Cooling water system

Abstract

An apparatus for utilization of cooling water can facilitate an improved and more efficient cooling approach. Embodiments can provide an adjustable cooling temperature for the cooling water to account for an operational state of hydrogen producing equipment, which may transition between fully powered to non-powered statuses based on the availability of renewable power. Embodiments can be provided to help limit the amount of water lost during cooling and costs associated with providing cooling water to equipment when the equipment is operating to produce hydrogen.

Description

COOLING WATER SYSTEMCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 528,121 , which was filed on July 21 , 2023.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present innovation relates to processes and apparatuses for supplying cooling water to equipment utilized in the manufacture of hydrogen. Embodiments can be utilized in conjunction with systems configured to make hydrogen and oxygen via electrolysis of water, for example.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Green hydrogen manufacturing can be provided so that hydrogen can be made by use of electricity from renewable power sources (e.g. solar power, wind power, hydro-electric power, etc.). An example of a system for production of hydrogen can be appreciated from U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2022 / 0290309.

[0004] In some situations, green ammonia production that can utilize green hydrogen can be provided from renewable power sources as well. Examples of green ammonia production systems can be appreciated from European Patent Application Publication No. EP 3 957 772 A1 and International Publication Nos. WO 2021 / 089276 and WO 2022 / 089820, for example.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] We determined that water usage and water treatment (e.g. cost for sewage treatment, etc.) can be significant in industrial settings in which hydrogen is to be produced via renewable power in green hydrogen type applications as well as other hydrogen producing applications. For instance demand for water or a cooling medium for such equipment can be increased in some situations in which electrolyzers are deactivated (e.g. due to lack of available power, etc.). We have found that this can be particularly true for plants that may be configured to form hydrogen gas via electrolyzers that form hydrogen gas and oxygen gas via electrolysis of water. Often, such plants in a green hydrogen configuration that would desire to utilize solar power and / or wind power as renewable power sources can be in relatively remote locations that can have limited water supply or very expensive water and / or waste water disposal costs.

[0006] Embodiments of a system, apparatus, and process that we have developed can be configured to provide improved operational flexibility while also providing more efficient cooling for plant equipment. Embodiments can be configured so that the cooling system can betteradapt to operational states for production so that a cooling medium can be provided to account for fully operational and full production operational states, complete shutdown, as well as different intermediate operational states in which some electrolyzers for production of hydrogen gas may be operational while other electrolyzers are being shut down (or deactivated) due to available power constraints that may exist (e.g. a cloudy day, low wind conditions, etc.).

[0007] In some embodiments, a first sub-system can be configured to facilitate use of cooling via air-cooled cooling water. A second sub-system can be provided that can be utilized to provide additional cooling to the air-cooled water to provide a more flexible and efficient cooling medium that can provide more refined temperature control and also facilitate less use of water and less generation of waste water. Embodiments can be configured to reduce capital and operating costs associated with cooling operations as well as reduce waste (e.g. blowdown streams) and costs associated with treating waste.

[0008] Some embodiments can also provide improved utilization of power by facilitating a reduction in compression power that may be needed for compressing one or more inlet streams. For example, some embodiments can facilitate cooling of a compressor inlet stream to help knock out water from the inlet stream before it is compressed. Also, embodiments can be configured to avoid additional pressure drop in low pressure electrolyzer product streams (e.g. by providing sufficient cooling that heat exchangers for compressor suction may not be needed, which can help maintain a higher compressor feed pressure that can result in less power needed for compression of the feed inlet stream). Embodiments can also facilitate reduced heat exchanger sizing by being configured to isolate flow of a cooling medium having a lower cooling temperature to only the electrolyzer equipment that may need it (e.g. electrolyzer equipment that may be shut down in a situation where some electrolyzers are shut down while others remain active and operational due to available power levels).

[0009] In a first aspect, an apparatus for utilization of cooling water can be provided. The apparatus can include a first source of cooling water configured to provide cooling water at a first temperature within a first temperature range and a second source of cooling water configured to provide cooling water at a second temperature within a second temperature range that is lower than the first temperature range. A heat exchanger can be positioned to receive a first flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to chill the first flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water. The heat exchanger can also be positioned to receive a flow of cooling water from the second source of cooling water as a refrigerant to cool the first flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to a pre-selected cooling medium temperature to output chilled cooling water and a warmed refrigerant (e.g. the warmed water utilized as the refrigerant). The warmed refrigerant that is outputtable from the heat exchanger can be passable to the second source of the cooling water. The apparatus can also include at least one anolyte cooler and / or at least one catholyte cooler positioned to receive a second flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water when at least one electrolyzer of the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler is operational to form hydrogen gas via electrolysis. The at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler can also be positioned to receive a portion of the chilled cooling water outputtable from the heat exchanger in response to the at least one electrolyzer of the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler losing power for being shut down in response to a loss of renewable power availability.

[0010] In some embodiments, the one or mor electrolyzers can be powered via solar power and / or wind power as renewable power sources. In other embodiments, the electrolyzers may be powered by another source of renewable power or another combination of sources of renewable power.

[0011] Each of the electrolyzers can be configured to form hydrogen via electrolysis of water. Oxygen can also be produced via electrolysis of the water. The produced oxygen may be vented or otherwise utilized. In some embodiments, the hydrogen that is produced can be utilized as a product gas or as a feed gas for the production of ammonia, or can be otherwise utilized. Some embodiments can be configured such that the hydrogen is considered green hydrogen via production from renewable power sources.

[0012] In some embodiments, the at least one electrolyzer can be desired to be cooled to a lower temperature while the electrolyzer(s) are being deactivated as compared to when the at least one electrolyzer is activated to form hydrogen gas via electrolysis of water. Each electrolyzer can have a pre-selected electrolyzer shutdown temperature for shutting down of the electrolyzer that can be lower than a pre-selected electrolyzer operational temperature.

[0013] In a second aspect, the apparatus can also include at least one oxygen gas cooler positioned and configured to receive a third flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water when at least one electrolyzer is operational to form hydrogen gas via electrolysis. The one or more oxygen coolers can be positioned to cool oxygen gas output from the electrolyzer(s).

[0014] In a third aspect, the apparatus can include one or more hydrogen gas coolers positioned to receive at least a portion of the chilled cooling water outputtable from the heatexchanger. The one or more hydrogen coolers can be positioned to cool hydrogen gas output from the electrolyzer(s).

[0015] In some embodiments, one or more hydrogen gas coolers can be positioned to receive at least a portion of the chilled cooling water outputtable from the heat exchanger when the at least one electrolyzer of the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler is operational to form hydrogen gas via electrolysis. The one or more hydrogen gas coolers can also be positioned so that the portion of the chilled cooling water outputtable from the heat exchanger is not passable to the one or more hydrogen gas coolers in response to the at least one electrolyzer being deactivated in response to the loss of renewable power availability via losing power for being shut down.

[0016] In a fourth aspect, the apparatus can include equipment downstream of the heat exchanger positioned and configured to receive a portion of the chilled cooling water outputtable from the heat exchanger. The equipment can include a compressor aftercooler, a compressor intercooler, a temperature swing adsorption unit, and / or liquefier equipment.

[0017] In a fifth aspect, a chilled cooling water conduit can be positioned between the heat exchanger and at least one valve. The at least one valve can be positioned to connect the chilled cooling water conduit to the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler. The at least one valve can be adjustable from a closed position to an open position so that the portion of the chilled cooling water outputtable from the heat exchanger is passable to the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler in response to the at least one electrolyzer losing power for being shut down.

[0018] In some embodiments, the at least one valve includes a three way valve positioned to receive the portion of the chilled cooling water outputtable from the heat exchanger via the chilled cooling water conduit and the second flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water. In other embodiments, the at least one valve can include a combination of valves that can be adjustable to facilitate the feeding of chilled cooling water and the second flow of cooling water to the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler.

