FR2664746A1 - Installation for producing electrical energy - Google Patents

Abstract

This installation, intended in particular for a submarine, includes a battery of fuel cells requiring supply of gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen in order to produce output electrical energy. First supply means (24) supply a compound containing hydrogen, preferably methanol, which is liquid at standard temperature and pressure and which can undergo an endothermic reaction in order to liberate gaseous hydrogen, and second supply means (10) which supply liquid hydrogen peroxide. The compound containing hydrogen undergoes an endothermic reaction in order to liberate gaseous hydrogen in a reforming device (21) connected to the first supply means. A decomposition device (12) is connected to the second supply means and decomposes the hydrogen peroxide in order to liberate gaseous oxygen. Means supply heat to the compound containing hydrogen before its entry into the reforming device (21), or therein, in order to sustain the endothermic reaction.

Description

The present invention relates to a production installation

  electrical energy which includes a fuel cell requiring a supply of gaseous hydrogen and a supply of gaseous oxygen to produce electrical energy

that out.

  The invention has been developed mainly, although not exclusively, with the aim of creating an installation for producing electrical energy which is particularly suitable for use in

  a submarine For the purpose of this descrip-

  tion, we will describe the application of an installation for producing electrical energy according to the invention intended for use in a submarine, although it will be understood that the invention is capable of being applied in general in for use in other environments where resources

  air / oxygen may be limited or unavailable

  bles, including use in space vehicles

  such as orbital vehicles and satellites

  artificial lites or for emergency use

  in hazardous environments such as operations

relief rations in mines.

  It is common practice for sub-

  sailors circulating in the oceans, which are not pro-

  pulsed by a nuclear reactor, to use an engine

  diesel for surface or half propulsion

  diving and fully immersed batteries The pro-

  The main problem with diesel / electric submarines is that the capacity of the batteries greatly limits the total immersion time of the ship, and there is therefore a need for an energy source capable of increase by

  operational capacity in immersion for a sub-

  seaman within the physical and operational constraints imposed by a submarine Such constraints include space and weight limits of the power conversion facility, volumetric fuel (s) requirements and problems of buoyancy created by increasing relief as the fuel (s) is or is

are consumed.

  An energy supply device

  possible, known as a recycle diesel system

  clage uses a conventional diesel engine aspirating oxygen diluted with steam and / or exhaust gas in a self-contained closed cycle Although such a system increases the endurance of a submarine powered only by batteries , it suffers from the disadvantages of the total weight, the volume of

  fuel and oxygen required, eliminating

  combustion product and noise.

  Although other variants of the diesel power conversion device are known, none of them offers significant advantages

  for this application The conversion yield '-

  The energy of a diesel generator is 20 to 30%. However, fuel cells that directly convert chemical energy into electrical energy have a proven energy conversion efficiency of 50 to 60%. reliable fuel cell capable of producing the required output energy could be combined with a satisfactory means of storage for the reagents, an energy production system suitable for a

  submerged submarine could be provided.

  Various types of fuel cells have been the subject of considerable development efforts and now offer high specific performance with demonstrated reliability. A first type of cell combines oxygen and hydrogen gas of high purity to form water with the production of significant quantities of electrical energy Such a fuel cell can be started easily, the output energy can be modified automatically and the operation of the cell is virtually silent The problem lies in the supply oxygen and hydrogen gas of high purity Oxygen and hydrogen are both permanent gases and therefore cannot be

  liquefied at normal temperatures by the applica-

  tion of a pressure The gases can thus be stored either under high pressure in cylinders which leads to a handicap for the weight of the containers and the volume of the gases which could be stored, or in the form of cryogenic liquids which risks creating space issues,

  buoyancy due to change in trough and pro-

  problems associated with shock charges Hydrogen can also be stored in solid form in combination '

  chemical as a metallic hybrid but this poses.

also weight problems.

  A second type of fuel cell can use oxygen from the air and the use of such a cell is also advantageous This type of cell could be used when a submarine was on the surface or half-diving using normal air When the ship is submerged, this type of cell could be operated by using indoor air in the submarine provided that the content in

oxygen from this air is maintained.

  According to the invention, an installation is created.

