WO2020021583A1

WO2020021583A1 - Dual energy core

Info

Publication number: WO2020021583A1
Application number: PCT/IT2019/050172
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicola PICCENNA; Sinan Hashem Younis AL ABBAWI
Original assignee: Piccenna Nicola; Al Abbawi Sinan Hashem Younis
Priority date: 2018-07-23
Filing date: 2019-07-22
Publication date: 2020-01-30
Also published as: IT201800003069U1

Abstract

The set of apparatuses that constitute the object of the invention allows the simultaneous generation (cogeneration) through an electrochemical process of electric energy and thermal energy. The double co-generation system uses natural gas to derive the hydrogen contained in it and to produce electricity and heat through the use of fuel cells. The fuel cell based on the "SOFC" technology operates continuously, with the exclusion of a single annual interruption for routine maintenance and filter replacement. The fuel cell based on the "PEM" technology comes into operation when the demand for thermal and / or electric energy exceeds the availability provided by the SOFC apparatus and provides the integration necessary to satisfy the demands of the users. The entire system is governed and controlled by programmable electronic devices connected through an internet connection to the control and maintenance unit of the equipment.

Description

DUAL ENERGY CORE

DESCRIPTION

The processes of energy transformation, aimed at obtaining forms of energy suitable for powering operational equipment, are evaluated in terms of greater or lesser efficiency depending on their "performance". The efficiency is the percentage of energy that is obtained in the desired form with respect to the potentially available energy before transformation.

To give an example that will also be useful in the continuation of the description, we say that an endothermic power plant that produces electricity uses natural gas has an average yield of between 25% and 33% (with other technologies it is 40%). It means that the energy contained in natural gas only 25-33% becomes electricity, the rest is lost in the form of thermal energy. Otherwise, if we were interested in obtaining both electricity and thermal energy, the yield would be close to 85-90% (a portion of the potentially available energy is still not usable after the transformation).

The processes that make it possible to produce and use both the thermal component and the electrical component in an energy transformation are called "cogeneration": in the abbreviation "chp" - Combined Heat and Power.

The most widespread natural gas electrochemical cogeneration systems for power ranging from 1 Kw to 5 Kw (called micro-cogeneration - micro-chp) use“energy transformation” equipment based on PEM (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell) and SOFC technologies (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell).

The operation, which concerns only the descriptive-conceptual point of view, is based on the cracking of the natural gas molecule (CH₄) which allows to obtain hydrogen and, subsequently, the electric energy combining hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell. The whole process is exothermic and the heat generated is accumulated by heating a liquid (usually water) for subsequent uses.

The equipment currently in production alternatively use the PEM or SOFC technologies according to the specific application requirements:

1) PEM, when it is necessary to produce energy not continuously by alternating switching on and off the apparatus. The "PEM" cell works at a temperature close to 80° C and, being of a polymeric nature, is not affected by the switch-on and switch-off phases, reaching the operating condition within a few seconds. It has an electrical efficiency close to 30% while the thermal efficiency reaches 60%;

2) SOFC, when it is necessary to produce energy in a constant manner, reducing at maximum the phases of switching on and off the equipment. The "SOFC" cell works at temperatures close to 500 ° C and would suffer microcracks of the ceramic if subjected to frequent shutdowns and restart. It has an electrical efficiency of 55% and thermal close to 40%.

The use patent that deals here, consists in the joint use of the two technologies, therefore in the title the term "DUAF CORE" is used, so as to ensure maximum electrical efficiency for the "constant" use component through the CORE SOFC and, at the same time, meet the energy requirements of "peak" with the activation of CORE PEM.

The DUAL ENERGY CORE constituent devices are widely used and used for their specific functions while their combined and integrated use for the production of energy in equipment with reduced power (micro-chp) is the absolute novelty of "DUAL ENERGY CORE"

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SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26)

Claims

CLAIMS:

1) The integrated use of the equipment constituting the DUAL ENERGY CORE system (natural gas cracking systems, "PEM" fuel cells, SOFC fuel cells, control and power electronics) for micro-cogeneration systems is claimed;

2) The use of the DUAL ENERGY CORE system is claimed to achieve energy conversion efficiency of more than 90%, achieving savings in consumption and an advantage for the environment and the health of citizens;

3) The use of the DUAL ENERGY CORE system is claimed to reduce the emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide deriving from the production of centralized electricity and thermal energy for use through the combustion of natural gas;

4) The use of the DUAL ENERGY CORE system is claimed to reduce the emissions of fine particles (PM 10) generated by the combustion of natural gas (methane) of fossil origin to values close to zero.

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SUBSTITUTE SHEETS (RULE 26)