United States Patent Application: 0130175180
We've many times documented for you how important a ready supply of elemental, molecular Hydrogen could be to us.
For instance, as seen for only one example in our report of:
West Virginia Coal Association | Exxon Hydrogen Converts Coal into Hydrocarbon Liquids and Gases | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 4,561,964 - Catalyst for the Hydroconversion of Carbonaceous Materials; 1985; Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company; Abstract: An improved hydroconversion process for carbonaceous materials ... . The hydroconversion will be accomplished at a temperature within the range from about 500 to about 900 F., at a total pressure within the range from about 500 to 7000 psig and at a hydrogen partial pressure within the range from about 400 to about 5000 psig (and) wherein said carbonaceous material is a normally solid material (and) wherein said normally solid hydrocarbonaceous material is selected from the group consisting of coal, lignite and peat (and) wherein the hydroconversion is accomplished in the presence of molecular hydrogen (and wherein) the gaseous product may be upgraded to a pipeline gas (and, the) liquid product may be fractionated ... to yield a high quality motor gasoline";
Hydrogen can be utilized in some processes that rather directly convert our abundant Coal into all sorts of needed gaseous and liquid hydrocarbon fuels.
Further, as seen in:
West Virginia Coal Association | France Uses Hydrogen to Convert CO2 to Carbon Monoxide | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent Application 20030113244 - Producing Carbon Monoxide by Reverse Conversion; 2003; Correspondence (and presumed eventual Assignee of Rights: Air Liquide; Houston, TX; Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing carbon monoxide by reverse conversion, in gas phase, of carbonic acid gas and gaseous hydrogen (by) preparing a gas mixture rich in CO2 and in hydrogen (and) reacting said gas mixture, forming carbon monoxide and water vapour, by passing said mixture through a catalytic bed based on zinc oxide and chromium oxide maintained under pressure between 10 and 40 bars";
Hydrogen can also be used in similarly direct processes that convert Carbon Dioxide into Carbon Monoxide. And, although Carbon Monoxide is of rather immense utility in a variety of industrial, chemical synthesis technologies and processes, we remind you that, as seen for only two examples in:
West Virginia Coal Association | Japan Improves CO2 to Methane Catalysis | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent Application 20090042998 - Catalyst for Methanation of Carbon Oxides; 2009; Assignee: Daiki Ataka Engineering Company, Tokyo (Japan); Abstract: Disclosed is a catalyst for methanation reaction producing methane with high conversion by reaction of hydrogen with carbon dioxide, or a gas mixture of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide ... . A catalyst for ... producing methane by hydrogenating carbon dioxide"; and:
West Virginia Coal Association | USDOE CO2 + Hydrogen = Methanol and Ethanol | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 7,858,667 - Alcohol Synthesis from CO or CO2; 2010;Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute; Abstract: Methods for producing alcohols from CO or CO2 and H2 utilizing a palladium-zinc (Pd--Zn) on alumina catalyst are described. ... Ethanol, higher alcohols, and other C2+ oxygenates can be produced utilizing Rh--Mn (Rhodium and Manganese) or a Fisher-Tropsch catalyst. A portion of this work was funded by the U.S. DOE ... under Contract DE-AC06-76RL01830. Claims: A method of synthesizing alcohols from CO or CO2 comprising: flowing a reactant gas mixture comprising H2 and CO or CO2 into contact with a catalyst; wherein the catalyst comprises a Pd--Zn alloy dispersed on alumina; and forming an alcohol or alcohols. The method ... wherein the alcohol or alcohols formed in the step of forming an alcohol or alcohols consists essentially of methanol. The method ... wherein the catalyst further comprises a Fisher-Tropsch catalyst and wherein the alcohol or alcohols formed (is) a mixture of alcohols in which ethanol is the principle alcohol";
such Carbon Monoxide, produced via reaction of Carbon Dioxide with Hydrogen, can be combined with even more Carbon Dioxide, and more Hydrogen, in processes that synthesize both substitute natural gas Methane and liquid fuel Alcohols.
We've seen a number of times previously, as most recently in our report of:
West Virginia Coal Association | General Electric 2010 Hydrogen from Sunlight and Water | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 7,820,022 - Photoelectrochemical Cell and Method of Manufacture; 2010; Assignee: General Electric Company; Abstract: A photoelectrochemical cell may include a cell housing (so designed) that incident radiation on the semiconductor particles causes oxidation and reduction to occur within the cell to produce gaseous hydrogen and oxygen. ... An apparatus for producing hydrogen";
that: we can produce the Hydrogen we need from some pretty-darned inexpensive raw materials: i.e., plain old Water - - with perhaps a few salts dissolved in it to speed things along - - and Sunlight.
