Electrolysis unit heat recovery system with heat transfer fluid

Abstract

The invention is related to the heat recovery system of the electrolysis unit with heat transfer fluid, which is used to recover the excess heat produced by REM electrolyzers, which separate water into hydrogen and oxygen gases using electrical energy. The invention is particularly related to the heat recovery system of the electrolysis unit with heat transfer fluid, which takes the heat energy generated during the electrolysis process of the REM electrolyzer (20) used to obtain hydrogen, through the cooling plate (22), which allows the electrolyzer (20) to cool down, and sends this waste heat to the heat exchanger (40) with the help of heat transfer pipes (30) to recover the heat, which contains heat transfer fluid containing colemanite, borax, AI2O3, SiO3, CuO, TiO2, SiL, szaybelite, boron carbide, boron solid particles between 10-200 nanometers, which can change phase, do not cluster.

Description

[0001] ELECTROLYSIS UNIT HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEM WITH HEAT TRANSFER FLUID

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention is related to the heat recovery system of the electrolysis unit with heat transfer fluid, which is used to recover the excess heat produced by the PEM electrolyzer, which separates water into hydrogen and oxygen gases using electrical energy.

[0004] The invention is particularly related to the heat recovery system of the electrolysis unit with heat transfer fluid, which takes the heat energy generated during the electrolysis process of the PEM electrolyzer used to obtain hydrogen, through the cooling plate, which allows the electrolyzer to cool down, and sends this waste heat to the heat exchanger with the help of heat transfer pipes to recover the heat, which contains heat transfer fluid containing colemanite, borax, AI2O3, SiO3, CuO, TiO2, SiL, szaybelite, boron carbide, boron solid particles between 10-200 nanometers, which can change phase, do not cluster.

[0005] THE KNOWN STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

[0006] Electrolysis is the process of decomposing a chemical compound using electric current. This decomposition process occurs because the substance loses electrons (oxidation); or due to electron gain (reduction). In the electrolysis process, an electric current is applied between two electrodes called anode and cathode. This current causes the substances dissolved in the electrolyte to separate into ions. Substances that are oxidized by losing electrons on the anode form gases such as oxygen gas and chlorine gas. Substances that are reduced by gaining electrons form substances such as hydrogen gas and metals on the cathode. Electrolysis process is used in many areas such as metal plating, water treatment, health, chemical industry and hydrogen production.

[0007] Electrolysis of water, the most common method used for hydrogen production, is the separation of water into hydrogen and oxygen gases using electric current. This process is carried out using a device called an electrolyzer. Electrolyzers have different types such as alkaline electrolyzer (AEL), polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyzer (PEMEL or PEM electrolyzer), anion exchange membrane electrolyzer (AEMEL). Although alkaline electrolyzers are widely used today, PEM electrolyzers are becoming increasingly common because they have higher efficiency and lower operating temperatures. Therefore, PEM electrolyzers enable hydrogen production in a more efficient and environmentally friendly way. A material called proton exchange membrane (PEM) is used in PEM electrolyzers. PEM is a membrane through which hydrogen ions (H+) can pass, but water molecules cannot. Water is supplied to the PEM electrolyzer from the anode section. In the anode catalyst layer, water molecules disintegrate into oxygen gas, hydrogen ions (H+), and hydrogen electrons. Oxygen gas is directed out of the cell. While hydrogen ions move towards the cathode through the electrolyte, electrons move towards the cathode through the external circuit. At the cathode, hydrogen ions (H+) and electrons combine to form hydrogen gas. Thus, the desired hydrogen gas is obtained.

[0008] There is a strong relationship between PEM electrolysis stack performance and thermal management within the stack. If the heat released during the process is excessive, it negatively affects the process, performance loss occurs and efficiency decreases. At temperatures above optimum degrees, the membrane may dry out, which negatively affects proton conductivity. For these reasons, the stack needs to be cooled.

[0009] In the current technique, plates are used to provide thermal management. Cooling plates are placed between cells. Apart from cooling plates, bipolar plates are also used to remove excess heat from the stack by opening channels in them and passing heat transfer fluid through the channels. Air, water, glycol, oil and acetone are frequently used as heat transfer fluids. The low thermal conductivity and heat capacity of air reduces its efficiency. The use of water causes corrosion in metals. Glycol is a flammable component that has a toxic effect. When oils are used as heat transfer fluids, they can cause problems such as oxidation and contamination. These problems increase the need for oil changes and increase maintenance costs. On the other hand, acetone is a flammable and potentially harmful component to health.