  An electrical energy production unit comprising: a fuel cell which requires supplies of gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen in order to generate electrical output energy; first supply means to supply the installation with a compound containing

  hydrogen which is liquid under normal conditions

  temperature and pressure and which can undergo an endothermic reaction to release hydrogen gas; second supply means for

  supply the installation with hydrogen peroxide

  what; a reforming device, connected to the first supply means, in which said hydrogen-containing compound can undergo said endothermic reaction and release the hydrogen gas; a decomposition device connected to said second supply means, and arranged for

  decompose hydrogen peroxide so as to release - ,, -

  r gaseous oxygen; means for supplying heat to the

  compound containing hydrogen, so

  hold the endothermic reaction in the reformer; and means for supplying the gaseous hydrogen and the gaseous oxygen released in the reformer and the decomposition device respectively to the fuel cell in order to generate energy

electrical output.

  The hydrogen peroxide is decomposed exothermically in the decomposition device and preferably means are provided to supply heat from the decomposition device to the reforming device, so as to fully or partially maintain the endothermic reaction in the device of reformation. It will be noted in particular that the heat supplied by the decomposition of the hydrogen peroxide in the decomposition device is of high quality, that is to say that it is a heat

  concentrated at high temperature, which is particularly

  particularly useful for promoting and maintaining the reforming reaction of the hydrogen-containing compound

in the reformation device.

  This ensures efficient operation of the electrical energy production plant in that the heat given off in the heating device

  decomposition, which would otherwise be lost is useful

  as a heat source to maintain the

  endothermic reaction in the reforming device

tion.

  However, although this is a particularly advantageous arrangement according to the invention, other means can be provided in the context of

  the invention as a source of heat for

  hold the endothermic reaction in the reformer In a preferred variant, part of

  the electrical energy produced in the com- cell

  bustible is used to activate an electrically powered heating device which is arranged to fully or partially maintain the endothermic reaction in the reforming device. Although this imposes a loss of efficiency, in that part of the output energy useful cell

  fuel is used to keep it running

  of the high-power generation facility

  we get another production facility

  tion of electrical energy which is about two to three times more efficient than ordinary facilities. The preferred hydrogen-containing compound

  intended for use in the production facility

  tion of electrical energy is methanol, although other alcohols or hydrocarbons may be used provided that they are liquid at normal temperature and pressure and that they can be subjected to a reforming reaction

  endothermic to release gaseous hydrogen.

  When, as is preferred, the metha-

  nol is used as a hydro-containing compound

  embarrassment, this is particularly suitable because it

  has a specific mass of about 0.8 at

  rature and at normal pressure and a boiling point of 64.7 ° C. The reforming reaction requires the addition of pure water or methanol and advantageously this is taken from the pure water produced during

  the operation of the fuel cell.

  The hydrogen dioxide that is used '

  as a source of oxygen can be decomposed by-

  catalytic in oxygen and water Hydrogen dioxide is a highly reactive compound and it is usually supplied in aqueous solution Certain concentrations of hydrogen peroxide can be

  used but a concentration of 85 Z is preferred.

  Such a concentration would have a D e N S i t of about 1.36 and be liquid under normal conditions

of temperature and pressure.

  The exothermic decomposition of the reaction

  hydrogen peroxide can be used to supply

  provide some or all of the heat required for the endothermic methanol reforming reaction, so as to increase as much as possible

  indicated above the thermal economy of function

  operation of 1 production facility and reduce / eliminate the need to use part of

  the electrical energy output from the com- cell

bustible for heating.

  Advantageously, the reactions of

  exothermic decomposition and endo- reformation

  thermal are carried out in the immediate vicinity so as to maximize heat transfer In a possible arrangement, the two reactions could take place in a single container, being separated only by an element highly conductive of heat, although other means to high heat transfer efficiency can be used if desired. It is also preferable to ensure that the streams of hot products leaving the reforming / decomposing vessels added to other heat sources, such as the fuel cell, catalytic oxidants and the like can be used to preheat the reactants. know methanol and water before you reach the

  stage of the reformation reaction.

