Electrolysis system with a geothermally heated feed stream

Abstract

A geothermally powered hydrogen production system includes a wellbore that heats a heat transfer fluid, thereby forming heated heat transfer fluid. A heat exchanger heats a feed stream using the heated heat transfer fluid, thereby forming a heated feed stream. An electrolyzer receives the heated feed stream and generates hydrogen from the heated feed stream.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a wellbore extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir, the wellbore configured to heat a heat transfer fluid via heat transfer with the underground magma reservoir, thereby forming heated heat transfer fluid;   a heat exchanger configured to heat a feed stream using the heated heat transfer fluid, thereby forming a heated feed stream, wherein the feed stream comprises water; and   an electrolyzer configured to:
 receive the heated feed stream; 
 generate hydrogen and oxygen from the received heated feed stream; and 
 provide the generated hydrogen for storage. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more turbines configured to use the heated heat transfer fluid to generate electricity. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the generated electricity provides an electrical voltage between a cathode and an anode of the electrolyzer. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the generated electricity provides power to a fluid pump providing a flow of the feed stream to the electrolyzer. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an absorption chiller configured to:
 receive the heated heat transfer fluid;   generate a cooling fluid using the received heat transfer fluid; and   provide the cooling fluid for cooling a vessel storing the hydrogen.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyzer is configured to perform alkaline water electrolysis. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heated feed stream comprises steam. 
     
     
         8 . A system, comprising:
 a wellbore extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir, the wellbore configured to heat a heat transfer fluid via heat transfer with the underground magma reservoir, thereby forming heated heat transfer fluid;   an electrolyzer configured to receive a feed stream comprising water; and   a heat exchanger coupled to the electrolyzer and configured to heat the feed stream received by the electrolyzer using the heated heat transfer fluid, thereby forming a heated feed stream;   wherein the electrolyzer is further configured to:
 generate hydrogen and oxygen from the heated feed stream received by the electrolyzer; and 
 provide the generated hydrogen for storage. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising one or more turbines configured to use the heated heat transfer fluid to generate electricity. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the generated electricity provides an electrical voltage between a cathode and an anode of the electrolyzer. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the generated electricity provides power to a fluid pump providing a flow of the feed stream to the electrolyzer. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising an absorption chiller configured to:
 receive the heated heat transfer fluid;   generate a cooling fluid using the received heat transfer fluid; and   provide the cooling fluid for cooling a vessel storing the hydrogen.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the electrolyzer is configured to perform alkaline water electrolysis. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the heated feed stream comprises steam. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , herein the heat exchanger comprises a coil around at least a portion of the electrolyzer. 
     
     
         16 . A system, comprising:
 a wellbore configured to heat a heat transfer fluid, thereby forming heated heat transfer fluid;   a heat exchanger configured to heat a feed stream using the heated heat transfer fluid, thereby forming a heated feed stream, wherein the feed stream comprises water; and   an electrolyzer configured to:
 receive the heated feed stream; 
 generate hydrogen and oxygen from the received heated feed stream; and 
 provide the generated hydrogen for storage. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising one or more turbines configured to use the heated heat transfer fluid to generate electricity, wherein the generated electricity provides an electrical voltage between a cathode and an anode of the electrolyzer. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising one or more turbines configured to use the heated heat transfer fluid to generate electricity, wherein the generated electricity provides power to a fluid pump providing a flow of the heated feed stream to the electrolyzer. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising an absorption chiller configured to:
 receive the heated heat transfer fluid;   generate a cooling fluid using the received heat transfer fluid; and   provide the cooling fluid for cooling a vessel storing the hydrogen.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the electrolyzer is configured to perform alkaline water electrolysis.