[0019] In a sixth aspect, the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler can be positioned to receive the portion of the chilled cooling water outputtable from the heat exchanger in response to the at least one electrolyzer being deactivated due to the loss of renewable power availability such that the portion of the chilled cooling water outputtable from the heat exchanger is mixed with the second flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to form a cooling medium at a lower temperature to feed to the atleast one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler of the at least one electrolyzer while the at least one electrolyzer is deactivated via losing power for being shut down. The cooler temperature can be temperature that is cooler than a temperature of the second flow of cooling water. This cooler temperature may also be warmer than a temperature of the chilled cooling water output from the heat exchanger.

[0020] In a seventh aspect, embodiments of the apparatus can include other features or elements. For example, the apparatus of the first aspect can include one or more features of the second aspect, third aspect, fourth aspect, fifth aspect and / or sixth aspect. Embodiments can also include other features or elements. Examples of such other features or elements can be appreciated from the exemplary embodiments of the apparatus discussed herein.

[0021] In an eight aspect, an apparatus for utilization of cooling water can include a first source of cooling water configured to provide cooling water at a first temperature within a first temperature range and a second source of cooling water configured to provide cooling water at a second temperature within a second temperature range that is lower than the first temperature range. The apparatus can also include a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger. The second heat exchanger can be positioned to receive a first flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to chill the first flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water, the second heat exchanger also positioned to receive a flow of cooling water from the second source of cooling water as a refrigerant to cool the first flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to a pre-selected cooling medium temperature to output chilled cooling water and a warmed refrigerant. The warmed refrigerant can be outputtable from the second heat exchanger can be passable to the second source of the cooling water.

[0022] At least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler can be positioned to receive a portion of the chilled cooling water outputtable from the second heat exchanger in response to the at least one electrolyzer of the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler losing power for being shut down in response to a loss of renewable power availability.

[0023] The first heat exchanger can be positioned to receive a second flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to chill the second flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water. The first heat exchanger can also be positioned to receive a flow of cooling water from the second source of cooling water as a refrigerant to cool the second flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to a pre-selected cooling mediumtemperature to output chilled cooling water and a warmed refrigerant. The warmed refrigerant outputtable from the first heat exchanger can be passable to the second source of the cooling water. The chilled cooling water outputtable from the first heat exchanger can be passable to one or more hydrogen gas coolers positioned to receive at least a portion of the chilled cooling water output from the first heat exchanger when the at least one electrolyzer of the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler is activated to make hydrogen gas via electrolysis of water.

[0024] In some embodiments, the second heat exchanger can also be configured so that the pre-selected cooling medium temperature is at a pre-selected electrolyzer shutdown temperature while the at least one electrolyzer is being deactivated and the pre-selected cooling medium temperature is at a pre-selected electrolyzer operational cooling temperature when the at least one electrolyzer is activated to form hydrogen gas via electrolysis of water. The pre-selected electrolyzer shutdown temperature can be lower than the pre-selected electrolyzer operational cooling temperature.

[0025] In a ninth aspect, embodiments of the apparatus can include other features or elements. For example, the apparatus of the ninth aspect can include one or more features of the second aspect, third aspect, fourth aspect, fifth aspect and / or sixth aspect. Embodiments can also include other features or elements. Examples of such other features or elements can be appreciated from the exemplary embodiments of the apparatus discussed herein.

[0026] In a tenth aspect, a process to provide cooling for an apparatus configured to produce hydrogen gas is provided. Embodiments of the process can include passing a first flow of cooling water from a first source of cooling water to a heat exchanger and passing a flow of cooling water from a second source of cooling water to the heat exchanger as a refrigerant to chill the first flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to a pre-selected cooling medium temperature to output chilled cooling water and a warmed refrigerant. The second source of cooling water can be configured to provide cooling water at a second temperature within a second temperature range that is lower than a first temperature range of the first source of cooling water.

[0027] The process can also include passing a portion of the chilled cooling water output from the heat exchanger to at least one anolyte cooler and / or at least one catholyte cooler in response to at least one electrolyzer of the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler being deactivated due to a change in renewable power availability.

[0028] Embodiments of an apparatus for utilization of cooling water can be configured to implement an embodiment of the process. The process can also include other steps or features.

[0029] In an eleventh aspect, the process can include passing a second flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler in response to the at least one electrolyzer being activated and operational to produce hydrogen gas and oxygen gas via electrolysis of water. In some embodiments, the process can also include passing the portion of the chilled cooling water output from the heat exchanger to one or more hydrogen gas coolers in response to the at least one electrolyzer being activated and operational to produce hydrogen gas and oxygen gas via electrolysis of water.

[0030] In a twelfth aspect, the passing of the portion of the chilled cooling water output from the heat exchanger to the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler in response to the at least one electrolyzer of the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler being deactivated due to a change in renewable power availability can includes mixing the portion of the chilled cooling water output from the heat exchanger with the second flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to form a cooling medium at a pre-selected electrolyzer shutdown temperature to feed to the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler of the at least one electrolyzer while the at least one electrolyzer is being deactivated.

[0031] In a thirteenth aspect, the process can include passing the warmed refrigerant to the second source of cooling water.

[0032] In a fourteenth aspect, the pre-selected cooling medium temperature can be a preselected electrolyzer shutdown temperature while the at least one electrolyzer is being deactivated and the pre-selected cooling medium temperature is a pre-selected electrolyzer operational cooling temperature when the at least one electrolyzer is activated to form hydrogen gas via electrolysis of water. The process can also include passing a second flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to a first heat exchanger and passing another flow of cooling water from the second source of cooling water as a refrigerant to the first heat exchanger to chill the second flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to a pre-selected cooling medium temperature to output chilled cooling water and a warmed refrigerant. The process can also include passing the chilled cooling water output from the first heat exchanger to one or more hydrogen gas coolers positioned to receive atleast a portion of the chilled cooling water output from the first heat exchanger. The passing of the chilled cooling water output from the first heat exchanger to the one or more hydrogen gas coolers occurs when the at least one electrolyzer is activated and forms hydrogen gas via electrolysis.

[0033] Embodiments of the process can also include stopping the passing of the chilled cooling water output from the first heat exchanger to the one or more hydrogen gas coolers in response to the at least one electrolyzer being deactivated due to the change in renewable power availability.

[0034] In a fifteenth aspect, the process of the eleventh aspect can include other features or process steps. For example, the process of the eleventh aspect can include one or more features of the twelfth aspect, thirteenth aspect, and / or fourteenth aspect. Embodiments can also include other features or elements. Examples of such other features or elements can be appreciated from the exemplary embodiments of the process discussed herein.

[0035] It should also be appreciated that embodiments of the process and apparatus can utilize various conduit arrangements and process control elements. The embodiments may utilize sensors (e.g., pressure sensors, temperature sensors, flow rate sensors, concentration sensors, etc.), controllers, valves, piping, and other process control elements. Some embodiments can utilize an automated process control system and / or a distributed control system (DCS), for example. Various different conduit arrangements and process control systems can be utilized to meet a particular set of design criteria.

[0036] Other details, objects, and advantages of the apparatus, process, system, and methods of making and using the same will become apparent as the following description of certain exemplary embodiments thereof proceeds.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Exemplary embodiments of our apparatus for cooling water utilization, a process for cooling water utilization, a system for cooling water utilization, and methods of making and using the same are shown in the drawings included herewith. It should be understood that like reference characters used in the drawings may identify like components.

[0038] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of an apparatus 1 for cooling water utilization. An exemplary embodiment of a process for cooling water utilization can also be appreciated from Figure 1.

[0039] Figure 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary implementation of the first exemplary embodiment of the apparatus 1 for cooling water utilization shown in Figure 1.

[0040] Figure 3 is a block diagram of another exemplary implementation of the first exemplary embodiment of the apparatus 1 for cooling water utilization shown in Figure 1.

[0041] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary cooling medium distribution arrangement 20 for the conduits that may be utilized for providing cooling fluid to electrolyzer modules (e.g. anolyte coolers, catholyte coolers, hydrogen gas coolers, and / or oxygen gas coolers, etc.) The exemplary arrangement of Figure 4 can be utilized in some embodiments of the first exemplary embodiment of the apparatus 1 for cooling water utilization shown in Figure 1 and in embodiments of a process for cooling water utilization.

[0042] Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a process for cooling water utilization shown in Figure 1. The first exemplary embodiment of the apparatus 1 for cooling water utilization can implement these exemplary embodiments of these processes.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] Referring to Figures 1-5, an apparatus 1 for utilization of cooling water can be configured as a cooling water system or can be configured to include a cooling water system. Embodiments of the apparatus can be configured to cool equipment (e.g. electrolyzer equipment, etc.) that can be utilized to form hydrogen gas and oxygen gas via electrolysis of water that is powered by one or more renewable power sources (e.g. solar power, wind power, etc.). In some embodiments, the formed oxygen gas may be vented while in other embodiments, the formed oxygen gas can be a product gas or a process stream utilized in other processing. The formed hydrogen gas can be a product stream or be provided as a process stream for use in other processing (e.g. formation of ammonia, etc.).

[0044] Embodiments of the apparatus 1 can include a first source of cooling water 3 and a second source of cooling water 5. The second source of cooling water 5 can utilize evaporative cooling towers or other cooling configuration to provide cooling water at a second temperature within a second temperature range that is lower than the temperature of cooling water available from the first source of cooling water 3, which can be provided at a first temperature within a first temperature range (e.g. the first temperature range can be between 25°C and 40°C and the second temperature range can be a lower temperature range such as, for example, a temperature range of between 5°C and 20°C, etc.). The first and second temperature ranges can be pre-selected to facilitate a desired level of cooling of cooling water from the first source of cooling water 3 so that the cooling medium provided to electrolyzer equipment and other hydrogen production related equipment can be at a pre-selected cooling medium temperature within a pre-selected cooling medium temperature range. There can be different temperatures or temperature ranges for the different equipment being cooled in someembodiments, and the cooling water from the first source of cooling water 3 can be routed via at least one conduit arrangement and / or cooled via at least one heat exchanger HX and the cooling water from the second source of cooling water 5 to provide a desired level of cooling at one or more pre-selected cooling medium temperatures for the different equipment.

[0045] The first source of cooling water 3 can be provided via a closed loop arrangement 2 that can utilize air cooling to provide the cooling water at a first temperature within the first temperature range. The cooling water of the first source of cooling water 3 can be provided in a closed loop arrangement 2 to help minimize any water loss that may occur as the cooling water is utilized as a cooling medium and subsequently recycled back to the first source to undergo air cooling for subsequent use in a closed cycle arrangement, for example. The cooling water from the first source of cooling water 3 can be fed to hydrogen production equipment, which can include hydrogen gas coolers H2C, electrolyzer anolyte coolers AC, electrolyzer catholyte coolers CC oxygen coolers O2C, and / or other equipment EQP (e.g. at least one compressor intercooler and / or a compressor aftercooler, a temperature swing adsorption unit, liquefier equipment, etc.).

[0046] In some embodiments, the cooling water may not be provided to any oxygen coolers O2C, electrolyzer catholyte coolers CC, electrolyzer anolyte coolers AC, and / or other equipment EQP. For example, in facilities in which oxygen formed via electrolysis of water may be vented, the oxygen may not need to be cooled via any coolers or may not need cooling water for any oxygen cooler 11 d. As another example, some types of electrolyzer units may not have any electrolyzer catholyte coolers CC. As yet another example, some cooling arrangements may not have other equipment in which cooling water would be desired for cooling based on a pre-selected set of design criteria or other operational criteria for a particular plant.

[0047] The cooling water can be warmed via its use as a cooling medium in one or more of these units (e.g. hydrogen gas coolers H2C, electrolyzer anolyte coolers AC, electrolyzer catholyte coolers CC oxygen coolers O2C, and / or other equipment EQP) and subsequently be output for a return to the first source of cooling water 3 via a warmed cooling water return conduit 2r of the closed loop arrangement 2 so that the warmed cooling water can be cooled back to a first pre-selected temperature within the first temperature range. The air cooling that can be provided via the first source of cooling water 3 can include one or more fans configured to blow ambient temperature air over one or more conduits or vessels through which warmed cooling water is fed after its use as a cooling medium for cooling of the cooling water so it can be provided at a desired temperature for subsequent use as a cooling medium in a subsequentcooling cycle. Other types of closed loop cooling water cooling mechanisms may alternative (or also) be utilized.

[0048] The second source of cooling water 5 can include at least one evaporative cooling tower as well as a cyclical conduit arrangement 4 that can facilitate a use of the water for providing cooler water for use in cooling the cooling water from the first source of water 3 to a pre-selected cooling medium temperature so that the cooling water can be provided as a cooling medium to one or more units or equipment of the apparatus 1. For example, the conduit arrangement 4 for the second source of cooling water 5 can be provided for feeding cooling water to at least one heat exchanger HX for cooling at least some of the cooling water from the first source of cooling water 3 to provide that chilled cooling water as a cooling medium to downstream equipment. The conduit arrangement 4 can also include a recycle conduit 4r to recycle the warmed water output from the heat exchanger back to the second source of cooling water 5 to undergo further cooling back to a pre-selected temperature within the cooler second temperature range.

[0049] The conduit arrangement 4 for the cooling water of the second source of cooling water 5 can be utilized in conjunction with at least one evaporative cooling tower so that the second source of cooling water 5 is configured in an open loop configuration. For example, use of the second source of cooling water 5 may result in losses of water via waste stream generation and evaporation losses that may occur via operation of one or more evaporative towers or other cooling water configuration. A feed of makeup water MKP can be fed to the second source of cooling water 5 to account for the loss of water that may occur from operation of the cooling tower(s) of the second source of cooling water.

[0050] The equipment that may be cooled by the cooling water of the first source of cooling water 3 can include hydrogen gas coolers 11a, anolyte coolers 11b, catholyte coolers 11c, oxygen gas coolers 11d, as well as other equipment 11e (shown in broken line) that may be utilized in production of hydrogen gas via electrolysis of water that may be powered via one or more renewable power sources. At least some of this equipment can have different cooling duties, or cooling requirements (e.g. require more or less cooling water for cooling, utilize cooling water at cooler or warmer temperatures for cooling, etc.). Also, different modules of the equipment may be in different operational states that may require different levels of cooling. For example, electrolyzer equipment such as anolyte coolers 11b and catholyte coolers 11c may have more substantial cooling requirements when in a shutdown mode as compared to an operational mode. The switching between these modes can occur based on availability of renewable power such that some equipment is deactivated, or shutdown, whenpower is not available or low and is activated, or operating to produce hydrogen via electrolysis of water, when the renewable power is sufficiently available. In some embodiments, anolyte coolers and / or catholyte coolers can utilize cooling water at a warmer temperature when supporting operational electrolyzer(s) that are facilitating electrolysis of water to form hydrogen gas and the anolyte coolers and / or catholyte coolers can utilize cooling water at a cooler temperature when the electrolyzer(s) being supported by those coolers are being shutdown (or deactivated) in response to lack of available power.

[0051] The apparatus 1 can also include at least one heat exchanger HX configured to cool at least some of the water from the first source of cooling water 3 to provide a cooling medium to at least some of the equipment that is cooler than the temperature of the cooling water output from the first source of cooling water 3. The cooling water from the second source of cooling water 5 can be the refrigerant utilized to provide this cooling via at least one heat exchanger HX. For example, there can be a first heat exchanger HX1 and in some embodiments there can also be a second heat exchanger HX2.

[0052] Cooling water from the second source of cooling water 5 can be provided to each heat exchanger to function as a refrigerant for cooling the cooling water from the first source of cooling water 3 passed to the heat exchanger(s). For example, a first portion of cooling water from the second source of cooling water 5 can be fed to the first heat exchanger 7 via a first heat exchanger refrigerant feed conduit 4a positioned between the second source of cooling water 5 and the first heat exchanger HX1. In embodiments that may also utilize a second heat exchanger HX2, there can also be a second portion of cooling water from the second source of cooling water 5 that can be fed to the second heat exchanger 8 via a second heat exchanger refrigerant feed conduit 4b positioned between the second source of cooling water 5 and the second heat exchanger HX2.

