Water electrolysis system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a water electrolyzer system (1) for producing hydrogen, comprising an electrolysis stack (8) for converting water into hydrogen, power electronics (12) for converting alternating current into direct current for powering the electrolysis stack (8), a number of components (56, 64, 72, 80) for media processing of working media fed to and discharged from the electrolysis stack (8), and a control unit (18) for controlling the electrolysis stack (8), the power electronics (12) and the number of components (56, 64, 72, 80) for media processing, wherein at least the electrolysis stack (8), the power electronics (12) and the control unit (18) together form an electrolyzer module (36), and the number of components (56, 64, 72, 80) for media processing and media transport together form a process module (52). The modules (36, 52) are provided with matable portions (32, 40, 48, 84) through which the individual modules (36, 52) can be fluidly and electrically mated to one another.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a water electrolysis cell system for producing hydrogen. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a hydrogen plant including at least one such water electrolysis cell system.

Background Art

[0002] The main part of a PEM water electrolysis cell is an electrolysis stack. Here, the general trend for industrial hydrogen production is towards very high-power units with several MW of power. In addition, there are various supply units in the electrolysis cell, namely the so-called Balance of Plant (BoP). These units are a water pump, a gas-water separator, an ion filter, a heat exchanger, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a gas sensor, an ultrapure water processing unit, a hydrogen post-treatment and purification unit, a transformer, a rectifier, a control unit, a control unit, cables, pipes, valves. How these components are connected to each other, and whether these components manage one stack or multiple stacks at that time, depends on the manufacturer's design freedom and judgment freedom. Depending on the design principle, various organized and assembled units may be advantageous.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an offshore power plant having a plurality of individual power plants, each of these power plants having a unique energy storage device. At that time, the power plants are electrically coupled to a busbar. The energy storage device has an electrolysis cell, and using the electrolysis cell, hydrogen and oxygen can be produced from water and stored in a pressure tank. A fuel cell device is arranged in the energy storage device, and the fuel cell device can generate electrical energy from hydrogen.

[0004] Patent Document 2 describes a system for energy generation and energy management. This system includes multiple solar panels and multiple wind power plants for energy generation. The system has one or more electrolytic cells, which can be used to produce hydrogen and oxygen from water.

[0005] When constructing electrolytic cells on-site for a customer (for example, next to a solar field), the main cost issues are transportation to the construction site, assembly costs, and commissioning. While delivering components individually might be preferable for transportation, assembly and commissioning require significant time and labor costs. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] German Patent Application Publication No. 10055973A1 [Patent Document 2] German Utility Model Registration No. 202019003849U1 Specification [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a water electrolytic cell system that allows for simpler, faster, and more cost-effective construction of such a system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] This problem is solved by a water electrolytic cell system having the configuration of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims.

[0009] The present invention presents a water electrolytic cell system for producing hydrogen. The water electrolytic cell system includes at least an electrolytic stack for converting water into hydrogen, power electronics for supplying power to the electrolytic stack, a plurality of components for media processing and media transport of a working medium supplied to and discharged from the electrolytic stack, and a control unit for controlling the electrolytic stack, the power electronics, and the plurality of components for media processing and media transport. At least the electrolytic stack, the power electronics, and the control unit together form an electrolytic cell module, and the plurality of components for media processing and media transport together form a process module, in which case the module is provided with a coupling section, and the individual modules can be fluidly and electrically coupled to each other via the coupling section.

[0010] In an advantageous embodiment, the electrolytic stack is a PEM electrolytic stack. A module, in the sense of this invention, is interpreted as a structural unit produced together in a manufacturing plant. Preferably, these modules are produced automatically. After manufacturing, the modules are transported, for example, by truck or ship, to the location where the hydrogen plant is to be installed or expanded. According to this invention, the electrolytic cell system consists only of an assembly of electrolytic modules, process modules, and control modules. In this case, some of these modules may be provided depending on the size of the hydrogen plant. Automated production within the plant significantly reduces the time and labor costs of assembling and combining individual components, as well as the cost of such a plant.

