Device for producing dihydrogen from water, e.g. seawater

Abstract

An aspect of the invention relates to a device for producing dihydrogen from water, e.g. seawater. The device includes a (greenhouse) casing including a water reservoir, a water inlet and a condensation surface. The casing is configured to absorb solar energy and heat the water in the reservoir to produce water vapor within the casing. Condensed water is produced on the condensation surface. The device further includes an electrolyzer for electrolyzing the condensed water, thereby producing dihydrogen, and a wave energy converter for converting water wave energy into electrical energy. The wave energy converter is operatively connected to the electrolyzer to supply electrical energy to the electrolyzer to perform the electrolysis. Additional aspects relate to a dihydrogen production facility including a dihydrogen production rig and one or more devices, and a method of producing dihydrogen from water with the device.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a device for producing dihydrogen from water, particularly seawater, a dihydrogen production facility including a dihydrogen production rig and device, and a method for producing dihydrogen from water with the device. [Background technology]

[0002] Hydrogen production from renewable energies is important for making a gradual transition towards a clean hydrogen economy and a more sustainable smart energy mix. To implement a sustainable energy economy, the biggest challenge is the fluctuations in electricity production of wind and solar power plants (e.g. due to weather conditions). To meet this challenge and meet the energy demand, electricity must be stored (protected) to provide energy even in adverse conditions (e.g. little sunshine and / or little wind).

[0003] To store green power in a scalable manner, it can be converted to chemical energy. The central step for this conversion is the electrolytic splitting of water to form hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen can be directly stored, transported, and reconverted to electricity in fuel cells. Furthermore, hydrogen is the starting point for the formation of other fuels such as methanol, ammonia, or liquid organic hydrogen carriers.

[0004] Due to the central role of water splitting in a sustainable energy economy, the cost-effectiveness of this process is significant and even a 1% saving could save millions of dollars. More than half of the cost of electrolytic hydrogen production comes from the electricity required. The cost of the electrolyzer is also a large investment.

[0005] Green hydrogen is produced by using renewable energy (such as combining wave energy with solar heat) to power electrolysis, which splits water into its component parts. Extensive available analysis suggests that a price of US$2 per kg represents a potential tipping point to make green hydrogen and its derived fuels the energy source of choice in many sectors, including steelmaking, fertilizer production, power generation and transportation, with huge demand expected in the near future across Europe and internationally.

[0006] Purifying water requires water to be decomposed in an electrolytic cell for a long time. Direct seawater splitting (DSS) seems desirable because 96.5% of the water on Earth is seawater and less than 1% is unfrozen fresh water. DSS represents a very difficult problem to process. In fact, robustness against corrosion of the electrodes of the electrolytic cell is desirable. It is very problematic that the formation of salt crystals destabilizes and inhibits chemical redox reactions. Kuang et al. (Non-Patent Document 1) have developed a bilayer NiFe / NiSx-Ni foam (NiFe / NiSx-Ni) for direct seawater splitting. 3 proposed an electrolyzer with a NiFe / NiSx / Ni anode. A NiFe / NiSx / Ni anode was investigated for active and stable seawater electrolysis. The uniformly electrodeposited NiFe was a highly selective OER (oxygen evolution reaction) catalyst for alkaline seawater splitting, while the underlying NiSx layer provided a conductive interlayer and sulfur source to generate a cation-selective polyatomic anion-rich anode stable against chloride etching / corrosion. The seawater electrolyzer was capable of 400 mA / cm at 2.1 V in real seawater or salt-accumulated seawater at room temperature. 2 A current density of 1.72 V was achieved while only 1.72 V was required at 80 °C under industrial electrolysis conditions. Crucially, the electrolyzer also showed inconsistencies in durability: a substantial increase in power consumption was observed, but no obvious loss of activity was observed until after 1000 h of stability testing.

