US20020110522A1

US20020110522A1 - Single site wind turbine electrical power conversion into hydrogen and oxygen

Info

Publication number: US20020110522A1
Application number: US09/780,821
Authority: US
Inventors: Douglas Chin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-02-09
Filing date: 2001-02-09
Publication date: 2002-08-15

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.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

1. Background—Field of Invention

Method

This invention relates to the production of hydrogen and oxygen gasses, specifically without the use of fossil fuels as the source of energy.

2. Background—Description of Prior Art

Method

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.

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

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

Accordingly, advantages of my invention are:

(1) As shown in FIG. 2/ 3, the following are not required:

(a) Fossil fueled electricity generators( 14)

(b) Transformers ( 12, 13, 15 & 17)

(c) High voltage grid( 16), wires, towers, land etc.

(2) Since the above(1) are not required, reduced costs are as follows:

(a) Capital expenditures.

(b) Land to build land corridors for electrical grids.

(c) Running and maintenance costs.

(d) No fossil fuel.

(3) Since no fossil fuel is required there is no pollution.

(4) More environmentally friendly.

As shown in FIG. 2/ 3. Accordingly, objects of my invention are:

(1) To use the electrical power generated from the wind farm electricity generators ( 11) primarily to produce hydrogen with oxygen as a by-product.

(2) The non-requirement of fossil fuel in the production of hydrogen.

(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.

(4) To use the surrounding water body( 20) as the other required raw material.

(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.

(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.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of how hydrogen is now produced using the electrical power grid. [0029]
FIG. 2 is a view of the deletion of equipments not required in my invention. [0030]
FIG. 3 is a view of equipment needed to produce hydrogen using my invention, resulting in greater efficiency.[0031]

REFERENCE NUMERALS

Numerals [0032]

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT—DESCRIPTION

FIG. 3/[0033] 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

Operation of this method of my invention will be described further with reference of FIG. 3/[0034] 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.
Wind Farm electricity generators ([0035] 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:
(a) No valuable land is used for the installation of this farm. [0036]
(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. [0037]
(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 [0038]
(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. [0039]
By feeding the electrical output of the wind farm electricity generators ([0040] 21) FIG. 3 to only the hydrogen converting plants (23) FIG. 3, the advantages are as follows:
(a) No fossil fueled electricity generators ([0041] 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.
(b) Power transformers ([0042] 12, 13, 15 and 17) FIG. 2 are not needed.
(c) The high voltage feed grid ([0043] 16) FIG. 2 is not needed.
(d) The capital and running costs of the above (a), (b) and (c) are not incurred. [0044]
(e) The direct coupling of wind farm electricity generators to hydrogen converting plants will increase the efficiencies of energy extraction from winds. [0045]
Plants using my invention have the advantages as follows: [0046]
(a) No fossil fuel required for producing hydrogen, the fuel of the future. [0047]
(b) Environmentally very friendly. [0048]
(c) Non dependence on other nations for one form of energy. [0049]
(d) A cheaper form of energy rather than fossil or nuclear energy. [0050]
(e) Can be built in a very short time span, because no new technologies have to be invented. [0051]
(f) A significant reduction of global warming. [0052]
Conclusions, Ramifications, and Scope [0053]
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/[0054] 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.
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. [0055]

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.