Supply unit for supplying consumers with electricity and hydrogen
The integrated supply unit with a reversible fuel cell and ammonia decomposition system addresses the challenge of continuous electric and hydrogen supply, ensuring stable and cost-effective distribution by optimizing production and energy transfer.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE102024101121
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-01-16
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-17
AI Technical Summary
Existing systems struggle to provide a continuous and cost-effective supply of both electric current and hydrogen, particularly during peak consumption times, and face challenges with regenerative energy sources being phase-wise and expensive, while truck transport-based hydrogen supply is not sustainable and line-bound hydrogen supply is economically infeasible.
A supply unit comprising a reversible fuel cell system, ammonia decomposition unit, storage unit, and control unit for demand-oriented and cost-based production of electric current and hydrogen, integrated with heat exchangers and compressor units for efficient energy transfer and storage, utilizing regenerative energy sources.
Ensures a stable and cost-effective supply of electric current and hydrogen, capable of intercepting load peaks and optimizing energy production based on demand and price fluctuations, with flexible distribution to consumers.
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Abstract
Description
The present invention relates to a supply unit and a method for supplying consumers with electric current and hydrogen.Nowadays, there are various consumers for electric power and hydrogen, such as private households, industrial companies or else vehicles with alternative drive technologies and the like.For a further development of the supply with hydrogen and electric current, the removal of supply stations or supply units is essential. Thus, it would be desirable for future supply units to be able to provide both a sufficient supply of electric current and a sufficient supply of hydrogen. The supplied power or hydrogen should also be produced via regenerative energy sources.Disadvantageously, electrical energy cannot frequently be dimensioned for consumption peaks. A truck transport-based hydrogen supply is moreover not lasting and a line-bound hydrogen supply is generally not economically operable or frequently not available. Moreover, electric power from regenerative power sources is phase-wise harsh and expensive.It is therefore the object of the present invention to at least partially eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages of known systems and methods for supplying consumers with electric current and hydrogen. In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide a supply unit and a method for supplying consumers with electric current and hydrogen, which supply ensures a supply with continuously produced electric current and hydrogen that is at all times adequate even in peak consumption times in a simple and cost-effective manner.The above object is achieved by a supply unit having the features of claim 1 and a method according to claim 13. Technical features disclosed with respect to the method according to the invention also apply here in connection with the system according to the invention and vice versa, so that with respect to the disclosure reference is or can always be made reciprocally to the individual aspects of the invention.According to the invention, a supply unit is provided for supplying consumers with electric current and hydrogen. The supply unit according to the invention comprises a first conversion unit with a reversible fuel cell system for generating electric current using hydrogen (as fuel cell unit) and for generating hydrogen using electric current (as electrolysis unit), an ammonia decomposition unit for decomposing ammonia into nitrogen and hydrogen, a storage unit for storing hydrogen and a control unit for controlled production of hydrogen and electric current for delivery to the consumers.Within the scope of the invention, controlled production can preferably be understood to mean the control of a current production quantity of hydrogen and / or electric current, which can be designed both on a demand-oriented basis and on a cost-based basis. Thus, for example, with a view to reliably covering the load peak of electric current and hydrogen, a fuel cell operation of the reversible fuel cell system can be provided if the demand for electric current is high or the availability of electric current is currently limited and / or the prices of the electric current are very high. Likewise, with regard to a reliable load peak coverage, an electrolysis operation of the reversible fuel cell system can be provided if the capacity of the ammonia separation unit is limiting or currently not ready for operation. With regard to a cost-optimized embodiment, it can also be provided that the reversible fuel cell system is operated in electrolysis operation when the price of electricity is low, so that hydrogen can be generated from electricity. Likewise, it can be provided accordingly that current is ultimately generated from ammonia by decomposing it into hydrogen and nitrogen and the fuel cell system is operated using the hydrogen in fuel cell operation. The present storage unit for storing hydrogen can advantageously be designed in the form of a pressure vessel or a tank for gaseous or liquefied hydrogen. The storage unit can