[0007] US Patent No. 5,399,633 relates to an open cycle ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) plant that generates electricity and desalinated water. The plant includes an inner chamber (shell) surrounded by an outer chamber, one of which contains a vacuum. Relatively hot seawater is pumped into the vacuum containing chambers, where it evaporates and the steam passes through a turbine that generates electricity and into the other chamber, where it is concentrated into desalinated water using the relatively cold seawater. The chambers may be spherical in shape. Part of the electricity generation may be used to generate hydrogen. The plant is placed on a floating platform, which is supported by pressure ballast hollow columns that can be raised and lowered as required. A pipe supplying the relatively cold seawater is moored separately with a buoy and connected to the platform by a flexible piping that can be extended and retracted.

[0008] Patent Document 2 relates to an ocean energy island device including an ocean platform and a tidal current energy power generation device, a wave energy power generation device, a photovoltaic power generation device, a wind energy power generation device, a hydrogen generation device and a seawater desalination device all disposed on the ocean platform, the tidal current energy power generation device, the wave energy power generation device, the photovoltaic power generation device and the wind energy power generation device are all electrically connected to a hydrogen generation device and used to provide electrical energy to the hydrogen generation device, and the tidal current energy power generation device, the wave energy power generation device, the photovoltaic power generation device and the wind energy power generation device are all electrically connected to a seawater desalination device and used to provide electrical energy to the seawater desalination device.

[0009] US Patent No. 5,399,633 relates to an ocean wave energy conversion unit that converts kinetic energy from ocean waves into a usable form of energy (aquatomer). The units are designed to be modular, which can be deployed naturally to function individually, or assembled into groups where the units rely on each other and function together as a whole. The units have individual electrical outputs. As a group (colony) in deep sea surface applications, the electrical outputs of each aquatomer unit are integrated and used to operate a water electrolysis operation to produce oxygen gas (O2) and hydrogen gas (H2). The described ocean wave energy conversion unit uses a water electrolysis operation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] GB 2444731 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2021 / 81775 Brochure [Patent Document 3] US Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0068629 [Non-patent literature]

[0011] [Non-Patent Document 1] Yun Kuang et al., “Solar-driven, highly sustained splitting of seawater into hydrogen and oxygen fuels”, PNAS 116(14), 6624-6629(2019) Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] A first aspect of the invention relates to a device for producing dihydrogen from water, e.g. seawater. The device includes a (greenhouse) casing including a water reservoir, a water inlet, and one or more condensation surfaces. The water inlet (e.g. opening, gap, channel, etc.) is configured to allow water to enter the reservoir. The (greenhouse) casing is configured to absorb solar energy to heat the water in the reservoir to produce water vapor within the casing. The one or more condensation surfaces are configured to condense the water vapor to produce condensed water. The device further includes an electrolyzer for electrolyzing the condensed water, thereby producing dihydrogen, and a wave energy converter for converting water wave energy into electrical energy. The wave energy converter is operatively connected to the electrolyzer to supply electrical energy to the electrolyzer to perform the electrolysis.

[0013] As used herein, the term "greenhouse casing" refers to a casing configured to absorb solar energy to heat water in a reservoir to generate water vapor within the casing. In other words, the casing is configured to create a microclimate such that the temperature inside the casing is higher than the temperature outside the casing. This is done by absorbing solar energy.

[0014] It will be appreciated that the present invention is capable of producing dihydrogen, the production of which reduces the environmental impact. In fact, the electrolyser is powered by the converted surface wave energy, and the purification (desalination) of the seawater is carried out by the solar energy harvested by the casing. The design of the disclosed device allows for autonomous operation. In fact, the device is capable of harvesting the solar and wave energy necessary to operate the device and produce dihydrogen (continuously).

[0015] It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention is generally suitable for producing dihydrogen from water other than seawater (e.g., having a high concentration of minerals and / or living organisms), although seawater is believed to be the preferred hydrogen source in this regard.

