Vehicle comprising electrolyzer for providing hydrogen

Abstract

The invention relates to a system 1 for providing hydrogen, said system 1 having: a vehicle 2, a receiving unit 3 which is designed to receive water, snow 4, and / or ice, in particular from an underlying surface 5 and / or from the surrounding air, a collecting unit 6 which is designed to collect water, snow 4, and / or ice received by the receiving unit 3, wherein the collecting unit 6 is designed such that collected snow 4 and / or ice can be converted into water 7 in the collecting unit 6, and a splitting unit 8, in particular an electrolysis chamber, is designed to split the water 7 which can be provided by the collecting unit 6 into oxygen 9 and hydrogen 10.

Description

Vehicle for the provision of hydrogen Area of

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for providing hydrogen, the system comprising: a vehicle, a receiving unit, a collection unit and a splitting unit.

[0002] Vehicle systems that have a hydrogen storage unit and a fuel cell for energy generation are known from the state of the art.

[0003] The patent US 7,966,945 B1 discloses a hydrogen hybrid locomotive comprising a series of batteries for powering several electric traction motors. Furthermore, the locomotive comprises a fuel cell unit for charging the batteries and powering the traction motors, as well as several hydrogen tanks that provide the hydrogen required for power generation by the fuel cell unit.

[0004] Furthermore, systems are also known in the prior art in which the vehicle itself generates hydrogen and uses this hydrogen to generate energy. For example, patent RU 2419564 C1 discloses a locomotive that, in addition to the diesel engine, has a hydrogen generator powered by hydrolysis of a solid reagent with an alkaline solution. The hydrogen produced by the hydrogen generator can then be fed to the diesel engine. In this case, the hydrogen generator consists of a hydrogen collector, a system for feeding the reagents into the hydrogen generator, and a tank for storing the hydrolysis products.

[0005] However, the known systems of the state of the art have the disadvantage that the hydrogen used, for example, for power generation and / or the required for on-board hydrogen production Substances must be carried in tanks. However, these tanks, especially in the case of hydrogen, take up a lot of space, which is then unavailable for the transport of people and / or goods. They also increase the weight of the vehicle, which in turn increases fuel consumption.

[0006] Furthermore, these tanks filled with hydrogen and / or chemical substances for hydrogen production pose a significant risk of fire spreading or even explosion, for example in the event of an accident and / or fire.

[0007] Furthermore, if the hydrogen and / or the corresponding substances / reactants are depleted, the systems known so far are forced to shut down the operation of the dependent units until the tanks are refilled by external refueling. Depending on the size of the tanks, this refueling can take a considerable amount of time, during which the vehicle cannot continue driving. This, in turn, makes the operation of these vehicles significantly less economical. Object of the invention

[0008] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a system that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, in particular in light of economics, safety and / or sustainability.

[0009] A further task is to provide a system for the supply of hydrogen that does not require external refueling of the substances required for hydrogen supply.

[0010] These objects are achieved by implementing at least some of the characterizing features of the independent patent claims. Features that further develop the invention in an alternative or advantageous manner can be found in some of the remaining features of the independent patent claims and the dependent patent claims. Summary of the invention

[0011] The invention relates to a system for providing hydrogen, the system comprising: • a vehicle, • a receiving unit designed to collect water, snow and / or ice, in particular from a substrate and / or from the ambient air, • a collecting unit designed to collect water, snow and / or ice collected by the receiving unit, wherein the collecting unit is designed such that collected snow and / or ice can be converted into water in the collecting unit, and • a splitting unit, in particular an electrolysis chamber, designed to split the water provided by the collection unit into oxygen and hydrogen.

[0012] The system according to the invention is designed to collect water, snow, and / or ice, particularly from the track, roadway, or rails, and to extract hydrogen from it, particularly during travel and / or within the vehicle. The vehicle system according to the invention is thus capable of generating hydrogen on board (for direct use and / or storage) and is thus not dependent, or at least significantly less dependent, on external hydrogen refueling. Since the hydrogen generation according to the invention significantly extends or even completely eliminates the time until an external refueling step is necessary, stopping the vehicle for such refueling is less frequent or even no longer necessary. This in turn means that the system according to the invention can be used more for the intended purpose of the vehicle during its operational time and requires less downtime.Particularly in the case of on-demand production of hydrogen and / or oxygen, only small or no storage systems (e.g. gas tanks) are necessary, which allows the vehicle system according to the invention to be designed in a more space-saving manner. or the available space does not need to be used for gas storage systems. The system according to the invention is thus significantly more economical and sustainable than state-of-the-art vehicle systems (due to the effective use of the vehicle's storage space and / or the reduced downtime).

