U.S. patent application number 09/780821 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-15 for single site wind turbine electrical power conversion into hydrogen and oxygen.
Invention is credited to Chin, Douglas F..
Application Number | 20020110522 09/780821 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25120810 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020110522 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chin, Douglas F. |
August 15, 2002 |
Single site wind turbine electrical power conversion into hydrogen
and oxygen
Abstract
With reference to FIG. 3/3. This method of my invention is for
the conversion of wind power to produce hydrogen and oxygen gases
or in their other forms. All the processes are done on one site and
all of the equipments are located in body water. Wind turbine
farms, located in a body of water (off shore), will produce more
electrical power than if they were installed on land (on shore).
The Wind Farm electricity generators (21) convert the energy of the
winds into electrical power. This power, through switch, protection
devices and other devices, is fed directly to the hydrogen
converting plants (23). Because the wind does not blow at a
constant velocity, the electrical power is not constant. However,
the hydrogen converting plants (23) can function in this
environment without having precise electrical tolerances. Taking
water (22) from the surrounding area and with the input of
electrical power, the hydrogen converting plants (23) produce
hydrogen and oxygen gases. There will be time periods when there is
no wind, so there will be no production of both gases. Since the
hydrogen is currency energy and can be stored, that presents no
problem. So my invention produces hydrogen and oxygen gasses
without the use of fossil fuels as the power source.
Inventors: |
Chin, Douglas F.;
(Scarborough, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Douglas F. CHIN
112 Bellrock Drive
Scarborough
ON
M1V 3G6
CA
|
Family ID: |
25120810 |
Appl. No.: |
09/780821 |
Filed: |
February 9, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
423/658.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 60/36 20130101;
C25B 1/04 20130101; Y02P 20/133 20151101; Y02E 60/366 20130101;
Y02E 70/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
423/658.2 |
International
Class: |
C25B 001/04 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. The production of hydrogen and oxygen gases comprising of a
method, which is more energy efficient and in addition requires no
fossil fuel in the production of these gasses: Providing wind farm
electricity generators and hydrogen converting equipments in a body
of water. Positioning them such that the output of the wind turbine
electrical generators are connected directly, through switching,
protective and other devices, to the input of the hydrogen
converting equipments. Getting water from the surrounding location,
the hydrogen converting equipments will produce hydrogen and oxygen
gases and it's other forms directly from the output of the wind
turbine electrical generators. The gasses can now be stored in
various ways e.g. gas or liquid. Whereby, all the equipments are
within very close proximity with each other. As such, there can be
wind turbine farms located in lakes, seas, rivers etc producing
hydrogen and oxygen, ensuring a fuel devoid of fossil fuels. There
will no generation of electricity for export through wires.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] 1. Background--Field of Invention
[0002] Method
[0003] This invention relates to the production of hydrogen and
oxygen gasses, specifically without the use of fossil fuels as the
source of energy.
[0004] 2. Background--Description of Prior Art
[0005] Method
[0006] FIG. 1/3. One of the more effective, albeit expensive,
process hitherto used to produce hydrogen, is to use the
electrolysis process powered by electricity from the power grid of
electrical generating plants. Most of these plants use
non-renewable energy to power their generators. Wind turbines(1)
and solar photovoltaic cells have been used to supply electricity
to the power grids. But electricity, been a non currency form of
energy, must have a fossil fueled generator (4) to maintain the
power requirements of customers, when there is no wind or sun. The
hydrogen generating plants (8) and other electricity consumers are
on the same electrical power grid, which uses high voltages, huge
transformers (2, 3, 5 & 7), transmission lines in land
corridors etc. The world must move away from diminishing and highly
polluting non-renewable fuel as a source of energy and hydrogen
will be the fuel of the future. Another method to produce hydrogen
is to use a reformer, but still using non-renewable energy. To
produce hydrogen with these methods are highly polluting and
expensive. Furthermore, by not using power from wind turbines
solely to produce hydrogen is costly and very wasteful.
