Reversible Electrolyser Hydride Tank Thermal Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current high-temperature water electrolysis (HTE) and solid-oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems face challenges in managing thermal operating conditions, especially under pressurized operation, with existing solutions either inefficient or limited to low-pressure operations, and lacking effective heat utilization and hydrogen compression management.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a high-temperature reversible electrolyser coupled with a hydride tank, allowing for thermal coupling to recover heat for steam generation or hydrogen desorption, operating under pressures between 2 and 15 bars, which reduces hydrogen compression work and enhances efficiency by using heat transfer fluids and modular design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-temperature steam electrolysis is performed under pressure, then hydrogen production efficiency is improved, but thermal management becomes more difficult and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the electrolyser and hydride tank into a thermally coupled system where the electrolyser serves as both the hydrogen production device and the heat source for the hydride tank. This merging eliminates the need for separate thermal management systems and allows direct heat utilization from the electrolysis process to drive hydrogen desorption from the hydride tank.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own internally generated heat from the electrolysis process to drive the hydride tank desorption process. The electrolyser's thermal output automatically serves the thermal input requirements of the hydride tank, creating a self-sufficient thermal management system that reduces external cooling/heating requirements.
2Quantity of substance
If hydrogen is compressed to high pressure for storage, then storage density is improved, but compression work and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the storage parameter from gaseous compressed hydrogen to solid-state hydride-bound hydrogen. By transforming hydrogen into a solid hydride compound, the system achieves high storage density without requiring high-pressure compression, thereby eliminating the associated compression work and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical compression system with a chemical storage system using hydrides. Instead of using mechanical compressors to achieve high-density storage, the system uses chemical bonding in hydride materials to store hydrogen at high effective densities without mechanical compression work.
3Loss of energy
If heat is recovered from the hydride tank for steam generation, then energy efficiency is improved, but thermal coupling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the thermal output of the electrolyser directly with the thermal input requirements of the hydride tank and steam generation system. This direct thermal coupling eliminates the need for complex intermediate heat exchange systems and allows straightforward heat recovery that improves overall energy 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
This configuration improves thermal management, reduces gas compression work, and increases efficiency by allowing pressurized operation, efficient hydrogen storage, and effective heat utilization, overcoming the limitations of existing systems in both HTE and SOFC modes.
Implementation Method 1
a device forming a reversible electrolyser, configured to operate in a solid-oxide electrolyser (SOEC) mode, for the production of hydrogen and thus the storage of electricity
Implementation Method 2
configured to operate in a solid-oxide fuel cell (SOFC) mode, for the consumption of hydrogen and thus the withdrawal of electricity
Implementation Method 3
a hydride tank, thermally coupled with said reversible electrolyser, configured to store hydrogen in the form of hydrides
Implementation Method 4
configured to release hydrogen in the solid-oxide fuel cell (SOFC) mode of said reversible electrolyser
Implementation Method 5
the system being configured to allow, when the reversible electrolyser is configured to operate in a solid-oxide electrolyser (SOEC) mode, a recovery of the heat released by the hydride tank during the absorption of hydrogen in order to produce pressurized steam intended to enter the reversible electrolyser
Implementation Method 6
to allow, when the reversible electrolyser is configured to operate in a solid-oxide fuel cell (SOFC) mode, a recovery of the heat released by the streams leaving the reversible electrolyser to enable the desorption of the hydrogen from the hydride tank
Data Source
AI summary
A system for high-temperature reversible electrolysis of water, characterised in that it includes: a high-temperature reversible electrolyser, configured to operate in SOEC (solid oxide electrolyser cell) mode to produce hydrogen and store electricity, and/or in SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell) mode to withdraw hydrogen and produce electricity; a hydride tank, thermally coupled with the reversible electrolyser, the system being configured to allow the recovery of heat released by the hydride tank during hydrogen absorption in order to produce pressurised steam intended for entering the reversible electrolyser in SOEC mode, and to allow the recovery of heat released by the one or more outgoing streams from the reversible electrolyser in SOFC mode so as to allow the desorption of hydrogen from the hydride tank.