Multistage energy utilization system based on electricity-heat-hydrogen-methane coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current large-scale distributed energy storage technologies, such as electrochemistry and physical energy storage, have limited medium- and long-term storage capacity, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) systems face high costs and parasitic power losses, necessitating a more efficient energy utilization strategy.
Innovation Solution
A multistage energy utilization system based on electricity-heat-hydrogen-methane coupling, integrating renewable energy resources, hydrogen energy storage, heat storage, a gas fired-boiler, methane reactor, and carbon capture and storage modules, which converts excess renewable energy into hydrogen and heat, and uses captured carbon dioxide to produce methane for energy generation, reducing fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If electrochemistry energy storage or physical energy storage is used for large-scale distributed energy storage, then the storage capacity is limited to medium-term, but the system complexity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage system is segmented into multiple stages: short-term storage (electrochemical batteries), medium-term storage (hydrogen storage), and long-term storage (methane storage). Each stage handles different time scales and energy densities, allowing the system to achieve long-term storage capability while keeping individual components relatively simple and well-understood.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple energy storage technologies (electrochemical storage, hydrogen storage, methane storage) and carbon capture technology into an integrated system. This merging allows the system to leverage the strengths of each technology while achieving synergistic effects, particularly in utilizing CO2 as a resource for methane production.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If CCUS technology is applied for carbon dioxide capture and compression, then carbon emissions are reduced, but the system cost and parasitic power loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system converts the harmful CO2 emissions into a useful resource by using captured CO2 as feedstock for methane production through catalytic reactions with hydrogen. This transforms the waste product of combustion into a valuable energy carrier, eliminating the need for expensive CO2 compression and storage infrastructure while creating additional revenue streams from methane sales.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the chemical state and utility of CO2 from a harmful gas to a valuable chemical feedstock. By altering the parameters of CO2 utilization (from emission to resource), the system fundamentally changes the economic and environmental balance, turning a cost center into a value generator.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If CCUS technology is applied for carbon dioxide capture and compression, then carbon emissions are reduced, but the capital investment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates the need for expensive CO2 compression and long-term storage infrastructure by converting CO2 into methane, a valuable energy carrier. This approach replaces capital-intensive CCUS infrastructure with relatively simple catalytic reaction systems, dramatically reducing capital investment while maintaining carbon reduction benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding CO2 through costly storage infrastructure, the system recovers and utilizes CO2 as a valuable resource for methane production. This recovery approach transforms a waste disposal problem into a resource utilization opportunity, eliminating the need for expensive storage facilities.
4Quantity of substance
If hydrogen energy storage is used to convert electric energy into hydrogen energy, then the storage capacity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges hydrogen storage with methane production and carbon capture technologies into an integrated system. The hydrogen produced through electrolysis is immediately utilized for methane synthesis rather than requiring separate large-scale hydrogen storage infrastructure, reducing device complexity while maintaining high storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Methane acts as an intermediary carrier between hydrogen production and final energy utilization. The system produces hydrogen through electrolysis, converts it to methane through catalytic reactions with captured CO2, and then stores or utilizes the methane. This intermediary approach allows efficient energy storage while simplifying the overall system architecture.
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 system enhances energy utilization efficiency, decreases investment costs, and reduces carbon emissions by enabling flexible energy resource utilization, improving the economy of CCUS and reducing the gap between fossil fuel and carbon-free energy systems.
Implementation Method 1
the electrolyzer unit is configured to consume excess electric energy by converting the excess electric energy into hydrogen energy and heat energy
Implementation Method 2
the fuel cell unit is configured to convert the hydrogen energy in the hydrogen storage unit into electric energy and heat energy
Implementation Method 3
The carbon dioxide stored in the CCS module and the hydrogen energy stored in the hydrogen energy storage module are configured to be input to the methane reactor module to react to produce the methane
Implementation Method 4
the gas fired-boiler module is configured to burn the methane supplied from the gas supply network and output heat energy to the heat supply network and carbon dioxide to the CCS module
Data Source
AI summary
A multistage energy utilization system based on electricity-heat-hydrogen-methane coupling is connected with a power grid, a heat-supply network and a gas-supply network. The system includes a renewable energy resource module, a hydrogen energy storage module, a heat storage module, a gas fired-boiler module, a methane reactor module and a carbon capture and storage (CCS) module. The renewable energy resource module is connected with the power grid and the hydrogen energy storage module. The hydrogen energy storage module is connected with the power grid, the heat-supply network and the methane reactor module. The methane reactor module is connected with the hydrogen energy storage module, the CCS module and the gas-supply network. The gas fired-boiler module is connected with the gas-supply network. The hydrogen energy storage module, the CCS module and the methane reactor module are integrated to improve energy utilization and consumption level of renewable energy resources.