Processing apparatus for processing of water for an electrolyser, processing system and method of processing

Abstract

The invention relates to a processing apparatus (1) for processing of water for an electrolyser (2), having a feed water dispenser (3) for provision of feed water (4), a steam compression still (5), especially a mechanical steam compression still (5), for prepurification of the feed water (4) provided, wherein the steam compression still (5) is set up to produce distillate (6) and concentrate (7) from the feed water (4) provided, a concentrate drain (8) for draining of the concentrate, and a distillate feed (9) to feed at least a portion of the distillate to an electrolyser (2) or a cooling water reservoir (10) of an electrolyser (2).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] title

[0003] Treatment device for treating water for an electrolyzer, treatment system and method for treatment

[0004] State of the art

[0005] The electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen is usually carried out within civilized infrastructure, in cities or industrial areas. However, the desired future of CO2-neutral hydrogen production also requires the electrolysis to be carried out in remote regions, particularly offshore, using wind energy, or in deserts using solar or wind energy. To carry out electrolysis efficiently, pure water is required, which must be even purer than drinking water. This requires water treatment, which can particularly treat water with high salt content and contaminants in remote regions. Water treatment for electrolysis is usually achieved using reverse osmosis in combination with ion exchangers.

[0006] Currently known electrolyzer systems, consisting of an electrolyzer and a water treatment unit, are only suitable for use in remote areas to a limited extent due to their high maintenance requirements, which significantly increase operating costs. Furthermore, most electrolyzer systems are subjected to chemical cleaning. Regular cleaning increases service life while simultaneously reducing maintenance intervals. These lead to chemical emissions that harm the environment and thus jeopardize the sustainability of the electrolyzer's carbon-neutral concept. Disclosure of the Invention

[0007] A treatment device for treating water for an electrolyzer is proposed, comprising a feed water dispenser for providing feed water, a vapor compression distillator, in particular a mechanical vapor compression distillator, for pre-purifying the provided feed water, wherein the vapor compression distillator is designed to produce distillate and concentrate from the provided feed water, a concentrate discharge for discharging the first concentrate, and a distillate feed for feeding at least part of the distillate to an electrolyzer or a cooling water reservoir of an electrolyzer.

[0008] The feed water can be contaminated water available in the region, for example, in a remote area. This can be seawater, lake water, rainwater, or brackish water. This is made available to the treatment device via a feed water storage tank or a feed water pump, i.e., a feed water dispenser. A feed water dispenser can be anything capable of supplying the treatment device with feed water.

[0009] The steam compression distiller is used to purify the pre-water to separate salts and other impurities from the pre-water, producing distillate, or very pure water. The steam compression distiller works by compressing steam. It is also possible to compress the steam using a mechanical device, such as a steam compressor. The generated steam is fed to a heat exchange condenser, which converts the steam back into water. The resulting distillate is partially removed or stored, while the heat extracted by condensation is transferred to the pre-water. The water treatment process produces distillate, or pure water, with a pH value of approximately 7. This protects both the components of the treatment device from calcification.

[0010] A mechanical vapor compression distiller prefers a temperature range of 70°C to 85°C to produce distillate. This has a positive effect on corrosion protection and reduces biological contamination.

[0011] The treatment device easily produces distillate of sufficient quality for feeding to an electrolyzer or an electrolyzer's cooling water storage tank. The distillate can be used as process and / or cooling water.

[0012] It is advantageous if an electrodeionizer is provided for the subsequent purification of the distillate, wherein the electrodeionizer is connected downstream of the vapor compression distillator.

[0013] The electrodeionizer can form a second stage of water treatment using the treatment device. One advantage of the electrodeionizer is that it produces ultrapure water and a second concentrate, i.e., a concentrated salt solution, from the distillate coming from the vapor compression distiller. Subsequent purification here means that the purity of the distillate is further increased. This subsequent purification may be necessary for the use of ultrapure water as process water for the electrolyzer, so as not to impair the service life of the electrolyzer. The concentrated salt solution can either be disposed of or returned to the feed water.

