SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INTEGRATED FULL SPECTRUM PRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

• US 20110081586A1
• Filed: 08/16/2010
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Green Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: McAlister, Roy E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,231,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/422
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/00 Electrolytic production of inorganic compounds or non-metals
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 11/03 perforated or foraminous
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 13/02 characterised by shape or form
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/02 Process control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 3/00 Electrolytic production of organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/05 Pressure cells
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/007 the wind motor being combined with means for converting solar radiation into useful energy
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/19 storing chemical energy, e.g. using electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/407 Combination of fuel cells with mechanical energy generators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/186 by electrolytic decomposition of the electrolytic solution or the formed water product
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 15/008 using hydrogen as energy vector
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/10 The dispersed energy generation being of fossil origin, e.g. diesel generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/20 The dispersed energy generation being of renewable origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/22 The renewable source being solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/28 The renewable source being wind energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/40 wherein a plurality of decentralised, dispersed or local energy generation technologies are operated simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 : Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 : Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 : Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 : Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 : Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 : Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 : Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/20 : using renewable energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/50 : Energy storage in industry with an added climate change mitigation effect

Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing an energy supply using a renewable energy source is provided comprising: providing a first source of renewable energy, wherein the first source of renewable energy is intermittent or does not provide a sufficient amount of energy; providing energy from the first source of renewable energy to an electrolyzer to produce an energy carrier through electrolysis; selectably reversing the electrolyzer for use as a fuel cell; and providing the energy carrier to the electrolyzer for the production of energy.

Claims

1. A method for providing an energy supply using a renewable energy source comprising:

providing a first source of renewable energy, wherein the first source of renewable energy is intermittent or does not provide a sufficient amount of energy;

providing energy from the first source of renewable energy to an electrolyzer to produce an energy carrier through electrolysis;

selectably reversing the electrolyzer for use as a fuel cell; and

providing the energy carrier to the electrolyzer for the production of energy.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first source of renewable energy is solar energy and the steps of reversing the electrolyzer for use as a fuel cell and providing an energy carrier to the electrolyzer for the production of energy is performed when the first source of renewable energy is not sufficiently available.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first source of renewable energy is selected from the group consisting of solar, wind, moving water, organic or geothermal sources of energy.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy carrier comprises hydrogen.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy carrier comprises a carbon-based material.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy carrier comprises a nitrogen-based material.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy carrier comprises ammonia.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy carrier comprises hydrocarbons.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the first source of renewable energy, the electrolyzer or the energy carrier receives supplemental heat from a first heat source.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first heat source is selected from the group comprising geothermal, solar, or other heat engine.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the first heat source comprises a second source of renewable energy.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the second source of renewable energy comprises a geological formation.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing the energy carrier prior to providing the energy carrier to the electrolyzer.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of storing the energy carrier comprises storing the energy carrier in a geological formation.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step storing the energy carrier in a geological formation further comprises the energy carrier receiving supplemental heat from the geological formation.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing an expander configured to capture work from expansion, wherein the expander is coupled to the electrolyzer or the energy carrier storage;

providing the energy carrier to the expander under pressure; and

capturing work from expansion of the energy carrier.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the energy carrier storage transfers heat to the energy carrier prior to capturing work from expansion of the energy carrier.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the energy carrier storage comprises a geological formation.

19. The method of claim 18 where an energy value of the energy carrier is increase during energy carrier storage.

20. The method of claim 18 where an energy value of the energy carrier is increase during energy carrier storage by adding heat to the energy carrier from the geological formation.

21. The method of claim 18 where an energy value of the energy carrier is increase during energy carrier storage by adding hydrocarbons or other compounds having an energy value to the energy carrier flushed from the geological formation.

22. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a source of organic materials to the electrolyzer for electrolysis of the organic materials.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the source of organic materials comprises biomass or biowaste.

24. A system for providing a substantially continuous energy supply using renewable energy resources comprising:

a first source of renewable energy;

an electrolyzer coupled to the first source of renewable energy for producing an energy carrier, wherein the electrolyzer is configured for selectably reversible operation as a fuel cell using the energy carrier as a fuel;

an energy carrier storage coupled to the electrolyzer for receiving the energy carrier from the electrolyzer or providing the energy carrier to the electrolyzer; and

an energy storage coupled to the first source of renewable energy and the electrolyzer for selectively receiving energy from the first source of renewable energy and the electrolyzer and for selective providing energy from the first source of renewable energy and the electrolyzer.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the first source of renewable energy is selected from the group consisting of solar, wind, moving water, organic and geothermal sources of energy.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the energy carrier comprises hydrogen.

27. The system of claim 24 wherein the energy carrier comprises a carbon-based material.

28. The system of claim 24 where the energy carrier comprises a hydrocarbon.

29. The system of claim 24 where the energy carrier comprises a nitrogen-based material.

30. The system of claim 24 where the energy carrier comprises ammonia.

31. The system of claim 24 wherein at least one of the first source of renewable energy, the electrolyzer or the energy carrier are configured to receive supplemental heat from a first heat source.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the first heat source comprises the first source of renewable energy or the electrolyzer.

33. The system of claim 31 where in the first heat source is selected from the group comprising geothermal, solar, or other heat engine.

34. The system of claim 31 where the first heat source comprises a geological formation. The system of claim 31 wherein the first heat source comprises a second source of renewable energy.

35. The system of claim 24 wherein the energy carrier storage is configured to transfer heat to the energy carrier.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the energy carrier storage is configured such that an energy value of the energy carrier is increased during energy carrier storage.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein the energy carrier storage is configured such that an energy value of the energy carrier is increased during energy carrier storage by adding heat to the energy carrier during energy carrier storage.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the energy carrier storage comprises a geological formation.

39. The system of claim 24 further comprising an expander configured to capture work from expansion of the energy carrier, wherein the expander is coupled to the electrolyzer or the energy carrier storage.

40. The system of claim 24 further comprising an expander configured to produce energy from expansion of the energy carrier, wherein the expander is coupled to the electrolyzer or the energy carrier storage.

41. The system of claim 24 further comprising a source of organic materials wherein the source of organic materials is coupled to the electrolyzer for electrolysis of the organic materials.

42. The system of claim 39 wherein the source of organic materials comprises biomass or biowaste.

43. A system for providing a substantially continuous energy supply using renewable energy resources comprising:

a first source of renewable energy;

an electrolyzer coupled to the first source of renewable energy for producing methane, wherein the electrolyzer is configured for selectably reversible operation as a fuel cell;

a methane storage coupled to the electrolyzer for receiving the methane from the electrolyzer or providing the methane to the electrolyzer; and

an energy storage coupled to the first source of renewable energy and the electrolyzer for selectively receiving energy from the first source of renewable energy and the electrolyzer and for selective providing energy from the first source of renewable energy and the electrolyzer.