Hydrogen production system

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a hydrogen production system, which comprises an electrolytic cell, a gas-liquid separation unit, a heat utilization unit and a osmotic pressure utilization unit. Through the synergistic effect of the heat utilization unit and the osmotic pressure utilization unit, the efficient recovery of electrolyte waste heat and osmotic pressure energy and the recycling of water resources are realized, the energy utilization efficiency and water resource utilization rate of the system are significantly improved, the system runs more stably and efficiently, and has strong practicality and popularization value.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a hydrogen production system. Background Technology

[0002] Electrolysis of water is a clean and efficient hydrogen production technology widely used in energy storage, fuel cells, and chemical industries. During electrolysis, electrical energy is used to decompose water into hydrogen and oxygen, while releasing a significant amount of heat. In recent years, to improve the economics and energy efficiency of hydrogen production through electrolysis, research has increasingly focused on how to recover and utilize the residual energy generated during the electrolysis process, particularly the recovery and utilization of heat energy.

[0003] However, existing technologies for utilizing waste heat from hydrogen electrolysis have significant limitations, often focusing only on single application scenarios. For example, they might simply recover heat using heat exchangers for system heating, but this method has low heat exchange efficiency, and the recovered heat usually cannot be further converted into a high-quality heat source, thus limiting energy utilization. Furthermore, in existing processes, waste heat recovery from high-pressure electrolysis systems often involves complex operating conditions; for example, temperature and pressure instability can pose long-term safety risks to the system. Simultaneously, existing technologies lack a systematic approach to integrating energy utilization with water treatment, failing to efficiently address the water resource requirements of hydrogen production, especially in water-scarce regions, making it difficult to provide a solution that is both economical and efficient. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive technological solution that can efficiently recover waste heat from hydrogen electrolysis while simultaneously ensuring operational stability and resource utilization, in order to improve the overall energy efficiency of hydrogen electrolysis processes. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a hydrogen production system with improved energy utilization efficiency.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this disclosure provides a hydrogen production system, which includes an electrolyzer, a gas-liquid separation unit, a heat utilization unit, and an osmotic pressure utilization unit. The electrolytic cell has an electrolyte inlet and an electrolyte outlet; the gas-liquid separation unit has an electrolyte inlet and an electrolyte outlet; the heat utilization unit has an electrolyte inlet, an electrolyte outlet, a heat exchange medium inlet, a distilled water outlet, and a concentrated liquid return outlet; and the osmotic pressure utilization unit has an electrolyte inlet, an electrolyte outlet, a distilled water inlet, and a concentrated liquid outlet. The electrolyte outlet of the electrolytic cell is connected to the electrolyte inlet of the gas-liquid separation unit, the electrolyte outlet of the gas-liquid separation unit is connected to the electrolyte inlet of the heat utilization unit, the electrolyte outlet of the heat utilization unit is connected to the electrolyte inlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit, the distilled water outlet of the heat utilization unit is connected to the distilled water inlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit, the electrolyte outlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit is connected to the electrolyte inlet of the electrolytic cell, and the concentrated liquid outlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit is connected to the concentrated liquid return port of the heat utilization unit.

[0006] Optionally, the electrolyte outlet of the gas-liquid separation unit and the electrolyte outlet of the heat utilization unit are respectively connected to the electrolyte inlet of the electrolytic cell.

[0007] Optionally, the heat utilization unit further includes a distilled water excess return port, and the distilled water output port of the heat utilization unit is connected to the distilled water excess return port.

[0008] Optionally, the electrolytic cell also has a water inlet, which is connected to the distilled water outlet of the heat utilization unit.

[0009] Optionally, a first flow regulating valve is provided on the pipeline between the electrolyte outlet of the gas-liquid separation unit and the electrolyte inlet of the electrolytic cell.

[0010] Optionally, a second flow regulating valve is provided on the pipeline between the electrolyte outlet of the gas-liquid separation unit and the electrolyte inlet of the heat utilization unit.

[0011] Optionally, a third flow regulating valve is provided on the pipeline between the electrolyte outlet of the heat utilization unit and the electrolyte inlet of the electrolytic cell.