  To this end, the invention provides an installation

  lation of electrical energy production which uses a fuel cell capable of delivering a high output energy and having a high efficiency of energy conversion while not requiring cryogenic storage or under high pressure of sources of hydrogen and oxygen By ensuring, as is preferred, that the thermal requirements of the reform reaction are met, at least for the most part, by the heat produced by the decomposition reaction, together with other thermal savings , virtually all of the output energy from the fuel cell is available for use, with the plant operating

  practically in thermal autonomy.

  The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration

  of an embodiment of a production installation

  duction of electrical energy according to the invention

  intended for use in a submarine, including

  an apparatus for producing oxygen and hydrogen gas intended to supply a fuel cell; Fig 2 is a schematic illustration of the combination of oxygen and hydrogen in the fuel cell to generate electrical energy; Fig 3 is a schematic illustration of the catalytic oxidation of oxygen purges and hydrogen gas; and Fig 4 is a diagram showing the overall balance of heat and mass for the simultaneous production of oxygen and hydrogen gas

in the installation.

  The fuel cells which are used in an installation for producing electrical energy according to the invention are of the type which requires the provision of a supply of hydrogen and pure gaseous oxygen or hydrogen gas and air (as a source oxygen gas), in order to generate electrical output energy. The fuel cells of the aforementioned type which can be used include the following constituents: Solid oil electrode: Air / hydrogen or oxygen / hydrogen Low temperature 6 '-105' C Dhos Dhoriaue acid electrode: Air: hydrogen or oxygen / hydrogen Operating temperature 150 190 C Alkaline electrode (potassium hydroxide): Oxygen / hydrogen (air can be used Sa gas

carbon dioxide is first removed).

Low temperature: 60 90 'C.

  We will now describe the chi-

  mics that take place in order to supply hydrogen and

  in gaseous oxygen the fuel cell and con-

  green chemical energy in the cell of

  fuel in electrical energy.

  A supply of pure gaseous oxygen is taken from the hydrogen peroxide which breaks down according to the equation: / 2 H 202 2 H 20 + 02 + heat (1)

  Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical body

  that unstable and it only requires low

  activation means to trigger its decomposition.

  So, for security reasons, it is usual-

  LEMENT AVAILABLE IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION It has been found that an 85% aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide

  provides the necessary levels of decomposition heat

  sition by reducing the risk of handling and storage to acceptable levels A catalyst is used to ensure that the decomposition reaction (1) takes place in a 12 1 O reaction vessel (described below with reference to Fig 1) and East

as complete as possible.

  A supply of pure hydrogen gas is obtained from a reform reaction of any suitable alcohol or hydrocarbon, provided that this body is liquid at normal pressure temperature conditions and can undergo an endothermic reform reaction to release hydrogen gas Le preferred compound containing hydrogen is a reformable alcohol and, in particular, methanol in the form of vapor which is reformed with water vapor in the presence of a catalyst according to the global reaction equation: CH 3 OH + H 20 + heat Co 2 + 3 H 2 (2) The reaction of methanol is in fact a two-part reaction which includes decomposition according to the equation:

CH 3 OH:> CO + 2 H 2 (2 A)

  followed by a displacement reaction according to the equation: CO + H 20 to f C 2 + H 2 (3) The overall reaction is strongly endother '

  mique and therefore requires considerable heat for-

  achieve an acceptable rate of hydrogen production

  ne To facilitate the exchange of heat between the decomposition and reformation reactions, it is advantageous that the two reactions take place very close to each other, preferably in the same container and that they are separated only by a heat transfer element, as described in more detail below A concentric container with a reaction occurring in the central cylindrical compartment and the other in the annular compartment and a highly conductive annular element separating the two compartments is ideal Another form suitable container could be similar to a tube and shell heat exchanger, the decomposition reaction taking place for example outside the tubes and the reforming reaction inside the tubes The particular design of the container would also depend on the types of catalyst to use and the fact that the passage of the two streams

  must be done in the same direction or against the current.

  Alternatively, the reactions could be carried out in separate containers with very efficient means of heat transfer between the two containers, for example, thermal tubing or

  analogs by means of electric heating.

