CH707418A1 - energy generation system, motor vehicle and generator comprising such a system. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an energy generation system comprising a generator (3) producing electrical energy, an electrolyzer (7) producing, from electricity and water, oxygen and hydrogen. and a heat engine (1) producing rotational energy and configured so that the generator (3) is coupled to the rotation of the heat engine (1), said heat engine (1) is powered by hydrogen, oxygen and fuel. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle and a generator comprising such a system.

Description

Technical field and state of the art

The present invention relates to a power generation system.

More particularly, the present invention relates to the admission of hydrogen and oxygen to the air mixture of a heat engine fueled by fuel.

[0003] Hydrogen engines are known. The disadvantage of this type of hydrogen engine is the risk of explosion, leakage because the engine is under pressure. In addition, these hydrogen engines are very complicated to manufacture because the pressure is important.

[0004] There are also fuel cells that use rare materials and are very expensive. Fuel cell technology uses reservoirs that store hydrogen at high pressure such as 700 bar. Such storage on a vehicle endangers the passengers of the vehicle and the people around to about ten meters. In addition, it is necessary to have electrical energy to make such a pressure vessel so that the carbon footprint of the use of fuel cells is not profitable.

Another disadvantage is the weight of such technology, usually the vehicle weighs 40% more than a conventional vehicle. However, for a vehicle launched at 90 km / h, its consumption is almost proportional to its weight.

A solution is presented in WO 2007/133174, this document describes a generation of hydrogen and oxygen. This system cleans the engine and reduces pollutants by cleaning the engine. The reduction of the fuel is related to the cleaning of the engine induced by the admission of hydrogen vapor and oxygen in the intake of the engine. The disadvantage of this type of system is that the production depends on a battery and that this production is then very low. Another disadvantage is that the engine electronics are not designed to work with such a system. This vaporization can therefore not be properly taken into account in reducing the fuel intake.

The object of the present invention is to provide an energy generation system for improving the creation of hydrogen and oxygen in order to reduce the fuel consumption of a heat engine while reducing the risks related thereto. storage of hydrogen and oxygen.

Description of the invention

The invention proposes a system for generating energy, characterized in that it comprises a generator producing electrical energy, an electrolyzer manufacturing, from electricity and water, oxygen and hydrogen and a thermal engine producing rotational energy and configured so that the generator is coupled to the rotation of the engine, said engine is powered by hydrogen, oxygen and fuel.

The generation of hydrogen and oxygen is directly injected into the combustion chamber with the fuel. There is no tank, which avoids the risks associated with the storage of hydrogen and oxygen. Fuel consumption is reduced.

By "generator", it is necessary to hear an electrical generator for producing electrical energy from another form of energy.

By "heat engine", it should be noted that the engine exerts a job using a combustion process.

The term "fuel" is a fuel that powers the heat engine.

The generator can be coupled to the rotation of the motor directly or indirectly. For example, the generator can be connected directly to the axis of rotation of the engine or through a belt, pinion or other.

Preferably, the energy generation system comprises a means of cooling the generator to lower the operating temperature.

The cooling means can maintain a temperature below 100 ° so as to avoid the decline in the generation of the magnetic field and ensure the proper operation of the generator avoiding any degradation.

Also preferably, the energy generation system comprises a cooling means of the electrolyzer to lower the operating temperature.

The cooling means can maintain a temperature below 100 ° so as to ensure the good performance of the electrolyser.

In one aspect, the generator comprises at least one rotor consisting of several permanent magnets and a magnets holding device to ensure the proper maintenance of the position of the magnets.

In operation the rotational speed is high, the locking means can encapsulate the magnets to prevent damage to the system.

In another aspect, the cooling means comprises a circuit of a fluid passing through the generator and an exchanger for cooling the fluid. For example, the fluid is water.

Also according to another aspect, the invention comprises a means for measuring the electrode voltage and a means for regulating the voltage of each electrode.

In this way, the means of regulating the voltage of each electrode prevents overheating of the electrolysis system can significantly reduce the efficiency of the electrolysis.

According to a variant of the present invention, the energy generation system also comprises a means for regulating the injection time of the fuel in the engine.

According to another variant of the present invention, the energy generation system also comprises a means for filtering a gas, said gas filtration means being disposed inside a liquid reservoir. electrolyte supplying the electrolyser.

The fact of having the filtration means of a gas and the tank at the same location optimizes the size of the energy generation system.

