WO2025099844A1 - Electrolytic cell system and operation method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrolytic cell system (1) comprises: a plurality of cell stacks (11); a control device (40, 40a); and a power source (30). The plurality of cell stacks (11) generate a generated gas containing hydrogen by electrolyzing a raw material gas containing water. The plurality of cell stacks (11) are electrically connected in parallel. The control device (40, 40a) controls the operation of the plurality of cell stacks (11). The plurality of cell stacks (11) include two or more cell stacks (11) in which the steady power required for steady operation near thermal neutral voltage is mutually different. The control device (40, 40a) suspends the operation of at least one cell stack (11), of the two or more cell stacks (11), in a manner approximate to the amount of decrease in the power supplied from the power source (30).

Description

Electrolysis cell system and method of operating same

The present invention relates to an electrolysis cell system and its operating method.

　Conventionally, electrolysis devices have been known in which multiple cell stacks that electrolyze water to produce hydrogen are connected in series or parallel (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Each cell stack has multiple electrolysis cells.

JP 2015-025149 A

However, if the power supply from the power generation device decreases, each electrolytic cell cannot be operated near the thermal neutral voltage, where heat absorption and heat generation are balanced, and the performance of each electrolytic cell cannot be fully demonstrated.

It is also possible to synthesize organic resources on-site by connecting a reactor that synthesizes the desired organic resources using the product gas produced in each cell stack to the electrolysis device.

However, when the amount of generated gas used in the reactor decreases, the reactor cannot consume all of the generated gas in each cell stack, and so facilities are required to temporarily store the generated gas. Therefore, there are cases where it is necessary to suspend operation of some of the multiple cell stacks as needed.

The objective of the present invention is to provide an electrolysis cell system and an operating method thereof that allow the operation of some of the multiple cell stacks to be suspended.

The electrolysis cell system according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a plurality of cell stacks that generate a product gas containing hydrogen by electrolyzing a feed gas containing water, a control device that controls the operation of the plurality of cell stacks, and a power source that supplies power to the plurality of cell stacks. The plurality of cell stacks are electrically connected in parallel. The control device suspends the operation of one or more of the plurality of cell stacks for which the total steady-state power required for steady-state operation near the thermal neutral voltage is close to the reduction in the power supply from the power source.

The electrolysis cell system according to the second aspect of the present invention relates to the above-mentioned first aspect, and the plurality of cell stacks include two or more cell stacks that require different steady-state power for steady-state operation near the thermal neutral voltage.

The electrolysis cell system according to the third aspect of the present invention comprises a plurality of cell stacks that generate a product gas containing hydrogen by electrolyzing a feed gas containing water, a control device that controls the operation of the plurality of cell stacks, and a reactor that synthesizes a desired organic resource using the product gas generated in the plurality of cell stacks. The control device suspends the operation of one or more of the plurality of cell stacks, the sum of which is generated when the steady-state amount of product gas generated during steady-state operation near the thermal neutral voltage approximates the reduction in the amount of required product gas required in the reactor.

The electrolysis cell system according to the fourth aspect of the present invention relates to the third aspect, and the plurality of cell stacks include two or more cell stacks that have different amounts of steady-state generated gas generated during steady-state operation near the thermal neutral voltage.

The electrolysis cell system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention relates to any one of the first to fourth aspects, and each of the multiple cell stacks is composed of multiple solid oxide electrolysis cells.

The electrolysis cell system according to the sixth aspect of the present invention relates to the fifth aspect described above, and each of the plurality of solid oxide electrolysis cells is a metal-supported electrolysis cell.

The seventh aspect of the present invention relates to an electrolytic cell system according to the fifth or sixth aspect, in which each of the multiple solid oxide electrolytic cells is a co-electrolytic cell.

The method of operating an electrolytic cell system according to the eighth aspect of the present invention is a method of operating an electrolytic cell system according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, and includes the steps of selecting one or more cell stacks from a plurality of solid oxide electrolytic cells, pausing the one or more cell stacks, and operating cell stacks other than the one or more cell stacks.

