Integrated equipment for preparing ultra-pure hydrogen by electrolyzing alkaline water

Abstract

The utility model is suitable for the technical field of hydrogen production by alkaline water, and provides integrated equipment for producing ultra-pure hydrogen by electrolyzing alkaline water, which comprises an electrolysis module used for electrolyzing alkaline water; the water supply module is communicated with the electrolysis module through a pipeline, and the water supply module is used for supplying alkaline water to the electrolysis module; the impurity removal module is communicated with the electrolysis module through a pipeline, and the impurity removal module is used for preliminarily filtering hydrogen; the metal film separator is communicated with the impurity removal module through a pipeline, and the metal film separator is used for secondarily filtering hydrogen; alkaline substances, oxygen and water vapor in hydrogen are gradually removed by methods of washing, metal film separation and the like. Finally, impurities are separated and hydrogen is enriched by utilizing the selective permeability of the metal film, so that the purification effect of high-purity hydrogen with the purity of 99.9999999% is realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of alkaline water hydrogen production, and in particular to an integrated device for producing ultrapure hydrogen by alkaline water electrolysis. Background Technology

[0002] Alkaline water electrolysis hydrogen production systems are widely used for large-scale hydrogen production due to their significant advantages of mature technology and low equipment cost. Alkaline water electrolysis hydrogen production typically involves an electrolyzer decomposing water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen under the action of direct current. The hydrogen and oxygen exiting the electrolyzer, along with the alkaline solution, enter the middle of a hydrogen-oxygen separator. Under gravity, the hydrogen (oxygen) settles and separates from the alkaline solution. The separated hydrogen (oxygen) is cooled and washed at the top of the separator, and then the droplets are removed by a hydrogen-oxygen combined tower at the top of the separator.

[0003] In existing technologies, oxygen produced by alkaline water electrolysis can be collected or vented. However, hydrogen produced by alkaline water electrolysis contains oxygen and moisture, which leads to insufficient purity of the hydrogen. If hydrogen with a purity of 9N or higher is required, additional purification equipment is needed for multiple purification processes. This method of obtaining hydrogen and then purifying it is complex and time-consuming. Furthermore, during the transfer of hydrogen to the additional purification equipment, hydrogen loss due to leakage is unavoidable.

[0004] Therefore, in response to the above problems, this application proposes an integrated device for producing ultrapure hydrogen through alkaline water electrolysis. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an integrated device for producing ultrapure hydrogen through alkaline water electrolysis, which solves the problem of obtaining high-purity hydrogen through alkaline water electrolysis. The device purifies the electrolyzed hydrogen twice through a purification module and a metal membrane filter to obtain high-purity hydrogen.

[0006] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve its technical problem is: an integrated device for producing ultrapure hydrogen by electrolysis of alkaline water, including an electrolysis module, wherein the electrolysis module is used for electrolyzing alkaline water;

[0007] A water supply module is connected to an electrolysis module via a pipeline, and the water supply module is used to supply alkaline water to the electrolysis module;

[0008] A purification module, which is connected to the electrolysis module via a pipeline, is used for preliminary filtration of hydrogen gas.

[0009] A metal membrane separator is connected to a purification module via a pipeline. The metal membrane separator is used for secondary filtration of hydrogen. The metal membrane separator includes a shell, which is cylindrical in shape. Three sets of fasteners are connected to the outer wall of the shell. A heat insulation layer is provided on the inner wall of the shell. The heat insulation layer is hollow cylindrical in shape. A metal membrane separation module is provided inside the heat insulation layer. The shape of the metal membrane separation module is adapted to the shape of the heat insulation layer.

[0010] The present invention is further configured such that: the electrolysis module includes an electrolysis cell, the electrolysis cell electrolyzes water to produce hydrogen and oxygen, and the top of the electrolysis cell is connected to a hydrogen separation module and an oxygen separation module, the hydrogen separation module being used to collect the hydrogen generated by electrolysis, and the oxygen separation module being used to collect the oxygen generated by electrolysis.

[0011] The present invention is further configured such that: the pure water tank is connected to a water supply pump and a water seal tank via a pipeline, and the water seal tank is used to collect the wastewater generated by condensation.

[0012] The present invention is further configured such that: the impurity removal module includes a scrubber connected to the hydrogen separator via a pipeline, and a hydrogen cooler and a deoxygenator are connected to one side of the scrubber via a pipeline.

[0013] The present invention is further configured such that: a plurality of through holes are provided on the top of the outer shell, and a pipe connected to the impurity removal module is provided through the through holes.

[0014] The present invention is further configured such that: an electric heating wire is provided on the top of the metal membrane separation module; the metal membrane separation module includes several sets of metal membrane tubes; the metal membrane tubes are configured as hollow cylinders with closed bottoms; and the metal membrane tubes are made of a metal membrane that can only allow hydrogen gas to pass through.

