Hydrogen transport apparatus
OwnerJeremy J Papadopoulos, Vincent Loccisanoinventors
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Abstract
A wind-turbine apparatus uses turbine-generated electrical energy to convert water to hydrogen in an electrolysis process, and stores the hydrogen in a subsea vessel. The submerged vessel is configured to contain and transport compressed hydrogen. By monitoring the vessel's hoop tension, ballast may be controlled to vary the buoyancy of the vessel. Electrical generating apparatus may use a wind turbine, water turbine or photovoltaic array, or combination thereof. The apparatus may employ an offshore fluid-turbine array or an onshore-turbine array combined with a photovoltaic array with associated fuel-synthesis hardware.
Claims20
A submerged vessel for containing and transporting hydrogen comprising:
- a cylindrical shell lined with a plurality of bladders for containing hydrogen under water;
- and
- at least one ballast compartment in said vessel;
- and
- at least one pump for increasing and decreasing ballast in said at least one ballast compartment;
- and
- at least one tension hoop surrounding said shell;
- and
- at least one sensor coupled with said at least one tension hoop;
- and
- at least one valve engaged with a conduit for receiving and releasing hydrogen;
- and
- at least one valve engaged with a conduit for receiving and releasing ballast;
- and
- a control system for monitoring signals from said at least one sensor and for receiving and releasing hydrogen;
- and for receiving and releasing ballast;
- wherein
- hydrogen is stored at a given pressure by controlling ballast and by increasing ballast in response to increased hoop tension and by decreasing ballast in response to decreased hoop tension, according to signals from said at least one sensor on said at least one tension hoop, sent to said control system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.