[0010] In currently used equipment, there are negative reasons such as may be insufficient to cool the heated unit, the life of the device may be shortened due to the heating problem, and in the current technique, slow heat conduction in the systems, the use of toxic, flammable, corrosion and oxidation-causing components used.

[0011] As a result, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems existing in the current art, the need for a new economical, convenient, electrolysis unit heat recovery system with heat transfer fluid and the inadequacy of the existing solutions have made it necessary to make an improvement in the relevant technical field.

[0012] THE PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The present invention is related to the heat recovery system of the electrolysis unit with heat transfer fluid, which was developed to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages and bring new advantages to the relevant technical field, and to recover the excess heat produced by PEM electrolyzers, which separate water into hydrogen and oxygen gases using electrical energy.

[0014] The most important aim of the invention is to contain the heat transfer pipe with the phase changeable heat transfer fluid. The phase change fluid transfers heat by passing from the liquid phase to the vapor phase. After transmitting the heat, it condenses and returns. Thanks to the solid particles between 10- 200 nanometers, such as colemanite, borax, ALO3, SiOs, CuO, TiCh, SiL, boron carbide, szaybelite, boron, in the phase changeable heat transfer system, evaporation accelerates with the heat taken. Since these nanoparticles act as a catalyst, heat transfer is done quickly. After heat transfer, these solid particles do not clump together and do not stick to each other during condensation. During condensation, it cools slowly thanks to the nano-sized solid particles that crash into the inner walls of the heat pipe. In this way, it has a high capacity to retain heat. Thanks to these nanoparticles, heat pipes can be prepared without vacuuming. There is no need for sintering, corrugation or pocketing on the inner surfaces of the heat pipes. Thus, it can work vertically and horizontally without any shape restrictions.

[0015] Another aim of the invention is that the heat transfer fluid contained in it does not have any flammable, explosive, allergen, carcinogenic, pathogenic effects, so it does not adversely affect the environment and human health.

[0016] Another aim of the invention is that the fluid that can change phase as a result of our R&D studies has a heat transfer coefficient of 16098 W / mK. Therefore, the invention provides a fast heat transfer by reacting very quickly.

[0017] The structural and characteristic features of the invention and all its advantages will be understood more clearly thanks to the figures given below and the detailed description written with reference to these figures and for this reason, the evaluation should be made taking into account these figures and detailed explanation.

[0018] FIGURES TO HELP UNDERSTAND THE INVENTION

[0019] Figure 1 - The drawing that gives a simple diagram of the electrolysis cell of the heat recovery system of the electrolysis unit with phase-changeable heat transfer fluid, which is the subject of the invention.

[0020] Figure 2 - The drawing that shows the image of the plates forming the electrolyzer of the heat recovery system of the electrolysis unit with phase-changeable heat transfer fluid, which is the subject of the invention. Figure 3 - The drawing showing the cross-sectional view of the cooling plate of the heat recovery system of the electrolysis unit with phase-changeable heat transfer fluid, which is the subject of the invention.

[0021] Figure 4 - The drawing that gives the general scheme of the heat recovery system of the electrolysis unit with phase-changeable heat transfer fluid, which is the subject of the invention.

[0022] REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0023] 10. Electrolysis cell

