Manufacturing system for synthetic compounds

Abstract

To provide a synthetic compound manufacturing system that can shorten the system startup time. [Solution] The synthetic compound manufacturing system comprises a water electrolysis unit that generates hydrogen by electrolyzing water, a reaction unit that has a catalyst for reacting the hydrogen generated in the water electrolysis unit with carbon dioxide and generates a synthetic compound by the reaction of the hydrogen and carbon dioxide, a heating unit that heats a heating target unit, which is a part of the catalyst, to the reaction temperature, and a supply unit that operates the water electrolysis unit to supply the hydrogen and carbon dioxide to the reaction unit once the heating target unit has reached the reaction temperature due to heating by the heating unit, and raises the temperature of the other part of the catalyst to the reaction temperature using the reaction heat in the heating target unit.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a synthetic compound manufacturing system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of also using an oil heater for heating up a hydrocarbon production device (i.e., warming) at the time of starting up a hydrocarbon production system.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a technique in which a plurality of temperature regulators for regulating the temperature of a catalyst are provided in the gas flow direction inside a reactor, and the temperature of each of the temperature regulators is adjusted so as to reduce the difference in the amount of hydrocarbon at each detection position of the reactor detected by a hydrocarbon sensor.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Here, in the case of starting up the system after heating up the entire hydrocarbon production device with an oil heater, since it takes time for the temperature of the hydrocarbon production device to rise, the startup time of the system becomes long.

[0006] In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a synthetic compound manufacturing system capable of shortening the startup time of the system.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The first embodiment comprises a water electrolysis unit that generates hydrogen by electrolyzing water; a reaction unit having a catalyst that reacts the hydrogen generated in the water electrolysis unit with carbon dioxide, and generating a synthetic compound by the reaction of the hydrogen and carbon dioxide; a heating unit that heats a heating target, which is a part of the catalyst, to the reaction temperature; and a supply unit that operates the water electrolysis unit once the heating target reaches the reaction temperature due to heating by the heating unit, to supply the hydrogen and carbon dioxide to the reaction unit, and raises the temperature of the other part of the catalyst to the reaction temperature using the reaction heat in the heating target.

[0008] According to the first embodiment, when the heating unit heats the heating target unit to the reaction temperature, the supply unit operates the water electrolysis unit to supply hydrogen and carbon dioxide to the reaction unit, and the reaction heat in the heating target unit raises the temperature of the rest of the catalyst to the reaction temperature.

[0009] In the first embodiment, the water electrolysis unit can be started even when the remaining part of the catalyst has not yet reached the reaction temperature. Furthermore, while the water electrolysis unit is running, the reaction heat of one part of the catalyst is used to raise the temperature of the other part to the reaction temperature. Therefore, the system startup time can be shortened compared to the case where the entire catalyst is heated before starting the water electrolysis unit.

[0010] In the second embodiment, the heating unit has a heater that is installed relative to the heating target and generates heat, as in the first embodiment.

[0011] According to the second embodiment, the heat from a heater that generates heat at a location away from the catalyst is transferred to the catalyst using a heat transfer medium, and compared to the case where the part to be heated is heated, the part to be heated can be raised to the reaction temperature in a shorter time.

[0012] In the third embodiment, in the second embodiment, the heater is a heater wound around the outer circumference of the part to be heated.

[0013] According to the third embodiment, since a heater is used that is wrapped around the outer circumference of the part to be heated, the installation of the heater is easy.

[0014] In the first aspect, like the synthesis compound manufacturing system of the fourth aspect, a catalyst with a reaction temperature of 50°C or higher can be used.

[0015] In the first aspect, like the synthesis compound manufacturing system of the fifth aspect, a catalyst containing at least one of ruthenium, nickel, and palladium can be used.

[0016] The sixth aspect includes a temperature raising unit in the first aspect that raises the temperature of the water supplied to the water electrolysis unit by utilizing the reaction heat of the catalyst in the reaction unit.