[0011] In this configuration, modules can be configured and expanded according to modular design principles. Additionally, the modular configuration reduces transportation costs because combining individual components into modules reduces the amount of operation required to transport all components to the site. To ensure the excellent transportability of the electrolytic cell modules, the electrolytic stack has a maximum power of 1 MW. With such power, its weight does not exceed the limits required for transportability. Preferably, the power of the electrolytic stack is between 500 kW and 1500 kW. At the site, multiple modules can be connected, for example, via standardized coupling parts. Therefore, only the wires between these coupling parts are needed, thereby reducing the number of wires. This also reduces the cost of connecting modules to each other. In advantageous embodiments, the electrolytic cell modules or the entire water electrolytic cell system are housed in a shipping container housing.

[0012] In a more advantageous configuration, the power electronics are configured to convert alternating current to direct current. A direct current must be applied to the electrolytic stack. If alternating current is supplied to the water electrolytic cell system, a corresponding conversion is necessary.

[0013] In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the connectable portion is formed as a plug connector and / or a flange connector. The use of plug connectors and flange connectors has the advantage that the connector does not need to be manufactured, for example, through cumbersome welding. This reduces the cost to welders. Furthermore, the connector can be quickly formed, for example, by tightening screws. This allows multiple modules to be joined quickly and cost-effectively.

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, modules are coupled to each other using only prefabricated working medium tubes and current lines. In other words, the prefabricated working medium tubes and current lines are already manufactured, for example, in an automated production process. These are connected only to connect the coupling parts. Therefore, there is no need to lay coupling lines unnecessarily. This also significantly reduces the manufacturing cost and time required for such a water electrolytic cell system.

[0015] Particularly advantageous is that the current lines are implemented as a common current rail protruding into both the electrolytic cell module and the process module. All power-consuming devices in the electrolytic cell module and the process module can be connected to the current rail, and as a result, current can be supplied only through this current rail, which is advantageous.

[0016] In an advantageous configuration, a process module is coupled with multiple electrolytic cell modules. This allows such a water electrolytic cell system to be scaled to a larger plant. Depending on the performance, the individual components for media processing and media transport may be attached to the process module, i.e., to supply multiple electrolytic cell modules, or they may be attached to the individual electrolytic cell modules themselves, i.e., to supply only one electrolytic cell module at a time. Thus, the water electrolytic cell system plant remains variable, particularly in terms of its rated output.

[0017] In advantageous embodiments, the electrolytic cell module has multiple electrolytic stacks. This is particularly advantageous if the size of the construction space (e.g., a shipping container) correspondingly allows for the arrangement of multiple electrolytic stacks within the electrolytic cell module. Furthermore, this is advantageous if the multiple electrolytic stacks allow for the division of the control unit of the electrolytic cell module.

[0018] Preferably, the coupling section is formed such that the data coupling section and the current coupling section can be coupled via a common plug. Therefore, the plug has contacts for forming the current coupling section and contacts for the data coupling section. Thus, only one plug is needed to ensure both current and data coupling. The advantage of this plug design is that it eliminates the need for tools to prepare and connect current and data cables. This allows for quick and easy coupling. In advantageous embodiments, the plug is designed to prevent accidental replacement, and as a result, even those unfamiliar with the art can accurately connect the plug to this area.

[0019] In a more advantageous configuration, the process module additionally includes a pump to circulate water through the electrolytic stack. Placing the pump within the process module has the advantage that the pump can supply multiple electrolytic cell modules.

[0020] In an alternative, advantageous further configuration, the electrolytic cell module has a pump to circulate water through the electrolytic stack. Placing the pump in the electrolytic cell module instead of in the process module has the advantage of allowing the use of a smaller pump for each electrolytic cell module. In addition, in the event of a pump failure, only the electrolytic cell module where the pump is located is stopped, rather than all electrolytic cell modules being shut down. This allows the water electrolytic cell system to remain operational further, thus providing redundancy. In the case of a pump, if a defect leads to metal shavings being introduced into the electrolytic stack, only that electrolytic stack needs to be replaced, rather than the entire electrolytic stack.

[0021] In advantageous configurations, the modules are formed such that their size is less than or equal to the size of a shipping container. The size of such shipping containers is determined according to ISO standards. The advantage of such containers is that they can be easily transported by ship, rail, or truck. Therefore, transporting the modules to the installation site does not require heavy lifting or special transport routes. This significantly reduces the cost and time required for transporting the components.

