Hydrogen based energy storage apparatus and method
OwnerVladimir Preradinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Utility power is wheeled to distributed hydrogen energy storage systems during off peak periods where it is used in an electrolyzer to disassociate water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen at least is stored for use in a fuel cell or combustion engine driven generator to produce locally generated electricity during peak periods or power interruptions. Efficient electrolysis and gas storage are obtained by operating the electrolyzer at high pressures through two flow loops in which the hydrogen and oxygen produced in the electrolyzer pass to separate gas-water columns and force water into the electrolyzer. When the desired high pressure is reached, the gases are bled off into a series of storage tanks.
Claims32
Apparatus for storing energy generated by a primary electric power source and for regenerating electricity from the stored energy, the apparatus comprising:
- an electrolyzer energized by the primary electric power source to disassociate water into hydrogen and oxygen;
- a gas collection system comprising:
- a first gas-water column connected to the electrolyzer to form a first flow loop in which the hydrogen produced in the electrolyzer passes to the first gas-water column and forces water from the first gas-water column into the electrolyzer;
- a second gas-water column connected to the electrolyzer to form a second flow loop in which oxygen produced in the electrolyzer passes to the second gas-water column and forces water from the second gas-water column into the electrolyzer;
- and
- a gas storage system connectable to receive and store hydrogen from the first flow loop and oxygen from the second flow loop;
- a hydrogen-to-electricity converter connectable to receive at least hydrogen from the gas storage system and to generate electricity therefrom;
- and
- a valving system maintaining pressure of the hydrogen in the first flow loop and pressure of the oxygen in the second flow loop at a selected pressure above about 1,000 psi by controlling flow of hydrogen from the first flow loop and oxygen from the second flow loop to the gas storage system.
A method of providing electricity to a specified location remote from a utility generating station, the method comprising the steps of:
- generating utility generated electricity at the utility generating station during both low demand and high demand periods;
- transmitting the utility generated electricity from the utility generating station to the specified location;
- disassociating water at the specified location into hydrogen and oxygen utilizing the utility generated electricity generated during the lower demand periods;
- storing the hydrogen and oxygen at the specified location;
- and
- supplying at least the hydrogen stored to a hydrogen-to-electricity converter at the specified location during high demand periods to generate locally generated electricity.
A method of deferred electric power generation comprising the steps of:
- disassociating water into hydrogen and oxygen in an electrolyzer utilizing electricity from a primary source;
- utilizing the hydrogen and oxygen to inject water into the electrolyzer;
- regulating pressure of the hydrogen and oxygen produced by the electrolyzer to a pressure of at least about 1,000 psi by drawing off and storing the hydrogen and oxygen in a storage system;
- and
- providing at least the hydrogen at a later time from the storage system to a hydrogen-to-electricity converter to generate electricity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.