The present invention provides an electrolysis cell system and an operating method thereof that allow the operation of some of the multiple cell stacks to be suspended.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an electrolysis cell system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrolytic cell system according to a second embodiment.

1. First embodiment

(Electrolytic cell system 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an electrolysis cell system 1 according to a first embodiment.

The electrolytic cell system 1 comprises an electrolytic device 10, a raw gas source 20, a power source 30, and a control device 40.

[Electrolysis device 10]
The electrolysis device 10 includes a plurality of cell stacks 11 and a hot box 12 .

Each cell stack 11 is composed of multiple electrolysis cells. In this embodiment, each electrolysis cell is a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC). A solid oxide electrolysis cell includes a hydrogen electrode, an oxygen electrode, and a solid electrolyte as essential components. The hydrogen electrode generates hydrogen and oxygen ions by electrolyzing water contained in the raw gas described below. The oxygen electrode generates oxygen from the oxygen ions generated at the hydrogen electrode. The solid electrolyte transfers the oxygen ions generated at the hydrogen electrode to the oxygen electrode. The hydrogen electrode can be composed of, for example, NiO-YSZ, NiO-GDC, etc. The oxygen electrode can be composed of, for example, LSCF, LSF, LNF, etc. The solid electrolyte can be composed of, for example, YSZ, GDC, ScSZ, SDC, etc. Solid oxide electrolysis cells are more susceptible to damage caused by differences in thermal expansion of the components than solid polymer electrolysis cells, but the temperature distribution in the cell stack can be eliminated by the pause control described below, and damage can be suppressed.

Each electrolytic cell may be a free-standing electrolytic cell or a metal-supported electrolytic cell. In a free-standing electrolytic cell, either the hydrogen electrode, the solid electrolyte, or the oxygen electrode functions as the support. In a metal-supported electrolytic cell, a metal substrate bonded to the hydrogen electrode or the oxygen electrode functions as the support.

It is particularly preferable that each electrolytic cell is a metal-supported electrolytic cell. Metal-supported electrolytic cells are more resistant to temperature changes than free-standing electrolytic cells, so that even if operation is suspended by the suspension control described below and the temperature distribution changes, the electrolytic cells can be prevented from being damaged.

Each electrolysis cell may be a water electrolysis cell or a co-electrolysis cell. In a water electrolysis cell, only water (steam) is used as the raw material gas, and hydrogen and oxygen ions are generated at the hydrogen electrode. In a co-electrolysis cell, a mixture of water (steam) and carbon dioxide is used as the raw material gas, and hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and oxygen ions are generated at the hydrogen electrode.

It is particularly preferable that each electrolytic cell is a co-electrolytic cell. In a co-electrolytic cell, hydrogen and carbon monoxide must be produced at a predetermined composition ratio at the hydrogen electrode. The pause control described below allows the co-electrolytic cell to continue steady-state operation near the thermal neutral voltage, so that the composition ratio of hydrogen and carbon monoxide produced at the hydrogen electrode can be maintained.

The multiple cell stacks 11 are electrically connected in parallel. In this embodiment, the multiple cell stacks 11 include first to fourth cell stacks 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d (hereinafter abbreviated as "11a to 11d"). Each of the first to fourth cell stacks 11a to 11d is set with its own steady-state power. The steady-state power is the power required for steady-state operation near the thermal neutral voltage. Near the thermal neutral voltage means a range of the thermal neutral voltage ±0.1 V. Steady-state operation means operation in a thermally independent state under conditions where the amount of supplied current is constant and the amount of supplied gas is constant.

