U.S. patent application number 13/044522 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-30 for high efficient hydrogen generation with green engergy powers.
Invention is credited to Haiming Li.
Application Number | 20110155583 13/044522 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44186135 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110155583 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Li; Haiming |
June 30, 2011 |
HIGH EFFICIENT HYDROGEN GENERATION WITH GREEN ENGERGY POWERS
Abstract
A novel system and method for generating hydrogen by
electrolysis of water from a green power source. Electricity
generated by solar panel or wind mill is measured and connected
with plurality of electrolysis stacks. The number of operating
electrolysis stacks are constantly controlled by a controlling
mechanism that calculates an optimal operating number of
electrolysis stacks using the measured electricity parameter and
the operating parameter of an electrolysis unit.
Inventors: |
Li; Haiming; (Quincy,
MA) |
Family ID: |
44186135 |
Appl. No.: |
13/044522 |
Filed: |
March 9, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61313711 |
Mar 13, 2010 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
205/637 ;
204/229.2; 204/230.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 70/10 20130101;
Y02E 60/36 20130101; C25B 1/04 20130101; C25B 15/02 20130101; C25B
15/08 20130101; Y02E 60/366 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
205/637 ;
204/230.2; 204/229.2 |
International
Class: |
C25B 1/04 20060101
C25B001/04; C25B 9/00 20060101 C25B009/00 |
Claims
1. A hydrogen generation device system from an electricity source,
comprising: a controlling device module electronically connected
with said electricity source; at least one electrolysis unit,
electronically connected with said controlling device module, which
in operation generates hydrogen by electrolyzing water using said
electricity source; and a hydrogen collection device module
collecting said hydrogen into storage, wherein said controlling
device module measures a parameter of said electricity and directs
said electrolysis unit's operation in accordance to said parameter
of said electricity.
2. The hydrogen generation device system of claim 1, wherein said
electrolysis unit is connected to said controlling device module in
parallel.
3. The hydrogen generation device system of claim 1, wherein said
electrolysis unit is connected to said controlling device module in
series.
4. The hydrogen generation device system of claim 1, wherein said
electrolysis unit is removably connected to said hydrogen
generation device system, and is expandable or reducable in
number.
5. The hydrogen generation device system of claim 1, wherein said
electrolysis unit comprises a plurality of sub-electrolysis
cells.
6. The hydrogen generation device system of claim 1, wherein said
controlling device module receives a pre-setting parameter about
said electrolysis unit and about said electricity power source.
7. A controlling device module for a hydrogen generation system by
electrolysis, comprising: an electricity measuring device for
measuring an input electricity parameter; an input device module
for storing at least one system operating parameter; a controlling
CPU, electronically connected with said electricity measuring
device and said input device module, generating a controlling
signal by calculating a maximum operating number of electrolysis
units based on said electricity parameter received and said system
operating parameter; and a controller for receiving said
controlling signal and for turning on and off an electrolysis unit
in accordance to said signal.
8. The controlling device module of claim 7 is connected
electronically with plurality of electrolysis units that produce
hydrogen from electrolysis of water using said input
electricity.
9. The controlling device module of claim 8, wherein said plurality
of electrolysis units are connected in parallel.
10. The controlling device module of claim 8, wherein said
plurality of electrolysis units are connected in series.
11. The controlling device module of claim 8, wherein each of said
electrolysis units is controlled by an independent electronic
switch.
12. The controlling device module of claim 8, wherein said
electrolysis units are installed removably, and are expandable in
number.
13. The controlling device module of claim 8, wherein said input
device module receives a pre-set parameter from a manual input.
14. A method for generating hydrogen from a green power source,
comprising the actions of: measuring an electricity parameter from
said green power source; calculating an optimal number of operating
electrolysis units based on the electricity parameter; and turning
on the optimal number of electrolysis units to generate hydrogen by
electrolysis using the electricity from said green power
source.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein said electrolysis units are
connected in parallel.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein said electrolysis units are
connected in series.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein each of said electrolysis units
is controlled by a built-in electronic switch which receives a
command from a controller.
18. The method of claim 14 further comprising the action of
filtering said hydrogen automatically.
19. The method of claim 14 further comprising the action of
manually inputting a system operating parameter.
20. The method of claim 14, further comprising measuring an
operating parameter of an electrolysis unit.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE
[0001] Priority is claimed from the U.S. Provisional Application
No. 61/313,711, filed on Mar. 13, 2010, and the entirety of which
is hereby incorporated by reference.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
[0002] The present application relates to a hydrogen generation
system, and more particularly to a high efficient hydrogen
generation system that adjusts to fluctuations and variations of
the input power source, thus efficiently converting a green energy
source into hydrogen fuel energy.