[0013] Furthermore, gas tanks on board a vehicle always pose a certain safety risk, as many gases, especially hydrogen and oxygen, are highly flammable and can even lead to explosions. Thus, the system according to the invention is significantly safer than prior art systems, at least in this respect.

[0014] Since oxygen is also produced during the electrolysis of water, this system can be used to produce oxygen in addition to or as an alternative to hydrogen production. The other embodiments of the system according to the invention can be very easily modified / converted (if necessary at all) so that they are also suitable for the use of oxygen. The oxygen produced by the system can thus be used by the system according to the invention in addition to or as an alternative to hydrogen, stored (e.g., in an oxygen tank), used to power the vehicle (e.g., using a type of oxygen combustion engine), and / or released into the circulating air.

[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises an energy supply unit, in particular a fuel cell, designed to provide electrical energy by reacting oxygen and hydrogen.

[0016] In a further exemplary embodiment, the system comprises at least one energy transmission unit, in particular an electrical cable, designed to transmit the electrical energy at least to the vehicle, in particular to a drive of the vehicle. Energy transfer can alternatively or additionally also be carried out by induction.

[0017] By generating electrical energy using the energy supply unit, the system according to the invention is capable of driving an electric motor for driving the vehicle (in addition to or as an alternative to the vehicle's main drive), the other units of the system, and / or other vehicle systems (e.g., lighting systems, multimedia systems, etc.). In this way, the described embodiment of the system according to the invention is capable of operating completely independently of external energy sources if, while driving, it can absorb enough water, snow, and / or ice using the absorption unit to generate sufficient hydrogen for energy supply, for example, using a fuel cell. If, for example, the splitting unit then provides exactly as much hydrogen as is consumed by the energy supply unit, the system according to the invention does not require a hydrogen storage unit.In such a case, neither refueling stops nor bulky gas tanks would be necessary, which represents an improvement over the prior art. By driving an electric motor for the vehicle (in addition to or as an alternative to the vehicle's main drive) with the system according to the invention, which uses, for example, hydrogen generated by electrolysis of water, the combustion of fossil fuels (e.g., coal, petroleum, and / or gasoline) in an internal combustion engine and / or in a corresponding power plant to generate electricity, which is supplied to the vehicle, for example, via an external power supply, can be eliminated. Thus, the system according to the invention contributes to air pollution control and the reduction of global CO2 emissions.

[0018] In a further exemplary embodiment, the system comprises an energy storage unit, in particular an accumulator, wherein • the electrical energy is transferred from the energy supply unit to the energy storage unit by the at least one energy transfer unit, and • the energy storage unit is designed to store the electrical energy at least temporarily.

[0019] This embodiment of the system according to the invention can be used to initially generate more electrical energy than is initially required, then temporarily store this electrical energy, and then draw it from the energy storage unit when needed. In this way, the electrical energy generated in driving situations where less electrical energy is required can be stored, which can then be used additionally (e.g., to drive an electric motor) during energy-intensive sections of the journey, such as starting, which is very energy-intensive for heavy trains and buses.

[0020] In a further exemplary embodiment of the system according to the invention, the electrical energy is transmitted by the at least one energy transmission unit from the energy supply unit and / or the energy storage unit to • a thermal energy supply unit, wherein the thermal energy supply unit provides thermal conversion of collected snow and / or ice into water in the collection unit, • a mechanical energy supply unit, wherein the mechanical energy supply unit provides a mechanical conversion of collected snow and / or ice into water in the collection unit, or • the splitting unit, whereby the splitting unit splits the water provided by the collection unit into oxygen and hydrogen using electrical energy.

[0021] In a further exemplary embodiment, the receiving unit is designed as a snow blower or shovel, the collecting unit as a tank, container and / or freight wagon, and / or the collecting unit and the splitting unit are designed as one piece.

