Water Thermolysis Device with External Hydrogen Separation and Heat Recovery
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for thermolysis of water to split hydrogen and oxygen require high energy and have limitations in increasing the yield of both gases effectively.
Innovation Solution
A device with a reactor, heating system, hydrogen and oxygen filters, and a hydrogen separation chamber outside the reactor, utilizing MIEC ceramic membranes and heat exchangers to optimize temperature control and energy reuse, along with a process that maintains specific temperature conditions for efficient gas separation and recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water is split by thermolysis in a reactor with heating system, then hydrogen and oxygen are produced, but high energy consumption is required
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional zones: a reactor for water splitting at high temperature, a hydrogen separation chamber for gas separation, and heat exchangers for energy recovery. This segmentation allows each component to operate under optimized conditions, improving overall energy efficiency while maintaining high gas yield.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent recovers thermal energy from the hot hydrogen and oxygen gases produced during thermolysis by passing them through heat exchangers that preheat the incoming water. This energy recovery mechanism significantly reduces the net energy consumption required for water splitting while maintaining high productivity.
2Productivity
If high temperature is used to split water, then hydrogen and oxygen yield increases, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs different temperature parameters in different zones: high temperature (above 2000°C) in the reactor for efficient water splitting, and controlled lower temperatures in the hydrogen separation chamber and heat exchangers for energy recovery. This parameter optimization allows high productivity while reducing overall energy input requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal energy that would otherwise be wasted heat in the produced gases is converted into a useful resource by using heat exchangers to preheat the incoming water. This transforms the harmful waste heat into a beneficial input, reducing the net thermal energy required for the water splitting process.
3Reliability
If hydrogen filters are placed inside the reactor, then gas separation is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrogen separation chamber is extracted as a separate external component from the reactor, containing the hydrogen filters. This extraction simplifies the reactor design while maintaining effective gas separation, reducing overall device complexity while preserving reliability.
4Manufacturing precision
If temperature control is optimized for gas separation, then hydrogen and oxygen purity increases, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses heat exchangers to recover thermal energy from the hot gases, creating a feedback loop that preheats the incoming water. This feedback mechanism maintains optimal temperature conditions for gas separation and purification while significantly reducing the net energy required for temperature control.
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 device achieves a significant reduction in energy consumption and increases the yield of hydrogen and oxygen to 99.99% purity, with the net energy needed to split 9 kg of water into 1 kg of H2 and 8 kg of O2 being less than 45 kWh, while minimizing heat losses and optimizing gas temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen by thermolysis, that is, by decomposition at elevated temperature
Implementation Method 2
utilizing MIEC ceramic membranes and heat exchangers to optimize temperature control and energy reuse
Implementation Method 3
utilizing MIEC ceramic membranes and heat exchangers to optimize temperature control and energy reuse
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen by thermolysis, that is, by decomposition at elevated temperature. This device comprises: —a reactor (1) having a heating system (2), a first reactor outlet (3), a second reactor outlet (4), at least one water inlet (5) and at least one oxygen filter (6); —at least one hydrogen filter (7); —an oxygen extraction pump (8), a hydrogen extraction pump (9), at least one water injection pump (10); —a hydrogen separation chamber (11) located outside the reactor (1) and containing the hydrogen filter(s) (7); —a heat exchanger (15) comprising an inlet (31) and an outlet (13) for a first circuit and an inlet (17) and an outlet (19) for a second circuit. The particularity of such a device is that it comprises two further heat exchangers (16, 28) each comprising an inlet (14, 27) and an outlet (20, 29) for a first circuit and an inlet (22, 36) and an outlet (23, 34) for a second circuit and in that: —the inlet (31) of the first circuit of a first heat exchanger (15) is connected to an external water inlet (12) via the water injection pump (10), the outlet (13) of the first circuit of the first heat exchanger (15) is connected to the inlet (14) of a first circuit of a second heat exchanger (16); —the inlet (17) of the second circuit of the first heat exchanger (15) is connected to an outlet (18) of the hydrogen separation chamber (11), which is connected to the filter(s) (7) and the outlet (19) of the second circuit of the first heat exchanger (15) is a hydrogen outlet of the device. The invention also pertains to a process for splitting water into hydrogen using the above device.