The multiple cell stacks 11 include two or more cell stacks with different steady-state powers. In this embodiment, the steady-state power of the first cell stack 11a is 100 kW, the steady-state power of the second cell stack 11b is 100 kW, the steady-state power of the third cell stack 11c is 20 kW, and the steady-state power of the fourth cell stack 11d is 5 kW. However, the steady-state power of each cell stack 11 may vary depending on the operating conditions or the period of use. In addition, the number of cell stacks 11 can be set appropriately.

First to fourth supply paths La, Lb, Lc, Ld (hereinafter abbreviated as "La to Ld") are connected to the first to fourth cell stacks 11a to 11d. The first to fourth supply paths La to Ld are flow paths for supplying raw material gas to the hydrogen electrodes of the first to fourth cell stacks 11a to 11d. First to fourth on-off valves 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d (hereinafter abbreviated as "2a to 2d") are arranged in the first to fourth supply paths La to Ld. Each on-off valve 2a to 2d switches each supply path La to Ld between an open state or a closed state. The opening and closing of each on-off valve 2a to 2d is controlled by a control device 40.

First to fourth exhaust channels Ma, Mb, Mc, Md (hereinafter abbreviated as "Ma to Md") are connected to the first to fourth cell stacks 11a to 11d. The first to fourth exhaust channels Ma to Md are flow paths for discharging the product gas generated at the hydrogen electrodes of the first to fourth cell stacks 11a to 11d. The first to fourth exhaust channels Ma to Md are connected to the exhaust channel M1. The first to fourth exhaust channels Ma to Md are provided with fifth to eighth opening/closing valves 2e, 2f, 2g, 2h (hereinafter abbreviated as "2e to 2h"). Each opening/closing valve 2e to 2h switches each exhaust channel Ma to Md between an open state or a closed state. The opening and closing of each opening/closing valve 2e to 2h is controlled by the control device 40.

The hot box 12 is a housing having thermal insulation and heat storage properties. The hot box 12 houses multiple cell stacks 11. In this embodiment, all of the multiple cell stacks 11 are housed in one hot box 12, but a hot box 12 may be provided for each cell stack 11.

[Raw gas source 20]
The raw gas source 20 stores a raw gas. The raw gas contains at least water (water vapor). When the electrolytic cells constituting each cell stack 11 are water electrolytic cells, water is used as the raw gas. When the electrolytic cells constituting each cell stack 11 are co-electrolytic cells, a mixed gas of water and carbon dioxide is used as the raw gas.

The raw gas source 20 supplies raw gas to the supply path L1. The supply path L1 is connected to the first to fourth supply paths La to Ld. The raw gas supplied from the raw gas source 20 is supplied to each cell stack 11 sequentially via the supply path L1 and the first to fourth supply paths La to Ld.

[Power supply 30]
The power supply 30 supplies power to each cell stack 11. The power supplied from the power supply 30 to each cell stack 11 (hereinafter referred to as “supplied power”) is controlled by a control device 40.

In this embodiment, the power source 30 generates power using renewable energy (e.g., solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, etc.). In this embodiment, the rated output of the power source 30 is 225 kW or more. However, the actual power supply from the power source 30 varies depending on the conditions of use.

[Control device 40]
The control device 40 executes the pause control, which includes a sorting step, a power control step, and a gas control step.

In the selection process, the multiple cell stacks 11 are selected into cell stacks 11 to be operated (hereinafter referred to as "operation targets") and cell stacks 11 to be suspended (hereinafter referred to as "suspended targets"). In this embodiment, the operation targets and suspended targets are selected according to the power supply from the power source 30.

In the power control process, power is supplied to the operating objects, and the power supply to the suspended objects is cut off. In the gas control process, raw material gas is supplied to the operating objects, and the raw material gas supply to the suspended objects is cut off. The power control process and the gas control process can be performed simultaneously or with a time lag after the sorting process.

As shown in FIG. 1, the control device 40 has a memory unit 41, a sorting unit 42, a power control unit 43, and a gas control unit 44.