[0003] Note that the points discussed below may reflect the
hindsight gained from the disclosed inventions, and are not
necessarily admitted to be prior art.
[0004] Hydrogen has long been regarded as a clean fuel source
alternative to fossil fuel energy sources. Hydrogen is
non-polluting, transportable, storable, more efficient than petrol,
and can be convertible directly to heat and electricity for both
mobile and other applications.
[0005] Hydrogen can be generated by a number of ways, the cleanest
way is through electrolysis, especially if the electricity is
generated from a green energy source, such as, the solar energy or
wind power. Since both water and the energy sources are renewable
and inexhaustible, this is a way of high potential. However,
traditionally wind and solar energies used in hydrogen electrolysis
have inherent disadvantages that prevent them from being
effectively and fully utilized. Because their powers are
intermittent and non-dispatchable, for example, when winds are
strong, the output would be higher than power demands of a
traditional electrolysis system, a great portion of generated
energy would be wasted. Because of this low conversion efficiency,
producing hydrogen from water is of high cost, preventing hydrogen
from being used as a fuel source of any significance.
[0006] Many attempts have been made in improving the efficiency and
reducing cost of hydrogen production by electrolysis. For example,
WO 2010/057257 A1 describes an electrolysis system that increases
hydrogen production efficiency by increasing the number of
electrolysis cells and electrolysis temperature using a radiation
distributor. However, this design dramatically increases the
complexity in safety control of the electrolysis process, and also
requires additional energy in generating sufficient heat for high
temperature electrolysis.
[0007] US Patent Application Publication US 2010/0259102 A1, on the
other hand, describes a hydrogen generating electrolysis system
that combines two different types of electrolyzer, one of a rapid
dynamics electrolysis, one of a substantially slower dynamics
electrolysis. The combination of different dynamic responses allows
absorbing the fluctuations of the electricity generated from a
green power source. Such combination, although may improve the
efficiency, is limited by their inherent limitations in responding
to wider range of fluctuations.
[0008] Another example, US Patent Application Publication US
2009/0178918A1, describes a hydrogen generation electrolysis system
by using multiple electrolysis cells that are optimally connected
with multiple solar photovoltaic cells. One or more photovoltaic
cells' electric potential are measured and matched to an
electrolysis cell that would optimally operate under this electric
potential. The optimization process includes reducing the number of
connected solar cells. By controlling the number of operating
photovoltaic cells in producing electricity, this method may
provide a viable solution for systems comprising many small
photovoltaic cells. For large singular solar panel system, and for
wind powered system, however, because of the number of choices of
panels in turning on or off being limited, this method will not be
applicable. On the other hand, for a system that includes hundreds
or thousands of small photovoltaic cells, the controlling system
will become tremendously complicated, and thus become error prone
and useless.
SUMMARY
[0009] The present application discloses new approaches to make use
of the non-stable stream of electricity produced from wind, solar
or other renewable sources for hydrogen production. A hydrogen
generating system includes plurality of electrolysis stacks and a
controlling system that decides how many electrolysis stacks at
each instant moment can be turned on to function in order to
optimally and sufficiently make use of the current power input.
[0010] In one embodiment, an example controlling system includes a
voltage or a current meter device, a programmable logic controller
microchip system, a controller and plurality of switches.
[0011] In one embodiment, an example programmable logic microchip
controlling system takes input of the measurement of current input
electricity voltage/current in the system together with the optimal
operating electricity requirement of an electrolysis cell or stack,
determines the optimal number of operating electrolysis cells and
sends signals to the controller which then turns on or off some of
the electrolysis cells accordingly.
[0012] In one embodiment, the microchip controlling system takes
input parameters from an input interface which presets the maximum
range of system working voltages/currents and the maximum number of
electrolysis stacks/cells, to prevent the system from being over
charged.
[0013] In one embodiment, the total number of stacks or cells of
electrolysis units in the system may be added or reduced,
individual electrolysis unit is removably connected and mounted
with the system. Produced hydrogen is collected through the same
filter unit and stored together.
[0014] In one embodiment, a water circulating system is included to
keep the electrolysis units at a constant operating
temperature.
[0015] In one aspect of an embodiment, plurality of electrolysis
stacks or cells are connected in series with a power source, and
each electrolysis stack or cell is connected with an electronic
relay switch that is independently connected with the
controller.
