Apparatus and method for maintaining gas pressure in an electrolyzer using an electric generator configured to capture kinetic energy of electrolysis products
AssigneeMarine Dolphin Enterprises, LLC
InventorsAlan J. Garfunkel, Samuel A. Thompson, Bruce Santos, Klaus Fahrländer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods are described herein for monitoring gas pressure within an electrolysis system and maintaining gas pressure using an electric generator to capture kinetic energy of compressed hydrogen and/or oxygen gases as they are produced by an electrolyzer. The generator utilizes a rotating apparatus, such as a fan or turbine, to capture the energy of the gases and generate electricity. Any electricity produced by the generator is fed back to the electrolyzer to supplement its energy requirements.
Claims19
An energy capturing apparatus to generate electricity from gases produced during electrolysis, the apparatus comprising:
- a rotatable member positioned downstream from a gas outflow port of an electrolyzer and mechanically coupled to an electric generator, the rotatable member configured to rotate in response to gas released from the electrolyzer, wherein the rotation causes the electric generator to produce electricity;
- a pressure regulator configured to control the pressure of at least one gaseous product during electrolysis and positioned between the gas outflow port and the rotatable member;
- a power regulator configured to manage power from the electric generator and at least one external power source;
- control circuitry configured to:
- monitor gas pressure of the at least one gaseous product within the electrolyzer;
- and
- control a rotation speed of the rotatable member;
- and
- a transmission having a plurality available of gear ratios, the transmission being interposed between the rotatable member and the electric generator;
- wherein the control circuitry is further configured to select a gear ratio of the plurality of available gear ratios;
- and apply the selected gear ratio to the transmission.
A method for capturing energy to generate electricity from gases produced during electrolysis, the method comprising:
- monitoring gas pressure of at least one gaseous product during electrolysis at a gas outflow port of an electrolyzer;
- in response to determining that the gas pressure of the at least one gaseous product has reached a threshold pressure, releasing the at least one gaseous product from the gas outflow port;
- capturing kinetic energy of the at least one gaseous product using a rotatable member positioned downstream from the gas outflow port and mechanically coupled to an electric generator, the rotatable member configured to rotate in response to gas released from the electrolyzer, wherein the rotation causes the electric generator to produce electricity;
- selecting a gear ratio of a transmission interposed between the rotatable member and the electric generator, the transmission having a plurality of available gear ratios;
- applying the selected gear ratio to the transmission;
- and
- managing power from the electric generator and at least one external power source to provide electricity to the electrolyzer.
An energy capturing apparatus to generate electricity from gases produced during electrolysis, the apparatus comprising:
- a rotatable member positioned downstream from a gas outflow port of an electrolyzer and mechanically coupled to an electric generator, the rotatable member includes a plurality of adjustable blades and is configured to rotate in response to gas released from the electrolyzer, wherein the rotation causes the electric generator to produce electricity;
- a pressure regulator configured to control the pressure of at least one gaseous product during electrolysis and positioned between the gas outflow port and the rotatable member;
- a power regulator configured to manage power from the electric generator and at least one external power source;
- and
- control circuitry configured to:
- monitor gas pressure of the at least one gaseous product within the electrolyzer;
- and
- control a rotation speed of the rotatable member;
- and
- control an angle of the plurality of adjustable blades relative to a plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the rotatable member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.