[0022] In a further advantageous embodiment, both the electrolytic cell module and the control unit have a common coupling point to the process module. This common coupling point is interpreted as the connection point of the control unit and the connection point of the electrolytic cell module being directly adjacent to each other. Therefore, the process module only needs to be coupled to the common coupling point. This further simplifies module coupling, and as a result, only current lines and process lines need to be provided between the common coupling point and the process module.

[0023] In this configuration, the common coupling portion is arranged in an advantageous manner such that, when positioning multiple modules, the distance between the common coupling portion and the coupling portion provided on the process module is minimized, or they are arranged to directly face each other.

[0024] According to an advantageous embodiment, a plurality of electrolyzer modules form a common connection possibility portion for a process module. Thus, the plurality of electrolyzer modules are arranged in a single common housing. Inside the housing, the process lines and data lines of the electrolyzer modules are connected to each other, providing, in the housing, only one connection possibility portion common to all electrolyzer modules for the process module. The mutual connection of the plurality of electrolyzer modules is preferably automated and carried out during the manufacturing process of these modules. Thereby, since it is not necessary to form these modules on-site, the manufacturing cost of connecting the plurality of electrolyzer modules to each other is reduced. Therefore, only the connection portion between the common connection possibility portion and the process module needs to be manufactured.

[0025] In addition, a hydrogen plant including at least one such water electrolyzer system is presented. By such a hydrogen plant, substantially the advantages described above can be obtained. That is, such a hydrogen plant can be constructed quickly, economically, and easily. Also, the modular configuration ensures easy expandability of the hydrogen plant, particularly its rated output.

[0026] Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in more detail in the following description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027] [Figure 1] It is a diagram showing a water electrolyzer system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing a water electrolyzer system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0028] Figure 1 shows a water electrolytic cell system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The water electrolytic cell system 1 according to this embodiment includes two electrolytic modules 4, each of which has one electrolytic stack 8 (shown for only one electrolytic module) for converting water to hydrogen. In addition, power electronics 12 are located within the electrolytic module 4, and via the power electronics, the supplied alternating current is advantageously converted to a direct current. Furthermore, a pump 16 is located within the electrolytic module 4 to circulate water or a working medium through the electrolytic stack 8.

[0029] The water electrolysis cell system 1 further includes a control unit 18 located within a controller 20. The control unit 18 is coupled to the electrolysis module 4 via control data lines 24 to control the electrolysis stack 8, power electronics 12, and pump 16. The control data lines 24, along with current lines 28, are connected to a common first electrolysis module coupling unit 32. Both lines 24 and 28 may be coupled to the first electrolysis module coupling unit 32, which is formed as a female connector, via a common plug.

[0030] In this embodiment, both electrolytic modules 4 and the control unit 18 are housed in a common electrolytic cell module 36, which is advantageously located within a housing, for example, a shipping container. A second electrolytic module coupling unit 40 is provided in the electrolytic module 4, and via the second electrolytic module coupling unit, a plurality of working medium tubes 44 of the electrolytic module 4 are coupled to a common housing coupling unit 48. The control data lines 24 of the control unit 18 are also connected to this common housing coupling unit 48.

[0031] The water electrolytic cell system 1 further includes a process module 52 having various components for processing and conditioning the working medium. In the embodiment shown, the process module 52 has a heat exchanger 56, which cools the cooling water for the power electronics 12 and the water for the electrolytic stack 8. For this purpose, the heat exchanger 56 is coupled to a cooling water connection 60. In addition, a cathode gas-water separator 64 is located within the process module 52, in which hydrogen coming from the cathode is separated from the cathode working medium and guided to a hydrogen connection 68.

[0032] Furthermore, an anode gas-water separator 72 is located within the process module 52, where oxygen is separated from the anode working medium and guided to the oxygen connection section 76. Within the ion exchanger 80, the working medium is deionized for use within the electrolytic stack 8.

[0033] The process module 52 has a common process module coupling section 84, to which multiple components of the process module 52 are coupled. The housing coupling section 48 is coupled to the process module coupling section 84 via coupling lines 88.

[0034] In an advantageous embodiment, the current line 28 is implemented as a common current rail. Both electrolytic modules 4, the control module 20, and the process module 52 have electrical connections to this common current rail.

