Floatable Wind Turbine Hydrogen Storage Below Waterline
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical stresses associated with storing gases in large diameter vessels are high, leading to suboptimal reliability of wind turbines, particularly due to the need for compressing air to high pressures for energy storage, which results in metal fatigue and structural failure.
Innovation Solution
A floatable wind turbine design that stores hydrogen at moderate pressures (2-30 bar) within storage vessels arranged below the waterline, eliminating the need for mechanical compressors and utilizing electrolysis equipment output pressure for hydrogen flow, thereby reducing mechanical stresses and improving reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If hydrogen is stored in large diameter vessels at high pressures for energy storage, then energy storage capacity is improved, but mechanical stresses increase leading to metal fatigue and structural failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pressure parameter from conventional high pressure (200-800 bar) to moderate pressure (2-30 bar), fundamentally altering the operating conditions to reduce mechanical stresses while maintaining viable hydrogen storage capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the successful low-pressure storage concept from the offshore oil and gas industry to the hydrogen storage application, adapting an existing proven approach to a new substance with different storage requirements
2Quantity of substance
If mechanical compressors are used to compress air to high pressures for energy storage, then energy storage capacity is improved, but device complexity and mechanical stresses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the mechanical compressor component entirely from the system, extracting the compression function and replacing it with a direct electrolysis-to-storage approach that eliminates the need for high-pressure compression equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical compression system with an electrochemical process, using electrolysis equipment output pressure directly to fill storage vessels without mechanical compression, thereby eliminating mechanical stresses and associated complexity
3Ease of operation
If storage vessels are arranged above waterline for accessibility, then ease of operation is improved, but buoyancy is reduced and mechanical stresses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates storage vessels from the vertical dimension (above waterline) to the horizontal dimension (below waterline), utilizing the third dimension of underwater space to simultaneously achieve buoyancy and reduced mechanical stresses
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
The design reduces mechanical stresses, enhances operational reliability, and minimizes the risk of hydrogen-induced metal fatigue, allowing for industrially relevant hydrogen storage while maintaining structural integrity and safety.
Implementation Method 1
one or more storage vessels for storing the hydrogen, wherein the one or more storage vessels are arranged below a waterline of the water mass for providing buoyancy to the floatable wind turbine
Implementation Method 2
electrolysis equipment for producing hydrogen from a water mass upon which the floatable foundation is floating during use
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a floatable wind turbine (1), comprising:a rotor (2),a generator (3) driven by the rotor,a nacelle (4) housing the generator,a floatable foundation (5),a mast section (6),electrolysis equipment (9) for producing hydrogen from a water mass (10) upon which the floatable foundation is floating during use,water treatment equipment (11) for preparing water from the water mass for use in the electrolysis equipment, andone or more storage vessels (12) for storing the hydrogen, arranged below a waterline (13) of the water mass for providing buoyancy to the floatable wind turbine, wherein a storage pressure of the hydrogen in the one or more storage vessels is 2-30 bar.