Above-Sea-Level Hydrogen Manifold for Offshore Wind Export
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in remote wind farms is the high cost and maintenance difficulties of transporting hydrogen produced by wind turbines due to the long-distance transmission of electricity, particularly in offshore locations where subsea connections lead to corrosion and accessibility issues.
Innovation Solution
A wind farm design with a manifold system for hydrogen output, placed above sea level, connected to hydrogen pipelines, featuring valves and a control system to manage flow and prevent corrosion, allowing for efficient and safe transportation of hydrogen, and enabling easy maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If subsea connections are used to transport hydrogen from wind turbines, then hydrogen can be transported from offshore locations, but corrosion and accessibility issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the hydrogen coupling system from a subsea (horizontal/depth dimension) configuration to an aerial (vertical/elevation dimension) configuration. By positioning the manifold and couplings above sea level on the wind turbine platform, the system eliminates exposure to corrosive saltwater while maintaining hydrogen transport capability through aerial piping routes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If subsea connections are used for hydrogen transport, then offshore hydrogen production is enabled, but maintenance and repair become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention relocates the hydrogen coupling infrastructure from the subsea environment to the aerial environment on the wind turbine platform. This vertical displacement to above-sea-level positioning provides direct human access for maintenance activities, eliminating the need for complex subsea intervention equipment while preserving offshore hydrogen export functionality.
3Productivity
If long-distance power lines are used to transport electricity from remote wind farms, then electrical energy can be transmitted, but installation costs and cable requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the energy conversion function from the electrical domain to the chemical domain by installing electrolyzers at the wind turbine. Instead of transmitting electrical energy through complex long-distance power lines, the system converts wind energy to hydrogen fuel locally, which can then be transported through simpler pipeline infrastructure to onshore facilities.
4Loss of energy
If electrolytic units are installed in wind turbines for hydrogen production, then energy transport costs are reduced, but safe hydrogen transportation becomes necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts hydrogen from the turbulent wind turbine environment and relocates it to controlled onshore storage facilities through dedicated pipeline infrastructure. This spatial separation isolates the hydrogen production source from potential safety hazards while maintaining transport efficiency, as hydrogen is conveyed through enclosed pipes rather than open transfer mechanisms.
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 design reduces transportation costs, increases the lifespan of hydrogen couplings, simplifies maintenance, and mitigates the risk of corrosion and explosions by ensuring safe and efficient hydrogen export from wind turbines to the pipeline system.
Implementation Method 1
an electrolysis process to generate hydrogen and oxygen
Data Source
AI summary
A wind farm is provided including a plurality of wind turbines, each wind turbine including a generator, a nacelle, and a tower supporting the nacelle. Each of at least two of the wind turbines further includes an electrolytic unit electrically coupled to the generator of the wind turbine for producing hydrogen and a hydrogen output for transporting the produced hydrogen out of the wind turbine. Each hydrogen output is connected to a manifold by a manifold input, wherein the manifold is arranged above sea level and includes a first manifold output configured to be connected to a first hydrogen pipeline for transporting the hydrogen produced by the wind farm out of the wind farm.