[0022] In a further exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a hydrogen storage unit, in particular a hydrogen tank, in particular wherein the hydrogen storage unit is connected to the splitting unit by means of at least one line.

[0023] This embodiment of the system according to the invention can be used to produce and store hydrogen. As previously described, the hydrogen can be used directly by the vehicle, for example, via a hydrogen combustion engine, converted into electrical energy, for example, by means of an energy supply unit, and / or stored in order to be able to transfer the hydrogen to another system, such as another vehicle, at a later time.

[0024] In a further exemplary embodiment, the electrical energy required for the splitting of water into oxygen and hydrogen in the splitting unit is provided by an external power supply of the vehicle, in particular by an electrical supply line, such as an overhead line for electric trains or trolleybuses, to the vehicle.

[0025] In a further exemplary embodiment, the vehicle • a rail vehicle, in particular a train or a tram, or in particular mountain railways or rack railways, • a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car, a lorry or a bus, • a tracked vehicle, especially a tank, or • a sea vessel, especially a ship or boat.

[0026] In a further exemplary embodiment, the hydrogen used for the reaction of oxygen and hydrogen to form electrical energy in the energy supply unit is transported directly from the splitting unit to the energy supply unit, in particular by means of at least one line.

[0027] In a further exemplary embodiment, the hydrogen used for the reaction of oxygen and hydrogen to produce electrical energy in the energy supply unit is transported, in particular by means of at least one line, from the splitting unit to the hydrogen storage unit and then from the hydrogen storage unit to the energy supply unit.

[0028] In a further exemplary embodiment, the oxygen used for the reaction of oxygen and hydrogen to produce electrical energy in the energy supply unit is provided by the splitting unit and / or obtained from the ambient air.

[0029] In a further exemplary embodiment, the system comprises an oxygen storage unit, in particular an oxygen tank, in particular wherein the oxygen storage unit is connected to the splitting unit by means of at least one line.

[0030] In a further exemplary embodiment, the oxygen used for the reaction of oxygen and hydrogen to form electrical energy in the energy supply unit is transported directly from the splitting unit to the energy supply unit, in particular by means of at least one line.

[0031] In a further exemplary embodiment, the oxygen used for the reaction of oxygen and hydrogen to produce electrical energy in the energy supply unit is transported, in particular by means of at least one line, from the splitting unit to the Oxygen storage unit and then transported from the oxygen storage unit to the energy supply unit.

[0032] In a further exemplary embodiment, the oxygen provided by the splitting unit and / or obtained from the ambient air, which is not used for the reaction of oxygen and hydrogen to produce electrical energy in the energy supply unit, is released back into the ambient air and / or stored in the oxygen storage unit.

[0033] In a further exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a combustion unit, in particular a hydrogen combustion engine, designed to generate mechanical energy and / or thermal energy by combustion of the hydrogen, in particular wherein the generated mechanical energy can be used to drive the vehicle.

[0034] In a further exemplary embodiment, at least two of the following units • the recording unit, • the collection unit, • the fission unit, • the energy supply unit, • the hydrogen storage unit, and • the combustion unit is connected by means of at least one line, wherein snow, ice, water, oxygen and / or hydrogen can be transported through the at least one line.

[0035] In a further exemplary embodiment, the mechanical energy and / or thermal energy generated by combustion of the hydrogen can be used for the thermal and / or mechanical conversion of collected snow and / or ice into water in the collection unit. Brief description of the drawings

[0036] The system according to the invention is described in more detail below using exemplary embodiments schematically illustrated in the figures. Identical elements are identified by the same reference numerals in the figures. The described embodiments are generally not drawn to scale and are not to be understood as limiting. In detail,

[0037] Fig. 1-5: Side views of exemplary Embodiments of the system according to the invention;

[0038] Fig. 6A-6B: Front views of exemplary embodiments of the system according to the invention;

[0039] Fig. 7: Side view of an exemplary embodiment of the system according to the invention. Detailed description of the drawings

[0040] Figure 1 shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the system 1 according to the invention, wherein the system 1 comprises the vehicle 2. This vehicle 2 is designed as a rail vehicle, in particular as a train (in other words: railway, train or locomotive) in the embodiment shown. Furthermore, the system 1 has the receiving unit 3, wherein the receiving unit 3 is designed as a snow blower in the embodiment shown. The snow blower 3 is attached, for example, to the front of the train 2 and serves to remove snow 4 and / or ice from the ground 5 or from the rails, in order to enable the train 2 to continue traveling without problems even when there is a deep snow cover and / or heavy snowfall.The snow blower 3 is designed in such a way that the snow blown up is not thrown away to the side through a pipe, as is usual with conventional snow blowers, but is transported to the collection unit 6, which is designed, for example, as a tank.