[0012] Optionally, a fourth flow regulating valve is provided on the pipeline between the electrolyte outlet of the heat utilization unit and the electrolyte inlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit.

[0013] Optionally, a fifth flow regulating valve is provided on the pipeline between the concentrate outlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit and the concentrate return port of the heat utilization unit.

[0014] Optionally, a sixth flow regulating valve is provided on the pipeline between the distilled water outlet of the heat utilization unit and the distilled water inlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit.

[0015] Optionally, a seventh flow regulating valve is installed on the pipeline between the distilled water outlet of the heat utilization unit and the water inlet of the electrolytic cell.

[0016] Optionally, an eighth flow regulating valve is installed on the pipeline between the distilled water outlet of the heat utilization unit and the distilled water over-limit return port.

[0017] Optionally, the water inlet of the electrolytic cell is also connected to a pure water supply source, and a ninth flow regulating valve is installed on the pipeline between the pure water supply source and the water inlet of the electrolytic cell.

[0018] Optionally, the electrolyte outlet of the gas-liquid separation unit is equipped with a first flow meter.

[0019] Optionally, a second flow meter is installed on the pipeline between the first flow regulating valve and the electrolyte inlet of the electrolytic cell.

[0020] Optionally, a third flow meter is installed on the pipeline between the second flow regulating valve and the electrolyte inlet of the heat utilization unit.

[0021] Optionally, a fourth flow meter is installed on the pipeline between the electrolyte outlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit and the electrolyte inlet of the electrolytic cell.

[0022] Optionally, a fifth flow meter is installed on the pipeline between the seventh flow regulating valve and the water inlet of the electrolytic cell.

[0023] Optionally, the electrolyte outlet of the gas-liquid separation unit, the electrolyte outlet of the heat utilization unit, and the electrolyte outlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit are respectively provided with a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a third temperature sensor.

[0024] Optionally, the distilled water outlet of the heat utilization unit is equipped with a conductivity meter.

[0025] Through the above technical solution, the efficient recovery of electrolyte waste heat and osmotic pressure energy and the recycling of water resources are achieved through the synergistic effect of the heat utilization unit and the osmotic pressure utilization unit. This significantly improves the energy utilization efficiency and water resource utilization rate of the system, making the system operation more stable and efficient, and has strong practicality and promotion value.

[0026] Other features and advantages of this disclosure will be described in detail in the following detailed description section. Attached Figure Description

[0027] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the present disclosure and form part of the specification. They are used together with the following detailed description to explain the present disclosure, but do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a hydrogen production system and process according to a specific embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures 1. Electrolysis system power supply; 2. Electrolytic cell; 3. Gas-liquid separation unit; 4. Electrolyte circulation pump; 5. Osmotic pressure utilization unit; 6. Heat utilization unit; 7. First flow meter; 8. First temperature sensor; 9. Second flow meter; 10. Second temperature sensor; 11. Third flow meter; 12. Third temperature sensor; 13. Fourth flow meter; 14. Fifth flow meter; 15. Conductivity meter; V-1. First flow regulating valve; V-2. Second flow regulating valve; V-3. Third flow regulating valve; V-4. Fourth flow regulating valve; V-5. Fifth flow regulating valve; V-6. Sixth flow regulating valve; V-7. Seventh flow regulating valve; V-8. Eighth flow regulating valve; V-9. Ninth flow regulating valve; V-10. Tenth flow regulating valve. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The specific embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustration and explanation only and are not intended to limit this disclosure.

[0030] In a first aspect, this disclosure provides a hydrogen production system, with reference to... Figure 1 The hydrogen production system includes an electrolyzer 2, a gas-liquid separation unit 3, a heat utilization unit 6, and an osmotic pressure utilization unit 5.

[0031] In one specific embodiment, the hydrogen production system may further include an electrolysis system power supply 1 for supplying power to the electrolyzer 2. It may use conventional power sources or renewable energy sources, and there are no special limitations in this disclosure.

[0032] Electrolytic cell 2 is used to contain the electrolyte and carry out the electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen and oxygen. Electrolytic cell 2 can be a common alkaline electrolytic cell, wherein the electrolyte can be an electrolyte suitable for alkaline electrolysis, preferably a potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution with a concentration of 25%~30%.

