Hydrostatic Hydrogen and Oxygen Storage in Groundwater Wells
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrogen storage solutions are costly and require frequent maintenance, and there is a need for a low-cost, low-maintenance solution for intermittent energy storage, especially with the increasing demand for hydrogen-based energy systems by 2050.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing groundwater wells with installed cartridges and a circulating pump to produce and store hydrogen and oxygen using electrolysis, leveraging hydrostatic pressure for gas accumulation and recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional hydrogen storage solutions are used, then hydrogen can be stored, but the cost increases and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the groundwater itself as the storage medium and recovery mechanism. The hydrostatic pressure of the groundwater automatically compresses the gas cartridges and enables gas recovery without requiring external compression equipment or complex control systems. The system serves itself by utilizing the natural properties of the groundwater environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs hydraulic principles by using groundwater pressure to compress gas cartridges and enable gas recovery. The hydrostatic pressure of the groundwater serves as the compression mechanism, eliminating the need for mechanical compressors and reducing both cost and maintenance requirements.
2Reliability
If conventional hydrogen storage solutions are used, then hydrogen can be stored, but maintenance and servicing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system requires minimal external intervention as it utilizes the natural hydrostatic pressure of groundwater to automatically compress gas cartridges and enable recovery. There are no complex mechanical systems requiring maintenance, and the groundwater environment provides self-regulating pressure control.
Solution Approach 2:
By using hydraulic pressure from groundwater instead of mechanical compression systems, the invention eliminates moving parts and complex mechanisms that would require maintenance. The groundwater pressure system is inherently more reliable and maintenance-free.
3Ease of manufacture
If groundwater is used for hydrogen storage, then cost and maintenance are reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses simple hydraulic principles where groundwater pressure automatically compresses gas cartridges. This eliminates the need for complex mechanical compression systems, control mechanisms, and monitoring equipment, resulting in a simpler overall system despite using groundwater.
4Ease of manufacture
If hydrostatic pressure is used for gas accumulation, then operational costs are minimized, but the storage capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the vertical dimension by drilling deep wells to access groundwater at significant depths. The hydrostatic pressure increases with depth, enabling higher compression ratios and greater storage capacity. By moving to another dimension (depth), the system overcomes the storage capacity limitation of shallow groundwater tables.
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
Provides cost-effective and low-maintenance storage and recovery of hydrogen and oxygen, utilizing hydrostatic pressure for gas accumulation and minimizing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
In the electrolysis tank (1), hydrogen and oxygen are generated by the DC current by means of the well-known electrolysis process of water
Implementation Method 2
A rated circulating pump (2) is installed in one of the wells (5, 7) of the well system prepared. The circulating pump (2) will circulate the water from the well (5) through a suction pipe (10)
Implementation Method 3
Said cartridge is preferably fixed to the side of the well (5, 7). The 11, 8 cartridges are held in a central position within the well (5, 7) by spacers.
Data Source
AI summary
The storage apparatus according to the invention, a geo hydrogen storage system, is a system consisting of a plurality of groundwater wells drilled into the ground. Hydrogen is produced by electrolysis using green energy. The hydrogen and the associated oxygen are stored in and recovered from cartridges installed in said wells being flooded by the groundwater and located at appropriate distances from each other. The system uses closed-circuit circulating water to transport the gases generated in electrolysis in the form of bubbles. The gases are separated from the circulating water by volume expansion and form gas bubbles when they reach the corresponding cartridge. This gas bubble will, with continued operation, squeeze larger and larger volume of water from the groundwater in the cartridge, thereby pressurizing the system.