US20020056637A1 - Hydrogen station, and process for operating the same - Google Patents
Hydrogen station, and process for operating the same Download PDFInfo
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- US20020056637A1 US20020056637A1 US09/987,351 US98735101A US2002056637A1 US 20020056637 A1 US20020056637 A1 US 20020056637A1 US 98735101 A US98735101 A US 98735101A US 2002056637 A1 US2002056637 A1 US 2002056637A1
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- Prior art keywords
- hydrogen
- station according
- dewatering device
- regenerating
- photovoltaic generator
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C25B15/00—Operating or servicing cells
- C25B15/08—Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
- C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen
- C01B3/0005—Reversible uptake of hydrogen by an appropriate medium, i.e. based on physical or chemical sorption phenomena or on reversible chemical reactions, e.g. for hydrogen storage purposes ; Reversible gettering of hydrogen; Reversible uptake of hydrogen by electrodes
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
- C01B3/00—Hydrogen; Gaseous mixtures containing hydrogen; Separation of hydrogen from mixtures containing it; Purification of hydrogen
- C01B3/50—Separation of hydrogen or hydrogen containing gases from gaseous mixtures, e.g. purification
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
- C01B2203/00—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas
- C01B2203/04—Integrated processes for the production of hydrogen or synthesis gas containing a purification step for the hydrogen or the synthesis gas
- C01B2203/0465—Composition of the impurity
- C01B2203/0495—Composition of the impurity the impurity being water
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
- Y02E60/32—Hydrogen storage
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02E60/30—Hydrogen technology
- Y02E60/36—Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a hydrogen station, e.g., a hydrogen station designed to produce, store and supply hydrogen in order to dispense the hydrogen to a vehicle using a fuel cell as a drive source, and a process for operating the hydrogen station.
- a hydrogen station e.g., a hydrogen station designed to produce, store and supply hydrogen in order to dispense the hydrogen to a vehicle using a fuel cell as a drive source, and a process for operating the hydrogen station.
- the reformer suffers from the following problem:
- the reformer is poor in responsiveness, because a predetermined time is required until the reformer reaches a steady operation from the start thereof. If an auxiliary means is provided to attempt to alleviate the problem the hydrogen supply equipment becomes complicated.
- a hydrogen station comprising a water electrolyzer for producing hydrogen containing moisture, a dewatering device capable of capturing the moisture from the hydrogen to provide the hydrogen in a dry state, a tank for storage of the hydrogen in the dry state, a new dewatering device adapted to replace the dewatering device when the function of the latter dewatering device has declined with an increase in amount of moisture captured, and regenerating equipment for regenerating the original dewatering device after being replaced, thereby recovering the water-capturing ability thereof.
- the regenerating equipment has a function of heating the original dewatering device to evaporate the captured moisture, a function of permitting the regenerating hydrogen in the dry state to flow into the original dewatering device and permitting regenerating hydrogen containing the moisture to flow out of the original dewatering device, and a function of removing the moisture from the regenerating hydrogen to provide regenerating hydrogen in a dry state.
- the hydrogen station is convenient and useful, and can contribute greatly to the acceptance of a vehicle provided with a fuel cell.
- a process for operating a hydrogen station comprising a photovoltaic generator, an external power supply, a water electrolyzer for producing hydrogen containing moisture by use of an electric power supplied from the photovoltaic generator, a plurality of dewatering devices capable of capturing the moisture from the hydrogen to provide hydrogen in a dry state, a tank for storage of the hydrogen in the dry state, and regenerating equipment adapted so that one of an electric power from the photovoltaic generator and both the electric power from the photovoltaic generator and electric power from the external power supply is supplied to the regenerating equipment, when the function of the dewatering device has been reduced with an increase in amount of moisture captured, thereby regenerating the dewatering device to recover the water-capturing ability thereof.