[0016] The casing may include a condensate collector (e.g., a tube, a drain, a pipe, etc.) for directing the condensate into the electrolytic cell. The condensate collector may include one or more condensation surfaces on which water vapor may be condensed. The condensate is preferably directed into the electrolytic cell by gravity. In other words, the condensate is conveyed into the electrolytic cell by gravity. This may reduce the energy footprint of the device, for example, by avoiding the use of a pump to convey the condensate into the electrolytic cell. The one or more condensation surfaces may be cooled via a thermal bridge towards the external environment or towards the surrounding water, for example the surrounding seawater.

[0017] The device may further include a gate valve for controlling the condensate intake of the electrolytic cell. The gate valve may be in an open position, thereby allowing water to be electrolyzed to enter the electrolytic cell. Conversely, the gate valve may be in a closed position, thereby preventing water from flowing. Of course, any intermediate position (between the closed and open positions) is also contemplated. This allows the flow of water entering the electrolytic cell (e.g., the amount of water entering the electrolytic cell at one time) to be controlled.

[0018] The device may further include a battery or supercapacitor for storing the converted seawater wave energy and supplying electrical energy to the electrolyzer to perform electrolysis. This may provide an electrical energy buffer, whereby electrical energy may be stored during a first time interval when more electrical energy is generated than is consumed. The stored energy may be used, for example, during a second time interval when the electrical energy generated to power the device (specifically the electrolyzer) is insufficient.

[0019] The device may further include a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the electrolyser, thereby allowing control over whether the electrolyser operates within its specified operating temperature range.

[0020] The device may include a condensate buffer tank for accumulating condensed water, the buffer tank being in fluid communication with the electrolyzer to provide the condensate to the electrolyzer. The buffer tank may serve to average the generation of condensate. The buffer tank may be part of or connected to the condensate collector to receive the condensed water on one or more condensation surfaces. In particular, it will be appreciated that the buffer tank allows for the collection of water during the day, so that water can be provided to the electrolyzer at night, even if the solar energy collected by the casing is not sufficient to evaporate the seawater. In other words, the buffer tank is preferably dimensioned to average the generation of condensate over a period of several hours to several days, for example half a day, one day or two or more days.

[0021] The device may include at least one of a temperature sensor, a pH sensor, a water level sensor, and a conductivity sensor connected to the buffer tank for sensing a temperature, a pH, a water level, and a conductivity, respectively, of the condensed water in the buffer tank.

[0022] The wave energy converter may include a generator coupled to a pendulum (e.g. a single pendulum or more preferably a double pendulum) for converting water wave energy into electrical energy. The wave energy converter preferably includes one or more buoy bodies that are moved by water waves when the device is placed on the water surface. The wave energy converter may be housed in such a buoy body. It is noted that the device may take the form of a buoy as a whole.

[0023] In one embodiment, the greenhouse casing includes a solar collector layer for absorbing solar energy and generating thermal energy, the solar collector layer configured to transfer the generated thermal energy within the greenhouse casing, preferably directly to water in the reservoir.

[0024] In one embodiment, the greenhouse casing includes an insulating layer to insulate the water contained within the reservoir from the (underlying) environment of the device (e.g., the surrounding seawater). It will be appreciated that the presence of such a layer may make the heating effect of the casing more effective by reducing heat loss.

[0025] The greenhouse casing may include one or more concentrators, such as one or more Fresnel lenses. The one or more concentrators may be arranged to concentrate the solar density (mostly in the infrared range) in the area of ​​the water reservoir so as to enhance the heating effect inside the greenhouse casing. Fresnel lenses are flat, non-bulky lenses, and have the advantage of being relatively light and easy to manufacture compared to conventional lenses. The one or more Fresnel lenses may be integrated into the greenhouse casing if they are made from a transparent material (e.g., plastics such as polymethylmethacrylate or glass).

[0026] The device may include a buoy.

[0027] The device may include a ballast.

