System and method for producing hydrogen gas

Abstract

A system for producing hydrogen gas comprises a pair of electrodes that are disposed at a predetermined water depth under water and configured to be connected to a power supply for electrolysis of water, a gas storage chamber that is disposed at the water depth, has communication holes through which surrounding water can flow in, and stores the hydrogen gas generated at a cathode of the pair of electrodes due to the electrolysis, a hydrogen recovery device disposed above the water depth, and piping configured to lead the hydrogen gas stored in the gas storage chamber to the hydrogen recovery device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for producing hydrogen gas comprising:
 a pair of electrodes for electrolysis of water that are disposed at a predetermined water depth under water and configured to be connected to a power supply;   a gas storage chamber that is disposed at the water depth, has communication holes through which surrounding water can flow in, and stores the hydrogen gas generated at a cathode of the pair of electrodes due to the electrolysis;   a hydrogen recovery device disposed above the water depth; and   piping configured to lead the hydrogen gas stored in the gas storage chamber to the hydrogen recovery device.   
     
     
         2 . The system for producing the hydrogen gas according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the power supply is disposed above the water depth,   wherein the system further comprises wiring configured to electrically connect the power supply and the pair of electrodes, and   wherein the wiring is disposed along the piping and at least part of the wiring is fixed to the piping.   
     
     
         3 . The system for producing the hydrogen gas according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the gas storage chamber includes an exterior wall forming a contour of the gas storage chamber and a partition wall protruding from a top wall surface of the exterior wall into the gas storage chamber so as to divide upper space in the gas storage chamber into a hydrogen storage section and an oxygen storage section,   wherein the cathode of the pair of electrodes is disposed under the hydrogen storage section while an anode of the pair of electrodes is disposed under the oxygen storage section, and   wherein the piping communicates with the hydrogen storage section.   
     
     
         4 . The system for producing the hydrogen gas according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the gas storage chamber includes an exterior wall forming a contour of the gas storage chamber and a partition wall protruding from a top wall surface of the exterior wall into the gas storage chamber so as to divide upper space in the gas storage chamber into a hydrogen storage section and an oxygen storage section,   wherein the cathode of the pair of electrodes is disposed under the hydrogen storage section while an anode of the pair of electrodes is disposed under the oxygen storage section, and   wherein the piping communicates with the hydrogen storage section.   
     
     
         5 . A method for producing hydrogen gas comprising:
 disposing a pair of electrodes for electrolysis of water at a predetermined water depth under water so as to expose the pair of electrodes to surrounding water, the pair of electrodes being connected to a power supply;   applying an electric current to the pair of electrodes so as to generate hydrogen gas at a cathode of the pair of electrodes;   storing the generated hydrogen gas in a gas storage chamber that is disposed at the water depth and communicates with surrounding water; and   leading the hydrogen gas stored in the gas storage chamber to a hydrogen recovery device disposed above the water depth through piping that connects the hydrogen recovery device and the gas storage chamber in a communicating manner.