[0033] Electrolyzer 2 has an electrolyte inlet and an electrolyte outlet. The electrolyte outlet is connected to the electrolyte inlet of the gas-liquid separation unit 3. The electrolyte inlet of electrolyzer 2 can be connected to the electrolyte outlets of the gas-liquid separation unit 3, the heat utilization unit 6, and the osmotic pressure utilization unit 5, respectively, to receive electrolyte returned from the system. Furthermore, electrolyzer 2 may also have a water inlet for receiving replenished water. This water inlet can be connected to an external pure water supply source. A ninth flow regulating valve V-9 can be installed on the pipeline between the pure water supply source and the water inlet of electrolyzer 2 to control the flow rate of the external replenished water.

[0034] The gas-liquid separation unit 3 is used to separate the hydrogen- and oxygen-containing electrolyte output from the electrolyzer 2 into gas and liquid components, ensuring efficient gas collection and stable electrolyte circulation. The gas-liquid separation unit 3 may include gas-liquid separation equipment commonly used in the art to improve gas-liquid separation efficiency.

[0035] The gas-liquid separation unit 3 has an electrolyte inlet and an electrolyte outlet. The electrolyte inlet is connected to the electrolyte outlet of the electrolytic cell 2, and the electrolyte outlet of the gas-liquid separation unit 3 is connected to the electrolyte inlet of the heat utilization unit 6 to transport the separated electrolyte to the heat utilization unit 6 for heat recovery. In addition, the gas-liquid separation unit 3 also has a hydrogen outlet and an oxygen outlet, used to extract the separated hydrogen and oxygen respectively. These can be connected to corresponding gas collection devices or pipelines to achieve the storage or processing of hydrogen and oxygen.

[0036] In one embodiment, the electrolyte outlet of the gas-liquid separation unit 3 can also be connected to the electrolyte inlet of the electrolytic cell 2 to realize the direct return of part of the electrolyte, which helps to shorten the circulation path of part of the electrolyte, reduce energy loss and equipment load, and improve system efficiency.

[0037] Furthermore, the ratio of electrolyte directly returning to electrolytic cell 2 to flowing to heat utilization unit 6 can be dynamically adjusted through valve control. Specifically, a first flow regulating valve V-1 can be installed on the pipeline between the electrolyte outlet of gas-liquid separation unit 3 and the electrolyte inlet of electrolytic cell 2 to control the flow rate of electrolyte directly returning to electrolytic cell 2, meeting the electrolyte replenishment needs of electrolytic cell; a second flow regulating valve V-2 can be installed on the pipeline between the electrolyte outlet of gas-liquid separation unit 3 and the electrolyte inlet of heat utilization unit 6 to control the flow rate of electrolyte delivered to heat utilization unit 6, optimizing waste heat recovery efficiency. The valve openings of the first flow regulating valve V-1 and the second flow regulating valve V-2 can be dynamically adjusted according to the system operating status (such as electrolyte temperature and concentration), thereby realizing the dynamic adjustment of the electrolyte flow distribution ratio. For example, when the electrolyte temperature is high or more waste heat recovery is required, more electrolyte can flow to the heat utilization unit 6. When the electrolyte temperature is suitable, the direct reflux ratio can be increased to reduce the load on the heat utilization unit 6, thus more flexibly adapting to the operating conditions of the electrolytic cell and the load of downstream units, meeting the requirements for electrolyte temperature and concentration under different operating conditions, and improving the system's operating efficiency and resource utilization.

[0038] Furthermore, a first flow meter 7 can be installed at the electrolyte outlet of the gas-liquid separation unit 3 to monitor the total electrolyte flow rate output by the gas-liquid separation unit 3 in real time, serving as the basis for flow distribution adjustment. A second flow meter 9 can be installed on the pipeline between the first flow regulating valve V-1 and the electrolyte inlet of the electrolytic cell 2 to monitor the electrolyte flow rate returning to the electrolytic cell 2. A third flow meter 11 can be installed on the pipeline between the second flow regulating valve V-2 and the electrolyte inlet of the heat utilization unit 6 to monitor the electrolyte flow rate delivered to the heat utilization unit 6. Thus, through the coordinated operation of the flow meters, the total electrolyte flow rate and the flow rates of the two branch pipelines are monitored in real time, obtaining accurate data to support system regulation and real-time feedback, ensuring that the electrolyte flow distribution conforms to the preset operating parameters, and improving the overall operational stability of the system.

