Hydrogen production by electrolysis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024158932-A1
Application number	US-202318389051-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 13, 2023
Priority date	Nov 14, 2022
Publication date	May 16, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

Electrolysis arrangement for producing hydrogen by electrolysis that can include a first input terminal configured to supply electrical energy to the electrolysis arrangement; a second input terminal configured to supply electrical energy to the electrolysis arrangement; a first transformer; a second transformer; a first group of electrolysis stacks, which comprises a first sub-group and a second sub-group; a second group of electrolysis stacks which comprises a first sub-group and a second sub-group, wherein the electrolysis stacks of the first group are spatially separated from the electrolysis stacks of the second group, wherein the electrolysis stacks of the first sub-group of the first group and of the first sub-group of the second group are electrically connected via the first transformer to the first input terminal, and wherein the electrolysis stacks of the second sub-group of the first group (A) and of the second sub-group of the second group are connected electrically via the second transformer to the second input terminal.

First claim

We claim:

1 . An electrolysis arrangement for producing hydrogen by electrolysis, comprising:
a first input terminal for suppling electrical energy to the electrolysis arrangement; a second input terminal for suppling electrical energy to the electrolysis arrangement; a first transformer; a second transformer; a first group of electrolysis stacks, which comprises a first sub-group and a second sub-group; a second group of electrolysis stacks which comprises a first sub-group and a second sub-group; wherein the electrolysis stacks of the first group are spatially separated from the electrolysis stacks of the second group, wherein the electrolysis stacks of the first sub-group of the first group and of the first sub-group of the second group are powered via the first transformer and the first input terminal, and wherein the electrolysis stacks of the second sub-group of the first group (A) and of the second sub-group of the second group are powered via the second transformer and the second input terminal.

2 . The electrolysis arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the first transformer is a three-winding transformer,
wherein the first input terminal is electrically connected to a primary winding ( 5 ) of the first transformer, wherein the electrolysis stacks of the first sub-group of the first group are powered via a secondary winding of the first transformer, and wherein the electrolysis stacks of the first sub-group of the second group are powered via a tertiary winding of the first transformer.

3 . The electrolysis arrangement according to claim 2 , wherein the first transformer has a delta-star-delta configuration.

4 . The electrolysis arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the second transformer is a three-winding transformer,
wherein the second input terminal is electrically connected to a primary winding ( 5 ) of the second transformer, wherein the electrolysis stacks of the second sub-group of the first group (A) are powered via a secondary winding of the second transformer, and wherein the electrolysis stacks of the second sub-group of the second group are powered via a tertiary winding of the second transformer.

5 . The electrolysis arrangement according to claim 4 , wherein the second transformer has a delta-star-delta configuration.

6 . The electrolysis arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising a first balance of plant installation, which is assigned to the electrolysis stacks of the first group and which is electrically connected to the first input terminal such that in a first mode the first balance of plant installation can be powered via the first input terminal, and a second balance of plant installation, which is assigned to the electrolysis stacks of the second group and which is electrically connected to the second input terminal such that in the first mode the second balance of plant installation can be powered via the second input terminal.

7 . The electrolysis arrangement according to claim 6 , wherein the first balance of plant installation and the second balance of plant installation are electrically connectable to each other such that in a second mode the first balance of plant installation can be powered via the second balance of plant installation and in a third mode the second balance of plant installation can be powered via the first balance of plant installation.

8 . The electrolysis arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising a first building, in which the electrolysis stacks of the first group are arranged and a second building, in which the electrolysis stacks of the second group are arranged.

9 . A method for producing hydrogen by electrolysis, the method comprising the steps of:
providing the an electrolysis arrangement ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 , operating the electrolysis arrangement at least temporarily in a standard operation mode, in which the electrolysis stacks of the first sub-group of the first group and of the first sub-group of the second group are powered via the first transformer and the first input terminal, and wherein the electrolysis stacks of the second sub-group of the first group and of the second sub-group of the second group are powered via the second transformer and the second input terminal.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , further comprising operating the electrolysis arrangement temporarily in a first maintenance mode, in which the electrolysis stacks of the first sub-group of the second group are powered via the first transformer and the first input terminal, wherein the electrolysis stacks of the second sub-group of the second group are powered via the second transformer and the second input terminal, and wherein the electrolysis stacks of the first group are out of operation.

11 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the electrolysis arrangement is operated temporarily in a second maintenance mode, in which the electrolysis stacks of the first subgroup of the first group are powered via the first transformer and the first input terminal, wherein the electrolysis stacks ( 4 ) of the second sub-group of the first group are powered via the second transformer and the second input terminal, and wherein the electrolysis stacks of the second group are out of operation.

12 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the electrolysis arrangement is operated temporarily in a first power supply failure mode, in which the electrolysis stacks of the second sub-group of the first group and of the second sub-group of the second group are powered via the second transformer and the second input terminal, and wherein the electrolysis stacks of the first sub-group of the first group and of the first sub-group of the second group are out of operation.

13 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein the electrolysis arrangement is operated temporarily in a second power supply failure mode, in which the electrolysis stacks of the first sub-group of the first group and of the first sub-group of the second group are powered via the first transformer and the first input terminal, and wherein the electrolysis stacks of the second sub-group of the first group and of the second sub-group of the second group are out of operation.

Assignees

• Air Liquide

Inventors

• Bhunesh Kumar
• Combes Gary

Classifications

• H02J15/50

  using stored hydrogen · CPC title

• C25B9/70 Primary

  Assemblies comprising two or more cells · CPC title

• C25B1/04

  by electrolysis of water · CPC title

• C25B9/65

  Means for supplying current; Electrode connections; Electric inter-cell connections · CPC title

• C25B15/06

  Detection or inhibition of short circuits in the cell · CPC title