[0024] 11. Water inlet

[0025] 12. Oxygen and water outlet

[0026] 13. Anode

[0027] 14. Cathode

[0028] 15. Membrane

[0029] 16. Direct current source

[0030] 17. Hydrogen gas outlet

[0031] 20. Electrolyzer

[0032] 21. Electrolyzer Plates

[0033] 22. Cooling plate

[0034] 23. Cooling plate channels

[0035] 30. Heat transfer pipes

[0036] 40. Heat exchanger

[0037] 50. Compressor

[0038] 60. Expansion valve

[0039] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] In this detailed explanation, preferred embodiments of the electrolysis unit heat recovery system with heat transfer fluid are explained only for a better understanding of the subject and without any limiting effect. The heat recovery system of electrolysis unit with heat transfer fluid, which is the subject of the invention, shown in Figures 1-4, basically consists of the electrolyzer (20), cooling plate (22), heat transfer pipes (30), heat exchanger (40), compressor (50) and an expansion valve (60). Water(H20), enters the electrolysis cell (10) from the water inlet (11). Water is reduced to positively charged hydrogen ions (H+) and electrons at the anode (13). The produced oxygen is removed from the oxygen and water outlet (12) together with the unconsumed water. Positively charged hydrogens reach from the anode (13) to the membrane (15) and then to the cathode (14). Electrons coming from the direct current source (16) form hydrogen gas at the cathode (14) with positive hydrogen ions. The hydrogen gas created comes out from the hydrogen gas outlet (17).

[0041] The heat released after the electrolysis process is transferred from the electrolyzer plates (21) forming the electrolyzer (20) to the cooling plate (22). In the invention, the phase changeable heat transfer fluid contains solid particles between 10-200 nanometers such as colemanite, borax, AI2O3, SiO3, CuO, TiO2, SiL, boron carbide, szaybelite and boron, and evaporation is accelerated thanks to these particles and with the heat taken from the cooling plate (22). The phase changeable heat transfer fluid inside the cooling plate channels (23) contains solid particles between 10-200 nanometers such as colemanite, borax, AI2O3, SiO3, CuO, TiO2, SiL, boron carbide, szaybelite, boron, etc., and thanks to these particles, it reacts very quickly and takes the heat of the cooling plate (22). Since these nanoparticles have a catalyst effect, the heat spreads quickly within the cooling plate channels (23), preventing the heat from collecting at a single point and providing a thermal balance. The heated phase-changeable fluid is sent to the compressor (50) through heat transfer pipes (30). In the compressor (50), the heat transfer fluid that can change phase is compressed and sent to the heat exchanger (40) through heat transfer pipes (30) at high temperature and pressure. In the heat exchanger (40), the phase-changeable, non-clumping, 10-200 nanometer fluid, which can also contain colemanite, borax, AI2O3, SiO3, CuO, TiO2, SiL, szaybelite, boron carbide, boron solid particles, which transfers its heat, cools down and goes to the expansion valve (60) with the help of heat transfer pipes (30). The temperature and pressure of the heat transfer fluid, which can change phase, are reduced in the expansion valve (60) and returned to the electrolyzer (20) with the help of heat transfer pipes (30). Thus, the cycle is completed, and while the electrolyzer (20) is cooled, waste heat is recovered.

[0042] Waste heat obtained from the heat transfer fluid that can be phase changed in the heat exchanger (40), including but not limited to; It can be used in many areas such as hot water production, radiators, towel rails, floor heating, wall heating, roof heating, regional heating, greenhouse heating, road heating, electricity generation, electric heaters. As an alternative in our invention, the phase changeable heat transfer fluid may contain the above-mentioned solid particles between 10-50 or 50- 100 or 100-150 nanometers.

[0043] The scope of protection of this application has been determined in the claims section and cannot be limited to what is described above for exemplary purposes, it is clear that a person skilled in the art can demonstrate the innovation in the invention by using similar embodiments and / or can apply this embodiment to other areas with similar purposes used in the relevant technique. Therefore, it is obvious that such structuring will lack the criteria of innovation and especially overcoming the known state of the technique.

Claims

CLAIMS1- The invention is related to the heat recovery system of the electrolysis unit with heat transfer fluid used to produce hydrogen, and its feature is; which takes the heat energy produced by the electrolyzer (20) during the electrolysis process through the cooling plate (22) and allows the electrolyzer (20) to cool down, and which serves to recover the heat by sending the heat it receives to the heat exchanger (40) with the help of heat transfer pipes (30), it is characterized by the fact that it contains the heat transfer fluid containing colemanite, borax, AI2O3, SiOs, CuO, TiCh, SiL, szaybelite, boron carbide, boron solid particles between 10-200 nanometers. 2- Electrolysis unit heat recovery system with heat transfer fluid in accordance with claim 1, and its feature is; it is characterized by containing heat transfer fluid with a heat transfer coefficient of 16098 W / mK.

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