[0039] One or more electrolyte circulation pumps 4 can be installed on the electrolyte outlet pipeline of the gas-liquid separation unit 3 to efficiently transport the electrolyte to the heat utilization unit 6 and the electrolytic cell 2. The specific number and location can be designed according to actual needs, for example, they can be installed near the electrolyte outlet of the gas-liquid separation unit 3.

[0040] The heat utilization unit 6 is used to recover waste heat from the electrolyte (generally around 90℃, which needs to be cooled to about 70℃ before returning to the electrolytic cell) and use this heat for heating the external heat exchange medium (such as brine) through heat exchange, thereby reducing energy loss and improving the system's energy utilization efficiency. Specifically, the heat utilization unit 6 can be coupled with a corresponding wastewater treatment unit based on the system's surplus heat. Through technologies such as low-temperature evaporation and membrane distillation, it utilizes the energy released by the electrolyte during cooling as a heat source to purify the low-temperature brine, producing distilled water to meet the raw material requirements for hydrogen production from water electrolysis, or reused in nearby areas or discharged in compliance with standards. In addition, heat pump technology can be used to replace some of the heat with a high-quality heat source for district heating or to meet the system's start-up heat requirements. The concentration of the brine introduced into the heat utilization unit 6 can be adjusted within a certain range, and its concentration can be controlled to ≤10% while ensuring the quality of the produced water and the recovery rate.

[0041] The heat utilization unit 6 has an electrolyte inlet and an electrolyte outlet. The electrolyte inlet is connected to the electrolyte outlet of the gas-liquid separation unit 3, and the electrolyte outlet of the heat utilization unit 6 is connected to the electrolyte inlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit 5, so as to output the cooled electrolyte to the osmotic pressure utilization unit 5. The heat utilization unit 6 also has a heat exchange medium inlet, which is connected to an external saline water supply system for introducing external saline water as the heat exchange medium for the high-temperature electrolyte. It may also have a heat exchange medium outlet for discharging concentrated brine. A tenth flow regulating valve V-10 can be installed on the pipeline of the heat exchange medium inlet to control the flow rate of the saline water entering the heat utilization unit 6, thereby adjusting the heat exchange efficiency.

[0042] In one embodiment, the electrolyte outlet of the heat utilization unit 6 can also be connected to the electrolyte inlet of the electrolyzer 2 to replenish part of the heat-exchanged electrolyte to the electrolyzer 2. Further, a third flow regulating valve V-3 can be installed on the pipeline between the electrolyte outlet of the heat utilization unit 6 and the electrolyte inlet of the electrolyzer 2 to control the flow rate of the electrolyte returning to the electrolyzer 2, thereby meeting the real-time replenishment needs of the electrolyzer 2; a fourth flow regulating valve V-4 can be installed on the pipeline between the electrolyte outlet of the heat utilization unit 6 and the electrolyte inlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit 5 to control the flow rate of the electrolyte delivered to the osmotic pressure utilization unit 5, thereby ensuring the efficiency of the forward osmosis process. Thus, by adjusting the opening of the third flow regulating valve V-3 and the fourth flow regulating valve V-4 according to the real-time replenishment needs of the electrolyzer 2 and the processing capacity of the osmotic pressure utilization unit 5, the flow direction and flow ratio of the electrolyte can be dynamically adjusted, optimizing the system operating state and improving the operating efficiency, flexibility, and stability of the hydrogen production system.

