Renewable energy operated hydrogen reforming system

Abstract

An application applying mixed use of conventional hydrocarbon fuel with renewable energy sources for hydrogen production presents an optimal balance between economics and environmental benefits for any long-range implementations. A hydrogen production system incorporates the use of electricity from renewable sources in hydrogen reforming plants for various functions to achieve better environmental performance. The hydrogen production system includes the compression of hydrogen for high-pressure storage and an electrical heating supply for an endothermic reforming process of producing hydrogen from an input fuel. The compressed hydrogen, produced using renewable energy sources, also provides a means of stored mechanical energy, Another hydrogen production system utilizes a conventional chemical reforming process to provide leveled hydrogen generation together with electrolysis from the fluctuating renewable energy sources, which also provides low cost hydrogen generation, good environmental performance and commercial dependability.

1 . A hydrogen production system comprising: 
 a reformer for producing hydrogen from a hydrocarbon fuel;    a compressor for compressing the hydrogen produced by the reformer into a compressed state;    a renewable energy source for converting a renewable resource into electricity for powering the compressor; and    a storage device for storing the compressed hydrogen from the compressor.    
   
   
       2 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 1 , wherein the reformer is one of a steam reformer, an autothermal reformer, and a partial oxidation reformer.  
   
   
       3 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon fuel is selected from the group consisting of coal, liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon fuel.  
   
   
       4 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 1 , wherein the renewable resource comprises one of wind, solar, a geothermal resource, biomass, waste, wave energy and hydropower.  
   
   
       5 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor is selected from the group consisting of a mechanical compressor, a thermal hydride compressor, a magnetic compressor and a magneto-caloric compressor.  
   
   
       6 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen is compressed and stored at a pressure of up to 50,000 psi.  
   
   
       7 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor liquefies the hydrogen for bulk storage under a cryogenic state.  
   
   
       8 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen is pipe transported from the storage device to users.  
   
   
       9 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen is vehicle transported from the storage device to users.  
   
   
       10 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen is consumed on-site.  
   
   
       11 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen is used for fueling a hydrogen powered vehicle.  
   
   
       12 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 1 , wherein the system produces substantially zero emission from the production of hydrogen and is capable of the total sequestration of CO 2 .  
   
   
       13 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 1 , wherein the reformer uses thermal energy derived from the renewable resource in one of electrical form and thermal form.  
   
   
       14 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 1 , wherein the reformer uses thermal energy derived from hydrogen produced by the said hydrogen production plant.  
   
   
       15 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 1 , wherein the reformer uses electricity derived from renewable source to perform electric discharge plasma process for reforming hydrocarbon fuel for hydrogen production.  
   
   
       16 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 1 , wherein the compressed hydrogen is pumped to a hydrogen tank of a vehicle and stored as a mechanical energy source and a chemical energy source.  
   
   
       17 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 16 , wherein the stored mechanical energy is converted to shaft power for direct propulsion of the vehicle.  
   
   
       18 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 16 , wherein the stored mechanical energy is converted to shaft power for electrical generation using an electrical generator and in turn to provide propulsion to the vehicle.  
   
   
       19 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 16 , wherein the stored compressed hydrogen is used for direct electrical power generation in a high pressure fuel cell for the full utilization of the mechanical and chemical energies associated with the stored hydrogen.  
   
   
       20 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 1 , wherein electricity derived from the renewable energy source is used to supply heat for the endothermic reforming process of the reformer.  
   
   
       21 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 1 , wherein electricity derived from renewable energy source is used to supply heat to produce steam for the reforming process of the reformer.  
   
   
       22 . A hydrogen production system, comprising: 
 a catalytic reformer for producing hydrogen from a hydrocarbon fuel using one of an endothermic reforming process and steam generation;    an electric source for providing thermal energy for at least one of the endothermic reforming process and the steam generation;    a compressor for compressing the hydrogen produced by the reformer; and    a storage device for storing the compressed or liquefied hydrogen from the compressor.    
   
   
       23 . A hydrogen production system comprising: 
 a catalytic reformer for producing hydrogen from a hydrocarbon fuel;    a compressor for compressing the hydrogen produced by the reformer into one of a compressed and a liquefied state; and    a storage device for storing the compressed or liquefied hydrogen from the compressor, wherein the compressed hydrogen is pumped to a hydrogen tank of a vehicle and stored as a mechanical energy source and a chemical energy source.    
   
   
       24 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 23 , wherein the stored mechanical energy is converted to shaft power for direct propulsion of the vehicle.  
   
   
       25 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 23 , wherein the stored mechanical energy is converted to shaft power for electrical generation using an electrical generator and in turn to provide propulsion to the vehicle.  
   
   
       26 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 23 , wherein the stored compressed hydrogen is used for direct electrical power generation in a high pressure fuel cell for the full utilization of the mechanical and chemical energies associated with the stored hydrogen.  
   
   
       27 . A hydrogen production system comprising: 
 a reformer for producing hydrogen from a hydrocarbon fuel;    an electrolyser for producing additional hydrogen by electrolysis;    one or more compressors for compressing the hydrogen produced by the reformer and the electrolyser;    one or more renewable energy sources for converting a renewable resource to electricity for powering the electrolysis and the compressor; and    one or more storage devices for storing the compressed hydrogen from the compressor.    
   
   
       28 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 27 , wherein the reformer is selected, from the group consisting of: a steam reformer, an autothermal reformer and a partial oxidation reformer.  
   
   
       29 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 27 , wherein the reformer operates to achieve leveled production of hydrogen as the electrolysis operates at a capacity depending on the availability of renewable energy supplies.  
   
   
       30 . The hydrogen production system of  claim 27 , wherein the reformer contributes on a time average basis over 50% of the hydrogen production of the system and the electrolysis contributes less than 50% of the hydrogen production of the system.