  When the hydrogen gas has been produced, it must be purified before it can be transmitted to the fuel cell. The purification means will be described later, but the reason for this necessity is that the active elements of a fuel cell can easily be "contaminated" by the presence of impurities, thereby reducing the yield

  how the cell works Hydrogen and oxygen

  discomfort react in a fuel cell for-

  produce pure water, heat and electrical energy according to the equation: 2 H 2 + 2.2 H 20 + heat + electrical energy (4) The pure water produced can be used as a diluent for the methanol before reformation and any excess water can be used for the needs of the submarine's crew, when the electrical energy production installation equips the latter An embodiment of production installation electrical energy according to the invention intended for use in a submarine will now be described in detail with reference to Figs 1 and 2 In this installation methanol and liquid hydrogen peroxide are used as starting materials to generate respectively hydrogen and oxygen gas to supply them to a

  fuel cell that is part of the installation

  tion. As will be evident from

  the detailed description of the preferred embodiment

  re, with reference to the accompanying drawings, an installation for producing electrical energy has been described which comprises: a fuel cell which requires supplies of gaseous hydrogen and oxygen

  gaseous to generate an electrical energy of exit

  tie; first supply means to supply the installation with a compound containing

  hydrogen which is liquid under normal conditions

  temperature and pressure and which can undergo an endothermic reaction to release hydrogen gas from the second supply means to supply the installation with liquid hydrogen peroxide as a source of a fuel containing oxygen; a reforming device, connected to the first supply means, in which the compound

  containing hydrogen can undergo the endo-

  thermal and release hydrogen gas; a decomposition device connected to the second supply means and arranged for

  to decompose hydrogen peroxide exothermically

  mique so as to liberate the gaseous oxygen from the means for supplying heat to the compound containing hydrogen, before its passage in the reforming device, so as to maintain the endothermic reaction; and means for supplying the gaseous hydrogen and the gaseous oxygen released in the device

  reformation and the decomposition device respec-

  to the fuel cell for the purpose of generating

  to output electrical energy.

  Referring first to Fig 1, the hydrogen peroxide is drawn from a reservoir by a

  pump 10 and introduced into a decomposition device

  tion 12 A promoter such as calcium permanganate can also be added by a pump 13

  to trigger the decomposition of hydro peroxide

  gene when the decomposition device 12 is cold The reservoir (not shown) for the hydrogen peroxide as well as for the methanol preferably comprises flexible bags placed outside of

  the pressure vessel but inside the compar-

  hydrodynamic structure of the submarine This storage process has several advantages, namely a saving of space inside the pressurized compartment, the immersion pressure effectively "pumps" the liquid into the submarine and it doesn there is no hollow because the bag simply crashes as the liquid is removed from it, which considerably reduces the

buoyancy problems.

  In the decomposition device 12, the hydrogen peroxide comes into contact with a first

  catalyst which ensures that most of the peroxy-

  of hydrogen decomposes since it is a very violent reaction producing heat

  considerable, the conditions required for cataly-

  very strict, so that the gases produced

  then passed through a cyclone 14 to separate

  r any catalyst debris from the gas stream which is collected through a valve in a container From cyclone 14, the gases pass through a heat exchanger 16 where they are cooled by heat transfer to a methane stream arriving towards the apparatus After additional cooling in a heat exchanger 17, the decomposed hydrogen peroxide which then consists

  mainly liquid water, oxygen and even

  all of a little residual hydrogen peroxide passes through a separator 18 (which may contain a necessary catalyst), in which the liquid water is taken up. The pure saturated oxygen leaves through the line 19, while residual water leaves the separator via a valve and a conduit 20 The operation of valve 20 is ensured by a level control device In practice, the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in the device of decomposition 12 can be so complete

  that there is no need to add another cataly-

  sor in the separator 18; however, if the conversion efficiency is not as high as it is

  waits, for example when it starts, a cataly-

additional sor is required.

  Methanol from the tank (not shown) and pure water are sent by pumps 22 and 23 respectively to a mixing pipe 24 o

  mixing occurs A control device pro-

  25 measures the proportions of the mixture and controls the operation of one or two pumps 22 and 23 to achieve the desired methanol / water ratio A flow control device and a valve 26 regulate the flow of the methanol / water mixture through the exchangers heat 30, 16 and 29 to a reformer 21 where reaction 2 (i.e. 2 A) occurs The decomposition device 12 and the reformer 21 are shown side by side to put the emphasis on the thermal interdependence of the two reactions Les

  reactions can be conducted in the same reci-

  pient and separated by a highly conductive membrane

  in neighboring vessels with increased heat transfer, for example by means of heat pipes and the like to form means for transmitting the heat given off in the decomposition device 12 to the reforming device 21 in order

  to maintain the endothermic reaction therein.