likewise also be designed in the form of a tube or a line or a part of a tube or a line. Storage of adsorption or metal hydride may also be possible. Consumers for electric power and hydrogen can be understood to mean, for example, private households, heating centers, industrial companies or else vehicles with alternative drive technologies and the like.Within the scope of the invention, it has been recognized that, by means of an arrangement of the components provided according to the invention, a first conversion unit with a reversible fuel cell system, an ammonia separation unit, a storage unit for storing hydrogen and a control unit for controlled production of hydrogen and of electric current, it is possible to ensure, in a simple and cost-effective manner, a supply of continuously produced electric current and hydrogen which is also sufficient at any time in peak periods of consumption. By virtue of the arrangement of the reversible fuel cell system, it is possible in particular to intercept load peaks in the power and water supply in a targeted manner and / or to produce them with regard to a current power price or current power availability. By arranging an ammonia separation unit, it is possible in particular to permanently store, store and transport hydrogen.With regard to a sufficient supply of electrical power to consumers in the form of electrically operated vehicles, it can advantageously be provided in the present case that a gas station module having a plurality of electrical charging stations is provided for transferring electrical energy, wherein the charging stations are preferably connected to the fuel cell system via an electrical line system. By means of the direct connection to the first conversion unit or the reversible fuel cell system, efficient energy transmission can be ensured. Within the scope of a sufficient supply of electrically operated vehicles, preferably at least five, in particular at least ten, electric charging stations can be provided. To support power generation from regenerative energy sources, the arrangement of solar modules for generating electrical energy from sunlight can additionally be provided, for example.With regard to a supply with green power, in particular for grid relief or cost relief at times of current bypasses and / or at times when the power price is comparatively high, it can preferably be provided that an output module with an additional output line is provided for outputting power into a power grid, wherein the additional output line is preferably connected to the fuel cell system. In addition to a supply of households, within the scope of a large scale of the supply unit according to the invention, it can likewise be provided here to supply industrial installations with green current temporarily via the relevant supply unit. Thus, regeneratively generated current can be fed back into the local power grid simply, which can be advantageous if, for example, just no charging current is required, the price of electricity in the public grid is high or "excess" current is produced with the supply unit.With regard to a sufficient supply of consumers (for example, hydrogen-operated vehicles) with hydrogen, it can advantageously be provided in the present case that a plurality of hydrogen dispensing units are provided, wherein the hydrogen dispensing units are preferably connected to the storage unit and / or to the ammonia separation unit via gas supply lines. By connecting to the storage unit and the ammonia separation unit, greater flexibility with regard to the feed-out location can advantageously be made possible, wherein a selection of the feed-out source or the feed-out location can be made on the basis of energy or temporal aspects, for example with regard to a feed-out temperature or feed-out time. Within the scope of a sufficient supply of hydrogen-operated vehicles, at least five, in particular at least ten, hydrogen dispensing columns can advantageously be provided.For supplying consumers in the form of households or industrial customers with hydrogen, it can furthermore be provided that an output module is provided with an additional output line for outputting hydrogen into a hydrogen network, wherein the additional output line is preferably connected to the storage unit.In the context of ensuring a continuously reliable hydrogen supply, it can furthermore be advantageous if a further storage unit for storing ammonia is provided, wherein the further storage unit is preferably connected to the ammonia separation unit via a gas supply line. Ammonia can thus be supplied continuously to the ammonia separation unit as required, which ammonia is then separated into hydrogen and nitrogen within the ammonia separation unit.With regard to a flexible, stable and particularly effective generation of electric current and hydrogen, it can advantageously be provided that the reversible fuel cell system is formed in the form of a high-temperature fuel cell system, preferably in the form of a solid electrolyte fuel cell system. As already mentioned, a reversible fuel cell allows both fuel cell and electrolysis operation. High temperature fuel cell systems, in particular solid electrolyte fuel cell systems, have a comparatively high efficiency in the conversion of fuel into electrical energy and vice versa. Advantageously, the use of heat coupling systems can also be provided, which is suitable in particular on account of the high temperatures, both in the case of an ammonia separation unit and in the