- the process comprises the step of estimating a power-generating time and an amount of electric power generated in the photovoltaic generator, whereby when the water electrolysis and the regeneration of the dewatering device can be carried out in parallel to each other by use of the electric power from the photovoltaic generator, they are carried out, or when neither of the water electrolysis nor the regeneration of the dewatering device can be carried out by use of the electric power from the photovoltaic generator, if there is only at least one of the dewatering devices having the water-capturing ability, the regeneration of the dewatering device required to be regenerated is carried out using both the electric power from the photovoltaic generator and the electric power from the external power source in combination.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a hydrogen station in accordance with an embodiment of this invention.
- FIG. 2 is a flow chart for regenerating a dewatering device in accordance with the embodiment of this invention.
- a water electrolyzer 4 is connected to a photovoltaic generator 2 as a power supply through a first feeder 31 .
- a dewatering device 6 is connected at the inlet side to a hydrogen-releasing side of the water electrolyzer 4 through a supply pipe 5 and at the outlet side to a tank 8 through a supply pipe 7 .
- the dewatering device 6 can be filled with a synthetic zeolite.
- the synthetic zeolite can have a high water-capturing ability and a high stability.
- the photovoltaic generator 2 receives sunrays to generate electric power, which is supplied to the water electrolyzer 4 , thereby operating the water electrolyzer 4 to produce hydrogen.
- Such hydrogen contains moisture, but the moisture is captured by the dewatering device 6 , whereby the hydrogen is brought into a dry state.
- the hydrogen in the dry state is introduced into and stored in the tank 8 .
- a metal hydride as a hydrogen-absorption material can be accommodated in the tank 8 .
- the tank 8 may have a pressure-proof structure in order to store high-pressure hydrogen compressed by a compressor 40 .
- the use of the photovoltaic generator 2 as the power supply for the water electrolysis as described above is effective for providing a reduction in cost for production of hydrogen.
- the dewatering device 6 As the amount of moisture captured by the dewatering device 6 is increased, the function of the dewatering device 6 is correspondingly reduced. In this case, the dewatering device 6 , whose function has been reduced and which is in operation, can be replaced by a new dewatering device 6 ′ having a water-capturing ability.
- the dewatering device 6 now referred to as original dewatering device 6 ′′ after being replaced by the new dewatering device 6 ′ is subjected to a regeneration, whereby the water-capturing ability thereof is recovered.
- Regenerating apparatus 9 includes an electric heater 10 for the dewatering device, a hydrogen-circulating system 11 for permitting regenerating hydrogen to flow to the original dewatering device 6 ′′ and a condenser 12 mounted in the hydrogen-circulating system 11 .
- the hydrogen-circulating system 11 includes a circulation passage 13 through which the regenerating hydrogen flows, and a circulating pump 14 mounted in the circulation passage 13 .
- the original dewatering device 6 ′′ and the condenser 12 can be placed in the circulation passage 13 .
- Lead wires 15 , 16 and 17 from the electric heater 10 , the condenser 12 and the circulating pump 14 are connected to an external electric supply 18 through a second feeder 32 .
- the second feeder 32 is connected at its intermediate portion to the photovoltaic generator 2 through a conductive wire 19 , and a first switch 21 is mounted in the conductive wire 19 .
- a second switch 22 is mounted between the external power supply 18 and a connection of the conductive wire 19 .
- Hydrogen produced by the water electrolyzer 4 can be used as the regenerating hydrogen.
- the first switch 21 is opened, and the second switch 22 is closed, whereby the original dewatering device 6 ′′ is heated by the electric heater 10 to evaporate the captured water.
- the regenerating hydrogen in the dry state is permitted to flow into the original dewatering device 6 ′′ by operating the circulating pump 14 , and the regenerating hydrogen containing the moisture (vapor) is permitted to flow out of the dewatering device 6 ′′.
- the moisture is removed from the regenerating hydrogen by the condenser 12 to provide the regenerating hydrogen in the dry state, which is then permitted to flow into the original dewatering device 6 ′′.
- the moisture is removed from the original dewatering device 6 ′′ by such circulation of the hydrogen, whereby the water-capturing ability is sufficiently recovered, and the regenerating operation is finished.
- the capacity of the dewatering device 6 for capturing the moisture is set to exceed an amount of moisture captured based on the amount of hydrogen produced during an entire day.
