Water electrolysis hydrogen production control system

Abstract

The utility model discloses a water electrolysis hydrogen production control system, and relates to the technical field of hydrogen production, the water electrolysis hydrogen production control system comprises an electrolytic cell, a hydrogen separator, an oxygen separator and a liquid level detection assembly, the hydrogen separator communicates with the electrolytic cell, and the hydrogen separator is provided with a first connector; the oxygen separator is communicated with the electrolytic cell, the oxygen separator is provided with a second connecting port, and the second connecting port is communicated with the first connecting port; the liquid level detection assembly is provided with a high-pressure side pressure taking opening, and the liquid level detection assembly is connected to the communicating pipeline between the first connecting opening and the second connecting opening through the high-pressure side pressure taking opening and used for detecting the liquid level difference between the hydrogen separator and the oxygen separator. The method is used for reducing the influence of blockage on the hydrogen production process and improving the hydrogen production safety.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of hydrogen production technology, and in particular to a water electrolysis hydrogen production control system. Background Art

[0002] In existing water electrolysis hydrogen production systems, as the electrolyzer operates for an extended period of time, impurities in the electrolyte may clog the pressure tappings due to electrode detachment. These impurities not only cause inaccurate liquid level measurement, but also cause the liquid phase at the pressure tappings of the hydrogen separator and oxygen separator to remain in a dead zone, posing a serious safety risk to the safe operation of the hydrogen production device using this water electrolysis hydrogen production system.

[0003] Based on this, the existing technology needs to propose a water electrolysis hydrogen production control system to reduce the hydrogen production safety problems caused by impurity blockage. Utility Model Content

[0004] The main purpose of this application is to propose a water electrolysis hydrogen production control system, aiming to reduce the impact of blockage on the hydrogen production process and improve the safety of hydrogen production.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present application proposes a water electrolysis hydrogen production control system, comprising:

[0006] electrolytic cell;

[0007] a hydrogen separator, connected to the electrolyzer, and provided with a first connection port;

[0008] an oxygen separator, connected to the electrolytic cell, the oxygen separator being provided with a second connection port, the second connection port being connected to the first connection port;

[0009] A liquid level detection component has a high-pressure side pressure port. The liquid level detection component is connected to the connecting pipeline between the first connecting port and the second connecting port through the high-pressure side pressure port, and is used to detect the liquid level difference between the hydrogen separator and the oxygen separator.

[0010] In one embodiment, the liquid level detection assembly includes a first liquid level detection assembly and a second liquid level detection assembly, the first liquid level detection assembly is used to detect a first liquid level of the hydrogen separator, and the second liquid level detection assembly is used to detect a second liquid level of the oxygen separator.

[0011] In one embodiment, the connecting pipeline includes a first pipeline, a first end of the first pipeline is connected to the hydrogen separator through the first connecting port, and a high-pressure side pressure port of the first liquid level detection assembly is connected to the first end of the first pipeline;

[0012] The second end of the first pipeline is connected to the hydrogen separator through the second connecting port, and the high-pressure side pressure port of the first liquid level detection component is connected to the second end of the first pipeline.

[0013] In one embodiment, a first control valve is provided on the first pipeline, and the water electrolysis hydrogen production control system further includes a controller, and the controller is electrically connected to the first liquid level detection component, the second liquid level detection component and the first control valve respectively;

[0014] The controller is used to control the first control valve to open / close according to the first liquid level and the second liquid level, so as to control the communication pipeline to be connected or closed.

[0015] In one embodiment, the connecting pipeline includes a second pipeline and a third pipeline, the first connecting port includes a first interface and a second interface, and the second connecting port includes a third interface and a fourth interface;

[0016] The first end of the second pipeline is connected to the hydrogen separator through the first interface, and the high-pressure side pressure port of the first liquid level detection assembly is connected to the first end of the second pipeline; the second end of the second pipeline is connected to the hydrogen separator through the third interface, and the high-pressure side pressure port of the second liquid level detection assembly is connected to the second end of the second pipeline;

[0017] The first end of the third pipeline is connected to the hydrogen separator through the second interface; the second end of the third pipeline is connected to the hydrogen separator through the fourth interface.

[0018] In one embodiment, a second control valve is provided on the second pipeline, and a third control valve is provided on the third pipeline; the water electrolysis hydrogen production control system further includes a controller, and the controller is electrically connected to the first liquid level detection component, the second liquid level detection component, the second control valve, and the third control valve respectively;

[0019] The controller is used to control the second control valve and / or the third control valve to open / close according to the first liquid level and the second liquid level, so as to control the second pipeline and / or the third pipeline to be connected or disconnected.

[0020] In one embodiment, the separator has a liquid activity area, the liquid level detection assembly has a low-pressure side pressure port, and the low-pressure side pressure port is arranged on the separator at a position corresponding to the liquid activity area.

[0021] In one embodiment, a control valve is provided on the communication pipe between the second connection port and the first connection port, and the water electrolysis hydrogen production control system further includes a controller, and the controller includes:

[0022] A detection circuit, connected to the electrolytic cell and configured to detect a power change signal input to the electrolytic cell;

[0023] A control circuit is electrically connected to the detection circuit and the control valve, and is used to control the opening of the control valve according to the power change signal input to the electrolytic cell, so as to control the connection of the connecting pipeline.

[0024] In one embodiment, the water electrolysis hydrogen production control system further includes an oxygen purification unit, an oxygen outlet unit, and a controller, the outlet of the oxygen separator is connected to the oxygen outlet unit through the oxygen purification unit, and a pressure regulating valve is provided between the oxygen outlet unit and the oxygen purification unit;

[0025] The separator is provided with a pressure transmitter, and the pressure transmitter is used to detect the separator pressure;

[0026] The controller is connected to the pressure transmitter and the pressure regulating valve respectively. The controller is used to control the opening of the pressure regulating valve according to the pressure value corresponding to the set value when the pressure of the separator reaches the set value.

