Optimized Hydrogen and Electricity Generation from Wind

摘要

Several optimizations can be employed to create hydrogen or hydrogen and electricity from a wind energy source. The key element in hydrogen production from any electrical source is an electrolyzer to convert water and electricity into hydrogen and oxygen. An electrolyzer is inherently a nearly constant, low-voltage, direct-current device requiring some form of control system and power electronics to connect to a high-voltage, alternating-current source of power. Likewise, modern wind turbines employ a control system used in conjunction with power electronics in order to connect to the grid. It may be possible to use the turbines controller and power electronics system to operate the electrolyzer as well, thereby eliminating component duplication. Such a coupled system would reduce the overall cost of independent stand-alone systems. Additionally, this approach would increase efficiency as only one electrical conversion (from AC to DC), instead of three (from AC to DC to AC and back to DC), would have to occur.