- the dewatering device 6 can be replaced about once a day, and three dewatering devices 6 , 6 ′ and 6 ′′ are mounted in the hydrogen station.
- one of the two regenerated dewatering devices 6 is in an operable state in which it has been connected to the water electrolyzer 4 and the tank 8 through the supply pipes 5 and 7 , and the other dewatering device 6 ′ is on standby for replacement.
- the remaining one dewatering device 6 ′′ is in the circulation passage 13 of the regenerating equipment 9 , because the amount of moisture captured has reached a limit.
- the power-generating time and the amount of power generated in that day are first estimated based on at least one of average insolation amount and insolation time per day over several past years, the weather forecast for that day and information provided when an atmospheric pressure sensor is placed in the hydrogen station 1 , as shown in FIG. 2.
- the regeneration of the dewatering device 6 ′′ using the electric power from the photovoltaic generator 2 is continued to reach the completion of the regeneration, if the fine weather is continued.
- the second switch 22 is closed, and both the electric power from the external power supply 18 and the electric power from the photovoltaic generator 2 are used to continue the regeneration until the regeneration is complete.
- both the electric power from the photovoltaic generator 2 and the electric power from the external power supply 18 are used with the first and second switches 21 and 22 closed, thereby carrying out the regeneration of at least one of the dewatering devices.
- the regeneration of the dewatering device is carried out by use of the electric power from the external power supply 18 .
- a pressure-proof tank having no hydrogen-absorption material may be used as the tank 8 in order that hydrogen in a dry state passed through the dewatering device 6 is compressed by the compressor 40 and charged into the pressure-proof tank.
- the arrangement may be such that the electric heater 10 , the condenser 12 and the circulating pump 14 can be connected individually to the photovoltaic generator 2 , so that the power from the photovoltaic generator 2 can be selectively supplied to the electric hater 10 and the like.
- An aerogenerator may be used as the power supply for the water electrolyzer 4 .
- a hydrogen station which is convenient and useful, and can contribute greatly to the spreading of a vehicle provided with a fuel cell.
- a process for operating a hydrogen station which is economical and constructed so that not only electric power required for the electrolysis of water but also electric power for regenerating the dewatering device can be supplied by a photovoltaic generator.
Abstract
A hydrogen station includes a water electrolyzer for producing hydrogen containing moisture, a first dewatering device capable of capturing the moisture from the hydrogen to provide the hydrogen in a dry state, a tank for storage of the hydrogen in the dry state, a second dewatering device adapted to replace the first dewatering device when the function of the first dewatering device has declined with an increase in amount of moisture captured, and regenerating equipment for regenerating the first dewatering device after being replaced, thereby recovering the water-capturing ability thereof. The regenerating equipment has a function of heating the first dewatering device to evaporate the captured moisture, a function of permitting the regenerating hydrogen in the dry state to flow into the first dewatering device and permitting regenerating hydrogen containing the moisture to flow out of the first dewatering device, and a function of removing the moisture from the regenerating hydrogen to provide regenerating hydrogen in a dry state.
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a hydrogen station, e.g., a hydrogen station designed to produce, store and supply hydrogen in order to dispense the hydrogen to a vehicle using a fuel cell as a drive source, and a process for operating the hydrogen station.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- There has been conventionally developed a technique in which a reformer is mounted as a hydrogen supply source in a vehicle using a fuel cell as a drive source.
- However, the reformer suffers from the following problem: The reformer is poor in responsiveness, because a predetermined time is required until the reformer reaches a steady operation from the start thereof. If an auxiliary means is provided to attempt to alleviate the problem the hydrogen supply equipment becomes complicated.
- To solve the above problem, it is considered that a large number of hydrogen stations are disposed dispersedly throughout an entire country so that hydrogen is available to be supplied to a hydrogen storage tank mounted in a vehicle from each of the hydrogen stations.
- Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hydrogen station of the above-described type, which is convenient and useful, based on the above consideration.