case of a high-temperature fuel cell system.Thus, for example, it can be provided that at least one heat exchanger is provided for transferring thermal energy, wherein preferably a plurality of heat exchangers are provided for transferring thermal energy, wherein in particular the first conversion unit is connected to the ammonia decomposition unit and / or the storage unit is connected to the ammonia decomposition unit directly via at least one heat exchanger. The thermal energy can be supplied electrically or by partial oxidation. Since the process of splitting ammonia into nitrogen and hydrogen is endothermic and energy in the form of heat is required for the splitting, it may be advantageous to use the heat production which arises during operation of the fuel cell for the splitting of the ammonia. The waste heat of the ammonia separation unit ("ammonia cracker") can in turn be used for the generation of steam for the electrolysis. Since operation of the ammonia separation unit and operation of the high-temperature electrolysis typically do not take place synchronously, the arrangement of a heat store for temporarily storing the waste heat of the ammonia separation unit or of the fuel cell can additionally advantageously be provided. Storing heat makes it possible to supply the heat requirement of the one operating mode with the heat surplus of the other operating mode.The cold of the liquid ammonia can also serve for cooling the hydrogen before the refueling. It is understood that instead of a heat exchanger, other devices for transferring heat can also be provided.With regard to a particularly effective control and control of a production of hydrogen and of electric current for delivery to the consumers, it can be advantageous in the present case, furthermore, if the control unit preferably has a sensor unit for capturing data for determining at least one production-quantity-relevant variable, a computing unit for determining the production-quantity-relevant variable on the basis of the captured data and a control unit for targeted actuation of the supply unit on the basis of the determined production-quantity-relevant variable. A production quantity-relevant variable can be understood here in particular as a variable or a parameter which is relevant with respect to a current production quantity of hydrogen or current.In this case, within the scope of a particularly predictive production of hydrogen and electric current, it can be provided in particular that the quantity-relevant quantity is at least one of the following quantities:a current and / or future current requirement,a current and / or future demand for hydrogen,a current and / or future storage quantity of electric current and / or hydrogen,a current and / or future price of electricity,a current and / or future hydrogen price,a current and / or future ammonia price,an environment parameter.For the rapid and effective transfer of hydrogen via a gas line system from a further storage unit or the ammonia separation unit to consumers, a storage unit for storing hydrogen or to the present conversion unit, it can be further advantageous if at least one compressor unit is provided for compressing a gas, wherein the compressor unit is preferably designed in the form of a compressor, wherein the compressor unit is arranged in particular between the ammonia separation unit and a plurality of hydrogen dispensing columns and / or between the ammonia separation unit and the storage unit for storing hydrogen. Furthermore, a further compressor unit may advantageously be provided, which may preferably be arranged between the reversible fuel cell system and the storage unit for storing hydrogen. It is also conceivable that only a single compressor unit is provided, which is provided for compressing hydrogen, which is transferred both to hydrogen dispensing columns and to the storage unit.Likewise, for a specifically controllable transfer of hydrogen via a gas line system, it can be provided that a plurality of valves are provided for controlling a gas flow, wherein the valves are preferably electronically and / or pneumatically controlled and / or regulated. For pneumatic control or regulation, the arrangement of a plurality of pressure measuring heads or pressure sensors or the like can also be provided.In order to minimize impurities in the hydrogen for supply to the consumers or into the storage unit or to the fuel cell system, it can be provided in an advantageous manner according to the subject matter that at least one bypass is provided for introducing a purge gas, wherein the purge gas is preferably nitrogen, in particular nitrogen, which is generated in the ammonia separation unit. The use of nitrogen generated in the ammonia separation unit is particularly expedient from an economic point of view, since this is otherwise discharged into the atmosphere and is not reused. The nitrogen can preferably be stored in a storage unit, which can likewise be part of the supply unit. It is understood that the generated nitrogen can also be directly decoupled and delivered to consumers.The invention also relates to a method for supplying consumers with electric current and hydrogen, in particular using a supply unit described above. In this case, the method according to the invention comprises the steps of operating a first conversion unit with a reversible fuel cell system for generating electric current using hydrogen and for generating hydrogen using electric current, decomposing ammonia into nitrogen and