WO2016092578A1

WO2016092578A1 - Device for producing hydrogen

Info

Publication number: WO2016092578A1
Application number: PCT/IT2015/000298
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vito Lavanga; Stefano FARNE'
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-12-09
Filing date: 2015-12-09
Publication date: 2016-06-16
Anticipated expiration: 2017-06-09

Abstract

This invention relates to a device for extracting, produce and convert into electric energy the hydrogen dissolved in a liquid mixture. Said device (A, B) is of the type able to produce hydrogen through the use of bacteria and it is characterized in that it includes: • a first manifold (1), in which a flow (F1) of said liquid mixture runs into; • a second manifold (2), from which a flow (F2) of said liquid mixture comes out; • one or more pipes (3) fitted to hydraulically connect said first (1) and second (2) manifold, so that said liquid mixture flows from said first manifold (1) to said second manifold (2); wherein the walls (3a) of said one or more pipes (3) include: • a first layer (31), made of metallic material, fitted to receive the bacterial consortia, said first layer (31) being electrically connected to a first terminal (7), that constitutes the anode of said device (A, B); • a second layer (32), including a proton exchange membrane (PEM - Proton Exchange Membrane), said membrane (32) having characteristics of solidity and water-tightness adequate to ensure the containment of said liquid mixture; • a third layer (33), made of metallic material, electrically connected to a second terminal (9) that constitutes the cathode of said device (A, B); the dissolved hydrogen oxidizing and giving electrons to said first metallic layer (31), that is negatively charged, and the residual protons diffusing through said PEM membrane, that constitutes said second layer (32) and spreading to the outside of said pipes (3).

Description

DEVICE FOR PRODUCING HYDROGEN

DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to a device to extract, to produce and to convert into electric energy the hydrogen dissolved in a liquid mixture.

It is strongly felt the need to have systems of general recovery of energy through the hydrogen vector, better if by distributed processes (in particular from urban and suburb territories) and related to the solution of other latent problems (wastes, with particular reference to the "wet" part), in particular when this is detrimental to other processes, which the methanogenesis in anaerobic digesters. This problem is faced by resorting, usually at environmental conditions suitable for the development of a bacterial consortium additional and capable to absorb hydrogen that determines small productions of methane. This determine significant problems of balances to be managed for chemical-physical conditions of the fluid on which you are working. This invention constitutes an innovation with respect to the current state of the art, allowing to overcome these problems in a simple and economical way.

In summary, in the current state it is not possible to convert the hydrogen dissolved in the liquid phase and at the same time to implement its production and consequently the correlated electric energy.

The object of this invention is to propose a device in accordance with claim 1 , to extract, to produce and to convert into electric energy the hydrogen dissolved in a liquid mixture. Said device is of the type able to produce hydrogen through the use of bacteria and it is characterized in that it includes:

• a first manifold, in which a flow of said liquid mixture enters;

• a second manifold, from which a flow of said liquid mixture comes out;

• one or more pipes fitted to hydraulically connect said first and second manifold, so that said liquid mixture flows from said first manifold to said second manifold; wherein the walls of said one or more pipes include:

• a first layer of metallic material, fitted to receive the bacterial consortia, said first layer being electrically connected to a first terminal, which constitutes the anode of said device;

• a second layer, including a proton exchange membrane (PEM - Proton Exchange Membrane), said membrane having characteristics of solidity and water-tightness sufficient to ensure the containment of said liquid mixture;

• a third layer of metallic material, electrically connected to a second terminal that constitutes the cathode of said device;

the dissolved hydrogen oxidizing and giving electrons to said first metallic layer, that is negatively charged, and the residual protons spreading through said PEM membrane and spreading to the outside of said pipes (3).

Other characteristics, such as for example to arrange the device in a watertight container and to activate it in steady state (Microbial Electrolsys Cell), to produce molecular hydrogen for later use or to activate the device using radiative spectrum fitted to the opposition of existing pathologies, will be the subject of the dependent claims.

The use of a device according to the invention allows, for example,:

• to extract the hydrogen dissolved in a liquid mass and to convert it into electric energy, during the hydrolytic and acidogenesis phase of the anaerobic digestion;

• extract the hydrogen dissolved in a liquid mass and to convert it into electric energy, during the phase of microalgae crops;

• to fight the onset of pathologies in a liquid mass through a fitted radiative spectrum, in depurative processes.

The invention will now be described for illustrative and not limitative purpose, according to a preferred embodiment and with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:

- Figure 1 shows a device according to the invention;

- Figure 2 shows a variant of the device according to the invention, to take the extracted hydrogen.

With reference to fig. 1 with (A) it is indicated a device according to the invention, to extract and produce hydrogen from aqueous fluids and convert it into electric energy. Said device (A) is a fuel cell which is fitted to produce electric energy.

