Solid Oxide Cell Modules With Heat Recovery for Methane Energy Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of efficiently storing excess electricity generated by non-fossil energy sources and using it to generate electricity when demand exceeds supply, while maintaining cost-effectiveness in the process.
Innovation Solution
A module comprising a solid oxide unit with multiple cells, heat exchangers, and a mixing and dosing unit, which recycles heat and gases to optimize energy use, and a subsystem with shared components to enhance power output and reduce costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If heat exchangers are added to recycle heat between process streams, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system recycles heat internally between process streams using heat exchangers, allowing the system to serve its own thermal needs without external energy input. Hot output air and gas mixtures from the solid oxide unit heat incoming air, water, and fuel streams, creating a self-sustaining thermal cycle that improves energy efficiency while integrating seamlessly into the existing system architecture.
2Power
If multiple solid oxide cells are stacked together in a solid oxide unit, then power output is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple solid oxide cells are stacked together in a single solid oxide unit, combining their individual power outputs into a unified system. This modular stacking approach achieves higher total power output while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized cell designs and integrated balance-of-plant components that serve the entire stack.
3Manufacturing precision
If a mixing and dosing unit is added to combine steam and hydrogen in defined ratios, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing and dosing unit precisely controls the composition of gas mixtures by adjusting flow rates and mixing ratios of steam and hydrogen. This parameter control ensures optimal conditions for methane production and solid oxide cell operation, achieving high manufacturing precision for gas composition while using straightforward mixing mechanisms that minimize added complexity.
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 solution enables efficient production and storage of methane for later electricity generation, reducing costs by recycling heat and sharing components, thus addressing the mismatch between energy supply and demand.
Implementation Method 1
A solid oxide cell is configured to produce hydrogen (H2) on the basis of a supply of electricity and gases including steam
Implementation Method 2
to generate electricity on the basis of a supply of gases including methane in the electricity generation process
Implementation Method 3
a first heat exchanger arranged and configured to enable exchange of heat between output air of the solid oxide unit and water originating from a water supply
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
In the field of using methane as an energy storage medium, wherein electricity is used at one stage for producing methane, and wherein methane is used at a later stage for generating electricity, use is made of solid oxide cells. The solid oxide cells are combined to stacks, the stacks are arranged in units (10), and the units (10) are arranged in modules (9). Each of the modules (9) is included in a subsystem (29) and is arranged in a frame (30) of the subsystem (29). Finally, a number of subsystems (29) are combined to a system. In this way, costs of the electricity to be generated are reduced. Further reduction of the costs is achieved by having components which are shared between the modules (9) and the subsystems (29), particularly components involved in supplying and discharging fluids and components involved in reusing heat of output fluid flows.