Liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device

Abstract

The utility model discloses a liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device, and relates to the technical field of metal hydride hydrogen storage. The liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device comprises a mounting box, a vertically arranged tube plate is fixed in the mounting box, and an inner cavity of the mounting box is divided into an operation cavity and a hydrogen storage cavity by the tube plate; a manifold assembly is arranged in the operation cavity, a plurality of hydrogen storage tanks are arranged in the hydrogen storage cavity, and one end of each hydrogen storage tank penetrates through the tube plate and communicates with the manifold assembly; a hydrogen charging and discharging opening communicated with the manifold assembly, and a water inlet and a water outlet which are communicated with the hydrogen storage cavity are formed in the outer part of the mounting box. Through cooperation of the water inlet and the water outlet, circulating water can be continuously conveyed into the hydrogen storage cavity to conduct heat exchange on the hydrogen storage tank, compared with an existing fin heat exchange mode, the heat exchange uniformity is guaranteed, the heat exchange efficiency is improved, then the rate of hydrogen absorption and desorption of metal hydride in the hydrogen storage tank is increased, and the service life of the hydrogen storage tank is prolonged. The hydrogen absorption and desorption performance of the metal hydride is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of metal hydride hydrogen storage, and in particular to a liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device. Background Art

[0002] As a typical representative of hydrogen energy application, hydrogen fuel cells have many advantages such as long backup time, high efficiency, environmental protection, small size, light weight, etc., showing good application prospects in the fields of transportation. Hydrogen fuel cell power generation requires a large amount of hydrogen fuel. At present, the practical methods of hydrogen storage and transportation mainly include high-pressure containers, liquid hydrogen storage tanks and hydrogen storage alloy tanks.

[0003] The hydrogen storage alloy tank uses the chemical reaction between hydrogen and alloy to store hydrogen. It is a metal hydride hydrogen storage technology. Compared with other methods, it has the characteristics of low hydrogen storage pressure, high density, and high hydrogen supply purity. It is particularly suitable as a hydrogen source for hydrogen fuel cells.

[0004] Since metal hydrides release heat when absorbing hydrogen and absorb heat when releasing hydrogen, fins are often provided on the outside of the hydrogen storage alloy tank to increase the heat exchange area between the hydrogen storage alloy tank and the external environment and improve the heat exchange efficiency. However, the heat exchange of this method is uneven, resulting in poor hydrogen absorption and release performance of metal hydrides. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of the present application is to provide a liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device to solve the problem of poor hydrogen absorption and desorption performance of metal hydrides.

[0006] The technical solution adopted by the present application to solve its technical problems is: a liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device, including an installation box, a vertically arranged tube sheet is fixed in the installation box, and the tube sheet divides the inner cavity of the installation box into an operation cavity and a hydrogen storage cavity; a manifold assembly is arranged in the operation cavity, and a plurality of hydrogen storage tanks are arranged in the hydrogen storage cavity, and one end of the hydrogen storage tank passes through the tube sheet and is connected to the manifold assembly; the outside of the installation box is provided with a hydrogen charging and discharging port connected to the manifold assembly, as well as a water inlet and a drain port connected to the hydrogen storage cavity.

[0007] Furthermore, at least two interconnected heat exchange chambers are arranged in the hydrogen storage chamber from top to bottom, and the hydrogen storage tank is arranged in at least one of the heat exchange chambers. The water inlet is connected to the bottom heat exchange chamber, and the drain outlet is connected to the top heat exchange chamber.

[0008] Furthermore, at least one partition is provided in the hydrogen storage chamber from top to bottom, and the partition divides the hydrogen storage chamber into at least two heat exchange chambers. The partition has a connecting hole connecting two adjacent heat exchange chambers.

[0009] Furthermore, the water inlet, at least one of the connecting holes and the drain outlet are alternately arranged in sequence from bottom to top at positions adjacent to both ends of the hydrogen storage tank.

[0010] Furthermore, a plurality of baffles arranged at intervals along the length direction of the hydrogen storage tank are provided in the heat exchange chamber.