[0028] The device may include a communication unit, for example a wireless or wired communication unit, for communicating with a base station.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the electrolyzer comprises a PEM (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane) electrolyzer. Alternatively, a solid oxide electrolyzer, such as one or more solid oxide electrolyzer cells (SOEC), can be used when solar energy is used to heat the electrolyzer and / or generate water vapor. In this case, one or more solar collectors and / or a super-absorbent (super black) coating can be used to convert solar radiation into heat and heat the relevant parts of the device.

[0030] In one embodiment, the device includes a controller, which may be preferably configured to operatively turn the electrolytic cell on or off based on at least one of the temperature, pH, water level, and conductivity of the electrolytic cell and the water in the buffer tank, respectively.

[0031] In one embodiment, the controller may be configured to operate the actuator to close (or open) a gate valve downstream of the water collector and preferably operatively turn on (or off) the electrolyzer based on at least one of the acceleration, angular velocity and magnetic field at the device position of the device. The acceleration, angular velocity and magnetic field at the device position may be provided by an accelerometer, a gyroscope and a magnetometer, respectively, provided in the device.

[0032] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a dihydrogen generation rig comprising one or more devices as disclosed herein.

[0033] A third aspect of the present invention relates to a dihydrogen production facility comprising: a plurality of devices as disclosed herein, one or more dihydrogen transfer lines connected to the device for transporting dihydrogen produced by the device; a station including a pump connected to one or more dihydrogen transfer lines for directing dihydrogen produced by the device to a land station; Includes.

[0034] For example, a standard compression unit powered by photovoltaic energy can be coupled to a facility for storing dihydrogen at high pressure.

[0035] A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to a method for producing dihydrogen from water with a device as disclosed herein, the method comprising: Absorbing solar energy to heat water contained in a reservoir to generate water vapor in a casing; using one or more condensation surfaces to condense water vapor and produce condensate; electrolyzing the condensate in an electrolytic cell to produce dihydrogen; using a wave energy converter to convert water wave energy into electrical energy; supplying electrical energy to the electrolytic cell to carry out electrolysis; Includes.

[0036] The method may include using a condensate collector to direct the condensate into the electrolytic cell, the condensate preferably being directed into the electrolytic cell by gravity.

[0037] The method may include operating a gate valve to control condensate uptake in the electrolyzer.

[0038] The method may include sensing a temperature, pH, conductivity and / or water level of the water in the buffer tank between the one or more condensation surfaces and the electrolyzer.

[0039] The operation of the gate valve for controlling the condensate intake of the electrolyzer may be based on the sensed temperature, pH, (electrical) conductivity and / or water level of the water in the buffer tank. Additionally or alternatively, the operation of the gate valve may be based on the fill level of the O2 exhaust pipe of the electrolyzer.

[0040] The method may include transmitting (via wire or wirelessly) the sensed temperature, pH, conductivity and / or water level of the water in the buffer tank and / or any other measured parameters on-board the device to a remote station.

[0041] The verb "comprise" and the phrase "consisting of" are used herein as open-ended transitional phrases meaning "include" or "consist of at least". Unless otherwise indicated by context, use of singular forms is intended to encompass the plural, except that when the cardinal number "1" is used, "one" means "exactly one" herein. Ordinal numbers ("first", "second", etc.) are used herein to distinguish between different instances of a general object, and no particular order, importance, or hierarchy is intended to be implied by the use of these words. Furthermore, when multiple instances of an object are referred to by an ordinal number, this does not necessarily mean that there are no other instances of that object (unless this is clear from the context). When this description refers to "an embodiment", "one embodiment", "embodiment", etc., this also means that features of those embodiments can be used in combinations that clearly exist, but that features can be combined across embodiments without departing from the invention, unless the context does not allow the features to be combined.

[0042] Preferred, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0043] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a device for producing dihydrogen from seawater. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electrolytic cell portion of the device of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the device. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a dihydrogen production facility. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0044] The reader is advised that the drawings are not to scale and, furthermore, for the sake of clarity, proportions between heights, lengths and / or widths may not be represented precisely.