- To achieve the above object, according to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a hydrogen station comprising a water electrolyzer for producing hydrogen containing moisture, a dewatering device capable of capturing the moisture from the hydrogen to provide the hydrogen in a dry state, a tank for storage of the hydrogen in the dry state, a new dewatering device adapted to replace the dewatering device when the function of the latter dewatering device has declined with an increase in amount of moisture captured, and regenerating equipment for regenerating the original dewatering device after being replaced, thereby recovering the water-capturing ability thereof. The regenerating equipment has a function of heating the original dewatering device to evaporate the captured moisture, a function of permitting the regenerating hydrogen in the dry state to flow into the original dewatering device and permitting regenerating hydrogen containing the moisture to flow out of the original dewatering device, and a function of removing the moisture from the regenerating hydrogen to provide regenerating hydrogen in a dry state.
- If the water electrolyzer for producing the hydrogen is provided as described above, labor and cost for transporting hydrogen from another place can be saved. In addition, it is possible to efficiently carry out the replacement and regeneration of the dewatering device to ease the transition from the production of the hydrogen to the storage of the hydrogen.
- If such hydrogen stations are disposed dispersedly throughout the whole country, a problem of infrastructure, which is a large impediment to the widespread use of vehicles provided with a fuel cell, can be overcome. Thus, the hydrogen station is convenient and useful, and can contribute greatly to the acceptance of a vehicle provided with a fuel cell.
- It is another object of the present invention to provide a process for operating a hydrogen station, which is economical and constructed so that not only electric power required for the electrolysis of water but also electric power for regenerating the dewatering device can be supplied by a photovoltaic generator.
- To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a process for operating a hydrogen station comprising a photovoltaic generator, an external power supply, a water electrolyzer for producing hydrogen containing moisture by use of an electric power supplied from the photovoltaic generator, a plurality of dewatering devices capable of capturing the moisture from the hydrogen to provide hydrogen in a dry state, a tank for storage of the hydrogen in the dry state, and regenerating equipment adapted so that one of an electric power from the photovoltaic generator and both the electric power from the photovoltaic generator and electric power from the external power supply is supplied to the regenerating equipment, when the function of the dewatering device has been reduced with an increase in amount of moisture captured, thereby regenerating the dewatering device to recover the water-capturing ability thereof. The process comprises the step of estimating a power-generating time and an amount of electric power generated in the photovoltaic generator, whereby when the water electrolysis and the regeneration of the dewatering device can be carried out in parallel to each other by use of the electric power from the photovoltaic generator, they are carried out, or when neither of the water electrolysis nor the regeneration of the dewatering device can be carried out by use of the electric power from the photovoltaic generator, if there is only at least one of the dewatering devices having the water-capturing ability, the regeneration of the dewatering device required to be regenerated is carried out using both the electric power from the photovoltaic generator and the electric power from the external power source in combination.
- With the above process, the above-mentioned object is achieved.
- The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
- FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a hydrogen station in accordance with an embodiment of this invention; and
- FIG. 2 is a flow chart for regenerating a dewatering device in accordance with the embodiment of this invention.