[0017] According to the sixth aspect, the temperature raising unit raises the temperature of the water supplied to the water electrolysis unit by utilizing the reaction heat of the catalyst in the reaction unit. Therefore, the energy efficiency of the system is better than when the water supplied to the water electrolysis unit is heated by a separately provided heating device.

Advantages of the Invention

[0018] According to the present disclosure, a synthesis compound manufacturing system capable of shortening the startup time of the system can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] It is a schematic diagram showing an example of the methane manufacturing system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a block diagram showing an example of the control device of the methane manufacturing system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] It is a flowchart showing an example of the startup process of the present embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a schematic diagram showing a modification example of the methane manufacturing system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5] It is a schematic diagram showing a modification example of the heating unit in the methane manufacturing system according to the present embodiment.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] An example of an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below based on the drawings.

[0021] <Methane production system 10> The methane production system 10 according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the methane production system 10 according to this embodiment.

[0022] The methane production system 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a system for producing methane. Methane, which is the production target, is an example of a synthetic compound. The methane production system 10 is an example of a synthetic compound production system. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the methane production system 10 includes a water electrolysis device 12, a reactor 14, a heating device 16, and a control device 40.

[0023] The water electrolysis device 12 is an example of a water electrolysis unit. The water electrolysis device 12 electrolyzes water to generate hydrogen. In this embodiment, a water supply source 20 is connected to the water electrolysis device 12, and a power supply source (not shown) is connected. The water electrolysis device 12 uses the power supplied from the power supply source to electrolyze the water supplied from the water supply source 20 as shown in the following formula (1) to generate hydrogen and oxygen.

[0024] H2O → H2 + (1 / 2)O2 (1)

[0025] A hydrogen delivery path 21 for delivering the generated hydrogen and an oxygen delivery path 22 for delivering the generated oxygen are connected to the water electrolysis device 12. The hydrogen delivery path 21 merges with the carbon dioxide supply path 29 and is connected to the merging path 23. In the merging path 23, the carbon dioxide supplied from the carbon dioxide supply source 28 through the carbon dioxide supply path 29 and the hydrogen from the water electrolysis device 12 are mixed. The downstream end of the merging path 23 is connected to the reactor 14, and the carbon dioxide and hydrogen are supplied to the reactor 14. Specifically, the hydrogen delivery path 21 delivers the hydrogen and water generated by the water electrolysis device 12. Specifically, the oxygen delivery path 22 delivers the oxygen and water generated by the water electrolysis device 12.

[0026] Reactor 14 is an example of a reaction section. Reactor 14 produces methane through the reaction of hydrogen and carbon dioxide. In this embodiment, reactor 14 has a catalyst 30, a containment section 32, and a container 34.

[0027] The containment section 32 is a component that contains the catalyst 30. This containment section 32 is, for example, made up of a cylindrical tube. The containment section 32 has an inlet 32A into which carbon dioxide and hydrogen are introduced, and an outlet 32B from which methane is discharged. The inlet 32A is formed at one end (the upper end in Figure 1) of the containment section 32 which is made up of a tube. The outlet 32B is formed at the other end (the lower end in Figure 1) of the containment section 32 which is made up of a tube.

[0028] A confluence channel 23 is connected to the inlet 32A, and carbon dioxide and hydrogen are supplied to the interior of the containment section 32 through the inlet 32A. A generated gas discharge channel 24 is connected to the outlet 32B, and methane and water produced in the reactor 14 are discharged to the generated gas discharge channel 24.

[0029] Furthermore, the shape of the storage section 32 is not limited to a cylindrical shape. The storage section 32 may be composed of, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped with an uneven surface, and various shapes of storage sections can be used for the storage section 32.

[0030] The catalyst 30 is a component that reacts hydrogen with carbon dioxide. In this embodiment, the catalyst 30 produces methane through a methane synthesis reaction between hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The catalyst 30 includes, for example, at least one selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, nickel, and palladium. The catalyst 30 is housed inside the housing 32. In this embodiment, for example, the catalyst 30 is housed inside the housing 32 from one end to the other. Specifically, the catalyst 30 is arranged, for example, in an area surrounded by the container 34 (an area heated by the heat transfer oil described later).