[0045] Figure 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of one aspect of the present invention. In Figure 1, a device 10 for producing dihydrogen from seawater 12 is shown. The device 10 can be moored. The device 10 includes a (greenhouse) casing 13 including a base structure 14 and a lid 16, a compartment 18 (acting as a buoy) and ballast 20. In another embodiment, the buoy can be separate from the compartment 18.

[0046] The base structure 14 contacts the seawater 12 in use. The base structure is substantially flat and has a lip 22 around its periphery, thereby providing a seawater reservoir. The reader will understand that the base structure need not be (substantially) flat and can be of any geometric shape so long as it provides a reservoir for seawater. Seawater may enter the device 10 by way of a gap 26 (or other inlet) in the casing 13 (between the base structure 14 and the lid 16). The entering seawater is captured due to the presence of the lip 22 and is deposited on the base structure 14.

[0047] The base structure 14 includes a black solar collector layer 14a for absorbing solar energy and generating thermal energy. The solar collector layer transfers the generated thermal energy in the greenhouse casing to the seawater in the reservoir. As depicted, the layer 14a may be in direct contact with the seawater collected in the base structure 14. The layer 14a may efficiently capture solar energy (specifically visible and IR radiation) and convert the solar energy into thermal energy (heat), which then evaporates the seawater in the casing. To mitigate cooling by the underlying seawater, the base structure 14 may include an insulating layer 14b to insulate the seawater contained in the reservoir from the underlying seawater. Advantageously, the insulating layer 14b is in contact with the seawater during use.

[0048] As illustrated, the lid 16 may be shaped into a truncated pyramid by the cap 24. The lid 16 may collect solar energy to heat and evaporate seawater captured by the base structure 14. The lid 16 may be transparent or translucent. The cap 24 and / or the lid 16 may include one or more Fresnel lenses. One or more coatings 28 may be applied to the interior surface of the lid 16. The coatings 28 may improve the greenhouse effect by optimizing (improving) infrared transmission. The coatings 28 may mitigate biofilm formation using a photocatalytic thin film of TiO2 produced by sunlight. Fluoropolymer coatings (e.g., PFA, FEP, PTFE) may also be applied to improve condensation rejection.

[0049] The lid 16 may be (mechanically) secured to the compartment 18, such that the lid 16 and the compartment 18 can move as a unitary body. The lid 16 may be (mechanically) secured to the base structure 14, such that the lid 16 and the base structure can also be considered a unitary body.

[0050] The casing 13 encloses at least one condensation surface, which in the illustrated embodiment is provided in the form of an inverted cone 30. The surface of the cone may be coated in the same way as the other inner surface of the lid 16. The inverted cone 30 is arranged on the inner surface of the cap 24. In use, the inner surface of the lid 16 as well as the inner surface of the inverted cone 30 provide a surface for condensing the evaporated water inside the casing 13. The heat of condensation may be evacuated from the condensation surface by thermal conduction across the lid, which is cooled by the external environment. Alternatively or in addition, the condensation surface may be connected by a thermal bridge to the surrounding seawater 12, which in this case acts as a heat sink. Condensed water droplets 32 are generated on the inner surface of the lid 16 and on the surface of the inverted cone 30.

[0051] The condensed water is purified in the sense that its mineral content is significantly reduced. Indeed, seawater containing about 20,000 ppm of dissolved salts can be purified to about 37 ppm of dissolved salts. The amount of biological material can also be reduced. The remaining salt (which was in the originally evaporated seawater) remains in the seawater reservoir and can be released into the surrounding seawater, for example, if the base structure is flooded due to seawater. It will be appreciated that the design can continue to replace the seawater in the reservoir, such that the seawater in the reservoir does not have a higher mineral concentration than the surrounding seawater.

