Hybrid Solar Hydrogen Off-Grid Power System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Remote hydrocarbon production or processing facilities face challenges in obtaining reliable and cost-effective off-grid power, as traditional power transmission and distribution grids are costly and prone to economic losses due to harsh environments, and existing off-grid solutions often have inefficiencies and environmental impacts.
Innovation Solution
An off-grid power system combining solar power and hydrogen-based fuel cells, with on-site hydrogen production or storage, and energy storage, to provide both DC and AC power, optimized by a power electronics assembly including DC/DC converters and DC/AC inverters, and a control system for efficient energy management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If power transmission and distribution grid lines are used to supply remote facilities, then centralized power supply can power multiple facilities, but the cost of transmission lines and infrastructure becomes excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized power supply system into distributed modular units at each remote facility. Each facility has its own PV assembly, fuel cell assembly, and energy storage assembly, eliminating the need for expensive long-distance transmission infrastructure while maintaining power supply reliability through local generation and storage capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional power system that can operate in multiple modes: PV generation during daytime, fuel cell generation using locally produced or stored hydrogen, and battery storage for load balancing. This universal system replaces the need for dedicated transmission infrastructure by providing all power supply functions at the facility level.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If solar power systems are used for off-grid power supply, then environmental impact is reduced, but power supply reliability deteriorates due to intermittent solar availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges PV solar power generation with hydrogen-based fuel cell generation and battery storage into a hybrid system. The PV assembly generates power during daytime, excess power produces hydrogen via electrolysis, and the fuel cell assembly provides power during nighttime or cloudy conditions, ensuring continuous reliable operation while maintaining low emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces hydrogen as an intermediary energy carrier between solar power generation and electricity production. Excess solar power converts water to hydrogen through electrolysis, and the hydrogen is stored and later converted back to electricity via fuel cells when solar power is unavailable, bridging the intermittency gap while maintaining environmental sustainability.
3Reliability
If battery capacity is increased to ensure power supply during non-solar periods, then power supply reliability improves, but system cost and weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous useful action by operating the PV assembly during daytime to generate power and produce hydrogen, then using the fuel cell assembly during nighttime to generate power from stored hydrogen. This continuous cycle eliminates the need for oversized batteries, as hydrogen provides long-term energy storage without the weight and cost penalties of equivalent battery capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the energy storage parameter from chemical batteries to hydrogen chemical bonds. Hydrogen stored in tanks provides energy density and storage duration comparable to or exceeding battery options, but with significantly reduced weight and system cost, while maintaining reliable power supply during non-solar periods through fuel cell conversion.
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 higher efficiency, reduced battery capacity and system costs, lower CO2, NOx, and particulate emissions, and the ability to utilize locally produced hydrogen, offering a modular and scalable power solution for remote facilities.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of PV cells configured to produce direct current (DC) electrical power from solar energy
Implementation Method 2
a hydrogen-based polymer exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell assembly configured to produce DC electrical power from a hydrogen fuel source
Data Source
AI summary
An off-grid power system includes a first renewable electrical power assembly configured to produce direct current (DC) electrical power from a first renewable source; a second renewable electrical power assembly configured to produce DC electrical power from a second renewable source; an electrical power circuit that electrically couples the first and second renewable electrical power assemblies together and changes the DC electrical power to at least one of a DC power supply or an alternating current (AC) power supply; and an off-grid hydrocarbon production or processing facility electrically coupled to the electrical power circuit to receive the at least one of the DC power supply or the AC power supply from the electrical power circuit.