Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2129879
~ E: (PRESSURE)ELECTROLYZER WITH MODULE DESIGN
DETAILED DES~RIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS :~-
The invention refers to a (pressu~e)electrolyzer with
modulus design for the electrolysis of water for the
production of hydrogen and oxygen. ~ ~ -
The electrolytic decomposition of water for the
production of hydrogen and oxygen has been known for a -
long time. When this decomposition method was first used
for industrial applications, the produced gases could
only be supplied at a maximum overpressure of 50 mbar.
But since in most cased this pressure was not sufficient :
for industrial methods requiring hydrogen or oxygen, the
development led to pressure elctrolysis. The realization ~ ;
that unnecessary energy consuming overpressure in the ~ ;~
cells could be reduced with increased pressure also
played an important role in this development. With the
pressure electrolysis method, the produced hydrogen and
oxygen gases can be generated with a pressure of
approximately 30 bar. This pressure is sufficient for
numerous hydrogen and oxygen consuming industrial
applications.
~ -:
Practice has shown that the planning and mounting of a
(pressure)electrolyzer often does not take into account
an expansion of the system within the following years. In
these cases it is necessary to install additional
(pressure)electrolyzers next to the already existing
(pressure)electrolyzer or to replace the original
(pressure)electrolyzer with a larger one.
The purpose and goal of the invention is to avoid the
disadvantages of the prior art. `
2129879
According to the invention this is achieved in that the ~;
(pressure)electrolyzer has at least two
(pressure)electrolyzer modules arranged in series,
whereby each (pressure)electrolyzer module in turn has a
pressure tank inside which is/are arranged the cell
block(s) which contain the individual electrolysis cells,
each pressure container having a flanged joint on at
least one of its front sides.
The (pressure)electrolyzer with module design according
to the invention allows to enlarge an already existing
(pressure)electrolyzer in phases and in a very simple
fashion. secause each of the (pressure)electrolyzer
modules essentially has identical dimensions, the
production of these modules can be simplified ultimately ~;
allowing to reduce the price of the modules. Any
transportation problems between the place of production
and the final installation place of the (pressure)
electrolyzer module are also avoided, since the maximum
dimensions of each module has been chosen so as to allow
normal land transportation, for instance by truck or
railway. In addition to allowing to expand the
(pressure)electrolyzer according to the invention in a
simple manner by adding further modules, the repair of
damaged modules can also be carried out in a relatively
simple fashion. For this purpose the module is removed
from the module formation, and once repaired is re-
installed. The temporary installation of a replacement
module is also possible. The latter case would allow to
avoid a lengthy interruption of the H2 and 2 production.
One embodiment of the invention is characterized in that
those (pressure)electrolyzer modules which only have a
flange joint on one front side of their pressure tanks,
are closed on the opposite front side by means of a
rounded head. ~
, :. .
The modules intended as so called end modules are usually ~
:
2~2g879
closed on one of the front sides by means of a rounded
head. The modules intended as so called intermediate
modules on the other hand have a flange joint on both
front sides. However, it is also possible to use only so
called intermediate modules in an already existing module
formation if the intention is to expand it to both sides
by adding further modules to the intermediate ones.
In a further development of the invention it is suggested
that the number of cells inside a cell block be 10 to
300, preferably 50 to 180, especially 100 to 150.
The invention and further embodiments of the same will be
explained in more detail in Figures 1 to 3. For this
purpose same equipment features have identical reference
marks.
-
Figure 1 shows a module A of the (pressure)electrolyzer
with module design according to the invention. The module
A consists of a pressure tank 1 in which rests the cell
block 2 containing the individual electrolysis cells. The
pressure tank 1 is closed on one front side by means of a
rounded head 3, and can be closed on the opposite front
side by means of a cover 4. The module A shown in Figure
1 is a so called end module.
Figure 2 on the other hand shows a so called intermediate
module in which the pressure tank 1 can be closed on both
front sides by means of a cover 4.
Figure 3 shows the (pressure)electrolyzer with module
design according to the invention, consisting of two
modules A and B, whereby the so called intermediate
module B now contains two individual cell blocks 2.
Adjacent to module B, another module is shown to the
right with a dotted line, the intention being to indicate
that the (pressure)electrolyzer with module design
according to the invention can be expanded as desired.
-- 2129879
Each one of the (pressure)electrolyzers shown in Figures
1 to 3 is supplied throu~h a pipe 5 with an electrically
non-conductive liquid, preferably purified feed water
required for the decomposition. This water flows around
the cell blocks 2 in the pressure tank 1 and is then
removed from the pressure tank 1 through the pipeline 6.
A mixture of leach and the liquid to be decomposed during
electrolysis is supplied to the individual cell blocks 2
through the pipes 7, 7l and 7~, while the gas/leach
mixtures are removed through the pipes 8, 8l and 8ll.
Pipes 8, 8' and 8ll, of course, in this case represent two
individual pipes, since from each cell block a
hydrogen/leach mixture is removed through one pipe and an
oxygen/leach mixture is removed through another pipe.
For the sake of clarity Figures 1 to 3 do not show
additional installations such as heat exchangers for
leach, cooling water supply, heating etc.. which could be
provided within a pressure tank.
The pressure tank 1 of the so called end and intermediate
modules as well as the installations in the pressure
tanks 1 can now be produced in series on one production
line each. Depending on the required output, the so
called end and intermediate modules are mounted in
factory, transported to the assembly place and assembled
there into an electrolyzer. Thus, the module design
allows the production in series in a factory and at
favourable prices of large electrolyzers as well as the
best assembly on the respective place of installation.
If the (pressure)electrolyzer consists of several
modules, each cell block individually or several cell
blocks connected in series can be supplied with direct-
current. If and how many cell blocks can be connected in
series depends essentially on the number of cells per
cell block. The number of cells within a cell block is 10
i~ s : . i ..,..:
---` 2129879 : ~
to 300, preferably 50 to 180, especially 100 to 150, -~
The following chart shows the possible expansion phases
for a megawatt high efficiency electrolyzer with module
5 design. In this case end modules for 2 . 5 MW and
intermediate modules for 5 MW were designed, which are
then joined depending on the required output. ~s any
expert will know, other variations are possible in
addition to this example.
10 ~
H2 Nm /h 600 1200 1800 2400 3000 3600 .
2 h /h 300 600 900 1200 1500 1800 .
w3ter m /h 0,5 _ l,S _ 2,5 3 .
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