Devices and methods for increasing solar hydrogen conversion efficiency in photovoltaic electrolysis
Inactive Publication Date: 2013-07-11
UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
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Benefits of technology
The present invention is about devices and methods for photovoltaic electrolysis. The device comprises a photovoltaic cell element and an electrolysis compartment. The photovoltaic cell element converts solar energy into electrical energy and passes through another portion of the solar energy. The electrolysis compartment contains an aqueous electrolyte and electrodes which receive the other portion of the solar energy and electrolyze the electrolyte. The technical effect of this invention is the effective utilization of solar energy through photovoltaic cell electrolysis, resulting in the production of hydrogen gas from water using sunlight.
Problems solved by technology
For example, conventional systems do not utilize all of the energy received by the PV elements.
Conventional systems may have high balance of system (BOS) cost associated with all of the auxiliary equipment that is needed to coordinate both PV and electrolyzer operation.
Conventional systems may have significant decreases in efficiency due to operation requirements of the aforementioned auxiliary components.
Method used
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[0017]Aspects of the present invention relate to the production of hydrogen from the electrolysis of water with a high solar-to-hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency using a single device. As used herein, the terms “solar” and “solar energy” are not limited to energy coming from the Sun. To the contrary, as used herein, the terms “solar” and “solar energy” refer to any energy suitable for use by the present invention to (a) produce the photovoltaic (PV) effect and / or (b) heat the aqueous electrolyte, as will be explained in further detail below. Additionally, the devices and methods described herein are not limited to use with water as the aqueous electrolyte. As used herein, the term “aqueous electrolyte” is intended to encompass all suitable electrolytes known to one of ordinary skill in the art from the description herein. Still further, as used herein, references to the directions “front” and “back” refer respectively to the sides of the device closest to and farthest from the in...
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Abstract
Devices and methods for photovoltaic electrolysis are disclosed. A device comprises a photovoltaic cell element and an electrolysis compartment. The photovoltaic cell element is configured to convert a portion of solar energy into electrical energy and to pass another portion of the solar energy. The electrolysis compartment includes an aqueous electrolyte positioned to receive the other portion of the solar energy and electrodes electrically connected to receive the electrical energy produced by the photovoltaic cell element. A method comprises receiving solar energy with a photovoltaic cell element, converting a portion of the solar energy into electrical energy, passing another portion of the solar energy through the photovoltaic cell element, receiving with an aqueous electrolyte the other portion of the solar energy, transmitting the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic cell element to a pair of electrodes, and electrolyzing the aqueous electrolyte with the pair of electrodes.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 61 / 388,055, entitled “DEVICES AND METHODS FOR INCREASING SOLAR HYDROGEN CONVERSION EFFICIENCY IN PHOTOVOLTAIC ELECTROLYSIS,” filed on Sep. 30, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH [0002]This invention was made with Government support under Grant No. DE-FG02-00ER15104 awarded by the Department of Energy. The Government may have certain rights in this invention.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003]This invention relates generally to electrolysis, and more particularly to devices and methods for increasing solar hydrogen conversion efficiency in photovoltaic electrolysis.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004]Photovoltaic (PV) electrolysis allows the generation of hydrogen gas (H2) and oxygen gas (O2) from water using solar energy. Conventional PV electrolysis arrays generate electricity with PV e...
Claims
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Login to View More IPC IPC(8): C25B9/04
CPCC25B1/003Y02E10/50C25B9/04H01L31/048Y02P20/133C25B1/55C25B9/65
InventorESPOSITO, DANIELBIRKMIRE, ROBERT W.CHEN, JINGGUANG G.
OwnerUNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE