Direct Air Electrolysis With Hygroscopic Water Replenishment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrolytic hydrogen production processes face challenges in achieving high current density, stability, and large-scale utilization without energy consumption for water harvesting, and are constrained by temporal and spatial limitations, as well as interference from foreign ions.
Innovation Solution
A direct air electrolytic hydrogen production system comprising an energy supply module, electrolytic hydrogen production module, electrolyte recycling module, and moisture vapor self-trapping module, which uses hygroscopic media to continuously replenish electrolytes for electrolysis, maintaining interfacial pressure differences to facilitate continuous hydrogen production without additional energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If compression refrigeration is used to collect liquid water for electrolysis, then water can be obtained for hydrogen production, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical compression refrigeration system with a radiation refrigeration system that utilizes thermal radiation principles. The radiation cooler passesively cools ambient air to condense water vapor without requiring mechanical compressors or refrigerants, thereby obtaining liquid water for electrolysis with minimal energy input
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits the phase transition of water vapor from gas to liquid through radiative cooling. The radiation cooler maintains surface temperatures below the dew point, causing water vapor in ambient air to condense and collect as liquid water, providing a continuous source of water for electrolysis without additional energy consumption
2Use of energy by moving object
If radiation refrigeration is used to collect water, then energy consumption is reduced, but production is restricted by time and geography and cannot be continuous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a water storage tank that accumulates condensed water during periods when radiation cooling is effective (daytime or favorable weather conditions). This stored water is then supplied to the electrolyzer during periods when radiation cooling is less effective, ensuring continuous hydrogen production without interruption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a water storage tank as an intermediary between the radiation cooler and the electrolyzer. This buffer storage decouples the intermittent water collection process from the continuous electrolysis process, allowing the system to maintain continuous operation by drawing from stored water when needed
3Use of energy by moving object
If hygroscopic materials are used to harvest water, then water can be collected without energy consumption, but foreign ions interfere with oxygen evolution reaction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes foreign ions from the harvested water through a filtration system before the water is supplied to the electrolyzer. This ensures that the water used in electrolysis is free from contaminants that would interfere with the oxygen evolution reaction, maintaining high system reliability and efficiency
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 system achieves stable and continuous hydrogen production with energy consumption comparable to industrial pure water electrolysis, overcoming spatial and temporal constraints, and enabling efficient separation of hydrogen and oxygen while avoiding interference from foreign ions.
Implementation Method 1
the moisture vapor self-trapping module, for absorbing moisture in the air, is used as a source continuously providing water for electrolytic hydrogen production
Implementation Method 2
when an electrolyte is introduced into the electrolyzer, a redox reaction occurs, which consumes water and produces hydrogen and oxygen
Implementation Method 3
electrolytic hydrogen production module comprises an electrolyzer
Implementation Method 4
uses hygroscopic media to continuously replenish electrolytes for electrolysis, maintaining interfacial pressure differences to facilitate continuous hydrogen production
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present application belongs to the technical field of electrolytic hydrogen production, and particularly relates to a direct air electrolytic hydrogen production system. The system comprises an energy supply module, an electrolytic hydrogen production module, an electrolyte recycling module and a moisture vapor self-trapping module, wherein the energy supply module is connected to the electrolytic hydrogen production module; the electrolytic hydrogen production module comprises an electrolyzer; and the electrolyte recycling module is connected to the electrolytic hydrogen production module and the moisture vapor self-trapping module separately. The system may realize direct air electrolytic hydrogen production, while its energy consumption for electrolysis is comparable to that of industrial pure water electrolysis for hydrogen production, without additional energy consumption for desalination/purification of impure water solutions or for harvesting moisture from the air. The system greatly broadens the range of hydrogen energy sources without time and space limitation, providing technical support for future distributed hydrogen energy arrangement.