Deep water generation of compressed hydrogen

Abstract

A hydrogen generating vessel wherein a reduction plate generates hydrogen by electrolysis of sea water. The hydrogen generating vessel operates at deep ocean levels to provide unexpected advantages. The operating depth is not limited because the hydrogen generating vessel includes openings at or near the bottom, and no pressure differential exists across the vessel walls. Pressure inside and outside are the same, and are determined by the depth at which the hydrogen generating vessel is installed. Electrolysis, collection, and temporary storage take place in the same container. Since the hydrogen pressure is the same as the water pressure at the same depth, the hydrogen is pumped by simply opening a release valve. Operation within recommended guidelines provides a self-cleaning mechanism.

1 . A hydrogen generating vessel wherein
 hydrogen gas is produced from ocean water at a pressure of at least 2 atmospheres,   said hydrogen gas is collected and temporarily stored within said hydrogen generating vessel, and   said pressure is wholly or partially used to transport said hydrogen gas from inside said hydrogen generating vessel to another location,   
       comprising:
 a hollow hydrogen generating container with an internal volume of at least 42 cubic feet which
 possesses openings in a bottom volumetric half, through which said ocean water moves into and out of said hydrogen generating container, 
 includes a release valve in an upper volumetric half, 
 is not porous in said upper volumetric half, so that hydrogen gas does escape without opening said release valve, and 
 confines generated hydrogen gas between
 inside surfaces of said upper volumetric half, and 
 a variable level of said ocean water within said hydrogen generating container; 
 
 
 
       at least one reduction plate which
 is connected to a lower segment of said hydrogen generating container, and 
 receives current and voltage from at least one generator to electrolyze said ocean water to create said hydrogen gas; and 
 
       a means for positioning said hydrogen generating container below an ocean surface, where
 ocean pressure is at least said 2 atmospheres within said upper volumetric half, or 90% of said upper volumetric half is disposed at least 10 meters below said ocean surface. 
 
     
     
         2 . The hydrogen generating vessel in  claim 1  wherein said ocean water within said hydrogen generating vessel is displaced downward as said hydrogen gas collects inside said hydrogen generating vessel. 
     
     
         3 . The hydrogen generating vessel in  claim 1  wherein said ocean water pressure inside said hydrogen generating vessel is equal to said ocean water pressure outside said hydrogen generating vessel. 
     
     
         4 . The hydrogen generating vessel in  claim 1  wherein a conductive cable conducts said voltage and current from said generator to said reduction plate. 
     
     
         5 . The hydrogen generating vessel in  claim 1  wherein said generator is powered by current catchers, and said generator converts kinetic energy from ocean currents to electrical energy. 
     
     
         6 . The hydrogen generating vessel in  claim 5  wherein each said current catcher has a surface area of at least nine square meters. 
     
     
         7 . The hydrogen generating vessel in  claim 5  wherein said current catchers are attached to a rotating disk, and said current catchers are
 closed when moving against the direction of said ocean current, and 
 open when moving in the direction of said ocean current. 
 
     
     
         8 . Claim  7  where said rotating disk is linked to a shaft that turns said generator. 
     
     
         9 . Claim  7  where said rotating disk rotates around a vertical axis. 
     
     
         10 . The hydrogen generating vessel in  claim 7  wherein said generator, said current catchers, and said rotating disk are fixed to a wide area porous frame. 
     
     
         11 . The hydrogen generating vessel in  claim 1 , wherein a hydrogen generation rate at said reduction plate is greater than 1 liter per minute per square foot of reduction plate surface. 
     
     
         12 . The hydrogen generating vessel in  claim 11  wherein said hydrogen generation rate further exceeds 10 liters per minute per square foot of reduction plate surface 
     
     
         13 . The hydrogen generating vessel in  claim 1  wherein said reduction plate has an area of at least 4 square feet. 
     
     
         14 . The hydrogen generating vessel in  claim 1  further comprising a section of pipe above said release valve, and said section of pipe contains screens, packing material, restrictions, rough surfaces, or turns that separate droplets of ocean water from hydrogen gas. 
     
