JP2024037486A - power generation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power generation system including a hydrogen production device and capable of reducing an amount of raw material water supplied to the hydrogen production device.

SOLUTION: A power generation system 1, 101 includes a fuel cell 10 and a hydrogen production device 50, and can supply at least a portion of water generated by the fuel cell 10 to the hydrogen production device 50.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

COPYRIGHT: (C)2024,JPO&INPIT

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a power generation system.

In recent years, power generation systems using hydrogen have been developed. In particular, attempts have been made to construct a power generation system equipped with a hydrogen production device. A hydrogen production device generates hydrogen by electrolyzing water using electricity. Surplus electricity generated from renewable energy such as sunlight can be used to electrolyze water. The hydrogen produced by the hydrogen production device can be used to generate electricity in a power generation system when renewable energy is insufficient. Therefore, a power generation system equipped with a hydrogen production device can stably supply electric power.

By the way, in a hydrogen production device, pure water is sometimes used as raw water that is a raw material for hydrogen. When such a hydrogen production device is used in an environment where water supply facilities are provided, tap water may be used as the raw water. However, when using a hydrogen production device in an environment where water supply facilities are not provided, it is necessary to transport tap water to the hydrogen production device. Alternatively, it is necessary to filter water available near the hydrogen production device, such as seawater, and use it as raw material water. In these cases, costs for transporting tap water and filtering seawater are required. Furthermore, when filtering seawater, maintenance of the filtration device is also required. These things significantly increase the cost of hydrogen production. Therefore, it is required to reduce the amount of raw water supplied to the hydrogen production device.

“Independent hydrogen energy supply system H20neTM” Daigo Takata, Tetsuji Tagami, Arata Kato, Toshiba Review Vol. 71 No. 5 (2016) p. 37-40

The present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and is a power generation system equipped with a hydrogen production device, which is capable of reducing the amount of raw water supplied to the hydrogen production device. The purpose is to provide

The power generation system according to the embodiment is
fuel cell and
Hydrogen production equipment,
Equipped with
At least a portion of the water produced by the fuel cell can be supplied to the hydrogen production device.

According to the power generation system according to the embodiment, it is possible to provide a power generation system including a hydrogen production device and capable of reducing the amount of raw water supplied to the hydrogen production device.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a power generation system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a power generation system according to a second embodiment.

<First embodiment>
The first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, with reference to FIG. 1, the overall configuration of a power generation system 1 according to a first embodiment will be described.

The power generation system 1 according to the first embodiment includes a fuel cell 10 and a hydrogen production device 50. In such a power generation system 1, electricity can be generated by the fuel cell 10 using hydrogen generated by the hydrogen production device 50. Furthermore, in the illustrated example, the power generation system 1 includes a power generation device 55 that uses renewable energy such as sunlight and wind power. The hydrogen production device 50 generates hydrogen using surplus electricity generated by a power generation device 55 using renewable energy.

As shown in FIG. 1, the power generation system 1 includes a fuel cell 10, a fuel gas supply system 20, a fuel gas exhaust system 25, an oxidizing gas supply system 30, an oxidizing gas exhaust system 35, and a cooling water supply system. It has a system 40, a cooling water discharge system 45, a hydrogen production device 50, a power generation device 55, and a raw water supply system 60.

The fuel cell 10 generates electricity using fuel gas and oxidant gas. The fuel gas is, for example, hydrogen. The oxidant gas is, for example, air. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cell 10 is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

The fuel gas supply system 20 includes a fuel gas supply source (not shown) such as a fuel gas tank, and a fuel gas supply flow path 21. The fuel gas supply flow path 21 connects the fuel gas supply source and the fuel cell 10. The fuel gas exhaust system 25 includes a fuel gas exhaust flow path 26. One end of the fuel gas exhaust flow path 26 is connected to the fuel cell 10.