[0027] In one embodiment, the water electrolysis hydrogen production control system further includes a hydrogen purification unit, a hydrogen outlet unit, and a controller. A liquid level regulating valve is provided between the hydrogen outlet unit and the hydrogen purification unit. The controller controls the liquid level regulating valve to open or close according to the first liquid level and the second liquid level.

[0028] Compared with the prior art, this application has the following beneficial effects:

[0029] The hydrogen separator and the oxygen separator are connected to each other through a connecting pipe between the first connecting port of the hydrogen separator and the second connecting port of the oxygen separator. The liquid level detection component is connected to the connecting pipe between the first connecting port and the second connecting port via the high-pressure side pressure tapping port, and is used to detect the liquid level difference between the hydrogen separator and the oxygen separator. According to the detected liquid level difference between the hydrogen separator and the oxygen separator, it is possible to promptly determine whether a blockage problem occurs, thereby reducing the impact of the blockage on the hydrogen production process. The connection state of the connecting pipe between the hydrogen separator and the oxygen separator is further controlled according to the detected liquid level difference, thereby avoiding the situation where the liquid level of the hydrogen separator and the liquid level of the oxygen separator differ too much, thereby affecting the circulation and distribution of the electrolyte, affecting the gas production, and even causing safety hazards, thereby improving the operating efficiency of hydrogen production. It also avoids impurities generated by electrolysis from causing blockage at the pressure tapping port, so that the liquid phase at the pressure tapping ports of the hydrogen separator and the oxygen separator is always in a dead zone, thereby optimizing the safety of the operation of the hydrogen production system and reducing safety hazards. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0031] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of an embodiment of the water electrolysis hydrogen production control system provided by the present application;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic structural diagram of another embodiment of the water electrolysis hydrogen production control system provided in this application;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of another embodiment of the water electrolysis hydrogen production control system provided in this application.

[0034] Description of Figure Numbers:

[0035] 110. Electrolytic cell; 120. Alkali solution heat exchanger; 130. Alkali solution circulation pump;

[0036] 210, hydrogen separator; 220, hydrogen scrubber; 230, hydrogen heat exchanger; 240, hydrogen gas-water separator; 250, liquid level regulating valve; 260, hydrogen outlet;

[0037] 310, oxygen separator; 320, oxygen scrubber; 330, oxygen heat exchanger; 340, oxygen gas-water separator; 350, pressure regulating valve; 360, oxygen outlet; 370, pressure transmitter;

[0038] 400, controller;

[0039] 500. Pure water.

[0040] The realization of the objectives, functional features and advantages of this application will be further explained in conjunction with embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] The following will be combined with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of this application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making any creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0042] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present application involve directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indications are only used to explain the relative position relationship, movement status, etc. between the components under a certain specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indications will also change accordingly.

[0043] In addition, if there are descriptions involving "first", "second", etc. in the embodiments of the present application, the descriptions of "first", "second", etc. are only for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or suggesting their relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features limited to "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of such features. In addition, if "and / or" or "and / or" appears in the full text, its meaning includes three parallel schemes. Taking "A and / or B" as an example, it includes scheme A, or scheme B, or a scheme in which A and B are satisfied at the same time. In addition, the technical solutions between the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but it must be based on the ability of ordinary technicians in this field to implement it. When the combination of technical solutions is mutually contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be deemed that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection required by this application.

[0044] Based on the existing water electrolysis hydrogen production system, the problem of blockage at the pressure port of the separator caused by impurities in the electrolyte due to electrode shedding is mentioned. Figures 1 to 3 This application proposes a water electrolysis hydrogen production system to reduce the impact of blockage on the hydrogen production process and improve the safety of hydrogen production.

[0045] The electrolysis water hydrogen production control system of an embodiment of the present application includes an electrolyzer 110, a hydrogen separator 210, an oxygen separator 310 and a liquid level detection component. The hydrogen separator 210 is connected to the electrolyzer 110 and has a first connection port; the oxygen separator 310 is connected to the electrolyzer 110 and has a second connection port, which is interconnected with the first connection port.

[0046] The liquid level detection component has a high-pressure side pressure port, which is connected to the connecting pipeline between the first connection port and the second connection port via the high-pressure side pressure port, and is used to detect the liquid level difference between the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310.

[0047] It will be appreciated that in the embodiments of the present application, the hydrogen separator 210 is provided with at least one first connection port, and the oxygen separator 310 is provided with at least one second connection port, each second connection port being connected to a corresponding first connection port via a connecting pipe. The number of first connection ports and second connection ports may be the same or different. Optionally, different second connection ports may be connected to corresponding different first connection ports via different connecting pipes in a one-to-one correspondence; alternatively, different second connection ports may be connected to the same first connection port via different connecting pipes. The specific configuration may vary depending on the actual setting and is not limited herein.

[0048] The hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310 are connected to each other through a connecting pipe between the first connecting port of the hydrogen separator 210 and the second connecting port of the oxygen separator 310. The liquid level detection component is connected to the connecting pipe between the first connecting port and the second connecting port through the high-pressure side pressure port to detect the liquid level difference between the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310. According to the detected liquid level difference between the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310, it is possible to promptly determine whether a blockage problem occurs, reduce the impact of the blockage on the hydrogen production process, and further The connection state of the connecting pipeline between the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310 is controlled according to the detected liquid level difference to avoid excessive difference between the liquid level of the hydrogen separator 210 and the liquid level of the oxygen separator 310, which may affect the circulation and distribution of the electrolyte, the gas production, and even cause safety hazards, so as to improve the efficiency of hydrogen production operation; and to avoid impurities generated by electrolysis from causing blockage at the pressure port, so that the liquid phase at the pressure ports of the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310 is always in a dead zone, so as to optimize the safety of the operation of the hydrogen production system and reduce safety hazards.