[0014] Furthermore, it is conceivable that an electrodialyzer is provided for pretreatment of the feed water.

[0015] The electrodialyzer is fluidly connected to the vapor compression distiller and the feed water. It can form a third stage of water treatment using a treatment device. The mineralization of the feed water by the concentrate concentrated in the electrodialyzer serves to prevent calcification of the treatment device. The product water of the electrodialyzer, which is a solution with a low pH value, primarily protects the vapor compression distiller from calcification. During operation of the electrodialyzer, the use of decalcification chemicals is eliminated. This allows for shorter maintenance intervals and thus reduces personnel and maintenance costs.

[0016] It is also advantageous if an external distillate storage is provided to store additional distillate produced from the vapor compression distillator.

[0017] This allows distillate to be stored, which can be used for other processes or, after remineralization, as distillate for human consumption. This is particularly advantageous when used in remote regions, as there is often no distillate source available in these areas.

[0018] Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous if the treatment system is designed to be mobile. This allows for location-independent use of the treatment device and easy transport.

[0019] It is also conceivable that a heater is provided for the supply water, wherein the heater is designed to heat the supply water to a temperature of 5 to 30°C, preferably 10 to 25°C.

[0020] This enables efficient processing of the pre-water in the steam compression distiller. This shortens the start-up process for treating the pre-water during a cold start.

[0021] In a second aspect, a treatment system comprising a treatment device described above and an electrolyzer and / or a cooling water reservoir of an electrolyzer is proposed. The use of the distillate from the treatment device, after further treatment to ultrapure water, is particularly suitable as product water for the media circuit because it is particularly pure, meaning that the product water is purer than the distillate. Furthermore, the distillate and / or the product water can have a cooling function in the respective circuit through which it flows.

[0022] In a third aspect, a method for treating water, in particular process water, for an electrolyzer with a treatment device as described above is presented, comprising the following steps:

[0023] - Providing feed water from a feed water dispenser,

[0024] - Pre-cleaning the feed water by means of a steam compression distiller, producing distillate and a first concentrate;

[0025] - Discharge of the first concentrate by means of a concentrate discharge;

[0026] - feeding at least part of the distillate to an electrolyzer or a cooling water reservoir of an electrolyzer by means of a distillate feed.

[0027] The process makes it possible to easily produce distillate of sufficient quality for feeding into an electrolyzer or an electrolyzer's cooling water storage tank. The distillate can be used as process and / or cooling water.

[0028] Furthermore, an electrodeionizer can be provided, which further purifies the distillate, producing purified distillate and a second concentrate, which is fed to the electrolyzer or the cooling water storage tank. The distillate feed is interrupted by the electrodeionizer, and supplies distillate first and then purified distillate.

[0029] The additional purification of the distillate increases the purity of the water.

[0030] The higher the purity of the distillate, the better it is suited for potential use in an electrolyzer. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the second concentrate is at least partially, or especially completely, added to the feed water by the electrolyzer.

[0031] The second concentrate is used to prevent calcification of the components of the treatment system, especially the vapor compression distiller. This allows the use of chemicals to be reduced or even eliminated altogether. This can reduce maintenance and personnel costs.

[0032] A further advantage is when the water from the electrolyzer or the electrolyzer's cooling water tank is fed to the electrodeionizer for further purification.

[0033] This provides a purification step for a downstream device, in this case an electrolyzer. This allows, for example, product water or cooling water to be reprocessed or partially replaced.

[0034] Additionally, it is conceivable to provide an electrodialyzer, through which the first concentrate from the steam compression distillation is at least partially, in particular completely, demineralized, the demineralized water is removed, and the minerals are added to the feed water. The electrodialyzer thus divides the first concentrate from the steam compression distillation into two products: a base, which is removed, and an acid, which is returned to the feed water.

