WO2010050850A1

WO2010050850A1 - Rotary electroliser for producing hydrogen and oxygen

Info

Publication number: WO2010050850A1
Application number: PCT/RU2009/000632
Authority: WO
Inventors: Евгений Михайлович ОВСЯННИКОВ; Елена Евгеньевна ВАСИЛЬЕВА
Original assignee: Ovsyannikov Evgeny Mikhailovic; Vasilieva Elena Evgenievna
Priority date: 2008-10-29
Filing date: 2009-11-18
Publication date: 2010-05-06
Also published as: RU2379379C1; WO2010059074A1

Abstract

The device comprises process lines for supplying water and electrolyte and for removing electrolysis products and an electroliser which comprises a body with upper and lower lids made of electroinsulating material and short-circuited electrodes, one of which is disposed on a shaft and is made in the form of a cylinder with radial channels, the other electrode being formed by the body inner surface. The electroliser is mounted on a shaft connected to a rotary drive. The device is provided with a magnetic system comprising fixed permanent magnets which are designed in the form of discs, are mechanically connected by means of a magnetic conductor and are placed in parallel position above and under the upper and lower lids. The device is also provided with two current conductive discs which are electrically connected to the shaft and to the body and cover the upper and lower lids. The discs have radial slots corresponding to the width of the fixed magnets.

Description

ROTATING ELECTROLYZER FOR PRODUCING HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN

Technical field

The invention relates to the field of electrochemistry, and in particular to designs of electrolyzers for producing hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis of water.

State of the art

A known installation for the decomposition of water by electrolysis (RF patent N ° 2224051, publ. 02.20.2004), containing technological lines for supplying water and electrolyte and removal of electrolysis products, an electrolyzer comprising a housing mounted on a shaft connected to a rotation drive with channels for supplying an electrolyte solution and the discharge of electrolysis products, the channel for removal of the electrolyte solution, short-circuited electrodes, one of which is located on the shaft, and the other is formed by the inner surface of the housing, and the heat exchanger, as well as the upper and lower bearings e nodes in which the shaft is vertically located. The external circulation circuit of the electrolyte solution contains an annular chamber of the electrolyte solution with an inner surface in the form of a cochlea fixedly mounted on the upper bearing assembly, an electrolyte solution presence sensor and an electrolyte solution mixer connected to the electrolyte and water supply lines and the electrolyte solution supply channel. The cell body is made of conductive material and is provided with a lower and upper cover made of conductive material, the channel for removing the electrolyte solution is made in the top cover and is equipped with an adjustable valve in communication with the annular chamber of the electrolyte solution, the inner surface of the body is equipped with at least one guide groove the water supply line is equipped with a device for controlling the flow of water, the discharge line of electrolysis products is equipped with a device for pumping the electrolysis products, the heat exchanger is located in the external circuit of the electrolyte solution, and the sensor for the presence of the electrolyte solution is connected to a device for controlling the flow of water and the shaft rotation drive. The disadvantages of the described installation include the need for high operating speeds of rotation of the cell, which makes the device unsuitable

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) for industrial applications, as well as design complexity, low productivity.

Closest to the proposed invention is a "Device for the electrolytic production of hydrogen and oxygen" (RF patent N ° 2309198, publ. October 27, 2007), containing technological lines for water supply and removal of electrolysis products, an electrolyzer comprising a housing with upper and lower covers made made of an electrically conductive material mounted on a shaft connected to a rotation drive with channels for supplying an electrolyte solution and removal of electrolysis products, short-circuited electrodes, one of which is located on the shaft, and the other is n the inner surface of the housing. In this case, the discharge line of the electrolysis products contains a series-connected device for pumping out the products of electrolysis and a separator, and the water and electrolyte supply line contains containers for water and electrolyte, a device for controlling the flow of water, valves, a mixer and a heat exchanger. The device is equipped with an electromagnetic system, including fixed magnets in the form of disks mounted in parallel above the upper and under the lower covers of the housing, a magnetic circuit mechanically connected to them with an excitation winding, electrically connected to a pulse generator and a voltage converter. A gas analyzer is installed on the discharge line of the electrolysis products, the input of which is connected to the output of the electrolysis product pumping device, and the output is connected to the water flow control device, while the short-circuited electrode located on the shaft is made in the form of a cylinder with radial channels.