[0049] In some optional embodiments of the present application, liquid level detection components may be respectively provided for the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310, and the high-pressure side pressure port and the low-pressure side pressure port of each liquid level detection component are connected to the same separator to achieve independent detection and control of the liquid level of each separator, and further determine the liquid level difference between the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310 by detecting the pressure difference inside each separator; or, a single liquid level detection component may be provided for the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310, and the high-pressure side pressure port of the liquid level detection component is connected to one of the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310, and the low-pressure side pressure port is connected to the other of the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310, so as to directly determine the liquid level difference between the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310 through the single liquid level detection component.

[0050] Taking the example of respectively setting liquid level detection components corresponding to the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310, specifically, the liquid level detection component includes a first liquid level detection component Q-L1 and a second liquid level detection component Q-L2. The first liquid level detection component Q-L1 is used to detect the first liquid level of the hydrogen separator 210, and the second liquid level detection component Q-L2 is used to detect the second liquid level of the oxygen separator 310.

[0051] It will be appreciated that the technical solution of the present application implements liquid level detection through a liquid level detection assembly, and a first liquid level detection assembly Q-L1 and a second liquid level detection assembly Q-L2 are respectively provided for the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310. The liquid level detection assembly includes any one of a liquid level transmitter, a pressure sensor, a capacitive liquid level sensor, and a float-type liquid level sensor, and is used to detect the liquid level of the hydrogen separator 210 via the first liquid level detection assembly Q-L1 and obtain a first liquid level; and to detect the liquid level of the oxygen separator 310 via the second liquid level detection assembly Q-L2 and obtain a second liquid level.

[0052] In one embodiment, the separator has a liquid activity area, the liquid level detection assembly has a low-pressure side pressure port, and the low-pressure side pressure port is arranged on the separator at a position corresponding to the liquid activity area.

[0053] Optionally, both the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310 are provided with a low-pressure side pressure port, and the low-pressure side pressure port is arranged at a position corresponding to the liquid level activity area. The liquid level transmitter of the first liquid level detection component Q-L1 is arranged on the hydrogen separator 210 through the low-pressure side pressure port and is connected to the hydrogen separator 210, and is used to detect the first liquid level of the hydrogen separator 210; the liquid level transmitter of the second liquid level detection component Q-L2 is arranged on the oxygen separator 310 through the low-pressure side pressure port and is connected to the oxygen separator 310, and is used to detect the second liquid level of the oxygen separator 310.

[0054] The position of the liquid level transmitter on the separator is set to ensure that the height of the liquid can be accurately detected, and these detection data are converted into electrical signals for the purpose of accurately detecting the liquid level. The installation of the liquid level transmitter needs to ensure that there is enough distance between it and the wall of the separator container to allow the liquid to flow freely, and to ensure that the liquid level transmitter is installed vertically inside the container. The liquid active area of ​​the present application refers to the area in the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310 where liquid flow and exchange can be achieved. Specifically, the liquid level transmitter corresponds to the position of the liquid active area, and is arranged on the connecting pipeline at the bottom of the separator in a vertical downward installation manner, for accurately detecting the liquid level through the pressure port, and avoiding the blockage of the pressure port caused by electrolytic impurities.

[0055] The first liquid level detection component Q-L1 has a first liquid level connecting pipe (the connecting pipe at the bottom of the liquid level gauge), and the second liquid level detection component Q-L2 has a second liquid level connecting pipe (the connecting pipe at the bottom of the liquid level gauge). The first liquid level connecting pipe and the second liquid level connecting pipe are connected to each other and are used to form a connecting pipeline or a partial connecting pipeline. The first end of the connecting pipeline close to the first liquid level detection component Q-L1 is connected to the hydrogen separator 210 through the first connecting port, and the second end of the connecting pipeline close to the second liquid level detection component Q-L2 is connected to the oxygen separator 310 through the second connecting port. The connecting pipeline is not directly connected to the liquid level detection components; alternatively, the first end of the connecting pipeline is connected to the first liquid level detection component Q-L1 and is connected to the hydrogen separator 210 through the first connecting port, and the second end of the connecting pipeline is connected to the second liquid level detection component Q-L2 and is connected to the oxygen separator 310 through the second connecting port.

[0056] When the liquid levels of the hydrogen separator and the oxygen separator reach equilibrium, if the bottoms of the hydrogen separator and the oxygen separator are always in a connected state, a weak mutual channeling path will always exist between hydrogen and oxygen, causing a decrease in the purity of hydrogen or oxygen. In order to reduce or even avoid the influence of mutual channeling on gas purity, in some other optional embodiments of the present application, a control valve can also be provided in the connecting pipeline between the first connecting port of the hydrogen separator 210 and the second connecting port of the oxygen separator 310. By controlling the connected state between the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310 through the setting of the control valve, the control path of the hydrogen production system can be simplified and the control difficulty can be reduced. Specifically in the technical solution of the present application, the connection or shutoff of the connecting pipeline is controlled by the control valve, which can also be used to avoid the connecting pipeline at the bottom of the hydrogen separator 210 and the bottom of the oxygen separator 310 being in a connected state, causing hydrogen and oxygen to cross each other, so as to improve gas purity.

[0057] By controlling the connection of the connecting pipeline through the control valve, the liquid flow of the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310 can be prevented, thereby avoiding inaccurate liquid level measurement of the liquid level detection component and preventing impurities generated by electrolysis from causing blockage at the pressure port, so that the liquid phase at the pressure port of the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310 is always in a dead zone, thereby optimizing the safety of the operation of the hydrogen production system and reducing safety hazards; by controlling the connection or shutoff of the connecting pipeline through the control valve, the liquid level of the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310 can also be adjusted to avoid affecting the circulation and distribution of the electrolyte, affecting the gas production, and even causing safety hazards when the liquid level of the hydrogen separator 210 and the liquid level of the oxygen separator 310 differ too much, thereby improving the efficiency of hydrogen production operation.