hydrogen using an ammonia decomposing unit, storing hydrogen obtainable from the reversible fuel cell system (as electrolysis unit) and / or the ammonia decomposing unit in a storage unit and controlled production of hydrogen and electric current for delivery to the customer. The method according to the invention thus has the same advantages as have already been described in detail with respect to the supply unit according to the invention. Within the scope of the invention, controlled production can be understood to mean, in particular, the control of a current production quantity of hydrogen and / or electric current.With regard to a supply with green power, in particular for grid relief or cost relief at times of current bypasses and / or at times when the power price is comparatively high, it can preferably be provided that power is fed out from the reversible fuel cell system into a power grid, wherein the feed out is preferably carried out in a demand-oriented manner. In addition to supplying households, within the scope of a large scale of the method according to the invention, provision can likewise be made here for industrial installations to be supplied with green current temporarily via the supply unit according to the invention.To supply consumers in the form of households or industrial customers with hydrogen, it can furthermore be provided that hydrogen is fed out from the storage unit into a hydrogen network, wherein the feed out is preferably carried out on a demand-oriented basis.In addition, it can advantageously be provided that a transfer of thermal energy takes place via heat exchangers, wherein preferably a transfer of thermal energy takes place between the first conversion unit and the ammonia separation unit and / or between the storage unit and the ammonia separation unit. Since the process of splitting ammonia into nitrogen and hydrogen is endothermic and energy in the form of heat is required for the splitting, it may be advantageous to use the heat production which arises during operation of the fuel cell for the splitting of the ammonia. The waste heat of the ammonia separation unit ("ammonia cracker") can in turn be used for the generation of steam for the electrolysis. The cold of the liquid ammonia can also serve for cooling the hydrogen before the refueling. It is understood that instead of a heat exchanger, other devices for transferring heat can also be provided.With regard to a particularly effective control and control of a production of hydrogen and of electric current for delivery to the consumers, it can be advantageous in the present context if the controlled production of hydrogen and of electric current for delivery to the consumers comprises a capturing of data for determining at least one production-quantity-relevant variable by means of a sensor unit, a determination of the production-quantity-relevant variable on the basis of the captured data by means of a computing unit and a targeted actuation of the supply unit by means of a control unit on the basis of the determined production-quantity-relevant variable.In this case, within the scope of a particularly predictive production of hydrogen and electric current, it can be provided in particular that at least one of the following variables is determined as the production quantity-relevant variable:a current and / or future current requirement,a current and / or future demand for hydrogen,a current and / or future storage quantity of electric current and / or hydrogen,a current and / or future price of electricity,a current and / or future hydrogen price,a current and / or future ammonia price,an environment parameter.Within the scope of the most accurate and meaningful predictive production of hydrogen and electric current possible, it may be further advantageous that the determination of the at least one production-quantity-relevant variable on the basis of the acquired data comprises averaging and / or weighting of the acquired data. Not only can averaging and / or weighting of the recorded data be provided here, but a plurality of different production quantity-relevant variables can also be determined, which are then themselves weighted differently.Within the scope of a particularly targeted and predictive operation of the supply unit, it is furthermore conceivable that a prediction with respect to a future expected current consumption and / or with respect to a future expected hydrogen consumption is produced on the basis of the at least one production-relevant variable.To simplify the execution of the subject method and to improve accuracy and economics, it is furthermore conceivable for the method to comprise the use of artificial intelligence, wherein in particular the controlled production of hydrogen and of electric current takes place using artificial intelligence.By using artificial intelligence, in particular an economical optimization of operation (i.e. for example, could be achieved. Thus, the overall cost of generating power and / or H 2), may be minimized based on external factors such as the varying power price and predicted charging current and H 2- demands. The artificial intelligence can advantageously function as a controller unit, which can take account of a great many factors, in particular the demand and the prices. Simple Regulating Units (for example. PI controllers) are very difficult to use the variety of factors for control. Therefore, KI has a substantial advantage in this context. An AI can take into account, for example, all the stated production quantity-relevant variables during a control or regulation.It is understood with respect to the method according to the invention that individual, several or all obligatory and / or optional steps of the method according to the invention can be executed in the proposed sequence, but also in a manner deviating from the proposed sequence. In this case, individual, several or all obligatory and / or optional steps of the method according to the invention can be carried out in particular repeatedly, for example cyclically repeatedly. It is also understood that individual, several or all of the obligatory and optional steps of the method according to the invention can also be carried out at least partially automatically or automatically, in particular can be implemented by a computer.Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this case, the features mentioned in the claims and in the description can each be essential to the invention individually or in any combination.The following are shown: FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a supply unit according to the invention for supplying consumers with electrical current and hydrogen, FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of the individual steps of a method according to the invention for supplying consumers with electrical current and hydrogen, FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of four different embodiment variants of the method according to the invention for supplying consumers with electric current and hydrogen.FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a supply unit 2 according to the invention for supplying consumers with electrical current and hydrogen.As can be seen from FIG. 1, the supply unit 2 according to the invention has a first conversion unit 4 with a reversible fuel cell system 4' in the form of a high-temperature fuel cell system for generating electric power using hydrogen and for generating hydrogen using electric power, an ammonia decomposition unit 8 for decomposing ammonia into nitrogen and hydrogen, a storage unit 6 for storing hydrogen and a control unit 22 for controlled production of hydrogen and electric power for delivery to the consumers.As can be seen from FIG. 1, the supply unit 2 has a gas station module with a plurality of electrical charging stations 10 for transferring electrical energy, which are connected via an electrical line system 12 to the first conversion unit 4 or the fuel cell system 4'.In addition, the supply unit 2 has an additional feed-out line 12' for feeding current into a power grid 30, wherein the additional feed-out line 12' is preferably connected to the fuel cell system 4' and a feed-out line 6' for feeding hydrogen into a hydrogen grid 32, which is connected to the storage unit 6.As can also be seen from FIG. 1, a plurality of hydrogen dispensing columns 14 are also provided, which are connected via gas supply lines 16 to the storage unit 6 and to the ammonia separation unit 8.In addition, the supply unit 2 has a further storage unit 18 for storing ammonia, which is connected to the ammonia separation unit 8 via a gas supply line 16.As can also be seen from FIG. 1, a heat exchanger 20 for transferring thermal energy is provided, which is connected in the present case to a gas supply line 16 and serves for cooling the hydrogen before refueling or before storage. It is understood that at least one further heat exchanger 20 for transferring thermal energy can likewise be provided, which can preferably be arranged between the ammonia separation unit 8 and the reversible fuel cell system 4'.The present control unit 22 has a sensor unit 24 for capturing data for determining at least one production quantity-relevant variable, a computing unit 26 for determining the production quantity-relevant variable on the basis of the captured data, and a control unit 28 for targeted control of the supply unit 2 on the basis of the determined production quantity-relevant variable.It should be pointed out at this point that the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 shows only one possible embodiment of the supply unit 2 according to the invention. Thus, the supply unit 2 for supplying consumers with electric current and hydrogen can also be configured only with a connection to a hydrogen grid 32 and without hydrogen tapping columns 14 and / or only with a connection to a power grid 30 and without charging columns 10.FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of the individual steps of a method according to the invention for supplying consumers with electrical current and hydrogen.As can be seen from FIG. 2, the method according to the invention comprises the steps of operating 100 a first conversion unit 4 with a reversible fuel cell system 4' for generating electric current using hydrogen and for generating hydrogen using electric current, decomposing 200 ammonia into nitrogen and hydrogen using an ammonia decomposing unit 8, storing 300 hydrogen obtainable from the fuel cell system 4' or the ammonia decomposing unit 8 in a storage unit 6, and controlledly producing 400 hydrogen and electric current for delivery to the loads by means of a control unit 22.According to the present method, if necessary, for example, also an output of current from the reversible fuel cell system 4' into a power network 30 or of hydrogen from the storage unit 6 into a hydrogen network 32 can take place.In addition, it can be provided that a transfer of thermal energy takes place via heat