RU2230401C2 - Submersible-craft power plant - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: power supplies for submersible craft. SUBSTANCE: proposed power plant has electrochemical generator incorporating oxygen supply line connected to oxygen storage unit; hydrogen supply line; and water drain line connected to water accumulation tank. Newly introduced in power plant are gas-cushion aluminum storage tank and reactor installed in bottom part of tank; alkali solution mixing and feeding unit; concentrated alkali storage tank with inlet and outlet pipe unions; hydrogen outlet line communicating with gas cushion of aluminum storage tank and hydrogen feeding line; alkali solution feeding line communicating with reactor inlet and alkali solution mixing and feeding unit outlet; reaction products outlet line communicating with reactor outlet and with concentrated alkali storage tank inlet; concentrated alkali feeding line communicating with concentrated alkali storage tank outlet and with alkali solution mixing and feeding unit inlet; as well as water feeding line communicating with water accumulating tank outlet and with second inlet of alkali solution mixing and feeding unit; installed in tandem in hydrogen outlet line are hydrogen pressure transducer, adjustable hydrogen feed valve, hydrogen moisture separator, and hydrogen pressure reducer; installed in alkali solution feeding line are alkali solution concentration sensor and adjustable alkali solution feed valve; installed in tandem in reaction products outlet line are reaction products outlet valve, heat-transfer apparatus for cooling reaction products, and adjustable reaction products inlet valve; installed in tandem in water supply line are adjustable pump and adjustable water feed valve; installed in tandem in concentrated alkali supply line are adjustable concentrated alkali feed valve and alkali concentration sensor; hydrogen moisture separator communicates through water accumulating line with second inlet of water accumulating tank. EFFECT: enhanced reliability and fire safety, reduced cost of hydrogen production thereby enhancing safety and reducing cost and start-up time of power plant. 1 cl, 1 dwg

Description

The invention relates to power plants (EU) containing an electrochemical generator (ECG) with hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells, and can be used as part of the electric power system (EPS) of an underwater vehicle (PA).

Known EU PA containing the connected to the ECH ECG with hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells, a cryogenic oxygen storage unit, hydrogen storage devices in intermetallic compounds (IMS), capable of absorbing or emitting hydrogen gas (A.N. Batyrev, V.D. Kosheverov, O.Yu. Leikin, Shipborne Nuclear Power Plants of Foreign Countries, St. Petersburg: Shipbuilding, p. 236, 1994).

The disadvantages of the analogue are the large mass and cost of the integrated circuit. The processes of absorption and evolution of hydrogen proceed, respectively, with the evolution or absorption of heat at a certain temperature and pressure. In the case of placing devices with ICs outside the durable PA case, as was done in the analogue, the task of providing the necessary thermal regime with the help of a coolant is significantly complicated by the dependence of the temperature of the IC on the temperature of the sea water.

The closest in technical essence to the proposed EU is the EA EA containing the ECG connected to the electric power station with hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells and cryogenic hydrogen and oxygen storage units located outside the PA solid hull (A.A. Postnov. Experimental submarine of project 613 electric power station with electrochemical generators, Shipbuilding, 1998, No. 2, p. 28).

The disadvantages of the known installation are: losses during transportation of cryogenic hydrogen over long distances, excessive consumption of hydrogen when filling the cryogenic storage unit. During long-term storage, cryogenic hydrogen is lost and the need arises for the unproductive removal of hydrogen gas.

The limited hydrogen storage time reduces the operational readiness of the PA. In addition, cryogenic hydrogen and oxygen storage units located outside the PA solid housing are fire and explosion hazardous objects and increase the resistance to PA movement.

The objectives of the invention are: reducing the cost of the installation, increasing fire and explosion safety, reducing the time of readiness for operation of the power plant.

The technical result of the use of the invention is the elimination of the need to create complex, expensive thermostating systems of liquid cryogenic hydrogen, the need for long-term storage and the elimination of unauthorized leaks of hydrogen gas in order to ensure fire and explosion safety, reduce the preparation time for the operation of the power plant by reducing the cycle of hydrogen production in the form of a consumed component for ECG.