[0015] The present invention is further configured such that: an output tube is provided on one side of the electric heating wire, the output tube is used to discharge the hydrogen gas after secondary purification; and a vacuum pump is provided on one side of the outer shell.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: This invention achieves efficient hydrogen separation and purification through multiple modules, effectively purifying hydrogen generated from water electrolysis to a purity greater than or equal to 99.9999999%. First, the electrolysis module generates hydrogen and oxygen by electrolyzing alkaline water, with a hydrogen purity of approximately 99.9%, requiring further purification. The hydrogen then passes through a scrubber and deoxygenator to remove impurities via a purification module. At this point, the deoxygenated hydrogen enters a metal membrane separator for secondary purification. Utilizing the high selective permeability of the metal membrane, only hydrogen is allowed to pass through, and water vapor and other impurities are removed under high-temperature conditions. Finally, the metal membrane separation module outputs hydrogen with a purity of 99.9999999%, meeting the requirements of industrial applications. This equipment not only effectively removes oxygen and water vapor from the hydrogen but also significantly improves the quality of the hydrogen, reduces the impact of impurities on subsequent equipment, and ensures the reliability and safety of hydrogen in various high-precision applications. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an integrated alkaline water electrolysis device for producing ultrapure hydrogen according to this utility model.

[0019] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The front view.

[0020] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A structural diagram from another perspective.

[0021] Figure 4 This is an exploded schematic diagram of the metal membrane separator in this utility model.

[0022] Figure 5 This is an exploded view of the metal membrane separation module in this utility model.

[0023] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached diagram: 1. Electrolysis module; 11. Electrolytic cell; 12. Hydrogen separation module; 13. Oxygen separation module;

[0024] 2. Water supply module; 21. Pure water tank; 22. Make-up water pump; 23. Water seal tank;

[0025] 3. Electrical cabinet;

[0026] 4. Impurity removal module; 41. Scrubber; 42. Hydrogen cooler; 43. Deoxygenator;

[0027] 5. Metal membrane separator; 51. Outer shell; 511. Through hole; 52. Fixing component; 53. Insulation layer; 54. Metal membrane separation module; 541. Metal membrane tube; 542. Output tube; 55. Electric heating wire; 56. Vacuum pump. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings are simplified schematic diagrams, illustrating only the basic structure of the present invention, and therefore only show the components relevant to the present invention.

[0029] Please see Figures 1-5 An integrated device for producing ultrapure hydrogen by alkaline water electrolysis includes an electrolysis module 1, a water supply module 2, an electrical cabinet 3, a purification module 4, and a metal membrane separator 5. The electrical cabinet 3 is electrically connected to the electrolysis module 1, the water supply module 2, the purification module 4, and the metal membrane separator 5 to provide control and monitoring functions.

[0030] Please see Figure 2 Electrolysis module 1 is used for electrolyzing alkaline water. Electrolysis module 1 includes an electrolytic cell 11, which electrolyzes water to produce hydrogen and oxygen. A hydrogen separation module 12 and an oxygen separation module 13 are connected to the top of the electrolytic cell 11. Specifically, the hydrogen separation module 12 is connected to the negative electrode of the electrolytic cell 11, and the oxygen separation module 13 is connected to the positive electrode of the electrolytic cell 11. When the electrolytic cell 11 electrolyzes water, at the negative electrode of the electrolytic cell 11, water is reduced to hydrogen and hydrogen ions. The hydrogen enters the hydrogen separation module 12 through a pipe. At this time, the purity of the collected hydrogen is below 99.9%, and further purification is required before use. At the positive electrode of the electrolytic cell 11, water is oxidized to produce oxygen and oxygen ions. The oxygen enters the oxygen separation module 13 through a pipe. The collected oxygen can be collected or vented as needed.

[0031] Water supply module 2 is connected to electrolysis module 1 via a pipeline. Water supply module 2 supplies alkaline water to electrolysis module 1. Water supply module 2 includes a pure water tank 21, which is a hollow cube containing an alkaline solution. Pure water tank 21 is connected to a water supply pump 22 and a water seal tank 23 via pipelines. The water seal tank 23 collects the wastewater generated by condensation, and the water supply pump 22 pumps the alkaline solution in pure water tank 21 into electrolysis cell 11 for electrolysis. It should be noted that when the equipment is started, alkaline water with a capacity of 20L should be injected into pure water tank 21.