  The assembly of the flow control device / valve 26 in the pipe for the methanol / water mixture is connected via a central control device (not shown) to the control and flow control device 11 in the conduct of peroxide

  of hydrogen, so that under operating conditions

  normal operation, the flow rates can be balanced to equalize the thermal requirements of the reformation and decomposition reactions and / or the oxygen and hydrogen production rates The pressure relief and the return to the tank 27 are ensured

  by a conduit 24 as a safety precaution.

  The pure water which passes through the pump 23 is produced by the fuel cell (Fig 2) and

  it is stored in an inter-

  medial (not shown) until needed. For security reasons, it may be

  desirable not to have the decom-

  position 12 and the reformation device 21 to pro-

  immediate proximity to each other However, the cha-

  their clear in the decomposition device 12 is always usefully used in that the current

  of methanol from water arriving at the reformer

  mation 21 is preheated in the heat exchanger 16 When the decomposition device 12 and the

  reformation device 21 are separated, a heater

  additional fage may be necessary in the reforming device 21, so as to ensure that the reaction reaches a reasonable degree of progress This can be ensured by any suitable means, such as electric heating It is envisaged that substantial preheating incoming methanol / water can take place by means of heat exchangers 30, 16 and 29, i.e. up to requirements, the remainder of the heating required (to maintain the endothermic reaction) taking place in the reformer 21 Note that the

  methanol / water stream is heated passing through

  to three heat exchangers 30, 16 and 29 Order-

  in which these heat exchangers occur

  along the path of the methanol / water mixture pipe depends on the particular temperature of the hot and cold fluids at each point; the number and order of the heat exchangers 30, 16 and 29 will be determined to obtain maximum thermal savings. Electric heating (not shown) can also be provided, if necessary, for example, for starting or in the reforming device 21 Heat exchangers 30, 16 and 29 can operate

  with currents in the same direction or against

  current, as determined by the rendering requirements

  thermally Similarly, the pero

  hydrogen xyde and methanol / water streams to

  through the decomposition device 12 and the reforming device 21 can be either in the same direction or at

  against the current. Chemical reactions rarely go all the way, i.e. 100 / reactive conversion and reactions often occur

  appendices This is the case for the reformation of metha-

  nol / eau If the displacement reaction (equation 3) does not

  has not occurred sufficiently in the dispo-

  reform / decomposition product 12, an additional opportunity for the reaction to take place must be provided In Fig 1, the products of the reform reaction consisting of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methanol unreformed and steam leaves the device

  reformation 21 and pass into a reaction vessel

  displacement displacement 33 Additional pure steam can be added using the supply line 34, if necessary, and the displacement reaction takes place in the presence of a catalyst, but

  necessary, according to equation 3, by changing the-

  most of the carbon monoxide not converted to

  carbon dioxide with additional hydrogen production

  to hush up. The gases then pass into a separation vessel 35 where the gaseous hydrogen is separated from the other gases Because it has the lowest atomic volume of all the elements, the gaseous hydrogen diffuses through the crystal structures of certain substances , while other gases cannot diffuse Palladium is the only metal to have a crystal lattice just loose enough to allow the passage of hydrogen, while not being loose enough for the passage of any other gas Thus, a diffusion membrane 36 made of palladium or an alloy thereof separates the two parts of the diffusion and separation container 35, allowing only the hydrogen to pass through the

  membrane 36 under the effect of the pressure difference.

  From the diffusion and separation container 35, via line 32, the pure hydrogen gas is cooled in the cooling device 30 and transmitted via line 38 to

  the fuel cell (not shown).

