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INVENTION
Patent of the Russian Federation RU2291524
ENERGY INSTALLATION WITH HYDROGEN AIR INDIRECT ELECTROCHEMICAL GENERATOR
The name of the inventor: Glukhikh Igor Nikolaevich (RU); Chelyaev Vladimir Filippovich (RU); Shcherbakov Andrey Nikolaevich
The name of the patent holder: Open Joint-Stock Company "Rocket and Space Corporation Energia" named after SP Korolev "
Address for correspondence: 141070, Moscow Region, Korolev, ul. Lenina, 4a, RSC Energia after SP Korolev, industrial property laboratory and innovators
Date of commencement of the patent: 2004.04.26
The invention relates to power engineering and can be used in stationary and transport power plants (EC), including electrochemical generators (ECGs) using hydrogen and air as fuel components. The essence of the proposed solution is that instead of a special substance that absorbs CO 2 from the air, the plant uses a waste solution produced during the operation of the EC itself. In this case, not adsorption (i.e., surface CO 2 binding) is used, but gas absorption (i.e., volumetric uptake) in an alkali solution often used in industry. It is possible to achieve the required degree of gas purification. The proposed technical solution makes it possible to create a hydrogen-air EC with alkaline fuel cells without the use of special air purification (and hydrogen), which will obviously increase the service life of the unit, reduce its volumetric weight characteristics and simplify its operation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to power engineering and can be used in stationary and transport power plants (EC), including electrochemical generators (ECGs) using hydrogen and air as fuel components.
One of the main differences of such EC is the way to provide ECG with hydrogen. The latter can either be stored (in compressed or liquefied form, in intermetallic compounds etc.), or generated during the operation of the EA. In the latter case, hydrolysis of light metals and their hydrides (for example, lithium, aluminum, etc.) is often used in water or an aqueous solution of alkali (NaOH) [1]. Some of these systems are expected to be used for transport [2-4]. These installations except hydrogen hydrolysis generators and ECGs usually include a system for supplying (and purifying) hydrogen, a system for loading reagents into a hydrogen generator and removing reaction products from there, thermal control systems and a control system.
The mentioned technical solutions [2-4] are adopted in this case for analogue and are designed to work on pure oxygen and are not able to use atmospheric air. The latter is due to the fact that currently used ECG are ECG with fuel cells of alkaline type. Their use requires special purification of air from carbon dioxide, for which in the EC data there are no appropriate means.
Closer to the proposed solution is the "Installation for the production of heat and electricity from aluminum waste" [5]. In it, the hydrogen-air ECG feeds on hydrogen produced in a hydrogen generator, which works on the hydrolysis of aluminum in an aqueous solution of alkali. The hydrogen supply system includes an intermetallic block that allows to purify and store hydrogen. The work of the hydrogen generator and its supply system is controlled by a special control unit.
The disadvantage of the prototype is that when using alkaline fuel cells (FCs) in the ECG, the consumed air must be cleaned of carbon dioxide. The usual concentration of CO 2 in air is 300 ÷ 400 ppm, while for alkaline fuel cells this value should not exceed ~ 10 ppm. Carbon dioxide promotes carbonization of electricity in fuel cells, which significantly reduces its service life.
To purify air from CO 2, usually adsorbents are used, which are regularly replaced and regenerated [6]. This complicates the operation of the power plant and leads to an increase in the size of the installation. In addition, any solid adsorbent has a limiting number of regeneration cycles, which limits its service life.
The task of the proposed solution is a cardinal solution of the "adsorbent problem" for hydrogen-air EC with alkaline fuel cells, that is, a solution that makes it possible altogether to abandon the use of special substances absorbing CO 2 from such air in such ECs.
The problem is solved by the fact that in an energy installation with a hydrogen-air electrochemical generator containing an electrochemical generator with alkaline fuel elements, at least one hydrogen generator working on the hydrolysis of aluminum in an aqueous solution of alkali, a hydrogen supply system, an air supply system and a control system is introduced to At least one heat-insulated container with liquid hydrolysis products hydraulically connected to the hydrogen generator by a main line with a shut-off valve and provided with a drain valve, a drain valve and a liquid level sensor, wherein the outlet of the air supply system with a manifold with a separation valve is connected to the bottom of the container with liquid products Hydrolysis, the entrance of the electrochemical generator through the air is pneumatically communicated with the air cushion of this tank, and all valves and the liquid level sensor are connected to the power plant control system.
The essence of the proposed solution is that instead of a special substance that absorbs CO 2 from the air, the plant uses a waste solution produced during the operation of the EC itself. In this case, not adsorption (i.e., surface CO 2 binding) is used, but gas absorption (i.e., volumetric uptake) in an alkali solution often used in industry. It is possible to achieve the required degree of gas purification [7].
When hydrogen is generated by the hydrolysis of aluminum in an aqueous solution of alkali (for example, NaOH), the spent solution contains the initial alkali (NaOH) and sodium aluminate (NaAlO 2 ) [5]. Under unfavorable conditions (for example, if alkalis are insufficient), poorly soluble aluminum hydroxide (Al (OH) 3 ) can also be formed. All these substances have an alkaline reaction and are capable of binding carbon dioxide in accordance with the equations:
Thus, the solution spent in the EC with the hydrolysis system for hydrogen production can serve to purify the air of carbon dioxide. In this case, as can be seen from equations (1-3) in terms of the molar ratio, the capacity of such a solution for carbon dioxide is very high.