[0035] Pretreatment of the feed water with the acid generated in the electrodialyzer serves to prevent scaling of the treatment device, primarily the vapor compression distiller. This avoidance of scaling eliminates the need for chemicals for descaling. Since the use of chemicals is reduced or eliminated entirely, maintenance intervals can be shortened, thus reducing personnel and maintenance costs. A further advantage is the ability to feed a second portion of the pre-purified distillate into an external distillate storage tank. This makes it possible to provide distillate for further processes or for people in remote regions.

[0036] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the feed water is preheated to a temperature of 5 to 30°C, preferably 10 to 25°C. This enables efficient processing of the feed water in the steam compression distiller. This allows the distiller to save energy and treat the feed water efficiently.

[0037] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which describes exemplary embodiments of the invention in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description may be essential to the invention individually or in any combination.

[0038] These show:

[0039] Figure 1 schematic representation of a processing device;

[0040] Figure 2 schematic representation of a processing system;

[0041] Figure 3 schematic representation of a process.

[0042] Detailed description of the drawings

[0043] Fig. 1 shows a treatment device 1 for treating water for an electrolyzer 2, comprising a pre-water dispenser 3 for providing pre-water 4, a vapor compression distillator 5, in particular a mechanical vapor compression distillator 5, for pre-purifying the provided pre-water 4, wherein the vapor compression distillator 5 is designed to produce distillate 6 and a first concentrate 7 from the provided pre-water 4, a concentrate discharge 8 for discharging the first concentrate 7, and a distillate feed 9 for feeding at least a portion of the distillate 7 to an electrolyzer 2 or a cooling water reservoir 10 of an electrolyzer 2.

[0044] For the subsequent purification of the distillate 6, the treatment device 1 according to Fig. 1 provides an electrodeionizer 11. During the purification process, this separates high-purity distillate 6 and the second concentrate 12. The distillate 6 is fed via the distillate feed 9 to the electrolyzer 2 or the cooling water reservoir 10 of an electrolyzer 2. The second concentrate 12 contains acid and is fed to the pre-water 4 for pretreatment or removed from the treatment device 1. This is functionally connected downstream of the vapor compression distillator 5.

[0045] To prevent calcification of the treatment device 1, in particular the vapor compression distiller 5, an electrodialyzer 13 is provided. This uses the first concentrate 7 from the vapor compression distiller 5. This produces a second concentrate 12 with a low pH value, which is fed to the pre-water 4 and water, which is then discharged.

[0046] Furthermore, an external distillate storage 15 is provided to additionally store distillate 6 produced from the vapor compression distillator 5.

[0047] Furthermore, the processing system 17 is designed to be mobile.

[0048] For efficient treatment, particularly for faster heating of the pre-water 4 during a cold start, a heater 16 for the pre-water 4 is provided in the treatment device 1. The heater 16 is designed to heat the pre-water 4 to a temperature of 5 to 30°C.

[0049] Fig. 2 shows a treatment system 17 with a treatment device 1 according to Fig. 1 and an electrolyzer 2 and / or a cooling water reservoir 10 of an electrolyzer 2. Fig. 3 and Fig. 1 show the method 100 for treating water for an electrolyzer 2 with a treatment device 1 described above with the following steps:

[0050] - Providing 110 pre-water 4 from a pre-water dispenser 3,

[0051] - Pre-cleaning 120 of the pre-water 4 by means of a vapor compression distillator 5, whereby the distillate 6 and the first concentrate 7 are produced;

[0052] - Discharge 130 of the first concentrate 7 by means of a concentrate discharge 8;

[0053] - feeding 140 at least a part of the distillate 6 to an electrodeionizer 11 and the other part into the external distillate storage 15,

[0054] - Purification 150 of the distillate 6 by means of the electrodeionizer 11, whereby purified distillate 18 and a second concentrate 12 are produced

[0055] - Feeding 160 of the purified distillate 18 into the electrolyzer 2 or a cooling water reservoir 10 of an electrolyzer 2 by means of a distillate feed 9.

[0056] In this case, a portion of the second concentrate 12 is removed from the entire treatment device 1 170 and another portion is again fed to the pre-water 4 for pre-treatment 180.

