Experimental study on the hydrogen production with RED reactor powered by concentration gradient energy

doi:10.11949/0438-1157.20191468

Abstract

Abstract:

The hydrogen production technology by low-grade heat (LGH) is that the LGH is first converted to the concentration gradient energy (CGE) of solutions, and then it is converted to hydrogen energy by reverse electrodialysis (RED) reactor. In order to verify the hydrogen production with RED reactor powered by CGE, and to explore the influence of key operating parameters on the energy conversion process, an experimental system of hydrogen production with RED reactor powered by CGE was developed. The RED reactor in the system consisted of 40 membrane pairs and NaCl and NaOH aqueous solutions were used as the working solutions and the electrode rinse solution respectively. By changing the inlet concentration of diluted or concentrated solution, the flow velocity of solution and the output current, the effects of those parameters on the hydrogen production rate, hydrogen production and energy conversion efficiencies were investigated experimentally. The results showed that the variations of inlet concentrations and the flow velocity would significantly affect the output current of RED reactor. Under the short circuit condition of the external circuit, the larger the output current, the higher the hydrogen production rate and hydrogen production efficiency of the reactor, but the lower the energy conversion efficiency.

Key words: reverse electrodialysis, concentration gradient energy, hydrogen production, membranes, ion exchange, energy conversion

摘要：

低品位热能制氢技术首先是将热能转换为溶液浓差能，然后通过逆电渗析（RED）反应器将溶液浓差能转换成氢能。为了验证RED反应器能将溶液浓差能转换为氢能，探索关键运行参数变化对能量转换过程的影响。设计了一个由40个膜对所构成的RED反应器，以NaCl水溶液为工作溶液，NaOH水溶液为电极液的制氢系统。通过改变浓/稀溶液入口浓度，溶液过膜流速以及输出电流来考察对RED反应器产氢率、制氢效率和能量转换效率的影响。实验结果发现，浓/稀溶液入口浓度，过膜流速变化均会影响RED反应器的输出电流。在外电路短接条件下，输出电流越大，反应器产氢率和制氢效率越高，但能量转换效率越低。

关键词: 逆电渗析, 溶液浓差能, 制氢, 膜, 离子交换, 能量转换

CLC Number:

TK 115

Shiming XU, Zhiqiang LIU, Xi WU, Youwen ZHANG, Junyong HU, Debing WU, Qiang LENG, Dongxu JIN, Ping WANG. Experimental study on the hydrogen production with RED reactor powered by concentration gradient energy[J]. CIESC Journal, 2020, 71(5): 2283-2291.

徐士鸣, 刘志强, 吴曦, 张又文, 胡军勇, 吴德兵, 冷强, 金东旭, 王平. 溶液浓差能驱动的逆电渗析反应器制氢实验研究[J]. 化工学报, 2020, 71(5): 2283-2291.

Figures/Tables 10

Fig.1 Structure of RED reactor and its reaction mechanism of hydrogen production

Fig.2 Hydrogen production flow of RED reactor powered by concentration gradient energy

Fig.3 Photo of hydrogen production experimental system with RED reactor

Table 1 Mode, parameter and accuracy of experiment equipment

实验设备	型号	参数	精度
电导率仪	METTLER TOLEDO FE38	电导率	±0.5% mS·cm^-1
数字万用表	KEITHLEY	电流、电压	±0.016% V / 0.17% A
电子分析天平	OHAUS Scout SE	质量	0.001g
低温恒温槽	Biosafer - 1020DC	温度	±0.05 K
蠕动泵	LONGER BT300 - 2J	体积流率	—
电极液蠕动泵	Kamoer KCP PRO2-N40	体积流率	±5% ml·min^-1
可调直流电阻器	ZX92A	电阻	±0.1%Ω

Table 2 Basic parameters of each part in RED reactor

名称	参数	符号	单位	数值
RED反应器外形	电池单元数	N	—	40
	长	—	cm	25
	宽	—	cm	20
电极	长	—	cm	10
	宽	—	cm	10
	网孔	—	mm×mm	1×3
离子交换膜	选择性系数^①	α_CEM	—	0.96
	选择性系数^①	α_AEM	—	0.95
	面电阻^②	R_CEM	Ω·cm²	6.1
	面电阻^②	R_AEM	Ω·cm²	3.5
	膜厚	δ_m	mm	0.16
	水渗透率	—	ml·bar^-1·m^-2·h^-1③	3.5,3
	爆破强度	—	kg·cm^-2	4.7,5
丝网隔垫	隔垫厚	δ	mm	0.22
	孔隙率	ε	%	67
	阻挡系数	f	—	1.73
	遮蔽系数	β	—	2.02

Table 3 Ranges of experimental parameters

浓度/(mol·L^-1)

过膜流速/

(cm·s^-1)

Fig.4 Variations of short circuit current, hydrogen production rate, hydrogen production and energy conversion efficiency of RED reactor with inlet concentration of HC

Fig.5 Variations of short circuit current, hydrogen production rate, hydrogen production and energy conversion efficiency of RED reactor with inlet concentration of LC

Fig.6 Variations of short circuit current, hydrogen production rate, hydrogen production and energy conversion efficiency of RED reactor with solution flow velocity on membrane

Fig.7 Variations of output energy, hydrogen production and energy conversion efficiency of RED reactor with current output

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