Microbubble CO Generation for Low-Resistance Ethylene Electrolysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for collecting and electrochemically reducing carbon dioxide face challenges in achieving comprehensive energy efficiency and minimizing carbon dioxide loss, particularly when attempting to selectively generate ethylene under strong alkaline conditions, due to increased resistance in the electrolysis cell.
Innovation Solution
A carbon dioxide treatment device and method that includes a collection device for absorbing carbon dioxide, a first electrochemical reaction part for reducing carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide, and a second electrochemical reaction part for reducing carbon monoxide to ethylene, utilizing microbubble generation to enhance reaction efficiency by increasing the surface area of carbon monoxide in contact with water, thereby decreasing electrolysis cell resistance and improving energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a liquid flow path for introducing strong alkaline electrolytic solution is installed between carbon dioxide gas flow path and cathode electrode to prevent dissolution of carbon dioxide, then carbon dioxide loss decreases, but electrolysis cell resistance increases due to increased distance between electrodes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical state of carbon monoxide from dissolved state to microbubble state, transforming it from a harmful dissolved substance into a useful reaction medium. This parameter change allows the system to operate under strong alkaline conditions without increasing electrode distance, thereby maintaining low resistance while enabling efficient ethylene production.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces microbubbles of carbon monoxide as an intermediary medium between the electrolytic solution and the cathode electrode. These microbubbles serve as a reactive interface that facilitates the conversion of carbon monoxide to ethylene without requiring a separate liquid flow path, thus avoiding increased electrode distance and resistance.
2Productivity
If strong alkaline electrolytic solution is used to selectively generate ethylene, then ethylene production efficiency improves, but electrolysis cell resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the delivery method of carbon monoxide from dissolved gas to microbubble form, which allows the system to maintain strong alkaline conditions for high ethylene production efficiency without the penalty of increased resistance. The microbubble form creates a more efficient reaction interface that overcomes the resistance issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by creating microbubbles with specific properties (high surface area to volume ratio) at the cathode electrode interface. This localized transformation of carbon monoxide into microbubble form enhances the reaction efficiency locally at the electrode surface, enabling high ethylene production without increasing overall system resistance.
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 approach effectively decreases the resistance of the electrolysis cell under strong alkaline conditions, increases electrolysis efficiency, and enables efficient generation of ethylene by improving the reaction efficiency between carbon monoxide and water.
Implementation Method 1
carbon dioxide in a gas state is physically or chemically absorbed to a solid or liquid absorbent
Implementation Method 2
a first electrolysis cell that electrochemically reduces the carbon dioxide collected with the collection device to carbon monoxide
Implementation Method 3
a second electrolysis cell that electrochemically reduces the carbon monoxide generated in the first electrochemical reaction part to ethylene
Implementation Method 4
a microbubble generation part that supplies the carbon monoxide generated in the first electrochemical reaction part to the second electrochemical reaction part as microbubbles
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention decreases the resistance of an electrolysis cell that is used for the reduction of carbon dioxide even under a strong alkaline condition and increases the electrolysis efficiency. The present invention provides a carbon dioxide treatment device including a collection device that collects carbon dioxide, a first electrochemical reaction part having a first electrolysis cell that electrochemically reduces the carbon dioxide collected with the collection device to carbon monoxide, a second electrochemical reaction part having a second electrolysis cell that electrochemically reduces the carbon monoxide generated in the first electrochemical reaction part to ethylene, and a microbubble generation part that supplies the carbon monoxide generated in the first electrochemical reaction part to the second electrochemical reaction part as microbubbles.