[0041] This transport can be achieved in various ways. For example, the snow blower 3 can pick up the snow 4 and blow it into the pipeline 16. From there, the snow can be transported to the collection unit 6, for example, via a gradient and / or a conveying device such as a screw conveyor, a suction pump, and / or a conveyor belt in the pipeline 16. Furthermore, the pipeline 16 can also be heated, whereby the snow 4 in the pipeline 16 can be melted directly and the meltwater 7 can flow through the pipeline 16 into the collection unit 6. The collection unit 6 can also be designed, for example, as a (top-open) tank or freight wagon, whereby the snow blower 3 can pick up the snow 4 and blow it directly into the collection unit 6 without the need for a line 16 and / or another transport device for the snow 4.

[0042] Once the snow 4 has reached the collection unit 6, the water 7 can be extracted from it in various ways. One possibility is to allow the snow 4 to remain in the collection unit 6 until it has melted. To accelerate the melting process, in an exemplary embodiment (not shown here), a unit for providing thermal energy, for example, a heater, and / or a unit for providing mechanical energy, for example, a twin-shaft shredder, can be arranged.

[0043] The water 7 can be transported further to the splitting unit 8, for example, via the pipeline 16. The splitting unit 8 is designed, for example, as an electrolysis chamber in which the water 7 is split into oxygen 9 and hydrogen 10 by applying an electric current. The power required for the splitting can be obtained, for example, from an external power supply 17 of the train 2, for example, from a live overhead line.

[0044] In the embodiment shown, the collection unit 6 and the splitting unit 8 are arranged in the interior of the train 2. However, this is only an exemplary arrangement of these units. Thus, the units 6 and 8 can also be arranged, for example, on the side of train 2, under train 2, in a separate wagon of train 2 and / or in the engine compartment of train 2.

[0045] In a further embodiment of the system 1 according to the invention, the vehicle 2 (e.g. a hydrogen car or a hydrogen-powered tank) has a (hydrogen) combustion engine and the hydrogen 10 generated by the fission unit 8 is burned in the (hydrogen) combustion engine, whereby, for example, the drive train 13 is driven and thus the movement of the car / tank 2 is provided.

[0046] Figure 2 shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the system 1 according to the invention, wherein the receiving unit 3 is designed as a snow shovel in the embodiment shown. The snow shovel 3 pushes snow 4 and / or ice from the ground 5 or from the rails together, whereby the snow 4 is pushed through an opening in the snow shovel 3 into the pipeline 16. From there, the snow can be transported to the collection unit 6, for example via a gradient and / or a conveying device such as a screw conveyor, a suction pump and / or a conveyor belt in the pipeline 16, as in the previously described embodiment of Figure 1. The further path of the snow 4 to the provided hydrogen 10 corresponds in the embodiment shown to the path described in the figure description for Figure 1.

[0047] Alternatively or in addition to the previously described embodiments of the receiving unit 3 as a snow blower or snow shovel, the receiving unit 3 can also be designed, for example, as a hose for pumping out water (for example from a lake) and / or as a (condensation) dehumidifier for absorbing air humidity.

[0048] In a further embodiment of the system 1 according to the invention, the vehicle 2 is designed as a ship / boat and the receiving unit 3 as a hose for pumping water (e.g. also while the ship is traveling) from the body of water around the ship (e.g. from the lake or the sea).