According to a preferred embodiment, said device (A) comprises a first manifold (1) and a second manifold (2) connected between them by a plurality of pipes (3), whose structure will be specified later on. Furthermore at least the first manifold (1) is preferably made of conductive material, since it will have to conduct electricity, as it will be specified in what follows.

The aqueous fluid in treatment, represented by the arrow (F1), runs into the first manifold (1) through a first pipe (4) and passing through the pipes (3), runs into the second manifold (2), from which it exits through a second pipe (5), the outlet flow being represented by the arrow (F2). In order to level out the flows in the pipes (3), said second pipe (5) extends in depth into the second manifold (2), realizing an attitude of reverse return.

In each of said pipes (3) are preferably present means fitted to spread a radiative spectrum including frequencies that are useful to the treatment of the aqueous fluid. Said means include, for example, a device (6) that makes use of side emitting optical fibers conforms to Italian patent application no. MI2014A002102 in the name of the same applicants.

Said optical fibers device (6) is able to broadcast frequencies, possibly taken from solar radiation, able to favour the biological reactions (red and of blue frequencies and InfraRed) and to fight the proliferation of bacteria and harmful viruses (UV frequencies).

The device (6) includes a diffuser (6a), made with side emitting optical fibers, that broadcast the radiation into the fluid in treatment and a part (6b), consisting of point-to-point optical fibers, which leads the signal from the generator to said diffuser (6a).

In the enlarged detail of fig. 1 it is shown the composition of the wall (3a) of one of the pipes (3). Starting from the inside of the pipe (3), said wall (3a) includes:

^• a first layer (31), made of metallic material and constituted for example by a stretched sheet, on which any bacterial consortia will be settled, said first layer (31) being electrically connected to said first hydraulic manifold (1), that constitutes the anode of a fuel cell (A);

• a second layer (32), including a proton exchange membrane (PEM - Proton Exchange Membrane), said membrane (32) having characteristics of solidity and water-tightness sufficient to ensure the containment of the fluid;

• a third layer (33), made of metallic material and constituted for example by a stretched sheet, electrically connected, by means of a metal bar (8) to the corresponding layers of the other pipes (3) that constitutes the cathode (9) of the fuel cell (A).

The device (A) has two modes of operation.

According to a first mode, in which there are specific bacteria on the first inner layer (31) of the wall (3a) of the pipes (3), the device (A) operates as a hydrogen (produced by bacteria) generator and as a hydrogen (obtained by electrolysis from the aqueous fluid in treatment) puller.

According to a second mode (not shown), in which said bacteria are not present, the device (A) only works as hydrogen (obtained by electrolysis from aqueous fluid in treatment) puller. In this case it is not necessary the presence of the optical fiber devices (6).

In case of operation according to said first mode, the bacteria present in the first layer (31) are stressed to the hydrogen release by the radiation coming from the diffusers (6a) placed inside the pipes (3). In practice the dissolved hydrogen oxidizes giving electrons to the first metal layer (31), which therefore is negatively charged and constitutes the anode of a fuel cell (A). The residual protons spread through the membrane PEM, which constitutes the second layer (32), and recombine outside with the oxygen of the air that will be reduced on the cathode that is constituted by the outside third metallic layer (33).

According to the described embodiment, the inner metallic layers (31) are electrically connected with the first and the second manifold (1 , 2), made of metal, while the external layers (33), made of metal too, are connected one each other by the metal bar (8). By the described electrical connections, it will be possible to obtain a potential difference between the terminals (7) and (9), from which it will be possible to take a direct current.

The passage of said current through a user device allows to close the circuit and this allows the cathode to favour the combination of hydrogen with oxygen, supporting the reaction.

During the transit through the device (A), the hydrogen content in the treated fluid it is reduced, said reduction being as greater than greater is the permanence time in the device (A). If it is desired to obtain a reduction a very high of the hydrogen content, the treatment can be repeated several times. This can be obtained by taking the fluid to be treated by means of taking and release, both targeted (through specific positioning of submersible pumps) and its delivery to the pipes (3). The substrate, depleted of hydrogen, then returns in the body of origin from which it is enriched again by the dilution of the original substrate and it is recycled, until the substrate reaches a preset load of hydrogen.

In fig. 2 it is shown a variant (B) of the invention, said variant (B) being fitted to produce molecular hydrogen. Said purpose is simply achieved by inserting the device (A) into a container (40), so as to avoid the contact with the air. In this way the protons, that spread through the membrane PEM, which constitutes the second layers (32) of the walls of the pipes (3), does not react with the oxygen and then will be reduced to diatomic hydrogen, which will be able to be taken through an outlet pipe (41). The described reaction is made possible by closing the circuit between the terminals (7) and (9).