The disadvantages of this device also include the requirement of high working speeds of rotation of the electrolyzer, low productivity and significant energy consumption necessary to power the electromagnetic system.

Disclosure of the invention.

The basis of the invention is the task of developing a device for the electrolytic production of hydrogen and oxygen by supplying it with an improved magnetic system, which will simplify designs, reducing the operating speed of the electrolyzer, increasing productivity and reducing power consumption.

The problem is solved in that a device is proposed for the electrolytic production of hydrogen and oxygen, comprising technological lines for supplying water and electrolyte and removal of electrolysis products, an electrolyzer comprising a housing with upper and lower covers mounted on a shaft connected to the rotation drive with channels for supplying the electrolyte solution and removal of electrolysis products, short-circuited electrodes, one of which is located on the shaft, and the other is formed by the inner surface of the housing, while the discharge line is The electrolysis cell contains a series-connected device for pumping electrolysis products and a separator, and the water and electrolyte supply line contains tanks for water and electrolyte, a device for controlling the flow of water, valves, a mixer and a heat exchanger; a gas analyzer is installed on the discharge line of the electrolysis products, the input of which is connected to the output a device for pumping electrolysis products, and the output is connected to a device for controlling the flow of water, while a short-circuited electrode located on the shaft is made in the form of a cylinder with radial channels, which, according to the invention, is equipped with a magnetic system comprising permanent fixed magnet magnets mechanically connected by a magnetic circuit in the form of disks parallel to the upper and lower lower covers of the housing, as well as two current-carrying disks electrically connected to the shaft and the housing, covering the upper and lower covers with radial slots made in them corresponding to the width of the fixed magnets, while the covers are made of insulating material. A brief description of the drawings.

The invention will be further described in detail in the description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. depicts a device for the electrolytic production of hydrogen and oxygen; figure 2 - current-carrying disk with radial slots.