[0035] Figure 2 shows another water electrolytic cell system 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The water electrolytic cell system 1 has two electrolytic modules 4, each comprising one electrolytic stack 8 and power electronics 12. In this case, the power electronics 12 each advantageously includes a power switch and / or transformer. The two electrolytic modules 4, together with a control unit 18, form an electrolytic cell module 36. The water electrolytic cell system 1 further includes a process module 52. The process module 52 contains a pump 16, a heat exchanger 56, a cathode gas-water separator 64, an anode gas-water separator 72, and an ion exchanger 80.

[0036] A working medium tube 44 is positioned between the electrolytic cell module 36 and the process module 52, and the working medium tube facilitates the transfer of media (particularly water and hydrogen) between the two modules 36 and 52.

[0037] In an advantageous embodiment, the water electrolytic cell system 1 further has a current rail formed as a common current line 28, which protrudes into both the electrolytic cell module 36 and the process module 52. Power-consuming devices such as the electrolytic stack 8, pump 16, and control unit 18 have electrical connections to the current rail 28. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 1. Water electrolysis cell system 8 Electrolytic Stack 12 Power Electronics 16 pumps 18 Control Unit 28 Current lines 32 First electrolytic module / coupling unit 36 Electrolytic Cell Modules 40 Second electrolytic module / coupling section 44 Working medium pipe 48 Housing and coupling parts 52 Process Modules 56 Heat exchanger 64 Cathode Gas / Water Separator 72 Anode Gas-Water Separator 80 Ion exchanger 84 Process Modules and Coupling Units

Claims

1. at least, - An electrolytic stack (8) for converting water into hydrogen, - Power electronics (12) for supplying power to the electrolytic stack (8), - A plurality of components (16, 56, 64, 72, 80) for media processing and media transport of the working medium supplied to and discharged from the electrolytic stack (8), - A control unit (18) that controls the electrolytic stack (8), the power electronics (12), and the plurality of components (16, 56, 64, 72, 80) for media processing and media transport, In a water electrolysis cell system (1) for producing hydrogen, which includes, At least the electrolytic stack (8), the power electronics (12), and the control unit (18) are combined to form an electrolytic cell module (36), which is a structural unit, and at least the multiple components (16, 56, 64, 72, 80) for media processing and media transport are combined to form a process module (52), which is a structural unit. A water electrolytic cell system (1) is characterized in that the modules (36, 52) are provided with coupling parts (32, 40, 48, 84), and the individual modules (36, 52) can be coupled to each other via the coupling parts.

2. The water electrolytic cell system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the power electronics (12) is configured to convert alternating current to direct current.

3. The water electrolytic cell system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling portions (32, 40, 48, 84) are formed as plug coupling portions and / or flange coupling portions.

4. The water electrolytic cell system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the modules (36, 52) are connected to each other using only working medium tubes and current lines (28).

5. The water electrolytic cell system (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the current line (28) is implemented as a common current rail that protrudes into both the electrolytic cell module (36) and the process module (52).

6. The water electrolytic cell system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the electrolytic cell module (36) has a plurality of electrolytic stacks (8).

7. The water electrolytic cell system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the process module (52) is coupled with one or more electrolytic cell modules (36) using a working medium tube (44).

8. The water electrolytic cell system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the coupling portion (32, 40, 48, 84) is formed such that the data coupling portion and the current coupling portion can be coupled via a common plug.

9. The water electrolytic cell system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the coupling parts (32, 40, 48, 84) are formed such that all working media can be coupled via a common plug.

10. The water electrolytic cell system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the process module (52) has a pump (16) for circulating water through at least one of the electrolytic stacks (8).

11. The water electrolytic cell system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the electrolytic cell module (36) has a pump (16) for circulating water through at least one of the electrolytic stacks (8).

12. The water electrolytic cell system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the modules (36, 52) are formed such that their size is less than or equal to the size of a shipping container.

13. The water electrolytic cell system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the electrolytic stack (8), the power electronics (12), and the control unit (18) all have a common coupling portion (48) to the process module (52).

14. A water electrolytic cell system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a plurality of electrolytic stacks (8) form a common coupling portion (48) to the process module (52).

15. A hydrogen plant comprising at least one water electrolytic cell system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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