[0053] The warmed refrigerant can be output from the heat exchanger(s) HX and recycled back to the second source of cooling water 5 to undergo cooling therein as well via at least one recycle conduit 4r that is positioned between the heat exchanger(s) and the second source of cooling water 5. For example, there can be a first warmed refrigerant recycle conduit 4c positioned between the first heat exchanger HX1 and the second source of cooling water 5 to feed the warmed refrigerant output from the first heat exchanger HX1 to the second source of cooling water 5 to undergo cooling via at least one evaporative cooling tower. For embodiments that also utilize a second heat exchanger HX2, there can be a second warmed refrigerant recycle conduit 4d positioned between the second heat exchanger HX2 and the second source of cooling water 5 to feed the warmed refrigerant output from the second heatexchanger HX2 to the second source of cooling water 5 to undergo cooling (e.g. via at least one evaporative cooling tower).

[0054] The source of cooling water 3 can be sized and configured to output a feed of cooling water via a cooling water output conduit 2a for feeding to different equipment. The cooling water can be output at the first temperature, which can be within the first temperature range (e.g. a pre-selected temperature range of between 25°C and 40°C). The cooling water can be fed to the first heat exchanger 7 via a first heat exchanger feed conduit 2b connected between the cooling water output conduit 2a and the first heat exchanger 7 so that a first portion of the cooling water undergoes cooling via the refrigerant fed to the first heat exchanger 7 (e.g. cooling water from the second source of cooling water 5). The cooled cooling water can be at a first pre-selected cooling medium temperature when it is output from the first heat exchanger 7 for feeding to one or more units. The unit(s) that receive the cooled cooling water can include hydrogen coolers 11a, other equipment 11e (e.g. compressor aftercoolers, compressor intercoolers, liquefier elements, temperature swing adsorption units, etc.). For example, a hydrogen gas cooler feed conduit 6a can be positioned between the first heat exchanger 7 and the hydrogen gas coolers 11a for feeding the cooled cooling water to the hydrogen gas coolers 11a. An equipment cooling feed conduit 6e can be positioned between the first heat exchanger 7 and the other equipment 11e for feeding the cooled cooling water to the other equipment 11e as well (shown in broken line). The hydrogen gas cooler feed conduit 6a and the other equipment cooling feed conduit 6e can each include a valve V that can be adjusted between opened and closed positions to control a flow of the cooling water fed to those units.

[0055] A second portion of the cooling water output from the first source of cooling water 3 can be fed to the oxygen coolers 11d via an oxygen cooler split conduit 2c that can be positioned between the first source of cooling water 3 and the oxygen coolers 11d. The second portion of cooling water fed to the oxygen coolers for providing cooling can be at the first temperature range and may not need to be further cooled to provide sufficient cooling for those coolers. An oxygen cooler coolant feed conduit 6d can include a valve V so that cooling water can pass from the oxygen cooler split conduit 2c to the oxygen coolers 11d for feeding the second portion of the cooling water output from the first source of cooling water 3 to the oxygen coolers 11d. The valve V of the oxygen cooler coolant feed conduit 6d can be adjustable between opened and closed positions to control a flow of the cooling water fed to the oxygen coolers 11 d.

[0056] The temperature of the cooling water for cooling of the oxygen coolers 11 d can be higher than the temperature of the cooling water for the cooling of the hydrogen coolers 11a and / or other equipment 11e. The chilled cooling water output from the first heat exchanger HX1 can be at a lower temperature for feeding to the hydrogen gas coolers 11a and / or other equipment 11 e, while cooling water that is not further chilled output from the first source of cooling water 3 can be utilized for cooling of the oxygen coolers 11d.

[0057] A remaining portion of the cooling water output from the first source of cooling water 3 can be fed to the anolyte coolers 11b and / or catholyte coolers 11c (when present or utilized) via a catholyte cooler feed conduit 6c positioned between the first source of cooling water 3 and the catholyte coolers 11c (when present) and / or an anolyte cooler feed conduit 6b positioned between the first source of cooling water 3 and the anolyte coolers 11b.

[0058] The anolyte cooler feed conduit 6b can include a valve V that can be adjustable between opened and closed positions to control a flow of the cooling water fed to the anolyte coolers 11 b. The catholyte cooler feed conduit 6c can also include a valve V that can be adjustable between opened and closed positions to control a flow of the cooling water fed to the catholyte coolers 11c.

[0059] When electrolyzers are operational, the cooling temperature of the cooling water that may be needed by anolyte coolers 11 b and / or catholyte coolers 11c as well as the temperature to which that equipment may need to be cooled can be higher due to the operational state of the electrolyzers in operation to facilitate electrolysis of water for forming hydrogen and oxygen. Also, cooling demand from the hydrogen coolers 11a and oxygen coolers 11d can be higher due to the operation of the electrolyzers for producing hydrogen and oxygen gas via the electrolysis, but can also (at least for the oxygen gas coolers 11 d) use cooling water at a higher temperature for such cooling.

[0060] However, in response to a lack of renewable power (e.g. a cloudy day, nighttime conditions, rain, low wind conditions, etc.), one or more of the electrolyzers can be shutdown to account for the lower power availability and the demand for cooling at the hydrogen gas coolers 11a and / or oxygen coolers 11d can be reduced or be non-existent. The cooling for other equipment 11e can also be reduced due to adjustment in operations that may occur to account for the non-availability of at least some of the power that the hydrogen production can be designed to utilize at a full designed for operational capacity. Also, the cooling temperature can be reduced to a lower temperature and / or demand for cooling can be increased for the anolyte coolers 11 b and / or catholyte coolers 11c when at least some (if not all) of the electrolyzers are being shut down, or deactivated. For instance, anolyte coolers 11b andcatholyte coolers 11c supporting the shutdown of the electrolyzers can require a lower cooling temperature of cooling water to account for the non-operational status of the one or more electrolyzers that equipment may support.

[0061] Embodiments of our apparatus 1 can be configured to provide a system that can adaptively provide cooling water as a cooling medium for cooling that can account for the changed cooling demands and changing cooling water temperature demands that can result from the loss of renewable power and resultant shutting down of at least some (or all) electrolyzers) utilized for production of hydrogen gas (as well as also producing oxygen gas to vent and / or as another useful gas as a product gas or other process gas) via electrolysis of water.

[0062] For example, the first flow of the cooling water fed to the first heat exchanger 7 that is chilled to a lower chilled temperature can be routed so at least some of this chilled cooling water is mixed with another portion of the cooling water output from the first source of cooling water 3 (e.g. a second flow of the cooling water output from the first source of cooling water 3) that is to be fed to the anolyte coolers 11b and / or the catholyte coolers 11 c so that the cooling water fed to the anolyte coolers 11 b and / or the catholyte coolers 11c supporting electrolyzers that are shutdown are provided with cooling water at a chilled temperature that is lower than the first temperature range of the cooling water output from the first source of cooling water 3. The chilled temperature of the mixed cooling water can be at a pre-selected electrolyzer shutdown cooling temperature for the cooling water, which can be lower than a pre-selected electrolyzer operational cooling temperature for the cooling water that may be utilized when the electrolyzers are operational (and may be a temperature within the first temperature range of the cooling water available via the first source of cooling water).

[0063] The mixing of the chilled cooling water output from the first heat exchanger HX1 with the non-chilled cooling water output from the first source of cooling water can occur via a chilled cooling water conduit 6f that is positioned between the first heat exchanger HX1 and the anolyte cooler feed conduit 6b. In embodiments in which the catholyte coolers 11c are also present, the chilled cooling water conduit 6f can also be positioned between the first heat exchanger HX1 and the catholyte cooler feed conduit 6c. A three way valve V can be positioned to facilitate a connection of the chilled cooling water conduit 6f to the anolyte coolers 11b and / or the catholyte coolers 11c for providing the mixed chilled cooling water to this equipment. Alternatively, the chilled cooling water conduit 6f can have a valve that can be adjustable between open and closed positions to facilitate feeding of chilled cooling water output from the first heat exchanger 7 to the cooling water to be fed to the anolyte coolers 11band / or the catholyte coolers 11c upstream of the anolyte cooler feed conduit 6b and / or catholyte cooler feed conduit 6c. The mixing of the chilled cooling water output from the first heat exchanger with unchilled cooling water output from the first source of cooling water can be provided via the valve, an inline mixer, a mixing vessel, or other mixing element of the conduit arrangement connected to the valve(s) V for feeding of the chilled cooling water to the anolyte coolers 11b and / or the catholyte coolers 11c when that equipment is in a shutdown state that can require lower temperature cooling water.

