Maritime hydrogen generation system

Abstract

An off shore, stable floating system that uses several wind turbines for power output and hydrogen production by electrolyzing water while being able to easily and safely relocate for better wind conditions with on board maintenance of the equipment. The produced hydrogen gas is either compressed and stored in strong tanks or liquefied and placed into insulated tanks for quick helicopter transfer to shore, or transferred to surface ships with insulated containers.

1 . A maritime hydrogen generation system comprising: 
 a maritime vessel having a deck;    a plurality of vertically mounted and spaced-apart wind turbine/fan electrical generators, the wind turbine/fan electrical generators being supported by a collapsible framework and oriented such that rotor blades of each of the plurality of the wind turbine/fan electrical generators are pointing into the wind;    means for collapsing the framework so as to orient the plurality of wind turbine/fan electrical generators from a generally horizontal position to a generally vertical orientation for operating the wind turbine/fan electrical generators;    one or more electrolyzers in electrical communication with the plurality of wind turbine/fan electrical generators, wherein the one or more electrolyzers produce hydrogen and oxygen;    means for supplying water to the one or more electrolyzers; and    means for collecting and storing the produced hydrogen for eventual transport to shore.    
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the maritime vessel is a multiple hull vessel.  
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the maritime vessel is a single hull vessel.  
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for supplying water to the one or more electrolyzers further comprises means for demineralizing the water before introducing the water into said one or more electrolyzers.  
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for collapsing the framework further comprises counterweight means comprising one or more hollow chambers capable of filling with or discharging with sea or lake water as desired to facilitate the elevating and collapsing of the framework.  
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising crane means for facilitating the repair of the plurality of wind turbine/fan electrical generators.  
   
   
       7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the maritime vessel includes thruster means for maintaining the maritime vessel in a direction pointing into the wind.  
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for collecting and storing the produced hydrogen is a compressor and tank system suitable for storing hydrogen.  
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for collecting and storing the produced hydrogen is a liquefier and insulated tank system suitable for storing hydrogen in a liquid form.