Process of converting wind energy to elemental hydrogen and apparatus therefor

Patent · Tue Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6199654

Salomon, R E

A system is described for the conversion of the energy in the wind over oceanic regions into hydrogen which can be used as a supplement to or replacement for fossil fuels. The system is based on the use of modified sailing vessels which serve as water electrolysis plants. In operation, the wind propels the vessel through the water in the manner common to all sailing vessels except that the vessel in this system does not carry a mast and does not need the ballasting characteristic of conventional sailcraft. The propulsion of the vessel causes an immersed screw propeller to power an electromagnetic generator, the electric current from which electrolytically decomposes water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is stored on board the vessel by allowing it to combine with suitable metal alloys such as the Fe-Ti alloys to form a hydride. The metal alloy hydride is stored in cannisters which are allowed to desorb their hydrogen at sea for use as a fuel source, or alternatively may be discharged ashore through pipelines at suitable intervals.

• Assignee: Temple University
• Patent Number(s): US 4335093
• OSTI ID: 6199654
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 20 Oct 1980; Other Information: PAT-APPL-198449
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
ELECTROLYSIS
HYDROGEN STORAGE
HYDRIDES
WATER
WIND POWER
ENERGY CONVERSION
BALLOONS
CONTAINERS
ELECTRIC GENERATORS
ELECTROMAGNETISM
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN GENERATORS
IRON ALLOYS
OXYGEN
PRODUCTION
SHIPS
TITANIUM ALLOYS
AIRSHIPS
ALLOYS
CONVERSION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
GAS GENERATORS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LYSIS
MAGNETISM
NONMETALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POWER
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
STORAGE
170603* - Wind Energy Engineering- Power-Conversion Systems