Hydrogen transport apparatus

Abstract

A wind-turbine apparatus uses turbine-generated electrical energy to convert water to hydrogen in an electrolysis process, and stores the hydrogen in a subsea vessel. The submerged vessel is configured to contain and transport compressed hydrogen. By monitoring the vessel's hoop tension, ballast may be controlled to vary the buoyancy of the vessel. Electrical generating apparatus may use a wind turbine, water turbine or photovoltaic array, or combination thereof. The apparatus may employ an offshore fluid-turbine array or an onshore-turbine array combined with a photovoltaic array with associated fuel-synthesis hardware.

Claims

1. A submerged vessel for containing and transporting hydrogen comprising: a cylindrical shell lined with a plurality of bladders for containing hydrogen under water; and at least one ballast compartment in said vessel; and at least one pump for increasing and decreasing ballast in said at least one ballast compartment; and at least one tension hoop surrounding said shell; and at least one sensor coupled with said at least one tension hoop; and at least one valve engaged with a conduit for receiving and releasing hydrogen; and at least one valve engaged with a conduit for receiving and releasing ballast; and a control system for monitoring signals from said at least one sensor and for receiving and releasing hydrogen; and for receiving and releasing ballast; wherein hydrogen is stored at a given pressure by controlling ballast and by increasing ballast in response to increased hoop tension and by decreasing ballast in response to decreased hoop tension, according to signals from said at least one sensor on said at least one tension hoop, sent to said control system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: said at least one sensor measures tension on said tension hoop.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: said at least one sensor includes an external temperature sensor; wherein said external temperature sensor measures the external temperature and sends signals to said control system to determine if changes in external temperature affect the buoyancy of the vessel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: said at least one sensor includes an external salinity sensor; wherein said external salinity sensor measures the external salinity and sends signals to said control system to determine if changes in external salinity affect the buoyancy of the vessel.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: at least one valve engaged with a conduit for receiving and releasing a secondary fluid; wherein as hydrogen is received in said submerged vessel, said secondary fluid is released; and as hydrogen is released from said submerged vessel, said secondary fluid is received.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising: a first bladder for containing hydrogen and a second bladder for containing a secondary fluid.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising: at least one differential pressure transducer fixedly engaged with said vessel and in communication with said control system; wherein the at least one differential pressure transducer measures and communicates the difference in pressure between the inside of the vessel and an environment surrounding said vessel; and a set pressure is maintained as ballast is increased to increase pressure inside the vessel and ballast is decreased to decrease pressure inside the vessel.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein: a feedback loop occurs as differential pressure is measured and ballast is increased or decreased in response to the differential pressure measurement.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein; said feedback loop is monitored in real time.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said submerged vessel is comprised of a plurality of flanged-pipe segments fitted with a stern section and a bow section.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a propulsion apparatus remotely controlled; wherein said propulsion apparatus moves said submerged vessel as remotely controlled.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a propulsion apparatus remotely controlled; wherein said propulsion apparatus dynamically anchors said submerged vessel as remotely controlled.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising: an electrolyzer in said submerged vessel; wherein said electrolyzer converts a portion of stored hydrogen in said submerged vessel to run said propulsion apparatus to move said submerged vessel as remotely controlled.

14. A method for using the apparatus of claim 1, the method comprising: providing at least one source of clean energy; and employing said clean energy to run an electrolyzer to generate hydrogen from a water source; and transferring said hydrogen to the submerged vessel of claim 1 through said at least one conduit engaged with a valve for receiving and releasing hydrogen; and maintaining a given pressure inside said submerged vessel by: monitoring the signal from said at least one sensor on said at least one tension hoop; and controlling, with said controller, said at least one pump for increasing and decreasing ballast, in response to said signal from said at least one sensor; wherein reducing ballast in response to a signal denoting reduced tension on said tension hoop; and increasing ballast in response to a signal denoting increased tension on said tension hoop, thus moving said submerged vessel to a depth that maintains said given pressure inside said submerged vessel; and containing said hydrogen at a safe pressure while transporting said hydrogen.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said submerged vessel is towed to a location for delivery of said hydrogen.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said given pressure is equal to a pressure in the ambient environment surrounding said submerged vessel.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said given pressure is between 20 psi and +20 psi.

18. A method for using the apparatus of claim 9, the method comprising: providing at least one source of clean energy; and employing said clean energy to run an electrolyzer to generate hydrogen from a water source; and transferring said hydrogen to the submerged vessel of claim 1; and maintaining a given pressure inside said submerged vessel by: monitoring, with said controller, the signal from said at least one sensor on said at least one tension hoop; and monitoring, with said controller, the signal from said at least one differential pressure transducer; and controlling, with said controller, said at least one pump for increasing and decreasing ballast, in response to said signal from said at least one sensor and said signal from said at least one differential pressure transducer; wherein reducing ballast in response to a signal denoting reduced tension on said tension hoop, and said differential pressure transducer; and increasing ballast in response to a signal denoting increased tension on said tension hoop, and said differential pressure transducer, thus moving said submerged vessel to a depth that maintains said given pressure inside said submerged vessel; and containing said hydrogen at a safe pressure while transporting said hydrogen; and delivering said hydrogen to a container above a water surface; and receiving a secondary fluid through said valve engaged with a conduit for receiving and releasing a secondary fluid; wherein said given pressure is maintained while hydrogen is contained and transported and delivered.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said given pressure is equal to a pressure in the ambient environment surrounding said submerged vessel.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the difference between the ambient pressure surrounding the vessel and said given pressure is between 20 psi and +20 psi.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example embodiment;

(2) FIG. 2 is perspective, partially exploded view thereof;

(3) FIG. 3 is a diagram of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 4 is a top-perspective view of an iteration of the embodiment.

