SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING HYDROGEN GAS USING RENEWABLE ENERGY

• US 20120125780A1
• Filed: 12/05/2010
• Published: 05/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert E. Oakes, Thomas W. Oakes
• Original Assignee: Robert E. Oakes, Thomas W. Oakes
• Inventors: Oakes, Thomas W., Oakes, Robert E.
• Application Number:
  US12/960,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20120125780A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/340
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/55 Photoelectrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 9/19 with diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 20/133 Renewable energy sources, e.g. sunlight

Abstract

A hydrogen generation system has a transparent cover and has a photovoltaic panel in the vessel. The photovoltaic panel generates the electricity for powering the electrolysis process. The photovoltaic panel may be submerged in the electrolyte solution, which acts to concentrate light rays onto the panel. The photovoltaic panel may have a protective coating that both protects the photovoltaic structures, as well as increases conversion efficiency. Other structures, such as the cover, may be configured to further concentrate light rays onto the panel. In some examples, oxygen gas may also be collected, stored, and used. The generation system may also use an external electricity source for powering the electrolysis process when insufficient electricity is produced by the internal photovoltaic cell.

Claims

1. A device for generating hydrogen gas, comprising:

a vessel holding an electrolyte solution;

a photovoltaic cell submerged in the electrolyte solution and connected to an anode and a cathode;

a substantially clear UV coating on the photovoltaic cell, wherein the coating is selected and arranged to protect the photovoltaic cell from the electrolyte solution and to increase the electrical efficiency of the photovoltaic cell;

a membrane separating the vessel into two independent chambers, one chamber having the anode and the other chamber having the cathode;

a hydrogen gas collection area in one of the chambers; and

a hydrogen gas exhaustion arrangement coupled to the gas collection area.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the coating is an equivalent to ENVIBAR UV 1244 coating product.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the coating is applied and arranged to assit in concentrating sunlight onto the photovoltaic cell.

4. The device according to claim 1, further including an external electric source switchably coupled to the cathode and the anode.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte and the photovoltaic cell are arranged so that the electrolyte acts to concentrate light rays onto the photovoltaic cell.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the vessel has a transparent cover, the transparent cover is constructed to concentrate light rays onto the photovoltaic cell.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the cover includes a lens structure.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte solution is a mixture of water and an acid or salt.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte solution is a mixture of water and a polymeric gel-type electrolyte.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the electrolyte solution is a mixture of water and a solid electrolyte.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the membrane is arranged to form an oxygen chamber and the anode is in the oxygen chamber.

12. The device according to claim 1, further including:

a second membrane arranged to form a second separate oxygen chamber; and

a second anode in the second oxygen chamber and positioned within the electrolyte solution.

13. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an oxygen collection area in the vessel; and

an oxygen gas exhaustion arrangement coupled to the oxygen gas collection area.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the membrane passes protons but not electrons and fully restricts the flow of electrolyte solution.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the membrane does not pass hydrogen gas.

16. A method for generating hydrogen gas, comprising:

separating an amount of electrolyte into two separate and independent chambers using a proton-passing membrane;

protecting a photovoltaic cell from the damaging effects of the electrolyte using a UV coating on the photovoltaic cell;

submerging the photovoltaic cell in the electrolyte and connecting the photovoltaic cell to an anode in one chamber and a cathode in the other chamber;

receiving sunlight on the photovoltaic cell and generating an electric current that produces a hydrogen gas at the cathode and an oxygen gas at the anode;

using the membrane as a barrier between the hydrogen gas and the oxygen gas; and

exhausting the hydrogen gas.

17. The method for generating hydrogen gas according to claim 16, wherein the the UV coating is applied and arranged for concentrating the sunlight onto the photovoltaic cell.

18. The method for generating hydrogen gas according to claim 16, wherein the the UV coating is applied and arranged for increasing the electrical conversion efficiency of photovoltaic cell.

19. The method for generating hydrogen gas according to claim 16, wherein the the electrolyte is positioned for concentrating the sunlight onto the photovoltaic cell.