[0031] The container 34 is a component that contains the heat transfer oil as a heat transfer medium. The container 34 is provided on the outer circumference of the storage section 32 and brings the heat transfer oil into contact with the outer circumference of the storage section 32. The container 34 has an inlet 34A through which the heat transfer oil is supplied to the inside of the container 34 and an outlet 34B through which the heat transfer oil is supplied to the outside of the container 34. The inlet 34A is formed on one end side of the container 34 (the lower part in Figure 1). The outlet 34B is formed on the other end side of the container 34 (the upper part in Figure 1).

[0032] The heat transfer oil is heated, for example, by a heater 38 and sent to the inlet 34A to heat the catalyst 30. This heat transfer oil is then discharged from the outlet 34B and returned to the heater 38. In this way, the heat transfer oil circulates. In this embodiment, the heat transfer oil sent into the container 34 through the inlet 34A flows from the bottom to the top of the container 34, heating the catalyst 30.

[0033] In this embodiment, the heat transfer oil was configured to flow from the bottom to the top within the container 34, but this is not the only configuration. For example, the heat transfer oil may flow from the top to the bottom within the container 34. In this case, for example, the container 34 is configured to have an inlet 34B into which the heat transfer oil is introduced, and an outlet 34A into which the heat transfer oil is sent to the outside of the container 34. In this container 34, for example, the heat transfer oil is heated by a heater 38 and introduced into the inlet 34B to heat the catalyst 30. This heat transfer oil is then sent out from the outlet 34A and returned to the heater 38. In this way, the heat transfer oil circulates.

[0034] Then, in reactor 14, as an example, methane and water are produced by the methane synthesis reaction mediated by catalyst 30, as shown in equation (2) below.

[0035] 4H2 + CO2 → CH4 + 2H2O (2)

[0036] The heating device 16 is an example of a heating section. The heating device 16 heats a portion of the catalyst 30 (hereinafter referred to as the heating target section 30A) to the reaction temperature. The heating device 16 has a heater 16A and a power supply 16B. The reaction temperature (reaction start temperature) of the methane synthesis reaction in the catalyst 30 is, for example, 50°C or higher. Therefore, the heating device 16 heats the heating target section 30A to a reaction temperature of, for example, 50°C or higher. Alternatively, the heating device 16 may heat the heating target section 30A to a reaction temperature in the range of, for example, 50°C to 800°C.

[0037] The heater 16A is a heater that is installed on the part to be heated 30A and generates heat. In this embodiment, for example, a coil-type heater wound around the outer circumference of the part to be heated 30A is used as the heater 16A. Specifically, the heater 16A is composed of a sheathed heater in which a heating element such as a nichrome wire is covered with a metal pipe (sheath).

[0038] The heater 16A is wound around the outer circumference of the housing section 32 in the reactor 14, specifically in a portion of the axial direction of the housing section 32. More precisely, the heater 16A is wound around a portion of the housing section 32 on the inlet 32A side in the axial direction, and heats that portion. Thus, in this embodiment, a portion of the catalyst 30 on the hydrogen and carbon dioxide supply side (the upper part in Figure 1) is designated as the heating target section 30A.

[0039] In the heating device 16, the power supply 16B is connected to the heater 16A and supplies power to the heater 16A. As a result, the heating device 16 heats the heating target portion 30A of the catalyst 30. A control device 40 is connected to the power supply 16B, and the control device 40 controls the operation and stopping (on / off) of the power supply 16B.

[0040] Furthermore, the reactor 14 is equipped with a temperature sensor 18 that detects the temperature of the heating target portion 30A of the catalyst 30. The temperature sensor 18 is connected to the control device 40 and outputs the detected temperature to the control device 40.

[0041] The control device 40 is an example of a supply unit. Specifically, as shown in Figure 2, the control device 40 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 42, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 43, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 44, an input / output interface (I / O) 46, and a storage unit 45.