- The present invention will now be described by way of an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
- Referring to FIG. 1, in a hydrogen station1, a
water electrolyzer 4 is connected to aphotovoltaic generator 2 as a power supply through afirst feeder 31. Adewatering device 6 is connected at the inlet side to a hydrogen-releasing side of thewater electrolyzer 4 through asupply pipe 5 and at the outlet side to atank 8 through asupply pipe 7. Thedewatering device 6 can be filled with a synthetic zeolite. The synthetic zeolite can have a high water-capturing ability and a high stability. - In the above arrangement, the
photovoltaic generator 2 receives sunrays to generate electric power, which is supplied to thewater electrolyzer 4, thereby operating thewater electrolyzer 4 to produce hydrogen. Such hydrogen contains moisture, but the moisture is captured by thedewatering device 6, whereby the hydrogen is brought into a dry state. The hydrogen in the dry state is introduced into and stored in thetank 8. A metal hydride as a hydrogen-absorption material can be accommodated in thetank 8. Otherwise, thetank 8 may have a pressure-proof structure in order to store high-pressure hydrogen compressed by acompressor 40. The use of thephotovoltaic generator 2 as the power supply for the water electrolysis as described above is effective for providing a reduction in cost for production of hydrogen. - As the amount of moisture captured by the
dewatering device 6 is increased, the function of thedewatering device 6 is correspondingly reduced. In this case, thedewatering device 6, whose function has been reduced and which is in operation, can be replaced by anew dewatering device 6′ having a water-capturing ability. Thedewatering device 6 now referred to asoriginal dewatering device 6″ after being replaced by thenew dewatering device 6′ is subjected to a regeneration, whereby the water-capturing ability thereof is recovered. - Regenerating
apparatus 9 includes anelectric heater 10 for the dewatering device, a hydrogen-circulatingsystem 11 for permitting regenerating hydrogen to flow to theoriginal dewatering device 6″ and acondenser 12 mounted in the hydrogen-circulatingsystem 11. The hydrogen-circulatingsystem 11 includes acirculation passage 13 through which the regenerating hydrogen flows, and a circulatingpump 14 mounted in thecirculation passage 13. Theoriginal dewatering device 6″ and thecondenser 12 can be placed in thecirculation passage 13. -
Lead wires electric heater 10, thecondenser 12 and the circulatingpump 14 are connected to an externalelectric supply 18 through asecond feeder 32. Thesecond feeder 32 is connected at its intermediate portion to thephotovoltaic generator 2 through aconductive wire 19, and afirst switch 21 is mounted in theconductive wire 19. In thesecond feeder 32, asecond switch 22 is mounted between theexternal power supply 18 and a connection of theconductive wire 19. Hydrogen produced by thewater electrolyzer 4 can be used as the regenerating hydrogen. - To regenerate the
original dewatering device 6″ replaced, thefirst switch 21 is opened, and thesecond switch 22 is closed, whereby theoriginal dewatering device 6″ is heated by theelectric heater 10 to evaporate the captured water. The regenerating hydrogen in the dry state is permitted to flow into theoriginal dewatering device 6″ by operating the circulatingpump 14, and the regenerating hydrogen containing the moisture (vapor) is permitted to flow out of thedewatering device 6″. The moisture is removed from the regenerating hydrogen by thecondenser 12 to provide the regenerating hydrogen in the dry state, which is then permitted to flow into theoriginal dewatering device 6″. The moisture is removed from theoriginal dewatering device 6″ by such circulation of the hydrogen, whereby the water-capturing ability is sufficiently recovered, and the regenerating operation is finished. - If the hydrogen is used to remove the moisture in the
original dewatering device 6″ replaced, as described above, even if such hydrogen remains in thenew dewatering device 6′ after regeneration, the remaining hydrogen cannot cause a problem in the subsequent water-removing course. - To supply the electric power for generating the
dewatering device 6 to the utmost by thephotovoltaic generator 2 to suppress the need to use the external power supply, the following measure can be employed. - The capacity of the
dewatering device 6 for capturing the moisture is set to exceed an amount of moisture captured based on the amount of hydrogen produced during an entire day. Thedewatering device 6 can be replaced about once a day, and threedewatering devices - In FIG. 1, one of the two regenerated
dewatering devices 6 is in an operable state in which it has been connected to thewater electrolyzer 4 and thetank 8 through thesupply pipes other dewatering device 6′ is on standby for replacement. The remaining onedewatering device 6″ is in thecirculation passage 13 of theregenerating equipment 9, because the amount of moisture captured has reached a limit. - To operate the hydrogen station1 in the morning, the power-generating time and the amount of power generated in that day are first estimated based on at least one of average insolation amount and insolation time per day over several past years, the weather forecast for that day and information provided when an atmospheric pressure sensor is placed in the hydrogen station 1, as shown in FIG. 2.
