SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN

Description

Domaine technique

[0001] The present invention relates to a system and a method for generating hydrogen for use in a combustion device, more particularly by generating hydrogen through water electrolysis. The present invention also relates to a vehicle incorporating said system. Art antérieur

[0002] Document CA2708139A1 describes a device for generating hydrogen by water electrolysis. This device comprises a series of parallel vertical plates. The plates define sealed cells. Water electrolysis can occur in each of these cells.

[0003] During electrolysis, water is transformed into hydrogen and oxygen gases. Since these gases are lighter than liquid water, they preferentially settle at the top of the cells (as shown on page 7 of this document), while the water preferentially settles at the bottom of the cells as the electrolysis reaction continues. Electrolysis therefore occurs primarily in the lower part of the cells, causing hydrogen production to decrease over time. Furthermore, the system must be oversized to ensure that production remains at a sufficient rate, even with this decrease over time.

[0004] Document US5292405 discloses an electrolysis cell.

[0005] Document US2009 / 166191 A1 discloses an apparatus for generating gas by electrolysis.

[0006] The US3975247 document describes a wastewater treatment and recovery system for usable water and solids.

[0007] Document GB365983 describes an apparatus for the electrolytic revitalization of potassium ferrocyanide formed during the purification of gases by oxidation of hydrogen sulfide with potassium ferricyanide. Résumé de l'invention

[0008] One of the aims of the invention is to provide a device for generating hydrogen by water electrolysis with a less fluctuating rate, and which is particularly compact and lightweight. To this end, the invention proposes a system according to claim 1.

[0009] The device according to the invention generates hydrogen. The hydrogen is then used in the vehicle as a combustion enhancer to significantly improve the combustion efficiency of a hydrocarbon fuel. In the device according to the invention, the fluid is forced to flow from one compartment to another between the inlet and outlet of the chamber. To move from one compartment to the adjacent compartment, it must alternately pass through an opening at the top of the plates and an opening at the bottom. Thus, it must undergo vertical movement within the compartments, which prevents segregation between liquid and gas within the compartments. Consequently, the entire surface area of ​​the plates between the lower and upper openings of a compartment is used to perform electrolysis. This results in a more stable hydrogen production rate than with known devices.

[0010] The device according to the invention is arranged to force the fluid to move in the second direction: in one compartment, the fluid moves upward, and in the next compartment, it moves downward. In other words, a plate does not include both lower and upper openings. Thus, the device according to the invention is clearly distinct from the device described in US patent 2009 / 166191 A1, in which the plates include both lower and upper openings.

[0011] The only openings between compartments are the lower or upper openings. A compartment is preferably delimited on one side by a wall or plate having only one or more lower openings and on the other side, opposite the first side in the first direction, by a wall or plate having only one or more upper openings. Each opening includes at least one hole, for example, a slot.

[0012] The device according to the invention allows all the hydrogen produced to be used directly because the device is portable. This therefore avoids the need to store this highly explosive gas.

[0013] The plates are preferably spaced one or two millimeters apart. The plates are preferably rigid. However, they could be flexible while remaining within the scope of the present invention. The plates are preferably flat. However, they could be curved while remaining within the scope of the present invention. The plates are preferably essentially parallel.

[0014] The fluid passing through the inlet is an aqueous electrolytic solution. This could be, for example, at least partially demineralized water, rainwater, or an aqueous NaOH solution.

[0015] The device is arranged so that the anodes can be connected to a positive electrical potential and the cathodes can be connected to a negative electrical potential.

[0016] In this document, "hydrogen" refers to the dihydrogen molecule. In this document, "oxygen" refers to the dioxygen molecule.

[0017] The inlet preferably includes an opening in the enclosure. The outlet preferably includes an opening in the enclosure.

[0018] The enclosure can be made of polymethyl methacrylate, for example plexiglass.

[0019] In one embodiment of the invention, the lower openings and the upper openings comprise holes through the intermediate plates.

[0020] In one embodiment of the invention, the lower openings and the upper openings comprise a hole through the first end plate and a hole through the second end plate.

[0021] According to the invention, the first end plate is arranged to form the anode and the second end plate is arranged to form the cathode. They are connected to a power supply device. Some of the intermediate plates are arranged to be at a floating electrical potential.

[0022] In other words, some of the intermediate plates are not connected by a solid conductor to an external potential.

