Renewable Power System with Segmented Battery and Hydrogen Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power systems fail to appropriately store electric power from renewable energy in suitable devices for both short-term and long-term energy storage and supply it efficiently to power loads in buildings from devices optimized for short-term and long-term energy output.
Innovation Solution
A power system comprising a storage battery for short-term energy storage, a water electrolyzer and fuel cell for long-term energy storage, and a detector and controller that prioritize power distribution based on human presence in the building to optimize energy storage and supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If electric power from renewable energy is stored in a storage battery, then short-term energy storage is achieved, but long-term energy storage capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage system is segmented into two distinct components: a storage battery for short-term energy storage and a hydrogen storage device for long-term energy storage. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific time scale, with the storage battery handling immediate power needs and the hydrogen device providing extended energy reserves.
Solution Approach 2:
The water electrolyzer acts as an intermediary device that converts excess electric power from renewable sources into hydrogen through electrolysis. This intermediary process enables the transfer of energy from the electrical domain (suitable for short-term storage) to the chemical domain (suitable for long-term storage in hydrogen reservoirs).
2Duration of action of moving object
If electric power is supplied from a storage battery, then short-term energy output is achieved, but long-term energy output capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply system is segmented into two sources: the storage battery for short-term power delivery and the fuel cell for long-term power generation. The storage battery provides rapid response for immediate power needs, while the fuel cell supplies sustained power over extended periods through controlled hydrogen consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel cell serves as an intermediary that converts stored hydrogen back into electrical energy through electrochemical reactions. This intermediary conversion process enables the utilization of long-term stored hydrogen reserves to generate electrical power when needed, bridging the gap between chemical energy storage and electrical power delivery.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If renewable energy is stored in both storage battery and water electrolyzer, then both short-term and long-term storage are achieved, but priority determination between devices is required
Solution Approach 1:
The control device预先 (in advance) determines and establishes priority rules for power distribution to the storage battery and water electrolyzer based on predicted future power generation and consumption patterns. By making these decisions in advance rather than reacting in real-time, the system simplifies the control complexity while ensuring optimal energy storage allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device continuously monitors actual power generation from renewable sources and power consumption in the building, comparing these values against predicted values. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust and refine priority determinations, ensuring that the storage battery and water electrolyzer are charged according to optimal strategies that account for changing conditions.
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 system effectively stores renewable energy in suitable devices for short-term and long-term storage and supplies power efficiently to building loads, enhancing overall power system efficiency by prioritizing energy distribution based on human presence.
Implementation Method 1
a water electrolyzer; a fuel cell that generates electricity using hydrogen supplied from a hydrogen reservoir that stores hydrogen generated by the water electrolyzer
Implementation Method 2
a fuel cell that generates electricity using hydrogen supplied from a hydrogen reservoir
Data Source
AI summary
A power system includes: a storage battery; a water electrolyzer; a fuel cell that generates electricity using hydrogen supplied from a hydrogen reservoir that stores hydrogen generated by the water electrolyzer; a detector that detects whether there is a person in a building; and a controller that performs at least one of first control and second control. The first control determines a priority between the storage battery and the water electrolyzer, to which electric power is supplied from a power generation device using renewable energy, based on information detected by the detector. The second control determines a priority between the storage battery and the fuel cell, from which electric power is supplied to a power load provided in the building, based on the information detected by the detector.