The oxidizing gas supply system 30 includes an oxidizing gas supply source (not shown) such as a blower, and an oxidizing gas supply channel 31. The oxidizing gas supply channel 31 connects the oxidizing gas supply source and the fuel cell 10 . The oxidizing gas exhaust system 35 includes an oxidizing gas exhaust channel 36 . One end of the oxidizing gas discharge channel 36 is connected to the fuel cell 10.

The cooling water supply system 40 includes a first tank 41 as a cooling water supply source and a cooling water supply channel 42. Cooling water supply channel 42 connects first tank 41 and fuel cell 10 . In the illustrated example, the first tank 41 contains cooling water. One end of the cooling water supply channel 42 is connected to the bottom of the first tank 41 . The other end of the cooling water supply channel 42 is connected to the fuel cell 10. The cooling water in the first tank 41 is supplied to the fuel cell 10 through the cooling water supply channel 42 .

Cooling water discharge system 45 includes a cooling water discharge flow path 46 . One end of the cooling water discharge flow path 46 is connected to the fuel cell 10. In the illustrated example, the other end of the cooling water discharge channel 46 is connected to the upper part of the first tank 41 . The cooling water that has passed through the fuel cell 10 is returned to the first tank 41 through the cooling water discharge flow path 46.

Inside the fuel cell 10, a fuel gas flow path 11, an oxidant gas flow path 12, and a cooling water flow path 13 are formed. One end of the fuel gas flow path 11 is connected to a fuel gas supply flow path 21 . The other end of the fuel gas passage 11 is connected to a fuel gas discharge passage 26 . After the fuel gas is introduced into the fuel gas flow path 11 through the fuel gas supply flow path 21, it is discharged into the fuel gas discharge flow path 26.

One end of the oxidant gas flow path 12 is connected to the oxidant gas supply flow path 31 . The other end of the oxidant gas passage 12 is connected to an oxidant gas discharge passage 36 . The oxidant gas is introduced into the oxidant gas flow path 12 through the oxidant gas supply flow path 31 and then discharged to the oxidant gas discharge flow path 36 .

One end of the cooling water flow path 13 is connected to the cooling water supply flow path 42 . The other end of the cooling water passage 13 is connected to a cooling water discharge passage 46 . The cooling water is introduced into the cooling water passage 13 through the cooling water supply passage 42 and then discharged into the cooling water discharge passage 46 .

Hydrogen in the fuel gas introduced into the fuel gas flow path 11 and oxygen in the oxidant gas introduced into the oxidant gas flow path 12 react within the fuel cell 10 to generate electricity and water. . The cooling water introduced into the cooling water flow path 13 cools the fuel cell 10.

In the illustrated example, the first tank 41 contains pure water as cooling water. In the example shown in FIG. 1, pure water generated by treating water such as tap water with a water treatment device 49 is stored in the first tank 41 as cooling water. The water treatment device 49 converts water such as tap water into pure water using, for example, a water treatment resin. Note that in the illustrated example, the water treatment device 49 is connected to the cooling water discharge channel 46. The cooling water discharged from the cooling water flow path 13 during operation of the fuel cell 10 can be treated by the water treatment device 49 before being returned to the first tank 41. Thereby, the quality of the cooling water in the first tank 41 can be maintained at a desired water quality.

The hydrogen production device 50 generates hydrogen by electrolyzing water using electricity. More specifically, the hydrogen production device 50 has a cathode and an anode, and applies a voltage between the cathode and the anode to electrolyze water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen production device 50 may perform electrolysis using, for example, an alkaline electrolyte, a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, or a solid oxide electrolyte membrane. Hydrogen produced by the hydrogen production device 50 may be stored in a hydrogen tank (not shown). In the hydrogen production device 50, pure water is used as water to be electrolyzed. Further, in the illustrated example, the hydrogen production device 50 uses electricity supplied from the power generation device 55 to generate hydrogen.

