Hydrogen Storage Water Supply System for Continuous Pressurized Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Renewable energy sources, such as solar power, are intermittent and cannot provide a continuous power supply for pressurizing water, which is essential for various industries like agriculture that require a continuous supply of pressurized water.
Innovation Solution
The system comprises an electrolyzer module to generate hydrogen and oxygen, a hydrogen storage system, a water-capture unit connected to a photovoltaic panel and a hydrogen fuel cell, allowing the system to operate continuously by using solar power during the day and hydrogen fuel cell at night, ensuring a continuous supply of pressurized water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If solar power is used to power the water system, then renewable energy is utilized, but the power supply becomes intermittent and cannot provide continuous pressurized water
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by using the electrolyzer to produce and store hydrogen during daytime when solar power is available. This stored hydrogen then serves as a backup energy source to power the water pump during nighttime or cloudy periods, ensuring continuous operation without interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
Hydrogen acts as an intermediary energy carrier between solar power and the water pumping system. The electrolyzer converts solar electricity into stored hydrogen, which then fuels the water pump through a fuel cell or direct combustion, bridging the gap between intermittent solar availability and continuous water supply requirements.
2Reliability
If an electrolyzer is added to produce hydrogen for backup power, then continuous operation is enabled, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrolyzer serves multiple functions: it produces hydrogen for backup power generation, generates oxygen for aquatic life in fish farms, and can potentially store excess solar energy. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing multiple benefits from a single component.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own byproduct (oxygen from electrolysis) to serve its own needs (aerating water for fish farms), and uses its own stored energy (hydrogen) to power its own operations during non-solar periods, reducing external dependencies.
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 solution provides a continuous and reliable supply of pressurized water using renewable energy sources, ensuring uninterrupted water supply even when solar power is not available, thereby addressing the intermittency issue.
Implementation Method 1
The water-capture unit electrically connectable to a photovoltaic panel
Implementation Method 2
an electrolyzer module to generate hydrogen and oxygen
Implementation Method 3
a hydrogen fuel cell. The hydrogen fuel cell is fluidly connected to the hydrogen storage system. In some additional aspects, the hydrogen fuel cell is electrically connected to an electricity storage system
Implementation Method 4
a thermal loop in thermal communication with the electrolyzer module, the thermal loop including a circulating heat exchange fluid
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for producing a continuous supply of water. The systems generally comprise an electrolyzer module fluidly connectable to a hydrogen storage system and a water-capture unit for generating water, the water-capture unit electrically connectable to a photovoltaic panel and to a hydrogen fuel cell.