[0042] The CPU 42, ROM 43, RAM 44, and I / O 46 are connected to each other via the bus 47. Each functional unit, including the memory unit 45, is connected to the I / O 46. These functional units are able to communicate with the CPU 42 via the I / O 46.

[0043] For the storage unit 45, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), or flash memory may be used. The storage unit 45 stores control programs for controlling the water electrolysis device 12, the heating device 16, etc., as well as various data. These control programs and various data may also be stored in ROM 43. The heating device 16, temperature sensor 18, and water electrolysis device 12 are connected to the control device 40 via I / O 46.

[0044] <Operation of Methane Production System 10> Next, the operation of the methane production system 10 will be described.

[0045] When a start command is input to the methane production system 10, the control device 40 executes the start process shown in Figure 3. In the start process, first, the CPU 42 of the control device 40 executes a heat treatment in step S102, in which the heating device 16 heats the heating target portion 30A of the catalyst 30. In the heat treatment, the CPU 42 turns on the power supply 16B of the heating device 16. As a result, the heater 16A heats the heating target portion 30A via the housing portion 32.

[0046] During the heat treatment, the CPU 42 further circulates the heat transfer oil heated by the heater 38 to heat the catalyst 30. Then, the CPU 42 proceeds to step S104.

[0047] In step S104, the CPU 42 determines whether the heating target 30A has reached the reaction temperature. If the CPU 42 determines that the heating target 30A has reached the reaction temperature (step S104: YES), it proceeds to step S106. If the CPU 42 determines that the heating target 30A has not reached the reaction temperature (step S104: NO), it repeats step S104 until it determines that the heating target 30A has reached the reaction temperature. The temperature of the heating target 30A is detected by the temperature sensor 18. For example, if the temperature of the heating target 30A exceeds the temperature of the heater 16A, the CPU 42 turns off the power supply 16B of the heating device 16. For example, the CPU 42 may turn off the power supply 16B of the heating device 16 if the temperature of the heating target 30A exceeds the reaction temperature.

[0048] In step S106, CPU 42 starts the operation of the water electrolysis device 12 and supplies carbon dioxide and hydrogen to the reactor 14. Specifically, water is supplied to the water electrolysis device 12 from the water supply source 20, and power is supplied from the power supply source. In the water electrolysis device 12, the supplied water is decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen, and the hydrogen and water are sent to the hydrogen discharge channel 21, and the oxygen and water are sent to the oxygen discharge channel 22. Carbon dioxide is discharged from the carbon dioxide supply source 28, and in the confluence channel 23, the carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide supply source 28 and the hydrogen from the water electrolysis device 12 are mixed and supplied to the reactor 14.

[0049] As a result, methane and water are produced by the methane synthesis reaction in the heated section 30A of the reactor 14 and sent to the product gas delivery passage 24. Furthermore, reaction heat is generated in the heated section 30A due to the methane synthesis reaction. This reaction heat raises the temperature of other parts of the catalyst 30 (i.e., parts other than the heated section 30A) to the reaction temperature. In this embodiment, the reaction heat in the heated section 30A sequentially raises the temperature of other parts of the catalyst 30 to the reaction temperature.

[0050] In this manner, once the heating target section 30A reaches the reaction temperature due to heating by the heating device 16, the control device 40 (CPU 42) activates the water electrolysis device 12 to supply hydrogen and carbon dioxide to the reactor 14, and the reaction heat in the heating target section 30A raises the temperature of the rest of the catalyst 30 to the reaction temperature. Then, the CPU 42 proceeds to step S108.

[0051] In step S108, it is determined whether or not the methane production system 10 has been instructed to cease operation. If the determination is positive, this process is terminated. If the determination is negative, this step is repeated until the system is instructed to cease operation.

[0052] <Operation of this embodiment> In this embodiment, as described above, when the heated portion 30A of the catalyst 30 reaches the reaction temperature due to heating by the heating device 16, the water electrolysis device 12 is activated to supply hydrogen and carbon dioxide to the reactor 14, and the reaction heat in the heated portion 30A raises the temperature of the rest of the catalyst 30 to the reaction temperature.