[0052] The inverted cone 30 can direct the condensed water 32 into the compartment 18 located under the tip of the inverted cone 30. The compartment 18 is provided with a hole to allow the condensed water to enter. It will be appreciated that gravity alone is sufficient to direct the condensed water 32 into the compartment 18, so that no actuation of a driving force (e.g. provided by a pump) is required. This can reduce the energy consumption of the device 10. Advantageously, the compartment 18 is provided with a funnel 34 to collect the condensed water droplets.

[0053] The compartment 18 includes a PEM electrolyser 36 (a PEM electrolyser is preferred because it can discharge H2 without water, although other electrolysers may be contemplated), a gate valve 38 for controlling the electrolyser's condensate intake, a buffer tank 40 in fluid communication with the electrolyser 36 for providing condensate to the electrolyser 36, and a wave energy converter 42.

[0054] 2, which shows an enlargement of a detail of FIG 1, the buffer tank 40 includes a pH sensor 44, a water level sensor 46 and a conductivity sensor 48 for sensing the pH, water level and conductivity, respectively, of the water in the buffer tank 40. This allows for improved control and diagnostics of the water used in the electrolyser 36. The buffer tank may include further sensors, for example a temperature sensor.

[0055] The electrolyzer 36 is provided with water from a buffer tank 40. The electrolyzer 36 includes a hollow cathode electrode 50, a diffusion layer 52, a catalyst layer 54, a proton exchange membrane 56 (e.g. Nafion), a catalyst layer 58, a diffusion layer 60 and a hollow anode electrode 62. Condensed water entering the electrolyzer is electrolyzed and oxygen (O2) is produced at the hollow cathode electrode 50 and leaves the electrolyzer together with the water by a first outlet 64. Dihydrogen is produced at the hollow anode electrode 62 and leaves the electrolyzer by a second outlet 65 (H2 outlet). The first outlet 64 may be equipped with a capacitance sensor 68 that allows to detect whether (and to what extent) water is filling the outlet 64. The control of the gate valve may be (also) based on the readings of the capacitance sensor 68 (or any other filling level probe placed in the first outlet). The electrolytic cell 36 is equipped with a temperature sensor 70 to enable the operating temperature of the electrolytic cell 36 to be controlled.

[0056] It will be appreciated that the compartment 18 reduces exposure to the (marine) environment, thereby avoiding corrosion, biofilm and / or algae formation. In fact, the compartment 18 is sealed and there are only three passages, namely a funnel hole for providing condensate to the electrolyzer and two drains of the electrolyzer. The passages are protected from the surrounding water by a lid 16.

[0057] With reference to FIG. 1, the electrolyzer 36 is powered by a wave energy converter 42. The wave energy converter 42 includes a power management module 66 and an energy storage device (e.g., a battery or a supercapacitor) for storing electrical energy. The power management module 66 may be operatively connected to the energy storage device. When the electrical energy required by the device is lower than the energy harvested from the ocean waves, the energy storage device may store a surplus of the electrical energy. In the opposite case, the electrical energy stored in the energy storage device may be used to power the device 10 (e.g., the electrolyzer and / or the sensor described above). The wave energy converter 42 further includes a double pendulum 69 coupled to the generator 72 such that the double pendulum 69 may impart a rotational motion to the generator 72. The double pendulum 69 includes a first arm and a second arm coupled to the generator, the second arm being rotatably joined to the first arm by a pivot joint. The ocean waves generate tilting variations on the water surface. The device 10 is lifted by the waves as they sweep over it. Due to its shape, the wave causes the device to tilt relative to the vertical, which in turn drives the double pendulum 69 , thereby generating electricity through the rotation of a generator imparted by the double pendulum 69 .

[0058] An MCU 74 (microcontroller unit) is also provided within the compartment 18. The MCU 74 is operatively connected to the above-mentioned sensors, the electrolyzer 36, the gate valve 38, the power management module 66 and optionally a communication device 81 for communicating with a base station (also located inside the compartment 18).

