Transportable Power Unit Using Hydrogen Storage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing transportable electricity generation units face issues with noise, vibration, pollution, and environmental impact due to diesel engines, and battery-based solutions have long charging times and high environmental impact.

Innovation Solution

A transportable electricity generation unit combining a photovoltaic or wind generator with a water electrolyzer and fuel cell system, where hydrogen is produced through electrolysis and stored for later use in a fuel cell to generate electricity, eliminating the need for diesel engines and reducing environmental impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a diesel engine is used for electricity generation, then continuous power supply is achieved, but noise, vibration, pollution and environmental impact increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous power supplyVSAvoidnoise, vibration, pollution

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the diesel engine from the electricity generation system, replacing it with a photovoltaic-aerogenerator-fuel cell combination. This removes the source of noise, vibration, and pollution while maintaining continuous power supply capability through the integrated renewable energy system and hydrogen storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical diesel engine system is replaced with a combination of photovoltaic panels (optical to electrical energy conversion), aerogenerator (mechanical to electrical energy conversion), and fuel cell (chemical to electrical energy conversion). This substitution eliminates mechanical combustion while maintaining electricity generation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If a battery back-up arrangement is used, then continuous power supply is achieved, but charging time increases and environmental impact increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous power supplyVSAvoidcharging time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the energy storage parameter from electrical energy (batteries) to chemical energy (hydrogen). The fuel cell converts stored hydrogen back to electricity, providing continuous power supply without the long charging times associated with battery systems. This parameter change fundamentally alters the energy storage and release mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If a diesel engine is used, then electricity generation is achieved, but surrounding environment is heated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectricity generationVSAvoidsurrounding environment heating

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the thermal-mechanical diesel engine system with a photovoltaic-aerogenerator-fuel cell system that does not rely on combustion. This substitution eliminates the waste heat generation that occurs in diesel engines, thereby preventing surrounding environment heating while maintaining electricity generation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 solution provides silent, vibration-free, low-impact electricity generation with reduced environmental footprint, as it uses water as the only input and eliminates the need for fossil fuels, with a more fault-tolerant system and efficient energy storage.

Implementation Method 1

a photovoltaic generation unit and/or an aerogenerator generating a first electric power

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotovoltaic effect: Photovoltaic Effect

Implementation Method 2

a photovoltaic generation unit and/or an aerogenerator generating a first electric power

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 3

a water electrolyzer connected to said photovoltaic generation unit and/or aerogenerator, said electrolyzer being capable of producing hydrogen by electrolysis of water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrolysis: Electrolysis

Implementation Method 4

a fuel cell unit fed with said hydrogen produced by said electrolyzer or stored in said tank, said fuel cell generating a second electric power

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFuel cell reaction: Fuel Cell

Data Source

PatentUS8896262B2Transportable electricity generation unit and method for generating electricity using said unit

Publication Date: 2014.11.25 GENPORT

AI summary

This invention relates to a transportable electricity generation unit (30) suitable to supply electric power to an external load (51). Said electricity generation unit (30) comprises: a photovoltaic generation unit (1) and/or an aerogenerator generating a first electric power (P1), a water electrolyzer (4) connected to said photovoltaic generation unit (1) and/or aerogenerator, said electrolyzer being capable of producing hydrogen by electrolysis of water; a tank (3) to store the hydrogen deriving from said electrolysis of water; a fuel cell unit (2) fed with the hydrogen produced by said electrolyzer (4) or stored in said tank (3), said fuel cell (2) generating a second electric power (P2), a battery accumulator unit (5); an electronic power control device (8) comprising means for controlling the flow of said first electric power (P1) and said second and third electric power (P2, P3) to said external load (51), controlling the flow of said first electric power (P1) to said water electrolyzer (4), and for controlling production and storage of hydrogen.