[0023] In one embodiment of the invention, the lower and upper openings are slots. The inventor has conducted tests and observed that slots provide better efficiency than a series of holes. Indeed, for equal opening areas, the effects of friction are reduced for a slot compared to holes.

[0024] Preferably, the slits extend along a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions.

[0025] Preferably, each plate has only one slot. This maximizes the contact length between the fluid and the plates.

[0026] Preferably, the slots should be between 70% and 95% of the width of a plate. The width of the plate is its extent along the third direction.

[0027] In one embodiment of the invention, at least two adjacent plates are made of the same material. This simplifies the manufacture of the device and reduces its cost.

[0028] In one embodiment of the invention, the plates are metallic.

[0029] In one embodiment of the invention, the plates are made of stainless steel, and / or platinum, and / or gold.

[0030] In one embodiment of the invention, two consecutive plates are held apart by a gasket or spacer. The gasket or spacer is, for example, made of silicone or rubber.

[0031] According to the invention, the system further comprises: a pump arranged to circulate a fluid between the inlet and outlet, and an electrical supply device connected to the anodes and cathodes.

[0032] The power supply device also preferably allows the pump to be powered.

[0033] In one embodiment of the invention, the system comprises a plurality of hydrogen-generating devices according to the invention, arranged consecutively. The output of the first device according to the invention is fluidly connected to the input of the second device, and so on.

[0034] According to the invention, the system further comprises a combustion device and a fluidic communication means connecting the output to an input of the combustion device.

[0035] For the purposes of this document, a combustion device can be any device in which combustion occurs, preferably the combustion of a fossil fuel. Examples include an internal combustion engine or a combustion boiler.

[0036] The inventor has experimentally determined that a connection before (respectively after) the flow meter reduces CO2 emissions from the combustion device by 70% (respectively 90%). The device according to the invention also reduces fuel consumption of the combustion device.

[0037] In one embodiment of the invention, the fluid communication means includes a filtration device. This device prevents water from being injected into the combustion device.

[0038] In one embodiment of the invention, the fluidic communication means includes a backflow prevention device. This device prevents any backfire.

[0039] The invention further proposes a vehicle comprising a system according to the invention. The device is installed in the vehicle such that the second direction is a vertical direction.

[0040] The invention further proposes a method for generating hydrogen according to claim 14.

[0041] The advantages mentioned for the device apply mutatis mutandis to the method. Brief description of the figures

[0042] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description that follows, for an understanding of which reference should be made to the attached figures, among which: there figure 1 is a side section of a device of a system according to a first embodiment which is not part of the invention; the figure 2 is a side section of a device of a system according to a second embodiment which is not part of the invention; the figure 3 is a side section of a device of a system according to a third embodiment which is not part of the invention; the figure 4a is a front view of a plate 20 used in an embodiment of the device which is not part of the invention; the figure 4b is a front view of a plate 20 used in an embodiment of the device that is not part of the invention; the figure 5a is a front view of a plate 20 used in an embodiment of the device that is not part of the invention; the figure 5b is a front view of a plate 20 used in an embodiment of the device which is not part of the invention; and the figure 6 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a system which is not part of the invention. Methods of implementation

[0043] The drawings or figures described are only schematic and are not limiting.

[0044] In the figures, identical or analogous elements may bear the same references.

[0045] There figure 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view, in a vertical plane, of a device 1 for generating hydrogen.

[0046] There figure 1 This allows us to visualize a preferred possibility for a first direction 101 and a second direction 102, perpendicular to the first direction 101. The first direction 101 corresponds to the overall movement of a fluid in the device 1. It is preferably horizontal. The second direction 102 is preferably vertical.

[0047] Device 1 includes a container 10, an inlet 11 for introducing fluid into the container 10 and an outlet for removing the fluid from the container 10. Device 1 is arranged to conduct the fluid between the inlet 11 and the outlet 12.

[0048] Device 1 comprises plates 20, inside enclosure 10. They are preferably vertical. They are preferably fixed to enclosure 10. The plates 20 are preferably perpendicular to the first direction 101 and spaced along this direction. The plates 20 follow one another along the first direction 101 in the following order: a first end plate 21, a plurality of intermediate plates 25, and a second end plate 22.

[0049] The plates 20 divide at least part of the enclosure 10 into compartments 60. The compartments 60 communicate fluidically with each other only via lower openings 51 and upper openings 52. The lower openings 51 and upper openings 52 allow a fluidic path 100 between the inlet 11 and the outlet 12.