[0032] The impurity removal module 4, the electrolysis module 1, and the metal membrane separator 5 are connected by a three-way pipe. The impurity removal module 4 is used for preliminary filtration of hydrogen. The impurity removal module 4 includes a scrubber 41 connected to the hydrogen separation module 12 by a pipe. A hydrogen cooler 42 and a deoxygenator 43 are connected to one side of the scrubber 41 by a pipe. The scrubber 41, the deoxygenator 43, and the hydrogen cooler 42 are connected in sequence by pipes. Specifically, when the hydrogen collected in the hydrogen separation module 12 enters the scrubber 41 for dealkalization, it then enters the deoxygenator 43. The deoxygenator 43 is equipped with a target medium. Under the high temperature environment of the deoxygenator 43, the oxygen inside the hydrogen reacts with the target medium to remove the oxygen. Then it enters the hydrogen cooler 42, which can initially cool the hydrogen. During the cooling process, condensate is generated and can be discharged from the pipe at the bottom of the hydrogen cooler 42. At the same time, the monitoring module built into the electrical cabinet 3 monitors the hydrogen purity inside the hydrogen cooler 42 in real time. When the hydrogen purity is higher than 99.9%, the hydrogen inside the hydrogen cooler 42 enters the metal membrane separator 5. This method, where hydrogen is separated and then purified by the impurity removal module 4 before being directly piped into the metal membrane separator 5 for further purification, eliminates the need for traditional hydrogen production processes that require separation in a separate equipment, collection of hydrogen, and purification in a separate or impurity removal equipment. This avoids losses during hydrogen transportation, further saving costs. Moreover, this integrated design also saves space and reduces the equipment's footprint.

[0033] Please see Figure 4 , Figure 5 The metal membrane separator 5 is connected to the impurity removal module 4 via a pipeline. The metal membrane separator 5 is used for secondary filtration of hydrogen and exhaust gas discharge. The metal membrane separator 5 includes a shell 51, which is cylindrical in shape. Three sets of fixing members 52 are connected to the outer wall of the shell 51. The three sets of fixing members 52 are U-shaped and adapted to the shape of the outer wall of the shell 51. The two ends of the three sets of fixing members 52 are fixed to the outer wall of the equipment, thereby providing a stable effect for the metal membrane separator 5 and preventing the metal membrane separator 5 from shaking during operation. The shell 51 contains a heat insulation layer 53, a metal membrane separation module 54, and an electric heating wire 55.

[0034] The insulation layer 53 is designed as a hollow cylindrical structure, which prevents heat from escaping when the outer shell 51 is heated, thus ensuring the heating effect of the electric heating wire 55. A metal membrane separation module 54 is installed inside the insulation layer 53, and the shape of the metal membrane separation module 54 is adapted to the shape of the insulation layer 53. Several sets of through holes 511 are opened on the top of the outer shell 51. Pipes connected to the deoxidizer 43 in the impurity removal module 4 pass through the through holes 511. Hydrogen gas that has undergone deoxidation by the deoxidizer 43 and has a purity higher than 99.9% can enter the metal membrane separation module 54 through the pipes for secondary purification.

[0035] Please see Figure 5 The metal membrane separation module 54 is equipped with an electric heating wire 55 at its top, which heats the module to a temperature of 350°C. The metal membrane separation module 54 is a closed cylinder with gas entering at the top and exiting through an outlet pipe 542 at the bottom. It includes several sets of metal membrane tubes 541, each a hollow cylinder with a closed bottom. The metal membrane tubes 541 are made of a metal membrane that allows only hydrogen to pass through. A fixing component is fitted around each metal membrane tube 541 to ensure that it remains vertically aligned during operation. The metal membrane separation module 54 is equipped with an output pipe 542 at the top, which is used to discharge the purified hydrogen gas. A vacuum pump 56 is provided on one side of the outer casing 51. Before the equipment is turned on, the vacuum pump 56 is started to extract the gas in the pipeline and put the pipeline into a vacuum state. This vacuum state can ensure that the hydrogen gas produced after the equipment is turned on does not contain any residual impurity gas in the pipeline, thus ensuring the purity of the hydrogen gas.

[0036] It should be noted that when hydrogen gas with a purity higher than 99.9% enters the metal membrane separation module 54, the electric heating wire 55 is activated. The electric heating wire 55 can increase the temperature of the metal membrane tube 541, ensuring the hydrogen penetration effect and further removing any remaining water vapor. The electric heating wire 55 raises the temperature of the metal membrane tube 541 to 350°C. The metal membrane tube 541 has excellent hydrogen selective permeability; it can adsorb hydrogen gas at high temperatures and decompose it into hydrogen atoms. Hydrogen atoms diffuse within the metal and pass through the membrane, while other gases (such as oxygen and nitrogen) cannot pass through or pass through very slowly due to their larger molecules. Therefore, they are effectively isolated and cannot diffuse outside the metal membrane tube 541. The hydrogen gas outside the metal membrane tube 541 is enriched inside the metal membrane separation module 54 and discharged through the output pipe 542, collecting hydrogen gas with a purity of 99.9999999%.