[0064] Figure 2 may best illustrate an exemplary arrangement that can utilize the chilled cooling water output from the first heat exchanger for mixing with other cooling water output from the first source of cooling water 3 for providing a chilled cooling water that is at a preselected electrolyzer shutdown cooling temperature for the cooling water, which can be lower than the pre-selected electrolyzer operational cooling temperature for the cooling water that may be utilized when the electrolyzers are operational (and may be a temperature within the first temperature range of the cooling water available via the first source of cooling water). In this type of exemplary arrangement, only a first heat exchanger HX1 may be utilized to provide the chilling of some of the cooling water to form the chilled cooling water utilized to provide the chilled cooling water that is at a pre-selected electrolyzer shutdown cooling temperature to the anolyte coolers 11b and / or the catholyte coolers 11c.

[0065] In other embodiments, there may not be mixing of the chilled cooling water output from the first heat exchanger for mixing with other cooling water output from the first source of cooling water 3 for providing a chilled cooling water that is at a pre-selected electrolyzer shutdown cooling temperature for the cooling water. Instead, the valves V can be adjusted so that only the chilled cooling water output from the first heat exchanger provides the chilled cooling water that is at a pre-selected electrolyzer shutdown cooling temperature to the anolyte coolers 11b and / or the catholyte coolers 11c. In such a configuration, there may not be any mixing of this first flow of the cooling water provided by the first source of cooling water 3 after it is cooled via the first heat exchanger with a second flow of cooling water that can be output from the first source of cooling water. Instead, the valves V can be adjusted so that only the chilled first flow of the cooling water that is output from the first heat exchanger 7 can be provided as cooling water at the pre-selected electrolyzer shutdown cooling temperature to the anolyte coolers 11 b and / or the catholyte coolers 11c (e.g. via the chilled cooling water conduit 6f). This type of adjustment in valves V can result in a larger flow rate of the cooling water from the first and second sources of cooling water 3 and 5 being passed through the first heat exchanger 7 to provide such cooling water.

[0066] Also, in response to the renewable power availability increasing or being fully available to support full design for operational capacity of the electrolyzers, the electrolyzers may be reactivated for formation of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas via electrolysis of water. The anolyte coolers 11b and / or catholyte coolers 11c can have a different cooling requirement at different, warmer cooling water temperatures as a result of this operational status change. The chilled cooling water may then no longer be provided via the chilled cooling water conduit 6f. Instead, at least one valve V can be closed to prevent chilled cooling water output from the first heat exchanger HX1 from being provided to the anolyte coolers 11b and / or catholyte coolers 11c so that only unchilled cooling water from the first source of the cooling water is provided as a cooling medium to the anolyte coolers 11 b and / or catholyte coolers 11c at the pre-selected electrolyzer operational cooling temperature, which may be a temperature within the first temperature range of the cooling water of the first source of cooling water 3.

[0067] Also, the chilled cooling water output from the first heat exchanger HX1 can be fed to the hydrogen gas coolers and / or the flow of such chilled cooling water can be increased via the closing of the valve(s) to stop chilled cooling water from being providable to the anolyte coolers 11b and / or catholyte coolers 11c via the chilled cooling water conduit 6f (e.g. in situations where all the electrolyzers may have been shut down (or deactivated), the flow of chilled cooling water to the hydrogen gas coolers can be resumed and in situations where only some of the electrolyzers were shutdown due to renewable power availability reductions, the flow of the chilled water to the hydrogen gas coolers can be increased).

[0068] The cycle of operation between providing of chilled cooling water to the anolyte coolers 11b and / or the catholyte coolers 11c can occur repeatedly in different operational cycles based on electrolyzer operational status that can be dictated by the availability of renewable power. Also, the amount of chilled cooling water provided to the anolyte coolers 11b and / or catholyte coolers 11c can also vary to account for the number of electrolyzers that are shutdown or may be re-adjusted into an operational status.

[0069] In some embodiments, when a full shutdown of all electrolyzers that may be supported by the cooling provided via the first and second sources of cooling water 3 and 5, the entirety of the cooling water output from the first source of cooling water 5 can be provided to the first heat exchanger HX1 for cooling and subsequently be fed to the anolyte coolers 11b and / or catholyte coolers 11c via the chilled cooling water conduit 6f. This type of adjustment in flow of cooling water can occur via opening and closing of valves V of the conduit arrangement so that sufficient chilled cooling water is providable to the equipment beingcooled during the shutdown time period at the cooler pre-selected electrolyzer shutdown temperature.

[0070] As may best be appreciated from Figure 3, embodiments can also utilize a second heat exchanger HX2 that can be utilized for selective chilling of cooling water outputtable from the first source of cooling water 3 for being fed to the anolyte coolers 11b and / or catholyte coolers 11 c for cooling. As may be appreciated from Figure 3, in embodiments that utilize the second heat exchanger HX2, the chilled cooling water conduit 6f and mixing of chilled water output from a first heat exchanger HX1 may not occur. Alternatively, such a feeding of chilled water output form the first heat exchanger HX1 may also be utilized via the chilled cooling water conduit 6f as indicated in broken line in Figure 1. Such an embodiment can be utilized in situations where the sizing of the first and second heat exchangers can be utilized to facilitate providing of cooler chilled cooing water to account for operational status changes of different equipment that may arise during operations.

[0071] In embodiments that utilize the second heat exchanger HX2, the cooling water output conduit 2a can be fluidly connected to the second heat exchanger HX2 to feed a portion of cooling water from the first source of cooling water 3 to the second heat exchanger HX2 for being chilled to the pre-selected electrolyzer shutdown temperature in response to some or all of the electrolyzers being shutdown due to a lack of availability of sufficient renewable power. The cooling water from the second source of cooling water 5 for use as a refrigerant can be fed to the first heat exchanger 7 via the first heat exchanger refrigerant feed conduit 4a and can be fed to the second heat exchanger HX2 via second heat exchanger refrigerant feed conduit 4b. The warmed refrigerant output from the second heat exchanger HX2 can be fed to the recycle conduit 4r via the second warmed refrigerant recycle conduit 4d. The chilled cooling water output from the second heat exchanger HX2 can be fed to the anolyte coolers 11b and / or catholyte coolers 11c (when present or utilized) via a catholyte cooler feed conduit 6c positioned between the second heat exchanger HX2 and the catholyte coolers 11c (when present) and / or the anolyte cooler feed conduit 6b positioned between the second heat exchanger HX2 and the anolyte coolers 11b. The second heat exchanger HX2 can be selectively utilized to provide chilling or not based on the operational statues of electrolyzers being supported. For example, no chilling may occur when all the electrolyzers are operational due to sufficient renewable power being available. However, the second heat exchanger 8 can subsequently be activated via feeding of cooling water from the second source of cooling water 5 to the second heat exchanger HX2 to provide cooling to chill the cooling water to adesired temperature to account for the electrolyzer operational status and changed cooling requirements of the anolyte coolers 11b and / or catholyte coolers 11c.

[0072] Embodiments can utilize temperature sensors and controllers to monitor the temperature of the cooling water being fed to different equipment for adjusting the flow rate of cooling water from the second source of cooling water 5 being provided to one or more heat exchangers HX (e.g. first heat exchanger HX1 and / or second heat exchanger HX2) to account for the operational status of the electrolyzers and desired pre-selected cooling water temperature to be output form the heat exchanger(s) HX.