[0016] In another aspect of an embodiment plurality of electrolysis
stacks or cells are connected in parallel to a power source, and
each electrolysis stack or cell is connected with an electronic
switch that is independently connected with the controller.
[0017] The disclosed innovation, in various embodiments, provides
one or more of at least the following advantages. However, not all
of these advantages result from every one of the innovations
disclosed, and this list of advantages does not limit the various
claimed inventions. This system and method provide great
flexibility and capability in adding and reducing the number of
electrolysis units, allowing this hydrogen generation system be
operated in high efficiency with variety of green energy power
sources that produce a non-stable and intermittent electricity in
wide amplitude of fluctuations. The combination of high flexibility
and high efficiency will greatly reduce the cost of hydrogen and
improve the popularity of hydrogen in replacing fossil fuels as a
fuel energy source.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The disclosed invention will be described with reference to
the accompanying drawings, which show important sample embodiments
of the invention and which are incorporated in the specification
hereof by reference, wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 schematically shows an example adaptive hydrogen
generation system in accordance with this application.
[0020] FIG. 2 schematically shows another example adaptive hydrogen
generation system in accordance with this application.
[0021] FIG. 3 schematically shows an example structure of an
electrolysis stack having multiple electrolysis cells or slots in
accordance with this application.
[0022] FIG. 4 schematically shows an example adaptive controlling
mechanism for a hydrogen generation system in accordance with this
application.
[0023] FIG. 5 schematically shows another example adaptive
controlling mechanism for a hydrogen generation system in
accordance with this application.
[0024] FIG. 6 schematically shows an example electronic structure
of a hydrogen generation system in accordance with this
application.
[0025] FIG. 7 schematically shows a flow chart of command chains in
an example hydrogen generation system in accordance with this
application.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0026] The numerous innovative teachings of the present application
will be described with particular reference to presently preferred
embodiments (by way of example, and not of limitation). The present
application describes several embodiments, and none of the
statements below should be taken as limiting the claims
generally.
[0027] For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing
figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and
description and details of well-known features and techniques may
be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention.
Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily
drawn to scale, some areas or elements may be expanded to help
improve understanding of embodiments of the invention.
[0028] The terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," and the like
in the description and the claims, if any, may be used for
distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for
describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to
be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable.
Furthermore, the terms "comprise," "include," "have," and any
variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions,
such that a process, method, article, apparatus, or composition
that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to
those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed
or inherent to such process, method, article, apparatus, or
composition.
[0029] It is contemplated and intended that the design apply to any
suitable power sources; for clarity reason, the examples are given
based on either solar power or wind generated power. Also for
hydrogen generation through water electrolysis, currently there are
Proton Exchange Membrane technology and alkaline technology. It is
contemplated and intended that the described innovation may be used
in combination of any type of electrolysis technologies, and an
ordinary person in the art will know the necessary modifications
and changes to be made.
[0030] In reference to FIG. 1, an adaptive hydrogen generation
system using electrolysis technology is described.
[0031] The hydrogen generating system 101 includes a controlling
system 2, a water cooling system 3, electrolysis stacks 4, 5, 6, an
O.sub.2 filter 9, an H.sub.2 filter 10, a water refill 11, and a
pressure self-regulating valve 12. The system is connected to power
source 1. Electrolysis stacks 4, 5, 6 or more are connected in
series in this example. In operation, each of electrolysis stacks
4, 5, and 6 produces oxygen 7 and hydrogen 8 which is filtered
through 9 and 10 respectively and is collected into their storage
container 13 and 14 respectively. More electrolysis stacks may be
further installed and connected to the system if the capacity of
the power source changes.
[0032] Power source 1 may include wind turbines, solar panels or
any other intermittent power sources. In operation, controlling
system 2 constantly measures the electricity from Power Source 1,
which could have a wide arrange of voltages and currents, and
decides the corresponding number of electrolysis stacks needed to
be connected to the power source 1 in order to maximally utilize
the electricity.
[0033] If controlling system 2 determines that the electricity from
power source 1 is just sufficient to run electrolysis stacks 4 and
5, only electrolysis stacks 4 and 5 will be turned on with power
source 1, and electrolysis 6 will remain operationally turned off.
The produced O.sub.2 7 and H.sub.2 8 will be conducted to Filter 9
and Filter 10 to be cleaned. Through Pressure Self-regulating Valve
12, filtered O.sub.2 13 and H.sub.2 14 will be directed into their
separate storage devices. The water cooling system 3 constantly
circulates water to keep the hydrogen generating system 101 at a
stable operating temperature.