[0037] However, temperature alone cannot effectively purify hydrogen. While temperature increases the energy of gas molecules and accelerates their diffusion rate, it is insufficient to separate hydrogen from impurity gases without a pressure difference. Therefore, this equipment uses a pressure difference method for hydrogen purification. The specific purification process is as follows:

[0038] S1. Crude hydrogen enters the metal membrane separation module 54: Crude hydrogen gas enters the metal membrane separation module 54 at a pressure of 1.6 MPa, which contains hydrogen and impurity gases (such as oxygen, nitrogen, etc.).

[0039] S2, Pressure Drop Separation: A pressure drop of approximately 1 MPa occurs within the system, reducing the pressure of the crude hydrogen gas from 1.6 MPa to 0.6 MPa. This pressure drop causes hydrogen molecules to penetrate the metal membrane, while impurity gases, due to their molecular size or poor permeability, cannot pass through the membrane and are trapped on the other side.

[0040] S3. Product hydrogen collection: After pressure drop and permeation through the metal membrane, the purity of hydrogen is improved, and the final product hydrogen is collected at a pressure of about 0.6 MPa. At the same time, during product hydrogen collection, the outlet pressure of product hydrogen can be changed by adjusting the overall pressure of the equipment.

[0041] Based on the above-described preferred embodiments of this utility model, and through the foregoing description, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications without departing from the scope of this utility model. The technical scope of this utility model is not limited to the contents of the specification, but must be determined according to the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An integrated apparatus for producing ultra-pure hydrogen from alkaline water electrolysis, characterized by: Including electrolysis module (1), the electrolysis module (1) is used for electrolyzing basic water; Water supply module (2), the water supply module (2) is communicated with electrolysis module (1) by pipeline, and the water supply module (2) is used to supply basic water to electrolysis module (1); Impurity removal module (4), the impurity removal module (4) is communicated with electrolysis module (1) by pipeline, and the impurity removal module (4) is used to primarily filter hydrogen gas; Metal membrane separator (5), the metal membrane separator (5) is communicated with impurity removal module (4) by pipeline, and the metal membrane separator (5) is used to secondarily filter hydrogen gas;The metal membrane separator (5) includes an outer shell (51), the outer shell (51) is provided as a cylindrical structure, three sets of fixing members (52) are connected to the outer wall of the outer shell (51), a thermal insulation layer (53) is arranged on the inner wall of the outer shell (51), the thermal insulation layer (53) is provided as a hollow cylindrical structure, and a metal membrane separation module (54) is arranged in the thermal insulation layer (53).

2. The integrated apparatus for producing ultra-pure hydrogen from alkaline water electrolysis according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electrolysis module (1) includes an electrolytic tank (11), the electrolytic tank (11) electrolyzes water to generate hydrogen and oxygen, the hydrogen separation module (12) is used to collect the hydrogen generated by electrolysis, and the oxygen separation module (13) is used to collect the oxygen generated by electrolysis.

3. The integrated apparatus for producing ultra-pure hydrogen from alkaline water electrolysis according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water supply module (2) includes a pure water tank (21), the pure water tank (21) is provided as a hollow square box, and the inside thereof is used to place basic solution;The water supply pump (22) and the water seal tank (23) are connected to the pure water tank (21) by pipelines, and the water seal tank (23) is used to collect waste water generated by condensation.

4. The integrated apparatus for producing ultra-pure hydrogen from alkaline water electrolysis according to claim 2, characterized in that: The impurity removal module (4) includes a scrubber (41) connected to the hydrogen separation module (12) by a pipeline, and the hydrogen cooler (42) and the deoxidizer (43) are connected to one side of the scrubber (41) by pipelines.

5. The integrated apparatus for producing ultra-pure hydrogen from alkaline water electrolysis according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of through holes (511) are formed in the top of the outer shell (51), and a pipeline connected to the impurity removal module (4) is arranged in the through holes (511).

6. The integrated apparatus for producing ultra-pure hydrogen from alkaline water electrolysis according to claim 1, characterized in that: The metal membrane separation module (54) is provided with an electric heating wire (55) at the top, and the metal membrane separation module (54) includes a plurality of metal membrane tubes (541), which are provided as hollow cylinders with closed bottoms, and the metal membrane tubes (541) are made of a metal membrane that can only transmit hydrogen.

7. The integrated apparatus for producing ultra-pure hydrogen from alkaline water electrolysis according to claim 6, characterized in that: The electric heating wire (55) is provided with an output pipe (542) on one side, and the output pipe (542) is used to discharge the hydrogen after secondary purification;The outer shell (51) is provided with a vacuum pump (56) on one side.

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