[0058] Optionally, the control valve may be, but is not limited to, an on-off valve, a check valve, a gate valve, or any other switch control component suitable for practical use. The on-off valve is used to open or close the fluid to connect or disconnect the connecting pipeline between the first connection port and the second connection port. The check valve allows fluid to flow in one direction and prevents reverse flow. When the liquid level of one of the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310 is higher than the other, the check valve controls the flow of liquid from the separator with the higher liquid level to the separator with the lower liquid level, thereby automatically connecting / disconnecting the connecting pipeline between the first connection port and the second connection port based on the liquid level difference between the oxygen separator 310 and the hydrogen separator 210, and reducing the control process. The gate valve is used to fully open or close the fluid flow, and the gate valve is controlled to open or close by the controller 400 to connect / disconnect the connecting pipeline between the first connection port and the second connection port. Specifically, any switch control component suitable for practical use, such as an on-off valve, a check valve, a gate valve, etc., may be provided on the corresponding connecting pipeline as needed, and is not limited herein.

[0059] In an embodiment of the present application, the electrolysis water hydrogen production control system has a manual control function and / or an automatic control function. The number of control valves is one, two, three or more. Specifically, the control valves can be determined to include a first control valve, a second control valve, a third control valve, etc. corresponding to different connecting pipelines in different implementation plans. The first control valve, the second control valve, the third control valve, etc. all include at least one control valve. In order to realize the manual control function, the opening or closing of the corresponding control valve can be optionally controlled by the staff to realize the connection / disconnection of the corresponding connecting pipeline between the second connection port and the first connection port. To achieve the automatic control function, the opening or closing of the control valve can be optionally controlled by a remote controller, etc., to further achieve the connection / disconnection of the corresponding connecting pipeline between the second connecting port and the first connecting port; or a controller can be set for each connecting pipe, and each controller can automatically control the opening or closing of the control valve on the corresponding connecting pipeline to further achieve the connection / disconnection of the connecting pipeline between the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310; or a control valve that can automatically achieve opening and closing can be set for each connecting pipeline, and the control valve can automatically open when the liquid level difference between the two sides (that is, the liquid level of the hydrogen separator 210 and the liquid level difference of the oxygen separator 310) is not less than the set liquid level threshold, and automatically close when the liquid level difference is less than the set liquid level threshold. In the embodiment of the present application, in order to further achieve the connection / disconnection of different connecting pipelines, the liquid level thresholds set for the control valves corresponding to different connecting pipelines can be the same or different; this is not limited here.

[0060] It is known that the difference in liquid levels between the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310 will affect the pressure balance in the electrolyzer 110. If the liquid level on the hydrogen side is too high, hydrogen may permeate into the oxygen side, and vice versa.

[0061] In one embodiment of the present application, a first control valve is provided on the first pipeline, and the water electrolysis hydrogen production control system also includes a controller 400, which is electrically connected to the first liquid level detection component Q-L1, the second liquid level detection component Q-L2 and the first control valve respectively.

[0062] The controller 400 is configured to control the opening / closing of the first control valve based on the first liquid level and the second liquid level, thereby controlling the connection or disconnection of the connecting pipeline. The controller 400 controls the opening / closing of the control valve based on the liquid level difference between the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310 to control the connection / disconnection of the connecting pipeline. This can prevent excessively high liquid levels in the hydrogen separator 210, which could lead to hydrogen permeating into the oxygen side, and excessively high liquid levels in the oxygen separator 310, which could lead to oxygen permeating into the hydrogen side. This effectively maintains pressure balance between the hydrogen and oxygen sides, preventing blowby from affecting hydrogen production purity and system safety.

[0063] The controller 400 can be but is not limited to an MCU (Micro Control Unit), a single-chip microcomputer, or other control devices. The controller 400 is used to obtain the first detection signal containing the first liquid level transmitted by the above-mentioned first liquid level detection component Q-L1, and the detection signal containing the second liquid level transmitted by the second liquid level detection component Q-L2, and control the control valve to open according to the liquid level difference between the first liquid level and the second liquid level to achieve the connection of the corresponding connecting pipeline, or control the control valve to close to achieve the shutdown of the corresponding connecting pipeline.

[0064] Optionally, the controller 400 includes a comparison circuit that compares the first liquid level and the second liquid level, and is used to control the control valve to open when the first liquid level is greater than the second liquid level (or the second liquid level is greater than the first liquid level) to control the connection of the connecting line; and is also used to control the control valve to close when the first liquid level is equal to or close to the second liquid level to control the disconnection of the connecting line. In addition, the controller 400 can also be used to control the control valve to open when the first liquid level is greater than the second liquid level and the difference between the first liquid level and the second liquid level is not less than a preset liquid level difference (or the second liquid level is greater than the first liquid level and the difference between the first liquid level and the second liquid level is not less than a preset liquid level difference) to control the connection of the connecting line; and is also used to control the control valve to close when the difference between the first liquid level and the second liquid level is less than the preset liquid level difference to control the disconnection of the connecting line. When the corresponding control valve is controlled to be opened or closed according to the preset liquid level difference, the control valves corresponding to different connecting pipelines can be preset with the same or different liquid level differences. The preset liquid level difference can be between 30mm and 70mm, with 50mm as the preferred choice; the specific setting can be based on actual conditions and is not limited here.

[0065] In a specific embodiment of the present application, a control valve is provided on the connecting pipeline between the second connecting port and the first connecting port, and the water electrolysis hydrogen production control system also includes a controller 400, which includes a detection circuit and a control circuit. The detection circuit is connected to the electrolyzer 110 and is used to detect the electrolyzer input power change signal; the control circuit is electrically connected to the detection circuit and the control valve respectively, and is used to control the control valve to open according to the electrolyzer input power change signal to control the connecting pipeline.