[0073] For example, there can be a first temperature controller T1 that can monitor a temperature of the cooling water being fed to the hydrogen gas coolers 11a and / or other equipment 11e downstream of the first heat exchanger HX1 and communicate with at least one valve V of the conduit arrangement 4 for the second source of cooling water 5 to control the flow rate of cooling water being provided to the first heat exchanger 7 and / or second heat exchanger 8 so that the cooling water output from the first heat exchanger 7 is at a preselected temperature to provide cooling fluid to the hydrogen gas coolers and / or other equipment 11e. In some embodiments, a valve V of the first warmed refrigerant recycle conduit 4c can be adjusted based on communicative data provided via a communication connection CC between that valve V and the first temperature controller T2 to adjust a flow rate of cooling water from the second source of cooling water 5 that is to be fed to the first heat exchanger HX1 to account for the temperature sensed downstream of the first heat exchanger HX1 and the extent that sensed temperature may deviate from the desired preselected temperature for the cooling water output from the first heat exchanger HX1 .

[0074] A second temperature controller T2 can also be positioned and configured to monitor a temperature of the cooling water being output from the second heat exchanger HX2 for being fed to the anolyte coolers 11 b and / or catholyte coolers 11c downstream of the second heat exchanger HX2 and communicate with at least one valve V of the conduit arrangement 4 for the second source of cooling water 5 to control the flow rate of cooling water being provided to the first heat exchanger 1 and / or second heat exchanger 8 so that the cooling water output from the second heat exchanger 8 is at a pre-selected temperature to provide cooling fluid to the anolyte coolers 11b and / or catholyte coolers 11c. For example, a valve V of the second warmed refrigerant recycle conduit 4d can be adjusted based on communicative data provided via a communication connection CC between that valve V and the second temperature controller T2 to adjust a flow rate of cooling water from the second source of cooling water 5 that is to be fed to the second heat exchanger HX2 to account for the temperature senseddownstream of the second heat exchanger HX2 and the extent that sensed temperature may deviate from the desired pre-selected temperature for the cooling water output from the second heat exchanger HX2.

[0075] The pre-selected cooling water temperatures utilized by the first temperature controller T1 and / or second temperature controller T2 can be adjusted based on an operational state of the electrolyzers as well (e.g. the temperature setpoints may adjust between a pre-selected electrolyzer shutdown cooling temperature for the cooling water and a pre-selected electrolyzer operational cooling temperature for the cooling water).

[0076] Each of these temperature controllers can be computer devices that include a processor connected to non-transitory memory and at least one transceiver for receiving data from a temperature sensor and providing control data to at least one valve V. Each temperature controller can also receive data related to electrolyzer operational states or other data from other devices as well for use in providing valve control data to the valve(s) V to which the temperature sensor is communicatively connected.

[0077] Figure 4 illustrates schematically an exemplary way in which the cooling water can be provided to different electrolyzer modules 13. For example, the flow of a cooling water FCW from the first source of cooling water 3 can be provided to the electrolyzer modules 13 for feeding to their anolyte coolers 11 b and / or catholyte coolers 11c. An electrolyzer module feed conduit that can include the anolyte cooler feed conduit 6b and catholyte cooler feed conduit 6c can be positioned to receive the flow of cooling water FCW for passing it to those conduits, for example. A chilled cooling water flow SCW can be provided via chilled water output from at least one heat exchanger HX (e.g. first heat exchanger 7 and / or second heat exchanger 8). The chilled cooling water can be at a lower temperature than the cooling water of the flow of unchilled cooling water FCW from the first source of cooling water 3. The feeding of the chilled cooling water to the electrolyzer modules can be provided so that only the chilled water output from a heat exchanger is provided to the electrolyzer modules via valve positioning. This can provide a coldest level of cooling water to the modules. The valves V can also be adjusted so that a warmer, but still chilled, cooling water can be provided via a mixing conduit 21 that can be positioned to receive the flow of cooling water FCW and the chilled cooling water flow SCW for mixing those flows together to form an intermediate chilled cooling water flow that can have a temperature between the coldest temperature for the cooling water and the temperature of the unchilled cooling water outputtable from the first source of cooling water 3. The valve adjustments can be provided so that the intermediatetemperature can be adjustable to account for operational requirements (e.g. numbers of coolers that may not be operational while others that may be for a particular module, etc.).

[0078] When non-chilled cooling water can be utilized, the valve V can be adjusted so that the warmest cooling water, the unchilled cooing water output from the first source of cooling water 3, can be fed to the electrolyzer modules 13. This type of adjustability can facilitate a reduced use of the colder cooling water of the second source of cooling water for providing the chilled cooling water via first heat exchanger 7 and / or second heat exchanger 8 to help minimize use of the open loop cooling water that can incur wastewater processing and costs as well as fresh makeup water costs and availability. Such embodiments can be particularly helpful at addressing water sourcing issues that can arise in some remote regions in which a facility may be located to provide a desired level of available renewable power (e.g. solar power, wind power, etc.).

[0079] Figure 5 illustrates an exemplary process that can be utilized in conjunction with an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus 1. In a first step S1 , a supply of a first cooling medium to units utilized for production of hydrogen and oxygen via electrolysis in which the cooling medium is in a first pre-selected cooling temperature range can be provided. The first step S1 can include providing the warmer cooling water from the first source of cooling water to electrolyzer modules having anolyte coolers 11 b and / or catholyte coolers 11c as well as for providing cooling water to oxygen coolers 11d, for example. Examples of this type of utilization of warmer cooling water can be appreciated from the discussion of exemplary embodiments provided herein (e.g. the cooling water that is unchilled by not undergoing further chilling after being output from the first source of cooling water 3).

[0080] In a second step S2, a second cooling medium can be utilized to decrease the temperature of the first cooling medium to a second pre-selected cooling temperature range that is lower (or cooler) than the first pre-selected cooling temperature range in response to a shutdown of units utilized for production of hydrogen and oxygen via electrolysis. Such a shutdown can be a complete shutdown of one or more electrolyzer modules due to the loss of renewable power that may occur due to changing weather conditions or daytime / nighttime conditions, for example. Utilization of one or more heat exchangers HX that utilize cooler cooling water from a second source of cooling water 5 can provide the decreased second preselecting cooling temperature range as discussed above in this second step S2, for example.

[0081] As noted above, to support the shutting down of the electrolyzers that would no longer be operational and therefore may need the colder fluid (e.g. due to a sudden loss of power, etc.), electrolyzer equipment may need to be cooled from a normal operating temperature toa lower pre-selected shutting down temperature (which can also be referred to as a preselected electrolyzer shutdown temperature) before the power for those electrolyzers to be shutdown can be completely shut off during the second step S2. The pre-selected shutting down temperature can be pre-selected and be any suitable temperature, but is a temperature that is colder than the normal operational temperature for the electrolyzer equipment (e.g. anolyte coolers 11 b and / or catholyte coolers 11c). During the cooldown period that occurs for shutting down of the electrolyzer(s), the electrolyzer(s) can be run at a very low power level and this can be when the chilled cooling water from the second source of cooling water 5 can provide the decreased second pre-selecting cooling temperature range for the different equipment that may need a lower temperature cooling water for cooling to the pre-selected shutting down temperature.

[0082] After the electrolyzer equipment (e.g. the anolyte coolers 11 b and / or catholyte coolers 11c) reaches the lower pre-selected shutting down temperature (which can also be referred to as a pre-selected electrolyzer shutdown temperature), the power can be shut off for shutting down of the electrolyzer(s). After this occurs, the chilled water may no longer be needed in the event the ambient temperature is below the pre-selected shutting down temperature. In the event the ambient temperature is higher than the pre-selected shutting down temperature, the chilled water may continue to be routed to the equipment (e.g. the anolyte coolers 11b and / or catholyte coolers 11c) to maintain the temperature of the shutdown electrolyzer equipment at the pre-selected shutting down temperature.

[0083] In a third step S3, a change in operational status of the units utilized for production of hydrogen and oxygen via electrolysis can be detected and the use of the second cooling medium can be adjusted so that the first cooling medium is able to be supplied in the warmer first pre-selected cooling temperature range. Such a detection can occur in response to renewable power becoming more available as discussed above, for example.

[0084] Embodiments of the process may return to step S1 in response to the change detected in the third step S3. Such adjustment can result in all units receiving the warmer cooling water or only some of the additional units receiving the warmer cooling water as discussed above, for example.