[0043] After passing through the heat utilization unit 6, the heat exchange medium (such as brine) can be supplied to the osmotic pressure utilization unit 5 as permeate and also transported to the electrolyzer 2 as makeup water. Due to its relatively high temperature (approximately 40-50°C), it effectively reduces the impact of low feed water temperature on the system's hydrogen production efficiency, thereby improving electrolysis efficiency. Specifically, the heat utilization unit 6 also has a distilled water outlet and a concentrated liquid return outlet. The distilled water outlet is connected to the distilled water inlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit 5, used to transport the distilled water after heat exchange in the heat utilization unit 6 to the osmotic pressure utilization unit 5 as permeate for forward osmosis. The concentrated liquid return outlet is connected to the concentrated liquid outlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit 5, used to receive the concentrated liquid from the osmotic pressure utilization unit 5 after forward osmosis, which has increased in concentration. Furthermore, the distilled water outlet of the heat utilization unit 6 can also be connected to the water supply inlet of the electrolyzer 2 to meet the water supply needs of the electrolyzer 2, realizing the direct utilization of water resources.

[0044] In one embodiment, when the quality (e.g., salt content) of the saline water is not suitable for supplying the osmotic pressure utilization unit 5 as permeate or the electrolyzer 2 as makeup water, it can be returned to the heat utilization unit 6 for repeated heat exchange treatment. Specifically, the heat utilization unit 6 also has a distilled water excess return port, which can be connected to the distilled water output port of the heat utilization unit 6 to continue treatment through internal circulation, avoiding adverse effects on the osmotic pressure utilization unit 5 and reducing wastewater discharge and resource waste. Furthermore, the distilled water output port of the heat utilization unit 6 can be equipped with a conductivity meter 15 for real-time detection of the conductivity of the saline water. The conductivity index can be used to assess whether the saline water quality is suitable for supplying the osmotic pressure utilization unit 5 or supplementing the electrolyzer 2, providing data support for dynamically adjusting the flow direction and treatment strategy of the saline water.

[0045] Furthermore, a fifth flow regulating valve V-5 can be installed on the pipeline between the concentrated liquid outlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit 5 and the concentrated liquid return port of the heat utilization unit 6; a sixth flow regulating valve V-6 can be installed on the pipeline between the distilled water outlet of the heat utilization unit 6 and the distilled water inlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit 5; a seventh flow regulating valve V-7 can be installed on the pipeline between the distilled water outlet of the heat utilization unit 6 and the water supply port of the electrolyzer 2, and a fifth flow meter 14 can be installed on the pipeline between the seventh flow regulating valve V-7 and the water supply port of the electrolyzer 2 to monitor the flow rate of the replenished water returning to the electrolyzer 2; an eighth flow regulating valve V-8 can be installed on the pipeline between the distilled water outlet of the heat utilization unit 6 and the distilled water excess return port; in order to achieve efficient circulation and flexible distribution of saline solution in the system, reduce system energy consumption and water waste, reduce the demand for external water resources, and further improve the resource utilization rate of the system.

[0046] The osmotic pressure utilization unit 5, based on forward osmosis technology, utilizes the inherent osmotic pressure of the electrolyte to drive water migration, thereby recovering osmotic pressure energy and replenishing water, improving the system's energy utilization efficiency. The osmotic pressure utilization unit 5 can employ a high-flux forward osmosis membrane module to form a high-concentration measurement (i.e., electrolyte measurement) and a low-concentration measurement (i.e., permeate measurement). The specific processing scale can be designed according to the water demand for hydrogen production via electrolysis. The high-concentration measurement of the osmotic pressure utilization unit 5 has an electrolyte inlet and an electrolyte outlet. The electrolyte inlet is connected to the electrolyte outlet of the heat utilization unit 6, and the electrolyte outlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit 5 is connected to the electrolyte inlet of the electrolyzer 2. The low-concentration measurement of the osmotic pressure utilization unit 5 has a distilled water inlet and a concentrated liquid outlet. The distilled water inlet is connected to the distilled water outlet of the heat utilization unit 6, and the concentrated liquid outlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit 5 is connected to the concentrated liquid return outlet of the heat utilization unit 6. Furthermore, a fourth flow meter 13 can be installed on the pipeline between the electrolyte outlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit 5 and the electrolyte inlet of the electrolytic cell 2 to monitor the flow rate of electrolyte replenished to the electrolytic cell 2 in real time.