The best embodiment of the invention

The device of figure 1 contains an electrolyzer 1, including a cylindrical body 2 of electrically conductive non-magnetic material with upper 3 and lower 4 covers made of electrical insulating material mounted on a vertical shaft 5, made of conductive non-magnetic material, and fixed in the upper b and lower 7 bearing units. The shaft 5 is connected to a rotation drive 8 and inside has channels for supplying an electrolyte solution or water 9 and for removing electrolysis products 10. To the outer surfaces of the covers 3 and 4 are adjacent the upper 11 and lower 12 current-carrying disks with radial slots, made as shown in figure 2 . On the shaft 5 inside the electrolyzer there is a short-circuited electrode 13 with channels 14 radially located in it (for example, an anode) made of an electrically conductive non-magnetic material. The inner surface of the housing 2 forms another electrode (for example, a cathode). The channel for supplying an electrolyte or water solution 9 is connected to a water and electrolyte supply line 15, with a heat exchanger 16, a mixer 17, with a valve 18, with a capacity for electrolyte 19, with a valve 20, with a device for controlling the flow of water 21 and with a capacity for water 22. The heat exchanger 16 is also connected to a drain valve 23. The channel for the removal of electrolysis products 10 is connected through a process line for the removal of electrolysis products 24 with a pumping device for electrolysis products 25 connected to a gas analyzer 26, electrically connected to the device water flow control 21 and a separator 27 for separating the oxygen-hydrogen mixture into oxygen and hydrogen. The electrolyzer is equipped with a magnetic system, including the upper 28 and lower 29 permanent fixed magnets in the form of disks and a magnetic circuit 30 mechanically connected to them. On the surface of the electrolyzer in contact with the electrolyte, special coatings are applied that improve the electrical properties of the electrically conductive parts and protect materials from corrosion. The device operates as follows. The electrolyte from the electrolyte tank 19 through the open valve 18 enters the mixer 17, then into the heat exchanger 16, then through the technological line for supplying the electrolyte 15 to the channel for supplying the electrolyte solution 9, located in the shaft 5, and into the electrolyzer 1. The valve 20 on the water supply line closed. After filling the electrolyzer 1 with an electrolyte solution, the valve 18 is closed and the rotation drive 8 of the shaft 5 is turned on, which leads the electrolyzer 1 to rotate, accelerating it before the start of the electrolysis process. With a sufficiently high installation capacity, the gas analyzer 26 generates a blocking signal for the control device water flow rate 21 and the process line for supplying water 15 to the electrolyzer 1 is blocked. Open valve 20. The device goes into automatic control of the water supply from the water tank 22 through the water flow control device 21, the open valve 20, the mixer of the electrolyte solution 17, the heat exchanger 16 and the channel for supplying the electrolyte solution 9 to the electrolyzer 1. In a rotating electrolyzer 1 During the production of hydrogen and oxygen, the volume of the electrolyte solution and, accordingly, its concentration are constantly changing: the concentration of the electrolyte solution increases, and the volume decreases. The interface between the solution of the electrolyte and the gaseous medium is shifted to the periphery of the electrolyzer 1. The electrode 13 located on the shaft 5, is in the gaseous medium and the electrolysis is stopped. The gas analyzer 26 sends a signal to open the device for controlling the flow of water 21. From the water tank 22, the water heated in the heat exchanger 16 enters the electrolyzer 1 through the technological line for supplying water 15. The process is then repeated. Each of the electrodes in the electrolyzer 1 can perform the function of the anode or cathode, depending on the chemical composition of the electrolyte used.

In the process of rotation under the action of centrifugal force in the electrolyzer 1, a field of artificial gravity is created, under the influence of which cations and anions in the form of hydrates with a significantly different intrinsic mass are separated. Heavier ions, for example, cations, form near the inner surface of the casing 2 (cathode) a negative spatial electric charge, which induces in the casing 2, made of a conductive material, an adequate charge of conduction electrons. Light ions will concentrate in the region between the cathode and anode 13, forming their own positive spatial charge, and if its potential is sufficient to create an electric field capable of deforming the hydration shells of light ions, the resulting equilibrium will be disturbed at anode 13. Heavy ions will also give up its charge to the cathode and between the electrodes through the upper 11 and lower 12 current-carrying disks with radial slots and shaft 5, made of conductive materials, as in a short-circuited circuit, leakage t direct electric current. Electrolyte ions will recover, forming hydrogen and oxygen, and the intermediate electrolysis products will enter into secondary reactions with water. The reduced hydrogen and oxygen are displaced to the center the electrolyzer 1 and in the form of an oxygen-hydrogen mixture through the channel for withdrawing the products of the electrolyzer 10, a pumping device for the electrolysis products 25 and a gas analyzer 26 are discharged to the consumer.

To separate the oxygen-hydrogen mixture into oxygen and hydrogen, a separator 27 may be provided in the device, from which the separated gases are sent to consumers of oxygen and hydrogen.

In such known devices, the electrolysis process occurs only under the action of a centrifugal field, which implies large angular rotational speeds of the electrolyzer (3000-5000 radians per second). This is technically difficult to implement. In such well-known next-generation devices, an electromagnetic system with external power supply is used to reduce the working speeds of the electrolyzer and increase productivity.

The proposed device uses a magnetic system with permanent magnets28 and 29, which eliminates external energy consumption.