[0007] As shown in FIG. 1/3 the electrical output of the wind farm
electrical generators (1) is fed a step up transformer(2), which is
in turn connected to electrical distribution grid. This grid is
also fed with power from a fossil powered electrical generator(4)
through low to high voltage transformer(3). This power grid
supplies various customers through high to low voltage
transformers(5 & 7). One of these customers is a hydrogen
conversion plant(8), which also needs water. This water is supplied
from the mains water supply(10). As a result, the power consumed by
the hydrogen conversion plant(8) is derived from both the wind
power electrical generator(1) and fossil fueled electrical
generator(4).
SUMMARY INCLUDING OBJECT AND ADVANTAGES
[0008] As shown in FIG. 3/3. The production of hydrogen and oxygen
gasses comprising of a method, which is more efficient and in
addition requires no fossil fuel in the production of these gasses.
All the following equipments are located in a body of water and
must be in close proximity with each other. The electrical output
of these wind farm electricity generators(21) is connected directly
to the input of hydrogen converting equipments(23) through
switching, protective devices and other necessary devices. Using
water(22) and the electrical power, the hydrogen converting plants
(23), produce two pure gasses, hydrogen and oxygen. These gasses
are then stored separately.
Objects and Advantages
[0009] Accordingly, advantages of my invention are:
[0010] (1) As shown in FIG. 2/3, the following are not
required:
[0011] (a) Fossil fueled electricity generators(14)
[0012] (b) Transformers (12, 13, 15 & 17)
[0013] (c) High voltage grid(16), wires, towers, land etc.
[0014] (2) Since the above(1) are not required, reduced costs are
as follows:
[0015] (a) Capital expenditures.
[0016] (b) Land to build land corridors for electrical grids.
[0017] (c) Running and maintenance costs.
[0018] (d) No fossil fuel.
[0019] (3) Since no fossil fuel is required there is no
pollution.
[0020] (4) More environmentally friendly.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 2/3. Accordingly, objects of my invention
are:
[0022] (1) To use the electrical power generated from the wind farm
electricity generators (11) primarily to produce hydrogen with
oxygen as a by-product.
[0023] (2) The non-requirement of fossil fuel in the production of
hydrogen.
[0024] (3) By installing this factory in a body of water (off
shore), the power output of wind farm electricity generators(11) is
increased by not less than 20% rather than if the turbine was
located on the shoreline.
[0025] (4) To use the surrounding water body(20) as the other
required raw material.
[0026] (5) The feeding of the power from the wind farm electricity
generators (11) directly to hydrogen converting plant(18)
eliminates the need for high voltage transformers(12, 13, 15 &
17), transmission power lines, corridors, land (16) etc Thus, there
are reduction of costs and limited resources.
[0027] (6) The direct coupling of the wind farm electricity
generators to hydrogen converting plants will result in greater
efficiencies in the extraction of energy from winds.
[0028] Still further objects and advantages will become apparent
from a consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] FIG. 1 is a view of how hydrogen is now produced using the
electrical power grid.
[0030] FIG. 2 is a view of the deletion of equipments not required
in my invention.
[0031] FIG. 3 is a view of equipment needed to produce hydrogen
using my invention, resulting in greater efficiency.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0032] Numerals
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT--DESCRIPTION
[0033] FIG. 3/3 illustrates the various parts of my invention for
the production of hydrogen and oxygen using wind power as the
source of energy. Wind farm electricity generators (21) (FIG. 3),
as a complete machinery, can be purchased from various
manufacturers e.g. Enron Wind Corp. of USA, Danish firms, who have
wind farms in the North Sea, (www.windpower.dk), etc. Water (22)
FIG. 3 will be around the installation. The hydrogen converting
plants (23) FIG. 3 can use either electrolysis or permeable
electron membrane technologies. As complete machineries, not only
do they do the separation, but clean both the hydrogen and the
oxygen gases. They can be bought from Stuart Energies (www.stuart
energ.com), etc. The hydrogen storage equipment (24) FIG. 3 and the
oxygen storage equipment (25) FIG. 3 are also readily available
depending on the requirements of the customers.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT--OPERATION
[0034] Operation of this method of my invention will be described
further with reference of FIG. 3/3, which is a flow chart of the
sequential operations used in the production of hydrogen and oxygen
gasses, using wind power as the only power input.