[0085] Embodiments of the process can also utilize other steps or features. For example, the utilization of temperature controllers for adjusting flow rates of cooling water from the second source of cooling water 5 to one or more heat exchangers HX can be utilized in the process. Also, adjusting how much cooling water may be provided to oxygen gas coolers 11d,hydrogen gas coolers 11a, and / or other equipment 11e can be based on the amount of renewable power available for hydrogen production.

[0086] Implementation of the exemplary process utilizing an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus 1 can be further appreciated from the further discussion of exemplary embodiments of implementation discussed herein. For example, the first source of cooling water 3 can be provided as a closed-loop air-cooled source of cooling water so that cooling water from the first source of cooling water 3 can be directly provided to the oxygen gas coolers 11d as well as the anolyte coolers 11b and / or catholyte coolers 11c of the electrolyzer modules 13. The use of this cooling water can provide a warmer cooling water to these units. Another portion of the cooling water from the first source of cooling water 3 can be fed to a first heat exchanger HX1 that can also receive colder cooling water from a second source of cooling water 5 to chill that portion of the cooling water for feeding the chilled cooling water to the hydrogen gas coolers 11a and optionally other equipment 11 e to provide cooling to those units. The cooling to the hydrogen gas coolers 11a can be provided via the chilled cooling water output from the first heat exchanger HX1 to knock out more water and reduce water loss during operation of the hydrogen coolers 11a, for example. The temperature of the chilled cooling water output from the first heat exchanger HX1 can be controlled via adjusting the flow of the cooling water from the second source of cooling water 5 to the first heat exchanger via control of at least one valve V of the conduit arrangement 4 for the cooling water of the second source of cooling water 5. Such a control can be via a first temperature controller T 1 and / or second temperature controller T2, for example.

[0087] In the event electrolyzer shutdown is to occur or does occur due to a loss of renewable power, valves V can be adjusted to control a flow of the cooling water so that chilled cooling water that is at a lower temperature can be provided to the anolyte coolers 11 b and / or catholyte coolers 11c of the electrolyzer modules 13. Such a shutdown may result in no need for cooling of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas as electrolysis can stop due to electrolyzer shutdown. Valves V can be adjusted to stop flows of cooling water to the hydrogen gas coolers 11a and oxygen gas coolers 11d. The flow of cooling water can also be adjusted so that the cooling water is passed through the first heat exchanger HX1 for being provided to the anolyte coolers 11 b and / or catholyte coolers 11 c at a lower temperature for cooling during electrolyzer shutdown. Such routing can occur via a chilled cooling water conduit 6f, for example.

[0088] T o support the shutting down of the electrolyzers that would no longer be operational and therefore may need the colder fluid (e.g. due to a sudden loss of power, etc.), electrolyzer equipment may need to be cooled from a normal operating temperature to a lower pre-selected shutting down temperature before the power for those electrolyzers to be shutdown can be completely shut off. The pre-selected shutting down temperature (which can also be referred to as a pre-selected electrolyzer shutdown temperature) can be pre-selected and be any suitable temperature, but is colder than the normal operational temperature for the electrolyzer and its equipment. During the cooldown period that occurs for shutting down of the electrolyzer(s), the electrolyzer(s) can be run at a very low power level and this is when the chilled cooling water can be provided to the different equipment that may need a lower temperature cooling water. After the electrolyzer equipment (e.g. the anolyte coolers 11b and / or catholyte coolers 11c) reaches the lower pre-selected shutting down temperature, the power can be shut off for shutting down of the electrolyzer(s). After this occurs, the chilled water may no longer be needed in the event the ambient temperature is below the pre-selected shutting down temperature. In the event the ambient temperature is higher than the preselected shutting down temperature, the chilled water may continue to be routed to the equipment to maintain the temperature of the shutdown electrolyzer equipment at the preselected shutting down temperature.

[0089] The proportion of the chilled cooling water output from the first heat exchanger HX1 that can be diverted to different anolyte coolers 11b and / or catholyte coolers 11c and stopped from flowing to different hydrogen gas coolers 11a can depend on the proportion of such units that are shut down (or deactivated) to account for a loss of renewable power. In some embodiments, some chilled cooling water can be passed to some operational hydrogen gas coolers while other hydrogen gas coolers are no longer to receive such cooling water due to a shutdown of some electrolyzers. The proportion of chilled cooling water output form the first heat exchanger diverted to the anolyte coolers 11b and / or catholyte coolers 11c can also be adjusted to account for feeding that chilled cooling water to the anolyte coolers 11 b and / or catholyte coolers 11c supporting the shutdown of electrolyzers that would no longer be operational and therefore may need the colder fluid.

[0090] Non-shutdown electrolyzers, may still have their equipment receive the non-chilled cooling water from the first source of cooling water 3. For example, the oxygen gas coolers, anolyte coolers 11 b and / or catholyte coolers 11c that are supporting operational electrolyzers may continue to receive non-chilled cooling water from the first source of cooling water 3.

[0091] As may be appreciated from the above, and the exemplary embodiments of Figures 1 and 3, some embodiments may also utilize a second heat exchanger HX2 to provide some chilling of the cooling water fed to anolyte coolers 11 b and / or catholyte coolers 11c. This can be utilized in embodiments in which chilling of air-cooled cooling water may be desired forsupporting operational equipment, for example. Also (or alternatively), this arrangement and use of the second heat exchanger HX2 can be provided to help facilitate improved output capacity of chilled cooling water during shutdown situations that may occur as the cooling water from the second source of cooling water 5 can be selectively provided to the first and second heat exchangers HX1 and HX2 for providing the further chilling of the cooling water to account for shutdown conditions.

[0092] In yet other embodiments, the first heat exchanger HX1 can be dedicated to providing cooling to the hydrogen gas coolers 11a and / or other equipment 11e and the second heat exchanger HX2 can be utilized to provide chilling of the cooling water from the first source of cooling water 3 to provide to the anolyte coolers 11b and / or catholyte coolers 11c in response to electrolyzer shutdowns occurring. In such a configuration, the flow rate of the cooling water from the second source of cooling water 5 utilized as a refrigerant in the first and second heat exchangers HX1 and HX2 can be adjusted to account for the operational statuses of the hydrogen gas coolers 11a, other equipment, and anolyte coolers 11 b and / or catholyte coolers 11c. Such embodiments may not utilize the chilled cooling water conduit 6f since the second heat exchanger HX2 can provide the sufficient chilled cooling water when needed. Other embodiments may still have such a conduit 6f positioned to provide supplemental chilling water or to facilitate use of chilled cooling water in situations where the second heat exchanger HX2 may need to be taken off-line for maintenance or other work.

[0093] Embodiments can be configured to help avoid use of water from the second source of cooling water 5. This can help limit formation of waste flows that may need to undergo wastewater treatment. This can also help limit the need for fresh makeup water MKP that may be needed for cooling of the different hydrogen production equipment. Embodiments can also provide increased operational flexibility by providing improved temperature control for cooling water or other cooling medium used for cooing of electrolyzer equipment to account for different operational states of a hydrogen production facility (e.g. number of electrolyzers that may be shutdown due to lack of renewable power availability, etc.). The environmental impact associated with wastewater formation and / or use of fresh water to support operations can also be significantly reduced to provide a more ecologically friendly approach for making hydrogen or hydrogen and oxygen.

[0094] It should also be appreciated that other modifications can also be made to meet a particular set of criteria for different embodiments of the apparatus 1 or process. For instance, the arrangement of valves, flow meters, temperature sensors, other sensors, piping, and other conduit elements (e.g., conduit connection mechanisms, tubing, seals, valves, etc.) forinterconnecting different units of the apparatus for fluid communication of the flows of fluid between different elements can be arranged to meet a particular facility layout design that accounts for available area of the apparatus, sized equipment of the apparatus, and other design considerations. For instance, the size or type of the heat exchangers, air cooled water cooling system, evaporative tower cooling system, anolyte coolers AC, catholyte coolers CC, hydrogen gas coolers and / or oxygen gas coolers and / or other equipment can be modified to meet a particular set of design criteria. As yet another example, the sizing and type of the equipment that can be any suitable sized and configured equipment that may be suitable for a particular set of design criteria for the apparatus 1.