[0066] This system is used to preemptively open the control valve on the separator bottom connecting pipe when the input power to the electrolyzer 110 changes, such as during startup, electrolysis anomalies, increased gas production or gas production requirements, scheduled maintenance, or changes in the power supply. This control logic controls the connection of the connecting pipe and ensures control responsiveness. Furthermore, when the liquid level difference falls below a set level threshold, the control valve on the connecting pipe is automatically closed to control the connection of the connecting pipe.

[0067] Optionally, the detection circuit may be, but is not limited to, a power analysis circuit (or a voltage and current detection circuit), etc., for directly detecting and obtaining a detection signal of a change in the input power of the electrolytic cell (or, for detecting detection signals such as the input voltage and current of the working circuit of the electrolytic cell 110, and obtaining and outputting an electrolytic cell input power change signal containing the electrolytic cell input power based on the detection signal). In addition, the controller 400 (or the detection circuit) may further include a signal processing circuit, a comparison circuit, a calculation circuit, etc. The signal processing circuit will perform necessary processing on these detection signals, such as amplification, filtering, shaping, etc., to ensure the stability and reliability of the signal; the comparison circuit, the calculation circuit, etc. will compare the detected input power with a historical detection value or a preset detection value to determine whether the input power of the electrolytic cell 110 has changed, and output an input power change signal to the control circuit when a significant change occurs. After receiving the input power change signal, the control circuit controls the connection of the corresponding connecting pipeline by opening the control valve; specifically, the control pipeline is controlled to be connected by opening the control valve.

[0068] The hydrogen and alkaline solution mixture generated by the electrolysis reaction within the electrolytic cell 110 enters the hydrogen separator 210, and the oxygen and alkaline solution mixture generated enters the oxygen separator 310. In one embodiment of the present application, the electrolysis water hydrogen production control system further includes an oxygen purification unit, an oxygen outlet 360, and a controller 400. The outlet of the oxygen separator 310 is connected to the oxygen outlet 360 via the oxygen purification unit, and a pressure regulating valve 350 is provided between the oxygen outlet 360 and the oxygen purification unit.

[0069] Optionally, the oxygen purification unit includes an oxygen scrubber 320, an oxygen heat exchanger 330, and an oxygen gas-water separator 340. The gas outlet of the oxygen scrubber 320 is connected to the gas inlet of the oxygen heat exchanger 330, the gas outlet of the oxygen heat exchanger 330 is connected to the gas inlet of the oxygen gas-water separator 340, and the gas inlet of the oxygen scrubber 320 is connected to the oxygen separator 310 to remove impurities in the oxygen; the liquid outlet of the oxygen scrubber 320 is connected to the oxygen separator 310 to transfer the washed liquid (which may be a mixture containing electrolyte) back to the oxygen separator 310 so that The electrolyte is recycled. The oxygen scrubber 320's liquid inlet is used to receive pure water 500, which helps absorb and remove impurities from the oxygen. The oxygen scrubber 320's gas outlet is connected to the oxygen heat exchanger 330, which regulates the oxygen temperature. The crude oxygen obtained after cooling and separation is then transferred to the oxygen gas-water separator 340, where it is dried. A pressure regulating valve 350, acting as the oxygen-side oxygen regulating valve, is located on the pipeline connecting the oxygen gas-water separator 340 and the oxygen outlet 360 to control the oxygen pressure. The liquid alkali solution at the bottom of the oxygen separator 310 flows into the alkali solution heat exchanger 120 and the alkali solution circulation pump 130, ultimately returning to the electrolytic cell 110.

[0070] The separator is provided with a pressure transmitter 370 for detecting the separator pressure. The pressure transmitter 370 can optionally be provided on the oxygen side to detect the pressure of the oxygen separator 310 and / or on the hydrogen side to detect the pressure of the hydrogen separator 210; the above are not limited herein.

[0071] The controller 400 is connected to the pressure transmitter 370 and the pressure regulating valve 350 respectively. When the separator pressure reaches a set value, the controller 400 is used to control the opening of the pressure regulating valve 350 according to the pressure value corresponding to the set value.

[0072] Optionally, at least one set value may be preset, and pressure values ​​may be set for different set values. When the separator pressure reaches the set value, the controller 400 controls the opening of the pressure regulating valve 350 according to the pressure value corresponding to the set value. This adjusts the opening of the pressure regulating valve 350 to ensure that the pressure in the electrolyzer 110 or separator is maintained at an ideal set value, thereby avoiding safety issues caused by overpressure or abnormal pressure changes. The controller also reduces energy consumption by precisely controlling pressure. Maintaining the electrolysis process at a certain pressure can also ensure optimal hydrogen production efficiency.

[0073] In one embodiment, the water electrolysis hydrogen production control system further includes a hydrogen purification unit, a hydrogen outlet unit 260 and a controller 400. A liquid level regulating valve 250 is provided between the hydrogen outlet unit 260 and the hydrogen purification unit. The controller 400 controls the liquid level regulating valve 250 to open or close according to the first liquid level and the second liquid level.

[0074] Optionally, the hydrogen purification unit includes a hydrogen scrubber 220, a hydrogen heat exchanger 230 and a hydrogen gas-water separator 240, the gas outlet of the hydrogen scrubber 220 is connected to the gas inlet of the hydrogen heat exchanger 230, the gas outlet of the hydrogen heat exchanger 230 is connected to the gas inlet of the hydrogen gas-water separator 240, and the gas inlet of the hydrogen scrubber 220 is connected to the hydrogen separator 210 for removing impurities in the hydrogen; the liquid outlet of the hydrogen scrubber 220 is connected to the hydrogen separator 210 for transferring the washed liquid (which may be a mixture containing an electrolyte) back to the hydrogen separator 210 for recycling the electrolyte; the hydrogen scrubber The liquid inlet of 220 is used to receive pure water 500, which helps absorb and remove impurities in the hydrogen. The outlet of hydrogen scrubber 220 is connected to hydrogen heat exchanger 230, which regulates the hydrogen temperature and transmits the crude hydrogen obtained after cooling and separation to hydrogen gas-water separator 240, where it is dried. Liquid level regulating valve 250, acting as the hydrogen-side liquid level regulating valve, is installed on the pipeline connecting hydrogen gas-water separator 240 and hydrogen outlet 260 to control the liquid level difference between hydrogen separator 210 and oxygen separator 310 in electrolyzer 110. Hydrogen separator 210 and the liquid alkali at the bottom flow into alkali heat exchanger 120 and alkali circulation pump 130, and ultimately flow back into electrolyzer 110.

