CN102308028A - Device and method for producing combustible gas from carbonaceous matter and water - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for producing combustible gas from carbonaceous matter and water. The apparatus comprises an electrolytic vessel comprising at least one electrolytic cell, wherein the electrolytic cell has at least one cathode compartment for containing conductive carbonaceous matter, the cathode compartment comprises at least one cathode and a first vent for collecting and removing combustible gases; at least one anode chamber for containing water, said anode chamber including at least one anode and a second vent for collecting and removing gaseous by-products; at least one a separator for separating the cathode chamber and the anode chamber and allowing passage of ionic substances and water molecules; and a device for applying a direct current between the cathode chamber and the anode chamber to cause electrolysis to occur .

Description

Device and method for producing combustible gas from carbonaceous matter and water

technical field

This invention relates generally to electrolytic processes capable of producing combustible gases, and more particularly to apparatus and methods for the electrolytic production of combustible gases from carbonaceous materials at substantially normal temperature and pressure.

Background of the invention

In the conventional process of coal gasification, the coal needs to be wet ground to a size of about 100 microns before it is mixed with water to form a coal-water slurry. The coal-water slurry is fed into the gasifier along with oxygen or air. Gasification is carried out at slagging temperature (typically about 1400° C.) and 30 atm, where oxygen is insufficient to burn the coal. As a result, the main products obtained are hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Syngas, also known as "water gas", finds a wide range of applications, from domestic heating sources to powering cars and other types of vehicles as well as various industrial uses, such as for the production of synthetic natural gas or coal Derived liquid fuels.

There are many problems with this approach. The vessel (also known as furnace or generator) used in this method is very expensive because it must be equipped with lining materials resistant to high temperature and high pressure. Most importantly, however, the water gas thus produced contains a large amount of impurities, including CO ₂ , N ₂ and O ₂ , which are disadvantageous from the standpoint of safe and efficient combustion. Oxygen is particularly undesirable because it can cause combustible gases that would otherwise have no oxygen from the air or an external source to burn due to the presence of impurity oxygen, making handling and storage of the gas hazardous. In addition, in the above method, the efficiency is low because a large amount of heat source generated from coal or coke is wasted.

Considering the above problems, many methods have been proposed in recent decades. US Patent No. 4226683 is the first to disclose the operation of an electrolyzer containing coal or carbon powder and water to produce hydrogen at normal temperature and pressure. But this method still produces the main impurity: carbon dioxide; moreover, because an inert dielectric liquid is involved, the subsequent gas separation process is very complicated.

U.S. Patent No. 4302320 discloses a variety of devices for producing water gas from carbon and water by electrolysis, wherein carbon and water undergo electrochemical reactions in the presence of solutes such as sulfuric acid to obtain clean water gas, but the products produced by this method still exist A small amount of impurities.

In another U.S. Patent No. 4670113, a gasification process for the integrated gasification and liquefaction of carbonaceous materials in an electrolytic cell is used in which atomic hydrogen produced is used to activate discrete water molecules and A chemical reaction between carbons whereby gasification takes place without a high energy supply. Generally, the electrolysis method plays a key role in solving the problem of supplying high energy in the prior art, but the problem of impurities still exists.

These devices and methods achieve their respective specific goals and requirements, but these devices and methods suffer from various disadvantages and deficiencies mentioned above. Therefore, there is a need for a new device capable of producing combustible gas at normal temperature and pressure but substantially free of impurities.

Contents of the invention

The purpose of the present invention is to realize the above-mentioned needs, and its main purpose is to provide a kind of device that produces combustible gas from carbonaceous matter and water under normal temperature and pressure but basically free of impurities.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plant for the production of combustible gases from carbonaceous substances and water which is more economical and easier to operate than prior art plants.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing combustible gas from carbonaceous matter and water at normal temperature and pressure but substantially free of impurities.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by providing an apparatus for producing combustible gases from carbonaceous matter and water, said apparatus comprising an electrolytic vessel comprising at least one electrolytic cell, wherein said electrolytic The slot has:

at least one cathode chamber for containing an electrically conductive carbonaceous material, said cathode chamber comprising at least one cathode and a first vent for collecting and removing combustible gases;

at least one anode compartment for containing water, said anode compartment comprising at least one anode and a second vent for collecting and removing gaseous by-products;

at least one separator for separating the cathode compartment from the anode compartment and allowing the passage of ionic species and water molecules; and

A device in which a direct current is applied between the cathode chamber and the anode chamber to cause electrolysis to occur.

