Protonic Conduction Wave Energy Converter. Final Report, January 1-December 31, 1978

摘要

An initial study of the feasibility of using electrochemical hydrogen concentration cells with protonic conductors for the conversion of ocean wave energy into electricity has been carried out. The system considered uses the potential energy of waves or ocean swells to alternately compress and expand hydrogen gas which thereby drives a concentration cell. A theoretical analysis of four idealized embodiments of the device, incorporated within a taut-moored buoy, has shown that the key to efficient conversion is sufficiently low electrode and electrolyte resistance. One of the pivotal assumptions in this analysis is that the system can respond in the time of an ocean wave period to the pressure oscillations. Accordingly, this assumption was tested experimentally using Nafion and filter paper impregnated with hydrochloric acid as the electrolytes and platinum as the electrode material. The assumption was experimentally validated and the power delivered by these cells under conditions of simulated three foot waves was measured as a function of load resistance and temperature. The power exhibited a peak as a function of load resistance and temperature. The power exhibited a peak as a function of load resistance, increased with a rise in temperature and sharply increased with an enhancement of the water content of the Nafion. The two latter observations are indicative of the importance of low cell resistance in achieving high conversion efficiencies. By combining the experimental results on power and cell resistance with results of the theoretical analysis of a potential system, it is concluded that 250 watts can be obtained from one square meter of ocean in a three foot sea. This 25% conversion efficiency can be obtained with presently available materials (Nafion and porous platinum electrodes). (ERA citation 05:011813)