System and Method for Generating Hydrogen Gas Using Renewable Energy

Abstract

A hydrogen generation system has a transparent cover and has a photovoltaic panel in the vessel. The photovoltaic panel generates the electricity for powering the electrolysis process. The photovoltaic panel may be submerged in the electrolyte solution, which acts to concentrate light rays onto the panel. The electrolyte solution may have an viologen additive, which dramatically increases hydrogen production, and enables the use of very low concentrations of acid. The photovoltaic panel may have a protective coating that both protects the photovoltaic structures, as well as increases conversion efficiency. Other structures, such as the cover, may be configured to further concentrate light rays onto the panel. In some examples, oxygen gas may also be collected, stored, and used. The generation system may also use an external electricity source for powering the electrolysis process when insufficient electricity is produced by the internal photovoltaic cell.

1 . A device for generating hydrogen gas, comprising:
 a vessel;   a membrane separating the vessel into a hydrogen chamber and an oxygen chamber, the oxygen chamber having the anode and the hydrogen chamber having the cathode;   a first electrolyte solution in the hydrogen chamber and a second electrolyte solution in the oxygen chamber;   a viologen additive in the first electrolyte solution;   a hydrogen gas collection area in the hydrogen chambers; and   a hydrogen gas exhaustion arrangement coupled to the gas collection area.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  where the viologen additive is a herbicide. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  where an acid is present in both the first electrolyte solution and the second electrolyte solution at a concentration under 10%. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  where an acid is present in both the first electrolyte solution and the second electrolyte solution at a concentration under 5%. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  where an acid is present in both the first electrolyte solution and the second electrolyte solution at a concentration of about 1%. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  where the viologen additive is present in the first electrolyte solution in about the concentration equivalent of less than 1 gram viologen powder per liter of water. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  where the viologen additive is present in the first electrolyte solution in about the concentration equivalent of less than about ¼ gram viologen powder per liter of water. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , further including a photovoltaic cell that is in at least one of the chambers and is coupled to the cathode and the anode. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein electrolyte and the photovoltaic cell are arranged so that electrolyte acts to concentrate light rays onto the photovoltaic cell. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the vessel has a transparent cover, the transparent cover is constructed to concentrate light rays onto the photovoltaic cell. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the cover includes a lens structure. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 1 , further including a photovoltaic cell that is outside the vessel and is coupled to the cathode and the anode. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an oxygen collection area in the vessel; and   an oxygen gas exhaustion arrangement coupled to the oxygen gas collection area.   
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the membrane does not pass hydrogen gas. 
     
     
         15 . An electrolyte solution for use in a device for generating hydrogen gas, comprising:
 a water base;   a viologen additive; and   an acid additive at a concentration under 10%.   
     
     
         16 . The solution of  claim 15  where the viologen additive is a herbicide. 
     
     
         17 . The solution of  claim 15  where the acid is at a concentration under 5%. 
     
     
         18 . The solution of  claim 15  where the acid is at a concentration of about 1%. 
     
     
         19 . The solution of  claim 15  where the viologen additive is present in the first electrolyte solution in about the concentration equivalent of less than 1 gram viologen powder per liter of water. 
     
     
         20 . The solution of  claim 15  where the viologen additive is present in the first electrolyte solution in about the concentration equivalent of less than about ¼ gram viologen powder per liter of water.