Simulation study of thermal management system of alkaline water electrolysis device for hydrogen production

doi:10.11949/0438-1157.20221598

Abstract

Abstract:

Renewable energy power generation coupling alkaline water electrolysis for hydrogen production technology is one of the ideal ways to product green hydrogen, however, which is limited probably due to the volatility of electrolytic power that affects the stability of the operating temperature of the electrolytic cell, which influences the electrolytic efficiency. For the problem mentioned, this paper constructs a thermal management system of alkaline water electrolysis device for hydrogen production based on the design of an absorption heat transformer. Through the analysis of the operating parameters of the absorption heat transformer under different condensing temperatures, the characteristics of best operating performance are summarized. Through the analysis of the operating condition under different loads, as the heat released from the electrolytic cell drops from 32.28 kW to 25.08 kW, the recovery heat serving users decreases from 8.31 kW to 4.17 kW and the total cooling consumption of the system decreases by 44.55% when the temperature of the regurgitant lye increases from 58℃ to 70℃. The results above show that the system effectively regulates the operating temperature of electrolytic cell, at the same time decreases the cooling consumption and achieves heat recovery, which improves the comprehensive energy utilization efficiency.

Key words: alkaline water electrolysis for hydrogen production, absorption heat transformer, heat recovery, thermal management, simulation study

摘要：

可再生能源发电耦合碱性电解水制氢是制取绿氢的理想技术路线之一，但是发电功率的波动性、间歇性影响着电解槽温度的稳定，影响制氢效率，因此构建了基于吸收式热泵的碱性电解水制氢热管理系统。通过分析不同冷凝温度下热泵运行参数，总结最优性能的工况特点。对不同负荷工况分析可得，随着电解槽散热负荷从32.28 kW降到25.08 kW，系统中回流碱液的温度由58℃升至70℃，热用户所得回收热从8.31 kW降至4.17 kW，同时总耗冷量降低44.55%。以上结果表明，所构建的碱性电解水制氢热管理系统有效调节电解槽的工作温度要求，可降低制冷能耗并回收热能，提升综合能源利用效率。

关键词: 碱性电解水制氢, 吸收式热泵, 热回收, 热管理, 仿真研究

CLC Number:

TK-9

Congqi HUANG, Yimei WU, Jianye CHEN, Shuangquan SHAO. Simulation study of thermal management system of alkaline water electrolysis device for hydrogen production[J]. CIESC Journal, 2023, 74(S1): 320-328.

黄琮琪, 吴一梅, 陈建业, 邵双全. 碱性电解水制氢装置热管理系统仿真研究[J]. 化工学报, 2023, 74(S1): 320-328.

Figures/Tables 14

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工作参数	设计值	取值
氢气产量/(m³/h)	10	10
氧气产量/(m³/h)	5	5
KOH碱液质量分数/%	26~30	28
KOH碱液工作温度/℃	85~90	85
KOH碱液槽内碱液量/L	160	160
KOH碱液碱液循环量/(m³/h)	0.45~0.65	0.6
纯水耗量/(kg/h)	10	10
冷却水温度/℃	≤32	≤32
空气环境温度/℃	0~45	25
氢气出口温度/℃	≤40	—
电解功率范围/%	15~110	—
电解耗电量/(kWh/m³ H₂)	≤4.8	—

工作参数	设计值	取值
氢气产量/(m³/h)	10	10
氧气产量/(m³/h)	5	5
KOH碱液质量分数/%	26~30	28
KOH碱液工作温度/℃	85~90	85
KOH碱液槽内碱液量/L	160	160
KOH碱液碱液循环量/(m³/h)	0.45~0.65	0.6
纯水耗量/(kg/h)	10	10
冷却水温度/℃	≤32	≤32
空气环境温度/℃	0~45	25
氢气出口温度/℃	≤40	—
电解功率范围/%	15~110	—
电解耗电量/(kWh/m³ H₂)	≤4.8	—

设计参数	符号	设计值
冷却水总温升/℃	t_C2-t_C1	5
冷凝器与冷却水出口的温差/℃	t_R3-t_C2	3
吸收器出口稀溶液温度与吸收温度之差/℃	t_R4-t_U2	5
蒸发器出口驱动热源温度与蒸发温度之差/℃	t_H1-t_R1	3
发生器出口驱动热源温度与发生温度之差/℃	t_H2-t_R7	2.5
吸收器与蒸发器的压差/Pa	P_R1-P_R4	50
发生器与冷凝器的压差/Pa	P_R7-P_R3	50
溴化锂溶液放气范围/%	ΔX	1~6
溴化锂溶液浓度范围/%	X	45~65

设计参数	符号	设计值
冷却水总温升/℃	t_C2-t_C1	5
冷凝器与冷却水出口的温差/℃	t_R3-t_C2	3
吸收器出口稀溶液温度与吸收温度之差/℃	t_R4-t_U2	5
蒸发器出口驱动热源温度与蒸发温度之差/℃	t_H1-t_R1	3
发生器出口驱动热源温度与发生温度之差/℃	t_H2-t_R7	2.5
吸收器与蒸发器的压差/Pa	P_R1-P_R4	50
发生器与冷凝器的压差/Pa	P_R7-P_R3	50
溴化锂溶液放气范围/%	ΔX	1~6
溴化锂溶液浓度范围/%	X	45~65

设计参数	含义	数值	单位
t_sep、t_sep′	气液分离器内工质温度	58^[17]	℃
t_H0、t_H0′	碱液与气混合物的初温	85	℃
Δt_e	回热换热器热端温差	4	℃
t_C	循环水换热器热端温差	3	℃
P_U	循环水网络的压力	0.2	MPa
t_U0	热用户出口循环水温度	55^[35]	℃
t_U2	吸收器出口循环水温度	105	℃
t_C1min	冷凝器冷却水最低初温	10	℃
m_H5/m_H5′	回热换热器1和2的回流碱液的流量比	2	—