[0047] In one embodiment, to achieve real-time monitoring of electrolyte temperature and dynamic flow rate control, multiple temperature sensors can be installed in the system. Specifically, the electrolyte outlets of the gas-liquid separation unit 3, the heat utilization unit 6, and the osmotic pressure utilization unit 5 can be respectively equipped with a first temperature sensor 8, a second temperature sensor 10, and a third temperature sensor 12. Data from the temperature sensors can be used to regulate the electrolyte flow rate in the heat utilization unit 6 and the osmotic pressure utilization unit 5, ensuring that the temperature and flow rate of the electrolyte returning to the electrolytic cell 2 meet the system's operational requirements, thus improving the system's intelligence and operational reliability.

[0048] For example, the gas-liquid separation unit outputs electrolyte temperature T0 and flow rate Q0, the heat utilization unit outputs electrolyte temperature T1 and flow rate Q1, the gas-liquid separation unit directly returns electrolyte temperature T0 and flow rate Q2 to the electrolyzer, and the osmotic pressure utilization unit outputs electrolyte temperature T3 and flow rate Q4. 回 To determine the required electrolyte reflux temperature for the electrolytic cell, T can be calculated using the following formula, based on the temperature change of the electrolyte within the system. 回 : T 回 =(Q1×T1+Q2×T0+Q3×T3) / Q0 Thus, the flow rate is automatically adjusted through relevant flow control valves to stabilize the electrolyte reflux temperature. For example, the brine inlet flow rate is controlled by control valve V-10, and control valve V-1 is opened to allow the electrolyte to pass through the heat utilization unit. If the distilled water meets the requirements for hydrogen production by electrolysis, control valve V-3 can be opened to allow the electrolyte to return directly to the electrolyzer. If the distilled water quality does not meet the requirements for hydrogen production by electrolysis, control valve V-8 can be opened to return the electrolyte to the heat utilization unit for secondary desalination. Control valves V-4 and V-6 are opened to allow the electrolyte and distilled water to pass through the osmotic pressure utilization unit. After the forward osmosis treatment, the electrolyte temperature decreases, and control valve V-1 can be opened to allow some electrolyte to be directly refluxed, reducing the flow rate into the energy utilization system and replenishing the electrolyte reflux temperature.

[0049] This disclosure achieves efficient recovery of waste heat and osmotic pressure energy from the electrolyte and recycling of water resources through the synergistic effect of a heat utilization unit and an osmotic pressure utilization unit, significantly improving the system's energy efficiency and water resource utilization rate. The heat utilization unit heats the external saline solution, while the osmotic pressure utilization unit uses forward osmosis technology to transfer water from the saline solution into the electrolyte, effectively replenishing the water required by the electrolyzer and reducing water waste. Furthermore, the system monitors the electrolyte temperature and flow rate in real time using temperature sensors and flow meters, dynamically adjusting the flow distribution of each unit to ensure that the electrolyte returns to the electrolyzer in a state that meets operational requirements, thus improving the system's stability and reliability. This system fully utilizes the potential energy of the water electrolysis hydrogen production system, achieving not only comprehensive energy utilization but also coupling wastewater treatment processes to achieve wastewater resource recovery. It ensures that the quality of the produced water meets the raw water standards for the hydrogen production system, satisfying water demand. It is particularly suitable for regions with abundant energy but scarce water resources, possessing significant economic, social, and promotional value.

[0050] The preferred embodiments of this disclosure have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, this disclosure is not limited to the specific details of the above embodiments. Within the scope of the technical concept of this disclosure, various simple modifications can be made to the technical solutions of this disclosure, and these simple modifications all fall within the protection scope of this disclosure.

[0051] It should also be noted that the various specific technical features described in the above specific embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner without contradiction. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, this disclosure will not describe the various possible combinations separately.

[0052] Furthermore, various different embodiments of this disclosure can be combined in any way, as long as they do not violate the spirit of this disclosure, they should also be regarded as the content disclosed in this disclosure.