These problems are solved due to the fact that the following are introduced into the power unit of the underwater vehicle, which contains an electrochemical generator with an oxygen supply line connected to an oxygen storage unit, a hydrogen supply line, and a water drain line connected to a water collection tank: a gas pad and a reactor installed in the lower part of the tank, an alkaline solution mixing and supply unit, a concentrated alkali storage tank with inlet and outlet fittings, a hydrogen outlet line, associated with the gas cushion of the aluminum storage tank and the hydrogen supply line, alkaline solution supply line, connected to the reactor inlet and outlet of the alkaline solution mixing and supply unit, the reaction product exit line associated with the outlet of the reactor and the inlet to the concentrated alkali storage tank , the concentrated alkali supply line connected to the outlet fitting from the concentrated alkali storage tank and the inlet to the alkaline solution mixing and supply unit, the supply line to s connected to the outlet of the water collecting container and a second input of the mixing unit and the supply of alkaline solution, wherein the hydrogen in the line output successively established: hydrogen pressure sensor, regulating valve hydrogen dispensing dehumidifier of hydrogen and hydrogen pressure reducer; in the line for supplying an alkaline solution, the following are sequentially installed: an alkaline solution concentration sensor and a controlled valve for supplying an alkaline solution; The following are successively installed in the reaction product outlet line: a controlled reaction product outlet valve, a reaction product cooling heat exchanger, a controlled reaction product inlet valve; The following are installed in series in the water supply line: an adjustable pump and a controlled water supply valve; The following are successively installed in the concentrated alkali supply line: a controlled concentrated alkali supply valve and a concentrated alkali concentration sensor; and a hydrogen separator is connected by a water collection line to a second inlet of the water collection tank.

The invention is presented in the drawing, showing the diagram of the power plant of the underwater vehicle, where

1 - electrochemical generator (ECG),

2 - line supply of oxygen ECG,

3 - oxygen storage unit,

4 - line drain water

5 - water collection capacity,

6 - adjustable pump,

7 - controlled water supply valve,

8 - water supply line,

9 - block mixing and supplying an alkaline solution,

10 - line supply of concentrated alkali,

11 - storage capacity of concentrated alkali,

12 - fitting outlet from the storage tank of concentrated alkali,

13 - controlled valve supply of concentrated alkali,

14 - sensor concentration of alkali,

15 - sensor concentration of alkaline solution,

16 - controlled valve alkaline solution,

17 - line supply alkaline solution,

18 - reactor

19 - storage capacity of aluminum,

20 - gas cushion,

21 - hydrogen pressure sensor,

22 - a line of hydrogen output,

23 - adjustable valve for the release of hydrogen,

24 - a water separator from hydrogen,

25 is a pressure reducer of hydrogen,

26 - line supply of hydrogen ECG,

27 - highway water collection,

28 - line output of reaction products,

29 - controlled valve output of the reaction products,

30 - heat exchanger cooling the reaction products,

31 - controlled valve inlet of the reaction products,

32 - fitting entry into the storage tank of concentrated alkali.

ECG 1 by an oxygen supply line; ECG 2 is connected to an oxygen storage unit 3. The gas pad 20 of the aluminum storage tank 19 is connected by a hydrogen output line 22 to an ECG hydrogen supply line 26. A hydrogen pressure sensor 21, an adjustable hydrogen release valve 23 are sequentially installed on the hydrogen output line, hydrogen separator 24, hydrogen pressure reducer 25.

The output of the ECG 1 using the drain line 4 is communicated with the first input of the water collection tank 5, the second input of which is connected to the moisture separator from hydrogen 24 line 27.

The exit from the water collecting tank 5 is communicated by the water supply line 8 with the first input of the mixing and supplying alkaline solution unit 9. In the water supply line 8, an adjustable pump 6 and a controlled water supply valve 7 are sequentially installed.

The second entrance to the mixing and feeding unit of alkaline solution 9 through the outlet fitting from the concentrated alkali storage tank 12 is communicated by the concentrated alkali supply line 10 to the outlet from the concentrated alkali storage tank 11. A concentrated alkali supply valve 13 and a sensor are installed in series on the concentrated alkali supply line 10 concentration of concentrated alkali 14.

The output from the mixing and supply unit of alkaline solution 9 is connected by the line of supply of alkaline solution 17 to the inlet to the reactor 18, which is installed in the lower part of the storage tank of aluminum 19. On the supply line of alkaline solution 17, a controllable valve for supplying alkaline solution 16 and a sensor for concentration of alkaline solution are sequentially installed fifteen.

The exit from the reactor 18 is connected with the storage tank of concentrated alkali 11 through the inlet to the storage tank of concentrated alkali 32. A controlled valve for the reaction products 29, a heat exchanger for cooling the reaction products 30, and a controlled valve for entering the products of the reaction 31 are sequentially installed on the output line of the reaction product 28.

The power plant operates as follows.

To ensure the operation of the ECG, it is necessary to supply hydrogen, oxygen and to remove the generated heat and water. Oxygen enters the ECG 1 through the oxygen supply line 2 from the oxygen storage unit 3. Water through the water discharge line 4 enters the water collection tank 5.

