RU2608053C1 - Module of removal and distribution of heat energy of power plant on solid oxide fuel cells - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: electronics.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to self-contained power supply sources, self-contained power machine building on solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) for cathode protection stations at transportation of oil and gas and is intended for removal of spent process gases from the hot box of the power plant and for control over heat energy generated by the electric power plant during implementation of chemical reactions. Module of removal and distribution of heat energy of a power plant on solid oxide fuel cells comprises a placed in a heat-insulated housing heat exchanger, the housing of which is provided with an inlet for reaction products from the burner and with an exhaust gases outlet, and additionally the second heat exchanger arranged in a heat-insulated housing in series and symmetrically to the first heat exchanger and connected therewith by a pipeline. Heat-insulated housing of the second heat exchanger is equipped with two inlets for air supply and with two outlets for the heated air, the inlet for reaction products from the burner by means of a pipeline is connected with the first heat exchanger, and the outlet for exhaust gases via a pipeline is connected to the second heat exchanger. First inlet for air supply is connected via a pipeline through the first heat exchanger to the first outlet for the heated air, and the second inlet for air supply is connected via a pipeline through the second heat exchanger to the second outlet for the heated air, herewith the first outlet for the heated air can be connected with the cathode channel of the fuel cell, and the second outlet for the heated air can be connected with the ejector. Each heat exchanger is composed as a tubular heat exchanger, the tubes of which are arranged regularly, herewith the tubes diameter ranges from 0.3 to 1 cm.

EFFECT: higher efficiency of the module, as well as improving its reliability is the technical result of the invention.

4 cl, 4 dwg, 1 tbl

Description

The invention relates to the field of creating autonomous power sources, autonomous power engineering based on solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) for the needs of cathodic protection stations during oil and gas transport, and is intended to divert exhaust process gases from the hot box of the power plant and control the heat energy generated by the power plant during implementation chemical reactions.

A device for heat sink is known, which contains equipment with a heat source operating in maximum thermal mode, a cold part and an element for transferring heat from the equipment to the cold part. The specified equipment and the cold part are separated by a gas gap. The heat transfer element contains at least one heat pipe passing through the gap and in contact with the equipment at one end and with the cold plate at the other end, the heat transfer element being configured to limit the heat transferred to the cold part at thermal values exceeding a certain threshold value less than the maximum value of the mentioned mode [RU 2465531, IPC F28F 13/00, the date of publication of the application 08.27.2010].

A disadvantage of the known technical solution is the autonomy from external sources of electricity, the system provides only a system for removing thermal energy. Along with this, the working medium in heat pipes is in an airtight closed loop, and the use of such technology in an autonomous energy device is impossible due to the complexity of the structural integration of equipment and a significant reduction in the safety of the entire system in this case.

Also known is the technical solution “Power plant for an aircraft using fuel cells” (RU 2391749 C1, IPC Н01М 8/12, B64D 41/00, publication date 10.06.2010). According to the invention, a power plant for an aircraft using fuel cells comprises an oxidizer supply system of a power plant, including a compressor for compressing atmospheric air, using air oxygen as an oxidizer. An output turbine is installed on one shaft with a compressor, connected to a chemical reactor by a pipeline for removing gas from the chemical reactor, and an additional turbine, on the shaft of which an electric generator is installed to generate additional electric current. Operating temperature is 900-1000 ° C.

The disadvantage of this technical solution is the impossibility of an autonomous start when heating the fuel cells and their autonomous operation in the set modes, while it is not described how the operating temperature is achieved. Aviation kerosene is also used as fuel, which is a disadvantage and excludes the possibility of using this solution in distributed stationary energy for gas transportation. Another significant drawback of this technical solution is the dependence on external sources of electricity during startups.