[0011] Furthermore, the manifold assembly includes a vertically arranged hydrogen manifold and a plurality of horizontally arranged hydrogen manifolds, one end of the hydrogen storage tank is connected to the hydrogen manifold, the hydrogen manifold is connected to the hydrogen manifold, and the hydrogen manifold is connected to the hydrogen charging and discharging port.

[0012] Furthermore, the installation box is provided with a box door for opening and closing the operating chamber.

[0013] Furthermore, a base is provided at the bottom of the installation box.

[0014] Furthermore, the base includes a bracket fixed to the bottom of the installation box and a support foot fixed to the bottom of the bracket.

[0015] Furthermore, the installation box is in a cubic shape.

[0016] Beneficial effects of this application:

[0017] The liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device provided in the embodiment of the present application can continuously deliver circulating water to the hydrogen storage chamber to exchange heat with the hydrogen storage tank through the cooperation of the water inlet and the drain outlet. Compared with the existing method of using fin heat exchange, the uniformity of heat exchange is ensured, the heat exchange efficiency is improved, and the rate of hydrogen absorption and desorption of the metal hydride in the hydrogen storage tank is increased, thereby improving the hydrogen absorption and desorption performance of the metal hydride. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show certain embodiments of the present application and therefore should not be regarded as limiting the scope. For ordinary technicians in this field, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0019] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional diagram of a liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0020] Figure 2 It is a front view of a liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0021] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0022] Figure 4 is a top view of the arrangement of baffles in the heat exchange chamber;

[0023] Figure 5 It is a structural schematic diagram of the manifold assembly.

[0024] Reference numerals:

[0025] 1- Installation box;

[0026] 11-operating chamber;

[0027] 12-hydrogen storage chamber;

[0028] 121-heat exchange chamber;

[0029] 13-Hydrogen charging and discharging port;

[0030] 14- water inlet;

[0031] 15- Drainage outlet;

[0032] 2-Tube sheet;

[0033] 3-Manifold assembly;

[0034] 31-Hydrogen main pipe;

[0035] 32-Hydrogen manifold;

[0036] 4-Hydrogen storage tank;

[0037] 5-partition;

[0038] 51- communication hole;

[0039] 6- baffle;

[0040] 7-Box door;

[0041] 8- base;

[0042] 81-Stand;

[0043] 82-Feet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0045] It should be noted that similar numbers and letters represent similar items in the following drawings, so once an item is defined in one drawing, it does not need to be further defined and explained in the subsequent drawings. In addition, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other without conflict.

[0046] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the indicated orientation or positional relationship is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or is the orientation or positional relationship in which the product of the application is usually placed when in use, or is the orientation or positional relationship commonly understood by those skilled in the art. The terms "disposed", "opened", "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, and an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it can be the internal connection of two elements.

[0047] See also Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 A liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device provided in an embodiment of the present application includes an installation box 1, in which a vertically arranged tube sheet 2 is fixed, and the tube sheet 2 divides the inner cavity of the installation box 1 into an operating cavity 11 and a hydrogen storage cavity 12; a manifold assembly 3 is arranged in the operating cavity 11, and a plurality of hydrogen storage tanks 4 are arranged in the hydrogen storage cavity 12, and one end of the hydrogen storage tank 4 passes through the tube sheet 2 and is connected to the manifold assembly 3; a hydrogen charging and discharging port 13 connected to the manifold assembly 3, as well as a water inlet 14 and a drain port 15 connected to the hydrogen storage cavity 12 are arranged on the outside of the installation box 1.