[0075] During the process of producing hydrogen by electrolysis of water, the electrolyzer 110 produces hydrogen and oxygen, which are then separated into their respective separators for gas-liquid separation. Due to the different production rates of hydrogen and oxygen, a liquid level difference between the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310 is prone to occur. The controller 400 increases or decreases the inflow of liquid by controlling the opening of the liquid level regulating valve 250, and adjusts and controls the liquid level in the separator by adjusting the amount of liquid entering the separator. Because the amount of hydrogen produced during the electrolysis of water is greater than that of oxygen, the liquid level change on the hydrogen side has a greater impact on the entire system, and hydrogen has a higher risk of explosion. Therefore, the control of the liquid level on the hydrogen side needs to be more stringent to ensure the safety of the system. Therefore, the controller 400 controls the liquid levels of the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310 by opening or closing the liquid level regulating valve 250 on the hydrogen side according to the first liquid level and the second liquid level, thereby achieving coordinated control of the liquid level of the entire system. Such a setting is more in line with the process control strategy, which can not only be used to maintain the stability of the system and improve safety, but also further improve the gas purity.

[0076] It should be noted that the controller for controlling the opening / closing of the control valve, the controller for controlling the opening of the pressure regulating valve 350, and the controller for controlling the opening or closing of the liquid level regulating valve 250 in this application can be implemented using the same controller, or can be implemented separately by different controllers.

[0077] As one of the embodiments of this application, refer to Figure 1 The connecting pipeline includes a first pipeline P1. The first end of the first pipeline P1 is connected to the hydrogen separator 210 through a first connecting port. The high-pressure side pressure port of the first liquid level detection component Q-L1 is connected to the first end of the first pipeline. The second end of the first pipeline P1 is connected to the hydrogen separator 210 through a second connecting port. The high-pressure side pressure port of the first liquid level detection component Q-L1 is connected to the second end of the first pipeline P1.

[0078] The controller 400 of the water electrolysis hydrogen production control system is electrically connected to the first liquid level detection assembly Q-L1, the second liquid level detection assembly Q-L2, and the first control valve K1 provided on the first pipeline P1. The controller 400 is used to control the opening / closing of the first control valve K1 based on the first and second liquid levels, thereby controlling the connection / disconnection of the first pipeline P1. The liquid level difference between the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310 affects the pressure balance within the electrolyzer 110. If the liquid level on the hydrogen side is too high, hydrogen may permeate into the oxygen side, and vice versa. The controller 400 controls the opening / closing of the first control valve K1 according to the liquid level difference between the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310 to control the connection / disconnection of the connecting pipeline. This can prevent the hydrogen from penetrating toward the oxygen side due to the liquid level of the hydrogen separator 210 being too high, and the oxygen from penetrating toward the hydrogen side due to the liquid level of the oxygen separator 310 being too high, so as to more effectively maintain the pressure balance between the hydrogen side and the oxygen side, and prevent the occurrence of blowby gas that affects the purity of hydrogen production and the safety of the system.

[0079] Optionally, the first liquid level detection component Q-L1 has a first liquid level connecting pipe (the connecting pipe at the bottom of the liquid level gauge), and the second liquid level detection component Q-L2 has a second liquid level connecting pipe (the connecting pipe at the bottom of the liquid level gauge). The first liquid level connecting pipe and the second liquid level connecting pipe are connected to each other to construct the first pipeline P1. Such a configuration can ensure that the liquid level detection components can accurately detect the liquid level changes in the two separators. The first liquid level detection component Q-L1 and the second liquid level detection component Q-L2 respectively feed back the first liquid level of the hydrogen separator 210 and the second liquid level of the oxygen separator 310 to the controller 400, and the controller 400 adjusts the liquid level regulating valve 250 according to the first liquid level and the second liquid level, thereby maintaining the liquid level difference between the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310 within the set range. Compared with the hydrogen production system in which the connecting pipeline is not directly connected to the first liquid level detection component Q-L1 and the second liquid level detection component Q-L2, the hydrogen production system of this embodiment can reduce detection errors, improve the accuracy of liquid level control, and facilitate the controller 400 to make timely adjustments, thereby improving the response speed of the system and ensuring the stable operation of the electrolyzer 110; accurate liquid level control can also reduce equipment failures caused by improper liquid level control and reduce maintenance costs.

[0080] Specifically, the controller 400 obtains the first liquid level through the first liquid level detection component Q-L1, and obtains the second liquid level through the second liquid level. The controller 400 is used to control the first control valve K1 to open when the first liquid level is greater than the second liquid level and the difference between the first liquid level and the second liquid level is not less than the preset liquid level difference (or the second liquid level is greater than the first liquid level and the difference between the first liquid level and the second liquid level is not less than the preset liquid level difference) to control the connectivity of the first pipeline P1; the controller 400 is also used to control the first control valve K1 to close when the difference between the first liquid level and the second liquid level is less than the preset liquid level difference to control the shutdown of the first pipeline P1.

[0081] Taking the preset liquid level difference of 50mm as an example, when the absolute value of the difference between the first liquid level and the second liquid level is not less than 50mm, the first control valve K1 is controlled to open to control the connectivity of the first pipeline P1; when the absolute value of the difference between the first liquid level and the second liquid level is less than 50mm, the first control valve K1 is controlled to close to control the shutdown of the first pipeline P1.