As a prototype, an electrochemical generator with solid electrolyte was selected, which contains a working chamber with a fuel cell battery enclosed in a housing with heat-insulating walls and tubes for supplying and discharging gas, a combustion chamber, a natural gas converter, channels for supplying and discharging fuel and gases, the natural gas converter is installed in the working chamber, the generator contains a heat exchanger mounted in heat-insulating walls, while a channel for supplying an oxidizing gas to the working chamber is formed nstvom between the combustion chamber and the working chamber and connected to a conduit for supplying air to the heat exchanger, the exhaust gas channels are connected to the combustion chamber. [RU 2538095, IPC Н01М 8/10, Н01М 4/88, publication date 1/10/2015].

The disadvantage of the prototype device is the use of a lamellar type heat exchanger, since during prolonged use at high temperatures, leakage and, as a result, mixing of the coolant and the working fluid are possible, which will lead to the failure of the installation. In addition, the use of a lamellar heat exchanger does not allow to achieve the necessary efficiency indicators. Another disadvantage of the prototype is that it uses one heat exchanger, which limits the possibility of supplying heated air to several elements of the power plant and reduces the efficiency of the device and the installation as a whole.

The technical task is to create a module for the removal and distribution of thermal energy of a solid-oxide fuel cell power plant with higher efficiency while improving reliability.

EFFECT: increased efficiency of the module for the removal and distribution of thermal energy of a solid-oxide fuel cell power plant, while increasing reliability.

The essence of the claimed device is as follows.

The module for the removal and distribution of thermal energy from a solid-oxide fuel cell power plant contains a heat exchanger located in a thermally insulated housing. The heat-insulated casing is equipped with an inlet for reaction products from the burner and an outlet for exhaust gases. Unlike the prototype, the module contains a second heat exchanger located in a heat-insulated casing in series with the first heat exchanger and connected to it through a pipeline. In this case, the heat-insulated casing is equipped with two inlets for supplying air and two outlets for heated air, the inlet for the reaction products of the burner is connected via a pipeline to the first heat exchanger, and the outlet for exhaust gases through a pipeline is connected to the second heat exchanger. The first air inlet is communicated through a pipeline through a first heat exchanger to a first outlet for heated air, and the second air inlet is communicated through a conduit through a second heat exchanger to a second outlet for heated air. The first outlet for heated air is configured to connect to the cathode channel of the fuel battery, and the second outlet for heated air is configured to connect to an ejector. Each heat exchanger is made in the form of a tubular heat exchanger. In this case, the pipes inside the heat exchanger are evenly distributed, the diameter of the pipes is from 0.3 to 1 cm.

The technical result is achieved by increasing the amount of electric energy at the outlet by using two heat exchangers, while the heated air from the first heat exchanger is supplied to the cathode channel of the fuel battery simultaneously with the supply of heated air from the second heat exchanger to the ejector and by increasing the heat transfer intensity by performing heat exchanger pipes with diameter from 0.3 to 1 cm.

Preferably, the burner can be made in the form of a catalytic burner, which provides a high temperature of the reaction products supplied to the input, and the complete oxidation of gas mixtures with a small amount of combustible components. This provides increased efficiency of the claimed module.

The second heat exchanger may be located above the first heat exchanger with the possibility of directing the flow of reaction products from the burner upward, which reduces the resistance to movement of the reaction products of the burner from the inlet for the reaction products from the burner to the outlet for exhaust gases. This provides an additional increase in the efficiency of the claimed module by increasing the amount of electric energy output.

The implementation of the first exit for heated air with the possibility of attaching to the cathode channel of the fuel battery, and the second exit for heated air with the ability to connect to the ejector allows to increase the efficiency by simultaneously heating the air for supplying to the ejector and the cathode channel of the fuel battery.

The number of pipes and their length in the first and second heat exchangers is determined by calculation, depending on the power of the power plant to which the claimed module is connected, as well as the required thermal energy for the cathode channel of the fuel battery and ejector.

The implementation of the heat exchanger pipes with a diameter of 0.3 to 1 cm allows the heat carrier to flow around the pipes along their entire inner surface, which eliminates the occurrence of blind spots on the other side of the pipe from the flow inlet. As a result, the intensity of heat transfer increases and, as a result, the increase in efficiency and reliability of the claimed module.

