Solar powered systems and methods for generating hydrogen gas and oxygen gas from water

Abstract

Solar-powered systems and methods of generating hydrogen gas and oxygen gas from water are described. A solar-powered system for generating hydrogen gas and oxygen gas from water includes an electrolysis unit, a first generator unit, and a solar-powered turbine unit. The electrolysis unit is powered by the first generator unit. The solar-powered turbine unit is configured to drive the first generator unit and to supply steam to the electrolysis unit. The solar-powered turbine unit includes a first turbine coupled to and configured to provide shaft work to the first generator unit, a steam generation unit coupled to the steam feed inlet of the electrolysis unit and configured to hold water; and a solar unit configured to generate and provide heat to the steam generation unit.

1 . A solar-powered system for generating hydrogen gas and oxygen gas from water, the system comprising:
 (a) an electrolysis unit configured to produce hydrogen gas and oxygen gas from water, the electrolysis unit comprising a steam feed inlet and at least a first product outlet for hydrogen gas, oxygen gas or both;   (b) a first generator unit configured to provide electricity to the electrolysis unit;   (c) a solar-powered turbine unit configured to drive the first generator unit and to supply steam to the steam feed inlet, the solar-powered turbine unit comprising:
 (i) a first turbine coupled to and configured to provide shaft work to the first generator unit; 
 (ii) a steam generation unit coupled to the steam feed inlet of the electrolysis unit and configured to hold water; and 
 (iii) a solar unit configured to generate and provide heat to the steam generation unit; and 
   (d) a product cooling unit coupled to the electrolysis unit and configured to receive and reduce the temperature of the produced hydrogen gas or oxygen gas, or both   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the product cooling unit comprises:
 (i) a second turbine coupled to and configured to provide power to a second generator unit, wherein the second turbine is configured to receive the produced hydrogen gas or oxygen gas, or, preferably, both; and   (ii) a heat transfer unit coupled to and configured to transfer heat produced from the product cooling unit to the steam generator unit.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the second generator unit is configured to provide electricity to the electrolysis unit. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the product cooling unit comprises a third turbine coupled to and configured to provide power to the second generator unit or to a third generator unit, wherein the third turbine is configured to receive the produced hydrogen gas or oxygen gas, or, preferably, both, and wherein the third generator unit is configured to provide electricity to the electrolysis unit. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the solar powered turbine unit comprises:
 (i) the first turbine coupled to and configured to provide shaft work to the first generator unit;   (ii) the steam generation unit coupled to the steam feed inlet of the electrolysis unit, wherein the steam generation unit comprises a boiler that is configured to hold water and produce steam;   (iii) the solar unit configured to generate and provide heat to the boiler; and   (iv) a condenser;   wherein the boiler is coupled to the first turbine and configured to transfer steam from the boiler to the first turbine,   wherein the first turbine is coupled to the condenser and configured to transfer steam from the turbine to the condenser,   wherein the condenser is configured to condense the steam transferred from the turbine into liquid, and   wherein the condenser is coupled to and configured to transfer the liquid to the boiler.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the solar powered turbine unit is a closed-loop gas turbine unit comprising:
 (i) the first turbine coupled to and configured to provide shaft work to the first generator unit;   (ii) the steam generation unit coupled to the steam feed inlet of the electrolysis unit, wherein the steam generation unit comprises a first heat exchanger coupled to the first turbine to receive heated fluid from the first turbine, wherein heat is transferred in the first heat exchanger from the heated fluid to water to produce steam and cooled fluid; and   (iii) the solar unit configured to generate and provide heat to the cooled fluid; and   wherein the heat exchanger is coupled to a compressor and configured to transfer the cooled fluid to the compressor,   wherein the compressor is coupled to a second heat exchanger that is configured to heat the cooled fluid with heat produced by the solar unit, and   wherein the second heat exchanger is coupled to the first turbine to transfer the heated fluid to the first turbine.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a back pressure steam turbine unit, wherein the back pressure steam turbine is coupled to the first heat exchanger and configured to receive steam from the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the back pressure steam turbine unit comprises a fourth turbine coupled to and configured to provide shaft work to the first generator unit. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the back pressure steam turbine unit comprises a fourth turbine coupled to and configured to provide power to a fourth generator unit, and wherein the fourth generator unit is configured to provide electricity to the electrolysis unit. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the steam produced by the steam generation unit is pressurized steam. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system does not produce carbon dioxide during use. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the produced hydrogen gas or the produced oxygen gas, or both, are each used in a downstream chemical process. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolysis unit comprises at least two product outlets, wherein the first product outlet is for hydrogen gas and a second product outlet is for oxygen gas. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising an air supply coupled to the electrolysis unit, wherein the air supply provides air to an oxygen evolution side of the electrolysis unit such that a mixture of oxygen and air are produced from the second outlet. 
     
     
         16 . A method of generating hydrogen gas and oxygen gas from water with the system of  claim 1 , the method comprising subjecting water to electrolysis conditions sufficient to produce hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing the hydrogen gas to one or more storage units, chemical process units, transportation units, or any combination thereof, and/or providing the oxygen gas to one or more storage units, chemical process units, transportation units, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the produced hydrogen gas or the produced oxygen gas, or both, are each used in a downstream chemical process. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein no carbon dioxide is produced by the system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the water is in the form of steam produced by the steam generation unit.