[0049] Figure 3 shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the system 1 according to the invention, in which the collection unit 6 is designed as a tank in which the water, snow 4, and / or ice collected by the receiving unit is collected. In particular, the collected snow 4 and / or ice can be stored in the tank 6 until it has melted and is thus present as water 7. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown, the splitting unit 8 is arranged within the tank 6, which is why the collection unit 6 and the splitting unit 8 are formed as a single piece.If, for example, the splitting unit 8 is intended to be designed as an electrolysis chamber, the two electrodes (anode and cathode) necessary for the formation of the electrolysis chamber as well as the permeable membrane (diaphragm) which separates the two electrodes from each other could be arranged within the tank 6, whereby the water 7 stored in the tank 6 could be split directly in the tank 6 into oxygen 9 and hydrogen 10.

[0050] Figure 4 shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the system 1 according to the invention, in which the system 1, in addition to the receiving unit 3, the collecting unit 6 and the splitting unit 8, also has the energy supply unit 11 designed as a fuel cell, the energy transmission units 12 designed as electrical cables, the drive 13 designed as an electric motor, the energy storage unit 14 designed as an accumulator (battery) and the lines 16.

[0051] In the embodiment shown, the electrolysis chamber 8 produced hydrogen 10 is transported via a gas line 16 to the fuel cell 11 (e.g. by means of overpressure or by suction), in which the Hydrogen 10 is reacted with oxygen to generate electrical energy / electricity. The oxygen used for this purpose can, for example, be obtained either from the splitting unit 8 via a further gas line 16 and / or from the ambient air, which is, for example, sucked into the system, and / or from an oxygen storage unit (e.g., an oxygen tank). The electricity generated by the fuel cell 8 can, for example, be transmitted via the cable 12 to the battery 14 and (temporarily) stored there and / or transmitted to a live overhead line and fed into the power grid there (this principle of providing electrical energy back into the power grid is known from trolleybuses that recuperate during braking).

[0052] The generated power can alternatively or additionally be transmitted to the electric motor 13 via a cable 12. The electric motor 13 can be used, for example, to drive the drive train of train 2, which provides the movement of the train 2 on the tracks 5, and / or to operate the other systems and units of the train 2 and / or to operate the other units, in particular units 3, 6, 8, 11, of the system 1.

[0053] Figure 5 shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the system 1 according to the invention, in which the system 1 additionally comprises the hydrogen storage unit 15 designed as a hydrogen tank. In the embodiment shown, the tank 15 is connected between the electrolysis chamber 8 and the fuel cell 11, whereby the hydrogen 10 generated by the electrolysis chamber 8 can be transported via the gas line 16 to the tank 15 and from the tank 15 via the gas line 16 to the fuel cell 11.

[0054] Figures 6A-6B show front views of exemplary embodiments of the system 1 according to the invention, wherein the receiving unit 3 is designed as a snow blower in Figure 6A and as a snow shovel in Figure 6B. Figure 6B further illustrates the input of the A pipeline 16 connected to the collection unit 6 for transporting the collected snow 4 and / or ice. The power required, in particular, for splitting the water 7 into hydrogen 10 and oxygen 9 can be obtained, for example, from an external power supply 17 of the train 2, i.e., as in the embodiment shown, from a live overhead line.

[0055] Figure 7 shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the system 1 according to the invention, in which the vehicle 2 is designed as a trolleybus. The power generated by the fuel cell 8 can be transmitted via the cable 12, for example, to the battery 14 and (temporarily) stored there and / or transmitted to a current-carrying overhead line 17 and fed into the power grid there. So that the trolleybus 2 can continue to transport a large number of passengers, the other parts of the illustrated embodiment of the system 1 according to the invention are arranged on the roof of the bus 2. Such an arrangement also has the advantage that potential sources of danger (e.g., flammable hydrogen, etc.) are arranged outside the vehicle, thus providing better protection for passengers.

[0056] It is understood that these figures only schematically depict possible embodiments. The various approaches can also be combined with each other and with prior art methods.

Claims

1 . System (1 ) for providing hydrogen, the system (1 ) comprising: • a vehicle (2), • a receiving unit (3) designed to receive water, snow (4) and / or ice, in particular from a substrate (5) and / or from the ambient air, • a collecting unit (6) designed to collect water, snow (4) and / or ice collected by the receiving unit (3), wherein the collecting unit (6) is designed such that collected snow (4) and / or ice can be converted into water (7) in the collecting unit (6), and • a splitting unit (8), in particular an electrolysis chamber, designed to split the water (7) provided by the collecting unit (6) into oxygen (9) and hydrogen (10).