exchangers 20, wherein preferably a transfer of thermal energy takes place between the first conversion unit 4 and the ammonia separation unit 8 and / or between the storage unit 6 and the ammonia separation unit 8.The controlled production 400 of hydrogen and of electric current for delivery to the consumers can additionally comprise a detection of data for determining at least one production-quantity-relevant variable by means of a sensor unit 24, a determination of the production-quantity-relevant variable on the basis of the detected data by means of a computing unit 26 and a targeted actuation of the supply unit 2 by means of a control unit 28 on the basis of the determined production-quantity-relevant variable.FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of four different embodiment variants of the method according to the invention for supplying the loads with electric current and hydrogen.According to the first embodiment variant (top left), there is, for example, a case in which a current power price is high, so that the supply unit 2 in question is operated here in such a way that power is generated from ammonia and is not only discharged to electrically operated vehicles, but also into a power grid 30.According to the second embodiment variant (top right), there is, for example, a case in which a current price of electricity is low, so that the supply unit 2 in question is operated here in such a way that hydrogen is generated from electricity.According to the third embodiment variant (bottom left), there is, for example, a case in which an electrical grid connection is limiting, so that the supply unit 2 in question is operated here in such a way that the fuel cell operation is supported and no current is fed out into a power grid 30.According to the fourth embodiment variant (bottom right), there is, for example, a case in which the capacity for the ammonia separation unit 8 is limiting, so that the present supply unit 2 is operated here in such a way that the electrolysis operation is supported and in this way hydrogen is produced for supplying the consumers. In addition, according to the fourth embodiment variant, there is a limitation of the electrical power supply connection, so that the H 2 originates exclusively from the storage unit 6 and has already been produced beforehand (either by NH 3- decomposition or by electrolysis in the reversible fuel cell system 4').By means of the supply unit 2 according to the invention or the method according to the invention, it is possible in particular to provide a supply of loads with permanently produced electric current and hydrogen, which is effected in a simple and cost-effective manner and is also sufficient at all times in peak consumption times.List of reference characters2 Supply unit 4 Conversion unit 4' Reversible fuel cell system 6 Storage unit 6' Feed-out line 8 Ammonia separation unit 10 Charging column 12 Electrical line system 12' Electrical feed-out line 14 Hydrogen feed-out column 16 Gas supply line 18 Further storage unit 20 Heat exchanger 22 Control unit 24 Sensor unit 26 Computing unit 28 Control unit 30 Power network 32 Hydrogen network 100 Operating a first conversion unit 200 Separation of ammonia into nitrogen and hydrogen 300 Storage of hydrogen 400 Monitoring of a current production quantity of hydrogen and electrical current
Claims
Supply unit (2) for supplying consumers with electric current and hydrogen, comprising: - a first conversion unit (4) with a reversible fuel cell system (4') for generating electric current using hydrogen and for generating hydrogen using electric current, - an ammonia decomposition unit (8) for decomposing ammonia into nitrogen and hydrogen, - a storage unit (6) for storing hydrogen, - a control unit (22) for controlled production of hydrogen and electric current for delivery to the consumers.Supply unit (2) according to Claim 1, characterized in that a gas station module having a plurality of electrical charging stations (10) for transferring electrical energy is provided, the charging stations (10) preferably being connected to the fuel cell system (4') via an electrical line system (12).Supply unit (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that an output module is provided with an additional output line (12') for outputting current into an electrical grid (30), wherein the additional output line (12') is preferably connected to the fuel cell system (4').Supply unit (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of hydrogen dispensing columns (14) are provided, wherein the hydrogen dispensing columns (14) are preferably connected to the storage unit (6) and / or to the ammonia separation unit (8) via gas supply lines (16).Supply unit (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an output module is provided with an additional output line (6') for outputting hydrogen into a hydrogen network (32), wherein the additional output line (6') is preferably connected to the storage unit (6).Supply unit (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a further storage unit (18) for storing ammonia is provided, wherein the further storage unit (18) is preferably connected to the ammonia separation unit (8) via a gas supply line (16).Supply unit (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reversible fuel cell system (4') is formed in the form of a high-temperature fuel cell system, preferably in the form of a solid electrolyte fuel cell system.Supply unit (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one