[0048] For example, see Figure 1 The installation box 1 is in a cubic shape. The installation box 1 of this structure can be stably placed on the foundation. Of course, the installation box 1 can also be in other shapes, which are not specifically limited here. Figure 3 The tube sheet 2 is vertically arranged and fixed in the installation box 1, and the inner cavity of the installation box 1 is divided into an operating chamber 11 located on the right side of the tube sheet 2 and a hydrogen storage chamber 12 located on the left side of the tube sheet 2. Among them, the operating chamber 11 can be a sealed structure or a non-sealed structure; the hydrogen storage chamber 12 is a sealed structure. The manifold assembly 3 is installed in the operating chamber 11 and is connected to the hydrogen charging and discharging port 13 arranged on the outside of the installation box 1. A plurality of hydrogen storage tanks 4 are arranged in the hydrogen storage chamber 12, and each hydrogen storage tank 4 is filled with a metal hydride for absorbing or releasing hydrogen. A through hole is provided on the tube sheet 2 for one end of each hydrogen storage tank 4 to pass through. One end of the hydrogen storage tank 4 passes through the corresponding through hole and extends into the operating chamber 11 and is connected to the manifold assembly 3. The hydrogen storage tank 4 and the corresponding through hole are sealed and welded to prevent the circulating water in the hydrogen storage chamber 12 from leaking into the operating chamber 11. The water inlet 14 and the drain outlet 15 are arranged outside the installation box 1 and communicated with the hydrogen storage chamber 12 , so that circulating water can be continuously transported into the hydrogen storage chamber 12 in cooperation with the water inlet 14 and the drain outlet 15 .

[0049] The embodiment of the present application provides a liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device, and the hydrogen filling process is as follows:

[0050] When the metal hydride in the hydrogen storage tank 4 needs to be charged with hydrogen, the external hydrogen charging system is connected to the hydrogen charging and discharging port 13, the outlet of the chiller is connected to the water inlet 14, and the inlet of the chiller is connected to the drain port 15; the external hydrogen charging system charges hydrogen into the hydrogen storage tank 4 through the hydrogen charging and discharging port 13 and the manifold assembly 3 in sequence, so that the hydrogen is stored in the metal hydride in the hydrogen storage tank 4. A large amount of heat is released during the storage of hydrogen in the metal hydride, and the heat is transferred to the tank wall of the hydrogen storage tank 4; at the same time, the chiller transports circulating water with a lower temperature into the hydrogen storage chamber 12 through the water inlet 14, and the circulating water exchanges heat with the hydrogen storage tank 4 in the hydrogen storage chamber 12 and is discharged from the drain port 15 to the chiller. The heat on the wall of the hydrogen storage tank 4 is taken away by the circulating water, so that the metal hydride in the hydrogen storage tank 4 can continuously absorb hydrogen.

[0051] The embodiment of the present application provides a liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device, and the hydrogen release process is as follows:

[0052] When the metal hydride in the hydrogen storage tank 4 needs to release hydrogen, the external hydrogen system is connected to the hydrogen charging and discharging port 13, the outlet of the hot water unit is connected to the water inlet 14, and the inlet of the hot water unit is connected to the drain port 15; the metal hydride in the hydrogen storage tank 4 releases hydrogen, and the hydrogen is sequentially sent to the external hydrogen system through the manifold assembly 3 and the hydrogen charging and discharging port 13. The metal hydride needs to absorb a large amount of heat during the release of hydrogen; at the same time, the hot water unit transports the circulating water with a higher temperature into the hydrogen storage chamber 12 through the water inlet 14, and the circulating water is discharged from the drain port 15 to the hot water unit after heat exchange with the hydrogen storage tank 4 in the hydrogen storage chamber 12. The tank wall of the hydrogen storage tank 4 is heated by the circulating water, and the tank wall of the hydrogen storage tank 4 then transfers the heat to the metal hydride, so that the metal hydride can continuously release hydrogen.

[0053] The liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device provided in the embodiment of the present application can continuously transport circulating water into the hydrogen storage chamber 12 to exchange heat with the hydrogen storage tank 4 through the cooperation of the water inlet 14 and the water outlet 15. Compared with the existing method of using fin heat exchange, the uniformity of heat exchange is ensured, the heat exchange efficiency is improved, and the rate of hydrogen absorption and desorption of the metal hydride in the hydrogen storage tank 4 is increased, thereby improving the hydrogen absorption and desorption performance of the metal hydride.

