Fuel cell cogeneration system

• US 20070062820A1
• Filed: 09/06/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eugene Smotkin
• Original Assignee: Eugene Smotkin
• Inventors: Smotkin, Eugene
• Application Number:
  US11/516,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20070062820A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/742
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/461 by electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46176 Galvanic cells
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/727 using pure oxygen or oxygen rich gas
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4618 Supplying or removing reactants or electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/02 Aerobic processes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/00 Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0656 by electrochemical means H01M8/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/10 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage

Abstract

The invention integrates three general operations: the electrolysis of water to produce oxygen and hydrogen gases; the use of the generated oxygen to promote microbial decay of organic substances as in wastewater treatment; and the generation of electrical power by hydrogen-fueled fuel cells. Electrolysis of water provides the molecular oxygen necessary for wastewater treatment, and the hydrogen gas as fuel for a fuel cell to generate power, thus reducing the overall power consumption of the treatment process.

Claims

1. A method to reduce the energy required to generate oxygen for wastewater treatment from electrolysis of water in an electrolysis system, which method comprises reclaiming excess oxygen used in said wastewater treatment, and hydrogen gas generated from said electrolysis to operate a fuel cell to produce energy, thus offsetting energy used in said electrolysis system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein oxygen from the electrolysis system is conducted through a waste treatment tank from a proximal end to a distal end, and, wherein oxygen from the distal end is conducted into the cathode of a fuel cell.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein hydrogen generated from the electrolysis system is conducted to the anode of said fuel cell.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the anode chamber of the electrolysis system comprises a wastewater reactor.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrolysis system is a fuel cell operated in a galvanic mode.

6. The method of claim 5 the anode chamber of said electrolysis system comprises a wastewater reactor.

7. A system for wastewater treatment by aeration which system comprises

a water electrolysis system that produces hydrogen and oxygen;

a wastewater treatment reactor; and

at least one fuel cell,

wherein the oxygen generated in by electrolysis system aerates the wastewater and excess oxygen emitted from the wastewater, and hydrogen from the electrolysis system, are used as oxidant and fuel respectively for said fuel cell.