Deep-Sea Electrolytic Gas Compression Using Seawater Pressure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrogen production methods face challenges in deep-sea water electrolysis, with high pressurization energy costs and lack of efficient hydrogen storage and power generation systems, particularly due to the absence of deep-sea water electrolysis equipment and inefficient use of static seawater pressure.
Innovation Solution
An in-situ electrolytic gas compression and power output system utilizing static seawater pressure to compress hydrogen and oxygen produced by deep-sea water electrolysis, incorporating electrolytic tanks, pneumatic motors, and pressurization devices to achieve dual purposes of gas compression and power generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage is used, then ease of operation and low cost are improved, but hydrogen storage density is reduced leading to low storage efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter by utilizing deep-sea ambient pressure (hundreds of atmospheres) to compress hydrogen gas directly in situ, transforming the low-density gaseous state into a high-density compressed state without phase change, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and storage density
2Quantity of substance
If low-temperature liquid hydrogen storage is used, then hydrogen storage density is improved, but refrigeration energy consumption and storage cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal-mechanical refrigeration system with a purely mechanical compression system utilizing deep-sea ambient pressure. Instead of using energy-intensive cryogenic cooling to achieve high density, the system uses the natural hydrostatic pressure to compress hydrogen gas directly, eliminating refrigeration energy consumption while maintaining high storage density
Solution Approach 2:
The deep-sea environment provides the compression function automatically through its ambient pressure. The system leverages the natural pressure field of the deep sea to compress hydrogen without requiring external power input for compression, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for energy-consuming refrigeration equipment
3Ease of operation
If conventional water electrolysis equipment is installed on land or near shore, then ease of operation is improved, but the gap in deep-sea water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment remains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs electrolysis equipment that can function universally in deep-sea environments, integrating multiple functions: water electrolysis, hydrogen compression, and power generation in a single system. This multi-functional design enables the equipment to adapt to deep-sea conditions while maintaining operational simplicity, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and deep-sea adaptability
4Device complexity
If static pressure of deep-sea seawater is not utilized, then device complexity is reduced, but pressurization energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the previously unused or harmful high static pressure of deep-sea seawater into a beneficial resource for hydrogen compression and power generation. By utilizing this natural pressure field, the system eliminates the need for energy-consuming mechanical compressors while reducing overall device complexity, as the environment itself performs the compression function
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 reduces pressurization costs by leveraging seawater pressure for hydrogen and oxygen compression, enabling efficient power output during transportation through pneumatic motors, thus addressing the limitations of existing hydrogen production processes.
Implementation Method 1
Through electrochemical reactions, hydrogen is produced at a cathode, and oxygen is produced at an anode
Implementation Method 2
utilizing static pressure in the deep sea to achieve dual-purposes of hydrogen and oxygen compression
Implementation Method 3
energy utilization is achieved by pneumatic motors during a transportation process of high-pressure hydrogen and oxygen, thereby power output is achieved
Data Source
AI summary
An in-situ electrolytic gas compression and power output system using static pressure of seawater; a deep-sea water electrolysis hydrogen production system includes multiple electrolytic tanks located in deep sea, an electrolytic power supply, an oxygen pressure stabilizing tank communicated with the electrolytic tanks through an oxygen transportation pipeline, and a hydrogen pressure stabilizing tank communicated with the electrolytic tanks through a hydrogen transportation pipeline; the oxygen pressure stabilizing tank is communicated with an oxygen pneumatic motor through a pipeline with a one-way valve; the hydrogen pressure stabilizing tank is communicated with a hydrogen pneumatic motor through a pipeline with a one-way valve to provide power output; hydrogen that has undergone work in the hydrogen pneumatic motor is transported to a sea surface hydrogen and oxygen collection relay ship through a hydrogen outlet pipeline for collection.