Wind farm generation scheme utilizing electrolysis to create gaseous fuel for a constant output generator

Claim 1

In a method of smoothing electrical power output produced by a means for generating electrical power from wind comprising the steps of: utilizing at least some of said electrical power output to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis; storing at least the hydrogen; oxidizing said stored hydrogen, as required, to produce energy; and utilizing said energy produced by the oxidizing of hydrogen for the generation of electricity; the improvement comprising: measuring the voltage of said electrical power output; applying said power output across a number of electrolysis cells connected in series, said number of cells being determined by said voltage; measuring the current density within said cells; applying said power output across electrolysis modules connected in parallel, the number of modules being determined by said current density; and optimizing the voltage across each cell and the current density within each cell such that the cells operate with maximum efficiency.

Claim 3

An apparatus for providing electrical energy from wind energy comprising: a wind farm arranged to generate electrical power; a switch means, including control means, operably connected to electrical power output from said wind farm; a plurality of electrolysis cells operably connected to said switch means, each electrolysis cell being adapted to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis; wherein said electrolysis cells are arranged into a plurality of modules, said modules being connected in parallel, each module comprising a series combination of said electrolysis cells; means for measuring the voltage of said electrical power; means for monitoring the current density within said cells; means for storing the hydrogen produced by said electrolysis; and means to generate electricity from said stored hydrogen; wherein said switch means is operable to apply said electrical power output across a particular number of said electrolysis cells and a particular number of said electrolysis modules; said number of electrolysis cells being determined by said voltage, and said number of electrolysis modules being determined by said current density; whereby the voltage across each of said electrolysis cells and the current density within each electrolysis cell is such that the cells operate with optimum efficiency.

Claim 4

An apparatus for providing electrical energy from wind energy comprising: a wind farm arranged to generate electrical power; a switch means, including control means, operably connected to electrical power output from said wind farm; a plurality of electrolysis cells operably connected to said switch means, each electrolysis cell being adapted to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis; wherein said electrolysis cells are arranged into a plurality of modules, said modules being connected in parallel, each module comprising a series combination of said electrolysis cells; means for measuring the voltage of said electrical power; means for monitoring the current density within said cells; means for storing the hydrogen produced by said electrolysis; and means to generate electricity from said stored hydrogen; wherein said switch means is operable to apply said electrical power output across a particular number of said electrolysis cells and a particular number of said electrolysis modules; said number of electrolysis cells being determined by said voltage, and said number of electrolysis modules being determined by said current density; whereby the voltage across each of said electrolysis cells and the current density within each electrolysis cell is such that the cells operate with optimum efficiency.