I would like to ask the experts in the chlor-alkali industry: can chlor-alkali electrolyzers be used in conjunction with photovoltaic and wind power systems, serving as a storage mechanism for those energy sources?
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I would like to ask the experts in the chlor-alkali industry: can chlor-alkali electrolyzers be used in conjunction with photovoltaic and wind power systems, as a means for regulating the load associated with these sources of energy? I checked some information. Currently, chlor-alkali electrolyzers generally operate at reduced capacity during peak electricity prices and at increased capacity during low electricity prices, as a means to improve efficiency. However, the adjustable range for load safety is not specified. I just found the data on electrolyzed water (alkaline electrolyzers); the load needs to be adjusted within the range of 25% to 100%, as safety cannot be ensured when it is below 25%. As the load regulation component for photovoltaic and wind power systems, there are multiple cycles of load changes throughout the day; does such frequent adjustment of the electrolyzer’s load have an impact on its lifespan? Does such frequent adjustment have an impact on the power distribution system? Is it possible to develop a specialized electrolysis system that serves as a load regulation mechanism for photovoltaic and wind power?
Offshore wind power in Europe is exploring the same issues, but the electrolyzers are not based on alkaline water rather than PEM.
This post was last edited by qugd on 2021-8-18 09:12. Chlor-alkali production is continuous, while photovoltaic and wind power are affected by weather and day/night conditions; electricity storage and regulation pose a challenge. It might be good if you build an intermittent-operating chlor-alkali plant. Or, you could build another self-provided power plant.
This seems to be an energy-saving issue at the moment; the level of automation in existing devices may not be sufficient to meet these requirements. A very high degree of fully automatic control is necessary, otherwise repeated fluctuations during system operation can cause instability in the electrolyzer as well as in the chlorine and hydrogen systems. If the level of automation is not adequate, the safety of the system cannot be ensured.
The operation of the electrolyzer requires stability; repeated fluctuations in the neutral point can affect the cell voltage, which in turn impacts power consumption. Whether a disturbance-free switching of power supplies can be achieved during switching is also a research topic!
It’s not very realistic. There are many ways to store energy; there’s no need to make it so complicated. Besides, it isn’t safe. It’s worth studying the production of calcium carbide using the electric furnace method. In areas where wind and solar energy are abundant, coal is generally also available.
First, let me say that this is a good idea
How are such research efforts progressing these days? Some time ago, I saw a European fertilizer company investing in Northern Europe to use renewable energy for hydrogen production in order to manufacture ammonia
Xinjiang possesses such resource endowments: it has coal and natural gas, and is well-suited for the development of solar and wind energy. Meanwhile, electrolysis is a process that consumes large amounts of electricity
The key issue is still the automation of energy storage, in order to ensure a stable energy supply; someone upstairs already mentioned an approach
The key issue remains cost; the costs of photovoltaic and wind power are too high, and it is difficult to compete without **policy subsidies at present. The power generation cost for enterprises’ own power plants is 0.1 yuan/KWh, while the cost for wind power is around 0.5 yuan/KWh.