- When the weather on that day is good, and it has been predicted that the water electrolysis and the regeneration of the
dewatering device 6″ can be carried out in parallel to each other by use of the electric power from thephotovoltaic generator 2, the regeneration of the dewatering device is started along with the water electrolysis by closing thefirst switch 21 and opening thesecond switch 22. - After the start of the regeneration, the regeneration of the
dewatering device 6″ using the electric power from thephotovoltaic generator 2 is continued to reach the completion of the regeneration, if the fine weather is continued. On the other hand, when the electric power from thephotovoltaic generator 2 is sufficient to carry out the water electrolysis, but insufficient to carry out the regeneration of thedewatering device 6″ in parallel to the water electrolysis due to a variation in weather after the start of the regeneration, thesecond switch 22 is closed, and both the electric power from theexternal power supply 18 and the electric power from thephotovoltaic generator 2 are used to continue the regeneration until the regeneration is complete. When the supply of the electric power from thephotovoltaic generator 2 runs out, the regeneration of the dewatering device is carried out by use of the electric power from theexternal power supply 18. - When the weather is not fine in the morning and it is predicted that it is impossible to carry out the water electrolysis by use of the electric power from the
photovoltaic generator 2, there are the two regenerateddewatering devices dewatering devices dewatering devices dewatering devices photovoltaic generator 2 and the electric power from theexternal power supply 18 are used with the first andsecond switches - When the supplying of the electric power from the
photovoltaic generator 2 runs out, the regeneration of the dewatering device is carried out by use of the electric power from theexternal power supply 18. A pressure-proof tank having no hydrogen-absorption material may be used as thetank 8 in order that hydrogen in a dry state passed through thedewatering device 6 is compressed by thecompressor 40 and charged into the pressure-proof tank. - The arrangement may be such that the
electric heater 10, thecondenser 12 and the circulatingpump 14 can be connected individually to thephotovoltaic generator 2, so that the power from thephotovoltaic generator 2 can be selectively supplied to theelectric hater 10 and the like. An aerogenerator may be used as the power supply for thewater electrolyzer 4. - According to the present invention, with the above-mentioned structure, there is provided a hydrogen station which is convenient and useful, and can contribute greatly to the spreading of a vehicle provided with a fuel cell.
- According to the present invention, by employing the above-mentioned process, there is provided a process for operating a hydrogen station, which is economical and constructed so that not only electric power required for the electrolysis of water but also electric power for regenerating the dewatering device can be supplied by a photovoltaic generator.
- Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it will be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications in construction may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention defined in the following claims.
Claims (32)
1. A hydrogen station comprising;
a water electrolyzer for producing hydrogen containing moisture,
a first dewatering device capable of capturing the moisture from the hydrogen to provide hydrogen in a dry state,
a tank for storage of the hydrogen in the dry state,
a second dewatering device adapted to replace said first dewatering device when the function of the first dewatering device has been declined with an increase in amount of moisture captured,
and regenerating equipment for regenerating said first dewatering device after being replaced, thereby recovering the water-capturing ability thereof,
wherein said regenerating equipment heats said first dewatering device to evaporate the captured moisture, permits the regenerating hydrogen in the dry state to flow into said first dewatering device and permits regenerating hydrogen containing the moisture to flow out of said first dewatering device, and removes the moisture from said regenerating hydrogen to provide regenerating hydrogen in a dry state.
2. A hydrogen station according to claim 1 , further comprising a photovoltaic generator that supplies power to said water electrolyzer.
3. A hydrogen station according to claim 1 , wherein said regenerating equipment comprises an electric heater for the dewatering device, a hydrogen-circulating device for passing the regenerating hydrogen through said first dewatering device, and a condenser mounted in said hydrogen-circulating device.
4. A hydrogen station according to claim 2 , wherein said regenerating equipment comprises an electric heater for the dewatering device, a hydrogen-circulating device for passing the regenerating hydrogen through said first dewatering device, and a condenser mounted in said hydrogen-circulating device.
5. A hydrogen station according to claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic generator is a power supply for said regenerating equipment.
6. A hydrogen station according to claim 2 , wherein the photovoltaic generator is a power supply for said regenerating equipment.
7. A hydrogen station according to claim 3 , wherein the photovoltaic generator is a power supply for said regenerating equipment.
