CO₂ Electrolytic Cell with Cryogenic Separation to Reduce Gas Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current carbon dioxide electrolytic devices face inefficiencies in utilizing CO2, leading to reduced use efficiency and utility value of reduction products.
Innovation Solution
A carbon dioxide electrolytic device with an electrochemical reaction cell design that includes separate accommodation parts for CO2 and water electrolytic solutions, a diaphragm, and a cryogenic separation device to enhance CO2 recovery and utilization, increasing the efficiency of CO2 use by recycling and separating CO2 from discharged gases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If CO2 is supplied to the cathode for electrolytic reduction, then carbon compounds are produced, but CO2 use efficiency is low due to loss in discharge gas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers CO2 from the discharge gas of the electrolytic cell by connecting a CO2 separation device to the discharge portion. The separation device captures CO2 that would otherwise be lost, and the recovered CO2 can be recycled back to the cathode supply, thereby reducing CO2 loss and improving overall CO2 use efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback loop where CO2 concentration in the discharge gas is monitored and the separated CO2 is fed back to the cathode supply. This closed-loop approach ensures that CO2 losses are minimized by continuously recovering and returning unreacted CO2 to the reaction system
2Reliability
If separate accommodation parts are used for CO2 and water electrolytic solutions, then CO2 and O2 are prevented from mixing, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrolytic cell is divided into distinct accommodation parts: a first accommodation part for CO2 supply to the cathode and a second accommodation part for water electrolytic solution at the anode. A diaphragm separates these parts, preventing mixing of CO2 and O2 while maintaining functional separation. This segmentation ensures reliable gas separation while organizing the cell structure into manageable sections
Solution Approach 2:
A diaphragm is introduced as an intermediary component between the CO2 accommodation part and the water electrolytic solution part. The diaphragm selectively allows ion transport while preventing direct mixing of CO2 gas and O2 gas, thereby maintaining gas separation reliability without requiring complete physical isolation of the two electrolytic environments
3Measurement precision
If CO2 concentration in discharge gas is increased for better recovery, then separation efficiency improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The CO2 separation device utilizes parameter changes in the discharge gas, specifically temperature and pressure adjustments, to optimize CO2 separation efficiency. By controlling these parameters, the system achieves effective CO2 concentration and separation while minimizing the energy required for the separation process
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device significantly improves the use efficiency and utility value of CO2 by recycling and concentrating CO2, reducing environmental impact and energy consumption, while producing valuable carbon compounds.
Implementation Method 1
a cathode arranged to be in contact with the gas or the first electrolytic solution and configured to reduce carbon dioxide to produce a carbon compound
Implementation Method 2
an anode arranged to be in contact with the second electrolytic solution and configured to oxidize water to produce oxygen
Implementation Method 3
a first carbon dioxide separation part that is connected to a discharge portion to discharge a discharge containing oxygen and carbon dioxide from the second accommodation part and includes a cryogenic separation device to separate the carbon dioxide from a gas component in the discharge
Data Source
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AI summary
A carbon dioxide electrolytic device in an embodiment includes: an electrochemical reaction cell including: a first accommodation part that accommodates gas or a first electrolytic solution containing CO2; a second accommodation part that accommodates a second electrolytic solution containing H2O; a diaphragm provided between the first and second accommodation parts; a cathode that is in contact with the gas or the first electrolytic solution; and an anode that is in contact with the second electrolytic solution; a first supply part that supplies the gas or the first electrolytic solution to the first accommodation part; a second supply part that supplies the second electrolytic solution to the second accommodation part; and a carbon dioxide separation part that is connected to a discharge portion of a discharge containing O2 and CO2 from the second accommodation part and includes a cryogenic separation device to separate CO2 from a gas component in the discharge.