Abstract:

Under the goal of carbon neutrality in 2060, the development of clean and renewable energy is imperative. However, it is challenging to overturn the energy foundation of the current industrial processes from fossil-based to renewable energy. The key problem lies in the unknown limits on material utilization and energy conversion of renewable energy. In this work, three questions on system and surrounding, heat and electricity, as well as the efficiency and rate were identified. Thermodynamics describing the process limits was used to analyze these questions and discuss the perspectives to achieve carbon neutrality. Based on green electricity converters, photoelectrochemical engineering, membrane separation and heat pumps, a conceptual blueprint of chemical industrial process reengineering was proposed, so as to provide a new perspective for chemical industry to understand and lay out the disruptive technologies required for carbon neutrality.

Key words: carbon neutrality, renewable energy, green electricity, thermodynamics, process re-electrification, industrial process reengineering

摘要：

2060年碳中和目标下，发展清洁可再生能源势在必行。然而，颠覆百年工业革命下以化石能源为基础的工业文明，建立以清洁能源为基础的全新工业架构存在巨大挑战。关键问题在于可再生能源的物质转化与能量利用的理论极限未知，与之相匹配的工业流程仍不明晰。基于“绿电引入后工业过程热的缺失”问题，本文从“系统—环境”、“热—电”及“效率—速率”三个方面提出热力学视角下的碳中和三问，利用能够描述过程理论极限的热力学方法剖析碳中和问题；并尝试思考基于绿电转换器、光电化学工程、膜分离及热泵等再电气化手段的化学工业流程再造蓝图，以期为理解和布局碳中和所需颠覆性技术提供化工新视角。

关键词: 碳中和, 可再生能源, 绿电, 热力学, 再电气化, 工业流程再造