초록 ▼

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 generate

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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. 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 compris

1. 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; anda 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; anda 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. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the valving system maintains the pressure in the first flow loop and in the second flow loop at about 2,500-5,000 psi. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the valving system maintains the pressure in the first flow loop and in the second flow loop at about 3,000 psi. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gas collection system comprises an additional first gas-water column forming an additional first loop in which hydrogen from the electrolyzer passes into the additional first gas-water column to force water from the additional first gas-water column into the electrolyzer, an additional second gas-water column forming an additional second flow loop in which oxygen passes from the electrolyzer into the second gas-water column to force water from the second gas water-column into the electrolyzer, and the valving system includes valving alternately connecting the first and second gas-water columns to the electrolyzer and then the additional first gas-water column and the additional second gas-water column to the electrolyzer. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gas storage system comprises at least one hydrogen storage tank and at least one oxygen storage tank. 6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the at least one hydrogen storage tank has about twice the volume of the at least one oxygen storage tank. 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the at least one hydrogen storage tank comprises a plurality of hydrogen storage tanks and the at least one oxygen storage tank comprises a plurality of oxygen storage tanks. 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hydrogen-to-electricity converter comprises a fuel cell. 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the fuel cell receives oxygen from the gas storage system as well as hydrogen for use in generating electricity. 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hydrogen-to-electricity converter is a combustion engine driven generator. 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the combustion engine driven generator receives oxygen from the gas storage system as well as hydrogen for use in generating electricity.