  Other gases leaving the container

  diffusion and separation 35 pass along the con-

  duit 43 and consist mainly of gas

  bonique with small amounts of carbon monoxide, water vapor and methanol These are all residual gases Note that all of the hydrogen

  gaseous is not eliminated in the container 35 of dif-

  merger and separation; the reason is that the diff-

  fusion is a physical process and that time

  necessary to achieve dynamic balance.

  would be unacceptable for the rate of production of hy-

  Drogen required Among the gases found in line 43, carbon monoxide and hydrogen are not very soluble in water and cannot therefore be removed from a submarine without there being any risks. bubbles rise towards the surface and noise is produced due to the bursting of the bubbles, which reveals the position of the vessel Since the storage on board of pressurized gas has been rejected in advance , it is necessary to chemically convert gases to soluble forms This can

  be produced by catalytic oxidation in carbon dioxide

  1 9 nique and in water, the oxygen intended for this purpose coming through the conduit 37 of the decomposed hydrogen peroxide and according to the following equations: 2 H 2 + O 2 - 2 H 20 + heat (5) 2 CO + O 2 2 CO + heat (6) 2 COH 302 + 4 H 20 + heat (7) The gases from the separator 35 pass through a non-return valve 39 and along the conduit 43 to a

  first catalytic oxidation device 41 A

  positive 42 stoichiometric control regulates the pro-

  cessus It consists of a measuring device arranged upstream of the catalytic oxidation device 41 for measuring the concentrations of hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the gas and a control valve 42 for

  admit oxygen from a conduit 37 by the in-

  through a non-return valve 44 Depending on the

  yield of reformation and displacement reactions-

  more than one catalytic oxidation device 41

  may be necessary; two devices are shown

tees in Fig 1.

  The heat generated by cataly-

  tick is transferred by the exchanger (s)

  heat 29 to the incoming methanol / water stream

  in the reformation device 21 After being

  ss through the heat exchanger (s) 29, the gases are dissolved and discharged to the sea through the conduit 45. It will be noted that since the methanol is stored outside the pressure enclosure, it is found thus at the pressure of the immersion depth The pump 22 increases this pressure by

  low value to give the operating pressure

  ment in the system represented in FIG. 1 In the whole system, the pressure will be virtually maintained so that the gas can be dissolved and evacuated by the conduit 45 directly to the sea (probably through a non-return valve not shown), without requiring pumping The same situation applies to the pump 10 in the hydrogen peroxide conduit. The pumps 23 and 13 must increase the pressure of the water and of the calcium permanganate respectively from the ambient pressure to the pressure of the system, but in the two cases of small volumes only having to be treated Thus, from the point of In view of pumping, only minimal energy must be spent to operate the system. Like the thermal economy of the system, pumping requirements are also designed so that a maximum

  useful output energy is taken from the installation

  tion. Referring to Fig 2, pure oxygen and hydrogen gas enter a cell

  fuel 50 through lines 19 and 38 respectively-

* ment Although the "fuel cell 50" is indicated in the singular, it will be understood that several

  fuel cells will be used in-

  actual installations; cells can be agen-

  created in series or in parallel or in any combination

  its required Reaction 4 takes place by producing

  electrical energy (shown in the upper part

  laughter of Fig), water and heat The reaction rate is controlled by the valve located in the pipe 38 for supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell 50 Although a diffusion membrane 36 separator 35 (Fig 1) should pass only hydrogen gas, defects in the metal can cause small amounts of other gases to pass as these impurities tend to accumulate in the fuel cell 50 due to their non-reaction, there is provided a hydrogen purge 51 intended to be used continuously or intermittently, as required. Unused steam and oxygen leave the fuel cell through an outlet pipe 52 and the steam condenses in a refrigerant 53 Pure water is separated in a separator 54 and passes through a

  level control device / valve 59 and a con-

  duit 60 to a storage container (not shown) where it is used for the dilution of methanol, by the pump 23 (Fig 1), in the supply duct 34 to the container 33 (Fig 1) or as potable water Unused oxygen leaves separator 54 through line 55 and is recycled by a pump

  56 and a conduit 57 to the fuel cell.

  Since the elements 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 and 57 form a closed loop, a purge 58 is provided

  to prevent the accumulation of impurities The circulation

  tion of oxygen in the loop 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 and 57 also ensures a certain cooling of the fuel cell 50 via the refrigerant 53 The main source of cooling

  for the fuel cell is provided by a system

  separate 50 A teme and the heat from this

  source can be used elsewhere in the process.