The implementation of the heat exchanger pipes with a diameter of less than 0.3 cm contributes to an increase in the resistance to the movement of the air flow through the heat exchanger pipes during the distribution of the flow by passing through the tube plate, which can cause the tubes to become blocked by the vortex flow and, as a result, their burning out due to local overheating, which reduces reliability and efficiency.

When making pipes of a heat exchanger with a diameter of more than 1 cm, the heat transfer efficiency decreases and the amount of unused thermal energy increases, which reduces the efficiency of the claimed module.

The number of tubes of the heat exchanger is determined depending on the required capacity of the heat exchangers, preferably from 30 to 250.

The exhaust outlet may be configured to be connected to a radiator. The radiator is designed for heating the environment, which allows to increase the output of thermal energy, and consequently, the efficiency of the module for the removal and distribution of thermal energy of a power plant based on solid oxide fuel cells.

On each section of the pipeline that provides the message of the constituent elements of the claimed module, thermocouples can be used to measure air temperature, and on sections of the pipeline between the first and second heat exchangers, between the exhaust outlet and the radiator, on the section of the pipeline connecting the first outlet for heated air with an ejector or with a cathode channel of the fuel battery, and in the pipeline connecting the second outlet for heated air with an ejector or cathode channel of the fuel batteries, pressure sensors are located.

Increasing the efficiency of the claimed module improves the efficiency of a solid-oxide fuel cell power plant as a whole.

The presence of distinctive essential features allows us to conclude that the claimed invention meets the patentability criterion of "novelty."

The implementation of the module using two heat exchangers made in the form of tubular heat exchangers in communication with two outlets for heated air, made with the possibility of connection with the ejector and the cathode channel of the fuel battery, and the implementation of the pipes of the heat exchanger with a small diameter allows to achieve a synergistic effect to increase the efficiency of the module due to increase the amount of electrical energy output of the module.

The claimed invention can be made of known materials using known means, which allows us to conclude that the claimed invention meets the patentability criterion of "industrial applicability".

The inventive device is illustrated by the following drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a module for the removal and distribution of thermal energy.

FIG. 2 - module for the removal and distribution of thermal energy (isometry).

FIG. 3 - heat exchanger (general view without the upper base of the housing).

FIG. 4 - heat exchanger (section AA).

Table 1 - data on the rationale for achieving a synergistic effect.

The module for the removal and distribution of thermal energy from a solid-oxide fuel cell power plant comprises a first heat exchanger TO1 and a second heat exchanger TO2, which are sequentially located in a thermally insulated housing 1 and interconnected by a pipe 2. The heat-insulated casing 1 is provided with an inlet for reaction products from a catalytic burner 3, in communication with the first heat exchanger TO1 through a section of pipeline A, an outlet for exhaust gases 4, in communication with a second heat exchanger TO2 through a section of pipeline G, two inlets for air supply 5 and 6, and two outlets for heated air 7 and 8. The first inlet for air supply 5 is communicated through sections of the pipeline B and D through the first heat exchanger TO1 with the first outlet for heated air 7, and the second inlet for air supply 6 sec communication through pipe sections B and D through the second heat exchanger to the second output TO2 heated air TO2 8. The second heat exchanger is located above the first heat exchanger TO1 to direct a flow of reaction products from the catalytic burner (not shown in the figures) upwards.

On the pipeline section A, between the inlet for the reaction products from the burner and the first heat exchanger TO1, the first thermocouple T1 is located. In the pipeline section B, between the first air inlet 5 and the first heat exchanger TO1, a second thermocouple T2 is located. In the pipeline section B, between the second air inlet 6 and the second heat exchanger TO2, there is a third thermocouple T3. On the pipeline section E, between the first heat exchanger TO1 and the second heat exchanger TO2, there is a fourth thermocouple T4 and a pressure sensor D1. A fifth thermocouple T5 is located in the pipeline section G, between the second TO2 heat exchanger and the exhaust outlet 4. On the section of the pipeline Z, between the exhaust outlet 4 and the radiator RU, there is a pressure sensor D2. A thermocouple T6 and a pressure sensor D3 are located in the pipeline section G connecting the first outlet for heated air 7 with the cathode channel of the fuel battery. A thermocouple T7 and a pressure sensor D4 are located in the pipeline section D connecting the second outlet for heated air 8 with the ejector.

