Systems and methods for sustainable economic development through integrated full spectrum production of renewable energy
View Patent ↗In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing an energy supply using a renewable energy source is provided comprising: providing a first source of renewable energy, wherein the first source of renewable energy is intermittent or does not provide a sufficient amount of energy; providing energy from the first source of renewable energy to an electrolyzer to produce an energy carrier through electrolysis; selectably reversing the electrolyzer for use as a fuel cell; and providing the energy carrier to the electrolyzer for the production of energy.
1. A system for providing a substantially continuous energy supply using renewable energy resources comprising:
a reactor having an inlet for receiving a feedstock, an outlet for releasing the feedstock, a reaction zone, and a conveyance apparatus that feeds the feedstock into the reaction zone;
a first source of renewable energy imparting energy to the reaction zone, wherein the reaction zone increases the feedstock received by the reactor to one or more of a first pressure and a first temperature;
an electrolyzer coupled to the outlet of the reactor, wherein the electrolyzer receives the feedstock from the outlet of the reactor and produce an energy carrier, the energy carrier having one or more of a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure and a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature of the feedstock, and the electrolyzer is selectably reversible as a fuel cell using the energy carrier as a fuel when operation of the electrolyzer is reversed; and
an energy carrier storage coupled to the electrolyzer for receiving the energy carrier from the electrolyzer or providing the energy carrier to the electrolyzer.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first source of renewable energy is selected from the group consisting of solar, wind, moving water, organic and geothermal sources of energy.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the energy carrier comprises hydrogen.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the energy carrier comprises a carbon-based material.
5. The system of claim 1 where the energy carrier comprises a hydrocarbon.
6. The system of claim 1 where the energy carrier comprises a nitrogen-based material.
7. The system of claim 1 where the energy carrier comprises Ammonia.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first source of renewable energy, the electrolyzer or the energy carrier are configured to receive supplemental heat from a first heat source.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the first heat source comprises the first source of renewable energy or the electrolyzer.
10. The system of claim 8 where in the first heat source is selected from the group comprising geothermal, solar, or other heat engine.
11. The system of claim 8 where the first heat source comprises a second source of renewable energy.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein the energy carrier storage is configured to transfer heat to the energy carrier.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the energy carrier storage is configured such that an energy value of the energy carrier is increased during energy carrier storage.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein the energy carrier storage is configured such that an energy value of the energy carrier is increased during energy carrier storage by adding heat to the energy carrier during energy carrier storage.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein the energy carrier storage comprises a geological formation.
16. The system of claim 1 further comprising an expander configured to capture work from expansion of the energy carrier, wherein the expander is coupled to the electrolyzer or the energy carrier storage.
17. The system of claim 1 further comprising an expander configured to produce energy from expansion of the energy carrier, wherein the expander is coupled to the electrolyzer or the energy carrier storage.
18. The system of claim 1 further comprising a source of organic materials wherein the source of organic materials is coupled to the electrolyzer for electrolysis of the organic materials.
19. The system of claim 18 wherein the source of organic materials comprises biomass or biowaste.
20. The system of claim 1 further comprising an energy storage coupled to the first source of renewable energy and the electrolyzer.
21. The system of claim 1 , wherein the conveyance apparatus is a screw conveyor, chain drive conveyor, or a reciprocating plunger.