The raw water supply system 60 includes a water treatment device 61, a second tank 62, and a raw water supply channel 63. The raw water supply channel 63 connects a raw water supply source (not shown) to the hydrogen production device 50. The raw water supply source may be a tap water supply or a tank storing filtered tap water or seawater. The water treatment device 61 converts raw water from a raw water supply source into pure water using, for example, a water treatment resin. The second tank 62 stores water treated by the water treatment device 61.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the raw water supply channel 63 has a first supply pipe 64, a second supply pipe 65, and a third supply pipe 66. One end of the first supply pipe 64 is connected to a raw water supply source. The other end of the first supply pipe 64 is connected to the water treatment device 61. One end of the second supply pipe 65 is connected to the raw water treatment device 61. The other end of the second supply pipe 65 is connected to the upper part of the second tank 62. One end of the third supply pipe 66 is connected to the bottom of the second tank 62. The other end of the third supply pipe 66 is connected to the hydrogen production device 50. Thereby, water from the raw water supply source can be purified by the water treatment device 61 and stored in the second tank 62 . Further, the water contained in the second tank 62 can be supplied to the hydrogen production device 50.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, a pump 69 is connected to the third supply pipe 66. By operating the pump 69, water in the second tank 62 can be supplied to the third supply pipe 66. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the pump 69 is operated according to the operating states of the fuel cell 10 and the hydrogen production device 50. More specifically, the pump 69 is operated when the fuel cell 10 is out of operation and the hydrogen production device 50 is in operation. Thereby, water can be supplied from the second tank 62 to the hydrogen production device 50 while the hydrogen production device 50 is in operation. In the illustrated example, pump 69 is operated in response to a control signal from control device 70 . The control device 70 sends a control signal to the pump 69 depending on the operating state of the fuel cell 10 and the hydrogen production device 50. Thereby, the pump 69 can be automatically operated according to the operating conditions of the fuel cell 10 and the hydrogen production device 50.

In the illustrated example, the power generation system 1 has a water recovery channel 80. One end of the water recovery channel 80 may be connected to the fuel gas channel 11 and/or the oxidizing gas channel 12 of the fuel cell 10. The other end of the water recovery channel 80 may be connected to the raw water supply system 60. Thereby, water (also called "drain water") generated in the fuel cell 10 and discharged from the fuel gas flow path 11 and/or the oxidant gas flow path 12 together with the fuel gas and/or the oxidant gas is used for hydrogen production. device 50. As a result, the amount of raw water to be supplied from the raw water supply source to the hydrogen production device 50 can be reduced.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the power generation system 1 includes a first water recovery channel 81 and a second water recovery channel 82. One end of the first water recovery channel 81 is connected to the fuel gas exhaust channel 26 . One end of the second water recovery channel 82 is connected to the oxidizing gas discharge channel 36. In other words, one ends of the first water recovery channel 81 and the second water recovery channel 82 are indirectly connected to the fuel cell 10 via the fuel gas exhaust pipe 26 and the oxidant gas exhaust pipe 36, respectively. There is. Thereby, the water discharged into the fuel gas discharge channel 26 and/or the oxidant gas discharge channel 36 together with the fuel gas and/or the oxidant gas is transferred to the water recovery channels 81, 82, the second tank 62 and the third tank. It can be supplied to the hydrogen production device 50 via the supply pipe 66. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the other ends of the first water recovery channel 81 and the second water recovery channel 82 are connected to the second tank 62.

<Second embodiment>
Next, with reference to FIG. 2, a power generation system 101 according to a second embodiment will be described. A power generation system 101 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 differs from the power generation system 1 according to the first embodiment in that cooling water and raw water are contained in a single tank. Moreover, the power generation system 101 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 differs from the power generation system 1 of the first embodiment in that cooling water and raw water are treated by a single water treatment device. The other configurations are substantially the same as the power generation system 1 shown in FIG. 1. In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the same parts as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the power generation system 101 of the second embodiment includes a fuel cell 10, a fuel gas supply system 20, a fuel gas exhaust system 25, an oxidizing gas supply system 30, and an oxidizing gas exhaust system 35. , a cooling water supply system 40 , a cooling water discharge system 45 , a hydrogen production device 50 , a power generation device 55 , a water recovery channel 85 , a water introduction system 90 , and a distribution channel 95 .