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a simplified diagram illustrating the operation of the device 10. As explained above, the device 10 harvests energy from the waves (step 76), and the power management module provides electrical energy to the electrical components of the device 10 (e.g., sensors, electrolyzer, etc.). Water is also provided to the electrolyzer by solar distillation (step 78). The above sensors provide readings to an MCU configured to operate the device 10 on this base. For example, the MCU 74 can be configured to shut down the electrolyzer if its operating temperature is not within a typical temperature range for a particular type of electrolyzer (see, for example, switch 80). The electrolyzer can also be switched off if the power consumption is outside of a predetermined operating limit. In the same manner, the MCU 74 can be configured to shut down the electrolyzer and drain the water contained in the buffer tank 40 if the pH, conductivity and / or temperature of the water contained in the buffer tank 40 are not within a predetermined range. An accelerometer, gyroscope and / or magnetometer (e.g., embedded in the MCU) can also provide information of the sea waves. If very rough seas or for example bad weather conditions are detected by the accelerometer, gyroscope and / or magnetometer, the MCU may stop (switch off) operation of the electrolyser. When normal conditions are detected, the MCU may resume operation of the device. The configuration of the MCU may be run by flashing the EEPROM of the MCU.

[0060] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the MCU may essentially include or consist of a general-purpose microprocessor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a system on a chip (SoC), a programmable logic circuit, an application specific microprocessor, or a programmed general-purpose microprocessor. Among programmable logic circuits, the processor implementation may be a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device (PLD), an erasable programmable logic device (EPLD), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), a programmable logic array (PLA), etc. Low-power MCUs are preferred, such as the STM32U5 series MCUs from ST Microelectronics with a supply voltage of 1.8V and a supply current of 26μA / MHz.

[0061] Some or all of the sensor readings of the amount of energy stored in the energy storage device may also be transmitted by the communication device to a monitoring station, e.g., for remote monitoring. The MCU may also transmit the status of the device via the communication device, including whether any of the electrical components are faulty (e.g., not operating within their operating parameters). The communication device may perform the transmission wirelessly or via wires.

[0062] As indicated above, device 10 includes ballast 20. Ballast 20 can supplement the weight of device 10. Specifically, the ballast can be designed such that a (substantially) flat portion of the base structure is below the water level and the tip of the edge that is higher than the water level.

[0063] 4 illustrates a dihydrogen generation facility including a dihydrogen generation rig including one or more devices 10. The devices 10 are connected to one or more dihydrogen transfer lines 82 for transporting dihydrogen produced by the devices. The one or more dihydrogen transfer lines 82 are connected to respective H2 outlets of the devices 10. The plant further includes a station including a pump 84 connected to the one or more dihydrogen transfer lines 82 for pumping dihydrogen produced by the devices to the station. The dihydrogen may then be pressurized in a dihydrogen tank for transport.

[0064] The plant may further include (or be connected to) a communication device 86 for receiving communications sent by the communication device 81 of the device 10. The communications may be effected wirelessly or via wires (e.g., extending along and / or attached to the transfer line 82). The communications may be forwarded to a server in the cloud to enable monitoring by a remote operator (e.g., monitoring the temperature, pH, conductivity of the water in each reservoir and / or the operating temperature of each of the electrolyzers). Updated firmware for the MCU may also be sent to the device to update the firmware of the MCU.

[0065] Although specific embodiments have been described in detail herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications and alternatives to those details may be developed in light of the entire teachings of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the specific configurations disclosed are illustrative only and do not limit the scope of the invention, which is meant to be accorded the full breadth of the appended claims and any equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. 1. A device for producing dihydrogen from water, comprising: a greenhouse casing including a water reservoir, a water inlet, and a condensation surface, the water inlet configured to allow water to enter the reservoir, the greenhouse casing configured to absorb solar energy to heat water in the reservoir to generate water vapor within the casing, and the condensation surface configured to condense the water vapor to generate condensed water; an electrolytic cell for electrolyzing the condensed water, thereby producing dihydrogen; a wave energy converter for converting water wave energy into electrical energy, the wave energy converter being operatively connected to the electrolytic cell to supply the electrical energy to the electrolytic cell for carrying out the electrolysis; The device that contains

2. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the casing further comprises a condensate collector for directing the condensate into the electrolytic cell, the condensate preferably being directed into the electrolytic cell by gravity.

