Electric regulating valve for venting gases; The pressure sensor and the electric regulating valve are electrically connected to the controller, forming a closed-loop pressure control system, which is used to maintain system pressure stability or perform step-by-step pressure reduction.

3. The experimental apparatus for hydrogen production via direct seawater electrolysis according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, It also includes a liquid level control system, which includes, A level gauge used to monitor the liquid level in a separation tank; An automatic electrolyte replenishment module; The level gauge and the automatic replenishment module are both electrically connected to the controller, forming a closed-loop level control system.

4. The experimental apparatus for hydrogen production via direct seawater electrolysis as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The automatic fluid replenishment module includes a fluid replenishment pump electrically connected to the controller, a solenoid valve for controlling the fluid replenishment path, and a pure water / salt water solenoid valve for selecting the fluid replenishment source.

5. The experimental apparatus for hydrogen production via direct seawater electrolysis according to any one of claims 1, 2, or 4, characterized in that, It also includes a temperature control system, which includes, Temperature sensors are installed on the separation tank and / or circulation loop; The electric heating wire is integrated into the separation tank; The temperature sensor and the electric heating wire are both electrically connected to the controller, forming a closed-loop temperature control system to maintain the electrolyte temperature within a preset range.

6. The experimental apparatus for hydrogen production via direct seawater electrolysis according to any one of claims 5, characterized in that, It also includes a sampling and analysis system, which includes, A sampling branch connected to the oxygen-side and / or hydrogen-side circulation loop is equipped with a sampling valve. A buffer tank is used to receive and temporarily store the electrolyte taken from the sampling branch; A pH meter and / or conductivity meter are installed on the pipeline of the buffer tank. The pH meter and / or conductivity meter are both electrically connected to the controller.

7. The experimental apparatus for hydrogen production via direct seawater electrolysis according to claim 6, characterized in that, The sampling and analysis system also includes an acid replenishment unit connected to the buffer tank. The acid replenishment unit includes an acid replenishment pump and a hydrochloric acid solenoid valve electrically connected to the controller, which are used to adjust the pH value of the system according to the detection results of the pH meter.

8. The experimental apparatus for hydrogen production via direct seawater electrolysis according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4, 6 or 7, characterized in that, It also includes a gas flow monitoring system, which includes gas flow meters and / or mass flow meters installed in the oxygen and hydrogen gas pipelines.

9. The experimental apparatus for hydrogen production via direct seawater electrolysis according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4 or 6, characterized in that, The buffer tank is also connected to a return pump and a return solenoid valve, which are used to transport the sampled electrolyte back to the separation system.

10. The experimental apparatus for hydrogen production via direct seawater electrolysis according to claim 9, characterized in that, It also includes a voltage monitoring instrument electrically connected to the controller for real-time monitoring of the total voltage of the electrolytic cell and / or the voltage of each compartment.

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