[0034] The electrolysis stacks may be connected in any suitable
ways. In reference to FIG. 2, an example of embodiment wherein
electrolysis stacks are connected in parallel is shown. Power
Source 21 includes wind, solar, and any other intermittent power
sources. Connected to Power Source 21 are Monitor and Controller
20, and connected in parallel, plurality of controlling components
30, and their respectively controlled electrolysis stacks/units 40,
50, 60. Each of the controlling components 30 controls the
functional on and off status of the respective electrolysis stack
or unit.
[0035] The number of electrolysis stacks and controlling components
may be expanded to as many as needed, depending on the system needs
and the power source used. Oxygen gas separator 80, Oxygen Gas
washer 90, Oxygen Pressure controller 100, Hydrogen gas separator
110, Hydrogen gas washer 120, Hydrogen Pressure controller 130,
Water Tank and Balancer 140, Flame arrester 150 may further be
included in the hydrogen generation system for hydrogen and oxygen
collections.
[0036] Water Tank and Balancer 140 stores and refills water for
electrolysis stacks to keep sufficient water level in each
operating electrolysis stack or unit. Oxygen gas separator, Oxygen
Gas washer, Oxygen Pressure controller, Hydrogen gas separator,
Hydrogen Gas washer, and Hydrogen Pressure controller are also
connected to water tank 140 to maintain their proper water
levels.
[0037] In a preferred embodiment, the produced hydrogen gas is
conducted into hydrogen gas separator 110 to be separated from
water vapor, then into Hydrogen Gas washer 120 to be cleaned, and
then goes through a Flame Arrester 150-2 into a Hydrogen Pressure
controller 130 to be cooled and properly pressure adjusted.
Hydrogen gas may be further conducted through Water Tank and
Balancer 140 for further cooling down and finally be conducted to
storage via Flame Arrester 150.
[0038] Similarly, the generated oxygen gas first flow into oxygen
gas separator 80 to be rid of water vapor, then into Oxygen Gas
washer 90 to be cleaned, then goes through a Flame Arrester 150-1
into Oxygen Pressure controller 100 to be cooled and properly
pressure adjusted and finally stored.
[0039] In reference to FIG. 3, each electrolysis stack of FIG. 2
may further include plurality of electrolysis slots connected in
series or in parallel. For example, as shown in FIG. 3,
electrolysis stack 160 may contain M electrolysis slots, connected
in series. Each electrolysis slot may operate under about 2 Volt DC
electricity, and electrolysis stack 160 would operate preferably
under about M*2 Voltage DC electricity.
[0040] The controlling system may be slightly different for in
series and for in parallel electrolysis stack systems. In reference
to FIGS. 4 and 5, where FIG. 4 shows an example of electrolysis
stacks connected in series and FIG. 5 shows an example of
electrolysis stacks connected in parallel, the controlling system 2
includes a voltage/current meter 416 or 518, a rectifier 417 or
519, a programmable logic controller (PLC) circuit chip 418 or 520,
a controller 419 or 521, relays 420 or controlling components or
switches 522. In FIG. 4 plurality of electrolysis stacks 421 are
connected in series and their respective controlling relays 20 are
connected in parallel loops to the controller 419 which is
connected with the rectifier and the PLC. In FIG. 5, plurality of
electrolysis stacks 523 are connected in parallel loops and inside
each of their loops connected their respective controlling switch
522 which is also electrically connected to the controller 521. The
controlling system is connected with power source 415 in FIG. 4 and
power source 517 in FIG. 5.
[0041] In operation, the electricity from the power source is
measured by a voltage/current meter 416 or 518. The measured
electricity information is then sent to PLC chip 418 or 520. Based
on the electricity information and the operating parameters of an
electrolysis stack, the PLC calculates how many electrolysis stacks
can operate optimally and can maximally consume all the electricity
power. The calculation is then sent to controller unit 419 or 521.
Upon receiving the calculation results from a PLC chip 418 or 520,
controller unit 419 or 521 then sends different electrical signals
to each of the relays 420 or controlling components 522, commanding
them either to turn on or to turn off from the power connection for
their respective electrolysis stacks in accordance with the
calculation.
[0042] For instance, in FIG. 4, if the DC electricity power source
415 can produce electricity of a Voltage ranging 0-600 V, we will
customize the system into 30 electrolysis stacks 421-1, 421-2 . . .