[0053] Therefore, the water electrolysis device 12 can be started even when the remaining part of the catalyst 30 has not yet reached the reaction temperature. Furthermore, while the water electrolysis device 12 is running, the reaction heat from the heated section 30A raises the temperature of the remaining part of the catalyst 30 to the reaction temperature.

[0054] Therefore, compared to the case where the entire catalyst 30 is heated before operating the water electrolysis device 12, the system startup time can be shortened. In addition, by preferentially heating a portion of the catalyst 30 at startup, the reaction can be started quickly. Furthermore, since the reaction heat of the heated portion 30A of the catalyst 30 is used to heat other portions of the catalyst 30, the overall energy consumption of the system can be reduced. As a result, the energy efficiency of the system can be improved. Thus, in this embodiment, the startup time can be shortened and energy efficiency can be improved, which reduces operating costs and enables long-term reduction in operating costs. Furthermore, improved energy efficiency makes it possible to reduce the amount of energy resources used, which in turn reduces the environmental burden, including carbon dioxide emissions.

[0055] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the heating device 16 is installed relative to the heating target section 30A and has a heater 16A that generates heat. Therefore, compared to the case where the heat from the heater, which generates heat at a position away from the catalyst 30, is transferred to the catalyst by a heat transfer medium to heat the heating target section 30A, the heating target section 30A can be raised to the reaction temperature in a shorter time.

[0056] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a heater is used that is wrapped around the outer circumference of the heating element 30A. Therefore, the installation of the heater is easy.

[0057] <Increase in the temperature of the water supplied to the water electrolysis device 12> In the methane production system 10, the water supplied to the water electrolysis unit 12 is heated to a suitable temperature for water electrolysis. As shown in Figure 4, a heating device 60 can be used to heat the water supplied to the water electrolysis unit 12 using the reaction heat of the catalyst 30 in the reactor 14. The heating device 60 has a heat exchanger 62. The heat exchanger 62 performs heat exchange between the heat transfer oil heated by the reaction heat of the catalyst 30 and the water supplied from the water supply source 20 to the water electrolysis unit 12. This heats the water supplied from the water supply source 20 to the water electrolysis unit 12.

[0058] Thus, the heating device 60 utilizes the reaction heat of the catalyst 30 in the reactor 14 to raise the temperature of the water supplied to the water electrolysis device 12, resulting in better energy efficiency compared to cases where the water is heated by a separate heater or the like. However, in a synthetic compound production system, the water supplied to the water electrolysis device 12 may also be heated by a heating device such as a heater.

[0059] <Modified examples of heating catalyst 30> An example of a heating element in this disclosure is a combustion catalyst 116 that reacts (combusts) hydrogen and oxygen, as shown in Figure 5. The combustion catalyst 116, for example, supplies hydrogen and oxygen generated in the water electrolysis device 12 to the heating element 30A and raises the temperature of the heating element 30A by burning the hydrogen and oxygen. This heats the heating element 30A to the reaction temperature.

[0060] Examples of the heating section of this disclosure are not limited to the aforementioned heating device 16 and combustion catalyst 116, but any heating device capable of heating the heating target section 30A to the reaction temperature can be used. Such a heating device may include, for example, a combustion device that burns hydrogen and oxygen. Examples of such a combustion device include a hydrogen burner.

[0061] In this embodiment, a portion of the catalyst 30 on the hydrogen and carbon dioxide supply side was designated as the heating target portion 30A by the heating device 16, but this is not limited to this. A portion of the catalyst 30 on the methane discharge side (the lower part in Figure 1) may be designated as the heating target portion 30A. Alternatively, the central part of the catalyst 30 (the central part in the vertical direction in Figure 1) may be designated as the heating target portion 30A.

[0062] In addition to heating by the heating device 16, the catalyst 30 was also heated with a heat transfer oil, but this is not limited to that. In the synthetic compound manufacturing system, the catalyst 30 may be heated by the heating device 16 alone.