[0050] The lower openings 51 are spatially offset along the second direction 102 relative to the upper openings 52. Thus, the upper openings 52 are higher than the lower openings 51.

[0051] The fluid moving within device 1 passes from one compartment 60 to the other, alternately passing through at least one lower opening 51 and at least one upper opening 52. In other words, the fluid path 100 within device 1 has an ascending and descending shape, for example, a sinusoidal or serpentine shape. Fluid passage between two consecutive compartments is possible only through one or more lower openings or one or more upper openings, but not simultaneously through one or more lower openings and one or more upper openings.

[0052] During its fluidic path 100 in device 1, the fluid undergoes an electrolysis reaction which causes it to undergo at least a partial chemical transformation and a partial phase change. At inlet 11, the fluid is essentially an aqueous liquid solution. At outlet 12, the fluid contains hydrogen and oxygen gases. Between inlet 11 and outlet 12, the fluid comprises a mixture of liquid and gas.

[0053] Outlet 12 could include a plurality of passages, for example a first passage arranged to remove the liquid part of the fluid and a second passage arranged to remove the gaseous part of the fluid.

[0054] The plates 20 are capable of conducting electricity. At least one of the plates is arranged to form an anode 31 and at least one of the plates is arranged to form a cathode 32. The anode 31 and the cathode 32 are arranged to be connected to a power supply device 5 203 ( Figure 6 ).

[0055] The first end plate 21 forms the anode and the second end plate 22 forms the cathode. At least some of the intermediate plates 25 are arranged to be at a floating electrical potential. Thus, the electrical potential of the intermediate plates 25 is determined by ambient conditions, and in particular by the potentials of the first end plate 21 and the second end plate 22.

[0056] Preferably, all 20 plates are made of the same material. In particular, two consecutive plates are preferably made of the same material. This material is preferably a metal, for example stainless steel.

[0057] Preferably, the plates 20 are separated from each other by joints or spacers (not shown) located near the connections of the plates 20 to the enclosure 10.

[0058] A seal (not shown) may also be present at the junction between each plate and the enclosure, in order to ensure the sealing of this junction.

[0059] THE figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of device 1 in which the lower openings 51 and the upper openings 52 include holes through the intermediate plates 25, at least one hole through the first end plate 21 and at least one hole through the second end plate 22.

[0060] THE figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of device 1 in which the lower openings 51 and the upper openings 52 include holes between the plates 20 and the enclosure 10.

[0061] THE figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of device 1 in which the lower openings 51 and the upper openings 52 include holes through the intermediate plates 25, and in which the first end plate 21 and the second end plate 22 are sealed.

[0062] As illustrated in figures 1 à 3 It is preferable that the inlet 11 be offset along the second direction 102 relative to the first opening. It is also preferable that the outlet 12 be offset along the second direction 102 relative to the last opening.

[0063] According to the invention, the plurality of plates comprises, in this order: the first end plate 21 which forms a first anode 31, intermediate plates 25 at a floating electrical potential, an intermediate plate 25 which forms a first cathode 32, intermediate plates 25 at a floating electrical potential, an intermediate plate 25 which forms a second anode 31, intermediate plates 25 at a floating electrical potential, potentially other plates, and the second end plate 22 which forms an ixth cathode 32.

[0064] Within the framework of the present invention, the respective positions of the anode and the cathode can be reversed.

[0065] There figure 4a is a front view of a plate 20 comprising circular holes which close lower openings 51.

[0066] There figure 4b is a front view of a plate 20 comprising a slot which forms a lower opening 51. The plate 20 comprises only one slot. The slot extends along a third direction 103 which is perpendicular to the first 101 and the second 102 direction.

[0067] There figure 5a is a front view of a plate 20 comprising circular holes which close upper openings 52.

[0068] There figure 5b is a front view of a plate 20 comprising a slot that forms a top opening 52. The plate 20 comprises only one slot. The slot extends along the third direction 103.

[0069] There figure 6This diagram illustrates an embodiment of a system comprising one or more hydrogen-generating devices 1, a fluid reservoir 201, and a pump 202 circulating the fluid from the reservoir 201 to, through, and downstream of the device 1. The system further includes a power supply device 203 that provides power to the pump 202 and the hydrogen-generating device 1. Preferably, the power supply to the device 1 is controlled by a controller 204 that regulates hydrogen production, for example, the current between the electrodes and / or the electrode potential. The power supply device 203 is connected to the anode 31 and cathode 32 of the device 1.

