Co2 electrolysis plant

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure provide a system for a carbon oxide electrolysis plant incorporating advanced electrochemical reactors incorporating membrane electrode assemblies as well as control mechanisms. The system provides efficient transport and production rates while minimizing the competing hydrogen formation reaction. The system may use multiple electrochemical reactors, scaling up production with high energy efficiency, while providing flexibility in the types of chemical product outputs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for carbon oxide electrolysis, comprising:
 inputting a source of gaseous carbon oxide to a cathode of a carbon oxide reduction reactor;   inputting anolyte solution from an anolyte circulation system to an anode of the carbon oxide reduction reactor;   controlling a temperature differential of the anolyte solution across the anode;   inputting electrical power to the carbon oxide reduction reactor; and   electrochemically reducing the gaseous carbon oxide to produce a molecular carbon containing species.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the controlling comprises one or more of controlling an anode inlet flow rate of the anolyte solution. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein controlling the temperature differential comprises maintaining a temperature differential of not more than 5° C. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising introducing a reduction product stream from the carbon oxide reactor to a catholyte separator and separating the reduction product stream to produce a liquid stream enriched in water and a gaseous stream enriched in carbon-containing species. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising recycling at least a portion of liquid stream to the anolyte circulation system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon oxide reduction reactor comprises a membrane electrode assembly comprising one or more ion conductive polymer layers and a cathode catalyst layer for facilitating chemical reduction of the carbon oxide to the carbon-containing species. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising introducing an oxidation product stream produced from the carbon oxide reduction reactor to an anolyte separator unit and separating the oxidation product stream to produce a liquid stream enriched in water and a gaseous stream enriched in molecular oxygen. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon oxide reduction reactor comprises an electrolyzer stack having more than one cell. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising introducing a salt into the anolyte solution to control a salt concentration and/or ion conductivity of the anolyte solution introduced into the carbon oxide reduction reactor. 
     
     
         10 . A method for carbon oxide electrolysis, comprising:
 inputting a source of gaseous carbon oxide to a cathode of a carbon oxide reduction reactor;   inputting anolyte solution from an anolyte circulation system to an anode of the carbon oxide reduction reactor;   maintaining the anolyte solution provided to the anode within a predetermined temperature range;   inputting electrical power to the carbon oxide reduction reactor; and   electrochemically reducing the gaseous carbon oxide to produce a molecular carbon containing species.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined temperature range is 10° C. to 80° C. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising introducing a reduction product stream from the carbon oxide reactor to a catholyte separator and separating the reduction product stream to produce a liquid stream enriched in water and a gaseous stream enriched in carbon-containing species. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising recycling at least a portion of liquid stream to the anolyte circulation system. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the carbon oxide reduction reactor comprises a membrane electrode assembly comprising one or more ion conductive polymer layers and a cathode catalyst layer for facilitating chemical reduction of the carbon oxide to the carbon-containing species. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising introducing an oxidation product stream produced from the carbon oxide reduction reactor to an anolyte separator unit and separating the oxidation product stream to produce a liquid stream enriched in water and a gaseous stream enriched in molecular oxygen. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the carbon oxide reduction reactor comprises an electrolyzer stack having more than one cell. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising introducing a salt into the anolyte solution to control a salt concentration and/or ion conductivity of the anolyte solution introduced into the carbon oxide reduction reactor. 
     
     
         18 . A method of operating a carbon oxide electrolyzer system, the method comprising:
 introducing a first input comprising gaseous carbon oxide and a second input comprising an anolyte solution into a carbon oxide reduction reactor system comprising a plurality of fluidically connected carbon oxide reduction electrolyzers, thereby producing a reduction product stream comprising a carbon-containing species and an oxidation product stream; and   selectively terminating at least one of the carbon oxide reduction electrolyzers upon detecting one or more sensed parameters outside of a threshold value range.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more sensed parameters comprises a reduction product stream and/or an oxidation product stream composition value. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising decoupling the terminated carbon oxide reduction electrolyzer from the carbon oxide reduction reactor and removing it from the system.