[0082] As the second embodiment of this application, refer to Figure 2 The connecting pipeline includes a second pipeline P2 and a third pipeline P3, the first connecting port includes a first interface and a second interface, and the second connecting port includes a third interface and a fourth interface.

[0083] The first end of the second pipeline P2 is connected to the hydrogen separator 210 through the first interface, and the high-pressure side pressure port of the first liquid level detection component Q-L1 is connected to the first end of the second pipeline; the second end of the second pipeline P2 is connected to the hydrogen separator 210 through the third interface, and the high-pressure side pressure port of the second liquid level detection component Q-L1 is connected to the second end of the second pipeline;

[0084] The first end of the third pipeline is connected to the hydrogen separator 210 through the second interface; the second end of the third pipeline is connected to the hydrogen separator 210 through the fourth interface.

[0085] It is understood that the first and third interfaces are independent of each other, the second and fourth interfaces are independent of each other, and the second pipeline P2 and the third pipeline P3 are independent of each other and are not directly connected to each other. The number of first interfaces can be one or more, and the number of second interfaces corresponds to the number of first interfaces; the number of third interfaces can be one or more, and the number of fourth interfaces corresponds to the number of third interfaces.

[0086] The second pipeline P2 is not directly connected to the first liquid level detection component Q-L1 and the second liquid level detection component Q-L2. The second pipeline P2 is connected to the first liquid level detection component Q-L1 and the second liquid level detection component Q-L2. Specifically, the first liquid level detection component Q-L1 has a first liquid level connecting pipe (the connecting pipe at the bottom of the liquid level gauge), and the second liquid level detection component Q-L2 has a second liquid level connecting pipe (the connecting pipe at the bottom of the liquid level gauge). The first liquid level connecting pipe and the second liquid level connecting pipe are interconnected to construct the second pipeline P2. With such an arrangement, the connection / disconnection of the connecting pipes between the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310 can be controlled by control valves respectively arranged in the multi-way connecting pipes, thereby improving the control efficiency and control accuracy, and further improving the liquid level detection accuracy, and facilitating the controller 400 to make timely adjustments, thereby improving the response speed of the system, ensuring the stable operation of the electrolytic cell 110, and reducing the maintenance cost caused by improper liquid level control.

[0087] Furthermore, a second control valve is provided on the second pipeline and a third control valve is provided on the third pipeline; the water electrolysis hydrogen production control system also includes a controller 400, which is electrically connected to the first liquid level detection component Q-L1, the second liquid level detection component Q-L2, the second control valve K2, and the third control valve K3 respectively.

[0088] The controller 400 is used to control the second control valve and / or the third control valve to open / close according to the first liquid level and the second liquid level, so as to control the second pipeline and / or the third pipeline to be connected or disconnected.

[0089] Specifically, the controller 400 obtains the first liquid level through the first liquid level detection component Q-L1, and obtains the second liquid level through the second liquid level. The controller 400 is used to control the corresponding control valve to open / close when the first liquid level is greater than the second liquid level and the difference between the first liquid level and the second liquid level is not less than the preset liquid level difference (or the second liquid level is greater than the first liquid level and the difference between the first liquid level and the second liquid level is not less than the preset liquid level difference) to control the corresponding connecting pipeline to be connected / disconnected.

[0090] Taking the preset liquid level difference of 50 mm as an example, optionally, when the absolute value of the difference between the first liquid level and the second liquid level is not less than 50 mm, at least one of the second control valve K2 and the third control valve K3 is controlled to open to control the corresponding connecting pipeline (the second pipeline P2 and / or the third pipeline P3) to be connected; when the absolute value of the difference between the first liquid level and the second liquid level is less than 50 mm, at least one of the second control valve K2 and the third control valve K3 is controlled to close to control the corresponding connecting pipeline (the second pipeline P2 and / or the third pipeline P3) to be shut off.

[0091] Specifically, in order to improve the control accuracy and avoid affecting the liquid level detection accuracy due to the flow of liquid in the second pipeline P2 during the process of controlling the connection and disconnection of the connecting pipeline, it is set that when the absolute value of the difference between the first liquid level and the second liquid level is not less than 50 mm, the third control valve K3 is controlled to open to control the connection of the third pipeline P3, and the second control valve K2 is controlled to open to control the disconnection of the second pipeline P2; when the absolute value of the difference between the first liquid level and the second liquid level is less than 50 mm, the third control valve K3 is controlled to close to control the disconnection of the third pipeline P3, and the second control valve K2 is controlled to open to control the connection of the second pipeline P2. Specifically, the liquid level balance of the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310 is controlled by the hydrogen side liquid level regulating valve 250. When the absolute value of the liquid level difference between the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen separator 310 is less than 50 mm, it means that the liquid levels of the hydrogen and oxygen separators 310 have basically reached equilibrium. At this time, the third control valve K3 provided on the third pipeline P3 is closed to prevent the hydrogen in the hydrogen separator 210 and the oxygen in the oxygen separator 310 from mutually flowing through the third pipeline P3. At the same time, the first liquid level detection component Q- The second control valve K2 on the second pipeline P2 at the bottom of the first liquid level detection component Q-L1 and the second liquid level detection component Q-L2 ensures a certain flow of the fluid in the second pipeline P2 (liquid-phase connecting pipe) at the bottom of the first liquid level detection component Q-L1 and the second liquid level detection component Q-L2, avoiding blockage inside the pipeline, which may cause inaccurate measurement of the first liquid level detection component Q-L1 and the second liquid level detection component Q-L2 and cause the device to lose control. At the same time, since the flow velocity in the second pipeline P2 (liquid-phase connecting pipe) is very small, it does not affect the purity of hydrogen and oxygen.

[0092] In this way, it can be used to improve the control accuracy when the liquid level difference is large and avoid errors when controlling the liquid level by controlling the on and off of the connecting pipeline; it can also be used to connect only through the second pipeline P2 when the liquid level difference is small, avoid the pressure port in a dead zone state, avoid gas blowby, and effectively improve the gas purity.

