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US 12,365,999 B2Granted
Electrolyser and energy system
AssigneeHydrogenics Corporation
InventorsNathaniel Ian Joos, Joseph Cargnelli
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrolyser operates within an energy system, for example to provide grid services, energy storage or fuel, or to produce hydrogen from electricity produced from renewable resources. The electrolyser may be configured to operate at frequently or quickly varying rates of electricity consumption or to operate at a specified power consumption.
Claims20
An energy system, comprising:
- an electrical energy source;
- an electrolyser operably connected to the electrical energy source, the electrolyser including a controller in operable communication with the electrical energy source;
- and
- a natural gas system including a hydrogen outlet, at least one pipeline directly connected to the hydrogen outlet and configured to transport hydrogen, and at least one reservoir configured to store hydrogen, the natural gas system being operably connected to the electrolyser via the hydrogen outlet which is connected to the electrolyser,
- wherein the electrolyser receives electricity from the electrical energy source so as to produce hydrogen which is discharged from the hydrogen outlet into the at least one pipeline of the natural gas system,
- wherein the controller is configured to direct a first portion of the hydrogen to the at least one reservoir via the at least one pipeline so as to be stored in the at least one reservoir,
- wherein the controller is configured to direct a second portion of the hydrogen to a consumer of a market,
- wherein the controller is configured to forecast a predicted maximum rate of hydrogen injection into the natural gas system that will occur over a first period of time and compare the predicted maximum rate of hydrogen injection to a predetermined maximum rate of hydrogen injection into the at least one pipeline at which a flow of natural gas in the at least one pipeline will meet a predetermined maximum concentration of hydrogen, and
- wherein, in response to the predicted maximum rate of hydrogen injection into the natural gas system being greater than the predetermined maximum rate of hydrogen injection, the controller is configured to directly reduce power consumption of the electrolyser.
6 more elements
A method of operating an energy system, comprising:
- providing an electrical energy source;
- operably connecting an electrolyser to the electrical energy source, the electrolyser including a controller in operable communication with the electrical energy source;
- operably connecting a natural gas system to the electrolyser, the natural gas system including a hydrogen outlet, at least one pipeline directly connected to the hydrogen outlet and configured to transport hydrogen, and at least one reservoir configured to store hydrogen, the natural gas system being operably connected to the electrolyser via the hydrogen outlet which is connected to the electrolyser;
- receiving, by the electrolyser, electricity from the electrical energy source so as to produce hydrogen which is discharged from the hydrogen outlet into the at least one pipeline of the natural gas system;
- directing, via the controller, a first portion of the hydrogen to the at least one reservoir via the at least one pipeline so as to be stored in the at least one reservoir;
- directing, via the controller, a second portion of the hydrogen to a consumer of a market;
- forecasting, via the controller, a predicted maximum rate of hydrogen injection into the natural gas system that will occur over a first period of time;
- comparing, via the controller, the predicted maximum rate of hydrogen injection to a predetermined maximum rate of hydrogen injection into the at least one pipeline at which a flow of natural gas in the at least one pipeline will meet a predetermined maximum concentration of hydrogen;
- and
- in response to the predicted maximum rate of hydrogen injection into the natural gas system being greater than the predetermined maximum rate of hydrogen injection, directly reducing, via the controller, power consumption of the electrolyser.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.