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US 7,726,911 B1Granted
Underwater hydrogen storage
OwnerHarry Edward Dempsterinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Provided are systems, methods and techniques by which a wind-powered energy generating platform, secured to an anchor, can pull (or winch) itself beneath the surface of the water and thereby avoid most of the significant effects of storms and waves. In more particularized aspects, a variable-buoyancy anchor is utilized, thereby facilitating the construction and transportation of the entire assembly.
Claims20
A method of storing and transporting hydrogen, comprising:
- submerging a barge, which includes a storage tank, under a surface of a body of water;
- generating hydrogen and storing the hydrogen into the storage tank in the barge while the barge is submerged;
- disconnecting the barge from a hydrogen-generation system;
- re-floating the barge and then towing the barge to a location where the stored hydrogen is utilized;
- connecting a replacement barge to the hydrogen-generation system;
- and
- submerging the replacement barge for underwater storage of hydrogen,
- wherein the barge further comprises at least one of ballast tanks and open-bottomed structural cells which provide the barge with variable buoyancy.
5 more elements
A method of storing and transporting hydrogen, comprising:
- submerging a barge, which includes a storage tank, under a surface of a body of water;
- generating hydrogen and storing the hydrogen into the storage tank in the barge while the barge is submerged;
- and
- re-floating the barge in response to a sensor detection that the storage tank is nearly full and then towing the barge to a location where the stored hydrogen is utilized,
- wherein the barge further comprises at least one of ballast tanks and open-bottomed structural cells which provide the barge with variable buoyancy.
2 more elements
A method of storing and transporting hydrogen, comprising:
- submerging a barge, which includes a storage tank, under a surface of a body of water;
- generating hydrogen and storing the hydrogen into the storage tank in the barge while the barge is submerged;
- disconnecting the barge from a hydrogen-generation system;
- re-floating the barge and then towing the barge to a location where the stored hydrogen is utilized;
- connecting a replacement barge to the hydrogen-generation system;
- and
- submerging the replacement barge for underwater storage of hydrogen,
- wherein the barge is buoyant in operation and is attached to an anchor.
5 more elements
A method of storing and transporting hydrogen, comprising:
- submerging a barge, which includes a storage tank, under a surface of a body of water;
- generating hydrogen and storing the hydrogen into the storage tank in the barge while the barge is submerged;
- and
- re-floating the barge in response to a sensor detection that the storage tank is nearly full and then towing the barge to a location where the stored hydrogen is utilized,
- wherein the barge is buoyant in operation and is attached to an anchor.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.