The device according to the variant (B), can operate in reverse state, that is by applying suitable potential, it is stressed the specific permanent bacterial consortium, present on the first inner layer (31), to release hydrogen that is oxidized by the effect of said electrical potential, producing protons, which diffuse through the PEM of the second intermediate layer (32) and that, on the third external layer (33), will be reduced to diatomic hydrogen, said reduction reaction occurring in the absence of oxygen.

In the case in which, for chemical or biological needs, it is necessary to reiterate or intensify the treatment of fluids, apart from the processes of efficiency in H2, the device (B) will be able to operate as an electrolytic cell, producing gaseous hydrogen on the cathode, that is in correspondence of the third outer layers (33). This is achieved by applying a potential difference to terminals (7) and (9) that causes a passage of direct current into the organic matrix in treatment inside the device (B).

The invention has been described for illustrative and not limitative purpose, according to two preferred embodiments. The person skilled in the art could devise several other embodiments, all included within the scope of protection of the enclosed claims.

Claims

1. Device (A, B) to extract the hydrogen dissolved in a liquid mixture and to produce hydrogen by the use of bacteria, characterized in that it comprises:

• a first manifold (1), in which a flow (F1) of said liquid mixture runs into;

• a second manifold (2), from which a flow (F2) of said liquid mixture exits;

• one or more pipes (3) fitted to hydraulically connect said first manifold (1) and second manifold (2), so that said liquid mixture flows from said first manifold (1) to said second manifold (2);

wherein the walls (3a) of said one or more pipes (3) include:

• a first layer (31), made of metallic material, fitted to receive the bacterial consortia, said first layer (31) being electrically connected to a first terminal (7), that constitutes the anode of said device (A, B);

• a second layer (32), including a proton exchange membrane (PEM - Proton Exchange Membrane), said membrane (32) having characteristics of solidity and water-tightness adequate to ensure the containment of said liquid mixture;

• a third layer (33), made of metallic material, electrically connected to a second terminal (9) that constitutes the cathode of said device (A, B); the dissolved hydrogen oxidizing and giving electrons to said first metallic layer (31), that is negatively charged, and the residual protons diffusing through said PEM membrane, that constitutes said second layer (32) and spreading to the outside of said pipes (3).

2. Device (A, B), according to claim 1, characterized in that said liquid mixture runs into said first manifold (1) through a first pipe (4) and comes out from said second manifold through a second pipe (5), said second pipe (5), extending in depth in said second manifold (2), realizing an attitude of reverse return and leveling the flows in said ducts (3).

3. Device (A, B), according to claim 1 , characterized in that it includes means designed to spread a radiation spectrum in said liquid mixture, said spectrum including frequencies fitted to favour the biological reactions and/or to fight the proliferation of bacteria and harmful viruses.

4. Device (A, B), according to claim 3, characterized in that said means adapted to spread a radiation spectrum in said liquid mixture include a d iff user (6a), realized with side emitting optical fibers.

5. Device (A, B), according to at least one of claims from 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one of said manifolds (1 , 2) is made of metallic material.

6. Device (A, B), according to claim 5, characterized in that said manifold (1 or 2) made of metallic material is electrically connected with said first terminal (7) and said first inner layer (31) of said wall (3a) of said one or more pipes (3).

7. Device (A, B), according to claim 1 , characterized in that it has a metal bar (8) fitted to electrically connect said second terminal (9) with said third layer

(33) of said wall (3a) of said one or more pipes (3).

8. Device (A, B), according to claim 1 , characterized in that said first layer (31) and said third layer (33) of the wall (3a) of said one or more pipes (3), are made of stretched sheet.

9. Device (A), according to at least one of the claims from 1 to 8, characterized in that it includes means fitted to produce an electric current through a reaction with oxygen of said residual protons which, through said PEM membrane, diffuse to the outside of said pipes (3).

10. Device (A), according to claim 9, characterized in that said means fitted to produce an electric current by a reaction with oxygen of said residual protons, include:

• a connection of said metal internal layers (31) of said walls (3a) with a first terminal (7);

• a connection of said metal external layers (33) of said walls (3a) with a second terminal (9);

in such a way that the flowing of a direct current, obtained by connecting a user device to said first terminal (7) and second terminal (9), allows to close the circuit, promoting the combination of the hydrogen with the oxygen.

11. Device (B), according to at least one of the claims from 1 to 8, characterized in that it provides a container (40), fitted to contain said device

(A), so as to avoid the contact with the air of the protons that come out from said pipes (3) in such a way that said protons, not reacting with the oxygen, reduced to molecular hydrogen.