[0095] As yet another example, it is contemplated that a particular feature described, either individually or as part of an embodiment, can be combined with other individually described features, or parts of other embodiments. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described herein can therefore be combined to provide further embodiments. Thus, while certain exemplary embodiments of the process, apparatus, system, and methods of making and using the same have been shown and described above, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An apparatus for utilization of cooling water, comprising: a first source of cooling water configured to provide cooling water at a first temperature within a first temperature range; a second source of cooling water configured to provide cooling water at a second temperature within a second temperature range that is lower than the first temperature range; a heat exchanger positioned to receive a first flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to chill the first flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water, the heat exchanger also positioned to receive a flow of cooling water from the second source of cooling water as a refrigerant to cool the first flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to a pre-selected cooling medium temperature to output chilled cooling water and a warmed refrigerant, the warmed refrigerant outputtable from the heat exchanger being passable to the second source of the cooling water, at least one anolyte cooler and / or at least one catholyte cooler positioned to receive a second flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water when at least one electrolyzer of the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler is operational to form hydrogen gas via electrolysis; and the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler positioned to receive a portion of the chilled cooling water outputtable from the heat exchanger in response to the at least one electrolyzer of the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler losing power for being shut down in response to a loss of renewable power availability.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising: at least one oxygen gas cooler positioned and configured to receive a third flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water when at least one electrolyzer is operational to form hydrogen gas via electrolysis.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising: one or more hydrogen gas coolers positioned to receive at least a portion of the chilled cooling water outputtable from the heat exchanger.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, comprising: equipment downstream of the heat exchanger positioned and configured to receive a portion of the chilled cooling water outputtable from the heat exchanger.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the equipment includes a compressor aftercooler, a compressor intercooler, a temperature swing adsorption unit, and / or liquefier equipment.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising: a chilled cooling water conduit positioned between the heat exchanger and at least one valve, the at least one valve positioned to connect the chilled cooling water conduit to the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler, the at least one valve being adjustable from a closed position to an open position so that the portion of the chilled cooling water outputtable from the heat exchanger is passable to the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler in response to the at least one electrolyzer losing power for being shut down.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one valve includes a three way valve positioned to receive the portion of the chilled cooling water outputtable from the heat exchanger via the chilled cooling water conduit and the second flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, comprising: one or more hydrogen gas coolers positioned to receive at least a portion of the chilled cooling water outputtable from the heat exchanger.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising: one or more hydrogen gas coolers positioned to receive at least a portion of the chilled cooling water outputtable from the heat exchanger when the at least one electrolyzer of the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler is operational to form hydrogen gas via electrolysis; and the one or more hydrogen gas coolers are positioned so that the portion of the chilled cooling water outputtable from the heat exchanger is not passable to the one or more hydrogen gas coolers in response to the at least one electrolyzer being deactivated in response to the loss of renewable power availability via losing power for being shut down.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler are positioned to receive the portion of the chilled cooling water outputtable from the heat exchanger in response to the at least one electrolyzer being deactivated due to the loss of renewable power availability such that the portion of the chilled cooling water outputtable from the heat exchanger is mixed with the second flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to form a cooling medium at a lower temperature to feed to the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler of the at least one electrolyzer while the at least one electrolyzer is deactivated via losing power for being shut down.

11. An apparatus for utilization of cooling water, comprising: a first source of cooling water configured to provide cooling water at a first temperature within a first temperature range; a second source of cooling water configured to provide cooling water at a second temperature within a second temperature range that is lower than the first temperature range; a first heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger positioned to receive a first flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to chill the first flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water, the second heat exchanger also positioned to receive a flow of cooling water from the second source of cooling water as a refrigerant to cool the first flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to a pre-selected cooling medium temperature to output chilled cooling water and a warmed refrigerant, the warmed refrigerant outputtable from the second heat exchanger being passable to the second source of the cooling water, at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler positioned to receive a portion of the chilled cooling water outputtable from the second heat exchanger in response to the at least one electrolyzer of the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler losing power for being shut down in response to a loss of renewable power availability; and the first heat exchanger positioned to receive a second flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to chill the second flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water, the first heat exchanger also positioned to receive a flow of cooling water from the second source of cooling water as a refrigerant to cool the second flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to a pre-selected cooling medium temperature to output chilled cooling water and a warmed refrigerant, the warmed refrigerant outputtable from the first heat exchanger being passable to the second source of the cooling water, the chilledcooling water outputtable from the first heat exchanger being passable to one or more hydrogen gas coolers positioned to receive at least a portion of the chilled cooling water output from the first heat exchanger when the at least one electrolyzer of the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler is activated to make hydrogen gas via electrolysis of water.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the second heat exchanger is configured so that the pre-selected cooling medium temperature is at a pre-selected electrolyzer shutdown temperature while the at least one electrolyzer is being deactivated and the pre-selected cooling medium temperature is at a pre-selected electrolyzer operational cooling temperature when the at least one electrolyzer is activated to form hydrogen gas via electrolysis of water, the pre-selected electrolyzer shutdown temperature being lower than the pre-selected electrolyzer operational cooling temperature.

13. A process to provide cooling for an apparatus configured to produce hydrogen gas, comprising: passing a first flow of cooling water from a first source of cooling water to a heat exchanger; passing a flow of cooling water from a second source of cooling water to the heat exchanger as a refrigerant to chill the first flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to a pre-selected cooling medium temperature to output chilled cooling water and a warmed refrigerant, the second source of cooling water configured to provide cooling water at a second temperature within a second temperature range that is lower than a first temperature range of the first source of cooling water; passing a portion of the chilled cooling water output from the heat exchanger to at least one anolyte cooler and / or at least one catholyte cooler in response to at least one electrolyzer of the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler being deactivated due to a change in renewable power availability.

14. The process of claim 13, comprising: in response to the at least one electrolyzer being activated and operational to produce hydrogen gas and oxygen gas via electrolysis of water, passing a second flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler.

15. The process of claim 14, comprising: in response to the at least one electrolyzer being activated and operational to produce hydrogen gas and oxygen gas via electrolysis of water, passing the portion of the chilled cooling water output from the heat exchanger to one or more hydrogen gas coolers.

16. The process of claim 14, wherein the passing of the portion of the chilled cooling water output from the heat exchanger to the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler in response to the at least one electrolyzer of the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler being deactivated due to a change in renewable power availability includes: mixing the portion of the chilled cooling water output from the heat exchanger with the second flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to form a cooling medium at a pre-selected electrolyzer shutdown temperature to feed to the at least one anolyte cooler and / or the at least one catholyte cooler of the at least one electrolyzer while the at least one electrolyzer is being deactivated.

17. The process of claim 13, comprising: passing the warmed refrigerant to the second source of cooling water.

18. The process of claim 13, wherein the heat exchanger is a second heat exchanger, the pre-selected cooling medium temperature is a pre-selected electrolyzer shutdown temperature while the at least one electrolyzer is being deactivated and the pre-selected cooling medium temperature is a pre-selected electrolyzer operational cooling temperature when the at least one electrolyzer is activated to form hydrogen gas via electrolysis of water, and the process comprises: passing a second flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to a first heat exchanger; passing another flow of cooling water from the second source of cooling water as a refrigerant to the first heat exchanger to chill the second flow of cooling water from the first source of cooling water to a pre-selected cooling medium temperature to output chilled cooling water and a warmed refrigerant,passing the chilled cooling water output from the first heat exchanger to one or more hydrogen gas coolers positioned to receive at least a portion of the chilled cooling water output from the first heat exchanger.

19. The process of claim 18, wherein the passing of the chilled cooling water output from the first heat exchanger to the one or more hydrogen gas coolers occurs when the at least one electrolyzer is activated and forms hydrogen gas via electrolysis.

20. The process of claim 19, comprising: stopping the passing of the chilled cooling water output from the first heat exchanger to the one or more hydrogen gas coolers in response to the at least one electrolyzer being deactivated due to the change in renewable power availability.

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