     
         15 . The hydrogen generating vessel in  claim 1  wherein said release valve is any one of an electronic solenoid valve, a float valve, and a pressure activated valve. 
     
     
         16 . The hydrogen generating vessel in  claim 1  whereby an oxidation plate is disposed beside, rather than under or within, the enclosed volume of said hydrogen generating vessel. 
     
     
         17 . The hydrogen generating vessel in  claim 1  wherein multiple said reduction plates are separated by physical barriers within said bottom volumetric half, and the combined said hydrogen gas output is collected and stored in said upper volumetric half. 
     
     
         18 . The hydrogen generating vessel in  claim 1  wherein said means for positioning include any one selected from a group consisting of—
 anchors connected to said hydrogen generating vessel, 
 an inherent weight of said hydrogen generating vessel, 
 attachment points on said hydrogen generating vessel that are connected to a stable ocean floor, and 
 attachment points on said hydrogen generating vessel that are connected to a pylon that is built into an ocean floor, 
 cables between said hydrogen generating vessel and an ocean floor, and 
 chains between said hydrogen generating vessel and an ocean floor. 
 
     
     
         19 . The hydrogen generating vessel in  claim 1  wherein said reduction plate comprises any one selected from a group consisting of metallic copper, metallic tin, metallic silver, alloys of copper, alloys of tin, alloys of silver, polymers containing copper, polymers containing tin, and polymers containing silver. 
     
     
         20 . A method of generating, collecting, temporarily storing, and transporting hydrogen gas from ocean water with a hydrogen generating vessel that includes
 a hollow hydrogen generating container with an internal volume of at least 42 cubic feet,   one or more reduction plates,   a bottom volumetric half of said hydrogen generating vessel wherein ocean water enters and exits through openings, and   an upper volumetric half of said hydrogen generating vessel wherein
 collection and storage of said hydrogen gas occur, and 
 a release valve is disposed which is used to transport of said hydrogen gas to another location, 
   
       comprising:
 installing said hydrogen generating vessel below an ocean surface such that either
 ocean depth pressure inside said upper volumetric half is at least 2 atmospheres, or 
 90% of said upper volumetric half is disposed at least 10 meters beneath said ocean surface; 
 
 connecting at least one said reduction plate to at least one generator with a conductive cable; and 
 electrolyzing said ocean water to generate hydrogen gas at said reduction plate; and 
 compressing and collecting said hydrogen gas with said ocean water
 where said ocean water pressure inside said hydrogen generating vessel increases with increasing installation depth. 
 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising
 filling said hydrogen generating vessel with ocean water at the beginning of each hydrogen generation cycle by opening said release valve. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20  where an oxidation plate is disposed beside, rather than under or inside, the enclosed volume of said hydrogen generating vessel. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein hydrogen production is at least 1 standard liter per minute per square foot of reduction plate surface. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20  wherein hydrogen production is at least 10 standard liters per minute per square foot of reduction plate surface. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said generator is powered by current catchers that convert kinetic energy from ocean currents to electrical energy. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said current catchers are attached to a rotating disk, and said current catchers are
 closed when moving against the direction of said ocean current, and 
 open when moving in the direction of said ocean current. 
 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said rotating disk is linked to a shaft that turns said generator. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20  wherein two said generators are employed, and said generators spin in opposite angular directions. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising connecting said hydrogen generating vessel to an ocean floor to prevent said hydrogen generating vessel from rising toward an ocean surface. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said ocean water level inside said hydrogen generating vessel decreases during hydrogen production and wherein said ocean water level rises during hydrogen transport, which creates a pumping action that assists in keeping said reduction plate clean. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said installing is further performed such that 90% of said upper volumetric half is disposed at least 50 meters beneath said ocean surface. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said installing is further performed such that 90% of said upper volumetric half is disposed at least 100 meters beneath said ocean surface. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said installing is further performed such that 90% of said upper volumetric half is disposed at least 500 meters beneath said ocean surface.