[0057] Furthermore, the electrolyzer 2 or the cooling water reservoir 10 of the electrolyzer 2 can supply water to the electrodeionizer 11 for further purification 190, as shown schematically in Fig. 2.

[0058] In order to prevent the calcification of the treatment device 1, in particular of the vapor compression distiller 5, a further demineralization 200 is provided by an electrodialyzer 13. The alkaline water 19 is then discharged 210 and the acidic water 14 is fed to the pre-water 4. To provide distillate 6 for humans or further processes, a second part of the pre-purified distillate 6 is fed 230 to an external distillate storage 15. Furthermore, for an accelerated cold start of the process 100 for

[0059] For the treatment of preliminary water, a heater 16 is provided, by which the preliminary water 4 is preheated to a temperature of 5 to 30°C.

Claims

Claims 1. Treatment device (1) for treating water for an electrolyzer (2), comprising a pre-water dispenser (3) for providing pre-water (4), a vapor compression distillator (5), in particular a mechanical vapor compression distillator (5), for pre-purifying the provided pre-water (4), wherein the vapor compression distillator (5) is designed to produce a distillate (6) and a first concentrate (7) from the provided pre-water (4), a concentrate discharge (8) for discharging the first concentrate (7), and a distillate feed (9) for feeding at least part of the distillate to an electrolyzer (2) or a cooling water reservoir (10) of an electrolyzer (2).

2. Treatment device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that an electrodeionizer (11) is provided for the subsequent purification of the distillate (6), wherein the electrodeionizer (11) is connected downstream of the vapor compression distillator (5).

3. Treatment device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an electrodialyzer (13) is provided for post-treatment of the first concentrate (7) of the vapor compression distillator (5) and pre-treatment of the preliminary water (4).

4. Treatment device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an external distillate storage (15) is provided in order to additionally store distillate (6) produced from the vapor compression distillator (5).

5. Processing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing device (1) is designed to be mobile.

6. Treatment device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a heater (16) is provided for the preliminary water (4), wherein the heater (16) is designed to heat the preliminary water (4) to a temperature of 5 to 30°C, preferably 10 to 25°C.

7. Treatment system (17) with a treatment device (1) according to one of the preceding claims and an electrolyzer (2) and / or a cooling water reservoir (10) of an electrolyzer (2).

8. A method (100) for treating water for an electrolyzer (2) with a treatment device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6; comprising the following steps: - Providing (110) pre-water (4) from a pre-water dispenser (3), - pre-cleaning (120) the preliminary water (4) by means of a vapor compression distillator (5), whereby a distillate (6) and a first concentrate (7) are produced; - discharging (130) the first concentrate (7) by means of a concentrate discharge (8); - feeding (160) at least a portion of the distillate (6) to an electrolyzer (2) or a cooling water reservoir (10) of an electrolyzer (2) by means of a distillate feed (9).

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that an electrodeionizer (11) is provided, by means of which the distillate (6) is further purified (150), whereby further purified distillate (18) and a second concentrate (12) are produced, whereby the further purified distillate (18) is fed (160) to the electrolyzer (2) or to the cooling water reservoir (10).

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the second concentrate (12) is supplied (180) at least partially, in particular completely, to the preliminary water (4) by the electrodeionizer (11).

11. Method according to one of the preceding claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the water from the electrolyzer (2) or the cooling water reservoir (10) of the electrolyzer (2) is fed to the electrodeionizer (11) for further purification (190).

12. Method according to one of the preceding claims 8 to 11, characterized in that an electrodialyzer (13) is provided, by means of which the first concentrate (7) of the vapor compression distillator (5) is at least partially, in particular completely, demineralized (200), the demineralized water (19), in particular a base, is discharged (210) and the minerals, in particular an acid, are fed (220) to the preliminary water (4).

13. Method according to one of the preceding claims 8 to 12, characterized in that a second part of the pre-purified distillate (6) is fed (230) to an external distillate storage (15).

14. Method according to one of the preceding claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the preliminary water (4) is preheated (240) to a temperature of 5 to 30°C, preferably 10 to 25°C.

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