The memory unit 41 prestores the steady-state power of each cell stack 11. In this embodiment, the steady-state power of the first to fourth cell stacks 11a to 11d is 100 kW, 100 kW, 20 kW, and 5 kW, respectively.

The selection unit 42 executes the selection process as follows. The selection unit 42 detects the power supply from the power source 30. The selection unit 42 selects the multiple cell stacks 11 into those to be operated and those to be suspended according to the detected power supply from the power source 30. The selection unit 42 selects the operating targets and the suspended targets at predetermined time intervals or whenever the power supply from the power source 30 fluctuates.

For example, when the power supply from the power source 30 is 225 kW, steady-state power can be supplied to all of the first through fourth cell stacks 11a through 11d, so the selection unit 42 selects all of the first through fourth cell stacks 11a through 11d as targets for operation. In this case, the selection unit 42 does not select targets for suspension.

After that, when the power supply from the power source 30 becomes 200 kW, the selection unit 42 selects one or more of the cell stacks 11 to be suspended among the operation targets according to the reduction in the supply power (25 kW), and selects the cell stacks 11 other than the one or more cell stacks 11 to be operated. Specifically, the selection unit 42 selects one or more cell stacks whose total steady-state power is close to the reduction in the supply power to be suspended, and selects the cell stacks other than the suspended ones to be operated. Here, since the total steady-state power of the third and fourth cell stacks 11c, 11d is 25 kW, the selection unit 42 selects the first and second cell stacks 11a, 11b to be operated, and the third and fourth cell stacks 11c, 11d to be suspended.

Next, when the power supply from the power source 30 becomes 220 kW, the selection unit 42 changes one or more of the cell stacks 11 to be suspended from being suspended to being operated in accordance with the increase in the supplied power (20 kW). Specifically, the selection unit 42 changes one or more cell stacks whose total steady-state power is close to the increase in the supplied power from being suspended to being operated. Here, because the steady-state power of the third cell stack 11c is 20 kW, the selection unit 42 changes the third cell stack 11c from being suspended to being operated. As a result, the first to third cell stacks 11a to 11c are selected as being operated, and the fourth cell stack 11d is selected as being suspended.

The selection unit 42 notifies the power control unit 43 and the gas control unit 44 of the units to be operated and those to be suspended.

The power control unit 43 executes the power control process as follows. The power control unit 43 acquires operation targets and pause targets from the selection unit 42. The power control unit 43 distributes the power supplied from the power source 30 to the operation targets. The power control unit 43 supplies steady power to the operation targets. On the other hand, the power control unit 43 cuts off the supply of power to pause targets.

The gas control unit 44 executes the gas control process as follows. The gas control unit 44 acquires the operation targets and the suspension targets from the selection unit 42. The gas control unit 44 opens the on-off valves among the first to fourth on-off valves 2a to 2d that correspond to the operation targets, and closes the on-off valves that correspond to the suspension targets. As a result, raw material gas is supplied to the operation targets, and the supply of raw material gas to the suspension targets is cut off.

The gas control unit 44 also opens the valves among the fifth through eighth valves 2e through 2h that correspond to the operating target, and closes the valves that correspond to the suspended target. This makes it possible to prevent the generated gas discharged from the operating target from flowing back toward the suspended target.

By power control by the power control unit 43 and gas control by the gas control unit 44, generated gas is produced in the operating target, and generated gas is not produced in the suspended target.

As described above, the control device 40 selects multiple cell stacks 11 into those to be operated and those to be suspended according to the power supplied from the power source 30, and then suspends the operation of one or more cell stacks 11 whose total steady-state power approximates the amount of reduction in the power supplied from the power source 30. Therefore, even if the power supplied from the power source 30, which generates electricity using renewable energy, is reduced, the operation targets can be operated with steady-state power, so that each electrolytic cell included in the operation targets can be operated near the thermal neutral voltage where heat absorption and heat generation are balanced. In this way, by setting the suspension targets according to the shortage of supplied power, the performance of each electrolytic cell included in the operation targets can be demonstrated.