8. A hydrogen station according to claim 4 , wherein the photovoltaic generator is a power supply for said regenerating equipment.
9. A hydrogen station according to claim 1 , wherein said tank contains a hydrogen-absorption material.
10. A hydrogen station according to claim 2 , wherein said tank contains a hydrogen-absorption material.
11. A hydrogen station according to claim 3 , wherein said tank contains a hydrogen-absorption material.
12. A hydrogen station according to claim 4 , wherein said tank contains a hydrogen-absorption material.
13. A hydrogen station according to claim 5 , wherein said tank contains a hydrogen-absorption material.
14. A hydrogen station according to claim 6 , wherein said tank contains a hydrogen-absorption material.
15. A hydrogen station according to claim 7 , wherein said tank contains a hydrogen-absorption material.
16. A hydrogen station according to claim 8 , wherein said tank contains a hydrogen-absorption material.
17. A hydrogen station according to claim 1 , wherein said tank is designed to be pressure-proof in order to store compressed hydrogen.
18. A hydrogen station according to claim 2 , wherein said tank is designed to be pressure-proof in order to store compressed hydrogen.
19. A hydrogen station according to claim 3 , wherein said tank is designed to be pressure-proof in order to store compressed hydrogen.
20. A hydrogen station according to claim 4 , wherein said tank is designed to be pressure-proof in order to store compressed hydrogen.
21. A hydrogen station according to claim 5 , wherein said tank is designed to be pressure-proof in order to store compressed hydrogen.
22. A hydrogen station according to claim 6 , wherein said tank is designed to be pressure-proof in order to store compressed hydrogen.
23. A hydrogen station according to claim 7 , wherein said tank is designed to be pressure-proof in order to store compressed hydrogen.
24. A hydrogen station according to claim 8 , wherein said tank is designed to be pressure-proof in order to store compressed hydrogen.
25. A process for operating a hydrogen station comprising a photovoltaic generator,
an external power supply,
a water electrolyzer that produces hydrogen containing moisture with electric power supplied from said photovoltaic generator,
a plurality of dewatering devices that capture moisture from said hydrogen to provide hydrogen in a dry state,
a tank for storage of said hydrogen in the dry state,
and regenerating equipment adapted so that one of electric power from said photovoltaic generator or both electric power from said photovoltaic generator and electric power from said external power supply is supplied to the regenerating equipment, when the function of said dewatering device has been reduced with an increase in amount of moisture captured, thereby regenerating said dewatering device to recover the water-capturing ability thereof,
wherein said process comprises a step of estimating a power-generating time and an amount of electric power generated in said photovoltaic generator, whereby when the water electrolysis and the regeneration of the dewatering device is carried out in parallel to each other by use of electric power from said photovoltaic generator, they are carried out, or when neither of the water electrolysis nor the regeneration of the dewatering device is carried out by use of electric power from said photovoltaic generator, if there is not at least one dewatering device having the water-capturing ability, the regeneration of at least one dewatering device required to be regenerated is carried out using both electric power from said photovoltaic generator and electric power from said external power source in combination.
26. A process for operating a hydrogen station according to claim 25 , wherein average insolation amount and insolation time per day in the past are used as estimating data to estimate the power-generating time and the amount of electric power generated in said photovoltaic generator.
27. A process for operating a hydrogen station according to claim 25 , wherein a weather forecast is used as estimating data to estimate the power-generating time and the amount of electric power generated in said photovoltaic generator.
28. A process for operating a hydrogen station according to claim 26 , wherein a weather forecast is used as estimating data to estimate the power-generating time and the amount of electric power generated in said photovoltaic generator.
29. A process for operating a hydrogen station according to claim 25 , wherein information from an atmospheric pressure sensor is used as estimating data to estimate the power-generating time and the amount of electric power generated in said photovoltaic generator.
30. A process for operating a hydrogen station according to claim 26 , wherein information from an atmospheric pressure sensor is used as estimating data to estimate the power-generating time and the amount of electric power generated in said photovoltaic generator.
