EP4251785A1 - Installation de captation d'énergie solaire - Google Patents

Installation de captation d'énergie solaire

Info

Publication number
EP4251785A1
EP4251785A1 EP20828062.8A EP20828062A EP4251785A1 EP 4251785 A1 EP4251785 A1 EP 4251785A1 EP 20828062 A EP20828062 A EP 20828062A EP 4251785 A1 EP4251785 A1 EP 4251785A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
electrolyser
solar power
gas
power installation
installation according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP20828062.8A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Nigel David Lister WILLIAMSON
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Clean Power Hydrogen Group Ltd
Original Assignee
Clean Power Hydrogen Group Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Clean Power Hydrogen Group Ltd filed Critical Clean Power Hydrogen Group Ltd
Publication of EP4251785A1 publication Critical patent/EP4251785A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B1/00—Electrolytic production of inorganic compounds or non-metals
    • C25B1/01—Products
    • C25B1/02—Hydrogen or oxygen
    • C25B1/04—Hydrogen or oxygen by electrolysis of water
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B9/00—Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
    • C25B9/17—Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof
    • C25B9/19—Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof with diaphragms
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B9/00—Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
    • C25B9/60—Constructional parts of cells
    • C25B9/65—Means for supplying current; Electrode connections; Electric inter-cell connections

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a solar power installation for generating gas es such as hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis using electrical power from so- lar panel arrays.
  • Battery storage is appropriate for static applications up to a certain scale, after which hydrogen is both more economical and more sustainable, and for transportation of stored energy, there is no better medium than hydrogen. This may be done in pressurised cylinders or in cryogenic liquid form.
  • Electrolysers which are typically designed for these environments are housed in containers (of which there may be multiples) or, for larger systems, in purpose-built warehouses, etc. Creating such environments for electrolyser technologies leads to significant cost which could be avoided.
  • DC/DC power conversion technologies are typically required for elec trolyser systems to take the combined electrical outputs from numerous solar panels and convert it to a more usable profile for use by reactor stacks within the system.
  • the resulting power may be taken off by separate cables which feed individual reactor stacks or connected to a bus-bar from which individual reactor stacks could be powered.
  • This type of mixed-gas system allows for reductions (from maximum) in both Voltage and current to occur while remaining efficient in driving the wa- ter decomposition reaction (there being no resistance to the passage of ions from membranes), thereby maximising gas production throughout a wide range of solar power input as the Sun travels through its daily path.
  • a solar power installation according to the invention comprises a pho tovoltaic panel and an electrolyser supplied with electrical power directly from the panel, whereby the electrical power output of the panel is matched to the power requirement of the electrolyser, the electrolyser having a water inlet and a gas outlet connected to gas storage means.
  • One aspect of the invention provides a solar power installation com prising a plurality of groups of photovoltaic panels, each group having a respec tive electrolyser mounted adjacent to the group and supplied with electrical power directly from the group whereby the electrical power output of the panels in the group is matched to the power requirement of the electrolyser, each elec trolyser having an inlet connection from a supply of water and an outlet connec tion to a gas manifold.
  • the electrolyser system comprises a plurality of reactor stacks with minimal balance of plant (BOP) which are directly linked to solar panel arrays, rather than housed together in a building or container, thereby eliminating ex pensive and inefficient DC/DC conversion technology.
  • BOP minimal balance of plant
  • units could be arranged to take advantage of shade provided by the solar ar rays.
  • stacks would be directly electrically linked to an ap-litiste number of solar cells, with the gas thereby produced being provided to downstream purification technologies in ‘bundled’ pipework or manifolded to gether for transmission.
  • Water would be supplied to each stack by any of various means from a controlled quality water supply.
  • electrolysers could be located anywhere in a solar array, but will most likely be placed evenly row-to-row in order to efficiently link gas output lines and to allow easy access for maintenance.
  • Gas output lines could be buried or carried on overhead gantries for safety.
  • a system of this nature would eliminate the need for costly electrical conversion technologies by appropriately scaling electrolyser reactor stacks to match electrical output from solar arrays, such that a row (or partial row) of solar panels would be linked to a reactor stack of appropriate electrical capacity to match the maximum electrical output.
  • electrolysers would be connected by pressure-resistant tub- ing such as stainless steel tube to manifolds of larger diameter which would run the length of the installation to a purification system where the gases may be stored either cryogenically or in pressurised vessels.
  • Such a concept may be used for any of the types of electrolysis cur rently deployed for such energy storage purposes, including proton exchange membrane (PEM), alkaline membrane or mixed gas systems with cryogenic separation technologies.
  • PEM proton exchange membrane
  • alkaline membrane or mixed gas systems with cryogenic separation technologies.
  • trace heating can be installed at each electrolyser, powered by an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) to maintain fluid temperatures at values above those at which water and electrolyte freeze.
  • UPS uninterruptable power supply
  • gas transmission lines which might carry moist gas may be kept at above freezing temperature with trace heating, should such prove nec essary.
  • lines might be buried rather than mounted above ground in order to ensure that they are protected from low temperatures.
  • systems of this design re quire less cooling energy at the height of the day to maintain optimal operating temperatures.
  • Small diameter metal gas lines from the electrolyser stacks might be laid bunched together, arranged in parallel runs, or manifolded into larger diam eter tubes.
  • the small diameter tubes could be mounted in groups on overhead gantries or buried underground. In such ‘tube runs’ a sin gle tube will leave the most distant electrolyser, with additional ones added to run alongside as additional electrolysers’ output gas lines are incorporated into the group.
  • small diameter tubes would be connected at the closest or most accessible point to a larger diameter stainless steel tube which would progressively convey the gas from multiple electrolysers.
  • This tube might be of consistent diameter for its length, or, alternatively, start at the most distant end as a small diameter tube and progressively step up in diameter as electro lyser outlet tubes are progressively added to the manifold.
  • stacks in such a system are located outside, and not en closed in any building or ISO-type container, there is no danger of leaked hy drogen forming a combustible gas pocket. This renders the total system very much safer and less expensive than enclosed systems, as there is a reduced need for leak detection and associated control system technologies.
  • stacks could be designed to make use of the surround ing ambient air temperature for cooling, thereby significantly reducing the power which would otherwise be required for chilling the circulating water or electro lyte. This could be accomplished by numerous means, including using larger surface area cell plates to create external ‘fins’ to passing ambient air.
  • One aspect of the invention provides an installation suitable for use in homesteads and farms and having a single electrolyser unit linked to a panel or panels dimensioned so as to provide matched power for the electrolyser, which is suitably linked to a cryogenic separation unit so as to separate out and store hydrogen for fuelling combustion engines or fuel cells for powering machinery, for example tractors or other farm equipment.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a solar power array with electrolyser system
  • Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the end of one row in the ar ray of Figure 1.
  • the solar array 1 comprises rows of photo voltaic panels 2 directed in conventional manner to receive the maximum amount of solar radiation through the day.
  • Each row has an electrolyser unit 4 located at or adjacent to one end thereof and supplied with electrical power from at least some of the panels in the row such that the power supplied to the electrolyser directly matches the power requirement of the electrolyser without the need for DC/DC conversion.
  • the power re quirements of the electrolyser for the row may be fulfilled by, say, half of the row, with the remaining panels in the row supplying power for other purposes, for example to the grid, or to a further electrolyser provided at the opposite end of the row.
  • the electrolysers may suitably be of the membraneless mixed gas type, the gas outlet of each electrolyser being connected to a gas manifold tube 7 conducting the gases to a gas purification, separation and storage system 8, where the gases are dried by any of a number of technologies before the hy- drogen is separated from oxygen by means of cryogenic treatment to liquefy the oxygen leaving gaseous hydrogen to be drawn off. The oxygen is then sepa rately evaporated and stored for industrial or other use.
  • Suitably purified water is supplied to each electrolyser through a separate supply pipe (not shown) and control of the whole system is via control cabinet 9.
  • the electrolyser unit 4 is electrically con nected to the panels 2 via an electrical connection box 5.
  • a water storage tank 3 is supplied with water from a central supply and in turn delivers water to the electrolyser. Gases exit the electrolyser via a gas outlet tube 6 connected to the gas manifold tube 7, which extends along the ends of the rows in the array.
  • the manifold tube may be constructed so as to increase in diameter from the end remote from the gas purification and separation system 8 to allow for the in creasing gas flow volume as each electrolyser is connected in to it.
  • each electrolyser module (compris ing stack, reservoir, BOP and water provision technology) would be scaled to accommodate 100kW of input power.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Non-Metals, Compounds, Apparatuses Therefor (AREA)
  • Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)
  • Photovoltaic Devices (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une installation d'énergie solaire comprenant un panneau photovoltaïque (2) et un électrolyseur alimenté en énergie électrique directement à partir du panneau, la sortie de puissance électrique du panneau étant adaptée à l'exigence de puissance du dispositif électronique, l'électrolyseur comprenant une entrée d'eau et une sortie de gaz reliées à des moyens de stockage de gaz. L'installation d'énergie solaire peut comprendre une pluralité de groupes de panneaux photovoltaïques (2), chaque groupe comprenant un électrolyseur respectif (4) monté adjacent au groupe et alimenté en énergie électrique directement à partir du groupe, la sortie de puissance électrique des panneaux dans le groupe étant adaptée à l'exigence de puissance de l'électrolyseur. Le ou chaque électrolyseur (4) comprend une connexion d'entrée à partir d'une alimentation en eau et une connexion de sortie (6) à une rampe d'alimentation en gaz (7).
EP20828062.8A 2020-11-27 2020-11-27 Installation de captation d'énergie solaire Pending EP4251785A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/GB2020/053056 WO2022112732A1 (fr) 2020-11-27 2020-11-27 Installation de captation d'énergie solaire