[0054] The liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device provided in the embodiment of the present application is easy to transport and install as a whole by installing the hydrogen storage tank 4 in the installation box 1. It can be quickly configured and redeployed according to the location and time distribution of energy demand, and is very suitable for temporary or seasonal needs; in emergencies or natural disasters, the device can also be loaded and unloaded by forklifts and cranes, and quickly transported to the location where it needs to be deployed by road or rail to provide emergency energy supply; the device can reduce dependence on permanent infrastructure and reduce initial fixed investment, and oil and gas are in remote areas or areas with insufficient infrastructure.

[0055] In some embodiments, see Figure 3 At least two mutually connected heat exchange chambers 121 are arranged from top to bottom in the hydrogen storage chamber 12, at least one heat exchange chamber 121 is provided with a hydrogen storage tank 4, the water inlet 14 is connected to the bottom heat exchange chamber 121, and the water outlet 15 is connected to the top heat exchange chamber 121. By providing multiple heat exchange chambers 121, the flow path of the circulating water in the hydrogen storage chamber 12 can be improved, and the heat exchange effect can be improved.

[0056] For example, see Figure 3 At least one partition 5 is arranged from top to bottom in the hydrogen storage chamber 12, and the partition 5 divides the hydrogen storage chamber 12 into at least two heat exchange chambers 121. The partition 5 has a connecting hole 51 connecting two adjacent heat exchange chambers 121. Among them, the water inlet 14, the at least one connecting hole 51 and the drain port 15 are alternately arranged from bottom to top at positions adjacent to both ends of the hydrogen storage tank 4.

[0057] For example, see Figure 3 , two partitions 5 are arranged from top to bottom in the hydrogen storage chamber 12, and the two partitions 5 divide the hydrogen storage chamber 12 into three heat exchange chambers 121 from top to bottom; the water inlet 14 is arranged at the right end of the heat exchange chamber 121 at the bottom, the left end of the partition 5 located at the bottom is provided with a connecting hole 51, the right end of the partition 5 located at the top is provided with a connecting hole 51, and the drain port 15 is arranged at the left end of the heat exchange chamber 121 at the top. When in use, the circulating water enters the heat exchange chamber 121 at the bottom through the water inlet 14 and flows from right to left, and then enters the middle heat exchange chamber 121 through the connecting hole 51 on the partition 5; the circulating water flows from left to right in the middle heat exchange chamber 121, and then enters the heat exchange chamber 121 at the top through the connecting hole 51 on the partition 5; the circulating water flows from right to left in the heat exchange chamber 121 at the top, and then is discharged through the drain port 15.

[0058] In order to further improve the flow path of the circulating water in each heat exchange chamber 121 to improve the heat exchange effect, see Figure 3 , Figure 4 A plurality of baffles 6 are arranged in the heat exchange chamber 121 and are spaced apart along the length direction of the hydrogen storage tank 4 .

[0059] For example, see Figure 3 , Figure 4, five baffles 6 are arranged in each heat exchange cavity 121, and each baffle 6 is provided with a hole for the hydrogen storage tank 4 to pass through, and the hydrogen storage tank 4 passes through the hole on the baffle 6. By providing the baffle 6, not only can the circulating water be baffled multiple times during the flow in the heat exchange cavity 121, so as to improve the flow path of the circulating water in each heat exchange cavity 121 and improve the heat exchange effect, but also the hydrogen storage tank 4 can be supported to improve the stability and reliability of the installation of the hydrogen storage tank 4. According to the different shapes of the baffles, the baffles 6 include but are not limited to single-bow baffles, double-bow baffles, etc.

[0060] In some embodiments, see Figure 5 The manifold assembly 3 includes a vertically arranged hydrogen manifold 31 and a plurality of horizontally arranged hydrogen manifolds 32. One end of the hydrogen storage tank 4 is connected to the hydrogen manifold 32. The hydrogen manifold 32 is connected to the hydrogen manifold 31. The hydrogen manifold 31 is connected to the hydrogen charging and discharging port 13.