2. Second embodiment

(Electrolytic cell system 1a)
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an electrolysis cell system 1a according to the second embodiment.

The electrolytic cell system 1a includes a reactor 50, an electrolytic device 10, a raw gas source 20, a power source 30a, and a control device 40a. The configurations of the electrolytic device 10 and the raw gas source 20 are as described in the first embodiment above, so the configurations of the reactor 50, the power source 30a, and the control device 40a will be described below.

[Reactor 50]
The reactor 50 is connected to the exhaust path M1. The product gas generated at the hydrogen electrodes of the first to fourth cell stacks 11a to 11d is supplied to the reactor 50 via the first to fourth exhaust paths Ma to Md and the exhaust path M1.

The reactor 50 uses the generated gas to synthesize the desired organic resources, such as hydrocarbons and methanol. By connecting the reactor 50 to the exhaust line M1, the organic resources can be synthesized on-site.

In this embodiment, the maximum amount of generated gas required in the reactor 50 is set to 1.3 m ³ /min. However, the amount of generated gas required varies depending on various factors.

In addition, each of the multiple cell stacks 11 has its own steady-state generated gas amount set. The steady-state generated gas amount is the amount of generated gas generated during steady-state operation near the thermal neutral voltage.

The multiple cell stacks 11 include two or more cell stacks with different steady-state generated gas amounts. In this embodiment, the steady-state generated gas amount of the first cell stack 11a is 0.5 ^m3 /min, the steady-state generated gas amount of the second cell stack 11b is 0.5 ^m3 /min, the steady-state generated gas amount of the third cell stack 11c is 0.25 ^m3 /min, and the steady-state generated gas amount of the fourth cell stack 11d is 0.05 ^m3 /min. However, the steady-state generated gas amount of each cell stack 11 can be set appropriately.

[Power supply 30a]
The power supply 30a supplies power to each cell stack 11. The power supply from the power supply 30a to each cell stack 11 is controlled by a control device 40a.

In this embodiment, the power source 30a is configured to generate electricity using fossil fuels. The rated output of the power source 30a is stable and is equal to or greater than the total steady-state power of each cell stack 11.

[Control device 40a]
The control device 40a executes the pause control, which includes a sorting step, a power control step, and a gas control step.

In the selection process, the multiple cell stacks 11 are selected into cell stacks 11 to be operated (hereinafter referred to as "operation targets") and cell stacks 11 to be suspended (hereinafter referred to as "suspended targets"). In this embodiment, the operation targets and suspended targets are selected according to the amount of gas required to be generated in the reactor 50.

In the power control process, power is supplied to the operating objects, and the power supply to the suspended objects is cut off. In the gas control process, raw material gas is supplied to the operating objects, and the raw material gas supply to the suspended objects is cut off. The power control process and the gas control process can be performed simultaneously or with a time lag after the sorting process.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 40a has a memory unit 41a, a sorting unit 42a, a power control unit 43a, and a gas control unit 44a.

The storage unit 41a pre-stores the steady-state generated gas amounts of each cell stack 11. In this embodiment, the steady-state generated gas amounts of the first to fourth cell stacks 11a to 11d are 0.5 ^{m 3} /min, 0.5 m ³ /min, 0.25 ^{m 3} /min, and 0.05 m ³ /min, respectively.

The selection unit 42a executes the selection process as follows. The selection unit 42a detects the amount of gas required to be produced in the reactor 50. The selection unit 42a selects the multiple cell stacks 11 into those to be operated and those to be suspended according to the detected amount of gas required to be produced. The selection unit 42a selects the cell stacks 11 to be operated and those to be suspended at any time, at a predetermined time interval or whenever the amount of gas required to be produced in the reactor 50 changes.

