Power storage system

• US 5,312,699 A
• Filed: 09/30/1992
• Issued: 05/17/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kansai Electric Power Company Incorporated, Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Kansai Electric Power Company Incorporated, Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kikuoka, Yasuhira, Ueda, Sabuo, Tokura, Michio, Yoshino, Masakazu, Yanagi, Chihiro, Kugimiya, Keiichi
• Primary Examiner(s): KALAFUT, STEPHEN J
• Application Number:
  US07/953,790
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 429/22, 429/26, 429/30, 204/262, 204/265, 204/266
• US Class Current: 429/436
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/08 Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1293 Fuel cells with solid oxide electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/405 Cogeneration of heat or hot water
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0074 Ion conductive at high temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/186 by electrolytic decomposition of the electrolytic solution or the formed water product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• 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: Y02P 20/129 Energy recovery, e.g. by cogeneration, H2recovery or pressure recovery turbines

Abstract

A compact power storage system can efficiently generate electric power by storing surplus electric power, and can be constructed in a short working period without being restricted by conditions of the location where it is to be installed. The power storage system comprises a unitary electrolytic and fuel cell having a solid oxide electrolyte, a steam feed system for feeding steam to the cell, a hydrogen store and an oxygen store for storing hydrogen and oxygen produced in the cell, a heat-exchanger system for receiving heat of the exhaust from the cell, a space-heating hot water feed system for heating water using heat obtained from the exhaust, and a space-heating cold water feed system communicating with an absorption refrigerating machine for cooling water through the absorption process using heat obtained from the heat-exchanger system.

Claims

1. A power storage system comprising;

a unitary electrolytic and fuel cell having a solid oxide electrolyte, said cell being selectively operable to electrolyze steam to produce hydrogen and oxygen and to generate electric power;

a steam feed system connected to said cell so as to deliver steam to said cell;

a hydrogen store and an oxygen store connected to said cell so as to store hydrogen and oxygen produced by said cell, respectively, and so as to serve as a supply of hydrogen and oxygen for said cell;

a heat-exchanger system connected to said cell so as to effect a heat exchange operation with said cell wherein heat of exhaust produced by said cell when generating electric power and when electrolyzing steam is transferred to said heat-exchanger system;

a hot water feed system through which water is fed to effect space heating, said hot water feed system being connected to said heat-exchanger system such that water being fed through said hot water feed system is heated by said heat-exchanger system;

an absorption refrigerating machine which uses heat to effect an absorption process, said refrigerating machine being connected to said heat-exchanger system so as to receive heat therefrom to effect said absorption process; and

a cold water feed system through which water used for cooling a space is fed, said cold water feed system including a feed line connected to said refrigerating machine such that water being fed through said line is cooled by said refrigerating machine.

2. A power storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cell generates electric power by bonding hydrogen and oxygen, and said exhaust produced by the bonding of hydrogen and oxygen in said cell during the generation of electric power is steam.

3. A power storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said steam feed system includes a water store, and said heat-exchanger system includes first and second regenerative heat exchanger systems connected to said cell, said water store being connected to said cell via said first and said second regenerative heat exchangers.

4. A power storage system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said steam feed system includes a water store, and said heat-exchanger system includes first and second regenerative heat exchanger systems connected to said cell, said water store being connected to said cell via said first and said second regenerative heat exchangers.

5. A power storage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hydrogen and said oxygen stores are connected to said cell via said heat-exchanger system.

6. A power storage system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hydrogen and said oxygen stores are connected to said cell via said heat-exchanger system.

7. A power storage system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said oxygen store is connected to said cell via said first regenerative heat-exchanger system, and said hydrogen store is connected to said cell via said second regenerative heat-exchanger system.

8. A power storage system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said oxygen store is connected to said cell via said first regenerative heat-exchanger system, and said hydrogen store is connected to said cell via said second regenerative heat-exchanger system.