Electrochemical Hydrogen Compression With PSA Recovery Gas Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
The inefficiency in hydrogen production due to the waste of hydrogen gas used for recovery in pressure swing adsorption (PSA) devices, which contains a large amount of water, reduces the overall efficiency of electrochemical hydrogen compression systems.
Innovation Solution
The hydrogen gas used for recovery in PSA devices is returned to the hydrogen supply flow path of the hydrogen compression stack, allowing its reuse without being discharged externally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydrogen gas is used for recovery in PSA devices to release adsorbed water, then the adsorption towers can be regenerated, but the hydrogen gas contains a large amount of water and is not suitable for use in fuel cell systems, reducing hydrogen production efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers the hydrogen gas that was previously discarded during the PSA recovery process. By introducing a recovery line that redirects the water-containing hydrogen gas from the PSA device back to the electrochemical hydrogen compression device, the system recovers this hydrogen for reuse, thereby improving overall hydrogen production efficiency while maintaining adsorbent regeneration functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful aspect of water-containing hydrogen gas (which was previously wasted) into a beneficial resource. The recovered hydrogen gas, though containing water, is fed back into the electrochemical hydrogen compression device where it can be processed further, transforming what was a waste stream into a useful input that improves system efficiency
2Manufacturing precision
If water is removed from compressed hydrogen gas using PSA devices, then hydrogen gas suitable for fuel cell systems can be obtained, but hydrogen gas used for recovery contains large amounts of water and must be discharged, causing hydrogen waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a recovery mechanism that captures the hydrogen gas discharged from the PSA device during regeneration and redirects it back to the hydrogen compression system through a dedicated recovery line, preventing hydrogen loss while maintaining product hydrogen purity
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where the output of the PSA device (water-containing hydrogen) is fed back as input to the electrochemical hydrogen compression device. This closed-loop feedback system ensures that hydrogen gas is continuously recovered and reused, minimizing substance loss while maintaining the required purity levels for fuel cell applications
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 prevents the wastage of hydrogen gas, thereby maintaining and enhancing the hydrogen production efficiency of the electrochemical hydrogen compression system.
Implementation Method 1
applies a current between the anode and the cathode to compress hydrogen gas supplied to the anode and produce high-pressure hydrogen gas at the cathode
Implementation Method 2
a processing step of passing treatment air through an adsorbent vessel containing an adsorbent and a recovery step of passing recovery air through the adsorbent vessel, and obtains low dew point air by pressure swing adsorption
Data Source
AI summary
The electrochemical hydrogen compression system includes: a hydrogen compression stack for compressing hydrogen gas supplied to an anode and discharging from a cathode through an electrolyte membrane compressed, high-pressure hydrogen gas; a hydrogen supply device for supplying the hydrogen gas to the anode of the hydrogen compression stack through a hydrogen supply flow path, and a pressure swing adsorption device having a plurality of adsorption towers for dehumidifying the high-pressure hydrogen gas discharged from the hydrogen compression stack; and a return flow path configured to return the hydrogen gas for recovery used for recovery of the adsorption towers to the hydrogen supply flow path or the hydrogen supply device.