For example, when the required amount of generated gas in the reactor 50 is 1.3 ^m3 /min, it is necessary to generate a steady amount of generated gas in all of the first to fourth cell stacks 11a to 11d, so the selection unit 42a selects all of the first to fourth cell stacks 11a to 11d as those to be operated. In this case, the selection unit 42a does not select those to be suspended.

Thereafter, when the required amount of generated gas in the reactor 50 becomes 1.0 ^m3 /min, the selection unit 42a selects one or more of the cell stacks 11 to be suspended among the operation targets according to the decrease (0.3 ^m3 /min) in the required amount of generated gas, and selects the cell stacks 11 other than the one or more cell stacks 11 to be operated. Specifically, the selection unit 42a selects one or more cell stacks whose total steady-state generated gas amount is close to the decrease in the required amount of generated gas as the operation targets, and selects the cell stacks other than the suspension targets as the operation targets. Here, since the total of the steady-state generated gas amount of the third and fourth cell stacks 11c, 11d is 0.3 ^m3 /min, the selection unit 42a selects the first and second cell stacks 11a, 11b as the operation targets, and selects the third and fourth cell stacks 11c, 11d as the suspension targets.

Next, when the required amount of generated gas in the reactor 50 becomes 1.25 m ³ /min, the selection unit 42a changes one or more of the cell stacks 11 to be suspended from the suspended ones to the operating ones in accordance with the increase in the required amount of generated gas (0.25 m ³ /min). Specifically, the selection unit 42a changes one or more cell stacks whose total steady generated gas amount is close to the increase in the required amount of generated gas from the suspended ones to the operating ones. In this case, since the steady generated gas amount of the third cell stack 11c is 0.25 ^{m 3} /min, the selection unit 42a changes the third cell stack 11c from the suspended one to the operating one. As a result, the first to third cell stacks 11a to 11c are selected as the operating ones, and the fourth cell stack 11d is selected as the suspended one.

The selection unit 42a notifies the power control unit 43a and the gas control unit 44a of the units to be operated and those to be suspended.

The power control unit 43a executes the power control process as follows: The power control unit 43a acquires operation targets and pause targets from the selection unit 42a. The power control unit 43a distributes the power supplied from the power source 30a to the operation targets. The power control unit 43a supplies steady power to the operation targets. On the other hand, the power control unit 43a cuts off the supply of power to pause targets.

The gas control unit 44a executes the gas control process as follows. The gas control unit 44a acquires the operation targets and the suspension targets from the selection unit 42a. The gas control unit 44a opens the on-off valves among the first to fourth on-off valves 2a to 2d that correspond to the operation targets, and closes the on-off valves that correspond to the suspension targets. As a result, raw material gas is supplied to the operation targets, and the supply of raw material gas to the suspension targets is cut off.

The gas control unit 44a also opens the valves among the fifth through eighth valves 2e through 2h that correspond to the operating target, and closes the valves that correspond to the suspended target. This makes it possible to prevent the generated gas discharged from the operating target from flowing back toward the suspended target.

As described above, the control device 40a selects the multiple cell stacks 11 into those to be operated and those to be suspended according to the amount of gas produced required in the reactor 50, and then suspends operation of one or more cell stacks 11 whose total steady-state amount of produced gas is close to the amount of decrease in the amount of gas produced required in the reactor 50. Therefore, when the amount of gas produced required in the reactor 50 decreases, the amount of produced gas can be reduced by the amount of the decrease, so there is no need to provide a facility for temporarily storing the produced gas.

(Modification of the embodiment)
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[Modification 1]
In the first embodiment described above, pause control is executed according to the power supplied from the power source 30, and in the second embodiment described above, pause control is executed according to the amount of gas required to be generated in the reactor 50, but pause control may also be executed taking into account both the power supplied from the power source 30 and the amount of gas required to be generated in the reactor 50.