Heat exchangers TO1 and TO2 are made in the form of tubular heat exchangers with a pipe diameter D and the number of pipes K arranged uniformly in a checkerboard pattern inside the housing. Each of the heat exchangers consists of a sealed casing 9, equipped with a pipe for supplying a coolant 12 and a pipe for supplying a heated agent 14, a pipe for removing the coolant 13 and a pipe for removing the heated agent 15. Inside the casing are fixed two parallel pipe boards 16 made perforated in corresponding opposite holes of which (not shown in the drawings) between the boards are fixed pipes 17 that are evenly spaced. Tube boards 16 are perpendicular to the bottom and together with the housing 9 form a chamber for splitting the coolant 10 and a mixing chamber for the coolant 11, respectively. The split chamber of the coolant 10 is in communication with a pipe for supplying a coolant 12, and the mixing chamber of a coolant 11 is connected with a pipe for removal of a coolant 13. Moreover, the heat exchangers TO1 and TO2 can be made in any known manner.

Exit for exhaust gases 4 is connected to the radiator RU.

Heat exchangers TO1 and TO2, as well as all connecting elements (pipelines, fasteners, posts for thermocouples) can be made of material with heat resistance up to 960 ° C.

The pipes 17 of the TO1 and TO2 heat exchangers are evenly spaced 1 cm apart.

Pipeline 2 and the radiator of the switchgear can be made of heat-resistant material up to 400 ° C.

The module for the removal and distribution of thermal energy of a power plant on solid oxide plants works as follows.

The reaction products from the catalytic burner through the inlet for the reaction products from the catalytic burner 3 through the pipe section A (thermocouple T1 measures the temperature) enter the split chamber 10 of the heat exchanger TO1 and are evenly distributed through the pipes 16 of the heat exchanger TO1 through the pipes 17 of the heat exchanger TO1.

Also, air is supplied to the TO1 heat exchanger through a section of pipeline B through the first air inlet 5 (the temperature of the incoming air is measured using a T2 thermocouple), and air is supplied to the TO2 heat exchanger through a section of pipeline B through the second air inlet 6, measuring this temperature the incoming air takes place using a T3 thermocouple. After the heat exchange process is carried out inside the body of the heat exchanger TO1, the coolant enters through the tube plate 16 of the heat exchanger TO1 into the mixing chamber of the coolant 11 of the heat exchanger TO1 and enters the pipeline through the pipe for removal of the coolant 13. In the section of the pipeline G (using a thermocouple T6 and a pressure sensor D3 to measure the temperature and pressure of the air in the pipeline, respectively), the heated air from the heat exchanger TO1 is supplied through the first outlet for heated air 7 to the cathode channel of the fuel battery.

The reaction products from the catalytic burner 3 after the heat exchange process in the TO1 heat exchanger over the pipeline section Ε (thermocouple T4 and pressure sensor D1 are used to measure the temperature and air pressure in the pipeline, respectively) are supplied through the pipe for supplying the heat carrier 12 of the heat exchanger TO2 to the breakdown chamber of the heat carrier 10 of the heat exchanger TO2 and through the tube plate 16 of the TO2 heat exchanger are evenly distributed over the pipes 17 of the TO2 heat exchanger. After the heat exchange process is carried out inside the body of the TO2 heat exchanger, the heat carrier enters through the tube plate 16 of the TO2 heat exchanger into the mixing chamber of the heat carrier 11 of the TO2 heat exchanger and enters the pipeline through the pipe to remove the heat carrier 13 of the TO2 heat exchanger. In a section of pipeline D, heated air from a TO2 heat exchanger is fed into an ejector through a second outlet for heated air 8 (a thermocouple T7 and a pressure sensor D4 are used to measure the temperature and pressure of the air in the pipeline, respectively) for mixing with fuel natural gas.