  Since neither hydrogen nor oxy-

  are not appreciably soluble in seawater, the purged gases cannot be evacuated

  sea and must therefore be disposed of in another way.

  In Fig 3, two measuring devices 70 monitor the flows in the conduits 51 and 58 (Fig 2 and 3) and send signals to a stoichiometric control device 71 which actuates a pump 72 to pump air from the atmosphere of the submarine whenever the hydrogen-oxygen ratio exceeds a pre-established value The air coming from the pump 72 also acts as a diluent and thus limits the temperatures reached in the catalytic oxidation device 74 Les two gas flows then pass through non-return valves 73 to the device

  of catalytic oxidation 74 where reaction 5 takes place.

  After condensation of the vapor in a refrigerant, the resulting water is collected in a separator 76 and discharged by the level control device / valve 78 to a tank 77; it would be drinkable but it would not be used for the dilution of methanol The mixture of air and oxygen

  from separator 76 is evacuated to the atmos-

  sphere of the submarine via a conduit 79.

  The electrical energy production installation which has just been described constitutes a totally autonomous energy production system which can operate without requiring external air or oxygen. Oxygen from the atmosphere

  submarine supplied by a pump 72 (Fig 3) -

  could also come from the oxygen purge line 58 by opening the valve provided in this line a little more. The process either recycles or eliminates its own residual products and therefore does not contaminate the environment Furthermore, if the reaction of decomposition of hydrogen peroxide alone takes place or if it takes place at a rate higher than the stoichiometric requirements, oxygen can be added to

  the atmosphere of the submarine via conduit 79.

  To trigger the process, the peroxide

  hydrogen is admitted to the decompression device

  sition 12 with a certain amount of promoter consisting of calcium permanganate This heats the decomposition device 12 and the heat exchanger 16 Then the methanol / water mixture is passed through the heat exchanger 16 and into the

  reforming device 21 o due to the weakness of

  ble temperature the methanol conversion rate is low This results in a high proportion of oxidized methanol in the catalytic oxidation device 41 and

  thus in a high heat transfer in the sample

  heat gor 21, causing temperatures

  of higher methanol / water in the device

  reformation 21 Thus, the conversion rate of methanol and of the heat supplied to methanol / water in the heat exchangers 16 and 29 ensure that a stable equilibrium is reached after a period of

functioning and then maintained.

  When changes in the electrical energy

  outlet plate is required, this can be achieved by changing the peroxide inlet flow

  hydrogen and methanol / water by means of a device

  tif automatic control If necessary, small

  oxygen and hydrogen tanks (not shown) -

  can be provided in conduits 19 and 38 respectively Any delay between the energy demand and the output energy can be caught / absorbed by the submarine batteries which are connected so as to receive at least part of the output fuel cells The system is well suited for automatic control and an unmanned environment. Another point which is very important for operation in a confined environment is that the system is almost completely silent This is particularly useful for a submarine trying to avoid detection, but it is also important for the health and safety of the personnel working in or near the same location as the system.

  Although this description has been

  made with reference to the use of the facility

  of electrical energy production in sub-

  marine, its application extends to many other fields, for example underwater dwellings for oil exploitation, mines, fish farms, rescue equipment intended

  to be used in mines, cellars, equipment

  emergency items intended for use in places where open flames may be prohibited,

  for example, petroleum equipment, refiners

  oil lines, space exploration and colonization. It will be understood that Figs 1 to 3 are somewhat schematic block diagrams and that

  detailed aspects of the device can be changed

  relied on as test work is carried out.

  Fig. 4 represents a global equilibrium diagram of heat and mass and assumes a

  heat recovery from the process by heat exchangers

  heat gillers, etc. (as shown generally in the other Figures) for the simultaneous production of oxygen and hydrogen from the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide and the

  reformation of methanol respectively, in the ins-

  tallation shown in Figs 1 to 3.