The water introduction system 90 has a water introduction channel 91 and a water treatment device 94. The water introduction channel 91 has a first introduction pipe 92 and a second introduction pipe 93. One end of the first introduction pipe 92 is connected to a water supply source (not shown). The water supply source may be a water supply or a tank storing filtered tap water or seawater. The other end of the first introduction pipe 92 is connected to a water treatment device 94 . The water treatment device 94 converts water from a water supply source into pure water using, for example, a water treatment resin. One end of the second introduction pipe 93 is connected to a water treatment device 94 . The other end of the second introduction pipe 93 is connected to the first tank 41. Thereby, water from the water supply source can be converted into pure water by the water treatment device 94 and stored in the first tank 41 .

The distribution channel 95 distributes the water in the first tank 41 to the hydrogen production device 50 . The distribution channel 95 distributes the water in the first tank 41 to the hydrogen production device 50, so that the cooling water for cooling the fuel cell 10 and the raw material water used for producing hydrogen in the hydrogen production device 50 are combined into one. It can be accommodated in the tank 41. As a result, the power generation system 101 can be made compact. Furthermore, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the distribution channel 95 can also distribute the water in the first tank 41 to the water treatment device 94. Since the distribution channel 95 can also distribute the water in the first tank 41 to the water treatment device 94, the quality of the water in the first tank 41 can be maintained at a desired water quality.

The distribution channel 95 has a first distribution pipe 96 , a second distribution pipe 97 , a third distribution pipe 98 , and a three-way valve 99 . One end of the first distribution pipe 96 is connected to the bottom of the first tank 41 . The other end of the first distribution pipe 96 is connected to a three-way valve 99. One ends of the second distribution pipe 97 and the third distribution pipe 98 are connected to a three-way valve 99 . The other end of the second distribution pipe 97 is connected to the hydrogen production device 50. The other end of the third distribution pipe 98 is connected to the water treatment device 94. By operating the three-way valve 99, the first distribution pipe 96 can be communicated with either the second distribution pipe 97 or the third distribution pipe 98. Such a distribution channel 95 allows water in the first tank 41 to be selectively guided to the hydrogen production device 50 or the water treatment device 94.

In the illustrated example, the water in the first tank 41 can be supplied to either the hydrogen production device 50 or the water treatment device 94 depending on the operating state of the fuel cell 10 and the hydrogen production device 50. More specifically, when the fuel cell 10 is not operating and the hydrogen production device 50 is being operated, the first distribution pipe 96 is communicated with the second distribution pipe 97. On the other hand, when the fuel cell 10 is operating and the hydrogen production device 50 is not operating, the first distribution pipe 96 is communicated with the third distribution pipe 98. Thereby, water can be supplied from the first tank 41 to the hydrogen production device 50 while the hydrogen production device 50 is in operation. Furthermore, water in the first tank 41 can be treated by the water treatment device 94 while the fuel cell 10 is operating.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the three-way valve 99 is switched in response to a control signal from the control device 70. The control device 70 sends a control signal to the three-way valve 99 depending on the operating state of the fuel cell 10 and the hydrogen production device 50. Thereby, the three-way valve 99 can be automatically switched depending on the operating state of the fuel cell 10 and the hydrogen production device 50.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, a pump 100 is connected to the first distribution pipe 96. By operating the pump 100, water in the first tank 41 can be supplied to the second distribution pipe 97 or the third distribution pipe 98 through the first distribution pipe 96. In the illustrated example, pump 69 is operated in response to a control signal from control device 70 . The control device 70 sends a control signal to the pump 100 according to the operating states of the fuel cell 10 and the hydrogen production device 50. Thereby, the pump 100 can be automatically operated according to the operating states of the fuel cell 10 and the hydrogen production device 50.

