Electrolyzer Heat Exchange with Thermal Storage for Rapid Start-Up
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Combined-cycle power plants using electrolyzers face challenges in quickly reaching operating temperatures, leading to delayed hydrogen and oxygen production, which impedes the ability to respond to grid conditions due to the time required to heat large volumes of electrolyte water.
Innovation Solution
Integrate electrolyzers with heat from a gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) power plant and utilize heat storage systems to maintain or rapidly elevate electrolyzer temperatures, allowing for rapid start-up and output in response to grid demands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If electrolyzers are operated at elevated temperatures (80-90°C or higher) to achieve peak efficiency, then hydrogen and oxygen production efficiency is improved, but the time required to reach operating temperature from ambient temperature increases, delaying full capacity output
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of the electrolyzer using waste heat from the gas turbine before full operation is needed. The heat exchanger pre-heats the electrolyte and electrolyzer components during periods when waste heat is available, so that when full power production is required, the electrolyzer is already close to operating temperature and can reach peak efficiency much faster.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the previously wasted thermal energy from the gas turbine exhaust into a useful resource for heating the electrolyzer. The waste heat that would otherwise be discarded is now utilized to pre-heat the electrolyte and electrolyzer components, reducing the warmup time and energy requirements when full production capacity is needed.
2Speed
If large volumes of electrolyte water are heated to enable rapid start-up, then response time to grid conditions is improved, but the energy consumption during warmup increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts waste thermal energy from the gas turbine exhaust into useful heating energy for the electrolyzer. This reduces the additional energy that would otherwise be required to heat the electrolyte during warmup, as the waste heat provides a significant portion of the thermal energy needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas turbine system serves the electrolyzer's heating needs using its own waste heat output. The thermal energy that is naturally produced as a byproduct of power generation is redirected to heat the electrolyte, making the system self-sufficient for its thermal requirements without needing external energy input.
3Adaptability or versatility
If electrolyzers are integrated with waste heat from gas turbines, then the ability to quickly respond to grid demand is improved, but the system complexity increases due to additional heat exchange infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger serves multiple functions: it heats the electrolyte during warmup, maintains operating temperature during operation, and utilizes waste heat from the gas turbine. This multi-functionality justifies the added infrastructure by providing multiple benefits from a single component.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger acts as an intermediary component that couples the gas turbine and electrolyzer systems. It transfers thermal energy between the two systems without requiring direct physical or chemical interaction, enabling the integration while maintaining operational independence of each component.
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
Facilitates rapid electrolyzer start-up and output, maintaining grid balance by enabling immediate hydrogen and oxygen production in response to power demand fluctuations without altering the operating profile of the gas turbine.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger configured to exchange thermal energy between the steam system, the first electrolyzer and the heat storage system
Implementation Method 2
an electrolyzer configured to convert water to hydrogen gas and oxygen gas with an electrical input
Data Source
AI summary
A power plant comprises a steam system, a first electrolyzer, a heat storage system, and a heat exchanger configured to exchange thermal energy between the steam system, the first electrolyzer and the heat storage system. A method of operating an electrolyzer in a combined cycle power plant comprises operating a steam system to convert water to steam, operating an electrolyzer in a standby mode, the electrolyzer configured to convert water and electricity to hydrogen and oxygen when the electrolyzer is in an operating mode, circulating water from the steam system through a heat exchanger, circulating a first heat transfer medium between the electrolyzer and the heat exchanger, and circulating a second heat transfer medium between the heat exchanger and a thermal storage container.