(5) FIG. 5 is a bottom-perspective view of the iteration of FIG. 4.

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective, exploded view of the iteration of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION

(7) FIG. 1 shows example embodiment 100 where at least one wind turbine 116 singularly or in an array. In some embodiments at least one solar panel 115 in an array may be coupled with the wind-turbine array. Electricity generated by the facility may be directed to an electrolyzer 113 where water is converted into hydrogen and moved to a vessel 110 that resides beneath the ocean surface. One skilled in the art understands that electrical energy may be generated onshore or offshore and transferred to an electrolyzer located onshore; on or near an offshore turbine; or proximal to a submerged vessel 110 located beneath the ocean surface wherein hydrogen is transferred from the electrolyzer to the vessel for storage and transport.

(8) The illustration in FIG. 2 and the diagram of FIG. 3 show an example embodiment of the submerged vessel. The submerged vessel is configured to contain and transport compressed hydrogen from a production location to a use location. It uses common, flanged-pipe segments fitted with a stern section and a bow section. One skilled in the art is familiar with flanged-pipe segments such as those used to form culverts and the like. The vessel is monitored to detect any difference between internal and external pressure and is moved to a watery depth that equalizes the internal pressure. In some embodiments a bladder 140 lines the interior of the assembled flanged-pipe segments. In other embodiments a second bladder 144 is used to contain a secondary fluid which is supplied to the vessel as stored hydrogen is removed.

(9) A controller 121 monitors strain gauges 128 that in turn monitor strain on tension hoops 118 and differential pressure transducers 134 that measure the difference in pressure between the inside and outside of the vessel 110. The controller also controls a pump 126 to move ballast in or out of a ballast tank 120 and controls a first valve 136 for receiving or releasing hydrogen, and a second valve 138 for receiving and releasing a secondary fluid from a compressor 124. In some embodiments an electrolyzer 142 converts a portion of stored hydrogen to electrical energy for driving a propulsion apparatus 122 to move the vessel 110.

(10) Tension hoops 118 surround the vessel 110 and are monitored by strain gauges 128. In other embodiments, differential pressure transducers 134 measure the difference between pressure inside the vessel and outside the vessel. One skilled in the art understands that differential pressure transducers, tension hoops and the like may be fitted to a hull and monitored to detect any difference between internal and external pressure. A volume of ballast is increased or decreased in response to signals from tension-hoop sensors 128 or differential transducers 134 that are sent to the controller 121, where calculations are computed to determine the amount of ballast required to move the vessel 110 to the appropriate depth to provide the correct counter-pressure inside the vessel 110. Water ballast contained in a compartment or bladder 120 is pumped in or out of the otherwise sealed vessel in response to the pressure difference, which arises due to the vessel being higher or lower than a pressure-matched optimum altitude in the ocean. A control system 121 monitors sensors and controls valves and pumps to control the vessel internal pressure. According to signals from the control system 121, a fluid-pumping apparatus 142 moves ballast in or out of the vessel through conduit. By monitoring the pressure difference and its rate of change, the weight of ballast may be controlled to vary the vessel buoyancy, so as to keep it at a given depth where the ocean pressure matches that of the stored hydrogen, thereby minimizing stress in the vessel walls.

(11) The vessel 110 may be towed or in some embodiments may be configured with a remote-controlled drive mechanism 122 so that the vessel 110 may be driven to a location for the delivery of the hydrogen.

(12) In an example embodiment a nose cone 130 covers the bow of the vessel while a tail section 132 is equipped with hydroplanes 136 to pitch the vessel's bow or stern up or down to control the direction of the vessel. In this example embodiment the hydroplanes 134 are remotely controlled.

(13) One skilled in the art understands that various types of clean energy sources may be employed or combined for the intended outcome of generating hydrogen from clean energy sources. For example a wind turbine and a tidal turbine may be interchanged for the purpose of this disclosure. The functional characteristics of a wind turbine may be replaced by the functional characteristics of a water turbine. For clarity, the disclosure refers to a wind turbine.

(14) FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show an iteration of the vessel 216. A volume of ballast 220, confined to a mid-length sealed compartment, in combination with a bi-directional pump, may control the buoyancy of the vessel. The vessel 216 has containers 226 that house bladders 224. Bladders 224 may be filled with hydrogen and the vessel 216 may be towed to a location for the delivery of hydrogen. One skilled in the art understands that such bladders may be interchangeably filled with a secondary fluid or hydrogen, and that a similar concept may be applied to the iteration in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.