According to the present invention, the combustible gas includes a mixed gas of CO, H ₂ and C _x H _y O _z , wherein x is an integer from 0 to 9, y is an integer from 0 to 20, and z is an integer from 0 to 3.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the electrolytic container includes an electrolytic cell, wherein the electrolytic cell has a cathode chamber and an anode chamber, and the cathode chamber and the anode chamber are arranged vertically or horizontally.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the electrolytic container comprises an electrolytic cell, wherein the electrolytic cell has a cathode chamber and an anode chamber, and the cathode chamber and the anode chamber are separated by two partitions separated.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the electrolytic container includes two electrolytic cells, wherein the two electrolytic cells are arranged side by side, and the cathode chambers and the anode chambers are arranged alternately.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the anode chamber further accommodates conductive porous elements to increase the conductivity of the electrode chamber. According to the present invention, the conductive porous element is selected from carbonaceous substances, perforated metals, expanded metals and metal foams. The conductive porous elements may be arranged as an electrode stack, and the conductive porous elements are close to each other and maintain electrical contact.

Preferably, the cathode chamber has a first outlet for liquid product and the anode chamber has a second outlet for liquid by-product. Preferably, the carbonaceous material is moist or moist.

According to the present invention, the carbonaceous substance is selected from carbon, coal, cinder, activated carbon, activated carbon, charcoal and graphite.

The carbonaceous substance can be powder, porous particle or mesh, and is arranged as an electrode stack.

The invention also relates to a method for producing combustible gases from carbonaceous substances and water, said method comprising the steps of:

An electrolytic vessel is provided comprising at least one electrolytic cell, wherein the electrolytic cell has:

at least one cathode chamber for containing an electrically conductive carbonaceous material, said cathode chamber comprising at least one cathode and a first vent for collecting and removing combustible gases;

at least one anode compartment for containing water, the anode compartment comprising at least one anode and a second vent for collecting and removing gaseous by-products; and

at least one separator for separating the cathode compartment from the anode compartment and allowing the passage of ionic species and water molecules;

feeding water into the anode compartment and adding a conductive carbonaceous material to the cathode compartment; and

A direct current is applied between the cathode chamber and the anode chamber to cause electrolysis to occur.

Preferably, the ratio of the added amount of the carbon-containing substance to water is 10:1 to 1:1.

Compared with the existing devices and methods in the prior art, the device and method of the present invention directly electrolyze carbonaceous substances, and one or more partitions are arranged between the cathode chamber and the anode chamber, so it can be used at normal temperature and pressure. conduct. Direct electrolysis of carbonaceous substances makes the anode chamber acidic and the cathode chamber alkaline, which is extremely beneficial to the synthesis of combustible gases. At the same time, pure combustible gas can be obtained in the cathode chamber by using the separator. Therefore, the device and method for producing pure combustible gas of the present invention are simple in structure and low in cost.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be made to the following description of the present invention and its embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for producing combustible gas constructed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A to 2C are schematic views showing some examples of electrolytic containers used in the present invention.

In the various figures of the drawings, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Detailed ways

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein by way of illustration, the device of the invention can be made in many different configurations, sizes and shapes from a variety of materials.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates an apparatus for producing combustible gases constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. For clarity, the apparatus of this example includes an electrolytic vessel with one electrolytic cell 100 . The electrolytic cell 100 includes a cathode chamber 10 , an anode chamber 20 and a separator 30 disposed between the cathode chamber 10 and the anode chamber 20 . The electrolysis cell 100 can be of any size, shape and configuration. In this embodiment, the electrolytic cell 100 is made of steel material and is roughly rectangular. The electrolytic cell 100 is divided into two equal halves, a cathodic compartment 10 and an anode compartment, separated by a separator 30 .