And, by way of further confirmation of that fact, we present herein exposition of closely-related solar-powered Hydrogen production technology, as developed by the University of Delaware with financing provided by the United States Department of Energy.
As seen, with comment appended, in excerpts from the initial link in this dispatch to the quite recent:
"United States Patent Application 20130175180 - Devices and Methods for Increasing Solar Hydrogen Conversion Efficiency in Photovoltaic Electrolysis
Date: July 11, 2013
Inventors: Daniel Esposito, et. al., MD and DE
Assignee: University of Delaware, Newark
Abstract: Devices and methods for photovoltaic electrolysis are disclosed. A device comprises a photovoltaic cell element and an electrolysis compartment. The photovoltaic cell element is configured to convert a portion of solar energy into electrical energy and to pass another portion of the solar energy. The electrolysis compartment includes an aqueous electrolyte positioned to receive the other portion of the solar energy and electrodes electrically connected to receive the electrical energy produced by the photovoltaic cell element. A method comprises receiving solar energy with a photovoltaic cell element, converting a portion of the solar energy into electrical energy, passing another portion of the solar energy through the photovoltaic cell element, receiving with an aqueous electrolyte the other portion of the solar energy, transmitting the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic cell element to a pair of electrodes, and electrolyzing the aqueous electrolyte with the pair of electrodes.
Government Interests: This invention was made with Government support ... by the Department of Energy. The Government may have certain rights in this invention.
Claims: A device for photovoltaic electrolysis comprising: a photovoltaic cell element configured to convert a portion of solar energy received into electrical energy, the photovoltaic cell element configured to pass another portion of the solar energy; and an electrolysis compartment including an aqueous electrolyte positioned to receive the other portion of the solar energy passing through the photovoltaic cell element, the electrolysis compartment including electrodes electrically connected to receive the electrical energy produced by the photovoltaic cell element.
The device ... wherein the electrolysis compartment comprises at least one transparent substrate, the transparent substrate configured to pass the other portion of the solar energy through to the aqueous electrolyte (and) wherein the other portion of the solar energy comprises infrared radiation; and the infrared radiation heats the aqueous electrolyte (and) wherein the electrolysis compartment includes a flow of aqueous electrolyte passing between the electrodes; and the aqueous electrolyte is heated by the infrared radiation before flowing between the electrodes (and) wherein a portion of the heated aqueous electrolyte flows to a hot water storage chamber or a heat exchanger.
The device ... wherein: the electrolysis compartment includes a first flow of aqueous electrolyte in contact with the encapsulant layer and a second flow of aqueous electrolyte passing between the electrodes.
A method for photovoltaic electrolysis comprising: receiving solar energy with a photovoltaic cell element; converting a portion of the received solar energy into electrical energy with the photovoltaic cell element; passing another portion of the received solar energy through the photovoltaic cell element; receiving with an aqueous electrolyte the other portion of the solar energy passing through the photovoltaic cell element; transmitting the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic cell element to a pair of electrodes; and electrolyzing the aqueous electrolyte with the pair of electrodes.
The method ... further comprising the step of passing the other portion of the solar energy to the aqueous electrolyte through a transparent substrate of an electrolysis compartment (and) wherein the other portion of the solar energy comprises infrared radiation, and the step of receiving the other portion of solar energy comprises heating the aqueous electrolyte with the infrared radiation.
The method ... wherein the step of receiving the other portion of solar energy comprises receiving the other portion of the solar energy with an aqueous electrolyte in contact with an encapsulant layer of the photovoltaic cell element (and) further comprising the steps of flowing the aqueous electrolyte in contact with the encapsulant layer, and then flowing the aqueous electrolyte between the pair of electrodes.
Background and Field: This invention relates generally to electrolysis, and more particularly to devices and methods for increasing solar hydrogen conversion efficiency in photovoltaic electrolysis.
Photovoltaic (PV) electrolysis allows the generation of hydrogen gas (H2) and oxygen gas (O2) from water using solar energy.