[0035] Wind Farm electricity generators (21) FIG. 3 are located in
a body of water e.g. lake, sea, etc., not too far offshore from
land, depending on commercial and environmental issues. The winds
turn the blades of the wind farm electricity generators (21) FIG. 3
and the output is electrical power. It should be pointed out that
the power requirements of hydrogen converting plants(23) FIG. 3 are
not as tight as power requirements for electrical grids. This power
is fed only to the hydrogen converting plants (23) FIG. 3, which is
located on the same structure as the wind farm electricity
generators (21) FIG. 3 or very nearby. Water (22) FIG. 3 is taken
from the body of water, which surrounds this structure. After the
water is conditioned, it is fed to the hydrogen converting plants
(23) FIG. 3 with the resulting output been hydrogen and oxygen
gases. Both of these gases are separately cleaned. The hydrogen is
stored in the hydrogen storage equipments (24) FIG. 3. The oxygen
is stored in the oxygen storage equipments (25) FIG. 3. By putting
the wind farm electricity generators (21) FIG. 3 in that location
the following advantages are as follows:
[0036] (a) No valuable land is used for the installation of this
farm.
[0037] (b) Wind turbines, located away from the population, can be
made larger, more efficient etc. because appearances, noises etc
will be of a lesser concern.
[0038] (c) Wind turbines, using the wind blowing over a body of
water, produce greater output than wind turbines installed on land.
See www.windpower.dk
[0039] (d) A plant, using my invention, can be installed very near
cities, which border near a body of water, e.g. New York, Chicago,
Along the California seaboard, Toronto etc; thereby having a market
for both gasses.
[0040] By feeding the electrical output of the wind farm
electricity generators (21) FIG. 3 to only the hydrogen converting
plants (23) FIG. 3, the advantages are as follows:
[0041] (a) No fossil fueled electricity generators (14) FIG. 2 are
needed. Hydrogen is only produced when there is an electrical
output. Hydrogen converting plants (18) FIG. 2 are more tolerant of
power fluctuations than if this power is fed to an electrical power
grid.
[0042] (b) Power transformers (12, 13, 15 and 17) FIG. 2 are not
needed.
[0043] (c) The high voltage feed grid (16) FIG. 2 is not
needed.
[0044] (d) The capital and running costs of the above (a), (b) and
(c) are not incurred.
[0045] (e) The direct coupling of wind farm electricity generators
to hydrogen converting plants will increase the efficiencies of
energy extraction from winds.
[0046] Plants using my invention have the advantages as
follows:
[0047] (a) No fossil fuel required for producing hydrogen, the fuel
of the future.
[0048] (b) Environmentally very friendly.
[0049] (c) Non dependence on other nations for one form of
energy.
[0050] (d) A cheaper form of energy rather than fossil or nuclear
energy.
[0051] (e) Can be built in a very short time span, because no new
technologies have to be invented.
[0052] (f) A significant reduction of global warming.
[0053] Conclusions, Ramifications, and Scope
[0054] The above-described system allows one to obtain hydrogen and
oxygen gases from wind turbine electrical generators. This factory,
with all the equipment been on onsite, see FIG. 3/3, is located in
a body of water. Thus, the factory will produce hydrogen and oxygen
as gas, compressed gas, or liquid, in a very cost effective manner.
This is all done in a very environmental atmosphere.
[0055] Although the description above contains much specificity,
these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the
invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the
presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Various other
embodiments and ramifications are possible within it's scope. For
example, solar power could be used as a source of electrical power
either by itself or in conjunction with electrical power from wind
turbine. The wind farm electricity generators are not limited to be
in a body of water, but can used on land. The hydrogen converting
plants could be situated away from the power source, but
considerations must be given to the feasibility of having
transformers and high voltage transmission lines. Thus the scope of
the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their
legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.
* * * * *
References