The present invention also relates to an electrolyzer comprising electrodes having a thickness of about 0.1 to 3 mm, a spacing means for separating each electrode by a distance of about 0.5 mm. at 20 mm.

Preferably, the magnets are rare earth neodymium.

Also according to another variable, the rotor and the stator are arranged at a distance of the order of 0.1 to 2 mm.

The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle or a generator comprising a power generation system.

By "motor vehicle" is meant any land vehicle, maritime, rail or air propelling itself with the aid of a motor.

By "generator" is meant an autonomous device capable of producing electricity.

Brief description of the figures

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in light of the following description, made on the basis of the accompanying drawings. These examples are given in a non-limiting manner. The description is to be read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which: <tb> fig. 1 <SEP> represents a schematic view of the invention, <tb> fig. 2 <SEP> represents a perspective view of the invention integrated in a car engine, <tb> fig. 3 <SEP> represents a perspective view of a generator, <tb> fig. 4 <SEP> represents an exploded view of the generator of FIG. 3, <tb> fig. <SEP> represents an exploded view of an electrolyser, <tb> fig. 6 <SEP> represents a perspective view of the electrolyser of FIG. 5, <tb> fig. 7 <SEP> represents a perspective view of a reservoir, <tb> fig. 8 <SEP> represents an exploded view of the reservoir of FIG. 7.

Description of Embodiments of the Invention

The principle is to transform water into hydrogen and oxygen by an electrolyzer powered by the generator. The use of hydrogen and oxygen makes it possible to reduce pollution on the one hand by, for example, reducing CO2 particles and, on the other hand, reducing engine consumption.

A mixture of hydrogen and oxygen reduces between 25 and 70% of the fuel consumption compared to its injection without mixing hydrogen and oxygen. For example, for engines without electronic management, we obtain a gain of 30% and for engines with electronic management or with additional equipment such as a turbo, the reduction can be up to 70%.

Here is a table of results in one embodiment with the aid of the invention mounted on a motor vehicle with a 1.8L petrol engine, 4 cylinders of 143 horses: <tb> Without power generation system <SEP> 12 <SEP> 10 <SEP> 8.5 <tb> With power generation system <SEP> 9 <SEP> 7 <SEP> 4,5 <tb> reduction in consumption in% <SEP> 25 <SEP> 30 <SEP> 47

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the operating principle of the invention.

The power generation system comprises a heat engine 1, a generator 3, an electrolyzer 7 and a reservoir 9 of electrolytic liquid. The energy generation system also comprises means for cooling the generator and the electrolyzer, a means for filtering the gas produced by the electrolyzer 7 and a means for regulating the injection time 11.

The heat engine 1 produces a rotational energy. Through a belt 2, a generator 3 is rotated according to the engine speed. The generator 3 that we will detail below creates electrical energy. The generator consists of a rotor consisting of several permanent magnets and a stator consisting of a winding of copper wire. The generator 3 creates a three-phase electricity by its configuration.

The generator 3 is connected to a diode bridge for rectifying the alternating current in direct current.

The direct current feeds the electrolyzer 7 which makes it possible to perform chemical reactions of an electrolytic liquid using direct current. The electrolyser 7 consists of several electrodes. A regulation means the voltage of 6 of each electrode prevents overheating of the electrolyzer and ensures the good performance of the electrolysis. In fact, overheating considerably reduces the efficiency of the electrolysis.

The regulating means of the voltage 6 of each electrode is an automaton. The automaton comprises means for measuring the voltage 5 of the generator 3 or at the output of the diode bridge. The measurement information is transmitted to the PLC which provides the power supply function of the electrolyzer to ensure a voltage between 1.75 and 2 V per electrode. The voltage must be limited to 2 V to prevent overheating. To ensure proper operation, the temperature is below 60 ° C. The automaton acts on static relays of 200A so as to distribute the power supply without ever exceeding 2 V per electrode. For example, for twenty electrodes, the overall voltage will not exceed 40 V.

At the output of the electrolyser 7, a gas consisting of a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen is created. This gas is cleaned by gas filtration means to clean the mixture. The gas is created using the electrolytic liquid potassium or other type such as sodium. It is necessary to use the filtering means of a gas for two functions: as a flame shield and as cleaning the gas to extract the electrolytic liquid from the mixture of hydrogen and oxygen.