One end of the water recovery channel 85 is connected to the fuel gas channel 11 and/or the oxidant gas channel 12 of the fuel cell 10. The other end of the water recovery channel 85 is connected to the first tank 41 . Thereby, water generated in the fuel cell 10 and discharged from the fuel gas flow path 11 and/or the oxidant gas flow path 12 together with the fuel gas and/or the oxidant gas can be guided to the hydrogen production device 50. As a result, the amount of raw water to be supplied from the water supply source to the hydrogen production device 50 can be reduced.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the power generation system 101 has a first water recovery channel 86 and a second water recovery channel 87. One end of the first water recovery channel 86 is connected to the fuel gas exhaust pipe 26. One end of the second water recovery channel 87 is connected to the oxidizing gas discharge pipe 36. In other words, one ends of the first water recovery channel 86 and the second water recovery channel 87 are indirectly connected to the fuel cell 10 via the fuel gas exhaust pipe 26 and the oxidant gas exhaust pipe 36, respectively. There is. Thereby, the water discharged into the fuel gas discharge pipe 26 and/or the oxidant gas discharge pipe 36 together with the fuel gas and/or the oxidant gas is transferred to the recovery channels 85, 86, the first tank 41, and the distribution channel 95. The hydrogen can be supplied to the hydrogen production device 50 through the hydrogen production device 50. Further, the other ends of the first water recovery channel 86 and the second water recovery channel 87 are connected to the first tank 41 . In the example shown in FIG. 2, the other ends of the first water recovery channel 86 and the second water recovery channel 87 are connected to the cooling water discharge channel 46. In other words, the other ends of the first water recovery channel 86 and the second water recovery channel 87 are indirectly connected to the first tank 41 via the cooling water discharge channel 46 . Note that, depending on the fuel cell 10, at least a portion of the water generated in the fuel cell 10 is collected into the cooling water flow path 13 within the fuel cell 10. When the power generation system 101 includes such a fuel cell 10, the cooling water discharge channel 46 may function as at least a portion of the water recovery channel 85. In this case, the water recovery channel 85 may be directly connected to the fuel cell 10 and the first tank 41.

As described above, the power generation system 1, 101 according to the first and second embodiments includes the fuel cell 10 and the hydrogen production device 50, and supplies at least a portion of the water produced by the fuel cell 10 to the hydrogen production device 50. Available. According to such a power generation system 1, 101, the amount of raw water supplied to the hydrogen production device 50 can be reduced.

The power generation systems 1 and 101 according to the first and second embodiments are connected to the tanks 62 and 41, the fuel cell 10 and the tanks 62 and 41, and at least part of the water generated by the fuel cell 10 is transferred to the tank 62 and 41. , 41, and channels 63, 95 connected to the tanks 62, 41 and the hydrogen production device 50 and leading the water in the tanks 62, 41 to the hydrogen production device 50. ing. According to such a power generation system 1,101, at least a portion of the water generated in the fuel cell 10 is supplied to the hydrogen production device via the water recovery channels 80, 85, the tanks 62, 41, and the channels 63, 95. It can lead to 50.

Further, the power generation system 101 according to the second embodiment includes a tank 41, a water recovery channel 85 connected to the fuel cell 10 and the tank 41, and guiding at least a portion of the water generated in the fuel cell 10 to the tank 41; A cooling water supply channel 40 is connected to the tank 41 and the fuel cell 10 and leads the water in the tank 41 to the fuel cell 10; It further includes a distribution flow path 95 for distributing to. According to such a power generation system 101, at least a portion of the water generated in the fuel cell 10 can be guided to the hydrogen production device 50 via the water recovery channel 85, the tank 41, and the distribution channel 95. Further, since the water supplied to the fuel cell 10 and the water generated by the fuel cell 10 are housed in a single tank 41, the power generation system 101 can be made compact.

Further, the power generation system 101 according to the second embodiment is connected to a water treatment device 94 supplied with water from a water source, the water treatment device 94 and the tank 41, and guides the water treated by the water treatment device 94 to the tank 41. It further includes a water introduction channel 91. According to such a power generation system 101, the water supplied to the fuel cell 10 and the water supplied to the hydrogen production device 50 can be treated by the single water treatment device 94, so the power generation system 101 can be made compact. can do.