[Variation 2] The electrolytic cell system 1 according to the first embodiment may include a reactor 50 connected to the exhaust line M1, similar to the electrolytic cell system 1a according to the second embodiment. Here, when each of the multiple electrolytic cells constituting each cell stack 11 is a common electrolytic cell, the composition of the generated gas in each cell stack 11 is likely to vary depending on the supplied power, but the above pause control can keep the composition of the generated gas in each cell stack 11 constant. This makes it possible to suppress a decrease in the efficiency of synthesis of organic resources in the reactor 50.

[Modification 3]
In the first and second embodiments, the fifth to eighth on-off valves 2e to 2h are arranged in the first to fourth discharge passages Ma to Md, but check valves may be used instead of the on-off valves.

[Modification 4]
A sweep gas may be supplied to the air electrode of each electrolytic cell included in each cell stack 11. Air may be used as the sweep gas. The air used as the sweep gas may be pressurized.

[Modification 5]
In the above first embodiment, the multiple cell stacks 11 include two or more cell stacks with different steady-state powers, but the steady-state power may be the same for all the cell stacks 11. However, it is preferable that the multiple cell stacks 11 include two or more cell stacks with different steady-state powers, because this makes it easier to deal with a reduction in the amount of power supply.

[Modification 6]
In the second embodiment described above, the multiple cell stacks 11 include two or more cell stacks with different steady-state generated gas amounts, but the steady-state generated gas amounts may be the same for all of the cell stacks 11. However, it is preferable that the multiple cell stacks 11 include two or more cell stacks with different steady-state generated gas amounts, because this makes it easier to deal with the reduction in the required generated gas amount.

Reference Signs List 1, 1a Electrolytic cell system 10 Electrolytic device 11 Cell stack 20 Raw material gas source 30, 30a Power source 40, 40a Control device 41, 41a Memory unit 42, 42a Sorting unit 43, 43a Power control unit 44, 44a Gas control unit 50 Reactor

Claims (8)

a plurality of cell stacks for generating a product gas containing hydrogen by electrolyzing a raw material gas containing water;
a control device for controlling the operation of the plurality of cell stacks;
a power source that supplies power to the plurality of cell stacks;
Equipped with
The plurality of cell stacks are electrically connected in parallel,
the control device suspends operation of one or more of the cell stacks, the total steady-state power required for steady-state operation near a thermal neutral voltage of which is close to an amount of reduction in the power supply from the power source.
Electrolysis cell system.
the plurality of cell stacks include two or more cell stacks each having a different steady-state power required for steady-state operation near a thermal neutral voltage;
2. The electrolysis cell system of claim 1.
a plurality of cell stacks for generating a product gas containing hydrogen by electrolyzing a raw material gas containing water;
a control device for controlling the operation of the plurality of cell stacks;
a reactor for synthesizing a desired organic resource using a product gas generated in the plurality of cell stacks;
Equipped with
The plurality of cell stacks are electrically connected in parallel,
the control device suspends operation of one or more cell stacks among the plurality of cell stacks, the sum of the steady-state generated gas amounts generated during steady-state operation near a thermal neutral voltage being approximate to a reduction in the required generated gas amount required in the reactor;
Electrolysis cell system.
the plurality of cell stacks include two or more cell stacks having mutually different amounts of steady-state generated gas generated during steady-state operation near a thermal neutral voltage;
4. The electrolysis cell system of claim 3.
Each of the plurality of cell stacks is composed of a plurality of solid oxide electrolysis cells.
5. An electrolytic cell system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
Each of the plurality of solid oxide electrolysis cells is a metal-supported electrolysis cell.
6. The electrolysis cell system of claim 5.
each of the plurality of solid oxide electrolysis cells is a co-electrolysis cell;
6. The electrolysis cell system of claim 5.
A method for operating an electrolytic cell system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising the steps of:
selecting the one or more cell stacks from the plurality of solid oxide electrolysis cells;
shutting down the one or more cell stacks and operating cell stacks other than the one or more cell stacks;
A method for operating an electrolysis cell system comprising:

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