Hydrogen production and conveyance system
A system and method by which energy from ocean waves is converted into hydrogen, and that hydrogen is used to manifest electrical and mechanical energies by an energy consuming device. A portion of the generated electrical power is communicated to water electrolyzers which produce oxygen and hydrogen from water as gases. At least a portion of the generated hydrogen gas is transferred to a transportation ship via a hose-carrying, remotely operated (or otherwise unmanned) vehicle, and subsequently transferred to an energy-consuming module or infrastructure, where a portion of the hydrogen is consumed in order to manifest a generation of electrical energy, a mechanical motion, and/or a chemical reaction.
1. A method for producing and transporting chemical fuel, comprising:
placing into a body of water a floating wave energy conversion vessel having a chemical fuel synthesizer and a chemical fuel export port;
placing into the body of water a chemical fuel harvesting vessel having a chemical fuel storage apparatus, a chemical fuel receiving hose, and a chemical fuel receiving hose connection vehicle, wherein the chemical fuel receiving hose connection vehicle is an unmanned underwater vehicle that includes at least one thruster and is adapted to transport a first end of the chemical fuel receiving hose;
synthesizing a chemical fuel onboard the floating wave energy conversion vessel with energy captured from ocean waves;
steering the chemical fuel receiving hose connection vehicle to the chemical fuel export port;
fluidly connecting the chemical fuel receiving hose to the chemical fuel export port using the chemical fuel receiving hose connection vehicle; and
transferring the chemical fuel from the floating wave energy conversion vessel to the chemical fuel storage apparatus through the chemical fuel receiving hose.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical fuel is hydrogen gas.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transferring water from the chemical fuel harvesting vessel to the floating wave energy conversion vessel.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the water is transferred from the chemical fuel harvesting vessel to the floating wave energy conversion vessel via the chemical fuel receiving hose.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical-fuel-receiving-hose connection vehicle is remotely steered to the chemical fuel export port.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical-fuel-receiving-hose connection vehicle is steered to the chemical fuel export port autonomously by an onboard computer system.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical-fuel-receiving-hose connection vehicle is steered to the chemical fuel export port by electromagnetic control signals received by satellite.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical-fuel-receiving-hose connection vehicle is steered to the chemical fuel export port by electrical control signals transmitted over a tether.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the tether includes the chemical fuel receiving hose.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical fuel synthesizer is an electrolyzer for evolving hydrogen gas.
11. A method for producing and transporting chemical fuel, comprising:
placing into a body of water a floating wave energy conversion vessel having a chemical fuel synthesizer and a chemical fuel export port;
placing into the body of water a chemical fuel harvesting vessel having a chemical fuel storage apparatus, a chemical fuel receiving hose, and a chemical fuel receiving hose connection vehicle, wherein the chemical fuel receiving hose connection vehicle is an underwater vehicle that includes at least one thruster and is adapted to transport a first end of the chemical fuel receiving hose;
synthesizing a chemical fuel onboard the floating wave energy conversion vessel with energy captured from ocean waves;
steering the chemical fuel receiving hose connection vehicle to the chemical fuel export port;
fluidly connecting the chemical fuel receiving hose to the chemical fuel export port using the chemical fuel receiving hose connection vehicle; and
transferring the chemical fuel from the floating wave energy conversion vessel to the chemical fuel storage apparatus through the chemical fuel receiving hose.