The gas passes through a flow sensor 10. The flow sensor makes it possible to regulate the flow rate of the fuel to be conveyed to the heat engine 1. The information of the flow sensor 10 is sent to the time regulation means. injection 11 of the fuel. The fuel flow rate is then regulated by the means for regulating the fuel injection time 11 in order to adjust the needs of the heat engine 1 to fuel. The gas passes through a nonreturn valve 13 to protect the system from possible backfire in the pipe. Preferably, the nonreturn valve 13 is close to the combustion chamber of the heat engine 1.

The gas is then mixed with air to be introduced into the combustion chamber of the heat engine 1. In order to optimize the injection time of the heat engine 1, the present invention has a means of regulating the time of the engine. Injection 11. Said means of regulating the injection time 11 makes it possible to optimize the admission of the gas produced with the fuel in order to reduce fuel consumption. For example, the fuel injection time is reduced by 40%.

Inside the heat engine 1, a specific oil is replaced so that the admission of a gas consisting of a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen is optimum. For example, the specific oil to work with hydrogen, such as ceramic oil. If the installation of the present invention is to be carried out on an already existing heat engine, draining may be necessary in order to replace the existing oil.

The heat engine 1 is connected to an exhaust 12.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the generator 3.

The generator has a cooling means 31, not shown in FIG. 3 or 4, to lower the operating temperature. During its operation, the generator 3 rotates at high speed which causes a heating of the various parts. For example, the cooling means 31 of the generator is produced by the passage of a fluid inside the generator 3, for example oil. It can be provided that the cooling means is also produced by air. . For example, the cooling means 31 is a radiator or exchanger. In fig. 3, there is shown the inlet of the coolant 32 and the coolant outlet 33. The generator 3 creates a three-phase electricity and three-phase electrical outputs 34 are shown.

The generator 3 has a speed multiplier. For example, the generator has a pulley 312 that multiplies the rotational speed of the engine by four.

The generator 3 has a rotor consisting of magnets 309. For example, the magnets 309 are rare earth neodymium such as N42 type or rare earth in general or ferrites, alnico, neodymium, cobalt. These magnets 309 are nested in an interlocking part of the magnets 308 in order to maintain these magnets 309 in their position relative to each other during operation. A metal disk 307 is on either side of the interlocking part of the magnets 308. A magnet holding device consists of two metal disks 307 and the interlocking part of the magnets 308 and magnets 309. metal discs 307 may be in another material, such as for example composite.

Inside the generator 3, it is used a fluid, preferably a dielectric liquid to ensure the dissipation of heat and therefore a cooling of the generator 3. The various rotating parts are attached to the rotating axis 310 using one or more nuts 311. The rotating shaft is held in position by bearings 302. It can be added a seal 305 which can be lip to prevent leakage of the dielectric fluid of the Generator 3. The set of parts is surrounded by metal parts having a passage for the coolant 313. Between each metal part, two O-rings 304 provide sealing between these metal parts. Two flanges 306 are on either side of the generator 3 and encapsulate all the metal parts. The set of metal parts is integrally fixed by studs 301.

Around the rotor is positioned a stator 303 consisting of a number of winding copper wire. For example, the stator 303 has two 1.2mm diameter copper wires which are doubled and their length depends on the desired phase number.

FIG. 4 represents two rotors and two stators 303. This generator 3 can provide 15 KW by a 100hp heat engine. It may be considered to increase or reduce the number of rotor and stator to meet the desired need. The rotor and the stator 303 are arranged at a distance of the order of 0.1 and 2 mm. The distance is the distance between the rotor and the stator. For example, the rotor and the stator are arranged at 0.5 mm distance. Too small a gap can cause system degradation if the rotor touches the stator. When the rotor is too far, for example beyond 2 mm, the power of the system is greatly reduced.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, the electrolyzer 7 has an inlet 71 of an electrolytic liquid. At the outlet of the electrolyser 7, a mixture of gas and liquid is created and passes through the outlet of the gas 72.

A pump 8 feeds the electrolyzer 7 electrolytic liquid contained in the reservoir 9. This pump 8 allows on the one hand to circulate the electrolytic liquid and on the other hand serves as anti return of the circulation of liquid in The reservoir.

The electrolyser also has a cooling means 31 which makes it possible to lower the temperature of the electrolytic liquid. Indeed, at the output of the electrolyser, the electrolytic liquid has warmed up and to ensure proper operation under the same conditions, it is preferable to lower the operating temperature by the cooling means. For example, the cooling means is a plate heat exchanger.