Claims (13)

  1 Installation for producing electrical energy, characterized in that it comprises:   a fuel cell that requires   site of gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen supplies to generate electrical output energy; first means of supply   (24) to supply the installation with a compound containing   of hydrogen which is liquid under conditions   normal temperature and pressure conditions and which may undergo an endothermic reaction to liberate hydrogen gas; second supply means (10) for supplying the installation with liquid hydrogen peroxide;   a reforming device (21) con-   connected to the first supply means (24) in which said hydrogen-containing compound can undergo said endothermic reaction and release hydrogen gas; a decomposition device (12) '   connected to the second supply means and arranged   to decompose hydrogen peroxide so as to release gaseous oxygen; means (12) for providing   heat to the compound containing hydrogen, ma-   to maintain the endothermic reaction in the reformer (21); and means (35, 43, 37, 18; 14, 18) for supplying the gaseous hydrogen and the gaseous oxygen released in the reformer (21) and in the decomposition device (12) respectively, to the cell fuel to generate energy electrical output.   2 installation for producing electrical energy according to claim 1, characterized in that said means (21) for supplying heat are arranged to supply, to the compound containing   hydrogen, an important part of the ne-   stopped to maintain the endothermic reaction in the reformation device, before the compound   is received by the reformation device.   3 installation for producing electrical energy according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a heat exchanger (30, 16, 29) disposed upstream of the reformation device (21) so as to provide up to 80 Z of the necessary heat for the compound before it is received by the reformation device (21).   4 Power generation facility   electric according to claim 2 or 3, character-   laughed at in that it involves additional means   heat generating shutters to provide the   required heat remaining to the compound in the dispo- reformation.   Installation for producing electrical energy according to claim 4, characterized in   what said means of producing heat supplement   include a heater to power supply.   6 installation for producing electrical energy according to claim 1 characterized in that the decomposition device (12) is arranged to decompose the hydrogen peroxide exothermically and in that it comprises means for transmitting all or part of the heat given off in the decomposition device (12) to the reforming device (21) so as to maintain the reaction   endothermic in the reformation device.   7 installation for producing electrical energy according to claim 6, characterized in that the decomposition device (12) and the reforming device (21) are coupled together   for thermal transmission between them.   8 Power generation facility   electric according to any one of the claims   above, characterized in that it comprises supply means (10) for supplying methanol to the installation. 9 Power generation facility   electric according to any one of the claims   previous, characterized in that it includes a   hydrogen diffusion separator (35), connected in-   be the reformation device (21) and the fuel cell to separate the hydrogen from the others   products from the reforming device (21).   10 installation for producing electrical energy according to claim 9, characterized in   that a palladium filter (36) is arranged in-   said hydrogen diffusion separator (35).   11 Installation for producing electrical energy for submarines, characterized in that it comprises:   a fuel cell that requires   site of gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen supplies to generate electrical output energy; first supply means (24) for supplying methanol to the installation; second supply means (10) for supplying liquid hydrogen peroxide to the installation, a reforming device (21) connected to the first supply means (24), in   which methanol can undergo a reforming reaction   endothermic cation so as to liberate hydrogen gas; a decomposition device (12) connected to the second supply means (10) and arranged to decompose the hydrogen peroxide exothermically, so as to release gaseous oxygen; means (12) for supplying heat to methanol before and / or while it is in the reformer (21), so as to maintain the endothermic reaction therein; and means (35, 43, 37, 18; 14, 18) for supplying the gaseous hydrogen and the gaseous oxygen released in the reforming device (21) and the decomposition device (12) respectively, to the fuel, in order to generate energy electrical output.   12 Installation for producing electrical energy for a submarine according to claim 11, characterized in that several fuel cells are arranged so as to receive gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxygen from the reforming device (21 ) and of the decomposition device (12) respectively, and in that supply tanks for methanol and liquid hydrogen peroxide are connected to the first supply means (24) and to the second means   supply (10) respectively.   13 Installation for producing electrical energy for a submarine according to claim   12, characterized in that the -res 6 irs are available   located in the space between a pressure hull and an outer hydrodynamic hull of a submarine. 14 Installation for producing electrical energy for a submarine according to claim   13, characterized in that the feed tanks   tion are collapsible tanks.   15 Installation for producing electrical energy for a submarine according to any one   claims 11 to 14, characterized in that   electric storage batteries are connected to receive at least part of the cell output   fuel or to provide additional energy when necessary.   16 Installation for producing electrical energy for a submarine according to any one   of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that it   includes control means for varying the   rate of inlet gases to the fuel cell (s)   bustible in order to control the electrical energy of exit from the facility.