[0063] <Other variations> The synthesis reaction in reactor 14 of this embodiment is not limited to the synthesis of methane using hydrogen and carbon dioxide as raw materials, but may also be a reaction that produces other synthetic fuels using hydrogen and carbon dioxide as raw materials. For example, a reverse shift reaction that produces carbon monoxide and water, a reaction that produces ethylene and water, a reaction that produces methanol and water, and even (CH2) n This can be described as a reaction that produces e-fuel and water, represented by [formula].

[0064] Furthermore, in this embodiment, hydrogen was supplied to the reactor 14 from the water electrolysis device 12, but hydrogen may also be supplied from other means, such as other devices like a steam reforming device, or from a hydrogen tank.

[0065] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications, changes, and improvements are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the modified forms shown above may be combined in any way.

[0066] <Note> [Aspect 1] A water electrolysis unit that generates hydrogen by electrolyzing water, A reaction unit having a catalyst for reacting hydrogen produced in the water electrolysis unit with carbon dioxide, wherein a synthetic compound is produced by the reaction of the hydrogen and carbon dioxide, A heating unit that heats the part of the catalyst that is to be heated to the reaction temperature, A supply unit which, once the heating target reaches the reaction temperature due to heating by the heating unit, operates the water electrolysis unit to supply the hydrogen and carbon dioxide to the reaction unit, and raises the temperature of the remaining part of the catalyst to the reaction temperature using the reaction heat in the heating target; A synthetic compound manufacturing system equipped with the following features. [Aspect 2] The heating section is The heating element is installed on the part to be heated and has a heater that generates heat. A synthetic compound manufacturing system according to Embodiment 1. [Aspect 3] The aforementioned heater is This is a heater wrapped around the outer circumference of the part to be heated. A synthetic compound manufacturing system according to Embodiment 2. [Aspect 4] The reaction temperature is 50°C or higher. A synthetic compound manufacturing system according to any one of embodiments 1 to 3. [Aspect 5] The catalyst comprises at least one of ruthenium, nickel, and palladium. A synthetic compound manufacturing system according to any one of embodiments 1 to 4. [Aspect 6] A heating section that uses the reaction heat of the catalyst in the reaction section to raise the temperature of the water supplied to the water electrolysis section. A synthetic compound production system according to any one of embodiments 1 to 5, comprising the above. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0067] 10. Methane production system (an example of a synthetic compound production system) 12. Water electrolysis apparatus (an example of a water electrolysis unit) 14. Reactor (an example of a reaction section) 16. Heating device (an example of a heating section) 16A Heater 30 Catalyst 30A Heating Target Section 40 Control device (example of a supply unit) 60. Heating device (an example of a heating section)

Claims

1. A water electrolysis unit that generates hydrogen by electrolyzing water, A containment section having an inlet into which the hydrogen and carbon dioxide are introduced and an outlet from which the synthesized compound is discharged, and a reaction section containing a catalyst that reacts the hydrogen and carbon dioxide, wherein the reaction of the hydrogen and carbon dioxide produces the synthesized compound, The outer circumference of the housing section has a heater that is not located on the inlet side but is wrapped around a part of the outlet side, and the heating section heats the part of the catalyst that is the part on the outlet side to be heated up to the reaction temperature with the heater, When the heating target reaches the reaction temperature due to heating by the heating unit, the water electrolysis unit is operated while the other part of the catalyst located on the inlet side of the heating target has not yet reached the reaction temperature, supplying hydrogen and carbon dioxide to the reaction unit, and the heat of the reaction in the heating target raises the temperature of the other part to the reaction temperature, A synthetic compound manufacturing system equipped with the following features.

2. The reaction temperature is 50°C or higher. A synthetic compound production system according to claim 1.

3. The catalyst comprises at least one of ruthenium, nickel, and palladium. A synthetic compound production system according to claim 1.

4. A heating unit that uses the reaction heat of the catalyst in the reaction unit to raise the temperature of the water supplied to the water electrolysis unit. A synthetic compound production system according to claim 1, comprising:

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