Continuous supply of power to an electrolysis plant

Abstract

A method for continuously supplying power to an electrolysis plant with a replacement power supply following failure of the power supply and an electrolysis plant with an electrolysis stack. The method includes supplying the electrolysis plant with power from an energy potential present in an electrolysis stack of the electrolysis plant, the energy potential being convertable into power, and reducing the energy potential present in the electrolysis stack of the electrolysis plant in a controlled manner. An electrolysis plant with an electrolysis stack includes a control unit configured for activation of at least one load of the electrolysis plant for consuming power from an energy potential of the electrolysis plant.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method for continuous power supply of an electrolysis after a failure of a power supply, comprising:
 supplying as a replacement power supply the electrolysis plant with power from an energy potential present in an electrolysis stack of the electrolysis plant, with the energy potential being convertable into power; and   reducing the energy potential present in the electrolysis stack of the electrolysis plant in a controlled manner.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising at least temporarily feeding the replacement power supply from an electro-chemical energy potential which is present in the electrolysis stack of the electrolysis plant; and operating the electrolysis stack as a fuel cell for supplying replacement power and for reducing the energy potential. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising at least temporarily feeding the replacement power supply from a pressure-based energy potential which is present in the electrolysis stack of the electrolysis plant and/or from an electric energy potential which is present in the electrolysis plant. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising at least temporarily feeding the replacement power supply from a pressure-based energy potential which is present in the electrolysis stack of the electrolysis plant; and converting the pressure-based energy potential into electric energy by a turbine unit for supplying the replacement power and for reducing the energy potential. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising at least temporarily feeding the replacement power supply from an electric energy potential of a rectifier unit of the electrolysis plant; and operating the rectifier unit as an energy source for supplying replacement power and for reducing the electric energy potential. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising initially reducing the electro-chemical energy potential; subsequently reducing an electric energy potential; and finally reducing a pressure-based energy potential, for controlled reduction of the energy potential present in the electrolysis plant. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising reducing the energy potential present in the electrolysis plant to a hazard-free level within 1 minutes to 20 minutes. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the energy potential present in the electrolysis plant is reduced to the hazard-free level within 2 minutes to 15 minutes. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the energy potential present in the electrolysis plant is reduced to the hazard-free level within 6 minutes to 8 minutes. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the hazard-free level of the energy potential is achieved in a voltage-free and/or current-free and/or overpressure-free and/or reaction gas-free operating state of the electrolysis plant. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising supplying the electrolysis plant with power without interruption using a capacitive energy storage unit, after reducing of the energy potential present in the electrolysis plant. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising providing a continuous power supply of at least one load of the electrolysis plant. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising controlling the reduction of the energy potential present in the electrolysis plant to a hazard-free level. 
     
     
         27 . An electrolysis plant, comprising:
 an electrolysis stack having an energy potential which is convertable into power for use as a replacement power supply after a failure of a power supply; and   a control unit configured for activation of at least one load of the electrolysis plant for consuming power from the energy potential of the electrolysis plant in a controlled manner.   
     
     
         28 . The electrolysis plant of  claim 27 , wherein the energy potential is an electro-chemical energy potential of the electrolyte stack.