[0070] The system further includes a combustion device 206, one input of which is connected by a fluidic communication means to the output 12 of device 1 to generate hydrogen.

[0071] This fluid communication system preferably includes one or more filtration devices 205 and / or one or more non-return devices 205. Filtration removes any remaining water from the fluid. To perform this filtration, the fluid may pass back through reservoir 201 so that the remaining water is retained in reservoir 201. The filtration device may include at least one bubbler. The non-return device prevents any backflow of fluid and / or any flashback. It includes, for example, a valve.

[0072] The fluid entering the combustion device 206 preferably consists only of hydrogen and / or oxygen. To enter the combustion device 206, the fluid preferably passes through an injector, an air filter, or an intake manifold via auxiliary injectors.

[0073] In addition, the system may include fans (not shown) arranged to cool device 1.

[0074] In addition, the system may include a fluid level control gauge in tank 201. Thanks to this, in the case of a vehicle, the dashboard can display the fluid level in tank 201.

[0075] In other words, the invention relates to a hydrogen generator using electrolysis, particularly applicable in the automotive, maritime, and railway industries, without limitation. In the generator according to the invention, the fluid is forced to follow a path with upward and downward movements to prevent any segregation between the liquid water and the hydrogen and oxygen produced by electrolysis.

Claims

1. System comprising: - at least one device (1) for reducing the fuel consumption of a vehicle, said at least one device (1) comprising: • an enclosure (10), • an inlet (11) for bringing a fluid into the device (1), • an outlet (12) for removing the fluid from the device (1), • a plurality of conductive plates (20) arranged in the enclosure (10) so as to delimit compartments (60), the plurality of plates (20) comprising, in a first direction (101), a first end plate (21), intermediate plates (25) and a second end plate (22), the plurality of plates (20) comprising, in this order: - the first end plate (21) which forms a first anode (31), - intermediate plates (25) at a floating electric potential, - an intermediate plate (25) which forms a first cathode (32), - intermediate plates (25) at a floating electric potential, - an intermediate plate (25) which forms a second anode (31), - intermediate plates (25) at a floating electric potential, - the second end plate (22) which forms a second cathode (32), the at least one device (1) comprising alternating lower openings (51) and upper openings (52) arranged to allow a fluid path (100) between the inlet (11) and the outlet (12), a fluid passage between two consecutive compartments (60) being possible only by one or more lower opening(s) (51) or by one or more upper opening(s) (52), the lower openings (51) being offset from the upper openings (52) in a second direction (102) perpendicular to the first direction (101), so that, when the second direction (102) is a vertical direction, in one compartment (60) the fluid moves upwards, and in the following compartment the fluid moves downwards; - a pump (202) arranged to circulate a fluid between the inlet (11) and the outlet (12); - an electricity supply device connected to the anodes (31) and the cathodes (32); - a combustion device (206); and - a fluid communication means connecting the outlet (12) to an inlet of the combustion device (206) .

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the lower openings (51) and the upper openings (52) comprise holes passing through the intermediate plates (25).

3. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the lower openings (51) and the upper openings (52) comprise a hole through the first end plate (21) and a hole through the second end plate (22).

4. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower openings (51) and the upper openings (52) are slots.

5. System according to the preceding claim, in which each of the plates comprises only one slot.

6. A system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the slots are between 70% and 95% of the width of a plate.

7. System according to any one of the preceding claims, in which two consecutive plates (20) are kept apart by a seal or a spacer.

8. System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein all of the plates of the plurality of plates (20) are rectangular in shape and elongated in the second direction (102).

9. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein all of the plurality of plates (20) are made of the same material.

10. System according to the preceding claim, in which the fluid communication means comprises a filtration device.

11. System according to the preceding claim, in which the fluid communication means comprises a non-return device.

12. Vehicle, for example car, comprising a system according to any one of the preceding claims.

13. Vehicle, for example car, comprising a system according to any one of claims 1 to 11 in which the second direction (102) is vertical.

14. A method for generating hydrogen comprising the steps of: (a) providing a system according to any one of claims 1 to 11 or a vehicle according to claim 12, (b) supplying fluid to the inlet (11) of the at least one device (1) and circulating the fluid between the inlet (11) and the outlet (12) of the at least one device (1), and (c) applying a potential difference between the first anode (31) and the first cathode (32), and between the second anode (31) and the second cathode (32).