[0061] Exemplarily, the hydrogen manifold 31 is vertically arranged and installed on the tube sheet 2, and the hydrogen manifolds 32 include seven, and the seven hydrogen manifolds 32 are arranged at intervals from top to bottom, and each hydrogen manifold 32 is horizontally arranged and installed on the tube sheet 2, and the right ends of all hydrogen manifolds 32 are connected to the hydrogen manifold 31, and the hydrogen manifold 31 is connected to the hydrogen charging and discharging port 13; along the direction from top to bottom, each hydrogen manifold 32 corresponds to two adjacent layers of hydrogen storage tanks 4, and each hydrogen manifold 32 is arranged between the two layers of hydrogen storage tanks 4 corresponding to it and is connected to the two layers of hydrogen storage tanks 4.

[0062] In some embodiments, see Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 The installation box 1 is provided with a box door 7 for opening and closing the operation chamber 11. By providing the box door 7, the operation chamber 11 can be opened so that the staff can inspect and repair the pipeline in the operation chamber 11.

[0063] In some embodiments, see Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 The bottom of the installation box 1 is provided with a base 8. The base 8 is provided to support the bottom of the installation box 1. Exemplarily, the base 8 includes a bracket 81 fixed to the bottom of the installation box 1 and a support leg 82 fixed to the bottom of the bracket 81. The bracket 81 is a rectangular or square structure made of steel materials, and the support leg 82 includes four support legs, which are respectively fixed to the four corners of the bottom of the bracket 81.

[0064] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present application and does not constitute any form of limitation to the present application. Based on the technical essence of the present application and within the spirit and principles of the present application, any simple modification, equivalent replacement and improvement of the above embodiments shall still fall within the protection scope of the technical solution of the present application.

Claims

1. A liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device, characterized in that: It comprises an installation box (1), in which a vertically arranged tube sheet (2) is fixed, and the tube sheet (2) divides the inner cavity of the installation box (1) into an operating cavity (11) and a hydrogen storage cavity (12); A manifold assembly (3) is arranged in the operating chamber (11), a plurality of hydrogen storage tanks (4) are arranged in the hydrogen storage chamber (12), and one end of the hydrogen storage tank (4) passes through the tube sheet (2) and is in communication with the manifold assembly (3); The outside of the installation box (1) is provided with a hydrogen charging and discharging port (13) in communication with the manifold assembly (3), and a water inlet (14) and a water outlet (15) in communication with the hydrogen storage chamber (12).

2. The liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least two mutually connected heat exchange chambers (121) are arranged from top to bottom in the hydrogen storage chamber (12), and the hydrogen storage tank (4) is arranged in at least one of the heat exchange chambers (121); the water inlet (14) is connected to the bottom heat exchange chamber (121), and the water outlet (15) is connected to the top heat exchange chamber (121).

3. The liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device according to claim 2, characterized in that: At least one partition (5) is arranged from top to bottom in the hydrogen storage chamber (12), the partition (5) divides the hydrogen storage chamber (12) into at least two heat exchange chambers (121), and the partition (5) has a connecting hole (51) for connecting two adjacent heat exchange chambers (121).

4. The liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The water inlet (14), at least one of the communicating holes (51) and the water outlet (15) are alternately arranged in sequence from bottom to top at positions adjacent to both ends of the hydrogen storage tank (4).

5. The liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device according to claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that: A plurality of baffles (6) are arranged in the heat exchange cavity (121) at intervals along the length direction of the hydrogen storage tank (4).

6. The liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The manifold assembly (3) comprises a vertically arranged hydrogen manifold (31) and a plurality of horizontally arranged hydrogen manifolds (32); one end of the hydrogen storage tank (4) is in communication with the hydrogen manifold (32); the hydrogen manifold (32) is in communication with the hydrogen manifold (31); and the hydrogen manifold (31) is in communication with the hydrogen charging and discharging port (13).

7. The liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The installation box (1) is provided with a box door (7) for opening and closing the operating chamber (11).

8. The liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A base (8) is provided at the bottom of the installation box (1).

9. The liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The base (8) comprises a bracket (81) fixed to the bottom of the installation box (1) and a support foot (82) fixed to the bottom of the bracket (81).

10. The liquid-cooled metal hydride hydrogen storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The installation box (1) is in a cubic shape.

Images