421-30. Each of electrolysis stacks 421 contains 10 electrolysis
slots, so each electrolysis stack can work with 10*2 voltage DC
electricity, just like electrolysis stack 160 in FIG. 3. When the
electric voltage is between 29*20 V.about.30*20 V, relay 420-1 is
commanded to turn on while other relays 420-2 to 420-30 are
disconnected, allowing all thirty electrolysis stacks 421-1 to
421-30 to turn on and function. When the electric voltage is
between 560.about.580 V, relay 420-2 is connected and all other
relays 420-1, 420-3, 420-4, . . . , 420-30 are disconnected,
allowing twenty nine electrolysis stacks 421-2, 421-3, . . . ,
421-30 operating, while 421-1 remains non-functional similarly,
when the electric voltage goes below 20 V, relay 420-30 is
connected and all other relays 420-1, 420-2, . . . , 420-29 are
disconnected, therefore only one electrolysis stack 421-30 remains
operating.
[0043] Similarly, for parallel connections in FIG. 5, for example,
assuming each electrolysis stack can work with X Amp DC
electricity, when the electric current is (N-1)*X Amp.about.N*X
Amp, all controlling components 522-1 to 522-N are turned on,
allowing all electrolysis stacks 523-1 to 523-N switch on and
operate; when the electric voltage is below M*X Amp, only
controlling component 522-N is connected and all other controlling
components 522-1 to 522-N-1 are disconnected, therefore only one
electrolysis stack 523-N remains functioning.
[0044] The controlling relays or switches may either be external to
an electrolysis stack or unit, or be a built-in part of an
electrolysis stack or unit.
[0045] FIG. 6 demonstrates an example embodiment of a controlling
system 2. It includes an input interface 622, a CPU 623, a storage
device 624, an output interface 625, a transistor 626, a relay 627.
The controlling system interacts and controls electrolysis stack
628.
[0046] In operation, input interface 622 receives an electronic
signal from an external source, such as voltage information from a
voltage meter, and transfers the signal to CPU 623. CPU 623 then
processes the signal and performs a calculation based on programs
stored in storage device 624, and determines whether or not the
electrolysis stack 628 should be functioning under this voltage
information. Then a command is generated and sent to output
interface 625 which in turn controls the voltage of transistor 626.
If CPU 623 decides to turn on the electrolysis stack 628, the
signal from output interface 625 will keep the base of transistor
626 at Vih, therefore transistor 626 will be connected, and relay
627 is turned on, electrolysis stack 628 will be connected to the
power source and functioning. If CPU 623 decides the current
electricity is not sufficient for electrolysis stack 628 to
function, the signal from output interface 625 will keep the base
of transistor 626 at Vil, causing transistor 626 to open, and relay
627 be turned off, and the electrolysis stack 628 will not be
working.
[0047] Input interface 622 may also receive settings about the
system, for example, the maximum voltage or currents for the
system, the maximum number of electrolysis stacks, and the optimum
operating parameter for each or certain electrolysis stacks, the
sequential order of turning on or off the electrolysis stacks,
etc.
[0048] FIG. 7 shows an example command chain of the system. At
steps 701 and 703, power is connected and measured, the measured
result is sent to CPU of a control center. At step 704, the CPU
takes the parameter of the current electricity and the parameters
of an electrolysis stack, calculates the optimal operating
combinations of the electrolysis stacks according to either the
pre-settings or instant measurement, and sends the turning on and
off signal to a controller at step 705. Electrolysis stacks are
then turned on or off at step 707, and the generated hydrogen and
oxygen gas are collected at step 709.
[0049] The electricity power source may not be limited to one, the
system may be connected to plurality of power sources concurrently
and the system parameters are constantly measured with voltage
and/or current meter(s).
[0050] As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the
innovative concepts described in the present application can be
modified and varied over a tremendous range of applications, and
accordingly the scope of patented subject matter is not limited by
any of the specific exemplary teachings given. It is intended to
embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that
fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
[0051] Additional general background, which helps to show
variations and implementations, may be found in the following
publications, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference
herein for all purposes: WO 2010/057257 A1, US 2010/0259102 A1, and
US 2009/0178918 A1.
[0052] None of the description in the present application should be
read as implying that any particular element, step, or function is
an essential element which must be included in the claim scope: THE
SCOPE OF PATENTED SUBJECT MATTER IS DEFINED ONLY BY THE ALLOWED
CLAIMS. Moreover, none of these claims are intended to invoke
paragraph six of 35 USC section 112 unless the exact words "means
for" are followed by a participle.
[0053] The claims as filed are intended to be as comprehensive as
possible, and NO subject matter is intentionally relinquished,
dedicated, or abandoned.
* * * * *