Summary: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a device for photovoltaic electrolysis is disclosed. The device comprises a photovoltaic cell element and an electrolysis compartment. The photovoltaic cell element is configured to convert a portion of solar energy received into electrical energy. The photovoltaic cell element is further configured to pass another portion of the solar energy. The electrolysis compartment includes an aqueous electrolyte positioned to receive the other portion of the solar energy passing through the photovoltaic cell element. The electrolysis compartment further includes electrodes electrically connected to receive the electrical energy produced by the photovoltaic cell element (and) electrolyzing the aqueous electrolyte with the pair of electrodes".
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We're not, of course, reproducing many of the technical details. It is important, we think, to keep in mind only the key focus: This is a technology that, as the University of Delaware puts it: "allows the generation of hydrogen gas (H2) and oxygen gas (O2) from water using solar energy".
And, we note that both the "oxygen gas (O2)" and "hydrogen gas (H2)" products, in addition to the uses for the Hydrogen alone we noted in our introductory citations of our reports concerning "United States Patent 4,561,964 - Catalyst for the Hydroconversion of Carbonaceous Materials" and "United States Patent Application 20090042998 - Catalyst for Methanation of Carbon Oxides"; could be directed to processes like that seen in our report of:
West Virginia Coal Association | Germany Coal to Methanol and Electric Power | Research & Development; concerning both:
"United States Patent 4,590,760 - Medium-load Power Generating Station With An Integrated Coal Gasification Plant; 1986; Assignee: Kraftwerk Union, AG, (Germany);Abstract: Medium-load power generating station with an integrated coal gasification plant, a gas turbine power generating station part connected to the coal gasification plant, a steam power generating station part connected to the raw gas heat exchanger plant of the coal gasification plant, a methanol synthesis plant (and) a water electrolysis plant (with) its hydrogen line ... connected to the methanol synthesis plant, and its oxygen line is connected to the coal gasifier"; and:"United States Patent 4,631,915 - Gas Turbine and Steam Power-Generating Plant with Integrated Coal Gasification Plant; 1986; Assignee: Kraftwerk Union AG; Abstract: Gas turbine and steam power generating station with an integrated coal gasification plant which is supplied with oxygen via an air decomposition plant, with a methanol synthesis plant connected to the coal gasification plant, with a steam generating station part connected to the exhaust heat boiler of the gas turbine, as well as with a nitrogen line leading from an air decomposition plant to the combustion chamber of the gas turbine. The coal gasifier for the hydrogenating coal gasification is connected to a hydrogen supply line";
wherein the product "oxygen gas (O2)" could be used to support the operation of a "coal gasification plant", and the product "hydrogen gas (H2)" could also be used, via a "hydrogen line ... connected to the methanol synthesis plant", to further hydrogenate the Coal-derived synthesis gas and thereby make it better suited compositionally for catalytic, chemical condensation into the fuel alcohol, Methanol.
And, to emphasize the other point made in our introductory comments, as seen in our report of:
West Virginia Coal Association | US Navy May 7, 2013, CO2 to Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels | Research & Development; concerning: "United States Patent 8,436,457 - Synthesis of Hydrocarbons Via Catalytic Reduction of CO2; Date: May 7, 2013; Inventors: Nick Tran, et. al.; DC, MD and VA; Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy; Abstract: A method of: introducing hydrogen and a feed gas containing at least 50 vol % carbon dioxide into a reactor containing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst; and heating the hydrogen and carbon dioxide to ... produce hydrocarbons in the reactor. An apparatus comprising: a reaction vessel containing a kieselguhr supported catalyst comprising cobalt, potassium, thorium, and magnesium, capable of heating gases contained therein to at least about 190 C; a hydrogen delivery system feeding into the reaction vessel; a carbon dioxide delivery system feeding into the reaction vessel that delivers a feed gas containing at least 50 vol % carbon dioxide; and a trap that collects hydrocarbons generated in the reaction vessel; wherein the hydrogen delivery system extracts hydrogen from water or the carbon dioxide delivery system extracts carbon dioxide from seawater (or) from air. The method involves the reaction of hydrogen and carbon dioxide using a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst to produce hydrocarbons";Hydrogen generated from processes like that embodied in our subject, "United States Patent Application 20130175180 - Devices and Methods for Increasing Solar Hydrogen Conversion Efficiency in Photovoltaic Electrolysis", can also be directly employed in the chemical recycling of Carbon Dioxide, as extracted "from seawater (or) from air", and in the synthesis, from Carbon Dioxide, of "hydrocarbons".