Cryogenic Oxygen Storage for Compact Energy Systems
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy systems face challenges in achieving high efficiency in energy conversion and intermediate storage to compensate for fluctuations in renewable energy availability.
Innovation Solution
The energy system incorporates an electrolyser for producing oxygen and hydrogen from water, an oxygen storage system that liquefies oxygen at cryogenic temperatures, a combustion engine with an oxyfuel process using stored oxygen, and a heat exchanger for efficient thermal energy transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If oxygen is stored in gaseous form at ambient temperature, then storage simplicity is improved, but storage volume requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies phase transition by cooling oxygen to its liquefaction temperature (below -183°C at atmospheric pressure) to transform it from gaseous to liquid state. This phase change enables compact storage while maintaining sufficient oxygen supply for the combustion engine, resolving the contradiction between storage simplicity and volume requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the temperature parameter of oxygen storage from ambient temperature to cryogenic temperatures. By storing oxygen at temperatures below -183°C, the system achieves liquid-phase storage with significantly reduced volume while using insulated storage vessels to maintain these low temperatures.
2Reliability
If large amounts of energy are stored to compensate for renewable energy fluctuations, then energy security is improved, but space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses phase transition of oxygen to liquid state for compact energy storage. By liquefying oxygen produced during electrolysis, the system achieves high energy density storage in a compact volume, enabling decentralized energy storage that can compensate for renewable energy fluctuations without requiring large spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs cryogenic fluid (liquid oxygen) as an energy storage medium. The liquid oxygen serves both as an energy carrier and a space-efficient storage solution, allowing the system to store sufficient energy for later combustion engine operation in a compact footprint suitable for decentralized applications.
3Ease of operation
If heat exchangers operate at ambient temperatures, then operational simplicity is improved, but energy efficiency in cryogenic applications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is designed to operate at cryogenic temperatures (below -183°C) rather than ambient temperatures. This parameter change enables efficient heat transfer during oxygen liquefaction and storage while minimizing thermal losses. The heat exchanger recovers cooling energy and pre-cools oxygen before liquefaction, improving overall system energy efficiency despite the complexity of cryogenic operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This system enables efficient storage and utilization of oxygen, achieving high energy efficiency and reducing space and material requirements, while also providing a reliable source of electrical power.
Implementation Method 1
an electrolyzer for the electrolytic decomposition of water into oxygen and hydrogen using electrical energy
Implementation Method 2
an oxygen storage device for storing the electrolytically produced oxygen in liquefied form at a cryogenic temperature
Implementation Method 3
at least one heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy between the electrolytically produced oxygen and at least one other process medium
Implementation Method 4
an internal combustion engine and a generator driven by the internal combustion engine for providing electrical power by burning a fuel in an oxyfuel process
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An energy system (1) for providing electrical power to at least one consumer is described, comprising: - an electrolyzer (10) for the electrolytic decomposition of water (H2O) into oxygen (O2) and hydrogen (H2) using electrical energy (E), - an oxygen storage unit (31) for storing the electrolytically produced oxygen (O2) in liquefied form at a cryogenic temperature, - an internal combustion engine (40) and a generator (41) driven by the internal combustion engine (40) for providing electrical power by burning a fuel (F) in an oxyfuel process in which the electrolytically produced oxygen (O2) is used, and - at least one heat exchanger (21, 22) for transferring thermal energy between the electrolytically produced oxygen (O2) and at least one other process medium (PM), wherein the heat exchanger (21, 22) is designed toto be operated at least in a partial area at a cryogenic temperature of -35 °C or less. Furthermore, a method for providing electrical power is described.