2. System (1) according to claim 1, wherein the system (1) comprises an energy supply unit (11), in particular a fuel cell, designed to provide electrical energy by reaction of oxygen (9) and hydrogen (10).

3. System (1) according to claim 2, wherein the system (1) comprises at least one energy transmission unit (12), in particular an electrical cable, designed to transmit the electrical energy at least to the vehicle (2), in particular to a drive (13) of the vehicle (2).

4. System (1 ) according to claim 3, wherein the system (1 ) comprises an energy storage unit (14), in particular an accumulator, wherein the electrical energy is transferred by the at least one energy transfer unit (12) from the Energy supply unit (11) is transferred to the energy storage unit (14), and • the energy storage unit (14) is designed to store the electrical energy at least temporarily.

5. System (1 ) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the electrical energy is transmitted by the at least one energy transmission unit (12) from the energy supply unit (11 ) and / or the energy storage unit (14) to • a thermal energy supply unit, wherein the thermal energy supply unit provides thermal conversion of collected snow (4) and / or ice into water (7) in the collection unit (6), • a unit for providing mechanical energy, wherein the unit for providing mechanical energy provides a mechanical conversion of collected snow (4) and / or ice into water (7) in the collection unit (6), or • the splitting unit (8), wherein the splitting unit (8) splits the water (7) provided by the collecting unit (6) into oxygen (9) and hydrogen (10) by means of the electrical energy.

6. System (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein • the receiving unit (3) is designed as a snow blower or shovel, • the collection unit (6) is designed as a tank, container and / or freight wagon, and / or • the collecting unit (6) and the splitting unit (8) are formed as one piece.

7. System (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the system (1 ) comprises a hydrogen storage unit (15), in particular a Hydrogen tank, in particular wherein the Hydrogen storage unit (15) is connected to the splitting unit (8) by means of at least one line (16).

8. System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical energy required for the splitting of water (7) into oxygen (9) and hydrogen (10) in the splitting unit (8) is provided by an external energy supply (17) of the vehicle (2), in particular by an electrical supply line to the vehicle (2).

9. System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle (2) • a rail vehicle, in particular a train or a tram, • a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car, a lorry or a bus, • a tracked vehicle, especially a tank, or • is a sea-going vessel, in particular a ship or boat.

10. System (1) according to claim 2 and one of claims 3 to 9, wherein the hydrogen (10) used for the reaction of oxygen (9) and hydrogen (10) to form electrical energy in the energy supply unit (11) is transported, in particular by means of at least one line (16), directly from the splitting unit (8) to the energy supply unit (11).

11. System (1) according to claim 2 and 7, wherein the hydrogen (10) used for the reaction of oxygen (9) and hydrogen (10) to form electrical energy in the energy supply unit (11) is transported, in particular by means of at least one line (16), from the splitting unit (8) to the hydrogen storage unit (15) and then from the hydrogen storage unit (15) to the energy supply unit (11).

12. System (1 ) according to claim 2 and one of claims 3 to 11, wherein the oxygen (9) used for the reaction of oxygen (9) and hydrogen (10) to electrical energy in the energy supply unit (11) • is provided by the splitting unit (8), and / or • is taken from the ambient air.

13. System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the system (1) comprises a combustion unit, in particular a hydrogen combustion engine, designed to generate mechanical energy and / or thermal energy by combustion of the hydrogen (10), in particular wherein the generated mechanical energy can be used for the drive (13) of the vehicle (2).

14. System (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least two of the following units • the recording unit (3), • the collection unit (6), • the cleavage unit (8), • the energy supply unit (11), • the hydrogen storage unit (15), and • the combustion unit is connected by means of at least one line (16), wherein snow (4), ice, water (7), oxygen (9) and / or hydrogen (10) can be transported through the at least one line (16).

15. System (1) according to claim 13, wherein the mechanical energy and / or thermal energy generated by combustion of the hydrogen (10) can be used for the thermal and / or mechanical conversion of collected snow (4) and / or ice into water (7) in the collection unit (6).

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