A pump 8 feeds the plate heat exchanger. This pump 8 serves to circulate a cold liquid from the cooling means to the plate heat exchanger to cool the electrolyte liquid passing through the plate heat exchanger. There is no mixing between the electrolytic liquid and the cold liquid of the cooling means.

The electrolyser 7 consists of a plurality of electrodes. Each electrode may be anode or cathode electrode 703 or a neutral electrode 704. For example, the anode or cathode electrodes 703 or the neutral electrodes 704 are made of 316L stainless steel or polymer.

Each anode electrode or cathode 703 has a bore of the liquid passage 705, a bore passage 707 gas and a terminal 706 connectable to a positive or negative current. The electrolyser also has neutral electrodes 704. These neutral electrodes 704 also have a bore of the liquid passage 705 and a gas passage bore 707. The bore of the liquid passage 705 circulates the electrolytic liquid through the channels. various anode or cathode electrodes 703.

The electrolyser 7 has sealing means between each anode or cathode electrode 703 and the neutral electrode 704. These sealing means serve to seal the anode or cathode electrodes 703 and the neutral electrodes 704 so that to avoid any leakage of the electrolytic liquid. For example, the sealing means is a seal 702 which is positioned between each neutral electrode 704 and each anode or cathode electrode 703. The seal 702 also provides electrical isolation between the anodes or cathodes 703 or 703. the neutral electrodes 704. The electrolyzer 7 is closed by a cover 701 located on either side of the various elements of the electrolyser 7. The cover 701 makes it possible to contain the electrolytic liquid inside the electrolyser 7.

A seal 702 is positioned on each side of the cover 701 to ensure the overall sealing of the electrolyser. Each of the neutral electrodes 704, anode or cathode electrodes 703, seals 702 have bores to allow their attachment and provide sufficient space to allow the chemical reaction. This space is of the order of 0.5 mm to 20 mm depending on the amperage and can be achieved by the thickness of the seal 702 or by any other insulating means. In this way, this space makes it possible to be optimum for the chemical reaction of the electrolytic liquid and ensures a good yield of the electrolyser 7. In the embodiment presented, the space between each anode electrode or cathode 703 and each neutral electrode 704 is 3 mm.

In order to maintain and position the anode or cathode electrodes 703 and the neutral electrodes 704, rods are inserted through the different parts of the electrolyser parts 7. Other types of anodes electrode maintenance or cathodes 703, neutral electrodes 704 and covers 701 may be envisaged, for example lugs on anode or cathode electrodes 703 and bores passing through or not the neutral electrodes 704.

A first anode electrode or cathode 703 is positioned on one side of the electrolyser 7. This first anode electrode or cathode 703 is connected to the negative terminal which will be the cathode. Then, a plurality of neutral electrodes 704 are positioned and finally an anode electrode or cathode 703 is connected to the positive terminal which will be the anode.

The anode or cathode electrodes 703 and the neutral electrodes 704 have a thickness of the order of 0.1 to 3 mm. For example, the anode or cathode electrodes 703 and the neutral electrodes 704 have a thickness of 1 mm.

Figs. 7 and 8 represent the reservoir 9. In the embodiment described, the reservoir 9 also has a filtering means for the gas created by the electrolyzer 7. The reservoir 9 comprises an access to the reservoir 91 in order to fill the reservoir with a reservoir. electrolytic liquid, an outlet of the liquid 92 for conveying the electrolytic liquid to the electrolyzer 7. The reservoir 9 also comprises a gas inlet 93 and an outlet of the gas 94.

The tank 9 comprises partitions 901 to prevent the liquid from moving. These partitions 901 are not sealed relative to each other, the electrolyte liquid is throughout the tank to have the same level in the tank. The minimum level of electrolytic liquid corresponds to the level of the bubbler 902. The maximum level of the electrolytic liquid is limited by access to the tank 91 so that the electrolytic liquid is not conveyed with the gas into the engine inlet.

Hydrogen and oxygen and a portion of the electrolytic liquid pass through the inlet of the gas 73 and arrive in a bubbler 902. The bubbles created by the bubbler pass through a baffle network to clean the gas produced, the electrolytic liquid remains in the tank 9 to then return to the electrolyser. The arrow F represents the path of the bubbles created by the bubbler 902.