An electrically charged particle moving in a constant magnetic field is affected by the Lorentz force:

F = BxVxq, where: B - magnetic induction, T; V is linear velocity, m / s; q is the magnitude of the electric charge, K.

The vectors of forces acting on negative and positive particles are directed oppositely and perpendicularly to the linear velocity vector so that heavy ions tend to the periphery of the electrolyzer, and light ones to the center. To increase the resulting potential difference between the electrodes in the proposed device, current-carrying disks 11 and 12 with radial slots are used. The disks are adjacent to the outer surfaces of the covers 3 and 4 of the housing 2 and electrically connect the housing with the shaft 5 and, accordingly, with the electrodes located on them. When the current-carrying disks 11 and 12 rotate in a constant magnetic field, an emf arises in them:

E = ωB (r ₂ - n), where: ω is the angular frequency of rotation of the disk, 1 / s;

B-magnetic induction, T; Gi is the distance from the axis of the shaft 5 to the nearest edge of the radial slot; \ _% is the distance from the axis of the shaft 5 to the distant edge of the radial slot. Desired emf sign current-carrying disks 11 and 12 is realized either by changing the direction of rotation of the electrolyzer 1, or by changing the poles of the magnetic system consisting of a magnetic circuit 30 and permanent magnets 28, 29. As a result of the use of current-carrying disks, it is possible to reduce the working speed of the electrolyzer to 500-700 radians per second and significantly increase performance.

The process of decomposition of water into hydrogen and oxygen due to the reduction of their ions is accompanied by a decrease in the enthalpy of the electrolyte solution, as a result of which the temperature of the solution is constantly reduced, and if heat losses are not replenished, the solution will freeze and the process will stop. For this reason, the solution must be heated. For this purpose, a heat exchanger is installed in the water supply line 16. Heat energy can be supplied to the heat exchanger 16 in the form of exhaust gases or antifreeze from an internal combustion engine or in some other form. To ensure safety, the device can be equipped with a protective cover. In the proposed device is the conversion of mechanical, electrical and thermal energies into chemical energy.

Gas analyzer 26 can be used type ABP-02, or AKPH-02, which performs the function of the sensor. As a device for pumping electrolysis products 25, you can use an electric vacuum pump, a device for controlling the flow of water 21, an electromagnetic valve.

The proposed device allows to increase the productivity of the installation, to reduce the working angular frequency of rotation of the cell and to simplify the design and significantly reduce energy consumption. The device can be manufactured using traditional structural materials, components and known electrolytes.

Industrial applicability.

The proposed device can be used in units of internal combustion engines of vehicles, increasing their fuel efficiency, with steam turbines of thermal and nuclear power plants, for the utilization of industrial heat in metallurgy, etc.

Claims

CLAIM

A device for the electrolytic production of hydrogen and oxygen, containing technological lines for supplying water and electrolyte and removal of electrolysis products, an electrolyzer comprising a housing with upper and lower covers mounted on a shaft connected to a rotation drive with channels for supplying an electrolyte solution and removal of electrolysis products, short-circuited electrodes, one of which is located on the shaft, and the other is formed by the inner surface of the housing, while the discharge line of the electrolysis products contains in series the device for pumping electrolysis products and a separator, and the water and electrolyte supply line contains containers for water and electrolyte, a device for controlling the flow of water, valves, a mixer and a heat exchanger; a gas analyzer is installed on the discharge line of the electrolysis products, the input of which is connected to the output of the pumping device for electrolysis products and the output is connected to a device for regulating the flow of water, while the short-circuited electrode located on the shaft is made in the form of a cylinder with radial channels, Furthermore, it is equipped with a magnetic system comprising permanent fixed magnet magnets mechanically connected by a magnetic circuit in the form of disks located parallel to the upper and lower lower covers of the housing, as well as two live-current disks electrically connected to the shaft and the housing covering the upper and lower covers with radial slots made in them corresponding to the width of the stationary magnets, while the covers are made of electrical insulating material.