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4251785A1 true EP4251785A1 (fr) 2023-10-04

Family

ID=73855502

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20828062.8A Pending EP4251785A1 (fr) 2020-11-27 2020-11-27 Installation de captation d'énergie solaire

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4251785A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU2020479045A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2022112732A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7510640B2 (en) * 2004-02-18 2009-03-31 General Motors Corporation Method and apparatus for hydrogen generation
CN101374978B (zh) * 2005-12-15 2010-12-08 通用汽车环球科技运作公司 优化光伏电解器效率
US20070277870A1 (en) * 2006-05-31 2007-12-06 Mark Wechsler Solar hydrogen generation system
US9527569B2 (en) * 2012-09-19 2016-12-27 Solar Ship Inc. Hydrogen-regenerating solar-powered aircraft
CN106977369B (zh) * 2016-12-15 2020-12-01 稳力(广东)科技有限公司 一种综合利用电能联合制甲醇及氨的装置及方法
EP3533905A1 (fr) * 2018-03-01 2019-09-04 Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. Procédé de configuration d'un système d'électrolyse de l'eau
AU2020222397A1 (en) * 2019-02-14 2021-08-05 Southern Green Gas Limited Solar-powered water electrolyser

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2022112732A1 (fr) 2022-06-02
AU2020479045A1 (en) 2023-06-22

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