3. 3. The device of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a gate valve for controlling condensate intake of the electrolytic cell.

4. 4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a battery or a supercapacitor for storing the converted water wave energy and supplying electrical energy to the electrolyzer.

5. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the electrolytic cell.

6. 6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a buffer tank for storing the condensed water, the buffer tank being in fluid communication with the electrolytic cell for providing the condensed water to the electrolytic cell.

7. 7. The device of claim 6, further comprising at least one of a temperature sensor, a pH sensor, a water level sensor, and a conductivity sensor connected to the buffer tank for detecting a temperature, a pH, a water level, and a conductivity, respectively, of the condensed water in the buffer tank.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the wave energy converter comprises a generator coupled to a pendulum for converting water wave energy into electrical energy.

9. 9. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the greenhouse casing comprises a solar collector layer for absorbing solar energy and generating thermal energy, the solar collector layer being configured to transfer the generated thermal energy in the greenhouse casing, preferably directly to the water in the reservoir.

10. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the greenhouse casing includes an insulating layer to insulate the water contained within the reservoir from the environment below the device, for example seawater.

11. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the greenhouse casing comprises one or more light concentrators, such as one or more Fresnel lenses.

12. A device according to any preceding claim, comprising a buoy.

13. The device of any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a ballast.

14. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a communication unit for communicating with a base station.

15. The device of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the electrolytic cell comprises a PEM electrolytic cell.

16. 8. The device of any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a controller, preferably configured to operatively turn the electrolytic cell on or off based on at least one of the temperature, pH, water level, conductivity of the electrolytic cell and the water in the buffer tank, respectively.

17. 17. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the controller is configured to operate a gate valve of the electrolyser, and preferably configured to operatively turn the electrolyser on or off, based on at least one of the acceleration, angular velocity and magnetic field at the device position of the device.

18. A dihydrogen generation rig comprising one or more devices according to any one of the preceding claims.

19. 1. A dihydrogen generation facility comprising: A plurality of devices according to any one of claims 1 to 17; one or more dihydrogen transfer lines connected to the device for transporting the dihydrogen produced by the device; a station including a pump connected to the one or more dihydrogen transfer lines for directing the dihydrogen produced by the device to a land station; Dihydrogen generation equipment including

20. A method for producing dihydrogen from water with a device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, comprising the steps of: absorbing solar energy to heat water contained within the reservoir to generate water vapor within the casing; using a condensation surface to condense the water vapor and produce condensed water; electrolyzing the condensed water in the electrolytic cell to produce dihydrogen; using a wave energy converter to convert water wave energy into electrical energy; providing said electrical energy to said electrolytic cell to perform said electrolysis; The method includes:

21. 21. The method of claim 20, comprising using a condensate collector to direct the condensate into the electrolytic cell, the condensate being preferably directed into the electrolytic cell by gravity.

22. 22. The method of claim 20 or 21, comprising operating a gate valve to control condensate uptake in the electrolyser.

23. The temperature, pH, conductivity and / or water level of the water in the buffer tank and / or the O ２ A method according to any one of claims 20 to 22, comprising sensing the fill level in the discharge line.

24. The operation of the gate valve to control the condensate intake of the electrolytic cell is controlled by the sensed temperature, pH, conductivity and / or the water level of the water in the buffer tank and / or the O2 concentration of the electrolytic cell. ２ 24. The method of claim 23 based on the fill level of a drain pipe.

25. The detected temperature, pH, conductivity and / or water level of the water in the buffer tank and / or the O ２ 25. The method of claim 23 or 24, comprising wirelessly transmitting the fill level of the drain pipe.

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