To obtain the alkali solution necessary for the reaction, water through an adjustable pump 6 and an open controlled water supply valve 7 enters under high pressure into the water supply line 8. On the concentrated alkali supply line 10 it enters the mixing and supply unit of alkaline solution 9, where High concentration alkali is mixed with water to form an alkali solution necessary for the reaction, for example, 20% concentration. Through the alkaline solution concentration sensor 15, an open controlled valve of the alkaline solution 16, the alkaline solution enters the reactor 18 through the alkaline solution supply line 17. The necessary amount of aluminum enters the reactor 18 from the aluminum storage tank 19 as it is generated. The formation of an alkali solution necessary for carrying out the reaction is achieved in the mixing and supply unit of the alkaline solution 9 by supplying the necessary amount of water, which is determined by the concentration sensor of concentrated alkali 14 and controlled by the concentration sensor of alkaline solution 15. Hydrogen generated in the reactor 18 as a result of the reaction , described in detail in US Pat. No. 4,218,520, enters the ECG 26 hydrogen supply line. The hydrogen pressure is monitored by pressure sensor 21. Through an open, adjustable valve n issuing hydrogen 23 flows into the hydrogen from the hydrogen dehumidifier 24 and the hydrogen pressure regulator 25, and further in ECH 1 via line 26, hydrogen supply ECG.

In ECG 1, as a result of the reaction of the combination of hydrogen entering through line 26 and oxygen entering through line 2, water is formed, which flows through line 4 to the water collecting tank 5. Water accumulated in the moisture separator from hydrogen 24 also flows to the collecting tank water 5 along the water collection line 27.

The reaction products formed in the reactor 18, along the reaction product exit line 28, through the open controlled product outlet valve 29, the reaction product cooling heat exchanger 30, the open controlled product inlet valve 31 and the inlet fitting 32 enter the concentrated alkali storage tank 11, displacing concentrated alkali through the outlet fitting from the storage tank of concentrated alkali 12 into the concentrated alkali supply line 10.

The heat generated in the ECG 1 is removed and disposed of (not shown in the drawing).

The reduction in the readiness for operation of the claimed power plant in comparison with the prototype is due to the fact that refueling with the necessary reaction products to produce hydrogen (granular aluminum and concentrated alkali), as well as draining the reaction products require significantly less time compared to refueling with liquid hydrogen. This is due to the fact that when refueling with liquid hydrogen, it is necessary to rinse the containers for a long time, first with nitrogen to remove air, then with hydrogen. After this, prolonged cooling is required. All this is associated with additional costs of components and readiness for work. Work with liquid hydrogen is associated with increased fire and explosion safety requirements.

The starting components for the production of hydrogen are not fire and explosion hazardous and must be stored safely for a long time.

The reduction in installation costs is due to the fact that the reaction product 2AlNaO ₂ is a valuable industrial raw material. Aluminum hydroxide also has an independent commercial value: it is necessary in the production of plastics and cables, varnishes, paints, glasses, coagulants for the treatment of water, paper, synthetic carpets and linoleums. It is used in the radio engineering and pharmaceutical industries, in the production of all kinds of adsorbents and catalysts, in the manufacture of cosmetics and even jewelry. A lot of artificial gemstones - rubies, sapphires, alexandrites are grown on the basis of aluminum oxide (corundum) with minor impurities of chromium, titanium or beryllium, respectively. This significantly reduces the cost of operating a power plant.

Given the foregoing, the invention allows to obtain hydrogen for the operation of a power plant in a more reliable, cheap and fire and explosion safe manner, which will significantly reduce the cost of operating a power plant, increase fire and explosion safety and reduce the time it takes for a power plant to work.

Claims (1)

An underwater vehicle power plant comprising an electrochemical generator with an oxygen supply line connected to an oxygen storage unit, a hydrogen supply line, and a water drain line connected to a water collection tank, characterized in that an aluminum storage tank with a gas pad and a reactor are introduced therein installed in the lower part of the tank, an alkaline solution mixing and supply unit, a concentrated alkali storage tank with inlet and outlet fittings, a hydrogen outlet line connected with gas cushion of the aluminum storage tank and the hydrogen supply line, alkaline solution supply line connected to the reactor inlet and outlet from the alkaline solution mixing and supply unit, reaction products exit line connected to the reactor outlet and the inlet to the concentrated alkali storage tank, line the supply of concentrated alkali associated with the fitting outlet from the storage tank of concentrated alkali and the entrance to the mixing unit and the supply of alkaline solution; a water supply line connected to the outlet from the water collection tank and the second entrance to the mixing and supply unit of alkaline solution, while a hydrogen pressure sensor, an adjustable hydrogen delivery valve, a hydrogen separator and a hydrogen pressure reducer are sequentially installed in the hydrogen output line in the supply line alkaline solution, a sensor for concentration of alkaline solution and a controlled valve for supplying alkaline solution are installed in series; a controlled valve for the exit of reaction products, a heat exchanger for cooling the reaction products, a controlled valve for the entrance of reaction products, an adjustable pump and a controlled valve for water supply are installed in series in the water supply line, a controlled valve for concentrated alkali supply and a sensor for concentrated alkali concentration are sequentially installed in the mains supply line, and a hydrogen separator is connected by a water collection line to the second inlet of the water collection tank.