After passing the heat exchangers TO1 and TO2, the reaction products from the catalytic burner are in the temperature range of 250-300 ° C and are sent along the section of the pipeline G through the exhaust outlet 4 along the section of the pipeline 3 to the radiator of the switchgear.

To confirm the achievement of the technical result, prototypes were made.

Examples of specific values of the efficiency depending on each essential feature in comparison with the device of the prototype are presented in Table 1.

As a result of comparing the obtained values of the efficiency of the proposed module, presented in Table 1, we can conclude that the highest efficiency is achieved when using heat exchanger tubes with a diameter of 0.3 to 1 cm

Example 1. The device of the prototype.

Example 2. The device of example 2 comprises a heat exchanger located in a thermally insulated housing. The heat-insulated casing is equipped with an inlet for reaction products from the burner and an outlet for exhaust gases. Additionally contains a second heat exchanger located in a heat-insulated casing in series with the first heat exchanger and connected to it through a pipeline. In this case, the heat-insulated casing is equipped with two inlets for supplying air and two outlets for heated air, the inlet for the reaction products of the burner is connected via a pipeline to the first heat exchanger, and the outlet for exhaust gases through a pipeline is connected to the second heat exchanger. The first air inlet is communicated through a pipeline through a first heat exchanger to a first outlet for heated air, and the second air inlet is communicated through a conduit through a second heat exchanger to a second outlet for heated air. The first outlet for heated air is configured to connect to the cathode channel of the fuel battery, and the second outlet for heated air is configured to connect to an ejector. Each heat exchanger is made in the form of a lamellar type heat exchanger.

Example 3. The device of example 3 is similar to the device of example 2 with the difference that each heat exchanger is made in the form of a tubular heat exchanger with pipes with a diameter of 0.3 to 1 cm.

As a result of the comparison of the efficiency values when each essential feature is used separately in the claimed module with respect to the efficiency value of the prototype, it can be concluded that the maximum efficiency value can be achieved by combining all the essential features, which gives a synergistic effect.

Thus, the claimed device allows to achieve a technical result to increase efficiency and increase the reliability of the module for the removal and distribution of thermal energy of a power plant on solid oxide fuel cells with a simultaneous increase in reliability.

Claims (4)

1. A module for the removal and distribution of thermal energy from a solid oxide fuel cell power plant, comprising a heat exchanger located in a thermally insulated housing provided with an inlet for reaction products from the burner and an outlet for exhaust gases, characterized in that it further comprises a second heat exchanger, both heat exchangers are made in the form of tubular heat exchangers with pipes with a diameter of 0.3 to 1 cm located uniformly inside the heat exchanger, while the second heat exchanger is located in a heat-insulated the pus sequentially to the first heat exchanger and connected to it by means of a pipeline, the input for the reaction products of the burner by means of a pipeline is in communication with the first heat exchanger, and the exhaust outlet by means of a pipeline is connected to the second heat exchanger, while the heat-insulated casing is equipped with two inlets for supplying air and two outlets for heated air so that the first air inlet is communicated through a pipe through a first heat exchanger with a first outlet for heated air, which fln is connected to the cathode channel of the fuel battery, and the second air inlet is communicated through a pipe through a second heat exchanger with a second outlet for heated air, which is configured to connect to the ejector. 2. The module according to claim 1, characterized in that the burner can be made in the form of a catalytic burner. 3. The module according to claim 1, characterized in that the second heat exchanger can be located above the first heat exchanger with the possibility of directing the flow of reaction products from the burner up. 4. The module according to claim 1, characterized in that the exhaust outlet can be configured to be connected to a radiator.

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