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It is also important to note that unlike ECs that have adsorbers in their composition, in the proposed solution the CO 2 absorbing solution is updated during the operation of the unit, which prevents saturation of the solution with carbon dioxide and insoluble carbonates. This simplifies the maintenance of the installation and increases the duration of its continuous operation. From the container with liquid reaction products, through which air flows, excess solutions can be periodically or permanently removed through the drain valve. In the proposed solution, in addition, the absorbing solution is stored in a thermally insulated container. Thus, the temperature of the spent solution remains high, since its temperature in the hydrogen generator is quite high (up to 250 ° C). The experimental verification of the absorptivity of the spent sodium aluminate solution (obtained by hydrolyzing aluminum in sodium hydroxide solution), carried out by the authors, showed that the ability to work absorb carbon dioxide significantly increases with increasing temperature of the spent solution (Fig. 1). In this regard, it is inappropriate to allow cooling of the solution used in the generator. |
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A schematic diagram of the plant is given in FIG. 2, where: 1 - hydrogen generator, working on the hydrolysis of aluminum in an aqueous solution of alkali; |
In the scheme under consideration, ECG (3) is supplied with hydrogen from the hydrogen supply system (2), which can include gas purification means, reinforcement, etc. in its composition. The hydrogen supply system (2) is in turn connected to a hydrogen generator (1), which operates on the hydrolysis of aluminum in an aqueous solution of alkali. The latter is connected via a shut-off valve (10) with a heat-insulated container with a liquid hydrolysis product (6), which is equipped with a liquid level sensor (9), drain valve (7) and drain valve (8).
The air cushion of the tank with liquid hydrolysis product (6) is pneumatically connected to the ECG inlet (3) through the air, which is fed into the tank (6) by the air supply system (4). The latter may include a filter, a compressor, or the like. And through the separation valve (5) communicates with the bottom of the container with the liquid hydrolysis product (6).
OPERATING THE INSTALLATION AS FOLLOWING
In the stationary mode of operation, the container with the liquid hydrolysis product (6) is filled with the spent solution to a predetermined level, which is monitored by the liquid level sensor (9). This level should not be too large (so that an air cushion is retained in the tank with the liquid hydrolysis product (6)) and can not be too small, since at a shallow depth of the solution, not all of the CO 2 will be absorbed in it. The pressure in the air cushion is approximately equal to the pressure at the outlet of the air supply system (4). The drain valve (8), drain valve (7) and shut-off valve (10) are closed.
Hydrogen from the hydrogen generator (1), working on the hydrolysis of aluminum in an aqueous solution of alkali, enters the ECG (3) through the hydrogen supply system (2), where it can be purified, partially accumulated, compressed, etc.). At the same time, the air supply system (4) supplies atmospheric air to the bottom of the heat-insulated container with the hot liquid hydrolysis product (6). Passing through the spent solution, the air loses the carbon dioxide contained in it (reactions (1) - (3)) and enters the air cushion of this container, from where it enters the ECG (3). In this case, the presence of a small amount of alkali in this air (as, indeed, in hydrogen) does not play a role, since ECG (3) has alkaline fuel cells.
Thus, ECG (3) works on components that do not poison FC.
After the development of the components in the hydrogen generator (1), which operates on the hydrolysis of aluminum in an aqueous alkali solution, drain the spent solution from the container with the liquid hydrolysis product (6) and fill it with fresh and hot working from the hydrogen generator (1), opening the shut-off valve (10 ). The separating valve (5) is thus closed, and air in the EC is not supplied. The installation is in the "recharge" mode.
After draining off the hydrogen generator (1) and obtaining the required level of working in the tank with the liquid hydrolysis product (6), the drain valve (8) is opened and the pressure in this container drops to atmospheric pressure. After this, the container with the liquid hydrolysis product (6) is again isolated from the atmospheric air and the hydrogen generator (1). The latter is loaded with fresh reagents, and the unit is again ready for operation.
It should be noted that the described "periodic" mode of operation of the EA can be replaced by a continuous one if several hydrogen generators, operating alternately and having their capacities with a liquid hydrolysis product, are used instead of one.
In addition, the hydrogen generator (1), which works on the hydrolysis of aluminum in an aqueous solution of alkali and the container with the liquid hydrolysis product (6), can be combined in one housing and have a direct thermal contact among themselves. Such an aggregate can also be a replaceable element of the EC.
Thus, the proposed technical solution makes it possible to create a hydrogen-air EC with alkaline fuel cells without the use of special means for purifying air (and hydrogen), which obviously will increase the service life of the installation, reduce its volumetric weight characteristics and simplify its operation.
USED BOOKS
1. "Technical Encyclopedia" ed. Martek, vol. 8, p. 102, 103. Home ed. those. Encyclopedia and dictionaries, Moscow, ONTI, 1937.
2. Pat. USA 5372617, 1994.
3. Pat. USA 6.063.515, 2000
4. Pat. USA 2.181.331, 2002.
5. Pat. USA 4.218.620, 1980
6. Pat. USA 5.595.949, 1997.
7. "Oxygen. Directory ", part 1 ed. DLGlizmanenko, ed. "Metallurgy", Moscow, 1967, p. 158.
CLAIM
An energy installation with a hydrogen-air electrochemical generator comprising an electrochemical generator with alkaline fuel elements, at least one hydrogen generator operating on the hydrolysis of aluminum in an aqueous alkali solution, a hydrogen supply system, an air supply system and a control system, characterized in that a power plant , At least one heat-insulated container with liquid hydrolysis products hydraulically connected to the hydrogen generator by a main line with a shut-off valve and equipped with a drain valve, a drain valve and a liquid level sensor, the output of the air supply system by a main line with a separation valve connected to the bottom of the tank with Liquid hydrolysis products, the input of the electrochemical generator through the air is pneumatically communicated with the air cushion of this tank, and all valves and the liquid level sensor are connected to the power plant control system.
print version
Date of publication 25.03.2007gg
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