Water Electrolyser Oxygen Recovery for Raw Water Aeration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost of large aeration cascades in water electrolysis systems makes them economically inefficient, as the oxygen produced during the process is often vented into the atmosphere rather than utilized for water purification, leading to increased operational costs and space requirements.
Innovation Solution
A water electrolysis arrangement that incorporates a water purifier assembly with a direct oxygenation vessel using the oxygen produced by the electrolyser to aerate raw water, reducing the need for a large aeration cascade by utilizing the oxygen for precipitation of dissolved metal ions, and optionally combining this with a small cascade aerator for high impurity levels, thereby minimizing costs and space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large aeration cascade is used to aerate raw water, then effective aeration is achieved, but cost and space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the oxygen produced by the electrolyser itself to aerate the raw water, making the system self-sufficient. The oxygen from electrolysis is fed into the aeration vessel where it dissolves in raw water to oxidize contaminants, eliminating the need for external aeration sources or large aeration cascades.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of venting the oxygen produced during water electrolysis into the atmosphere as waste, the system recovers and utilizes this oxygen for the aeration process. The oxygen that would otherwise be discarded is now put to productive use in oxidizing contaminants in the raw water.
2Reliability
If a large aeration cascade is used to aerate raw water, then effective aeration is achieved, but space requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The electrolyser system provides its own aeration function by using its produced oxygen to treat the raw water. This integrated approach eliminates the need for separate, space-consuming aeration cascade structures while maintaining effective aeration functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The aeration function is merged with the electrolysis process. The oxygen production and water aeration are combined into a single integrated system where the oxygen from electrolysis directly serves the aeration needs, eliminating the need for separate aeration infrastructure.
3Productivity
If oxygen produced during water electrolysis is vented into the atmosphere, then the electrolyser operates continuously, but a valuable resource is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers the oxygen that would otherwise be discarded into the atmosphere. By directing the oxygen from the electrolyser outlet to the aeration vessel, the system captures and utilizes this valuable resource for contaminant oxidation, converting waste into a useful function.
Solution Approach 2:
The oxygen, which would be a waste product if vented, is converted into a beneficial resource for water treatment. The previously harmful waste emission is transformed into a useful oxidizing agent that removes contaminants from the raw water.
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 approach significantly reduces the cost of water aeration and maintains effective purification, allowing for efficient operation with lower space requirements, as the oxygen produced is fully utilized in the aeration process, and the system can handle varying water quality with minimal downtime.
Implementation Method 1
The aeration means comprises an aeration vessel with a raw water inlet for connection to the raw water source, and an outlet connected to a subsequent stage of the water purifier assembly. The aeration inlet of the aeration means is connected to the oxygen outlet of the water electrolyser.
Implementation Method 2
oxygen in the air can bind with ions in the raw water. The resulting mineral oxides precipitate out of the water.
Implementation Method 3
The resulting mineral oxides precipitate out of the water.
Implementation Method 4
In water electrolysis, feed water is split into its constituent gases, i.e. hydrogen and oxygen.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention describes a water electrolysis arrangement comprising a water electrolyser (2) with a feed water inlet (21), a hydrogen outlet (22) and an oxygen outlet (23); and a water purifier assembly (1) adapted for connection between a raw water source and the feed water inlet (21) of the water electrolyser (2), and comprising an aeration stage (1aer) for aerating raw water (Wraw); characterized in that the aeration stage (1aer) comprises an aeration vessel (10) with a raw water inlet (101) arranged to convey raw water (Wraw) from the raw water source into the aeration vessel (10); an aeration inlet (102) connected to the oxygen outlet (23) of the water electrolyser (2); and an aerated water outlet (103) arranged to convey aerated water (Waer) to a subsequent stage of the water purifier assembly (1). The invention further describes a method of performing water electrolysis using such a water electrolysis arrangement (1).