heat exchanger (20) is provided for transferring thermal energy, wherein preferably a plurality of heat exchangers (20) are provided for transferring thermal energy, wherein in particular the first conversion unit (4) is connected to the ammonia decomposition unit (8) and / or the storage unit (6) is connected to the ammonia decomposition unit (8) directly via at least one heat exchanger (20).Supply unit (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (22) preferably has a sensor unit (24) for recording data for determining at least one production-quantity-relevant variable, a computing unit (26) for determining the production-quantity-relevant variable on the basis of the recorded data and a control unit (28) for targeted actuation of the supply unit (2) on the basis of the determined production-quantity-relevant variable.Supply unit (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the production quantity-relevant variable is at least one of the following variables: - a current and / or future power demand, - a current and / or future demand for hydrogen, - a current and / or future storage quantity of electric power and / or hydrogen, - a current and / or future power price, - a current and / or future hydrogen price, - a current and / or future ammonia price, - an environmental parameter.Supply unit (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one compressor unit is provided for compressing a gas, wherein the compressor unit is preferably designed in the form of a compressor, wherein the compressor unit is arranged in particular between the ammonia separation unit (8) and a plurality of hydrogen dispensing columns (14) and / or between the ammonia separation unit (8) and the storage unit (6) for storing hydrogen.Supply unit (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of valves are provided for controlling a gas flow, wherein the valves are preferably electronically and / or pneumatically controlled and / or regulated.Supply unit (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one bypass for introducing a purging gas is provided, wherein the purging gas is preferably nitrogen, in particular nitrogen, which is generated in the ammonia separation unit (8).Method for supplying consumers with electric current and hydrogen, in particular using a supply unit (2) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps: - operating (100) a first conversion unit (4) with a reversible fuel cell system (4') for generating electric current using hydrogen and for generating hydrogen using electric current, - decomposing (200) ammonia into nitrogen and hydrogen using an ammonia decomposing unit (8), - storing (300) hydrogen obtainable from the fuel cell system (4') and / or the ammonia decomposing unit (8) in a storage unit (6), - controlledly producing (400) hydrogen and electric current for delivery to the consumers by means of a control unit (22).Method according to Claim 14, characterized in that power is fed out of the reversible fuel cell system (4') into a power grid (30), wherein the feed-out is preferably carried out on a demand-oriented basis.Method according to claim 14 or 15, characterised in that hydrogen is fed out of the storage unit (6) into a hydrogen network (6'), wherein the feed out is preferably carried out on a demand-oriented basis.Method according to one of Claims 14 to 16, characterized in that a transfer of thermal energy takes place via heat exchangers (20), wherein preferably a transfer of thermal energy takes place between the first conversion unit (4) and the ammonia decomposition unit (8) and / or between the storage unit (6) and the ammonia decomposition unit (8).Method according to one of Claims 14 to 17, characterized in that the controlled production (400) of hydrogen and of electric current for delivery to the loads comprises a detection of data for determining at least one production-quantity-relevant variable by means of a sensor unit (24), a determination of the production-quantity-relevant variable on the basis of the detected data by means of a computing unit (26) and a targeted actuation of the supply unit (2) by means of a control unit (28) on the basis of the determined production-quantity-relevant variable.Method according to one of Claims 14 to 18, characterized in that at least one of the following variables is determined as the variable relevant to production quantity: - a current and / or future power demand, - a current and / or future demand for hydrogen, - a current and / or future storage quantity of electric power and / or hydrogen, - a current and / or future power price, - a current and / or future hydrogen price, - a current and / or future ammonia price, - an environmental parameter.Method according to one of Claims 13 to 17, characterized in that the determination of the at least one production-quantity-relevant variable on the basis of the recorded data comprises averaging and / or weighting the recorded data.Method according to one of Claims 14 to 20, characterized in that a forecast relating to a future expected current consumption and / or relating to a future expected hydrogen consumption is produced on the basis of the at least one production-relevant variable.Method according to any one of claims 14 to 21, characterized in that the method comprises the use of artificial intelligence, in particular wherein the controlled production (400) of hydrogen and of electric current is performed using artificial intelligence.
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