Solid Electrolyte Methane Production System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methane production methods require multiple apparatuses for water electrolysis and carbon dioxide reaction, making them inefficient and costly, and often rely on separate facilities for hydrogen production and storage.
Innovation Solution
A production system and method using a reaction vessel with a solid electrolyte membrane and electrode group, where one electrode functions as a cathode with a hydrogenation catalyst, allowing concurrent hydrogen production by electrolysis and methane production through reaction with carbon dioxide, utilizing recyclable energy and CO2-containing exhaust gas without the need for multiple apparatuses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate apparatuses are used for water electrolysis and carbon dioxide reaction, then each process can be performed independently, but the system complexity and installation space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines water electrolysis and carbon dioxide reaction into a single reaction vessel with a solid electrolyte membrane. The electrolyte membrane separates the electrolysis function (cathode side) from the reaction function (anode side), allowing both processes to occur simultaneously in one apparatus rather than requiring separate equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The reaction vessel serves multiple functions: it performs water electrolysis to produce hydrogen, facilitates the reaction between hydrogen and carbon dioxide to produce methane, and acts as the containment structure for both processes. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate apparatuses while maintaining process independence through the electrolyte membrane barrier.
2Productivity
If multiple apparatuses are used for hydrogen production and storage, then production capacity increases, but installation space and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines hydrogen production through electrolysis and methane production through reaction in a single integrated reaction vessel. The solid electrolyte membrane enables both functions to coexist in the same space, dramatically reducing installation area compared to separate apparatuses while maintaining high production capacity.
3Loss of energy
If recyclable energy is used for concurrent hydrogen and methane production, then energy efficiency improves, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates energy recycling by using the heat generated from the exothermic methane production reaction to support the endothermic water electrolysis process. This thermal coupling allows efficient energy utilization within the single reaction vessel while maintaining relatively simple process operation through the inherent thermal interactions of the chemical reactions.
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
Enables efficient and cost-effective concurrent production of hydrogen and methane, reducing environmental contamination and installation space requirements, suitable for integration in automotive vehicles and thermal power plants.
Implementation Method 1
a reaction vessel having a solid electrolyte membrane and an electrode group that includes at least a pair of electrodes arranged on the solid electrolyte membrane
Implementation Method 2
producing hydrogen by subjecting water to electrolysis in the reaction vessel
Implementation Method 3
the one electrode that functions as the cathode side electrode includes a hydrogenation catalyst
Implementation Method 4
producing methane by reacting hydrogen and carbon dioxide in presence of the hydrogenation catalyst
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a production system for methane, including a reaction vessel having a solid electrolyte membrane and an electrode group including at least a pair of electrodes arranged on the solid electrolyte membrane, in which one of the electrodes functions as a cathode side electrode, and the other electrode functions as an anode side electrode, and the one electrode that functions as the cathode side electrode includes a hydrogenation catalyst.