Dehydrogenation Reactor Heat Control for Uniform Hydrogen Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for supplying hydrogen to fuel cells and hydrogen combustion devices face challenges such as increased volume and weight due to reactant evaporation, reduced hydrogen conversion rates, and difficulty in controlling flow rates, especially when using aqueous solutions and acid catalysts, which also require additional power for pressurization and compression.
Innovation Solution
A dehydrogenation reaction apparatus with a dehydrogenation reactor, an aqueous acid solution tank, and a heat control device that includes a pipe for temperature regulation, along with a buffer tank and pressure regulators to manage heat and pressure, allowing for uniform hydrogen supply without additional power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If aqueous acid solution is injected into hydride to generate hydrogen, then hydrogen can be supplied to fuel cell, but system volume and weight increase due to excess water required to dissolve product
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the reaction system by using supercritical carbon dioxide instead of aqueous solution, which eliminates the need for excess water and reduces system weight while maintaining hydrogen generation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces supercritical carbon dioxide as an intermediary substance that facilitates the dehydrogenation reaction without requiring large amounts of water, thus solving the weight problem while enabling hydrogen supply
2Productivity
If acid catalyst method is used with small amount of water, then reaction is possible, but evaporation of water and acid catalyst occurs due to exothermic reaction, reducing hydrogen conversion rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature and pressure parameters to supercritical conditions, which eliminates evaporation losses by maintaining reactants in a supercritical state where liquid-gas phase transition does not occur, thereby improving hydrogen conversion rate
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition properties of carbon dioxide to supercritical state, which prevents evaporation of reactants while maintaining reaction efficiency, solving the problem of substance loss
3Quantity of substance
If water and acid catalyst are added to solid hydride for reaction, then hydrogen can be generated, but uniform mixing of solid hydride and liquid aqueous acid solution becomes difficult, making flow rate control challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the reaction medium to supercritical fluid, which has properties between gas and liquid, enabling uniform mixing with solid hydride and facilitating precise flow rate control while maintaining hydrogen generation
4Ease of operation
If generated hydrogen is pressurized by using separate power and temporarily stored, then hydrogen can be supplied at uniform flow rate, but additional power is consumed and separate compressor is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs the self-service principle by using the reaction heat from dehydrogenation to directly control and maintain hydrogen output pressure, eliminating the need for external compressors and additional power consumption while achieving uniform hydrogen supply
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 apparatus prevents reactant evaporation, improves hydrogen conversion rates, and enables stable, uniform hydrogen supply to hydrogen-using devices by controlling internal temperature and pressure, thereby optimizing the hydrogen generation process.
Implementation Method 1
the hydrogen generation reaction, through an aqueous solution, prevents evaporation of a reactant due to an exothermic reaction
Implementation Method 2
a heat control device which is disposed inside or outside the dehydrogenation reactor and controls an internal temperature of the dehydrogenation reactor
Implementation Method 3
a dehydrogenation reactor that stores a chemical hydride and selectively receives the aqueous acid solution stored in the aqueous acid solution tank
Data Source
AI summary
A dehydrogenation reaction apparatus includes: an aqueous add solution tank that stores an aqueous acid solution; a dehydrogenation reactor that stores a chemical hydride and selectively receives the aqueous acid solution stored in the aqueous add solution tank; and a heat control device. The heat control device is disposed inside or outside the dehydrogenation reactor and controls an internal temperature of the dehydrogenation reactor.