The top of the cathode chamber 10 has a first vent 11 and the bottom has a first outlet 12 . The first vent 11 is used to collect and discharge combustible gas C _x H _y O _z to be generated, where x is an integer from 0 to 9, y is an integer from 0 to 20, and z is an integer from 0 to 3. The first outlet 12 is used to discharge liquid organic by-products, such as methanol. A cathode 13 is placed vertically within a cathode chamber 10 which also contains a carbonaceous material 14 which may be arranged in a stack before electrolysis takes place. According to the present invention, examples of carbonaceous substances are selected from carbon, coal, cinder, activated carbon, activated carbon, charcoal, graphite and the like. The carbonaceous material can be powder, porous particles or nets and the like. Preferably, the carbonaceous mass is moist or wet, alternatively the pores of the carbonaceous mass are filled with water. Wetting is beneficial to the electrolysis process. This example uses moist cinders.

The top of the anode chamber 20 has a second vent 21 and the bottom has a second outlet 22 . . The second vent 21 is used to collect and discharge the gaseous by-product C _x H _y to be produced, wherein x is an integer from 0 to 9, and y is an integer from 0 to 20. The second outlet 22 is used to discharge the liquid by-product, which is a mixture of organic acid and water. An anode 23 is placed vertically in the anode chamber 20, which is also filled with water 25 and conductive porous elements 24 scattered and immersed in the water. The porous elements 24, like the carbonaceous material, may be arranged in a stack, preferably the porous elements 24 are in close proximity to each other and are in electrical contact. Conductive porous elements 24 can be used to increase the conductivity of the anode compartment. According to the invention, examples of porous elements 24 having electrical conductivity are selected from carbonaceous substances, perforated metals, expanded metals and metal foams. The porous element 24 used in this example is coke.

The cathode and anode can be made of electrically conductive materials. Typically, cathodes and anodes are made of titanium, platinum, palladium, iron, nickel, copper, zinc, and alloys thereof. Cathodes and anodes can also be fabricated from non-metallic materials such as graphite. Furthermore, these electrodes can be in various forms, such as circular or flat or mesh plates.

The separator 30 is made of a material that allows passage of ionic species and/or water molecules. An example of separator 30 is an ion exchange membrane. According to the present invention, the separator 30 may comprise a single layer or a multilayer film.

A direct current is applied between the cathode 13 and the anode 23 so that the electrolysis process takes place. The DC current can be changed according to different actual requirements. For example, the voltage of the direct current may be 0 to 48V. Because the cathode chamber contains wet cinders, the electrolysis process directly electrolyzes the wet cinders. A separator 30 is provided between the cathode chamber 10 and the anode chamber 20 , the carbon atoms are activated, the carbon atoms in the anode chamber 20 are positively charged, and the carbon atoms in the cathode chamber 10 are negatively charged. Because opposite charges attract each other, these charged carbon atoms migrate to the opposite electrode compartment respectively. At this time, carbon atoms act as conductors and carbon suppliers, and react with water. The separator 30 of the present invention creates a certain potential difference, thus allowing the reaction to take place in the two electrode chambers.

The main reactions of C ⁺ and H ⁺ migrated from the anode compartment in the cathode compartment 10 are as follows:

H ₂ O→H ^* +OH ^-

H ^* +H ^* → _H2

C ^* +H ⁺ →C _x H _y

C ⁺ +H ^* → C _x H _y

C ^* +O ^* →CO

C ⁺ +H ^* +OH ^- →C _x H _y O _z

wherein x is an integer of 0 to 9, y is an integer of 0 to 20, and z is an integer of 0 to 3. H ^* and C ^* represent the states of the atoms.