Claims

1. A hydrogen production system, characterized in that, The hydrogen production system includes an electrolyzer, a gas-liquid separation unit, a heat utilization unit, and an osmotic pressure utilization unit; The electrolytic cell has an electrolyte inlet and an electrolyte outlet; the gas-liquid separation unit has an electrolyte inlet and an electrolyte outlet; the heat utilization unit has an electrolyte inlet, an electrolyte outlet, a heat exchange medium inlet, a distilled water outlet, and a concentrated liquid return outlet; and the osmotic pressure utilization unit has an electrolyte inlet, an electrolyte outlet, a distilled water inlet, and a concentrated liquid outlet. The electrolyte outlet of the electrolytic cell is connected to the electrolyte inlet of the gas-liquid separation unit, the electrolyte outlet of the gas-liquid separation unit is connected to the electrolyte inlet of the heat utilization unit, the electrolyte outlet of the heat utilization unit is connected to the electrolyte inlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit, the distilled water outlet of the heat utilization unit is connected to the distilled water inlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit, the electrolyte outlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit is connected to the electrolyte inlet of the electrolytic cell, and the concentrated liquid outlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit is connected to the concentrated liquid return port of the heat utilization unit.

2. The hydrogen production system according to claim 1, wherein, The electrolyte outlet of the gas-liquid separation unit and the electrolyte outlet of the heat utilization unit are respectively connected to the electrolyte inlet of the electrolytic cell. The electrolytic cell also has a water inlet, which is connected to the distilled water outlet of the heat utilization unit.

3. The hydrogen production system according to claim 2, wherein, A first flow regulating valve is installed on the pipeline between the electrolyte outlet of the gas-liquid separation unit and the electrolyte inlet of the electrolytic cell; and / or, A second flow regulating valve is installed on the pipeline between the electrolyte outlet of the gas-liquid separation unit and the electrolyte inlet of the heat utilization unit.

4. The hydrogen production system according to claim 2, wherein, A third flow regulating valve is installed on the pipeline between the electrolyte outlet of the heat utilization unit and the electrolyte inlet of the electrolytic cell; and / or, A fourth flow regulating valve is installed on the pipeline between the electrolyte outlet of the heat utilization unit and the electrolyte inlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit.

5. The hydrogen production system according to claim 3, wherein, A fifth flow regulating valve is installed on the pipeline between the concentrated liquid outlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit and the concentrated liquid return port of the heat utilization unit. A sixth flow regulating valve is installed on the pipeline between the distilled water outlet of the heat utilization unit and the distilled water inlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit. A seventh flow regulating valve is installed on the pipeline between the distilled water outlet of the heat utilization unit and the water inlet of the electrolytic cell.

6. The hydrogen production system according to claim 1, wherein, The heat utilization unit also has a distilled water excess return port, and the distilled water output port of the heat utilization unit is connected to the distilled water excess return port. An eighth flow regulating valve is installed on the pipeline between the distilled water outlet of the heat utilization unit and the distilled water over-limit return port.

7. The hydrogen production system according to claim 2, wherein, The water inlet of the electrolytic cell is also connected to a pure water supply source, and a ninth flow regulating valve is installed on the pipeline between the pure water supply source and the water inlet of the electrolytic cell.

8. The hydrogen production system according to claim 5, wherein, The electrolyte outlet of the gas-liquid separation unit is equipped with a first flow meter; A second flow meter is installed on the pipeline between the first flow regulating valve and the electrolyte inlet of the electrolytic cell; A third flow meter is installed on the pipeline between the second flow regulating valve and the electrolyte inlet of the heat utilization unit; A fourth flow meter is installed on the pipeline between the electrolyte outlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit and the electrolyte inlet of the electrolytic cell; A fifth flow meter is installed on the pipeline between the seventh flow regulating valve and the water inlet of the electrolytic cell.

9. The hydrogen production system according to claim 1, wherein, The electrolyte outlet of the gas-liquid separation unit, the electrolyte outlet of the heat utilization unit, and the electrolyte outlet of the osmotic pressure utilization unit are respectively equipped with a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a third temperature sensor.

10. The hydrogen production system according to claim 1, wherein, The heat utilization unit is equipped with a conductivity meter at the distilled water output port.

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