Devices and methods for producing and utilizing hydrogen

Abstract

An energy production and distribution system, a hydrogen production and distribution system, and a method are disclosed. The energy production and distribution system may include one or more previously decommissioned maritime resources positioned in floating and/or adjacent disposition with a body of water. An electricity generating apparatus may be disposed in an off-grid configuration on each of the maritime resources to generate electricity. Electrolysis electrodes may be electrically coupled with the electricity generating apparatus and may disposed to make contact with water in the body of water to perform an electrolysis operation to separate hydrogen from the water using the generated electricity. A hydrogen capturing element may disposed to capture the hydrogen separated from the water. A storage container may hold the hydrogen, and a conduit may be provided to transfer the hydrogen from the hydrogen capturing element to the storage container.

1 . An energy production and distribution system comprising:
 one or more previously decommissioned maritime resources positioned in floating and/or adjacent disposition with a body of water;   an electricity generating apparatus disposed in an off-grid configuration on each of the one or more previously decommissioned maritime resources to generate electricity;   electrolysis electrodes electrically coupled with the electricity generating apparatus and disposed to make contact with water in the body of water to perform an electrolysis operation with the water to separate hydrogen from some of the water using the generated electricity from the electricity generating apparatus;   a hydrogen capturing domelike element including an exterior surface and an interior surface, the domelike element submerged in the body of water, the entire interior surface in contact with the water, and disposed above at least one of the electrolysis electrodes to capture bubbles of hydrogen that are separated from the water;   a storage container supported at least partially by the one or more previously decommissioned maritime resources to hold the hydrogen; and   a conduit to transfer the hydrogen from the hydrogen capturing element to the storage container.   
     
     
         2 . The energy production and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the electricity generating apparatus is a wind energy system. 
     
     
         3 . The energy production and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen separated from the water is used to power at least one of the previously decommissioned maritime resources to transport the hydrogen for use at one or more land based facilities. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The energy production and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen separated from the water is used by at least one of the previously decommissioned maritime resources on the body of water from where it was separated. 
     
     
         6 . The energy production and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the electricity generating apparatus includes an electricity producing mechanism that uses some of the hydrogen produced by the electrolysis operation. 
     
     
         7 . The energy production and distribution system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fuel cell on the one or more previously decommissioned maritime resources configured to use the hydrogen as fuel to generate electricity for use, at least partially, by the electrolysis electrodes to produce more hydrogen. 
     
     
         8 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The energy production and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the previously decommissioned maritime resources includes a platform previously used for, or built for, drilling for oil below the body of water. 
     
     
         11 . The energy production and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein hydrogen produced by the system is at least partially transported to one or more land based locations via the one or more previously decommissioned maritime resources. 
     
     
         12 . The energy production and distribution system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more steam turbines configured for rotation on a shaft, and an electric generator driven by the shaft to generate electricity wherein at least some of the hydrogen captured by the hydrogen capturing element is used to boil water and/or to superheat steam, and the steam is used to drive the or more steam turbines. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A hydrogen production and distribution system comprising:
 a plurality of previously decommissioned U.S. Navy resources at least partially disposed in one or more bodies of water;   one or more renewable energy producing mechanisms disposed on or in relatively close proximity to each of the previously decommissioned U.S. Navy resources;   an electrolysis arrangement extending from each of the previously decommissioned U.S. Navy resources into the one or more bodies of water, each electrolysis arrangement electrically coupled with each of the one or more renewable energy producing mechanisms and each configured to decompose water molecules from the one or more bodies of water into constituent hydrogen and oxygen.   
     
     
         15 . The energy production and distribution system of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more renewable energy producing mechanisms is powered by one or more of solar energy, wind energy, and wave energy. 
     
     
         16 . The hydrogen production and distribution system of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more renewable energy producing mechanisms is powered by one or more of solar energy, wind energy, and wave energy. 
     
     
         17 . A method of forming an energy producing system comprising:
 selecting one or more previously decommissioned maritime resources;   positioning, or keeping the one or more previously decommissioned maritime resources in, or adjacent to, a body of water;   providing a renewable energy producing mechanism on board the previously decommissioned maritime resource;   positioning electrodes in the body of water;   electrically coupling the electrodes to the renewable energy producing mechanism;   performing an electrolysis operation on water from the body of water with the electrodes to separate some hydrogen from some oxygen from the water;   capturing the hydrogen separated from the water; and   storing at least a portion of the captured hydrogen in a storage container.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the selecting includes acquiring the one or more previously decommissioned maritime resources by sale or by lease from the US Military, and/or from one or more companies involved in oil production. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 re-commissioning the one or more previously decommissioned maritime resources as US military energy producing resources.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 transporting the hydrogen from the storage container to a U.S. military facility; and   generating electricity for use at the U.S. military facility with the transported hydrogen.   
     
     
         21 . The energy production and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the electricity generating apparatus is a wave energy system. 
     
     
         22 . The energy production and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the electricity generating apparatus is a solar energy system.