The main reactions of the anode compartment 20 are as follows:

H ₂ O→2H ⁺ +O ^*

C ⁺ + O ^* → CO

CO+O ^* →CO ₂

C ^* +H ⁺ →C _x H _y

Wherein x is an integer from 0 to 9, and y is an integer from 0 to 20.

It should be understood that H ^* and O ^* are intermediate products whose activity is between the ionic state and the radical state.

The above-described reactions taking place within the cathode chamber 10 produce a pure combustible gas consisting essentially of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and hydrogen. These pure combustible gases can be widely used in different fields without further purification. Pure combustible gas escapes from the vent 11 of the cathode chamber 10 and is collected. At the same time, liquid organic matter such as methanol is obtained, which is collected through outlet 12.

Similarly, the above-described reactions occurring within the anode chamber 20 produce gaseous by-products such as carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons. Gaseous by-products escape from the vent 21 of the anode compartment 20 and are collected. At the same time, a liquid by-product is obtained, which is collected through outlet 22 and consists mainly of a mixture of organic acids and water.

As an alternative to the electrolytic container of this embodiment, FIGS. 2A to 2C show some examples of electrolytic containers used in the present invention. In FIG. 2A, the electrolytic container comprises an electrolytic cell. The difference between this container and the electrolytic container described in the above embodiments is that the cathode chamber and the anode chamber are separated by two spaced partitions.

The difference between the electrolytic container shown in FIG. 2B and the electrolytic container described in the above embodiments is that both the cathode and the anode are arranged horizontally. The electrolytic vessel in Figure 2B is capable of producing combustible gas at a faster rate, but the combustible gas produced contains carbon dioxide and requires further purification.

The electrolytic vessel shown in FIG. 2C includes two electrolytic cells arranged side by side. The cathode compartments and anode compartments of the two electrolytic cells are arranged alternately. In the electrolytic vessel, ions in the adjacent anode and cathode compartments can migrate through the partition between them, so that the main reaction takes place in each cathode and each anode compartment. Apparently, this allows the production of combustible gases on a large scale.

Example

This embodiment adopts the device shown in FIG. 1 . 25 liters of water and 10 kg of coke are housed in the anode chamber 20 as a conductive porous element. 30kg of coke is installed in the cathode chamber 10 . A 30V, 11A direct current is applied between the cathode and the anode, that is, a 30V, 11A direct current is applied between the coke in the cathode chamber 10 and the water in the anode chamber 20 . The result of applying a direct current is direct electrolysis of coke and water. The above main reactions take place in the cathodic and anode compartments, resulting in combustible gases at a rate of 20 L/hour.

According to this embodiment, the invention has the advantage of consuming very small amounts of water and coke, sometimes not even measurable. This suggests that the energy consumption to produce the combustible gas is much less than that required by prior art devices and methods.

As mentioned above, the device of the present invention has a simple structure and can produce pure combustible gas at normal temperature and pressure with only a small energy consumption. The produced combustible gas is pure enough to be used as fuel without further purification.

Although the embodiments described herein are presented as exemplary arrangements, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make many other improvements and modifications according to conventional techniques without departing from the scope of the present invention, but these improvements and modifications should fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (29)

1. device by carbonaceous material and aquatic product inflammable gas, said device comprises electrolytic vessel, and said electrolytic vessel comprises at least one electrolyzer, and wherein said electrolyzer has:

At least one is used for ccontaining cathode compartment with carbonaceous material of electroconductibility, and said cathode compartment comprises at least one negative electrode and first ventage that is used to collect and drain inflammable gas;

At least one is used for the anolyte compartment of ccontaining water, and said anolyte compartment comprises at least one anode and second ventage that is used to collect and drain gaseous by-product;

At least one dividing plate, said dividing plate are used to separate said cathode compartment and said anolyte compartment and allow ionic species and water molecules passes through; And

Between said cathode compartment and said anolyte compartment, apply the device of galvanic current to cause that electrolysis takes place.

2. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inflammable gas comprises CO, H ₂And C _xH _yO _zMixed gas, wherein x is 0 to 9 integer, y is 0 to 20 integer, and z is 0 to 3 integer.

3. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrolytic vessel comprise an electrolyzer, and said electrolyzer has a cathode compartment and an anolyte compartment, and said cathode compartment and said anolyte compartment are vertically or the horizontal direction setting.

4. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrolytic vessel comprise an electrolyzer, and said electrolyzer has a cathode compartment and an anolyte compartment, and said cathode compartment and said anolyte compartment are separated by two dividing plates that separate.

5. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrolytic vessel comprise two electrolyzers, and said two electrolyzers are arranged side by side, and alternately arrange said cathode compartment and said anolyte compartment.

6. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cathode compartment have first outlet of expel liquid product.

7. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said anolyte compartment has second outlet of expel liquid by product.

8. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carbonaceous material is selected from carbon, coal, cinder, gac, activated carbon, charcoal and graphite.

9. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carbonaceous material are powder, small porous particle or reticulation.

10. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carbonaceous material is set to electrode stack.

11. device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carbonaceous material are humidity or moistening.

12. device as claimed in claim 1, the also ccontaining porous element in wherein said anolyte compartment with electroconductibility.

13. device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said porous element with electroconductibility is selected from carbonaceous material, perforated metal, drawn metal and metal foam.

14. device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said porous element with electroconductibility is set to electrode stack.

15. device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said porous element with electroconductibility is adjacent to each other and keep electrically contacting.

16. the method by carbonaceous material and aquatic product inflammable gas said method comprising the steps of:

Electrolytic vessel is provided, and said electrolytic vessel comprises at least one electrolyzer, and wherein said electrolyzer has:

At least one is used for ccontaining cathode compartment with carbonaceous material of electroconductibility, and said cathode compartment comprises at least one negative electrode and first ventage that is used to collect and drain inflammable gas;

At least one dividing plate, said dividing plate are used to separate said cathode compartment and said anolyte compartment and allow ionic species and water molecules passes through; And

At least one dividing plate, said dividing plate are used to separate said cathode compartment and said anolyte compartment and allow ionic species and water molecules passes through;

Import water to said anolyte compartment, and add carbonaceous material with electroconductibility to said cathode compartment; And

Between said cathode compartment and said anolyte compartment, applying galvanic current takes place to cause electrolysis.

17. method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said inflammable gas comprises CO, H ₂And C _xH _yO _zMixed gas, wherein x is 0 to 9 integer, y is 0 to 20 integer, and z is 0 to 3 integer.

18. method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said electrolytic vessel comprise an electrolyzer, said electrolyzer has a cathode compartment and an anolyte compartment, and said cathode compartment and said anolyte compartment are vertically or the horizontal direction setting.

19. method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said electrolytic vessel comprise an electrolyzer, said electrolyzer has a cathode compartment and an anolyte compartment, and said cathode compartment and said anolyte compartment are separated by two dividing plates that separate.

20. method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said electrolytic vessel comprise two electrolyzers, said two electrolyzers are arranged side by side, and alternately arrange said cathode compartment and said anolyte compartment.

21. method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said carbonaceous material is selected from carbon, coal, cinder, gac, activated carbon, charcoal and graphite.

22. method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said carbonaceous material are powder, small porous particle or reticulation.

23. method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said carbonaceous material is set to electrode stack.

24. method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said carbonaceous material are humidity or moistening.

25. method as claimed in claim 16, the also ccontaining porous element in wherein said anolyte compartment with electroconductibility.

26. device as claimed in claim 25, wherein said porous element with electroconductibility is selected from carbonaceous material, perforated metal, drawn metal and metal foam.

27. device as claimed in claim 25, wherein said porous element with electroconductibility is set to electrode stack.

28. device as claimed in claim 25, wherein said porous element with electroconductibility is adjacent to each other and keep electrically contacting.

29. device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said carbonaceous material is 10: 1 to 1: 1 with the ratio of the add-on of water.

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