System for producing energy from hydrogen, in particular for residential buildings

Abstract

Herein proposed is a system ( 1 ) for producing energy from hydrogen, in particular for residential buildings, for example heat energy, including a catalytic burner ( 4 ) with hydrogen supply, with water/water heat exchanger power supplying a thermal unit, for example a system for heating and/or producing domestic water for a residential building or the like, such system ( 1 ) further including a fuel cell ( 5 ) which can also be supplied with hydrogen for producing electrical power, and having an associated cooling device ( 13; 27 ) and an associated inverter ( 13 ) or DC/DC unit ( 25 ) for producing alternating or direct current, wherein the air or water for cooling the fuel cell ( 5 ) during operation are used for heating within the system ( 1 ) increasing performance thereof. Performance is increased further by associating a heat pump to the system ( 1 ).

1 . System for producing energy from hydrogen, in particular for residential buildings, for example heat energy, comprising a catalytic burner with hydrogen supply, a water/water heat exchanger with primary circuit heated by the burner and with secondary circuit supplying a unit, for example a system for heating and/or producing domestic water for a residential building or the like, with means controlled through software with settable programs associated thereto, characterised in that it further comprises a fuel cell which can also be supplied with hydrogen for producing electrical energy, with a cooling device associated thereto and with a device for producing electrical energy associated thereto, and in that the carrier for discharging the heat emitted by the fuel cell is used for heating purposes in the system. 
     
     
         2 . System for producing combined energy from hydrogen, according to  claim 1 , characterised in that in the hydrogen supply circuit downstream of a reducer there is provided a first branch for supplying the fuel cell and a second branch for supplying the burner, where there is provided in each branch a first electronic control modulating solenoid valve controlled by the software control and a second valve, respectively for fine regulation, for example of the mechanical type. 
     
     
         3 . System for producing combined energy from hydrogen, according to  claim 1 , characterised in that there is connected to the fuel cell an inverter for producing alternating electrical current or a DC/DC unit for supplying direct current, where the carrier/discharge air of the heat emitted by the fuel cell is directed to the preheating fan of the catalyst of the catalytic burner. 
     
     
         4 . System for producing combined energy from hydrogen, according to  claim 1 , characterised in that there is provided in the system a container for storing hydrogen, for example of the hydride type, introduced into the hydrogen supply circuit, where the carrier/discharge air of the heat emitted by the fuel cell is directed to said storage container, where—in addition—the inlet of said storage tank is connected to the hydrogen supply circuit upstream of said reducer while the outlet of said storage container is connected to the branch for supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell downstream of said reducer, and where there is contained in said inlet and outlet branches of said storage tank respectively a check-valve. 
     
     
         5 . System for producing combined energy from hydrogen, according to  claim 1 , characterised in that with a fuel cell with water cooling, the cooling water is supplied in the primary circuit of a water/water heat exchanger whose secondary circuit is introduced in the return pipe of a heating system, for example of a residential house, such pipe extending into the exchanger of the burner for heating thereof, where there is provided in said primary circuit a circulation pump that can be controlled by the software of the system. 
     
     
         6 . System for producing combined energy from hydrogen, according to  claim 1 , characterised in that there is provided in the electrical circuit supplying the CPU a battery charger for charging a buffer battery on one side and connected—on the other side—between the fuel, cell and the inverter or the DC/DC unit. 
     
     
         7 . System for producing combined energy from hydrogen, according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the system is housed in a casing and forms a hydrogen electrical and/or heat energy production unit. 
     
     
         8 . System for producing combined energy from hydrogen, according to  claim 1 , characterised that a heat pump is associated thereto. 
     
     
         9 . System for producing combined energy from hydrogen, according to  claim 8 , characterised in that the system for producing combined energy, the heat pump and a unit using heat energy are connected in series in a loop circuit, where the system supplies, through the fuel cell, electrical energy to the heat pump, which supplies energy to the unit, heat energy being supplied to the latter also by the system through the burner. 
     
     
         10 . System for producing combined energy from hydrogen, according to  claim 2 , characterised in that there is provided in the system a container for storing hydrogen, for example of the hydride type, introduced into the hydrogen supply circuit, where the carrier/discharge air of the heat emitted by the fuel cell is directed to said storage container, where—in addition—the inlet of said storage tank is connected to the hydrogen supply circuit upstream of said reducer while the outlet of said storage container is connected to the branch for supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell downstream of said reducer, and where there is contained in said inlet and outlet branches of said storage tank respectively a check-valve. 
     
     
         11 . System for producing combined energy from hydrogen, according to  claim 2 , characterised in that with a fuel cell with water cooling, the cooling water is supplied in the primary circuit of a water/water heat exchanger whose secondary circuit is introduced in the return pipe of a heating system, for example of a residential house, such pipe extending into the exchanger of the burner for heating thereof, where there is provided in said primary circuit a circulation pump that can be controlled by the software of the system. 
     
     
         12 . System for producing combined energy from hydrogen, according to  claim 2 , characterised in that there is provided in the electrical circuit supplying the CPU a battery charger for charging a buffer battery on one side and connected—on the other side—between the fuel, cell and the inverter or the DC/DC unit. 
     
     
         13 . System for producing combined energy from hydrogen, according to  claim 2 , characterised in that the system is housed in a casing and forms a hydrogen electrical and/or heat energy production unit. 
     
     
         14 . System for producing combined energy from hydrogen, according to  claim 2 , characterised that a heat pump is associated thereto.