Electrolysis: processes – compositions used therein – and methods – Electrolytic synthesis – Preparing nonmetal element
Patent
1995-05-24
1997-08-19
Gorgos, Kathryn L.
Electrolysis: processes, compositions used therein, and methods
Electrolytic synthesis
Preparing nonmetal element
205637, 204275, 136246, 136206, 429111, C25B 102, C25B 104, H02N 600
Patent
active
056584482
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the production of hydrogen and in particular for the production of hydrogen in an electrolysis cell using solar radiation as a source of energy for the cell.
A present invention also relates to an apparatus for separating longer and shorter wavelength solar radiation so that the separated components of the solar radiation spectrum can be used as required in selected end-use applications, such as the production of hydrogen.
The use of hydrogen as a carrier of energy, particularly in the context as a fuel, has the following significant technical advantages over other energy sources. transportable, and has a high energy density compared with other chemical fuels. than electricity, more efficient then petrol, and convertible directly to heat and electricity for both mobile and stationary applications.
By way of particular comparison, the large scale use of solar energy as an energy source has been limited for technical reasons and cost by a lack of a suitable short and long term storage medium or solar energy.
However, notwithstanding the above technical advantages of hydrogen as an energy source, the cost of production of hydrogen has been too high hitherto for widespread use as a fuel.
In the case of the production of hydrogen by electrolysis of water, a major factor in the high cost of production has been the cost of electricity to operate electrolysis cells.
In the specific case of solar radiation-generated electricity, the high cost of electricity is due in large part to the relatively low efficiency of photovoltaic (or thermal) conversion of solar energy into electricity which means that a relatively large number of photovoltaic cells (or, in the case of thermal conversion, a large collection area) is required to generate a unit output of electricity.
An object of the present invention is to provide a solar radiation based method and apparatus for producing hydrogen in an electrolysis cell which has a significantly higher efficiency and thus lower cost per unit energy produced than the known technology.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for separating longer and shorter wavelength components of the solar radiation spectrum such that the separated components can be used efficiently.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of producing hydrogen comprising, converting solar radiation into thermal energy and electrical energy, and using the thermal energy and the electrical energy for producing hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis of water.
The above first aspect of the present invention is based on the realisation that when the electrolysis process is run at high temperature (1000.degree.C) the electrical voltage required to maintain a given output of hydrogen can be reduced provided there is a complementary increase in thermal energy input.
The above first aspect of the present invention is based on the realisation that a significant improvement in efficiency of energy utilisation over and above a conventional electrolysis cell that is operated solely by electrical energy generated from solar radiation by a photovoltaic cell (or by thermal electrical generation methods) can be achieved by using the thermal energy produced in the generation of electrical energy, which otherwise would be regarded as a waste low temperature heat (with a cost of disposal), with the solar generated electrical energy to operate the electrolysis cell.
The above first aspect of the present invention is also based on the realisation that such waste thermal energy can only be used to advantage, in terms of efficiency of energy utilisation, if that thermal energy can be transferred to the electrolysis cell and produce the high temperatures necessary to operate the electrolysis cell.
It is preferred that the method comprises separating the solar radiation into a shorter wavelength component and a longer wavelength component, and converting the shorter wavelength component into electrical energy and con
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Gorgos Kathryn L.
Noguerola Alex
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