31. A process for operating a hydrogen station according to claim 27 , wherein information from an atmospheric pressure sensor is used as estimating data to estimate the power-generating time and the amount of electric power generated in said photovoltaic generator.
32. A process for operating a hydrogen station according to claim 28 , wherein information from an atmospheric pressure sensor is used as estimating data to estimate the power-generating time and the amount of electric power generated in said photovoltaic generator.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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JP2000-352528 | 2000-11-14 | ||
JP2000352528A JP2002155386A (en) | 2000-11-14 | 2000-11-14 | Hydrogen station and working method for the same |
Publications (1)
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US20020056637A1 true US20020056637A1 (en) | 2002-05-16 |
Family
ID=18825412
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US09/987,351 Abandoned US20020056637A1 (en) | 2000-11-14 | 2001-11-14 | Hydrogen station, and process for operating the same |
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US (1) | US20020056637A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2002155386A (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20040013923A1 (en) * | 2002-02-19 | 2004-01-22 | Trent Molter | System for storing and recoving energy and method for use thereof |
CN107893237A (en) * | 2016-12-27 | 2018-04-10 | 中国科学院上海应用物理研究所 | Hydrogenation stations based on high-temperature electrolysis vapor hydrogen producing technology |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2007231383A (en) * | 2006-03-02 | 2007-09-13 | Honda Motor Co Ltd | Hydrogen generation system |
JP4673283B2 (en) * | 2006-12-13 | 2011-04-20 | 本田技研工業株式会社 | Hydrogen generation system and adsorption device regeneration method thereof |
KR101000584B1 (en) | 2007-07-20 | 2010-12-10 | 현대자동차주식회사 | Water trap device of fuel cell vehicle |
JP2009072775A (en) * | 2007-09-18 | 2009-04-09 | Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co Ltd | Filter, hydrogen generator having the filter, and fuel cell power generation system |
JP5608617B2 (en) * | 2011-08-26 | 2014-10-15 | Jx日鉱日石エネルギー株式会社 | Fuel cell system |
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US4040566A (en) * | 1975-09-15 | 1977-08-09 | Carl Chiarelli | Pollution-free heating system |
US4326013A (en) * | 1980-11-17 | 1982-04-20 | Jacobi Edgar F | Energy system |
US5484512A (en) * | 1992-01-08 | 1996-01-16 | Shinko Pantec Co., Ltd. | Methods and apparatuses for producing high purity oxygen and hydrogen |
US5500835A (en) * | 1994-03-04 | 1996-03-19 | Asulab S.A. | Weather forecasting watch |
US6299744B1 (en) * | 1997-09-10 | 2001-10-09 | California Institute Of Technology | Hydrogen generation by electrolysis of aqueous organic solutions |
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- 2000-11-14 JP JP2000352528A patent/JP2002155386A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2001
- 2001-11-14 US US09/987,351 patent/US20020056637A1/en not_active Abandoned
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US4040566A (en) * | 1975-09-15 | 1977-08-09 | Carl Chiarelli | Pollution-free heating system |
US4326013A (en) * | 1980-11-17 | 1982-04-20 | Jacobi Edgar F | Energy system |
US5484512A (en) * | 1992-01-08 | 1996-01-16 | Shinko Pantec Co., Ltd. | Methods and apparatuses for producing high purity oxygen and hydrogen |
US5500835A (en) * | 1994-03-04 | 1996-03-19 | Asulab S.A. | Weather forecasting watch |
US6299744B1 (en) * | 1997-09-10 | 2001-10-09 | California Institute Of Technology | Hydrogen generation by electrolysis of aqueous organic solutions |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US20040013923A1 (en) * | 2002-02-19 | 2004-01-22 | Trent Molter | System for storing and recoving energy and method for use thereof |
CN107893237A (en) * | 2016-12-27 | 2018-04-10 | 中国科学院上海应用物理研究所 | Hydrogenation stations based on high-temperature electrolysis vapor hydrogen producing technology |
Also Published As
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JP2002155386A (en) | 2002-05-31 |
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