Furthermore, in the power generation system 101 according to the second embodiment, the distribution channel 95 is connected to the water treatment device 94 and selectively guides water in the tank 41 to the hydrogen production device 50 or the water treatment device 94. Thereby, water in the tank 41 can be treated by the water treatment device 94 while the fuel cell 10 is in operation. As a result, the quality of the water in the first tank 41 can be maintained at a desired level. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the distribution channel 95 includes a three-way valve 99, and when the three-way valve 99 is switched, the water in the tank 41 is guided to either the hydrogen production device 50 or the water treatment device 94. .

Further, the power generation system 101 according to the second embodiment further includes a control device 70 that switches the three-way valve 99 according to the operating states of the fuel cell 10 and the hydrogen production device 50. Thereby, the three-way valve 99 can be automatically switched depending on the operating conditions of the fuel cell 10 and the hydrogen production device 50.

The power generation systems 1 and 101 according to the first and second embodiments also include a gas exhaust channel 26 and/or a gas discharge channel 26 connected to the fuel cell 10 and through which the fuel gas and/or oxidant gas introduced into the fuel cell 10 are discharged. or 36. The water recovery channels 80 and 85 are indirectly connected to the fuel cell 10 via the gas exhaust channels 26 and/or 36. Thereby, the water discharged from the fuel cell 10 into the gas exhaust flow path 26 and/or 36 along with the fuel gas and/or oxidant gas can be guided to the hydrogen production device 50.

Although embodiments and some modifications of the present invention have been described, these embodiments and modifications are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments and modifications can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and gist of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents. Furthermore, it goes without saying that these embodiments and modifications can be partially combined as appropriate within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

1,101: Power generation system, 10: Fuel cell, 20: Fuel gas supply system, 25: Fuel gas discharge system, 30: Oxidizing gas supply system, 35: Oxidizing gas exhaust system, 40: Cooling water supply system, 41 : First tank, 45: Cooling water discharge system, 50: Hydrogen production device, 60: Raw water supply system, 62: Second tank, 63: Raw water supply channel, 70: Control device, 99: Three-way valve, 80 , 85: Water recovery channel, 90: Water introduction system, 94: Water treatment device, 95: Distribution channel

Claims (8)

fuel cell and
Hydrogen production equipment,
Equipped with
A power generation system capable of supplying at least a portion of the water produced by the fuel cell to the hydrogen production device. tank and
a water recovery channel connected to the fuel cell and the tank and guiding at least a portion of the water produced in the fuel cell to the tank;
a flow path connected to the tank and the hydrogen production device and guiding water in the tank to the hydrogen production device;
The power generation system according to claim 1, further comprising:. tank and
a water recovery channel connected to the fuel cell and the tank and guiding at least a portion of the water produced in the fuel cell to the tank;
a cooling water supply flow path connected to the tank and the fuel cell and guiding water in the tank to the fuel cell;
a distribution channel that is connected to the tank and the hydrogen production device and distributes water in the tank to the hydrogen production device;
The power generation system according to claim 1, further comprising:. A water treatment device that is supplied with water from a water source;
a water introduction flow path connected to the water treatment device and the tank and guiding water treated by the water treatment device to the tank;
The power generation system according to claim 3, further comprising:. The power generation system according to claim 4, wherein the distribution channel is connected to the water treatment device and selectively guides water in the tank to the hydrogen production device or the water treatment device. The power generation device according to claim 5, wherein the distribution channel includes a three-way valve, and when the three-way valve is switched, the water in the tank is guided to either the hydrogen production device or the water treatment device. system. The power generation system according to claim 6, further comprising a control device that switches the three-way valve depending on the operating state of the fuel cell and the hydrogen production device. further comprising a gas exhaust flow path connected to the fuel cell and through which the fuel gas and/or oxidant gas introduced into the fuel cell is exhausted;
The power generation system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the water recovery channel is indirectly connected to the fuel cell via the gas exhaust channel.

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