The proportion of the gas is 1 volume of oxygen and 2 volumes of hydrogen.

In another variant, it may be envisaged, without departing from the scope of the invention, to adapt the proportions, the forms of the energy generation system, the generator 3, the electrolyser 7 as well as those of the tank 9 such as those described above by simple constructive arrangements that will appear directly and without undue effort to the skilled person.

Nomenclature

[0070] <tb> 1 <SEP> thermal engine <tb> 2 <SEP> coupling belt <Tb> 3 <September> generator <tb> <SEP> 31 <SEP> cooling medium <tb> <SEP> 32 <SEP> coolant inlet <tb> <SEP> 33 <SEP> coolant outlet <tb> <SEP> 34 <SEP> three-phase electrical output <Tb> <September> 301 <September> studs <Tb> <September> 302 <September> bearing <Tb> <September> 303 <September> stator <tb> <SEP> 304 <SEP> O-rings <tb> <SEP> 305 <SEP> seal <Tb> <September> 306 <September> flaccid <tb> <SEP> 307 <SEP> metal disk <tb> <SEP> 308 <SEP> interlocking part of the magnets <Tb> <September> 309 <September> magnets <tb> <SEP> 310 <SEP> rotating axis <Tb> <September> 311 <September> nut <Tb> <September> 312 <September> pulley <tb> <SEP> 313 <SEP> coolant passage <tb> 4 <SEP> diode bridge <tb> 5 <SEP> means of measuring the voltage <tb> 6 <SEP> means of voltage regulation <Tb> 7 <September> electrolyzer <tb> <SEP> 71 <SEP> electrolytic liquid inlet <tb> <SEP> 72 <SEP> gas outlet <Tb> <September> 701 <September> cover <tb> <SEP> 702 <SEP> seal <tb> <SEP> 703 <SEP> anode or cathode electrode <tb> <SEP> 704 <SEP> neutral electrode <tb> <SEP> 705 <SEP> bore of the liquid passage <tb> <SEP> 706 <SEP> electrode terminal <tb> <SEP> 707 <SEP> gas passage bore <Tb> 8 <September> Pump <Tb> 9 <September> tank <tb> <SEP> 91 <SEP> access to the tank <tb> <SEP> 92 <SEP> liquid outlet <tb> <SEP> 93 <SEP> gas inlet <tb> <SEP> 94 <SEP> gas outlet <Tb> <September> 901 <September> partition <Tb> <September> 902 <September> bubbler <tb> 10 <SEP> flow sensor <tb> 11 <SEP> means of regulation of the injection time <Tb> 12 <September> exhaust <tb> 13 <SEP> check valve

Claims (13)

1. A system for generating energy, characterized in that it comprises a generator (3) producing electrical energy, an electrolyzer (7) producing, from electricity and water, oxygen and hydrogen and a heat engine (1) producing a rotational energy and configured so that the generator (3) is coupled to the rotation of the engine (1), said engine (1) is powered by hydrogen , oxygen and fuel. 2. Energy generating system according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a cooling means of the generator (3) for lowering the operating temperature. 3. Energy generating system according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a cooling means of the electrolyser (7) for lowering the operating temperature. 4. Energy generating system according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said generator (3) comprises at least one rotor consisting of several magnets (309) and a permanent magnet holding device to ensure the good maintenance of the position of the magnets. 5. Energy generating system according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the cooling means (31) comprises a circuit of a fluid passing through the generator (3) and an exchanger for cooling the fluid . 6. Energy generating system according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a means for measuring the voltage (5) electrode (703, 704) and a means of regulating the voltage (6) of each electrode (703, 704). 7. Energy generating system according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it also comprises a means for regulating the injection time (11) of the fuel in the engine (1). 8. Energy generation system according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it also comprises a gas filtration means, said gas filtration means being disposed within a a reservoir (9) of electrolytic liquid supplying the electrolyzer (7). 9. Energy generation system according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the electrolyzer (7) comprises electrodes of thickness of the order of 0.1 to 3 mm, a means of spacing for separating each electrode (703, 704) by a distance of the order of 0.5 mm to 20 mm. 10. Energy generating system according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that said magnets (309) are rare earth neodymium. 11. Energy generating system according to one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that the rotor and the stator (303) are arranged at a distance of about 0.1 and 2 mm. Motor vehicle comprising a power generation system according to one of claims 1 to 11. Generator set comprising a power generation system according to one of claims 1 to 11.