[0093] As a third embodiment of the present application, in addition to connecting the liquid level detection component to the communication pipe between the first connection port and the second connection port according to the aforementioned embodiment, the liquid level detection component can also be set not to be connected to the communication pipe between the first connection port and the second connection port, and this solution can be implemented as another embodiment of the present application. Figure 3 A control valve K0 is provided on the first pipeline. The water electrolysis hydrogen production control system also includes a controller 400, which is electrically connected to the first liquid level detection component Q-L1, the second liquid level detection component Q-L2, and the control valve K0. Controller 400 is used to control the opening / closing of the control valve K0 based on the first and second liquid levels, thereby controlling the connection or disconnection of the connecting pipeline P0.

[0094] Optionally, in this embodiment, the connecting line P0 is not directly connected to the first liquid level detection assembly Q-L1 or the second liquid level detection assembly Q-L2. The connecting line P0 may have one or multiple, non-directly connected lines, with a control valve provided for each connecting line P0. The specific configuration may vary depending on the actual situation and is not limited here.

[0095] The specific implementation of the third embodiment of the present application can refer to one of the aforementioned embodiments, and will not be described in detail here.

[0096] The above description is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present application and does not limit the patent scope of the present application. Any equivalent structural transformation made using the contents of the present application specification and drawings under the technical concept of the present application, or directly / indirectly applied in other related technical fields, is included in the patent protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A water electrolysis hydrogen production control system, characterized in that: include: electrolytic cell; a hydrogen separator, connected to the electrolyzer, and provided with a first connection port; an oxygen separator, connected to the electrolytic cell, the oxygen separator being provided with a second connection port, the second connection port being connected to the first connection port; A liquid level detection component has a high-pressure side pressure port. The liquid level detection component is connected to the connecting pipeline between the first connecting port and the second connecting port through the high-pressure side pressure port, and is used to detect the liquid level difference between the hydrogen separator and the oxygen separator.

2. The water electrolysis hydrogen production control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The liquid level detection assembly includes a first liquid level detection assembly and a second liquid level detection assembly. The first liquid level detection assembly is used to detect a first liquid level of the hydrogen separator, and the second liquid level detection assembly is used to detect a second liquid level of the oxygen separator.

3. The water electrolysis hydrogen production control system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The connecting pipeline includes a first pipeline, a first end of the first pipeline is connected to the hydrogen separator through the first connecting port, and a high-pressure side pressure port of the first liquid level detection component is connected to the first end of the first pipeline; The second end of the first pipeline is connected to the hydrogen separator through the second connecting port, and the high-pressure side pressure port of the first liquid level detection component is connected to the second end of the first pipeline.

4. The water electrolysis hydrogen production control system according to claim 3, characterized in that: A first control valve is provided on the first pipeline, and the water electrolysis hydrogen production control system further includes a controller, which is electrically connected to the first liquid level detection component, the second liquid level detection component and the first control valve respectively; The controller is used to control the first control valve to open / close according to the first liquid level and the second liquid level, so as to control the communication pipeline to be connected or closed.

5. The water electrolysis hydrogen production control system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The connecting pipeline includes a second pipeline and a third pipeline, the first connecting port includes a first interface and a second interface, and the second connecting port includes a third interface and a fourth interface; The first end of the second pipeline is connected to the hydrogen separator through the first interface, and the high-pressure side pressure port of the first liquid level detection assembly is connected to the first end of the second pipeline; the second end of the second pipeline is connected to the hydrogen separator through the third interface, and the high-pressure side pressure port of the second liquid level detection assembly is connected to the second end of the second pipeline; The first end of the third pipeline is connected to the hydrogen separator through the second interface; the second end of the third pipeline is connected to the hydrogen separator through the fourth interface.

6. The water electrolysis hydrogen production control system according to claim 5, characterized in that: A second control valve is provided on the second pipeline, and a third control valve is provided on the third pipeline; the electrolysis water hydrogen production control system further includes a controller, and the controller is electrically connected to the first liquid level detection component, the second liquid level detection component, the second control valve, and the third control valve respectively; The controller is used to control the second control valve and / or the third control valve to open / close according to the first liquid level and the second liquid level, so as to control the second pipeline and / or the third pipeline to be connected or disconnected.

7. The water electrolysis hydrogen production control system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The separator has a liquid activity area, the liquid level detection component has a low-pressure side pressure port, and the low-pressure side pressure port is arranged on the separator at a position corresponding to the liquid activity area.

8. The water electrolysis hydrogen production control system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: A control valve is provided on the connecting pipe between the second connecting port and the first connecting port. The water electrolysis hydrogen production control system further includes a controller, which includes: A detection circuit, connected to the electrolytic cell and configured to detect a power change signal input to the electrolytic cell; A control circuit is electrically connected to the detection circuit and the control valve, and is used to control the opening of the control valve according to the power change signal input to the electrolytic cell, so as to control the connection of the connecting pipeline.

9. The water electrolysis hydrogen production control system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The electrolysis water hydrogen production control system further includes an oxygen purification unit, an oxygen outlet unit and a controller, the outlet of the oxygen separator is connected to the oxygen outlet unit through the oxygen purification unit, and a pressure regulating valve is provided between the oxygen outlet unit and the oxygen purification unit; The separator is provided with a pressure transmitter, and the pressure transmitter is used to detect the separator pressure; The controller is connected to the pressure transmitter and the pressure regulating valve respectively. The controller is used to control the opening of the pressure regulating valve according to the pressure value corresponding to the set value when the pressure of the separator reaches the set value.

10. The water electrolysis hydrogen production control system according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that: The water electrolysis hydrogen production control system also includes a hydrogen purification unit, a hydrogen outlet unit and a controller. A liquid level regulating valve is provided between the hydrogen outlet unit and the hydrogen purification unit. The controller controls the liquid level regulating valve to open or close according to the first liquid level and the second liquid level.

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