Self-sufficient hydrogen generator

Abstract

A self-sustaining, fully automated, hydrogen generator that utilizes the ocean's currents, tides, and water to produce vast amounts of hydrogen and oxygen. Additional electricity may be supplied by locally generated means including offshore wind, offshore geothermal, as well as wave powered generation. Hydrogen is exported as well as the oxygen not consumed by the life support systems. Residue collected from the ocean water purification process is collected and exported for use elsewhere or dispersed locally around the underwater facility. Systems orchestration is achieved by control systems that operate independently of one another with no single point of failure.

1 . A hydrogen generator comprising:
 at least one means to house said hydrogen generator, wherein said at least one means to house said hydrogen generator is at least one submersible structure;   at least one means to acquire electricity;   a means to acquire water;   at least one means to electrolyze said water with said at least one means to acquire electricity;   at least one means to distribute the hydrogen generated by the electrolyzed water;   at least one means to distribute the oxygen generated by the electrolyzed water;   whereby creating an environmentally friendly way to generate vast amounts of hydrogen without using hydrocarbons or precious domestic water supplies;   whereby scenic land and seascapes are preserved and utilizes space that would have otherwise gone unused;   whereby providing an environment secure from intruders and capable of withstanding violent storms, tidal waves, and rising sea levels.   
     
     
         2 . The hydrogen generator as claimed in  claim 1 , further including at least one ventilation system; whereby simultaneously generating hydrogen and providing life supporting oxygen, from electrolysis, to said at least one submersible structure. 
     
     
         3 . The hydrogen generator as claimed in  claim 1 , further including at least one turbine;
 whereby enabling on-site energy capture and transfer.   
     
     
         4 . The hydrogen generator as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said turbine further includes at least one energy storage spring as described in the SELF-WINDING GENERATOR, U.S. Pat. No. 7,127,886 B2; whereby providing continuous rotational energy at a constant rate. 
     
     
         5 . The hydrogen generator as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said at least one turbine is a HOLLOW TURBINE comprising:
 a cylindrical shell having an inner and an outer surface, and a hole at each of the opposing ends of said cylindrical shell;   at least one plurality of blades attached to said inner surface of said cylindrical shell;   a supporting structure;   at least one means to allow said cylindrical shell to rotate freely in said supporting structure;   whereby providing a light weight, efficient, long lasting turbine with few points of failure and potentially large blades for greater energy capture;   whereby entering fish and debris safely exit through an opening formed by the distal edges of said plurality of blades and over the blades themselves.   
     
     
         6 . The hydrogen generator as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said HOLLOW TURBINE further includes at least one rotational energy connecting element. 
     
     
         7 . The hydrogen generator as claimed in  claim 5 , further including at least one electric generator comprising: at least one rotor and at least one stator;
 whereby providing electric power to the facility.   
     
     
         8 . The hydrogen generator as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said HOLLOW TURBINE further includes at least one array of magnets mounted on said outer surface of said HOLLOW TURBINE's cylinder and at least one stator comprising: at least one stationary coil of an electric conductor located in close proximity to said at least one array of magnets; whereby kinetic energy is captured and transformed into electricity efficiently in a compact fashion. 
     
     
         9 . The hydrogen generator as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said at least one turbine is of the wind turbine type, specifically designed for underwater operation, comprising: at least one propeller blade attached to a center axle that ultimately connects to at least one electric generator; whereby providing electric power to the facility. 
     
     
         10 . The hydrogen generator as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said at least one turbine is of the wind turbine type comprising:
 at least one propeller blade attached to a center axle that ultimately connects to at least one electric generator;   a means of supporting said wind turbine above the ocean surface;   whereby providing electric power to the facility.   
     
     
         11 . The hydrogen generator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one means to acquire electricity further includes electric power from the national power grid; whereby providing electric power to the facility. 
     
     
         12 . The hydrogen generator as claimed in  claim 1 , further including at least one means to purify ocean water; 
     
     
         13 . The hydrogen generator as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said at least one means to purify said ocean water is distillation. 
     
     
         14 . The hydrogen generator as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said at least one means to purify said ocean water is filtration. 
     
     
         15 . The hydrogen generator as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said at least one means to purify said ocean water is, in combination, filtration and distillation. 
     
     
         16 . The hydrogen generator as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein said at least one means to purify said ocean water further includes at least one means to capture the residue resulting from the ocean water purification. 
     
     
         17 . The hydrogen generator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one means to electrolyze said water is high-temperature electrolysis; whereby increasing efficiency. 
     
     
         18 . The hydrogen generator as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said high-temperature electrolysis is achieved by electrolyzing the purified water while still hot from distillation; whereby fully leveraging the resulting resources of the hydrogen generator. 
     
     
         19 . The hydrogen generator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one means to electrolyze said water further includes a means to add an electrolyte to the water; whereby increasing efficiency. 
     
     
         20 . The hydrogen generator as claimed in  claim 1 , further including at least one control system means; whereby providing the system's orchestration necessary for the hydrogen generator to function properly. 
     
     
         21 . The hydrogen generator as claimed in  claim 1 , further including:
 at least one control system means used to distribute, outside said structure, the resulting electricity, water, gases, byproducts and any other products produced by said hydrogen generator;   wherein said at least one control system means communicates with the connected consumers of the resulting gases, by-products and any other products produced;   whereby providing a framework for negotiating, coordinating and distributing the gases and byproducts produced, whereby providing an open, automated-bidding system between producers and consumers;   whereby said hydrogen generator and said connected users don't have to rely on any external network controller, whereby eliminating a single point of failure.   
     
     
         22 . A method of generating hydrogen comprising:
 providing at least one means of housing a hydrogen generator, wherein said at least one means to house said hydrogen generator is at least one submersible structure;   providing at least one means of acquiring electricity;   providing a means of acquiring water;   providing a means of electrolyzing said water;   providing at least one means of distributing the hydrogen generated by the electrolyzed water;   providing at least one means of distributing the oxygen generated by the electrolyzed water;   whereby providing hydrogen and oxygen in an environmentally safe and secure manner.   
     
     
         23 . Method and apparatus to convert sunlight and water into electricity and potable water comprising:
 at least one means of capturing sunlight and converting it into electricity;   at least one submersible hydrogen generation means;   at least one means of utilizing said electricity to power said hydrogen generation means;   at least one hydrogen powered hydrogen generator capable of combining the hydrogen generated in said submersible hydrogen generation means with oxygen;   at least one means of capturing and distributing the resulting electricity from said hydrogen powered hydrogen generator;   at least one means of capturing and distributing the resulting water from said hydrogen powered hydrogen generator;   whereby providing water and electric power in an environmentally safe manner.